Beta: None
Original release date: 11/27/2015
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Infinite Stratos or Borderlands universes.
Chapter Ten - Underwater
Pausing, Gaige asks quietly, "Did you say 'underwater'?"
"I did. It has passed some preliminary tests and will function underwater, at least to a depth of fifty to seventy five feet. Fresh water as well. But that's the limit to the currently established testing capabilities I have up here. SU has a VIGIL controlled system, alongside some additional programming on operating underwater and life support system controls that aren't on any other unit. Now I request that you test the underwater capabilities and see what happens. Obviously don't put anyone inside of it until we get some solid data on how it performs."
"And let me guess, it's orange to make it easier to be seen underwater?" asks Gaige, continuing to inspect the unit.
"Precisely. It's heavier and bulkier than almost other IS units, especially with larger oxygen tanks for potential extended use underwater. However, it is armed with two mini constructors on the arms, just like the other fourth generation units. Not certain if they will be of any use underwater, and if not, then new weaponry will have to be designed and tested."
"Can it fight like the others can?" inquiries Gaige.
"Haven't a clue. You might test that out as well. I'm a tad busy with some defensive measures."
"What do you mean 'defensive measures'?" asks Gaige concerned.
"Oh, we caught some snippets about Hyperion figuring out that we took Helios Station, and that some other branch of theirs is coming to find us."
"When did you learn that?" asks Gaige.
"Oh, a week or more ago. Don't worry, we've got multiple hundred of bots like the bull loader you've got down there, armed and walking around up here. Networked together, armed with mini constructors, and a large arsenal of weaponry, I think the possible invaders will have a problem defeating us."
"I want to be there to help" declares Gaige.
"Ask Lilith, but I figure she'll say no. Besides, if you arrive here and are unable to return to Earth, you will be unable to stop any invaders that might arrive down there. You're safer with Harbinger, Brain, and the others. And with Marcus and his collection of guns, we're armed to the teeth", laughs Andrew.
"Fine. But promise me you'll survive" states Gaige firmly.
"Oh I promise. I've got an escape ship that I can use, and Tabane has one as well."
"Whatever" states Gaige before turning to the two unnamed loader bots in the compartment, "I guess you two need names. You, Bull Loader, your name is Dozer, and you standard Loader bot, are now named Yurika, please adopt a female voice", smirking.
"Understood" choruses Dozer and Yurika.
"Do you two have any weapons, other than what Hyperion originally designed for you two?" asks Gaige.
"Negative" reply Yurika and Dozer.
"What are your defensive capabilities? Are you two equipped with shields? Yurika, please respond first, and then Dozer you."
"This unit is not equipped with shields. One defensive mechanism found, it is an assault rifle" answers Yurika.
"This unit is equipped with a Hyperion shield, model number J4201, capacity of 650. Standard Hyperion assault rifle with curved defensive and ramming armament" answers Dozer.
Sighing, Gaige asks, "Brain, Harbinger, can you two work on making some personalities for VIGIL units, so their speech is a bit more...human like? Thanks."
Digging into her work, Gaige stops paying attention to the time until Caretaker announces, "It is time to sleep. Please head to your room."
Mumbling under her breath, Gaige puts her tools down and exits, followed by Caretaker.
/*the next morning */
Knocking on the door, Ichika waits a few seconds before the door opens and a pair of purple eyes and blonde hair appear in the doorway.
"Oh Ichika, is it time already?" comes Charlotte's voice nervously, opening the door wider.
"It is ten, right?" responds Ichika, calmly.
"Let's be off then" remarks Charlotte as she follows Ichika out of her room and down the hallway.
Arriving at the train station that takes students off of the island and to the main part of Japan, the two wait quietly for the next train to arrive.
'I can't believe Ichika is taking me on a date!' Charlotte thinks to herself, blushing slightly at the thought and accompanying mental image.
Getting on the train and somehow getting their own compartment, the two sit beside each other quietly until Charlotte asks, "Ichika, where are we going?"
"Well, seeing as you didn't bring a female swimsuit and the class beach trip is coming up, and with needing some new swim trunks myself...I thought you might want to get some swim wear yourself" answers Ichika openly.
Hopes and dreams crashing around her, Charlotte harrumphs indignantly before muttering, "...get kicked by a horse..."
Furrowing his eyebrows, Ichika asks confused, "Did you say something?"
Charlotte just harrumphs once more, crossing her legs and turning away from Ichika. Arriving at the train station, Charlotte hurries off and waits for Ichika to follow.
"Charlotte, did I do something to upset you?" inquiries Ichika, a perplexed look on his face.
"If you hold my hand while we walk, I'll forget it" answers Charlotte, offering her left hand.
Still miffed about what he had said or done, Ichika takes Charlotte's hand and is quickly dragged along behind her as they proceed down the stairs. Peering around some structural pillars, Ling whispers, "What are you up to, Ichika?"
"We should continue our reconnaissance, Ling" Cecilia whispers back.
/*about the same time*/
Cutting into metal, Gaige makes small and precise cuts before hearing in her earpiece that a lone individual was approaching. Opting to ignore the approaching individual, Gaige continues cutting until Harbinger's voice in her ear alerts her that the individual was waiting outside of the compartment. Sighing, Gaige turns off the cutting torch, removes her protective goggles, and calls out without turning around, "I know it's you, Laura."
As footsteps echo around the compartment, Gaige turns around and crosses her arms as she stares down Laura.
"Is there anything I can assist you with?" asks Gaige in a neutral tone.
"I vas just vondering around, and heard vhat sounded like gas escaping, so I came to inspect it" answers Laura openly.
"It's just me" states Gaige.
"Vhat are you up to?" asks Laura peering around Gaige at Yurika laying horizontally on the table behind Gaige.
Sighing, Gaige turns around to Yurika and answers, "I'm cutting sections away to have access to the power cables, as well as control lines for some modification purposes."
"Such as the mechanism you used to copy my canon?" asks Laura curiously.
Pausing, Gaige answers, "Yes", before donning her protective goggles.
"Do you mind if I vatch?" asks Laura.
Wordlessly Gaige hands Laura pair of goggles before continuing her rectangular cut on the right arm of Yurika, revealing the multitude of wires flowing underneath. Unclenching her hand, Gaige turns off the torch and places it gently into its holder on the side of the table, before grabbing the rectangular mini constructor with its various wires, all color coded. Connecting the wires, some thicker than others, Gaige finishes before putting her goggles back on and welding the mini constructor to Yurika's frame, sticking an inch or so out of the arm. Grinding down some of the areas of the weld to even it out, Gaige finally puts down the tools and removes the goggles before hearing, "Your arm is on fire!"
Looking down at her left arm, Gaige finds that indeed her arm has caught fire and begins slapping at it, desperate to put it out before a cascade of water falls, putting out the fire and getting part of Gaige wet at the same time. Seeing the dull metallic look peeking around the skin on her left arm, Gaige sighs before reaching down and pulling the rest of the skin off, revealing her mechanical arm.
Eye widening in surprise, Laura asks confused, "You have a mechanical arm?"
"I do as much as you have been created in a laboratory and had surgery to have a computer inserted into your skull" answers Gaige, tossing the pseudo skin into a nearby metal waste bin.
A pause falls between the two before laughter erupts around the room, stopped by Laura saying, "I like that about you, you're so honest."
Changing tones to a much more serious one, Laura asks, "But how did you know?"
"The German government may have some of the best network security systems in place to safeguard their information, but even their systems are vulnerable to a computer that has far more processing power than theirs. Simply put, I broke in, copied every file, decrypted the files, encrypted them with my own encryption, and read through the ones that interested me" answers Gaige, giving a small smile.
Flabbergasted, Laura just stands there speechless before finally saying, "You're not from America, are you?"
"You've seen that I have a fully functional mechanical arm, something that still hasn't been perfected to this level on earth, so I might as well tell you that I'm from Eden-5. Technology is far more advanced than what you will see from where I'm from, and that's how I have so many IS units, in addition to many other things."
Blinking a few times, Laura smiles and asks, "Vell, that vould explain vhy you don't vant to go to the beach."
Walking over to her laptop, Gaige types for twenty or thirty seconds before turning around, "I'm out of the arm covers, and it will take a few hours to get one delivered, so would you like to do something?"
"D-do something? Like vhat?"
"Well, seeing as we have to go, and I'm not going to cut my other arm off, I figure we could go into town and look at swimsuits" suggests Gaige, flipping a few switches in Yurika's control panel, shutting the access door gently.
"Vhat about people seeing your arm?" inquiries Laura.
Shrugging her shoulders, Gaige answers, "I'll just wear my academy uniform and keep the sleeves out to my hands, and wear a glove."
"O-oh, ok" answers Laura uncertainly.
