I do not own Warhammer. I only own my OC
Hey guys what's up. So this is the second to last bit of The Young Wolf story arc. After the next chapter we will be getting back to the present timeline. Per your guys request (and the consent nagging of the readers from my other story, don't tell them.) I have got a Editor for my stories.
Don't believe me? Editor say something.
Greetings, I will be helping Slim with his stories in regard to the grammar issues and what not.
See there you have it now let's do these guest reviews and get on with the story.
Guest reviews:
Guest: By the time this goes up you would have had your chapter.
Guest: Well that's because (censored do to spoilers). You will find out what that means in the future HEHEHEHE.
"Where are you? Why did you leave? It's dangerous out here. Come back so I can protect you. But don't worry I will find you and I will never let you go." - Common words spoken by damaged AIs in the graveyard of fallen Knights.
*Three days later.*
Wolfgang's eyes slowly opened, the world was a blur for a few moments before everything realigned. The sun was shining in through the window providing the descent sized room with light. Wolfgang slowly sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed, after a quick stretch, he was up and heading to the bathroom.
As Wolfgang walked across the room he removed his clothes, and threw them into his hamper, as he walked to the bathroom. When he got to the bathroom he went straight to the shower and turned it on. He wasn't really looking at what he was doing, but he was able to get the water to his preferred temperature just from routine.
After his shower Wolfgang got dressed in his grey combat shorts and a simple black t-shirt, then he clipped his House Rose crest to his right shoulder sleeve. Personally Wolfgang did not like wearing the family crest because it made everyone look at him differently when he was outside the Keep walls. He hated how everyone would either look at him like he was some great hero, or like some brat who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Whenever he left the Keep he would take off his family crest, he really didn't need it around the Keep. Everyone knew who he was just by looking at him, so he didn't need it to get back in. But the main reason he took it off when he left the Keep was to get people to treat him for who he was, not Wolfgang Rose of the noble House Rose but Wolfgang Rose the kid who is shy and has a thing for video games. He wanted to earn people's respect, not for it to be handed to him because of his birth.
His father never gave him anything he did not earn. If he wanted a new game he had to work for it, if he wanted to play with his brothers he had to finish his school work. Sure sometimes he would throw a temper tantrum, what six year old kid didn't, and he would be mad at his father for the rest of the day but in the end he would have work for what he wanted.
Wolfgang started toward the Knightbay, today he would be learning how to maintain and use the Knight he brought home. Samuel Said he would be teaching him all he needs to know about operating and Maintaining a Freedom Knight, and he would be starting today. Samuel also said that he would also need to get a neural interface when he turned ten so he could operate the Knight like it was his own body.
Now that the Knight was fixed, painted, and the AI's Neural Net was de-bugged so he/she could think like a normal AI again. So that means that he would need to talk to the AI and build a relationship with him/her, if not then the AI would be sent back to the Knight Corps and assigned to a new Knight as the Knight they had now was officially propriety of House Rose.
Wolfgang arrived at the Knightbay ten minutes later. The hanger was buzzing with noise, maintenance, weapon fitting, armor being welded into place, and heavy metal music playing over the Hanger's speakers. Wolfgang made his way over to the bay with his Knight, the new red paint shined brightly under the hanger's lights, the House Rose crest on its shield and under banner, and the Knights outline was now painted gold instead of the rusted brown it had a few days ago.
However, the Knight was missing some things. Mainly its weapons, the light weapon was missing as well as the weapons on its arms and upper hull. Wolfgang had no idea why the Knight was unarmed, the arms were there and looked to be functional, and the reactor looked to be running as there was exhaust coming out of the exhaust pipes.
Samuel was the only one working on Wolfgang's Knight. He had a panel open next to the Knight's right exhaust pipe and was currently pulling out some kind of component that Wolfgang did not recognized. He then threw the part into a box that was sitting on the catwalk behind him.
"Hey Mr. MacAomalain I'm here." Wolfgang said respectively.
"Thaur ye ur wolfgang. Come ower haur we'll start ye lesson noo." Samuel said waving him over.
