On to the next top secret project

Floor nine was next, and if it was anything like the revelation on floor 8, you had a few guesses about what approached. Lina had been a lithium-based nanite cluster, modeled off of Chloe's slime. Therefore, she was likely meant to be internal to the body, at least partly. There was something fascinating about the idea of a person being able to conjure up any sort of technological structure from nanodevices that were housed within themselves.

And if Chloe was the basis for Lina, then Zoe was likely the basis for Tina.

You went through the same security setup as below, but the room you entered was different than the bright, futuristic world of floor 8. This area was dark, isolating, not nearly as wide open as the room downstairs. The hallways were clean, but inside the various glass chambers were structures that reminded you of insects, organic structures that felt alien to stare at.

It gave you chills when you saw one of the structures throb, but you didn't ask about it.

On this floor, there were again a dozen or so scientists, but half of them wore Hideki Aerospace badges, which made you curious as you stepped along.

Dr. Brooks personally escorted you along, while most others didn't pay you any mind. He seemed to have a particular interest in this project, which he followed closely. "This was where I first started my R&D work at Hideki," Dr. Brooks explained. "It's probably the most ambitious thing Hideki has ever done."

"All of these look like organic structures," you remarked as you peered closer into one of the chambers. "What could the aerospace division want with any of this?"

"Well, when Zoe demonstrated the ability to fully encase bodies, some of the scientists posited that we could engineer a suit with similar characteristics, but that could withstand the vacuum of space, for extended duration trips within our solar system, maybe beyond."

You stopped walking, as you stared at Dr. Brooks, not believing what he was telling you in that moment. "You're saying that you wanted to subject a living being to the harshness of space? There's so many variables to account for! Pressure, temperature, radiation--"

Dr. Brooks stopped you, before he began walking again. "Hence, just like project Inside Out, the tandem duo of Lina and Tina, since Lina can repair organic structures at an incredible rate even under constant bombardment by cosmic rays. But let's not forget, there are creatures that can survive the vacuum of space. The 'T' in Tina's name is for Tardigrade, those little creatures that seem to handle the extremes of the galaxy with relative ease. But we also took a lot of influence from insects in our design, and we've created something quite interesting. Dr. Ternion, meet Tina."

As you came around the corner, you saw a humanoid shape, but that was about as far as the comparison to Zoe could go. The headless, hollow suit stood before you, testing motor functions as a pair of scientists encouraged her to do so, moving her arms and legs. Every inch of her body was covered in some sort of armor, a shimmering deep blue exoskeleton that reminded you of a beetle or something.

While Tina continued to go through her 'motor checks', Dr. Brooks brought you in closer. "Hello, Tina."

"Hello, Doctor."

He smiled upward, turning to you. "She's a little more cooperative than Lina, so she doesn't need to be behind protective glass." He turned back. "I have a new visitor for you, this is Dr. Juno Ternion."

"Hello, Doctor." You weren't sure where Tina spoke from. Her structure was humanoid, but it was pretty clear she was a very different kind of species.

Dr. Brooks turned to the other scientists. "Have you had her do her modular exercises yet?" They both shook their heads. "Perfect, then if you don't mind, let's move onto those for a demonstration. Tina, could you show us your modular shapes? Full encasement to start."

You watched in awe as this walking space suit seemed to shift, as stacks of the shiny blue exoskeleton plates seemed to unfurl from atop one another, especially along her back. From it, a head--or more accurately, a helmet--grew where the suit had previously just been empty, sealing up in a recognizable fashion at some organic spots before the armor clamped down. Even the visor was a transparent insect-like organic structure!

Dr. Brooks glanced at you, noting your amazement. "Like this, she's fully sealed, and able to withstand up to three days in space if she's worn by a host. Just like Zoe's compression capabilities, Tina is able to store oxygen canisters and a nutrient delivery system to her host, all regulated by Lina's ability to interface with it. Lina had to give up a lot of the medical abilities that Chloe had been capable of, we're trying to bring some of those back, but that's a tough nut to crack. If we could, then she could repair Tina in deep space, as well, protecting the host. But with Lina and Tina working together in tandem, they can regulate a suit that can withstand any environment we might send an astronaut to, with various durations of activity before they hibernate to preserve the life of a host before rescue. Tina, how about the other end, show us your minimal coverage."

Tina's helmet disappeared, as did much of her to your surprise! Her armored platelets folded up and along herself, neatly tucking away under each other, as you watched her arms do the same, unfurling in a pattern that then came to rest along the back of the suit. While her legs didn't disappear--you assumed because she was standing while unworn--the organic structures merely spiraled downward to her feet instead of creating full leg coverings, giving the illusion that she was still being worn by some invisible entity. Some of the paneling around her chest opened up, then stomach and sides, creating an admittedly sexy sort of space attire, something that looked like it was designed for the male gaze with the boob window that formed.

Still, you were amazed, as you watched. You turned to Dr. Brooks with one question on your mind.