"Does this qualify as transhumanism?" Tannis asked, confused. She had been dragged by Maxwell into a private sector of the Odyssey, along with Moxxi. At first, she was annoyed by Maxwell's constant interruptions of her research.
But after seeing what this was about, Tannis discarded all pettiness. It seemed as if the man had pulled out yet another piece of technology that could only possibly have been created by the Eridians. The place where the pilot was stationed was small compared to what looked like a massive rectangular server, blinking with red and green lights.
"More or less." Maxwell scratched his chin. "Transhumanism happens in the worst-case scenario."
"Explain," Moxxi demanded. On the way here, he had told her she would be entering the thing. He hadn't said much, only vague, ambiguous answers.
"Veteran pilots may be invited to undergo a process called Regeneration," he began. "It's not just a physical enhancement but an evolutionary leap. With each regeneration, a pilot becomes faster, stronger, and their combat mastery reaches levels that transcend human limits. Their senses are heightened, their coordination becomes flawless, and the cherry on top..." He raised a finger. "The neural link between pilot and Titan strengthens to an almost symbiotic level."
Tannis furrowed her brow, absorbing the information. "So, the more a pilot regenerates..."
"The more unified they become with their Titan," Maxwell confirmed. "The connection between the two surpasses any conventional technology. It's as if the Titan and the pilot share a single mind."
"Not that. What did you mean by transhumanism happening in the worst-case scenarios?"
"You still have the Simulacrum diagrams? Did you notice it has components called 'XG Cogito Core' and 'CC RAM Core'?"
"Yes, I've never seen anything like them before. But I found it strange that an AI would need them. Spectres never required anything like that, and their components are quite similar to some robots in our galaxy."
"That's because it wasn't designed for AI use. In short, it's a vessel for human minds. Those two cores handle long-term and short-term memory. They're just small parts of the 'SUM Ego Hub,' which, based on the Simulacrum's diagram, looks a lot like a human brain."
"Well, I had my suspicions. But I was a bit afraid of digging too deep."
"Such incredible technology, and I didn't even get to take a look! This thing perfectly encapsulates the Man-Machine concept." Tannis was practically drooling at the mention of the Simulacrum.
"It's not your field. I'm a good boss, so I won't make you work on something outside your contract."
"But I don't even get paid!" Tannis sounded hurt but knew complaining about labor rights was a waste of time. Joining a corporation wasn't much different from making a deal with the devil.
"I can deduce that Regeneration is connected to the Simulacrum, but I still don't fully understand." Moxxi tilted her head, still unsure why they were here. "It sounds like a paradise for a pilot... but why me? I'm just an engineer here. I think Knoxx would be a better choice."
Maxwell smirked. "Regeneration isn't just a mental and physical enhancement. It has another side effect... or rather, a benefit." He pulled an ID card from his pocket and tossed it onto the table.
Moxxi picked up the ID and squinted at it. "Hm?"
"This was my appearance when I renewed my ID as a citizen of Promethea." Maxwell didn't need to hide it, since Angel had already seen him before. "I was 31 years old at the time. But now, I don't look a day over 25."
Moxxi raised an eyebrow. "You just wanted an excuse to show me you're still hot, huh?"
Tannis rolled her eyes. "Great, more birthdays to celebrate."
Moxxi whistled as she examined the ID more closely. "Hmm... So you want me to go through this process?"
Maxwell shrugged. He had expected a more shocked reaction from the two. "Decide for yourself. I'm offering you the chance to be the first, but I won't force you if you don't want to."
He crossed his arms, watching Moxxi's reaction.
"Well, I've never been one to turn down a good opportunity..." She twirled the ID between her fingers, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"Alright. We'll gather some information about your life. It'll help stimulate your mind to recover faster." Maxwell turned and pointed at Tannis. "Meanwhile, I want you to learn how to operate the Relic."
Tannis adjusted her glasses and sighed. "I'll do my best. Although my expertise is in Eridian technology, my brilliant intellect will surely grasp something of this scope."
...
A few hours later, everything was ready.
Moxxi was completely naked, standing before the Relic. There was something in her expression, nervousness or excitement? Maxwell couldn't quite tell, but the tight grip on his hand made it clear that, beneath her confident facade, she was feeling something.
"Relax. Think of it like a dentist appointment." Maxwell tried to reassure her.
"How long will it take?" Moxxi asked, eyeing the structure before her. The interior wasn't just a simple cryopod, unlike what she had imagined. It was a tank filled with a translucent turquoise liquid, illuminated by soft white lights dancing across the surface.
"No more than a day." Tannis's voice crackled through a speaker in the room. She lied without hesitation, the truth was, she had no idea how long it would take. Quietly, she cursed Maxwell for not even having a manual for the technology.
"Alright... here goes nothing." Moxxi equipped the life-support mask and inhaled the pure oxygen it provided.
The structure opened silently, and the viscous liquid adjusted to accommodate her. Small mechanical devices descended from the ceiling as soon as she lay down, attaching themselves to strategic points on her body, wrists, temples, and nape. They glowed for a moment before thin needles emerged, injecting a concentrated dose of anesthesia directly into her system.
Moxxi barely had time to register the sensation before her senses shut down. Bubbles of air floated up as her body gently drifted, suspended as if in zero gravity.