Entering the shipping container, Gaige quickly searches through some boxes, finding a glove and putting it on her left hand, both sleeves covering her arms. Gaige calls out as she and Laura exit the compartment, "Yurika, run a full system check and keep the others in line; you're in charge now."
"Understood" answers Yurika in a pleasant female tone.
Making it across the academy grounds in a little under ten minutes, Laura and Gaige get on the train and take it in to the shopping center. Walking through the city, the two take their time as they take in the sights. Nearing one of the possible stores, Gaige furrows her eyebrows as she spots Ling and Cecilia attempting to hide behind a pillar a trashcan, watching the front of a store intently. Looking the same way as Ling and Cecilia, Gaige spots the reason: Ichika was standing in the girl's swimwear section.
Walking as quietly as she could, Gaige creeps up behind the two and quickly knocks their heads together. Jumping up and swearing profusely, Ling stops as she realizes it's only Gaige, with Laura not too far behind laughing.
"Why ya do that?!" demands Ling angrily
"Because you're being a creeper staring at Ichika through the window of a store. Go in there and tell him how you feel about him? Laura did, and I figure she could easily do it again" states Gaige, smirking.
Opening her mouth to reply, Ling just stares dumbfounded as Gaige continues into the store and begins to peruse the swimwear. Following her inside, Laura catches up to Gaige and whispers, "Vhat does a 'good' swimsuit look like?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Gaige answers, "I have no clue. But I'm going to pick something that I like, no matter what others think of me. After being on that hellhole of a planet named Pandora, I'm going for whatever I want."
Ignoring the urge to her second in command, Laura looks at the swimsuits not for what she thinks Ichika might like, but what SHE likes.
Looking around and noticing the other girls, Charlotte drags Ichika into a changing stall "cand places a hand over his objecting mouth. "Ssh!"
"Charlotte, why are we in this changing room together?" whispers Ichika.
Taking one more peek out of the curtained off room, Charlotte answers equally as quiet, "Because…I want your opinion of this swimsuit."
Looking down at the swimsuit Charlotte holds in her hands, Ichika's eyes grow big and he whispers, "Then let me get out of here and let you—URP!" as the barrel of a rifle pokes through the curtain and a female voice calls out, "If you're properly dressed, get out here."
Hearing the commotion, a certain green haired individual named Miss Yamada and alongside her the black haired and imposing Chifuyu Orimura stride over to where Gaige has a yellow rifle barrel sticking into a changing stall which quickly retracts as not one person, but two appear.
"Orimura, what were you thinking?!" exclaims Chifuyu.
Taking the two bikinis in her hands, Gaige quietly goes over to the counter and pays before quickly exiting the store. Following suit, Laura takes her selected swimsuit and also pays before slipping out of the store, not wanting to incur the wrath of Chifuyu.
Entering the compartment, Gaige hands the bag to Caretaker and instructs him to wash the swimsuits carefully, before turning and asking, "Yurika, status of system check?"
"All systems nominal, mini constructor integration successful, ready for combat" answers Yurika.
"Good. Prepare a list of materials needed for a complete system test with SU, then gather the needed materials so when we move out on Monday for the beach, you all can head there and begin testing" states Gaige smiling.
/*Monday morning*/
Getting onto the train, Chifuyu announces, "Is everyone here? If not, say so now so we can have an accurate count."
Rippling waves of murmurs roll through the compartment before an unidentified voice calls out, "No one missing here ma'am."
"Good, then we can begin our journey" begins Chifuyu and almost instantly the train begins rumbling and moving forwards.
"Now, we will have a lot of time at the beach, but we have prepared a dinner at seven this evening at—" begins Chifuyu before three blurs zoom past the train, two dark colored and one very brightly colored one, followed by two much slower and recognizable units fly by, armed with rifles.
Pausing, Chifuyu turns around slowly, a look of anger spreading across her face, and asks dangerously quiet, "Miss Smith, are you planning on skipping out on the beach in favor to work on your units?"
Smiling, Gaige answers, "Of course not. They are acting of their own accord. You do remember that they each have their own AI capable of controlling their movements outside of my commands, correct?"
Noticing the growing anger on Chifuyu's face, Gaige quickly adds, "They are just running some tests in an environment that is more than just packed dirt. Don't worry, they will be away from us."
Chifuyu's eyes narrow, but says nothing more. Finally arriving at the beach, Chifuyu calls out, "Remember, be ready to eat at seven!"
