I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 246 – Gear Analysis

“This… this is the actual ICARUS Gear….”

“Be careful. It has the capability to emit a kiloton-level EMP in case of emergency. Mishandling or attempting to steal it could cause DARPA to be reset.”

“Haha, that’s quite severe.”

It was a terrifying power.

Of course, not every ICARUS Gear had such capabilities; each product varied slightly. Originally, it was supposed to test various functions to select the best ones for mass production, but the Dark Winter crisis dragged on severely, killing off the facilities and personnel necessary to produce them, so the plan was scrapped.

Additionally, the gears were divided into early, mid, and late models. Since I spent nearly half a year wandering around before settling in Central Park and becoming an agent, I naturally received a late model.

Anyway, it served me well.

“We’ll return it to you after the analysis, so don’t worry. Besides, you have other ways to get it back, don’t you?”

“I can’t deny that.”

What could I do? I could access the gear remotely through my current phone and release Warhound drones all around… It’s unfortunate for them, but my gear was meticulously set to my preferences. It checks the user’s vital signs and stored settings upon wearing.

This is the result of investing billions of dollars into a gear the size of a watch.

Because of this, I had some tasks to do before the experiment.

“Then I’ll adjust the settings for a bit. How long do you plan to analyze it?”

“About three hours.”

“Then I’ll partially relax the external network intrusion defense for three hours. Check the open ports later, and you’ll need to adjust the network saturation in advance. Just don’t conduct excessively strange experiments….”

“Understood.”

I moved my fingers as I remembered.

As one of the most sophisticated devices in the world quickly displayed dozens of holograms in the air, fragments of my past—memorized and operated in real scenarios—were reenacted through my fingertips.

As a device whose operating principle could be understood by no one but a few in this world displayed its true worth, everyone stared at me with strange expressions as if witnessing magic. It was similar to how civilians might look at a fighter pilot in a cockpit.

After roughly adjusting the settings, I handed over the watch. Though it felt unsettling to part with the watch I’d worn in almost every situation for nearly five years, there was no other choice.

Secretary Janet quietly spoke up.

“I guarantee on my position that nothing will happen to the gear, though it won’t be long.”

“Isn’t that because it won’t be long?”

“Would anyone have the courage to destroy the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s data out of curiosity and end their life with a historical disgrace?”

She had a point.

Anyway, that was the end of such conversations. Despite the astronomical value of the ICARUS Gear, continuing to refuse after coming this far wasn’t a good idea, and there were countless ways to get it back.

The watch was placed in a box, about the size of a small briefcase, made of multi-layer liquid metal and alloy layers that could protect its contents from firepower over .50 caliber. It descended with me underground, heading to a place that would never be publicly disclosed.

After about 20 seconds, I reached a surreal large laboratory. Unlike the one described in the Dark Zone, it was a place I remembered. The main difference was that it was more rugged than before.

An attendant approached and spoke.

“Welcome. I’m Eric Sutton, here to guide you through today’s tactical support device demonstration. You can simply call me Eric.”

“Nice to meet you, Eric.”

“Shall we move directly to the demonstration site?”

I nodded and looked around.

In my memory of DARPA, there was a lobby immediately to the left of the elevator used exclusively for high-ranking and core researchers, followed by a hologram showing DARPA’s technological lineage and advancements.

My gaze turned to it. There were differences from what I remembered. Seeing three or four projects still vacant, a strange thought came to mind.

As soon as I saw it, he spoke.

“The hologram here hasn’t yet input the dogfighting and full augmented reality implementation projects. I believe Sergeant Yoo Jin of Task Force Dagger would know better why.”

“…Right. Where were you assigned before?”

“I was with the JTF. I belonged to the Technical Support Division but also guarded the observation tower near Columbus Circle. I was the first to report the Osprey crash to HQ.”

“You must have fought alongside the Dagger Team. I was there too, but I don’t quite remember everyone who fought.”

“It’s okay. I remember, and thanks to that, I’m still alive.”

I laughed briefly and nodded.

Surely, someone guiding us here wouldn’t be unaware of what happened to America, directly hit by the virus. Being in the heart of past memories, I finally realized it was inevitable.

