Chapter 6 B - Continued!
Kibo tries to get out of the med bed again, "Where are my units.... Tre?"
Martin pushes Kibo back onto the bed, "Red Team is all accounted for...the others I dunno yet." He sighs heavily, "You must stay here until you're cleared. You were not downloaded properly and there could be complications."
Kibo falls back into his bed, "How long do I have to wait?"
Martin pats his friend on the shoulder, "A few hours....maybe a few days I'm not sure."
Down the hall in another med bay Mak, Tre, Russell and Zed are in biogenetic pods floating weightlessly.
Medic - All life signs are reporting degraded but steady.
Physician - Activate Nano repair cycles for another 20 min. We can't risk exposure longer than that. The nanos are already depleting. Once the cycle is complete, decant them and place them in bio beds."
Medic - Yes Doctor.
Tre opens his eyes in the tank and starts at the unfamiliar surroundings. A medic notices and switches on comms, "Calm down Pilot...you're in a biogenetic tank. There was an accident. You'll be fine."
Tre calms himself and gives a thumbs up while he feels his nanos activating a healing cycle. He closes his eyes and suddenly finds himself extremely sleepy.
He wakes up two days later to find himself in a bio bed surrounded by most of his Unit. Zed and Mak walk around the med bay trailing a monitor unit that is flushing some red-green chemical into their bodies. Russel is on a bio-bed facing Tre, he is talking with an orderly, "Soo....I could just use a sponge bath and maybe a handy...." The orderly rolls his eyes. Russell pulls back his bed sheet to show a stump of a leg, "I'm injured...help a man out."
The orderly smacks Russell on the forehead, "Calm it Pilot you're getting a new one in a few days."
Russel throws himself back dramatically, "But the paaaaaaaaaain.....the humiliation...."
The orderly shakes his head and takes his leave of Russell.
Zed and Mak laugh, "You're terrible" they say in unison.
Tre looks around as he notices, "Where's Kibo??"
"Oooooooooooooooh sleeping beauty finally woke up!" says Mak as he hobbles over to Tre.
Zed sits at the edge of Tre's bed, "He's getting special privileges being a squad leader. He's fine just in another pod."
Tre phews as he props himself up, "What happened?"
Zed scoffs, "We got our arses kicked to say the least. Most of the civilians got away. Only core staff stayed behind before the planet went POOF."
Mak pats Zed on the shoulder, "His family got out so we are grateful for that." Zed nods and tries to hold back some watery eyes.
Tre pushes back the blankets and tries to get up as he notices how bruised and banged up his legs are. Mak pushes him back, "Woah woah....too soon buddy. You gotta wait tillt he bio bed is done with ya."
Tre frowns as he looks over his legs, "This is awful...." he pulls up his blankets to cover the gruesome bruises, "How are the Mecha?"
Zed and Mak look at each other, "Heavily damaged....probably not repairable. Their cores have been dumped into the mainframe."
Tre blinks, "Dumped....does that mean we're grounded?"
Russel interjects, "Until we're healed and go back to be re-integrated with a new Mecha."
Tre frowns, "But...our Mechs..."
Mak slaps him on the back, "Don't worry bud....their AI is in the core. If your bond is as strong as you think it is...they'll come back to the new shell."
Chapter 7 - Rehab
Two months have passed since the incident. Andromeda Prime Colonists have been dispersed over several locations. Every colony is on high alert with Mecha Mech units assigned all over the galaxy. The Initiative has accelerated the recruitment program identifying all viable candidates for enrollment. Mecha Mech frames are being constructed in record time but lack the pilots currently to man them.
While the construction of Mecha can be completed in rapid succession...integration with a human counterpart and to some extent the AI programs that run them cannot. The AI were first created in 2364 when Dr Akiwaya discovered the planet Basalt IV. On this planet were unique crystals that could be made to operate as high capacity data banks. When these new chips were put into production and AI structures laid down it was soon discovered that the AI had evolved and gained a sense of individualism. Something about the crystals had a capacity to spark life in the Artificial Lifeforms. When the war broke out with the Genetiks the new AI Crystals were put into the Mecha Mechs and paired with a human pilot. These AI/Human blendings were very unique and affected the development of the Mecha as AI crystals merged with the suit and evolved new abilities. When a Mecha becomes too badly damaged the AI crystal is removed and brought back to the Core. Here the crystal is reintroduced to the crystal colony where the AI can heal and recover until a new Shell can be made for it.
The AI, while a much needed commodity, does not grow rapidly. They cannot be forced to accelerate and thus Mecha Mech shells remain hollow until both a pilot and an AI crystal can be found and brought together.
