December 9th, 2033
"Hmm, I haven't been up here in a while. It still looks mostly the same." Liv stepped through the sliding hatch door into Asher's workshop, glancing around as she took it in.
Asher glanced back at her with a slight smile, arms folded across his chest as he stood in front of his computer screen, which was mounted on the wall above his desk.
"Haven't had a reason to change anything. It's been working just fine for me so far."
Liv's eyes flicked to him, surprised.
"You're walking already?" From what Asher's parents had told her, his full recovery wasn't expected until at least January.
"Hmm? Oh—no." He reached back and tugged at his collar, revealing the O.M.N.I. Frame fitted snugly against his body.
"This has been a huge help. It lets me move around without assistance while I heal." Liv's eyes widened slightly.
"Wow... something like this could be a game-changer for people with disabilities or life-altering injuries. It's leagues ahead of anything we have right now."
Asher chuckled, turning fully to face her.
"You're the second woman to walk in here and tell me that. And I agree. But with how the frame is designed, even if I sold it for medical use, no one who actually needs it could afford it—not even in Atlas." His expression turned thoughtful.
"Though..." He trailed off, considering the idea before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Maybe in the future, once I secure the right funding and get my company off the ground, I can develop something simpler—still efficient, but accessible." His focus drifted back to his computer, the weight of the thought lingering in the air.
"Well, at least you're thinking about it. That's more than I can say for most people who actually have the opportunity to make a difference," Liv remarked absentmindedly before shifting to another topic.
"By the way, outside of the hospital and your home, I haven't seen you much. I even heard you turned down an interview request—that doesn't seem like you." She wouldn't call Asher the most social person, but he valued his public image, and by extension, his family's. It was unlike him to avoid the spotlight entirely.
Her curiosity didn't linger long—his answer came a second later.
"After what happened in Mantle—getting held at gunpoint—my parents were already protective. Then came the hostage situation and the hospital stay… well, let's just say they're even less keen on me going anywhere now." He exhaled, shaking his head.
"They haven't put me on house arrest or anything, but they try to talk me out of leaving for just about anything. That includes interviews."
"Oh… yeah, I guess I can understand that." Liv lowered her gaze slightly. Two incidents like that, back to back in the same year?
If she had a child, she'd probably be just as protective.
Silence settled over the workshop for a moment. Liv's eyes wandered to the workbench lining the entire right-side wall. She'd never really had the chance to see much of what Asher built here—mostly because she didn't visit often.
She practically managed his entire legal life now and had recently taken over his responsibilities when it came to overseeing Indigo and her group's training while he recovered. It was a lot of work, but she didn't mind. If anything, she enjoyed it. It felt like she was actually working toward something, even if it kept her busy most of the time.
In any case, her attention was immediately drawn to the odd panels scattered across Asher's workbench. Some were metal, others a kind of mesh, but all shared the same general size and shape. A few even had Dust infused directly into them.
Further down the bench, she noticed a compiled piece. If everything before it was individual components, then this had to be the finished product. It resembled a shoulder pad—no, a full pauldron—but it was far too large for standard armor.
"Asher... what is this?" She asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.
Asher glanced away from his monitor and followed her gaze.
"Oh, that? It was a prototype for a suit of armor I was developing. Finished it last week but never got around to storing it. I plan on outfitting every Insurgent with a full-body suit made the same way—with some tweaks, of course." Liv stared at him in disbelief, her eyes darting between Asher and the piece of armor.
Reaching out, she tried to lift it, only to immediately strain against its weight. Her muscles tensed as she barely managed to raise it a few centimeters before setting it back down with a sharp exhale.
"Asher… no offense, but how the hell do you expect anyone to wear this? I mean, I'm not exactly a fitness junkie, but I can barely lift the thing—and it's the size of my head!"
"That's because it's power armor," he explained.
"I'm basing it on the O.M.N.I. Frame, so the wearer won't have to support the full weight. The full set of armor itself weighs over half a ton." Liv blinked, stunned.
"Holy shit… Are you sure this is for a special forces unit? You're making it sound like you're deploying walking tanks."
"That's the goal," Asher said without hesitation.
"If the Insurgency is going to be the scalpel that cuts out the rot in Mantle and wherever else they're needed, then it needs to be a scalpel that can't be stopped by just throwing bodies or bombs at it. The moment people realize their only real option is to run, our job gets a lot easier." He gestured for her to come over, his expression calm but resolute.
"Take a look." Asher motioned to the computer screen.
Liv wasn't sure what she was supposed to be looking at, but she stepped closer anyway. It took her a moment to recognize the live feed displayed on the monitor—a security camera view of Asher's warehouse.
Only, it didn't look like a warehouse anymore.
Before, the space had been almost entirely empty. Now, it had been completely overhauled. She knew renovations were happening, but this was her first time seeing the results.
The entire left wing had been converted into an automated inventory system.
Along the left wall, robotic storage racks lined the space, each electronically controlled by GAIA, Asher's personal AI assistant that ran through nearly all of his systems. The racks could extend or retract their loads as needed, with different variations designed for specific materials.
Some were built for heavy-duty storage, while others housed specialized containment vaults for Dust crystals—similar to the ones in Asher's workshop but on a much larger scale.
As for the source of all that Dust, Asher had Whitley and their contract to thank.
Between his deal with the Schnee Dust Company and the black budget he received from General Ironwood, funding wasn't an issue. Neither was buying Dust in bulk.
Each storage rack automatically tracked its contents, from quantity to weight, feeding real-time data directly to GAIA for evaluation and logistics management.
At the heart of the warehouse, occupying the most space, was the manufacturing and processing hub.
Advanced CNC machines and precision milling stations allowed for automated cutting, drilling, and shaping of raw materials, whether metal, plastic, or composite. High-powered laser cutters handled intricate detailing, while a 3D printer and automated welding stations ensured that nearly any component could be fabricated on-site.
On top of that, robotic arms managed the handling and transport of materials throughout the facility, eliminating the need for human interference entirely.
Lastly, there was the assembly zone, positioned adjacent to the processing area. This was where the Automated Assembly Arms came into play. Mounted on overhead tracks spanning the warehouse, they could be operated manually or set to run autonomously—just like the ones in Asher's workshop.
Their reach and precision allowed them to access nearly every part of the facility. When not engaged in component assembly at the modular workstations or assisting with the self-adjusting production lines, they could also help organize, sort, or transport materials from the automated inventory racks.
Beyond the main systems, there were a few other key areas that might not stand out at first glance.
A section in the back was dedicated to quality control testing for any technology produced in the warehouse. Another isolated chamber, tucked into the far corner, was reserved solely for Dust synthesis and material infusion.
Dust was too volatile to be around everything else in the warehouse.
The only thing the facility still lacked was the full security infrastructure Asher had originally planned. At the time, too many of his initial measures violated existing laws, so for now, high-level surveillance was the primary defense. The entire warehouse was under constant 360-degree monitoring, with GAIA ready to detect and report any anomalies.
Of course, now that the warehouse was officially designated as an Atlas military facility, that would change soon enough.
Liv stared at the screen, stunned.
"It's… it's like your workshop, but scaled up a hundred times over." It wasn't just the sheer scope of the facility—it was the fact that everything was already running, seamlessly integrated into a fully operational system.
Every mechanical process, every moving part, worked in perfect sync. The assembly arms stretched down from the ceiling, production lines shifted and adjusted in real time, yet nothing clashed.
It was mesmerizing.
"That's the point," Asher explained.
"Anything I can make here in my workshop, I can produce in the warehouse. And anything I design here can be turned into a blueprint for mass production—scaled up a thousand times over. And, of course, I can control it whenever I need to." Reaching toward his holographic keyboard, he pressed a key.
A confirmation message flickered on-screen.
Instantly, the entire warehouse froze, as if time itself had stopped.
With another press, everything surged back to life—systems humming, machines resuming their work as if nothing had happened.
"The only time human intervention is needed is when new materials are delivered to restock inventory, when shipments need to be sent out, or for maintenance," Asher explained. While much of the equipment was self-maintaining to an extent, after running continuously for about a week, he'd still need to send in a team for upkeep.
Liv watched the automated systems at work before turning back to him.
"So… what's it working on now?"
"The Insurgency's gear," he said.
"Well, more specifically, a stockpile of their gear." Liv's eyebrows shot up.
"Wait—you mean their armor?"
Asher shook his head.
"No, that was finished a while ago. Right now, it's producing ammunition, weapons—everything they'll need to replenish once they start running low." She blinked, momentarily speechless.
"Wait, what? Wh- Asher, when did you even do all this?" It felt absurd. He had only just gotten out of the hospital a little over a week ago. When had he found the time to set all of this up—let alone design and manufacture an entire arsenal for the Insurgency?
Asher put a hand to his chin, thinking back for a moment.
"Well, I had the concept for a full-body O.M.N.I. Frame back in early August, along with GAIA's new recognition protocol—the one that lets it process visual and statistical data from inside the warehouse. As for the software that runs the entire factory, I wrote it while I was in the hospital."
Liv blinked, needing a second to process that.
"What do you mean… while you were in the hospital?" Asher met her gaze with an utterly neutral expression.
"Well, I only had my scroll available to me when I was in the hospital. I could have got it done faster if I had my computer." She looked between his face and the computer screen, where the warehouse was still running flawlessly.
On his scroll… he programmed an entire automated factory… while stuck in a hospital bed?
Liv rubbed her temple, letting out a soft laugh as she shook her head.
"You know what, never mind. If I keep trying to wrap my head around this, we'll be here all day."
Asher just shrugged.
"In any case, Indigo and her group's training wraps up tomorrow, and I plan to set up another meeting with Ironwood once it does. Considering how much money I've sunk into all this, I need to show results. Otherwise, I imagine there'll be some… issues."
"And you want me to come along again?" Liv asked.
"That's right—if you can make time, of course."
If I can make time? Seriously? As if I'd choose paperwork over seeing this in action.
"Yeah, of course. Tomorrow, right? I've got some things to take care of, but I'll meet you at the academy," Liv replied.
"Perfect." A faint smile played on Asher's lips.
"This is a big moment, Liv. Everything you've been hoping to see change in Mantle? It all starts here. A turning point in history."
=====================================•=====================================
December 10th, 2033
"Well, would you look at that—finally out of the hospital and decided to pay us a visit," Indigo called out as the metal doors to the training room slid open, revealing Asher and Liv stepping inside.
"It's nice to see you too, Indigo," Asher replied, his eyes scanning the group.
Even after the grueling two-month regimen, everyone was still here. All eight of them. Not a single one had quit or slacked off—a fact that, he had to admit, was a little impressive. He'd expected some pushback when things got tough, but between what he was seeing now and Liv's updates, they had stuck with it.
"So, how was your training?" He asked outright.
A collective groan rippled through the group.
"How do you think?" Gray muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
"It sucked."
He exhaled before adding, "Though… living in a place like this made it tolerable, I guess."
Asher smirked.
"So, I take it you all enjoyed the jacuzzi after all?" Silence fell over the group, but no one denied it. That was all the confirmation he needed.
"Hmm, alright then, that's enough messing around. I'm sure you're all wondering about those," he said, pointing toward one of the walls.
Everyone turned their attention to the nine tube-like chambers lined up against it. Each one stood about three meters tall, constructed entirely of metal with no glass, making it impossible to see inside. The seamless design gave them an almost monolithic look, with hand scanners protruding from the sides.
"Oh yeah, I was wondering about those," someone in the group murmured.
"Yeah, me too. What are they?" Another asked.
Asher let the anticipation linger for a moment before answering.
"Consider them your graduation presents. A reward for completing your training." His eyes flicked toward the doors.
"All we're waiting on now is our audience." Almost on cue, the metal doors slid open once again.
"Sorry for the delay," a firm voice carried into the room.
"Had to cut a meeting short. I hope whatever you're about to show me is worth it, Asher."
Hearing that, Asher turned to see Ironwood and Winter walking toward them.
"Glad you could make it, General," he greeted with a confident nod.
"And don't worry—I'm sure it won't disappoint."