Noticing the sand had been mysteriously plowed and the tracks were heading off away from the specified area for the group, Gaige smiles as she sets up a chair under an umbrella before sitting and closing her eyes.
"Ichika darling, come rub suntan lotion on my back" calls out Cecilia.
"Uh, sure" comes Ichika uncertainly, beginning to step forwards.
Landing softly in the sand, Caretaker walks over to Cecilia, switches to a spray nozzle on the left arm, and coats Cecilia in cold lotion in seconds. Caught unaware, Cecilia screams out, as Ling laughs and Caretaker takes a few steps away and flies a short distance away, making small jumps across the sandy terrain.
/*half a mile away and in a small cove*/
Communicating through network connections instead of vocalizing the needed words, Brain, Harbinger, and SU stand while Dozer, Yurika, and Caretaker stand armed with digistructed assault rifles, watching for any potential danger. Stepping forward into the saltwater, SU rapidly descends into the watery depths quickly out of sight. Activating thermal imaging sensors amongst a host of many others, SU begins using the oxygen reserve at varying rates simulating various heart rates.
Back in the specified beach area, Ling calls out, "Hey Ichika, betcha I can beat you to the buoy over there", pointing at a buoy to the far left of the designated area before jumping into the water and beginning to swim.
Sighing, Ichika chases after her, far behind her. Kicking hard, Ling smiles internally as she closes the gap between her and the buoy, before sharp pain goes through her legs. Flailing, Ling begins falling towards the bottom, unable to reach the surface.
'I guess I'll die if Ichika or someone doesn't rescue me…' thinks Ling sadly. As she blacks out, the last thing Ling senses is the cool touch of something on her back.
With thermal imaging indicating the rapidly cooling body, SU pulls Ling into herself and begins pumping oxygen, activating the gill system installed to keep oxygen entering the tanks to keep Ling alive. Walking towards the incline of the sand to the student designated area, SU sends a medical alert out for Ling.
Sleeping peacefully, Gaige is abruptly awakened when her invisible ear piece alerts her to SU's message. Jumping up from her chair, Gaige dashes through the sand just as Ichika walks slowly out of the water, a perplexed look on his face.
"Hey Gaige-" begins Ichika before Gaige states, "Not now, Ling's in trouble!", not slowing down as she reaches the ocean and quickly has water up to her waist. Seconds later the bright orange frame of SU emerges, an unconscious but breathing Ling shielded off using the atmospheric pressure fields.
"SU, how's Ling?" asks Gaige concern laced through her voice.
"Alive, she has expelled water when first receiving fresh oxygen, and her heart rate has become more constant" answers SU in a female tone, a little lower than Yurika's.
"Smith! What did I say—" begins Chifuyu before Gaige interrupts with, "Ling needs medical attention!"
"What do you mean?" asks Chifuyu confused.
"I detected a descending human form while executing tests, and went to investigate. I picked Ling up and gave her oxygen while we ascended" answers SU, indicating the still unconscious Ling.
Nodding her head, Chifuyu states, "We must hurry then" striding off with SU easily matching her stride alongside Gaige and Miss Yamada.
Turning to Gaige as they make their way to the hotel, Chifuyu states, "Thank you for bringing your IS along, without it Ling would more than likely would have died."
"My given name is SU, and you are welcome" states SU in a nearly emotionless tone.
Arriving at the front desk, Chifuyu quickly states that an ambulance is needed for one of the students.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but our phones are all offline" apologies the desk worker.
Thinking fast, Gaige states, "SU, take Ling directly to the nearest hospital and inform the others of your location. Get Harbinger and Brain up here to take Miss Yamada and Miss Orimura to the same hospital."
"Miss Yamada, stay here with the rest of the students, I'll attend to Miss Huang" commands Chifuyu.
Pausing for the slightest moment, SU states, "Done" before striding out the front door and taking to the sky. Thirty seconds later Harbinger and Brain arrive and take a Chifuyu in the direction SU had departed, with Brain watching Gaige and Miss Yamada.
Author note: Thanks for reading! :D For anyone curious where I got Yurika as a name, I got the name from Magical Girl Yurika in 'Invaders of the Rokujyoma?!' anime. If anyone has played Borderlands the Pre Sequel and knows of the fields that you can pass through that somehow keep oxygen/atmosphere in check, that's what I'm using with SU. :)
Also, my friend, DarkerThanYin, has released an Infinite Stratos fanfiction 'Taming the Beast' and after reading the first chapter, I suggest it to you all. :)