November 11, UC 1587 | ???, Planet ???, Capital City ???, Haylock's Skycar; On route to Hearn's Family Home
"... and that's how I met your Mom." Pride was oozing out of him. Haylock felt no embarrassment about sharing the best thing that happened to him. Especially when it's to Kideko and Astinia.
"Ummm, are you sure?" Kideko asks with a slight head tilt.
"Wha… What do you mean by that!? How can I not be sure!?" Haylock asks with a flustered and bewildered look.
"Well, I mean… Mama told me how you guys met too. It's just… ummmm…" Kideko turns her head away. "It's just a tiny bit different than what she said." While pinching her fingers to create a small gap to emphasize her point.
"Oh. Maybe she saw differently. Tell you what. Can you tell me what she said so I can see what is different?"
"Sure!" She finally looks at him. "All. Of. It."
There was silence.
I looked away to restrain myself from laughing. It didn't help that she had her hands high in the sky with a silly grin on her face.
"Daddy, are you ok?" When I didn't get a response I slightly shook him and waved my hands in front of him.
Haylock had a blank look on his face. Internally struggling whether to be happy or mad. Haylock was debating if he did remember wrong. It has been a while since then so maybe but, with a sigh, he could only shake his head in resignation after realizing he had been played again.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Haylock immediately focuses on the navigation noise. Thankful about the sudden distraction as he could already hear Kideko's giggles.
I turn away from them and lean against the window. My thoughts eventually drift. 'Mmmm, I wish I could have had more ice cream.'
November 11, UC 1587 | ???, Planet ???, Capital City ???, Hearn's Family Home
Ring~ Ring~
"Haylock! It's good to see you again."
"Lincoln! It's been too long."
I watched from the side as Daddy and this new person kept talking about random things. I didn't really care too much as once we went inside my attention shifted. My head then titled in curiosity.
'It looks the same as ours. Why is that? I remember the outside is definitely different to ours yet the inside is the exact same?'
"Kideko. Astinia."
"... Astinia?"
"Huh? Yes, Daddy?"
"Let's head to the guest room."
"Okay… Ummm Daddy."
He turns back. "Yes?"
"Why does the outside look different but everything inside looks the same like our house?"
Slightly confused he looks around to try to understand the question. Haylock was not expecting to be questioned about someone else's home.
"Ohh. I see what you mean. This is standard practice for our military houses. The outside is different because we are allowed to change the look on how we want it. The inside is the same as it's easier for the military to furnish when everything is the same."
"Why is it not the other way around?"
"That… it just isn't how it's done."
"Hehe he got you there."
Haylock gives him a glare. "Then you answer him, Lincoln."
Feeling smug. "Well unlike you, I can answer this question."
"Suuuure you can. Let me guess, you didn't happen to eavesdrop on this topic before."
"That… I… that's not true."
With a teasing look. "Oh, really? Then explain to me again how you realized your wife had a crush on you."
Lincoln went speechless. He kept trying to find the right words out of this misunderstanding.
'What are they talking about? I don't understand.' I watched in curiosity but they kept droning on and on. It got to the point that I was tapping my foot and bouncing from one leg to the other. Subtly trying to get their attention to talk about the answer.
Kideko had enough. From watching Astinia shuffle around and then listening to them talk on and on. She had to interrupt them lest they stay standing here forever.
"Cough, So… What was the answer?"
"Huh? Ahh. Like your Dad said. It just is. We don't question why they decided this. This has been standard for hundreds of years.
I guess the best example would be comparing this to Mechas. Outside we can paint them to be unique from other Mechas. However the components are standardized. This makes it easier to swap damaged parts with new ones. It's cheaper and the expected performance is already known so it's faster to calibrate.
Now if we take it in reverse then this would be bad. Well, I guess in some situations it's good but for standardized Mechas it would be bad. Standardized Mechas would be the same outwardly but inside they would be a mess.
Firstly, the components would be different. Nothing is standard which means some components could be subpar which fails the standard performance setup by the military. Other components could be too good. The cost to replace and maintain them would be astronomical in the long term. It's a burden when there are so many different components that need to be kept in stock.
Secondly, performance wouldn't be standardized. As pilots our Mechas is our sword and shield. Our life is dependent on them. Whenever components are changed we have to get used to that change. This doesn't happen instantly. The performance in one or even all areas may not be the same when different components are used."
'I see. Does this mean this concept can be applied to other things or is it only specific to Mechas? What else…'
"Here we are. I already have some refreshments laid out for us to enjoy."
My contemplation broke upon seeing a wide variety of snacks and drinks. 'Ooo looks yummy.'
Yet the door opened again before I could even grab one. Turning towards the entrance was a boy of similar height to me. Black hair with streaks of silver. He was holding a Mecha toy.
"Omar, you're just in time. Come in and sit down."
"I think some introductions are in order, don't you think so, Haylock."
"Yes. I think so too. Kideko. Astinia. This is Lincoln Hearn. An Ace Mecha pilot. And this is his son Omar."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you." We both greet them.
"Omar, this is Haylock Drikon. A Mecha Commander. And this is his daughter Kideko and son Astinia."
Omar greets with a nod and then goes back to playing with his Mecha toy.
Silence descends the room. Lincoln wanted to say something as he didn't want to be a bad host but before he could…
Pop! Crunch! Crunch! All heads turn towards the abrupt noise.
'Mmmm this is good. Salty and sweet with a satisfying crunch."
tssSSS kr-POP! Gulp. Gulp. "Siiiigh." 'Nothing like having a nice cool lime soda to finish this off."
Only then did I realize everyone was looking at me. "Ummm what's wrong?"
"Hahaha nothing is wrong. Where are my manners? We should be enjoying the delicious spread on the table. I'm glad one of us realized this."
A light chuckle permeates the air as everyone else grabs a few items to eat and drink.
"So Kideko, I hear you wish to become a Mecha pilot."
Omar looks up. Interest evident in his eyes.
"Yes! Dada said you have a lot of stories to share." Excitement bubbling out of her.
"I do have quite a few. We've already picked one out for today.
This story complements but at the same time they contradict. Why is that? How can they both complement and contradict?
At the end of this story, you will have a better understanding on how our emotions and thoughts can influence us on a mission."
Lincoln pauses to let this question settle.
"Let's bring up a few examples of what this looks like.
If you think of something positive then your emotions are positive. If you think of something negative then your emotions are negative.
This can also be in reverse. Your emotions are positive so your thoughts are positive. If your emotions are negative then your thoughts are negative.
Of course there are always exceptions such as people who have negative thoughts then have positive emotions. We won't be talking in depth about them but you should be aware of these outliers as you may encounter them in the future."
"So let's start with you. Kideko? What is your favorite thing?"
"Mechas!"
"Haha. Then if I were to give you a Mecha toy, how would you feel?"
"Mmm. Happy!"
"What else?"
"I would also feel excited."
"As you can all see, once Kideko thought about being gifted a Mecha toy. She associated her thoughts with positive feelings."
"Astinia?"
"...Yes?" 'Oh no…'
"What is your favorite thing?"
"Ummm…" I nervously fidget.
".....food."
"What if I told you that you can no longer eat the snacks or drink the soda you're holding? How would this make you feel?"
"I would feel sad and confused."
"What if I told you that you had to watch us eat and drink while you couldn't?"
"I would feel angry."
"Good. By the end of this story you will have a better understanding of some of our good and bad sides as humans.
Let's begin."
UC 259 | ???
beep… beeep… Beeep… pssshHHH~ BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!
I slowly wake up to the noise of the alarm. Bright red lights fill my blinking eyes and a nauseous headache builds up.
Eventually I had enough strength to get up from my pod but I should have waited longer as I suddenly fell on one knee. Barely stopping myself from falling by grabbing onto the side of the pod.
Breathing heavily it took me several tries to fully stand straight.
'Breath in… Breath out… Breath in… Breath out… Come on. You can do this… Just like in training. First things first. What is my name? My name is… Is… Lex.
Lex Morrison… First Lieutenant Morrison. Assigned to the 1047th Mecha Company Blue Lagoon of the Terra Empire.
Mission Objective: Protect the LLR-Cruiser Voyager Dawn during the delivery of vital medicine.
I take one final deep breath and then let go of the pod to stand by myself.
'Why am I awake?'
I look at my surroundings and see more pods but they are still dormant.
'Something is wrong.' This idea takes root.
I eventually head out to be greeted with one empty room after another. Not a soul in sight no matter where I go.
'I need to go to the Bridge. The Captain should be there. Maybe he can tell me what's going on?'
Eventually I reach my destination only to see another empty room.
'Should I go back and wake up those in the other pods?'
Beep!
"Huh?"
I look around. I was thinking my mind was playing tricks on me but before I could dismiss this as an illusion to the weirdness of my situation…
Beep!
'I definitely heard that.'
My eyes immediately catch a button lighting up. Only for it to disappear and reappear every time the beep comes back.
'... should I press it?'
I look around the empty room and then at the button. Over and over. Internally debating whether this is a good idea. Eventually I gave in to my curiosity.
'It's not like this is going to get any weirder than it already is.'
First nothing happened. One second… 5 seconds… my held breath exhales as I steadied my nerves.
'I thought something bad would happen but I guess not…'
Huummmm
A subtle vibration reverberates through the spaceship. Slowly, one by one the panels start to power on. Eventually the lights switch back to normal while many of the panels show the spaceship was diagnosing itself.
'That was easier than I thought. Looks like the engines are still working.'
"Now what!?" I couldn't help but say aloud.
'They never taught us this from training. Should I go back to the pods and find Captain Dex. As my superior he should know what to do. Wait, what about the captain and commander of this spaceship. I should also wake them up.'
With a plan of action I turned around to leave but before I could…
Hello, Second Lieutenant Morrison.
"Huh? Who?" I stop and look around frantically.
My name is X-41. An AI who is part of the mainframe of the LLR-Cruiser Voyager Dawn.
Blinking my eyes it took me a few seconds to process what was happening.
'This is the first time I've ever heard of an AI being part of a spaceship. Though… maybe I shouldn't be surprised. I was trained to pilot a Mecha. Not a crew of this spaceship.'
"Are you the one who woke me up?"
Yes.
"Why didn't you wake up the Captain?"
You were the next officer in rank I was able to get through.
"What!? What about the Commander of this spaceship or my Commander?"
I am unsure of their condition as my signals could not reach their pods. Once I failed to reach them, as protocol dictates, I sent my signals to the next rank down. You were the next officer after several attempts.
"That…"
I grab the nearest console to steady myself.
'What should I do next!?'