Wolfgang walked around to the catwalk until he was beside Samuel. Since the panel was somewhat small Wolfgang had a hard time seeing so he climbed up on the railing a little to get a better view. There were a lot of parts that looked worn and on the verge of breaking while other parts looked brand new.
"Ye see it?" Samuel said given Wolfgang a glance.
"The old parts?" Wolfgang asked move to his right a little bit.
"Aye those need tae be replaced but look closer."
Wolfgang squinted.
All he could see was the rusted parts now else jumped out at him.
"Th' exhaust pipe was mounted improperly. Ye woods be gettin' exhaust intae th' main chassis meanin' ye gettin' extra heat." Samuel finally said.
"What happens if you overheat?" Wolfgang asked innocently.
"Th' fail safes will shut doon th' knight if th' heat gits tae high, if ye ower ride th' fail safes 'en ye risk a reactor melt down" Samuel answered as he started to work on the exhaust pipe. "But ye really dornt need to fuss about ower heatin' now a days, th' heat sinks 'at ur used now disperse th' heat faster 'en ye can build it."
"I guess that's good."
"It's better 'en guid Wolfgang; It givens ye an edge ower aw other knight Houses 'at aren't from Reach."
The next hour was Samuel teaching Wolfgang about the inner workings of the Freedom Knight. Weapon effectiveness against different enemy types, maneuvering tips, and basic field maintenance were some of the things Wolfgang was told as Samuel worked on the Knight.
The following hour Samuel had Wolfgang apply his new knowledge to the Knight. Despite Wolfgang's protests of not being ready to which Samuel replied "Ah believe in leanin' oan th' job" before tossing him on top of the Knight.
After that Samuel led Wolfgang to a staircase behind the Knight. The staircase led them to a room that overlooked the Knight. The room itself had one chair in front of a console; around the edges of the room were more computers systems and a few other consoles at shoulder height. All in all this room looked like a type of command center.
"Thes is th' Knightlab, here ye can change th' loadout of yer Knight as ye see fit." Samuel said closing the door to the Knightlab.
In an instance the noises of the Knightbay went silent; the only noise that could be heard was the hum of the computers and a few beeps here and there.
"Th' Knightbay is sound proof sae ye can wark oan yer knight without th' stooshie form th' hangar. If ye don't loch th' since there is a music player in th' back ower there." Samuel added pointing a computer console in the back of the room. "Sit in 'at chair sae we can arm yer Knight."
Wolfgang walked over to the chair and took a seat. As soon as he sat down the chair moved forward until he was up against the desk. Three other screens came around the main screen and turned on. The one on the right showed the Knights armor levels in the form of bars on its legs, arms, shoulders, upper hull, main chassis, and head.
The screen on the left showed Wolfgang's Knight with a menu on the side with a large variety of attachments that improved the Knight in various ways. Recon drones, improved radar, field repair kit, and active camouflage were some of the many add-ons that showed on the side menu.
The top screen showed the Knight Market screen. There were two columns, one column was titled House Rose-Wolfgang Rose Knight inventory while the other was titled Freedom Knight Market.There was a tab for Freedom Knights, weapons, armor types, as well as a mission board. However the prices fell out of range of Wolfgang's current allowance.
The main screen showed Wolfgang's Knight with open columns on the arms, upper hull, and left shoulder. On the side of the screen showed the stats of the Knight IE knight weight, knight max weight, and knight firepower, and knight heat capacity. On the other side was a column titled Weapon inventory, below that were a list of weapons for the knight all in different colors, symbols, and shapes.
From that Wolfgang could gather the red colored weapons were energy based weapons, Plasmas, lasers and meltaguns, the green colored weapon were missiles, thunder missiles, rocket launchers, and missile launchers, the yellow colored weapons were ammunition based weapons, gatling cannons, battle cannons, and auto cannons, and finally melee weapons in white, gauntlets, chainswords, and flails.
