Ethan sat in Jaime's dimly lit basement, the hum of his portable lab equipment the only sound besides his soft muttering. The Scarab, separated from Jaime , rested on a reinforced table in the center of the room, glowing faintly. Its alien markings shimmered in the low light, and Ethan could feel the raw power radiating from it even without touching it.
He'd been working for three days straight, running tests, recording data, and pushing the limits of his powers to analyze the Scarab's design.
"Okay, you little nightmare," Ethan muttered, adjusting his neural interface goggles. "Let's see what makes you tick.
The first day was spent mapping the Scarab's structure. Ethan's psychometric abilities allowed him to glean a wealth of information by touch, but the Scarab was so advanced that even his powers struggled to process its intricacies.
"It's alive," Ethan said aloud, speaking more to himself than to Jaime, who sat nearby watching nervously. "Not just biologically alive—it's a fusion of organic and technological components. A true biomechanical organism."
Jaime leaned forward. "So, what does that mean?"
"It means this thing isn't just tech—it's symbiotic. It evolves, learns, and adapts to its host. It's more than a weapon. It's... a partner, I guess. Or at least, that's what it's supposed to be."
"Supposed to be?" Jaime asked, frowning.
Ethan gestured to his screen. "From what I can tell, this Scarab isn't working the way it was originally designed. It's been... reprogrammed. Twisted. Whatever made it, they didn't intend for it to bond with someone like you. It's been hacked, Jaime. And I think that's why you're struggling to control it."
Jaime's face darkened. "Hacked by who?"
Ethan shrugged. "No idea yet. But whoever it was, they knew what they were doing.
By the second day, Ethan had begun to piece together the Scarab's abilities.
"This thing is insane," he said, pacing the basement. "It's got integrated energy weaponry, adaptive armor, flight systems, stealth capabilities, and—get this—a molecular fabricator."
Jaime blinked. "A what?"
Ethan pointed to the screen, which displayed a complex diagram of the Scarab's internal systems. "It can literally create matter out of energy. That's how your armor forms—it's constructing it on the fly from the power it absorbs. And it can do more than just armor. If you had full control, you could probably build tools, weapons, even entire machines."
Jaime whistled. "No wonder people are after it."
"That's not even the half of it," Ethan continued. "It's got a fully sentient AI, capable of independent thought and tactical planning. It's like having a supercomputer in your brain. And it's designed to integrate seamlessly with its host, amplifying your reflexes, strength, and even your perception."
Jaime slumped into a chair, overwhelmed. "So, I'm basically carrying a god-tier piece of tech on my back."
Ethan nodded. "Pretty much. And that's the problem. This thing is so far beyond Earth's technology that even understanding it is like trying to read an alien language with only half the alphabet."
Ethan didn't sleep that night. He worked tirelessly, using every scrap of knowledge and material at his disposal to replicate even a fraction of the Scarab's capabilities.
By dawn, he had something—a small, palm-sized device that hummed faintly with energy. It was rough, incomplete, and nowhere near the power of the Scarab, but it was functional.
"Behold," Ethan said, holding up the device. "The Earth-tech version of your alien buddy."
Jaime raised an eyebrow. "What does it do?"
Ethan placed the device on the table and activated it. A thin, glowing barrier of energy formed around it, crackling faintly.
"It's got basic shielding," Ethan explained, "and a rudimentary energy weapon—think of it as a glorified taser. It can also project a weak exoskeleton for protection, but it's nowhere near as durable or versatile as your armor."
Jaime picked up the device, examining it closely. "And you built this in three days?"
Ethan shrugged. "It's not that impressive when you compare it to the real thing. The Scarab's molecular fabricator alone is light-years ahead of anything we've got. I had to improvise with what I could scrounge up—mostly stuff from my Echo Box project and some scavenged alien tech."
Jaime frowned. "So, it's basically a baby version of the Scarab?"
"More like a fetus," Ethan said with a wry smile. "It's functional, but it's not alive. No AI, no adaptive capabilities, and no way to interface with a host. Honestly, it's more of a prototype than a real device."
As they sat in the basement, the Scarab stirred. Its glow intensified, and a strange, mechanical voice echoed in Jaime's mind.
"Analysis detected. Replication attempted. Cease further attempts."
Jaime winced, holding his head. "The Scarab... it's talking to me. It's not happy about what you're doing."
Ethan frowned. "Why? I'm not trying to hurt it."
Jaime shook his head. "It's not about that. It's... it's warning us. It says replicating its technology could attract the wrong kind of attention."
Ethan leaned back, the weight of the Scarab's words sinking in. "If that's true, then we've got bigger problems. If someone's already hunting you for the Scarab, what happens if they find out we're trying to duplicate it?"
Jaime looked down at the small device in his hands, a mixture of awe and fear in his eyes. "So, what do we do now?"
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. "We keep this between us. No one else can know about the Scarab or this prototype. And you..." He gestured to Jaime. "You need to figure out how to fully bond with that thing. If we can't replicate its power, then you're the only one who can use it to keep yourself safe."
Jaime nodded, determination hardening his expression. "Then I guess I've got some training to do."
