Chapter 3: The First Test
"So you ended up accepting his offer?"
Mikazuki nodded.
"Mika… Ichika, you understand what you're getting into when you said yes, right?"
The girl stopped when she almost let his identity slipped. Mikazuki nodded again.
"I know. I guess I did not put much thought into it. All I thought is how to get Atra back and accepting his offer is the only thing I could think of."
Mikazuki admitted. The girl sighs. Not that she can blame him for carelessly accepting Mcgillis' offer after hearing the story. She knew him well enough to know how precious Atra is to him.
In Mikazuki's life, he treasured his family more than anything. But among the faces of Tekkadan, three people occupy Mikazuki's heart and he would be incomplete without them. One is his brother in all but blood, Orga Itsuka. He would do anything for him and follow his lead. Orga is the first of the three people most important to Mikazuki.
She can understand Mikazuki's action because Atra is the second person to enter his heart and one he had a child with in his previous life. Not even death can change his feeling for her. And knowing Mikazuki who prefers to follow orders or his instinct even when he can think for himself now, she could see why he accepted Mcgillis' offer. His mind must've been blank and focused only on Atra.
How can she understand Mikazuki so well? It is because she is the third person to occupy Mikazuki's heart, Kudelia Aina Bernstein. She is currently a university student who had only graduated IS Academy last year.
It was pure coincidence that they were reunited. Kudelia was watching the IS Academy entrance exam and was surprised to see a male pilot suddenly flew in with an IS. At first she didn't knew that Ichika was Mikazuki but his fighting style looks familiar and he noticed her.
"I suppose there's no use talking about this. You've accepted mister Fareed's offer."
Mikazuki nodded. There's silence between the two. They are currently having lunch in a family restaurant not far from Mikazuki's apartment. They won't be able to meet frequently since Mikazuki will be attending IS academy while Kudelia is busy with college, though they did promise to meet at least once a week.
"Kudelia, what is the Academy like?"
Mikazuki suddenly ask out of curiosity.
"The IS academy? Hmm, it's not that different from an ordinary school apart from specializing in the subject of IS. It's just like a normal all-girl sc-"
Kudelia did not think too much about it before but now that she thought about it, Mikazuki will be the only boy staying in the IS Academy. That would've been heaven to most boys but Kudelia knew Mikazuki well enough that it won't be much of a pleasant experience for him, especially if he meets the wrong sort of people.
Kudelia had met a number of girls who Mikazuki would most likely murder for annoying him too much. Just like Mcgillis, Kudelia hope that there won't be any trouble and that the more… elitist girls won't bother Mikazuki although it's probably a fool's hope. At the very least, she hope that Mikazuki can keep his calm… scratch that, he's always calm. She hopes that Mikazuki won't retaliate violently.
"Kudelia?"
Kudelia suddenly grab Mikazuki with both hands and inch closer. Then she spoke with utmost seriousness, leaving no room for disobedience and told him clearly.
"Ichika, I will warn you only this once. Please don't resort to violence no matter what happened unless life is threatened."
Mikazuki nodded but soon he tilted his head in confusion at Kudelia's action though he soon figured that it's likely because he doesn't have normal common sense. Nevertheless, he will follow Kudelia's order. Even if he had improved now, Kudelia would know more about being normal.
"Okay, I will promise not to resort to violence unless it is needed."
Mikazuki promised. That's the best Kudelia would get for now.
-Mcgillis' base, 4 days later-
IS Core is an interesting piece of technology. The one in his possession that he received for R&D has yielded several interesting results. For one thing, it is a potent as a nuclear reactor but less dangerous. To be honest, the readings he got are close to what an Ahab reactor would give. The IS cores even have some similarities with the Ahab reactor. For one, it produced energy continuously and it is indestructible and poses no dangerous to life unlike nuclear.
Of course, IS core is different from an Ahab reactor but by how much and the specifics are lost to him. He might be smart but he is not an engineer. He still have teams researching about the IS core but unlike other research teams all around the world, he is not fixated on IS technology.
"Alright mister Fareed, I hope you're ready. The unit we'll be using to conduct this test is a Rafael Revive, a second generation IS unit equipped with a prototype Alaya Vijnana system. We'll begin in one minute. Please tell us if there is anything wrong… and good luck."
Professor Alan Ray, head of his R&D department said over the intercom. Mcgillis is currently shirtless and facing an IS equipped with a prototype Alaya Vijnana system. Thanks to his large involvement in the research of Alaya Vijnana system, he knew about it enough to replicate it in this new world. He had been working on this system for five years and finally the time has come for him to see the result of his work. Although there are risks involved, Mcgillis doesn't care.
"Let's begin."
The professor told him. He got into the IS unit and connect with it.
"Do you feel anything yet mister Fareed?"
Mcgillis heard the professor's question but did not answer. He close his eyes as he try to feel the very machine that he's connected with, just like with Gundam Bael back then. He remembered that sensation, that power, that thrill, and commands the IS to wake up. Suddenly the IS activate and launch upward at incredible speed, surprising the researchers and even Mcgillis himself. It crashed into the ceiling initially without the AIC active but Mcgillis forcefully command the AIC to activate and try to control the IS.
"What is happening?!"
Alan demanded as Mcgillis try to wrestle control from whatever it is controlling the IS. It is not an easy fight as the machine struggle to resist his control. Mcgillis flew all over the sealed room with little control over anything at all. His head is throbbing and he felt pain throughout his body.
"Sir, there's something in the machine coming from the core that's resisting control!"
"Mister Fareed's vital signs are rising to dangerous level!"
Hearing those explanations, Alan turn back to Mcgillis and speak through the intercom.