We chatted about various things. The main topic was mocking another world’s America for pouring astronomical costs into a watch. The cost alone was frightening, ranging from hundreds to thousands of trillions in Korean Won, so it was understandable.

Still, if there was someone saved—though it wasn’t solely because of the watch—it seemed worth the cost. In a way, it revived a failing America after 20 years of down payments.

Of course, after the pandemic ended, there would be an enormous backlash for spending so much on training deep-cover agents, but that wasn’t my concern.

The demonstration began.

Familiar gunfire filled the air.

“It’s a turret you’ve seen many times. It can’t fully follow ICARUS Gear’s original target processing process, so its performance is somewhat degraded.”

“There must be some things that can’t be replicated.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

It was a fairly ordinary conversation to have in front of a deafening gunfire, but I wasn’t particularly moved. I’d seen it countless times in the ruins of New York. It was more to kill time until the watch analysis was complete.

They seemed to understand my reaction.

“Who has seen this scene with their own eyes so far?”

“The relevant researchers and Secretary of Defense Janet.”

“I bet they were quite surprised.”

There was no answer, but he nodded. It was to be expected.

Meanwhile, several pieces of data popped up in the air.

“The current operational rate is roughly this. I can’t say how efficient it will be when linked with ICARUS Gear since I haven’t seen it.”

“It’ll probably improve efficiency by over 70%.”

“…Impressive.”

Thinking the opposite, it seemed it had to do that much.

There wasn’t much to ask. As I said, I’d seen enough skills to be sick of them… If they wanted, I could tell them targeting program codes and other behind-the-scenes stories they didn’t know.

With about two and a half hours left until the approximate analysis was complete, this person was practically going to be my conversation partner for that long.

As I watched quietly, a small question came up.

“Where are you going next?”

“After DARPA?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe the Pentagon. Or ICARUS headquarters. I don’t really have a reason to go to the former, but I have a definite reason for the latter.”

“You only go to significant places.”

“Yeah. I just came to participate in the final championship, but the tasks keep piling up.”

…Of course, I said that, but it was nonsense. I had roughly guessed there would be plenty of tasks and conversations long before getting on the plane. The only unexpected thing was the overly compressed schedule.

Talking about various things, we passed the turret and drone strike tests and headed to the chemical launcher and hive testing grounds. It felt somewhat painful here and there. It was because none of them had particularly good memories.

There was a silent struggle about who would bring up the topic first, but Eric cautiously broached the subject.

“It’s something ICARUS Operators carry around. I was healed by it during the Columbus Circle engagement. It had incredible performance, like nothing I’d seen before….”

“…Able to heal gunshot wounds without a trace, in the shortest time.”

Abdomen nine times.

Left thigh 13 times.

Left calf seven times.

Right lung 14 times.

Countless other penetrating wounds over nearly five years, but the nanomachine chem and the micro healing drones embedded in the hive erased all the bullet wounds that should have remained in my body.

Of course, there were impossible parts. Fractured bones from direct hits couldn’t be regenerated immediately, so about 20% of my bones were still replaced by hardened nanomachines.

“Whoa.”

A smooth, unscarred abdomen.

But there were spots where a bullet had once torn through—many overlooked the fact that ICARUS Operators didn’t fight more comfortably.

Bullets flew enough to bury the shield, and if a single blind shot hit an unprotected area, combat ability drastically decreased.

…It wasn’t a pleasant memory.

But,

“Still, since I’ve received rewards equal to my efforts, there’s no reason to complain now.”

“Rewards equal to your efforts… Ah!”

Swish.

Wearing this was a bit awkward, but when I slightly lifted the front of my clothes, a unique medal appeared.

It was something more substantial than a mere piece of metal.

Without needing an explanation, he saluted the next moment. I also smiled slightly after receiving the salute. He looked a bit flustered and then spoke.

“It’s quite a reward. I remember there was no official announcement; it’s a pity.”

“A certain former president asked if I wanted to visit Pakistan.”

“Haha, quite a high-level joke. I can see the desire to give it to you, though.”

Haha.

Thus, the conversation continued until the ICARUS Gear analysis was roughly completed.

“Transfer complete. The entire stake of the think tank is now yours. You probably don’t intend to unify ownership and management… I’ll attach a trustworthy professional manager. Since your departure date is January 1st, if you have time, you should meet at least once.”