Russell runs through the corridors with a noticeable limp. "Hello......why hi there cutie....oh hello daddy!" he says as he waves past several technicians.
He turns to wave to one particularly hot technician when he finds himself literally hitting a wall.
The commander, known as the Wall, looks down at Russell, "Pilot."
Russell looks up and smiled meekly, "Hello sir."
The Wall grunts, "Is there a particular reason you aren't watching where you're going?"
Russell leans on his good leg and points over to the technician just turning the corner, "His name is Javier...and he has the cutest bu.."
"In my office. Now." The Wall states before turning into his office.
Russell limps in after him entering the room as the Wall shuts the door behind him. Before he can say anything The Wall grabs his arm and twists it behind his back before shoving him chest first onto the table. "How many times have I told you not to look at these other men?"
Russell chuckles, "Oh stop...you know how much this excites me!"
TW scoffs, "Excites you?" he fondles with his belt loosening it with one hand and allowing his pants to drop. He yanks on Russell's grey sweatshorts which easily fall to the floor.
"Ooops....my poor unmentionables" Russell says coyly. "Owwww."
TW yanks Russell's arm slightly upwards to place more force on it. "I guess I'll have to teach you a lesson then." He places his thick head over Russell's well presented hole and spits a generous wad onto it. With a soft flick up and down TW maneuvers his head to press against Russell's hole. He is about ready to push inside when the door to his office opens.
"Commander I needed to get some clarification on....oh ...oh my." Tyler says.
Russell waviewaves over at Tyler, "Hiiiiiiiiiiii Tyler."
TW looks sternly at Tyler, "Can't you see I'm busy?"
Tyler gulps and apologizes before stepping out and closing the door behind him.
TW sighs and pulls up his pants, "Well that killed the mood." He walks to his desk and turns on his systems.
Russell looks behind him, then at TW sitting behind his desk, then behind him, "Say whaaaaaaaaaaaat?'
TW starts clacking away at his computer, "That is all pilot."
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh hell no....I did not get all prettied up...sweat my arse off running around this base like you like...and flirt with all these mens to get you mad so you'd take it tub-thumping on my arse for you to just go to work."
TW looks up at Russell and smirks, "I told you that you'd be punished. Dismissed."
Russell's jaw drops, "Uh...ooh...uh...."
TW waves Russell away who pulls up his pants muttering under his breath and heads out.
Chapter 8 - What's Next
Three months have passed and the Command center has remained on high alert. Since the Andromeda Prime incident the massive Genetik Warship has not been seen again. Production of the Mecha Mechs has been completed. With senior Pilots now out of rehab and cleared for duty the Science team along with the Technicians have prepped AI Crystals for reintegration with the Pilots.
Team Red is scheduled today to pull new AI crystals and begin bonding before the Crystal can be placed in the Mecha units.
Mak, Russell, Zed, Kibo and Tre report to the Science center at 09:00 hours dressed in pilot uniforms. Chief Science Officer Leto greets them at the entrance to the science lab.
"Welcome...welcome gentlemen to science station 4."
Kibo greets Leto, "Pleasure to see you again sir."
Leto leads the men to the Crystal Chamber and explains the process, "I know you have all been through a similar process before but as far as I am aware this will be the first time for each of you that you will be re-integrating with an AI Crystal.
They all nod their agreements.
Leto pushes up his glasses as he continues, "Under normal circumstances, as you know, you place your hand on the AI Crystal and reach out through the nanotech in your hands. This will trigger a technopathic response in the AI Crystal. In turn an AI will leave the cluster and download itself into the AI Crystal for you to bond with."
They all continue to nod their understanding, "This time may be a little different. Instead of a random AI downloading into the AI Crystal you can reach out to your previous AI and attempt to guide it back to sentience."
Kibo says, "Guide it back to sentience?"
Leto nods, "Depending on the level of damage that the AI took in the attack it may be too fractured to awaken and thus remain dormant until such time as it is repaired."
Everyone ahhs as they look to the crystals. Leto motions for them to take a spot near one of the five prepared crystals. "Now if you'll place your dominant hand on the crystal and let's see what we get."
They all reach forward and take hold of the crystals as they close their eyes. Nanotech spins into motion and a bridge is formed with the AI Crystals.
Kibo opens his eyes to a world of pulsing light and energy as his mental self floats in the vast sea of crystals. He looks around before calling out, "Firearm? Are you there?"
For many moments there is nothing and then a warm pulse of blue light is seen growing nearer. "Firearm?" Kibo asks.
Entity - Hello Kibo. It is good to see you again.
