by Skully
◆◆◆
“You need to take a break,” Mace said to Daedo as they ran alongside the river.
“I thought this was the break?” He queried. They were going on a long run, Axel-Zero and Vannier were running with Kang and Picard was racing Barran. The squad had split into three to allow each group to go at its own pace. It was Friday night and the pathway lights reflected off the dark surface of the river.
“You’ve missed every Gauntlet this week, not to mention Academics. You would normally be finished everything by now,” she lightly scolded.
“I’m almost done. We had to rework the gyro as the first one didn’t work out with the range of movement…” Daedo began to explain.
“Enough,” Mace scolded, heavily this time. “Look at the river, it's beautiful at night isn’t it?”
Daedo looked to his left, “Ah, yeah, if you say so.”
“Bah,” Mace said, “Sometimes you’re the smartest person in the world, and other times you’re thick as constructofoam.”
“Ah, yeah, if you say so,” Daedo responded totally bewildered by the accusation. In his opinion he deserved neither. It wasn’t him coming up with all the breakthroughs, it was the mystery box. Other than the muscle like mesh compound supporting both the mech and the exo he hadn’t really done much. He couldn’t even solve the cosmological constant.
“You don’t even realise you repeated the same response,” Mace said sadly.
“Did I?” Daedo asked, and after a quick review, he realised she was right. He figured he must have auto-answered to save thinking time.
“Ay, it's da rich kids,” a kid sitting on a wall yelled confrontationally as they ran by, “Yeah keep running ya fukkas.”
Mace looked at Daedo who shrugged. He had never seen that kid before, but the kid seemed to act like the reverse was true.
Daedo wasn’t threatened by the aggressive tone, even if they were accosted by armed thugs; given their training, communications and proximity of friends let alone authorities, they could handle most situations. Other than a head shot, or decapitation, most wounds were treatable.
The pair ran another five minutes in silence, Daedo’s mind was wandering until Mace spoke.
“What are you thinking about now?” She asked, her tone had softened this time.
“The kid,” Daedo said, “No, not that kid specifically. But…if the EUDF only have a hundred thousand exo soldiers and the private militaries are all gone, what will happen to most of the people? