Chapter 4: Nancy
Tyson's body lay motionless inside the metallic pod, covered in the tight-fitting black rubber suit.
The rubber-like material clung to his body enhanced for maximum flexibility and strength. At the center of his chest, the triangular meta-bot flickered with a soft white light. His consciousness, however, was elsewhere.
As Tyson's physical body rested, the virtual world unfolded around him.
The simulation was seamless; he could taste the metallic tang of blood, and the ground felt convincingly solid beneath his feet, almost too real. His senses were fully engaged; every detail appeared sharp and vivid.
Here, in this controlled environment, Tyson and his meta-bot could merge as one—no longer two separate entities, but a single force, bonded by the hum of the meta-bot's energy, and his heartbeat.
Tyson's eyes flashed open, though he wasn't truly awake. In this simulated reality, his mind drove the actions of his body.
He surveyed the desert landscape; jagged rocks jutted from the dry earth, and the air hung with the stench of decay and dust.
He wasn't alone.
The Metallic hum of the suit's nanotech flooded Tyson's senses as the armor materialized around him. In seconds, his body was fully encased in white armor, the glowing emblem on his chest pulsing as if alive.
He could sense the armor had increased the speed of his movements, it made him stronger—almost as though the suit was a part of him, adjusting and adapting to each shift in his stance.
The helmet locked into place with a soft hiss, and through the HUD display, Tyson could see every angle of his surroundings.