"Mister Fareed, abort the test! There is something interfering with the connection and it is resisting your control! It's too dangerous!"
"No! We'll continue the test. I won't be defeated by mere machine!"
Replied Mcgillis as he hold back the pain and continue to fight for control. The IS kept twisting and turning and sometimes even crashing. It stubbornly refuses to be controlled by Mcgillis. The IS unit is at least semi-sentient, this just proves it. This is why Mcgillis stubbornly refuse to stop the test. He won't be defeated by some computer made by Shinonono Tabane!
"Mister Fareed's vital signs are in the critical!"
"Sir!"
Mcgillis could hear yelling from the intercom but he still won't stop. But it is a losing battle as his consciousness is slowly fading. Mcgillis grit his teeth. He won't let the machine win. He was warned that the IS units might be semi-sentient by his best programmer months ago and that it is dangerous to connect to a unit with an AI but he went on with it.
"I will not be defeated here. I will make you obey me!"
The machine's movement suddenly became less erratic as Mcgillis exert his will. He will not let his mind be overwhelmed by a machine, especially one made by that mad woman.
Suddenly Mcgillis felt the resistance weakening at a rapid rate. He did not pause but continue to enforce his will on the machine through the Alaya Vijnana system.
"Resistance collapsing. Vital levels are returning to normal parameter!"
"He subjugate it?"
Alan asked no one in particular. But in truth, he's not interested in that. All he's interested in right now is the success of the test. His heart almost stopped whenever Mcgillis crashed and that's a lot of time. The sealed room has lots of dents and craters made by the berserk IS. It was a close call and who knows if it will happen again with another test but for now, they have succeeded, as proven by Mcgillis floating steadily in the air and began utilizing the IS' various functions.
Mcgillis sat on a bench just outside the testing room sweating heavily with a towel hung around his neck. That was honestly too close for comfort. But they have succeeded. That is at least something to rejoice.
"You almost died."
The voice of a girl said to him. Mcgillis look up to see one of his aces looking down at him almost like she's glaring. She had warned him about the AI and had proposed to deal with it first but Mcgillis had refused, preferring for her to focus on the completion of the Alaya Vijnana system and its software. There is no doubt that the girl is angry at him. He had done something rather reckless.
His ace programmer and hacker, Renbokouji Akira, is a seventeen years old genius with red hair and a mean look. She wears a gray hoodie and is for all intents and purposes, should be in school. But there is a reason why she's not and is here with his faction.
During the famous White Knight incident where the nuclear silos of various countries were hacked, there is someone who counter-hacked some of the missiles and managed to stop them from reaching japan. Around thirty nuclear missiles fell to the sea along with some other remote weapons.
She is the person who counter-hacked the missiles.
The attention she received scared her and she became a reclusive. It is only luck that Mcgillis found her. She had hidden herself from public eye with her hacking skill and nobody can find her. There is a much longer story about how her name became known and how Mcgillis managed to recruit her but that's a story for another time.
"I imagine it was you who suppressed the AI."
Akira nodded. Mcgillis expected as much. There's no way the fight suddenly got easy. Akira hacked the IS from the outside and helped him suppress the AI's presence. If she hadn't done it, he would've really died.
"You didn't listen."
"Will you forget it if I say I'm sorry?"
Akira glare at him. Mcgillis had to admit he has nothing to say and is completely in the wrong. He was confident that he could've suppressed the AI if it actually fights back but it was much more persistent than he expected. He has to thank Akira for her help.
"Just don't do something like that again."
Akira said to him. She then walks away, wanting to get back to her room quickly. Mcgillis watch as she left almost in a hurry. Once she's out of sight, Mcgillis chuckled. Akira is a strange girl. She said her piece and then left just like that. He could swear that she and Mikazuki are related with how much they speak. She will definitely get along with the Devil of Tekkadan.
Mcgillis was about to head back in when he received a message in his phone. He took out his phone and checked who it is from. To his surprise, it is from Mikazuki. The same message is also sent to Kudelia at the same time.
'I got into a fight with the British representative candidate.'
Not my best chapter but I want to believe that it's not my worst either. Two characters introduced. Kudelia Aina Bernstein and Renbokouji Akira. Kudelia is obvious but I include Akira from Valvrave for one thing. To give Mcgillis an edge against Tabane. We all know who is actually behind the White Knight Incident and if Tabane could hack something as secure as a nuclear silo, Mcgillis might as well broadcast his research to the outside world since Tabane can hack his database. But with Akira, he will be able to match Tabane in at least that field. For now, that's what Akira's role will be until it can be expanded.
I won't say too much since this chapter has nothing important going on. If anyone has anything to ask, just PM me.
Now for the revs.
edboy4926: Imagine what will happen from what I showed in this chapter.
AGundamFan: I didn't change Atra's hair color. I just can't see it very well. I can sometime mistake colors due to problem with my eyesight. And here is Kudelia but Almiria has not appeared yet. Just wait for it.
GBF93: Yes, the harem and how it is handled like a high-school romantic comedy most of the time makes it annoying and destroy the setting's potential. And thank you. Your praise is the greatest thing I have ever received as a Gundam fan.
shikyoseinen: Mika was about to reject his offer although he's willing to work as an ordinary mercenary for less troublesome work. But Atra's presence affected his decision like explained in this chapter. And Mcgillis had learned from his failure. The first chapter shows that he began to think and now he will take his previous failures into consideration.
Lord hellfire913: Which one is space gus?
GuestGundam: The Alaska Treaty will come up in time. Just wait. And yeah, Akira's work is mostly hiding things like that from being found out.
KisaragiKei: I always thought that Mika is a passive character and only shines because of other characters. Which is why I pick Mcgillis as the main character with Mika as secondary protagonist.