With so many possibilities Wolfgang could spend hours in the Knightlab adjusting his Knight to meet his personal combat needs, for a specific role in a lance, or mission. Wolfgang was so caught up in taking in as much information as he could he didn't notice the words above the Knight until Samuel Pointed it out.
"Rosa." Wolfgang said testing the word in his mouth.
"Aye that's th' name of th' Knight and as well as aw as th' AI we pulled out of it" Samuel said leaning against the wall. "Aft th' Knight's an' th' AI's name ur th' same."
"So the AI is a girl?" Wolfgang asked looking away from the four screens.
"Aye, Now it's time tae meit 'er. 'Come 'en up ye go." Samuel said hitting a button that caused the chair to move back and the three screens to retract back behind the main screen.
Wolfgang got up and followed Samuel out of the Knight Lab and back into the Knightbay. The two made their way out of the Knightbay and back into the main part of the Keep. It only took a few minutes to get to their destination.
The techlab.
The Techlab was where all the Technical research took place weapons, armors, equipment, and the like all took place here. But the techlab did not just make technologies of war; here some of the most brilliant minds came to gather to make life on Reach better than it was yesterday. In addition to making sure the men and women of Reach came home by making sure they had the edge in every way possible.
The two made their way passed the laboratories and scientists, who greeted Wolfgang as they walked by, until they came to the main laboratory. There in a white lab coat and green under shirt stood the lead scientist, or bonesinger, Kaymia Herlen, an Eldar.
As soon as Wolfgang saw her, a smile appeared on his face followed by the rush of air against his face as he ran at her.
"Kaymia!" Wolfgang called out happily.
Kaymia was five hundred and fifty years old but she did not look a day over twenty. Her skin was as smooth as cream and touch as gentle as a soft blanket. Her eyes were a beautiful green with flowing black hair to add to her beauty.
Kaymia turned to look at the familiar voice; she quickly set her clipboard down and picked up Wolfgang when he got to her. Wolfgang warped his legs around her waist while Kaymia used her arms to hold Wolfgang. The two exchanged a hug, when they finished Kaymia continued to hold Wolfgang in her arms.
"It's good to see you little one. What brings you here to my arms today?" Kaymia asked happily.
"Mr. MacAomalain brought me here to see the AI that he took out of the Knight that my brothers and I brought home three days ago." Wolfgang said switching to the Eldar's language, while having a big smile on his face.
"It's good to know you still practice our language young one." Kaymia said switching languages too.
By this time Samuel made his way over to the two and was standing five feet away from them.
He cleared his throat to get their attention. "Nae to brake up th' reunion but Wolfgang has an AI tae boond wi'"
"Quite so." Kaymia said switching back to English.
Kaymia sat Wolfgang down and led the two out of the main laboratory down a hall with many doors lining the walls. She then stopped at one, punched a few keys into the keypad next to the door, and opened it.
She looked at Wolfgang. "In this room is the AI that saved you. Her name is Rosa and she has not seen anyone other than myself and a few of the other staff. Try your best to become her friend."
Wolfgang nodded then walked in.
The room was small, being a good ten feet wide and seven feet long. There was chair and a table in the middle of the room with a small circular projector in the center of the table. The Projector was on showing a small red ball of data flowing in and out of it.
Wolfgang walked up to the chair and pulled himself up onto it. The table was a little shorter than Wolfgang so he could see a bit without having to stand on the chair.
Wolfgang looked at the AI's avatar in the center of the table. He was no stranger to AIs there were a few that lived/work in the Keep, one of which was Wolfgang's Teacher.
"Uh, hi my name is Wolfgang Rose." Wolfgang said smiling.
The AI's avatar flickered then dissipated then reformed into a red human knight with a longsword planted in the "ground". The avatar was obviously female because the breast plates came out and the braided ponytail coming out of the back of her helmet.
The AI looked at Wolfgang for a moment before speaking.
"Hello Wolfgang, my name is Rosa." The AI paused for a moment before continuing. "I-I would like to thank you for convincing your brother not to shoot me and taking me out of the graveyard."
"Oh it was nothing really; you did save me from that other Knight." Wolfgang said scratching the back of his neck.
