The Love of a Machine
Chapter One
As the mobile frame Jehuty slid into its stationary upright position onboard the ship Atlantis, Leo breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. Finally over. No more killing, no more fighting, over, at least for him. This would be the first and last time he ever piloted Jehuty or any other type of frame. As he looked over the frames internal screens, the computer, ADA spoke up, her mechanical voice breaking the silence.
"Jehuty has completed final docking with Atlantis, all systems will now perform a routine systems check."
As this was said, a list of systems began scrolling across ADA's main HUD* display, and each one were checked as the system reported its status.
ADA's voice broke in as Leo read the data; "The fight with Anubis has left Jehuty significantly weaker, Superiority reports on Anubis indicate the frame is 100% superior to Jehuty in all ways."
Leo blinked trying to hold back his surprise and astonishment. The frame Anubis had been superior to Jehuty in every way, shape and form, and yet he, a small boy had still managed to hold off the frame long enough for them to escape the exploding station. How was that possible? He hadn't been born to pilot frames, or to fight a war for that matter.
He frowned a bit and said, "Are you sure of this ADA?"
Ada's voice cut in again as she intoned, "Yes Leo, my readouts come directly from the battle you fought with Anubis."
"But…that's impossible!" the young boy exclaimed, "there's no way I could have stood up to that brute of a machine!"
ADA's voice again filled the cockpit, "You are correct, the pilot of Anubis also outclassed and outranked you in every manner and form. Jehuty should not have survived the fight with Anubis."
"However," ADA continued, her voice softening a little, "Jehuty did survive, and so did you, so logically speaking, you were the superior pilot…surviving while the odds were stacked against you."
"Thank you ADA," said Leo wearily as he leaned back in the pilot seat.
"Leo my sensors are detecting a break down of your neurological impulses and activity, are you OK?"
The boy nodded unaware of the uncharacteristic concern the computer of the ship seemed to show, "Mhmm, just tired, need rest…"
Leo was right, the day had been a long one indeed, and the many battles he had fought required a constant demand on his mind as well as his body, pushing him beyond exhaustion to pure sleep deprivation. Celvice's condition didn't help the young frame-runner's mind either, and the stress that her injury had put on the young pilot seemed to weigh him and his senses down even more. Leo couldn't help but feel responsible for her getting shot by Viola. He had let down his guard, and she, sweet Celvice had paid the price.
Just as Leo was about to drift off to sleep, ADA interrupted again.
"Leo, I am receiving a communiqué from Atlantis' Bridge, shall I patch it through?"
"Sure ADA, go ahead," said Leo through a yawn.
The HUD flickered for a moment then a young woman's face appeared, saying, "Leo? Leo are you there?" Leo looked up sleepily, and then winced. Indeed he knew who it was.
Slowly he answered, "Hi Elena, good to finally see you, so how come you and yours boys aren't down in the hanger yet? I'd thought you'd be all swarming over Jehuty by now, considering the beating she took from Anubis…"
Elena chuckled a bit, "We'll be down there shortly, just looking after our guest here, and she's been rather antsy since you went after the bombs."
Leo's eyes went wide and he leaned forward, "Celvice? Is she OK? How is she? Is the wound that bad???"
Elena laughed a bit, then smiled, "she's fine Leo, a little sore, but OK, when we get you out of Jehuty we'll bring her up to see you…"
Leo nodded, "thank you Elena…although, I can't thank you for everything you made me got through to get this frame to you…"
Elena seemed to hesitate, then she looked down, "We didn't mean to drag you into this Leo…" she said quietly, "It's just that we're so desperate to get a hold of Jehuty, it may be our last chance on Mars…"
Leo balked as she said these words and suddenly ADA's next mission came rushing back.
"I am to detonate Jehuty at the Mars Core, resulting in a x4.2 Gigaton explosion. I am destined for this because I am a machine…nothing more."
Suddenly he felt something stinging at the corner of his eyes, and his voice cracked, "Elena, you can't…ADA, she's not meant to do this, everything has a destiny, ADA has one too god damn it!" Suddenly before Elena could reply, then screen went blank and ADA's voice intoned, cold, hard, female…mechanical.
"Leo, I am a machine, I do whatever I am ordered to do. I have no destiny, I have no fate. I'm just a lifeless thing…cold, emotionless."
ADA continued her drawl, "you are acting irrational, and as Pilot of this frame, your combat efficiency as well as piloting ability has dropped to 50%, I must insist that you cease and desist all emotional responses and piloting functions until more rest has given you time to regain your composure…"
With those words, the voice stopped and there was silence in the frames cockpit.
Leo sat there quietly, the tears still stinging at the side of his cheeks. There had to be more than ADA seemed to be. Cold and emotionless as she seemed at times, Leo had seen through what seemed to be just an act, and had gotten in touch with a deeper side of ADA than ADA put forward. He couldn't sit by and let her die! She had become more than just a computer to him in their time together, she had become his friend. He remembered all to well how he had failed Celvice, and its memories still haunted him. He couldn't let another friend down! Leo clenched his fists at his side and nodded. When he got down from Jehuty and rested up, he and Elena would have a serious talk. A VERY serious talk…
(TO BE CONTINUED)
*HUD- Heads Up Display
Chapter One
As the mobile frame Jehuty slid into its stationary upright position onboard the ship Atlantis, Leo breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. Finally over. No more killing, no more fighting, over, at least for him. This would be the first and last time he ever piloted Jehuty or any other type of frame. As he looked over the frames internal screens, the computer, ADA spoke up, her mechanical voice breaking the silence.
