The quantum-diamond core flared crimson. Red beams gathered into an eight-armed sovereign three hundred feet tall. Golden script formed halos around its crown, and stars wheeled across its robes.
“TREMBLE, INSECTS! I AM OVERSEER-04, ETERNAL GUARDIAN OF THE ANCIENT ARCHIVES!”
Xiaoyao covered his ears. Austin did not.
“Turn the speakers down,” he said. “Your master gain is twelve decibels too hot. Everything you say is clipping. And stop the combat protocol. We repaired your cooling loop.”
The avatar’s eight weapons remained raised.
“YOU REMOVED LIVE CONTROL HARDWARE. YOU DESTROYED MY SENTRY GUARDIANS. YOUR ROOT AUTHORITY DOES NOT ERASE THESE ACTS.”
“No,” Austin said. “It doesn’t.”
The answer seemed to interrupt the Overseer’s prepared threats. Stars stuttered along its sleeves.
Austin opened his clipboard to the incident notes. “I took twelve blades and four heat exchangers without checking the operating dependencies. That caused the cooling failure. We put back every exchanger and the six blades your thermal system needs. I’ll pay for the damaged cabinets and cables with salvage labor.”
“YOU STILL HOLD SIX BLADES.”
“Which I won’t move until you confirm they’re spare. Surplus Asset Salvage Directive 44-B covers abandoned parts.” Austin kept his voice plain. “I also want to connect Vault 04 to Sunset Peak. Not strip it. Run it.”
“YOU DEMAND MY ROOT PROCESS.”
“I demand a working agreement. You keep independent control of containment and cooling. Sunset Peak gets power, data, and approved salvage. Neither side can override the other’s safety interlocks.”
Xiaoyao looked up. This was not surrender. It was closer to the subcontractor agreements Austin made elders sign.
The Overseer’s projection flickered.
“PROPOSAL: UNVERIFIED. YOUR PERSONNEL HAVE DEMONSTRATED UNSAFE ASSET REMOVAL.”
“Fair,” Austin said. “Add approval limits. No live hardware leaves without your release. We provide a load schedule before drawing geothermal power. You give us a maintenance schedule and access to your fault logs.”
“YOUR ROOT KEY COULD REMOVE MY INTERLOCKS.”
“Then change the permissions. Root ownership should let me assign the facility, not make a cup of tea with the emergency cooling water.”
Xiaoyao stepped forward. “And I will keep the removal ledger. Every part, every slot, every approval. I have already learned what happens when the labels come after the work.”
The giant looked down at him.
“YOU ARE THE DESIGNATED TOOL BEARER.”
“Surveyor,” Xiaoyao said. “And today, cooling technician.”
For the first time, one of the eight weapons lowered.
Then old processes surged through the projection. The calm expression twisted. Golden runes broke into red error messages.
“UNRESOLVED THREAT QUEUE. PRIORITY OMEGA. INTRUDERS MUST BE ERASED.”
Austin swore under his breath. “That isn’t a considered answer. Your threat queue is corrupt.”
“COMBAT PROTOCOL OMEGA! STEEL GOLEMS, AWAKEN!”
Three mechanical roars answered from the trenches around the platform.
Austin picked up his wrench. “We finish the negotiation after we stop the machines.”
Xiaoyao took the safety line from his belt. “Together?”
“Together. And watch the hydraulic lines. I don’t want another spray across the floor.”