"Yes But that still does not change the fact that I would not be standing here without your intervention." Rosa said getting down on one knee and bowing her head. "It would be an honor for me if you would take me as your AI partner."
Wolfgang's cheeks went red as the AI made her request. He had heard that the AIs that helped control the Freedom Knights had a very medieval knight personality, but he had never thought they were for real. Sure a large majority of them didn't talk like it, most of them just acted like it.
Wolfgang scrambled to find the right words to say. He had never been in a situation like this before. With no real knowledge of what to say back Wolfgang just fell back on his secret weapon. Replaying the words he said to his oldest brother when he did not want to get out of bed.
"I know I have been in a state of-" she started again before he cut her off.
"Yes!" Wolfgang said happily putting the cutest smile he could muster on his face.
Rosa looked up in surplice. "B-but I have been-"
"Think of all the fun we could have to gather!"
"Are you sure? I-I could mal-"
"Think of all the things we could be doing instead of just lying around in here!"
"But in a field operation if I fail you could get hurt or-" Rosa went on but Wolfgang kept cutting her off.
"I don't care about those things I want to play together right now! You can worry about those things later!"
The AI was sent for a little bit then she nodded. "Yes I shouldn't be worrying about that let's get out of here."
The door to the room opened just as Wolfgang got up.
"Nae sae fest ye two. ye two need to arm yer Knight afair Ah allowed ye tae go for a joy ride. Wolfgang ye don't have a neural interface and ye don't ken hoo tae drive a Knight wi' it a body yit sae Rosa ye ur going to drive if ye two want tae go for a ride." Samuel said walked over to the two.
"Rosa ye can noo transfer yourself tae th' Knightlab where yer two's knight is. Wolfgang meet 'er thaur sae ye can arm yer Knight." Samuel then turned and started toward the door.
"What about you? Are you going to show me how to use the Knightlab?" Wolfgang said hastily.
Ah jist got called tae dae anither task Rosa will help ye." Samuel said before he left.
"I will see you their Wolfgang. Don't keep a girl waiting. Ouch." Rosa said seductively before she was shocked in her left arm.
"He is too young for that." Kaymia growled at her. She was standing in the door frame, with a data pad in her hands, glaring at Rosa.
"Yes maim." Rosa said grudgingly before transferring herself to the Knightlab.
Kaymia expression did a 180 when she looked at Wolfgang. "Despite what she was inferring to, you should however never keep a girl waiting in the literal sense."
"There is a meaning?" Wolfgang asked innocently as he walked up to her.
She only smile and ruffled up his hair. "Never change Wolfgang, Never change. Now run along."
Wolfgang gave her a quick hug before he took off towards theKnightlab. However, he ran out of energy halfway there and was forced to walk the rest of the way. When Wolfgang finally got to the Knightlab he found Rosa standing right next to the main thermal waiting for Wolfgang to arrive.
She was holding her long sword in her left hand. Her hand just above the arm guard which Wolfgang found odd.
'Why would someone hold the sharp part instead of the smooth part?' Wolfgang thought as he walked up to the only chair in the room and took a seat.
"So how do I do this?" Wolfgang asked Rosa as the chair moved closer to the computer and the other screens came around.
"First I should ask how you intend to fight with me. Are you looking to be built around fighting infantry, tanks, or other walkers?"
Wolfgang thought about it for a moment. Infantry didn't sound like a threat to a Freedom Knight; All they had for weapons were tiny guns. what could they do when compared to a forty feet tall mech. Tanks sounded more like a threat, they could carry much bigger guns than any ground soldier. Other Knights would be the biggest threat to him after all Knights were the best weapon around.
"I think going we should build around fighting other Knights." Wolfgang said moving the mouse on the screen to the weapons screen.
Rose sighed and planted her sword in the "ground". "I have a lot of work to do."
"What do you mean?" Wolfgang asked surprised, apparently there was a right answer to the question and he did not say it.
"That question was a test." Rosa said walking up to the window that overlooked the Knight. "You see, I am assigned to a Warden-class Freedom Knight. Since you have no knowledge of the workings of a Knight, aside from what the public knows, I will have to start from the basics."
Rose then turned to face Wolfgang, her arms behind her back as she slowly walked towards Wolfgang. "You see, Warden-class Freedom Knights are one of the best Knight classes you can get, better armor, power core, equipment, custom-ability, and all that stuff. Normally only the best, or someone with deep pockets, Knight Pilots would have the honor of Piloting a Warden-class."
"That also means in a lance, more times than not, you will be leading them into battle. And since you have the best gear you would be the last one to die."
Wolfgang's smile dropping at that statement.
"You are probably reasoning things along the lines of "Infantry can't hurt me, tanks maybe, other Knights are the only threat to me". However I will tell you that infantry can be as deadly as other Knights. So you need to build our Knight to be an anti-everything."
"Well… then what were you equipped-"
"What my previous pilot chose to use is of little concern now. You're not her. She had one way of fighting, you may have another. What's important is that you arm yourself with weapons that you are confirmable with." Rosa cut in.
Wolfgang thought back to his first encounter with Rosa, she used a fist for a weapon. It did take down the first Knight that he ran into.
"How about a fis-" Wolfgang started but was cut off again.
"Gauntlets are outside your skill range right now so we will be getting a chainsword first." Rosa walked up to the main screen then waved her hand in front of it.
The equipment screen then showed a chainsword being moved to the left arm of the Knight. When the weapon clicked into place, mechanical arms around the Knight appeared and started to mount a chainsaw sword on the Knight's left arm.
Wolfgang looked at the equipment screen and started to scroll down the list of weapons he had available to him.
"So um" Wolfgang said while trying to find something to talk about while he experimented with the equipment he could use on his Knight. "Who are you parents?"
Rosa looked at him for a moment before looking back at the screen. "My parents were both ship AIs. My father was the Ship AI of a frigate named Dauntless and my mother was the Ship AI of a small cruiser named Ulysses."
"Are they still alive? I mean there are a lot of ships up there."
Rosa became silent.
"No they both passed away." Rosa said with some pain. "The Dauntless was destroyed by a Chaos Space Marine strike team that boarded my father's ships. They detonated his reactor killing everyone on board, and my mother suffered a similar fate."
"Well I think they would be glad to see you now." Wolfgang said trying to brighten the mood.
"If only." Rosa said quietly. "They never did approve of me becoming a Battle AI for a Freedom Knight. Said I had the potential to operate the biggest of warships." she chuckled a little bit. "Doubt I could operate a cargo ship with all the new technologies those things are teeming with nowadays."
"Well… don't they have upgrades for AI's to?" Wolfgang jumped in.
"Yes but they only fixed my neural net. They tried to keep me on a closed server but I busted out of that without them even noticing a few hours later. Didn't even trip the alarm." She finished proudly.
"Why didn't they give you the updates?"
"Technicians thought that I would be too unstable to even keep around. He-" She stopped herself from cursing around him. "They joked that even an untrained eye like yours would see that I was a lost cause."
Wolfgang remained silent. He had no idea what to say. All he did was repeat what he said to his brother when he was busy with Preserver stuff.
"In all honesty I really did think that you would turn me down and I would be shipped off back to the Corps. There I would probably just be given a medal, a pat on the back then relinquished from the Corps to live as a civilian AI until the end of days."
She then turned back to Wolfgang and walked up to him disappearing when she got close then reappearing on his shoulder.
"Imagine my surprise when the little kid I saved came in and said I want you as my partner even though you're broken." Rosa said putting a hand on Wolfgang's cheek.
She then jumped down from his shoulder then turned back to face him. Her sword appeared in her hand then she took a knee planting her weapon in front of her. "I Rosa, daughter of Selma and Allaster, pledge myself to you here and now. I will protect you from the horrors of this universe whether it be a god, demon, or alien. I will stand against anyone who would raise a sword against you. I will gladly lay down my life for you."
God bless and don't forget to buckle up.
Special thanks to my Editor: ZoDiAcKiLlEr315