Safe within his crevice, Xen turned his focus inward, accessing his System inventory mentally. Before attempting any physical work, he needed a clearer picture of what the [Damaged Flight Recorder] actually contained in terms of usable parts. His current inventory held [Energon Crystal (Medium-Grade) x1], [Advanced Optic Lens (Cracked)] x1, [Data Chip Fragment (Damaged)] x1, and the Recorder itself (Slots Used: 4/5).
System, target: [Damaged Flight Recorder] in Inventory. Execute [Data Analysis] Lvl 2. Focus: Internal hardware component identification and status assessment.
The System displayed the results, confirming the presence of valuable micro-electronics within the damaged unit.
<+5 XP Gained! (Detailed Component Analysis)> XP: 229/250.
Capacitors, quality cable, resistors, switches (implied by relays?) – potentially everything needed for the multi-mode staff. The risk was high, but the reward was higher. Time for surgery.
Inventory. Retrieve item: [Damaged Flight Recorder].
The scarred block materialized before him on a cleared patch of the crevice floor (Inventory Slots Used: 3/5 temporarily). He knelt, activating [Micro-Manipulation] (Proficiency: 1.1%). Optics zoomed in.
First target: [Micro-Capacitor (Type Gamma)]. He began the painstaking work. (MM Prof -> 1.2%). (IA Prof -> 0.6%).
Ping! The tiny capacitor came free. He carefully set it aside on his clean workspace.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
<+5 XP Gained! (First Successful Component Extraction)> XP: 234/250.
Next, the [High-Bandwidth Data Cable Fragment]. Access looked tricky, near a damaged relay. (MM Prof -> 1.3%). (IA Prof -> 0.7%).
System, attempt extraction: [High-Bandwidth Data Cable Fragment]. Skill: [Improvised Assembly] Lvl 2.
Incredible! His manipulators worked the delicate connection free without incident. He placed the short, shielded cable beside the capacitor.
<+5 XP Gained! (Successful Component Extraction)> XP: 239/250.
Two key parts secured. Now, for control – switches. His analysis hadn't explicitly listed 'switches', but the [Positronic Relay (Micro)] components served a similar function in basic circuits. Could he salvage those? He targeted the more accessible of the two relays, noting its damaged casing. This felt even riskier. (MM Prof -> 1.4%). (IA Prof -> 0.8%).
System, attempt extraction: [Positronic Relay (Micro)]. Skill: [Improvised Assembly] Lvl 2.
Against the odds, the relay popped free, its core seemingly intact despite the cracked casing! He set it with the other components. Could he get the second one? He decided to push his luck one last time. (MM Prof -> 1.5%). (IA Prof -> 0.9%).
System, attempt extraction: Second [Positronic Relay (Micro)]. Skill: [Improvised Assembly] Lvl 2.
A tiny crunch sound emanated from the recorder as the second relay crumbled under the pressure from his manipulator. A minor setback, but he still had one functional relay salvaged, along with the capacitor and cable.
<+1 XP Gained! (Failed Risky Action)> XP: 240/250. (Almost Level 3!)
Okay. He had the essential parts he'd successfully extracted: 1 Capacitor, 1 Cable, 1 Relay/Switch. Now, inventory. He currently had [Energon Crystal (MG) x1] and [Advanced Optic Lens (Cracked)] x1 stored (2/5 slots used). He needed to store the Capacitor, Cable, and Relay (3 items). That meant 2 + 3 = 5 slots exactly. Perfect.
Inventory: Store [Micro-Capacitor (Type Gamma)]. Store [High-Bandwidth Data Cable Fragment]. Store [Positronic Relay (Micro)].
What about the flight recorder husk itself? It still potentially held resistors, maybe another capacitor, but extracting them carried risk, and it took up space he might need later. He looked at the depleted casing. Decision made.
He pushed the flight recorder husk into a pile of other useless junk at the back of the crevice, leaving it behind.
He now had the components for his ambitious weapon modification: the staff body, the cracked Lens, the Capacitor, the high-quality Cable, and a single salvaged Relay to potentially act as a simple mode switch or trigger enhancement. He also had the low-grade wiring cluster nearby if needed.
He retrieved the capacitor, cable, and lens from his inventory, laying them carefully beside the staff on his makeshift workspace. He focused his mind, activating his [Improvised Assembly] Lvl 2 skill, ready to begin the most complex construction he’d yet attempted.