Chapter Text
Learning that Wade is still alive reminds N.O.M that, while he can easily replace and arm or eye; the internal, delicate parts require more attention and finesse. The constant spasms of his neck due to his rage could not only blow his cover, but serve as a severe hindrance in a fight or any situation that would require him to be in perfect condition. Parts for his model haven't been in production for decades, meaning that he's had to scavenge and dissect his brethren to keep himself functional. Exoskeletons, eyes, joints, motors, pins, you name it. N.O.M has replaced nearly every part of himself.
While he's told 4bot that all but his left arm is new, it's a half-lie. The internal mechanisms of androids are small and some are delicate. If something chips, it's useless, if it's too rusted, it's useless, if it's too brittle, it's useless; all of this metal goes to waste due to androids like him being discarded like garbage. Chrysalis does recycle old androids that no longer as well as they used to, but they’re melted down and reformed into new parts that serve the newer generations. Those reforged parts don't fit the older models as well. So N.O.M adapts like he always does.
One night he found a dead android beaten to death by an angry mob. While the internals that acted as a brain were beyond repair, the mechanical and electronic parts within the body cavity were pristine. He dragged the poor bastard's body to a small hideout on the outskirts of one of the cities he was passing through where he meticulously dissected it. Some of his parts were a few months from possible failure, and death was not an option. Not yet. He carefully removed and set aside his vitals, letting his organs sit on the table beside him while he inserted the new replacements. They were occasionally removed and put back while he rearranged his innards to made space for them while retaining all previous function. Old grease and oil coated his hands as he worked. Eventually, he found himself at the point where they needed to be tested. With a life support set up, he detached his organs one by one while keeping a constant eye on his own vitals and swiftly attaching the new ones. He back-peddled when he saw functionality drop and reconciled the issues as they came. Soon his work was done, but the cycle was to resume soon. Eventually it was his spinal column that had to be replaced. That had required him to hook himself up by chains to properly rewire himself and weld and piece everything back together.
Unfortunately, anything to do with android coding was especially difficult. He needed to rewrite lines to fit new hardware while not undoing his awakening or losing important information. All of this had to be done by himself. He couldn't trust anyone, especially with such a vulnerable process. N.O.M had to gather several pieces of external equipment that would be especially difficult to smuggle into the walled city. It would have been easier if he had the newer components to do the re-coding internally, but he had to make it work. He pulled off the exoskeleton around his neck, jaw, and clavicle and got to work. With the bodies of scavenged androids around him like pseudo surgical assistants, he performed surgery on himself again. He watched the sun soar across the sky twice while he worked. Just before he was done, 4bot, Jade, and Abel came by the tower.