Axion and Ousen simultaneously looked down at Thien, who lay on the surgical bed.
"I find that inadvisable."
They voiced the same opinion in unison.
Though they might have reached this conclusion for different reasons, their assessment was identical in that moment. Ousen, the Apothecary, had not yet spoken, but Axion preemptively stated his rationale.
"If your objective is to mount a single limb, I recommend the arm is the more practical choice. A mechanical arm significantly amplifies your strength and, when necessary, provides additional protection."
"I utilized the pattern of the Standard-pattern Human Combat Automata chassis as the template for your augmentation. While materials of sufficient quality are scarce, the quality of these two prosthetic components vastly exceeds that of your standard-issue power armor. Based on biological defense metrics, a biological entity will attempt to evade or shield itself when attacked. A leg is clearly better suited for evasion, while an arm is better suited for defense and interception."
"Following the augmentation of the mechanical arm, you will not only gain an exponential increase in strength but also acquire superior defensive capability. Based on the armaments I have been exposed to, the damage your standard Bolt weapons and Power weapons can inflict upon this mechanical arm will be negligible."
Axion's analysis was clearly precise. A mechanical arm potentially more resilient than ceramite Power Armour, perhaps even surpassing Artificer Armour. This was an overwhelming temptation for Thien.
Though the relentless training to unlock the full potential of his Gene-Seed and the conscious acceleration of his physical growth was one path to enhancing his capabilities, flesh, no matter how potent, could never truly rival a ceramite suit of Power Armour, much less the legendary durability of Artificer Armour. The ability to immediately surpass Artificer Armour in the defense of one limb was, quite simply, too alluring.
Ousen, who had been on the verge of arguing for the other limb, found his protest dying in his throat. A prosthetic arm more durable than Power Armour?
He glanced at the remaining prosthetic leg Axion held.
By the Emperor's will, I desire it. Should I remove my own leg and instruct the Techmarine to install this?
Moreover, judging by the dimensions, the prosthetic would clearly allow him to continue wearing his Power Armour without issue. It would not attract undue attention, yet it would offer a latent increase in capability, and, most importantly, provide a 'surprise' to the enemy when needed, potentially preserving his life.
While an Astartes could confront death with indifference, few truly wished to die on a daily basis. Though, naturally, there were those who wished for death but could not find it.
Axion seemed to sense Ousen's avarice and dismissed the thought with a single statement.
"This set of prosthetics was fabricated according to your biometric profile. Its structure and the routing of the electronic nerve bundles are perfectly matched to your specific body. If you confirm the arm installation, I still advise you to retain the leg prosthetic."
Having spoken, Axion produced a container and placed it beside Thien's medical bed. The metal canister was not large but was surprisingly heavy, landing on the surface with a dull thud.
"This contains some of the residual powdered matter left over from the construction of the prosthetics. I collected a quantity. Substituting this for the mineral powder in your dietary supplements will significantly enhance your system's ability to support the output of this prosthetic system."
Thien looked at the canister of impossibly dense metallic dust with suspicion, unsure if his body could truly digest it.
As for how Axion knew of this dietary requirement, it was an observation made during an accidental survey of the ship's common areas. At the time, a Battle-Brother of the Black Templars had removed his Power Armour to take a meal. His superhuman physique instantly identified him as one of the ceramite-clad warriors. A casual scan of his body had also registered his food.
The food had an extremely high energy profile, equivalent to a Golden Age high-energy ration bar, though its appearance was far less palatable than the documented images of ancient nutritional bars and, apparently, lacked the variety of flavor profiles associated with past emergency rations. Besides the high-energy foodstuffs, the table held a single, oversized shaker, which contained not seasoning, but a powder of mineralized metallic compounds.
The Astartes's psycho-surgery and organ implantation granted them superhuman bodies, yet demanded an indescribable toll. Their conventional skeletal structure could not support their sheer body weight and heavy wargear. Their modified Endocrine Gland allowed them to break down these mineral powders, which were then absorbed by their equally modified digestive system, eventually becoming a critical component of their bone composition.
As they aged, the Astartes's mass would become heavier, their bones more resilient, and their bodies capable of supporting greater muscle density. The phrase, "The older, the stronger" was no jest. Those legendary Space Marines who possessed long lifespans, a veteran of ten millennia, if he survived intact, would inevitably be terrifyingly potent.
However, the metallic powder Axion offered now made Thien hesitate. If, as Axion claimed, this material could resist a bolter round, could his body truly process it?
To test the claim, Thien motioned for Ousen to open the metallic canister, then used his remaining biological arm to pinch out a tiny quantity, which he carefully placed in his mouth.
The modified Betcher's Gland immediately began to secrete terrifyingly acidic saliva, attempting to break down the powder. But, quite clearly, the saliva, which had never failed before, had no effect this time. The fine metallic dust seemed utterly unaffected in his mouth.
Thien wavered, but the metallic particles were indeed so fine that he could barely feel the difference between the powder and his own saliva. After a moment of hesitation, Thien swallowed the powder.
Axion immediately scanned Thien with a biological ray, meticulously observing what occurred as the powder entered his system.
But the situation quickly proved disappointing to Axion. Despite the prior observation of their mineral consumption, it seemed either the purity of this metallic powder exceeded their digestive tolerance, or the process was simply different from his projections.
Upon entering Thien's body, the powder immediately triggered a gastric reaction. A pool of highly acidic stomach fluid enveloped the particles in an attempt to break them down, but to no effect.
"GUE—"
With a sound of retching, Thien immediately spat the swallowed powder back out. The powerful stomach acids even produced wisps of white smoke in the air.
Axion impassively shook his head. It seemed the science of biology was still not quite what he had anticipated.
A scientific discipline, perhaps, best left to the hands of the Creator alone.
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