Ethan hunched over his workbench, the dim light of his basement lab casting shadows over his tired face. The Scarab replica lay on the table before him, glowing faintly. After weeks of obsessive work, he had made a significant breakthrough, integrating its design with components from his Echo Box.
The fusion wasn't easy. The Echo Box, designed as a multipurpose technological analyzer and manipulator, lacked the organic element of the original Scarab. But Ethan's ingenuity—and his powers—allowed him to bridge the gap. By infusing the replica with adaptive algorithms and energy manipulation protocols, he created something far closer to the original Scarab.
"It's not perfect," Ethan muttered to himself. "But it's a damn sight better than it was."
He tested the device's functions one by one. It could now generate armor, though it was only as durable as high-grade steel compared to Jaime's near-indestructible plating. It could project energy blasts, but at a fraction of the output. It could fly, but with limited speed and agility.
The key difference was in its AI. The replica lacked true sentience, but it was now capable of limited autonomy, enough to assist its user without overriding them.
Ethan smiled, feeling a mix of pride and apprehension.
Satisfied that it was safe, he decided to take the next step. The bonding process.
Ethan placed the replica on his back, securing it with a specially designed harness. Taking a deep breath, he activated the device.
A surge of energy flooded his body, and for a moment, he felt overwhelmed. The armor began to spread across his torso, forming a sleek, metallic exoskeleton. His senses sharpened, his vision expanded, and a faint hum resonated in his ears as the AI interfaced with his brain.
"Connection stable," the AI's synthesized voice said. "Host compatibility: 97%."
Ethan opened his eyes, the HUD in his vision displaying streams of data. He clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through him. It wasn't on the level of Jaime's Scarab, but it was more than enough to defend himself—and maybe even help Jaime.
Meanwhile, Jaime had grown restless. The more he thought about the Scarab, the more questions he had. Where had it come from? Why had it been sent to him? And who was behind its reprogramming?
His suspicions turned toward Kord Industries, the tech company where he worked as an intern. The package containing the Scarab had been addressed to the company but somehow ended up on his doorstep.
Jaime decided to investigate, slipping into the building late at night. He used the Scarab's stealth capabilities to evade security cameras and guards.
As he moved through the dimly lit halls, he stumbled upon a small lab tucked away in a corner of the building. Inside, a woman in a lab coat was poring over blueprints and alien schematics. Jaime recognized her immediately—Maria, the woman who had helped him escape the mercenaries a week ago.
"You!" Jaime said, stepping into the lab.
Maria turned, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you that," Jaime shot back. "You're the one who sent the Scarab to me, aren't you?"
Maria hesitated, then sighed. "Not intentionally. I was trying to get it out of Kord Industries before the wrong people got their hands on it. I didn't know it would end up with you."
"Why were you trying to steal it in the first place?"
Maria crossed her arms. "Because I know what it's capable of. And there are people out there who'll do anything to control it. I was trying to keep it out of their hands."
Jaime frowned. "You could've just destroyed it."
Maria shook her head. "You don't understand. The Scarab is more than just technology—it's alive. Destroying it would've been wrong. And besides, I didn't have the means to do it safely."
Before Jaime could respond, the door to the lab burst open, and a towering figure stepped inside.
The man was clad in a sleek, advanced exoskeleton, its surface bristling with weapons and energy conduits. His voice was cold and mechanical as he addressed them.
"You've caused enough trouble, Reyes. Hand over the Scarab, and I'll make this quick."
Jaime stepped forward, his armor forming around him. "Yeah, I don't think so."
The exosuit warrior laughed, the sound echoing through the lab. "You're out of your league, kid."
The fight began in an instant. Jaime charged, firing energy blasts at the intruder, but the exosuit's shields absorbed the attacks with ease. The warrior retaliated with a barrage of plasma bolts, forcing Jaime to go on the defensive.
Maria ducked behind a console, shouting, "Jaime, he's using Kord tech! Watch out for the ion cannons—they'll fry your armor!"
"Great," Jaime muttered, dodging another blast. "Any other tips?"
"Don't get hit!"
The exosuit warrior closed the distance, delivering a devastating punch that sent Jaime crashing into a wall. The Scarab tried to compensate, but its energy reserves were already depleting.
Jaime struggled to his feet, his vision blurry. The exosuit warrior advanced, his weapons charging for a final blow.
"Jaime, we have to go!" Maria shouted, grabbing his arm.
"I can't just run," Jaime said, his voice strained. "If I don't stop him, he'll—"
Maria cut him off. "You're no good to anyone dead. Come on!"
Reluctantly, Jaime allowed Maria to pull him toward the emergency exit. The exosuit warrior fired a parting shot, narrowly missing them as they disappeared into the night.
Hours later, they sat in Maria's safe house, licking their wounds. Jaime's armor was cracked and flickering, and his body ached from the fight.
"You were right," Maria said, pacing the room. "The Scarab is too dangerous to stay here. If Kord Industries is working with people like him, they're not going to stop until they have it."
Jaime looked at her, determination in his eyes. "Then we'll stop them first."
Maria hesitated, then nodded. "I hope your friend Ethan is ready, because we're going to need all the help we can get."
Jaime smiled faintly, despite the pain. "Oh, he's ready. You haven't seen what he can do."