With the holographic map now firmly etched in his memory, No. 44 turned his attention to the rows of bookshelves, which contained all the information he had been seeking since his very arrival in this world. He needed to promptly return to his chamber, but the wealth of knowledge that surrounded him enticed him to stay and make the most of his time here.
The light from the windows had changed from golden brown to a light tint of red. At this point, he had realized that the light from the windows was artificial, even the breeze, and the sounds were mostly fake. There was no star beyond the windows, no sky, nothing. It was just devices that gave off this light for an illusion.
For two hours, he wandered among the bookshelves, his fingers tracing the spines of countless volumes. The library was a treasure trove of information; although it will not contain every secret of the world, it was still plenty. As he roamed the aisles, his eyes fell upon titles that piqued his interest, and he gathered an armful of books, including 'Basic Engineering,' 'Advanced Engineering,' 'Parts and Components,' and several others that promised to expand his understanding of the ship and the mechanisms that run this world.
With his chosen books in hand, No. 44 walked towards a mahogany table bathed in the soft glow of an overhead lamp. He settled into one of the comfortable chairs, opened a book, and eventually fell into his own world. The quiet atmosphere of the library, the scent of well-worn pages, and the gentle flicker of the lamp created the perfect environment for him to focus on reading and learning.
"In the world we're about to explore, engineering is the cornerstone of innovation and progress. In the bustling urban centers and the quiet solitude of workshops, engineering principles breathe life into the machinery that shapes our society. Engineering has a deep and complex history, intertwined with the endeavors of the intellectual kind. From the earliest innovations to the systems we have today, it's all thanks to the interplay of form and function. Engineering is the lifeblood that keeps the machinery of society running smoothly. This book serves as your guide to understanding the fundamental concepts that underpin our everyday technology.
Engineering is the synergy of science, mathematics, craftsmanship, and imagination. It's crucial to grasp the wisdom of Freeman Dyson, a brilliant thinker, who wrote: "A good scientist has original ideas. A good engineer designs with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering."
Within these pages, we'll explore the concept of steam-powered contraptions, dissect the clever designs that enable transportation and industry, and gain an appreciation for the artistry inherent to engineering. It's a world where precise calculations meet skilled craftsmanship, where tangible achievements stand as proof of what's possible when science and creativity unite.
Engineering covers a range of concepts and types. In this book, you will discover these types and essential foundational principles to set you on the path to becoming an engineer..."
Excerpt from 'The World of Engineering' by Carro T. Cayhke
The clock would tick as he turned to a new page, then fade in the background before reappearing once more. This process continued for a long while, and as it did, the faster the time seemed to pass; the turning of pages became faster, and No. 44's subtle hand movements became more frequent and swift. The number of completed books had begun to stack on the table, and there were fewer and fewer volumes left to go.
At the last tick of the clock, No. 44 closed the book with a sense of accomplishment. He glanced around and realized he was now the sole occupant of the 'Information Center.' The clock had reached the twelve-hour mark, and the other puppets had long since left. The library was shrouded in silence, and the lights were already off; the only remaining light was from the lamp over his head.
No. 44 quietly left the information center, leaving the books behind. He was inspired by the author Carro to make his own machine, to invent something he could call his own, and to become an engineer himself. To start his career, he was going to make a steam-powered gun of his own, using the one he stole from the intruder as a reference. His first stop was the 'Repair & Maintenance' section, which he considers a place to shop for the necessary tools, materials, supplies, and blueprint paper he was going to need for his new project.
As he got there, wearing his new gray uniform again, he wasn't expecting to see any other puppet other than himself, thinking that they were already off work like the rest. However, as he came inside, he noticed the hundreds of puppets still diligently working, and what surprised him most was the unfamiliar voice that sounded neither like the announcement nor anything like the intruder.
The raspy voice belonged to a male—an elderly man, to be specific. He was loud; his voice was echoing across all the levels of the section as he spoke in a serious, strict, and demanding tone. He spoke the Cidae language, but he had an accent that No. 44 found difficult to understand.
"You lot 're genna werk extre t'dey 'ey!" He shouted, "Werk hard, don't werry, de bos' premised dat zhere won't be a next time. Those metherpakers, who 're they agayn? 'ight, they 'ere called 'red pirates' or something. Ai no! It's 'Crimsons' now! How'd they managed to puck up a new nayme? It's like all they know is puck up things. Their faces 'ere pucked up too."
