[Last Hope for Mankind] 7 – …One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure

Within the workshop, a small figure could be seen sitting at a workbench covered in an assortment of items and tools, with a terminal nearby seemingly running a program.

A custom makeshift mouse and keyboard were connected to the terminal, as the keyboard integrated into the frame of the Terminal seemed to have been ripped out and replaced with a strange tube.

The tube was actually the data storage for the computer. It was a specialized component that was designed to hold a large amount of data and a simple AI that would be able to sort and catalog the data, also being able to search and scour through the data to find anything that its creator wanted to know. At the moment, the customized terminal was connected to the network the Archive worked off of, and the simple AI within the storage was copying all of the data held within the various Terminals within the Archives and sorting through the data, already getting to work cataloging the information for later use.

Of course, the data 'tube' would need to be upgraded soon, and the child sitting at the table was working on said upgrade as they worked on a circuit board. Said child was, of course, none other than me. The vacuum tube I was using as a hard drive was stocked with transistors and circuitry. However, its memory was still limited, as it could only store five gigabytes of information, with most of that storage being taken up by the simple AI. However, I was thinking of transferring the AI to my custom Terminal and, instead, starting to build more of these Data Tubes. 

Yes...I'll do that, house the AI on my Terminal, and instead make a...storage holder that could connect multiple Data Tubes to the Terminal and the AI on it. If I improved the Terminal's storage problems, that would also mean I could improve and enhance the AI. As it was, the AI was beyond simple and still getting many errors; it wasn't a software problem; it was a hardware one. I couldn't expand or improve the AI any further, or I'd risk the Terminal and Data Tube. 

Seven seems like a good number. Seven more data tubes for a combined total of eight, and then I need to make a device that I could connect the data tubes to and connect to the terminal. However...how would I get the materials? It'll take me ages to get the materials I need to make more data tubes. 

That's when a thought came to mind...in my daily quests, I have been receiving something called 'Trash-Tier Lootboxes,' I have been wondering what they are...but just based on their name, I would assume I'd get some kind of item or junk from...what? A Gacha or something? 

Setting down the tools in my hand, I walked over to the Terminal and, after a few moments, properly disconnected the data tube. I then hid it under the workbench in a special little cubby I built into the underside of the workbench.

From there, I began walking back to my room, passing through the Clinic where the Doctor was doing something on his terminal while his son, nearby, was working on an inventory of their medical supplies.

Letting them work in peace, I took the northern exit. I made my way around the outer edge of the Concourse, passing by Advanced Systems on my way to the northern tower, noting a particular boy going into Advanced Systems that I wanted to get close to eventually, Liam Binet. Otherwise known as Patriot by the Railroad, or would be known as anyway. Liam would unknowingly be assisting the Railroad in the future when he begins helping Synths escape, though he will not have any sort of contact with the Railroad until the Sole Survivor comes around in the future.

Liam is in my current class...perhaps I should approach him? No, I need to focus on the task at hand. I can always talk with him after class tonight. I continued up the tower until I reached my room.

Entering my private quarters, I closed the door behind me, locking it to ensure my privacy.

Opening my status, I was met with a...decent number of Trash-Tier loot boxes. 

[127 Trash-Tier Lootboxes ready to be opened]

I've gathered quite a few of them, as I have made sure to complete all three of my daily quests every day since I was level 1.

Walking over to the center of my room, I 'opened' one of the loot boxes, finding a new screen appear before my eyes. This one showed off what looked to be a warehouse in the background covered in crates, boxes, and more. 

Floating in space on the screen was a simple wooden chest.

[Open 1x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, or 100x]

Starting with just one, I was surprised to see the box on the screen begin to shake as light shined from within it before the chest abruptly slammed open, revealing what looked to be...I honestly couldn't tell. It literally looked like trash.

[Congratulations! You have obtained: moldy trash]

[Would you like to withdraw?]

No, God knows what that will smell like. It looks like something that belonged in a dump. 

Wondering what else I could get, I began opening the boxes five at a time. At first, I was only getting more trash, but as time went on, I started getting things that truly seemed unusual. In what ways were some of these things trash? 

When I opened all of my loot boxes, I realized I would have to go to class soon.

So, I checked my loot for anything noteworthy that could be useful and found...what the hell?!

[Congratulations! You have obtained: Damaged B1-Series Battle Droid]

The fuck?! I can get stuff from Star Wars in loot crates?!

I wasted no time withdrawing the droid, and I was surprised to find my quarters covered in a flash of light for a moment before I found that I now had a broken droid lying on the floor before me.

I dropped down to the droid and began closely examining it. Its outer plates were riddled with what looked to be burns that melted through the droid's frame and into its chest. It was also missing its left arm and right hand, and one of its eye cameras was clearly damaged and featured a crack along its surface. In all consideration, it looked to be in relatively good condition. However, until I get a good look at its internals, I can't know for sure. For all I know, the internals of the robot could be fried beyond repair, or missing, or who knows what else? I have no clue how Star Wars technology would look compared to Earth and Fallout technology.

Grabbing it, I attempted to move it to my desk, but it was far too heavy! How much did this thing weigh?! This thing had to weigh at least a hundred pounds!

Huuffing and groaning, I found that I could hardly move it an inch.

Letting go, I realized that I would not be able to move it to my desk alone, let alone onto my desk, where I could open it up and examine its internals.

Sighing in defeat, I got up to my feet and checked the clock, realizing I had a few minutes left until class started.

Left with no choice, I covered the Battle Droid with a blanket before leaving my room, locking my door behind me. I couldn't risk someone finding the droid while I was away. Especially not the Synth that was assigned to clean my room every day. Luckily, I shouldn't have to worry about him, as he already cleaned my room today, but I still would not risk it.

Heading to class, I passed by a few synths cleaning the hallways, stairs, and corridors of the Concourse. I greeted each and every one of them, and whether the others here in the Institute agreed or not, I fully believed that AIs were people, too; specifically, I believed 'Smart AIs' were people, while 'Dumb AIs' had the ability to grow into people.

An example of this can be seen in the trilogy Mass Effect. EDI started off as a 'Dumb AI' that grew into a fully sentient 'Smart AI' capable of growth and emotion. I guess that's why the perk was called [Digital Mother], as I was now capable of creating life, Digital Life, but all the same. 

Shaking my head, I soon reached class, where my eyes immediately locked on to one Allen Binet. It seems I had my chance.