“Yes, sure.”

“You seem to have a rough blueprint in mind. If you’re not busy, I’d like to hear it.”

“It took about 20 years to develop the ICARUS Gear and the supporting technologies, so I’ll gradually release the associated technologies over half that time, at least.”

“Isn’t that too long?”

“There are so many derivative technologies from the original that it’s beyond imagination, Secretary.”

At this point, there’s nothing comparable to the detection software.

The pulse scans everything within a designated radius upon activation and draws conclusions.

Drones guaranteed to operate reliably in any harsh environment, tested through extensive real-world data.

Medical nanomachines that would become dozens of times more expensive than their weight in gold if applied in the medical field.

Shields that can protect countless things in reality.

And the numerous subordinate technologies applied to operate all these stably.

“Even if we release just ten of these technologies a year, it will solve all corporate funding issues and more, ensuring the prosperity of the related employees’ lives. If we release double that, their families for three generations won’t have to worry about money.”

“Is it that much?”

“I studied the technology applied to the gear so intensely that some of my hair fell out from overwork, so I can guarantee that.”

Indeed.

While Janet brought up the topic first in the car, talking directly revealed that she hadn’t meticulously checked—though it was unavoidable.

Given her workload, it’s surprising she grasped even a broad overview of the gear-related issues.

The secretary, with a complex expression, spoke.

“I’ll leave the details to you since I’m not the expert. In a few years, you’ll become an unprecedentedly wealthy person.”

“Haha, should I work as a lobbyist for you?”

“Where else could I go? Besides, being from the Republican Party, even if I enter politics, the future is bleak. Unless an old raccoon in the Senate is a Democrat, I’ll be content with a modest home in Beverly Hills in my old age, so don’t worry.”

“If anyone hears, they’ll think Beverly Hills is nothing but mountains and fields.”

Few people could downplay moving to one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in America like that.

Anyway, the rough conversation ended. The detailed blueprint for future technology release could be made through the watch, which was returned to my left wrist… Overall, there seemed to be no major problems in the future.

Janet, who checked her wristwatch, tapped my shoulder and added.

“Next time we meet, we’ll meet as regular people. Originally, I was supposed to go to the Pentagon and NSA, but checking your schedule, there seemed no reason to visit other places, so I adjusted and removed some.”

“I don’t know whether to thank you for that.”

“It means there’s nothing to worry about.”

At the same time, she left one last word and departed.

“Chief Secretary Sorkin will be waiting outside. I’ve given you a long vacation of about a week, so you can relax after a long time. And… I hope ICARUS headquarters has the answers you’re looking for.”

“Thank you.”

As she gradually distanced herself, I prepared to leave, returning the temporary ID.

Though not intentional, it felt like my wallet was getting thicker.

“Should I treat everyone to something delicious later…?”

In the end, that was the best way I could show my gratitude.

There wasn’t much left to clear the remnants of the past.

As we exchanged various stories, we moved past the turret and drone impact tests and headed toward the chemical launcher and hive test stations. I felt a slight sting here and there, likely due to the memories associated with these places.

There was a silent struggle over who would bring up the topic first, but Eric cautiously broached the subject.

“The ICARUS Operators seem to carry this everywhere. I was treated with it during the Columbus Circle engagement. Its performance is extraordinary. Truly…”

“…able to heal gunshot wounds without a trace in the shortest time possible.”

Nine times in the abdomen.

Thirteen times in the left femur.

Seven times in the left calf.

Fourteen times in the right lung.

In addition to countless other penetrative wounds over nearly five years, the nanomachine chem and the micro healing drones embedded in the hives had completely erased the dozens of gunshot wounds that should have remained on my body.

Scars were naturally impossible. During combat, the gear scanned the body ten times per second to determine the extent of damage, and various nano tools, including medical injectors and healing drones, instantly regenerated all affected areas.

Of course, some injuries were impossible to heal immediately. Bones shattered by direct bullet hits couldn’t be regenerated on the spot, so about 20% of the hundreds of bones in my body were replaced with hardened nanomachines.

“Sigh.”

A smooth abdomen without an ounce of fat.