No. 44 observed from a distance. Initially, he couldn't get a clear view of the speaker, but as the puppets dispersed and returned to their workstations, he finally caught sight of the elderly man. The man had a shorter stature and a robust build. He had pointed ears and a long, flowing white beard that reached the floor. He held goggles in one hand, wore gloves on his calloused hands, and wore a leather apron full of tools.
Despite the fact that he appeared very much alive and breathing, unlike the non-breathing gray puppets that surrounded him, No. 44 hesitated to categorize him as a human. There was something about him that seemed slightly off, an aspect that No. 44 couldn't quite grasp.
The elderly man began his grumblings again: "What's this? What's got you lot so down? You can't be tired; why 're you all werkin' so slow? We've got a deadline to meet; the boss will not be happy if you 're slackin' around. Repairs should be dun by tomorrow so everythang can operete as normal! ...ah, seriously, I just got back from an eight-hour long meetin', and this is what I come back to?"
"You!" He pointed towards No. 44, whom he finally noticed just standing in the corner. "Why aren't you in your werkstation? Ah, I see! You must be the new transfer, I take it? Well, what 're you waitin' for? Come 'ere with me and let me get you started!"
He was found. Panic surged in his mind for a moment, but he managed to keep his cool and think the situation through. The man had gestured to him, and he promptly followed, hoping that his disguise wouldn't be revealed. Although he had some regret, he didn't want to take back the choice he had made. This was the first time he saw an actual living person who worked on the ship.
While he walked, he pondered what would happen if this man noticed anything off with his behavior. No. 44 understood that his movements didn't completely match the actions of other puppets, and he could guess that the man in front of him was experienced enough to see that. Just blend in, blend in...
They went up the stairs, all the way up to the fourth level. At this point, the elderly man was panting quite heavily, but he continued on his path. "Sigh. I'm not suited for tis anymore. Thankfully, the boss promised that my grandson will get promoted soon so I can get a bit more help here." Interestingly, the man's accent was quite clear while panting.
"...'ere we 're." It went back to normal after arriving at the workstation.
"So 'ere is your new friend, lad! How do you like it? Pretty spacious, 'ey?" He tapped the table. The workstation was a desk made of thin steel with many compartments where tools were stored. No. 44 had seen these during his first visit to the area.
"Well, let me explain to you the basics." The elderly man pointed towards the conveyer belt and explained. "Tis will bring you the components, and then you'll assemble them into the one we need. The device you'll be makin' t'day, or t'night because it isn't technically day, is this thing we call Steam Resonance Storage, or SRS, or just Resonator. It's an important device, small, not too difficult to assemble, and its main purpose is to store energy... It's basically a capacitor but for steam."
He paused, picking up some parts, and as he assembled them, he continued: "Tis is a primary component in other devices. Well, we 're going to need more of tis for the ship's repair because, as you know, there was an attack, and apparently, the power supply has been messy in the Eastern section lately. I don't know how that happened; they weren't even attacked."
"We used to have a lot in stock, but we 're facing some shortage problems because two of the main storages have been blown up. Sigh. I heard there was one item of importance that has gone completely missin'. The boss was utterly furious; heck, during our meetin', no one wanted to speak! He even had the red class change into gray. It's such a shame, I liked the color red."
The elderly man let out a hearty laugh before gesturing towards the incoming components. "Take those and show me what you've learned. For this week, we'll be focusin' on making spare parts; in the next, we'll be repairing some equipment. You better learn fast, lad." He gave No. 44 a tap on the shoulder.
Why does he need to explain it to me? He thought while looking at the components in the conveyer belt. He picked them up and began to copy the process the elder did. The puppets need to be taught? I feel like my understanding of them has been overturned again. The more I learn about them, the more I'm starting to be convinced by what the intruder said.
"Alright, well dun! You are originally from the blue class, so you already know a bit about this." The elderly man nodded in satisfaction. "I'll leave you alone now; don't slack off. I have to supervise some place else. We have to get the repairs done in the storage, otherwise the boss will be pissed again."
No. 44 received a new batch of components as the elderly man walked off. He spoke a lot about this 'boss;' it's quite obvious who it is. He doesn't seem easy to get along with. I certainly hope he isn't like what I imagine him to be.
After finishing another resonator, No. 44 didn't waste any more time and left the workstation. He didn't immediately go out; he observed from the fourth floor for a few minutes, and only when he confirmed that the old man had left through the exit did he walk down the stairs and enter one of the storage rooms.
As though he were on a shopping trip, he located what he needed, took them, and placed them in a bag he had also stolen. Before he left, he changed into his white uniform to not be mistaken for a gray 'class,' as the old man referred to the puppets, then proceeded to sneak out of the repairs and maintenance section.