As always…
I own nothing of Full Metal Panic. Credit goes to its respective owners.
This is part two out of three of this story. Enjoy.
Where We Are Meant To Be
Chapter 2- Natural Skills
Sousuke was sitting in a metal chair while checking the graphs projected on the screen of his laptop. He had the computer hooked up through several wires that ran several meters long across the hangar bay. Other cables ran up, plugged to a much larger and more complex system.
"Parameters loaded". A distorted voice said.
Sousuke nodded and zipped some coffee he had been drinking. He had grown to like it in the past few months, but he would never have it the way Kurtz or even Mao used to.
"Ok. Let's run it and see what we can get."
"Yes, Sergeant." replied the IA
"Al." said Sousuke almost immediately. "You can call me by my name, you know? Besides, didn't you say we were team mates?"
"My apologies… Sousuke"
"It's ok. Let´s focus on the task at hand, shall we?"
"Roger"
The first step for combat simulations was to upload certain parameters to the system in order to run tests according to different combat situations and equipment presets. Once results were obtained, the IA would upload the analyzed data into the system and store them in a "user bank" for later study and real time battlefield assistance to the pilot.
They had finished uploading the presets and parameters and were ready to run the tests.
"All systems are on standby mode." Al announced.
"Ok. Let's get started." Sousuke said after drinking another zip of coffee from his cup.
Al displayed the simulation schematics on the screen and explained each situation to Sousuke, who thought for a while on the most efficient way to succeed. Each simulation was like a chest game, in which Sousuke needed to plan the best strategy using what little resources he had at his disposal. While thinking and visualizing the course of the virtual battle, he drank from the cup and went back to his thoughts. Then, he introduced his commands on the keyboard and Al did the rest.
While the simulations carried themselves out and Al processed the acquired data, Sousuke began to remember all the fights he had had in the past few months. One in particular was present in his mind: the one he had with some members of terrorist organization Amalgam.
During the fight, he found himself in a tight spot. He didn't understand the dynamics of the mysterious Lambda Driver Technology; the fact that you could create a barrier with just thinking of it and focusing your attention on the idea. Sousuke was certain that emotions could not be transformed in something tangible… but the Lambda Driver device had proven him wrong in more than one occasion.
When in Hong Kong, Sousuke refused to operate the AS due to… intense problems. But in his most desperate hour, help arrived from the one he had been assigned to protect in the first place. Afterwards, with a newfound determination, he faced some of Amalgam's top agents. Among them, was sadistic Mr. Gates; Sousuke had come to despise him just as much as his own subordinates.
After the battle, he could finally enjoy a brief respite, but he knew that the peace he and his protégée felt was only temporary; Amalgam was still on the move and was becoming more aggressive. As he recalled each moment of the intense battle, a cold feeling began to run down his spine. Even though his "relationship" with the Arbalest IA had improved in the past few months, (and after a really necessary talk) he still was… unsure on how to really use the Lambda Driver.
Al displayed a battle simulation in which the M9 was surrounded by a full AS squad armed with heavy artillery, several tanks were placed in a verry closed radius and even an airstrike had been called for. Sousuke entered an instruction through the keyboard and a warning message flashed on the screen. The IA advised caution. Sousuke entered a new command, but the IA advided caution again. Apparently, his decisions were jeopardizing the mission. He soon understood what kind of strategy the battle called for. In a section of the interface, he entered the Lambda Driver option. The system acknowledged the command and the simulation ended with rather "satisfactory" results.
Sousuke sighed.
"I still haven´t got the hang of it" he said with a sad sigh.
"Only through practice and focus you will be able to master this device, so don´t despair." said Al in a comforting tone.
"Yeah, I know."
Sousuke then climbed to the cockpit and awaited further instructions from Mao. Apparently, they were to head out to the training grounds.
Once there, a sparing took place. Sousuke needed to face each of his teammates on his own, while Kurtz and Mao tried to take him down. Paintballs flew and exploded on the trees, the rocks and all over the grounds. Arbalest jumped, ran, rolled, shot.
After a while, the training session ended in a draw; Neither Kurtz, Mao, or Sousuke yielded a single bit.
While facing the horizon, Kurtz said to Sousuke:
"That was a wild ride. Say, when did you get so good using that Lambda Driver thingy?"
"It's not just the Lambda Driver." Sousuke said roughly.
"Huh?"
"It´s a set of natural skills and… focus."
Kurtz laughed.
"Yep, you´re right, Well, let´s hope those skills keep on growing".
"Roger."
Kurtz and Mao laughed again and Sousuke sighed in content as he watched sunset over Merida Island.
A/N: Thanks for reading this. By the way, I know I said this would be a three-part story, but I decided to leave it as a two part instead. Again, thank you for reading and please be sure to comment and let me know what you think; your feedback is really important to me, so please be sure to comment.
Be seeing you.
Shin-Izanagi