However, each spot I pressed cautiously with my finger had once been gouged out by a bullet. One thing many overlooked was that being an ICARUS Operator didn’t make fighting any easier.

Bullets flew in such numbers that they could bury the shield, and even a single stray bullet hitting an unprotected area could significantly reduce combat effectiveness.

…These were not particularly fond memories.

But,

“Still, we were rewarded for our efforts, so there’s no reason to complain now.”

“Rewarded for our efforts… Ah!”

Swoosh.

Wearing this myself felt a bit awkward, but as I slightly opened the front of my clothes, a unique medal subtly revealed itself.

It was more than just a piece of metal; it carried some weight.

Without explanation, a salute followed. I smiled slightly in return. He looked flustered before continuing.

“It’s quite a reward. I don’t recall an official announcement, which is a shame.”

“A certain presidential candidate once asked if I had any plans to visit Pakistan.”

“Ha, quite a high-level joke. I can understand the desire to give such a reward, though.”

Ha ha.

The conversation continued until the analysis of the ICARUS gear was roughly concluded.

“Transfer complete. You now own all the shares of the think tank. I don’t expect you to handle both ownership and management… I’ll assign a reliable professional manager to you. Since your departure date is January 1st, you might want to meet once if you have time.”

“Sure, why not.”

“It seems you have a blueprint in mind; if you’re not too busy, I’d like to hear it.”

“We’ve spent about 20 years developing the ICARUS gear and the supporting technologies, so I’ll gradually reveal these technologies over half that time, or perhaps the same period.”

“Isn’t that too long?”

“There are countless derived technologies from the original designs, Secretary of Defense.”

At present, no software compares to the detection software.

The pulse that scans and analyzes everything within the designated radius upon activation.

Drones guaranteed to operate under any harsh conditions and tested through numerous real-world data.

Medical nanomachines that would be worth several times their weight in gold once applied in the medical field.

Shields that can protect anything when applied in reality.

And an endless list of subordinate technologies applied to ensure the stable operation of all these.

“Even if we release just ten items a year, it would more than solve all operational funding issues for the corporation and provide a prosperous life for all related employees. If we release twice that, the related employees’ families would be set for three generations.”

“Is that so?”

“I studied the technologies applied to the gear so thoroughly that I lost some hair from overwork, so I can guarantee that.”

Indeed.

While Janet had brought up the topic first in the vehicle, discussing it directly revealed she hadn’t meticulously checked – though it was understandable.

Considering she likely still had a mountain of work, the fact that she grasped the gear’s details more than the rough overview was surprising.

The Secretary, with a peculiar expression, slowly spoke.

“I’m not the one with the detailed knowledge, so I’ll leave that part to you. In a few years, you’ll become an unprecedented wealthy individual.”

“Ha ha, should I become a lobbyist for you?”

“Where else is there to go up? Besides, I’m from the Republican Party, so even if I step into politics, the future looks grim. Unless the old raccoon in the Senate were from the Republican Party instead of the Democratic Party, I’ll be content with a modest house in Beverly Hills for retirement, so don’t worry.”

“Someone might think Beverly Hills is just hills and fields.”

Few could downplay a move to one of the richest neighborhoods in America like that.

Anyway, the broad outline of the conversation concluded. I could refine the future technology disclosure blueprint more precisely using the watch returned to my left wrist… All in all, the future seemed promising.

Janet checked her wristwatch, patted my shoulder, and added.

“Next time we meet, we’ll be regular civilians. I was originally supposed to visit the Pentagon and NSA, but after checking your schedule, it seemed unnecessary, so I canceled a few visits.”

“I’m not sure whether to be thankful.”

“Just don’t worry about it.”

With that, she left one last remark before departing.

“Sergeant Sirkins is waiting outside. I’ve granted you a week-long vacation, so take the time to relax. And… I hope you find the answers you seek at ICARUS headquarters.”

“Thank you.”

As I watched her gradually retreating figure, I also prepared to return my temporary ID and leave.

Unintentionally, it felt like my wallet was getting thicker as time went by.

“Should I treat everyone to a nice meal later…?”

In the end, that was the best gesture of goodwill I could think of.

Clearing away the remnants of the past was almost complete.