April 2274
The days were becoming more challenging for Victor . Every morning, Ellen and Gloria seemed to approach their exercises with renewed vigor, making it increasingly difficult for him to keep his thoughts focused. Their presence was distracting, but Victor knew he couldn't afford to lose sight of his goals.
After his morning routines, Victor would retreat to the medical lab to immerse himself in the journals that Jonas had provided. The intricate details of human physiology fascinated him—the way organs interacted, how the body responded to different stimuli, and the hidden complexities of human biology. Each discovery deepened his interest, making him eager to learn more.
One afternoon, as Victor poured over a journal entry about the body's response to trauma, his thoughts turned to the project he had been quietly working on. He hadn't told anyone exactly what he was doing, only hinting at a medical project to gather materials without drawing attention to his real work. The time had come to deliver a result that would satisfy the Vault's curiosity, allowing him to continue his secret research unnoticed.
He decided that the Auto-Doc he had been refurbishing in his hidden lab would serve as the perfect cover. However, presenting it as something he had built would draw far too much attention. Instead, Victor formulated a plan to make it appear as though the Auto-Doc was an old piece of Vault equipment, something that had been stored away and forgotten.
Over the past few weeks, Victor had carefully disassembled the Auto-Doc, transporting its parts piece by piece from his secret lab to an old, little-used section of the Vault's warehouse. The area was filled with old crates and abandoned equipment, making it the perfect place to "discover" the machine. He had also created a detailed, weathered manual that explained the Auto-Doc's basic assembly, functionality, and maintenance. The manual was designed to look as if it had been sitting in the warehouse for decades, adding credibility to his story.
The next morning, after his exercise, Victor approached Jonas in the medical lab. The doctor was focused on his terminal, reviewing some data when Victor cleared his throat.
"Jonas, I found something interesting in one of the old storage areas," Victor began, holding up the manual.
Jonas looked up, curiosity piqued. "What did you find?"
"This," Victor said, handing over the manual. "It's a guide for an Auto-Doc. It was with some old crates in the warehouse. I took a look around and found the parts to reassemble it. I thought it might be worth checking out."
Jonas's eyes widened slightly as he flipped through the worn pages. "An Auto-Doc? That could be incredibly useful. Are you saying you managed to put it back together?"
Victor nodded, keeping his tone casual. "Yeah, it seemed straightforward enough with the manual's help. I thought it would be best to show you first before we bring it up to the Overseer."
Jonas's expression softened into a rare smile of approval. "Good work, Victor . If this machine is operational, it could be a game-changer for the Vault. Let's check it out this afternoon."
Later that day, Victor led Jonas to the warehouse, where the Auto-Doc stood, fully assembled. Jonas examined the machine carefully, comparing it with the instructions in the manual. The doctor seemed impressed by how well the Auto-Doc had been restored.
"This is remarkable, Victor ," Jonas said, still inspecting the device. "You've done excellent work here. I'll arrange a demonstration for the Overseer tomorrow. This could really benefit everyone."
Victor nodded modestly. "I'm glad it will be useful. I just figured it was something worth salvaging."
Jonas clapped him on the shoulder, a rare gesture of camaraderie. "You're making a name for yourself, Victor . Keep this up, and you'll go far."
As they left the warehouse, Victor felt a mix of satisfaction and relief. The Auto-Doc would provide the Vault with an essential medical tool, all while allowing him to continue his true research without drawing unwanted attention. The machine, now believed to be an old Vault asset, would serve its purpose, letting him operate in the shadows as he planned his next move.