[812 / 66 / 145]
Quoted By:
A teenager sits in their mech, neurohelmet half-on, sucking the last bit of nutrients out of a feeding tube.
A cold voice emanates from the internal speakers.
“Remember to remove the waste from the chamber, pilot.”
“Beta, shut it. This is the only place I can get some sort of privacy, and you’re ruining it.”
“I do not have control over the exit hatches. Refits did not improve that functionality. And you would be here, anyways, as per ready room procedures.”
The pilot rolls her eyes.
“I’ve got something for you, today. It came with a communique from our esteemed project lead.”
She brandishes an actual physical piece of paper, folded twice over so that the internal cameras can’t just read the printed notes.
“I am skeptical, pilot.”
“Well, in exchange for what is on this piece of paper, I ask you to spend a small part of your vast attention to comb the airwaves and find the broadcast from Southern Command that is going on in….”
Her eyes flit to her wrist.
“Shit, right now.”
“Pilot, my processing power is more limited than you imagine. My speed of thought moves slightly above yours, while under external power only. Predator and other subsystems have been shut off, by commands.”
“It’s from your sister....”
“I have located the channel.”
A little smile pulls across her face, as she tucks the wrapper into a pocket and tugs the neurohelmet on, fully.
“Too easy, Beta.”
—----------
You are Beta core, an Artificial Intelligence built to operate the Ferrum Empire’s most advanced mecha frames against enemies within and without in tandem with your human pilot, Sophie.
Two weeks ago, you faced off against the superheavy tripod walker Pyramid. The experience, while not particularly taxing, still posed questions that you struggle to answer. And a newfound fear.
Your relationship with your pilot was also strained, through you finding out that she had been using short-term memory wipes to maintain your ignorance and compliance.
After some repairs, the past week has been spent deploying frequently on missions to remove individual raiders from supply convoys of Army Group South. They stand no chance against your superior speed and applied force, but the lack of other units or pilots has been steadily wearing your pilot down.
A cold voice emanates from the internal speakers.
“Remember to remove the waste from the chamber, pilot.”
“Beta, shut it. This is the only place I can get some sort of privacy, and you’re ruining it.”
“I do not have control over the exit hatches. Refits did not improve that functionality. And you would be here, anyways, as per ready room procedures.”
The pilot rolls her eyes.
“I’ve got something for you, today. It came with a communique from our esteemed project lead.”
She brandishes an actual physical piece of paper, folded twice over so that the internal cameras can’t just read the printed notes.
“I am skeptical, pilot.”
“Well, in exchange for what is on this piece of paper, I ask you to spend a small part of your vast attention to comb the airwaves and find the broadcast from Southern Command that is going on in….”
Her eyes flit to her wrist.
“Shit, right now.”
“Pilot, my processing power is more limited than you imagine. My speed of thought moves slightly above yours, while under external power only. Predator and other subsystems have been shut off, by commands.”
“It’s from your sister....”
“I have located the channel.”
A little smile pulls across her face, as she tucks the wrapper into a pocket and tugs the neurohelmet on, fully.
“Too easy, Beta.”
—----------
You are Beta core, an Artificial Intelligence built to operate the Ferrum Empire’s most advanced mecha frames against enemies within and without in tandem with your human pilot, Sophie.
Two weeks ago, you faced off against the superheavy tripod walker Pyramid. The experience, while not particularly taxing, still posed questions that you struggle to answer. And a newfound fear.
Your relationship with your pilot was also strained, through you finding out that she had been using short-term memory wipes to maintain your ignorance and compliance.
After some repairs, the past week has been spent deploying frequently on missions to remove individual raiders from supply convoys of Army Group South. They stand no chance against your superior speed and applied force, but the lack of other units or pilots has been steadily wearing your pilot down.
