[All visitors, please note that Absolution will transfer between star systems in three hours. Those who wish to return to their vessels or remove their vessels from our docking bays are free to do so for the next two hours and thirty minutes.

If you wish to accompany us back into Alliance territory for our next port of call, the portal will be held open for all vessels in the region for an additional thirty minutes. Please be aware that the destination will be a system that is currently under threat from a Klem infestation and that the Terminus Trading Company is under contract with the Alliance Government to deal with the problem.

Any attacks on Absolution or her crew while they are working, will be treated as attacks on a government vessel. historical

I appreciate your understanding on this matter.]

The news wasn't really a surprise to very many, as they had already informed every vessel Captain, but there were a few panicked shoppers and tourists who had been wandering around the core commercial district and not paying attention to current events.

Fortunately, everyone else got the memo, and they were quickly assured that they didn't have to leave. They could just go about their day and depart from the new System when they were finished.

While they waited, Nico sent Max a huge amount of combat data, in addition to the first reports, in order to better analyze his tactics. He had a workout planned already, so he took a data tablet with him to the Gym so that he could go over it as he exercised. He was only a few points away from another fifty-point mile point.

Hopefully, he could [Optimize] a few more systems to improve performance, but as he was sitting in the Gym, doing agility drills while he studied the data, the System startled Max with a notification.

[System Function: Optimize] has been upgraded to [System Function: Optimize 2]

[Optmize Function may now be used to duplicate System Functions for Optimal Pilot Output]

[Selected Functions 0/2]

Max simply stared at the notification for a while, trying to determine what sort of Function that was and how exactly it was supposed to work. It was obvious that it was intended to Optimize the Pilot as well as the Mecha, but having two copies of his own skills wouldn't help him at all. None of them, except maybe [Perception], would actually stack in any meaningful way.

Nico noticed that he was distracted while reading the data that she had provided and had stopped the Agility drills, so she gave him a slap on the ass to wake him up again.

[Valid Target in Contact. Select Random User Function?]

Max was shocked. Borrowing other users' Functions to improve himself? That was positively broken. He declined the random skill option since he wasn't planning on any more combat today. Once they arrived, he would have at least a day of strategy meetings, and he didn't know how long the Function would last.

[Random Function Declined. Select Personalized Function: NICO?]

Max turned to his second in command while he tried to process what he had read.

"Nico, when exactly did you rename your System Functions? The System tells me that your Personalized Function is called Nico." He asked while listening closely to her thoughts.

"It was too cool to just have it called [Technology Manipulation 6]. What sort of lame name is that? Plus, it does so much more now that I'm a Cyborg. It also enhances my own functions and interacts very well with my [Modification] Function."

"That doesn't answer the question. But also, HOW did you manage to rename it?"

"When it reached level six, it gave me the option to make it a Personalized Function. Normally five is the cap, so when you break past the preset limits of the System, you get to name stuff after yourself. If you had focused instead of diversified, you could have called one of your Functions [Swagtastic Commander] or whatever you were thinking of.

Max started to work out again, needing the exercise to focus his mind in order to deal with Nico's revelations.

"First off, that is a terrible name. Secondly, the System isn't supposed to upgrade Functions to level six. That's not a thing. You broke it somehow." He informed her.

"It's not broken. We have an agreement. When I got to level five, I could interact with the nanomachines, so we started to have conversations about fun new ideas, and after that, we came to a working agreement, and sometime after that, the Function evolved."

Max considered her answer for a second. "Is that how you could hide your thoughts from me? Were you using your System Function to prevent it?"

Nico clapped her hands in joy. "You finally figured it out. Honestly, I didn't think that you were going to get it so soon. It's come in so handy for surprising you, though. Surprising a mind reader isn't easy when you're always around them."

"That answers so many questions. But I should tell you that I have evolved a skill of my own. Optimize upgraded, and I can now borrow a System Function from a nearby System User. Up to two Functions at the same time, but I haven't tried them yet to see how long they last before fading." He explained.

"Oh, so you want some Nico, do you? How about we head out of the Gym, and I give you the Nico?" She teased.

"I should have seen that one coming. I'm not sure what Functions I need or want right now. I've got you right here, so there's really no need to borrow your Functions at the moment. But a few additional combat Functions would be incredible. Or maybe one of those data analysis ones that the tacticians and bureaucrats often get. They could be very good when combined with [Unified Force] and my targeting skills.

Nico tapped her chin as she thought, but the amusement in her thoughts never faded, even when it started to gain a hint of lust. Even if they came to some practical decision about System Functions right now, Max was quite sure that he was still going to be getting some Nico later.