"Jehuty has completed final docking with Atlantis, all systems will now perform a routine systems check."
As this was said, a list of systems began scrolling across ADA's main HUD* display, and each one were checked as the system reported its status.
ADA's voice broke in as Leo read the data; "The fight with Anubis has left Jehuty significantly weaker, Superiority reports on Anubis indicate the frame is 100% superior to Jehuty in all ways."
Leo blinked trying to hold back his surprise and astonishment. The frame Anubis had been superior to Jehuty in every way, shape and form, and yet he, a small boy had still managed to hold off the frame long enough for them to escape the exploding station. How was that possible? He hadn't been born to pilot frames, or to fight a war for that matter.
He frowned a bit and said, "Are you sure of this ADA?"
Ada's voice cut in again as she intoned, "Yes Leo, my readouts come directly from the battle you fought with Anubis."
"But…that's impossible!" the young boy exclaimed, "there's no way I could have stood up to that brute of a machine!"
ADA's voice again filled the cockpit, "You are correct, the pilot of Anubis also outclassed and outranked you in every manner and form. Jehuty should not have survived the fight with Anubis."
"However," ADA continued, her voice softening a little, "Jehuty did survive, and so did you, so logically speaking, you were the superior pilot…surviving while the odds were stacked against you."
"Thank you ADA," said Leo wearily as he leaned back in the pilot seat.
"Leo my sensors are detecting a break down of your neurological impulses and activity, are you OK?"
The boy nodded unaware of the uncharacteristic concern the computer of the ship seemed to show, "Mhmm, just tired, need rest…"
Leo was right, the day had been a long one indeed, and the many battles he had fought required a constant demand on his mind as well as his body, pushing him beyond exhaustion to pure sleep deprivation. Celvice's condition didn't help the young frame-runner's mind either, and the stress that her injury had put on the young pilot seemed to weigh him and his senses down even more. Leo couldn't help but feel responsible for her getting shot by Viola. He had let down his guard, and she, sweet Celvice had paid the price.
Just as Leo was about to drift off to sleep, ADA interrupted again.
"Leo, I am receiving a communiqué from Atlantis' Bridge, shall I patch it through?"
"Sure ADA, go ahead," said Leo through a yawn.
The HUD flickered for a moment then a young woman's face appeared, saying, "Leo? Leo are you there?" Leo looked up sleepily, and then winced. Indeed he knew who it was.
Slowly he answered, "Hi Elena, good to finally see you, so how come you and yours boys aren't down in the hanger yet? I'd thought you'd be all swarming over Jehuty by now, considering the beating she took from Anubis…"
Elena chuckled a bit, "We'll be down there shortly, just looking after our guest here, and she's been rather antsy since you went after the bombs."
Leo's eyes went wide and he leaned forward, "Celvice? Is she OK? How is she? Is the wound that bad???"
Elena laughed a bit, then smiled, "she's fine Leo, a little sore, but OK, when we get you out of Jehuty we'll bring her up to see you…"
Leo nodded, "thank you Elena…although, I can't thank you for everything you made me got through to get this frame to you…"
Elena seemed to hesitate, then she looked down, "We didn't mean to drag you into this Leo…" she said quietly, "It's just that we're so desperate to get a hold of Jehuty, it may be our last chance on Mars…"
Leo balked as she said these words and suddenly ADA's next mission came rushing back.
"I am to detonate Jehuty at the Mars Core, resulting in a x4.2 Gigaton explosion. I am destined for this because I am a machine…nothing more."
Suddenly he felt something stinging at the corner of his eyes, and his voice cracked, "Elena, you can't…ADA, she's not meant to do this, everything has a destiny, ADA has one too god damn it!" Suddenly before Elena could reply, then screen went blank and ADA's voice intoned, cold, hard, female…mechanical.
"Leo, I am a machine, I do whatever I am ordered to do. I have no destiny, I have no fate. I'm just a lifeless thing…cold, emotionless."
ADA continued her drawl, "you are acting irrational, and as Pilot of this frame, your combat efficiency as well as piloting ability has dropped to 50%, I must insist that you cease and desist all emotional responses and piloting functions until more rest has given you time to regain your composure…"
With those words, the voice stopped and there was silence in the frames cockpit.
Leo sat there quietly, the tears still stinging at the side of his cheeks. There had to be more than ADA seemed to be. Cold and emotionless as she seemed at times, Leo had seen through what seemed to be just an act, and had gotten in touch with a deeper side of ADA than ADA put forward. He couldn't sit by and let her die! She had become more than just a computer to him in their time together, she had become his friend. He remembered all to well how he had failed Celvice, and its memories still haunted him. He couldn't let another friend down! Leo clenched his fists at his side and nodded. When he got down from Jehuty and rested up, he and Elena would have a serious talk. A VERY serious talk…
(TO BE CONTINUED)
*HUD- Heads Up Display