{RSPN Modular x-BIOS v1.34}
**ARES CLASS VI PROHIBITED DEVICE DETECT**
WP97-NT7-X
RSPN Adaptative Bootloader v1.55
Verifying Consistency...
Done
exec regen_respawn_v2.cfg -loopback255 -verbase
She briefly saw strange lines of text flashing before her vision blurred completely.
"Process initialized. Stabilizing patient," announced the machine's synthetic voice.
"Oh, it comes with its own AI. Looks like Tannis got lucky."
Then the platform's gears engaged, and the tank structure slid smoothly backward, connecting to a larger module embedded in the Relic's wall. Data lines lit up along the cables that snaked across the ceiling and floor, linking the tank to a vast server within the Relic.
The Relic wasn't responsible for the body's rejuvenation; that part was simple. Hammond had already discovered effective methods to reverse biological age. The real challenge was the mind. A human brain couldn't withstand such drastic changes in a short period without collapsing. That's why the Relic existed. Its colossal size and absurd complexity served a single purpose: to ensure the subject's psyche remained intact during the process and to create a backup of it.
Outside, Maxwell watched as the chamber's lighting shifted from a vibrant blue to a deep green.
"Cryogenic cooling activated. All unregistered individuals must evacuate."
A mist began spreading across the floor. Ice crystals formed along the walls.
"Well, my time's up, sweetheart." Maxwell cast one last glance at Moxxi, unconscious within the tank, her body floating motionless in the translucent liquid. Then, he stepped back, feeling the cold bite into his muscles like invisible blades.
He turned on his heel and left the room before it was too late.
As soon as the door sealed shut behind him, he found himself in the control room, where Tannis was already monitoring the data on a holographic panel.
"The temperature in the Regeneration chamber just dropped to -338 degrees Fahrenheit..." Maxwell murmured, narrowing his eyes at the readings. "And it's still dropping."
"It's part of the process," Tannis replied without looking up. "Storing the data of a human mind generates massive overheating. The cooling isn't for Moxxi's body, it's for the Relic."
"I see..."
Maxwell approached the panoramic glass that separated the control room from the Regeneration chamber. On the other side, Moxxi was still floating, but something was changing.
At first, the liquid around her remained crystal clear. Then, a reddish tint began to spread, staining the fluid with a crimson glow. Maxwell frowned as he realized why.
Her skin was dissolving.
Inch by inch, the epidermis gave way, revealing exposed muscle and raw flesh. It was as if her body was being taken apart, layer by layer.
Maxwell clenched his fists, slightly uneasy. If he hadn't known what to expect, he would've tried to stop the process right then and there.
Tannis remained unfazed, analyzing the data. "The cellular defragmentation process has begun. Now the Relic is separating neural connections to preserve the data while it rebuilds synaptic links."
Maxwell kept his eyes fixed on Moxxi. She didn't move. She didn't show pain. But watching her being dismantled like that was hard to stomach.
Silence took over the room.
Hours passed.
Only the flickering glow of monitors and the rhythmic drip of condensation on the walls broke the stillness.
BEEP
Tannis sat up straight in her chair, eyes wide. "Brain activity detected. The synapses are reconnecting... She's coming back."
Maxwell took a step closer, pressing his face to the glass. The red hue inside the tank began to fade, slowly replaced by a pale blue glow.
Her skin reappeared like a regenerative wave, sliding over exposed muscle. Her hair floated like silk in the dense water, regrowing from her scalp.
"Recomposition is nearly complete," Tannis murmured, her fingers flying across the panels. "Blood pressure, heartbeat. All vital signs are above average."
At the center of the tank, Moxxi slowly opened her eyes.
The holographic display blinked one last time before stabilizing. Tannis gave a confirming nod.
"Process complete. It's safe to enter."
Maxwell didn't wait another second. He left the control room with long, nearly impatient strides.
"Moxxi…?"
She blinked slowly. When she tried to speak, bubbles rose to the surface.
Tannis activated a command, and a set of mechanical tubes descended from the ceiling, locking onto the edges of the tank. The liquid was slowly drained.
Once the level dropped to her chest, Moxxi removed the life-support apparatus from her face.
The front hatch of the tank opened with a soft hiss. Vapor escaped like the breath of a sleeping beast.
Moxxi stepped forward hesitantly. Her feet touched the metallic floor gently before recoiling at the sensitivity. She leaned against the frame of the opening, panting, soaked from head to toe, like a mermaid newly freed from the sea.
Maxwell gently pulled her out of the tank, wrapping her in a thermal towel that had been prepared beforehand. For a moment, he just stared at her: younger features, firmer posture, livelier eyes, even her tattoos were gone. Calling her a woman felt wrong now; she looked more like a teenage girl.
"Who are you?" Moxxi asked curiously, puzzled by the strange feeling that the man before her seemed somehow familiar. A strange flutter stirred in her stomach at the rough touch of his hands against her skin.
"Maxwell Williams, your husband." Maxwell wrapped her up completely before carrying her out.
"What's a husband?" Moxxi tilted her head to the side.
"Looks like I'm living a real-life 50 First Dates now. I wasn't expecting to end up in a romantic comedy arc." Maxwell sighed, noticing that Moxxi's breasts looked a bit smaller. "Your MILF status has been revoked. You're officially the girl next door now."
Moxxi didn't understand what he was saying, but she could feel she had lost something.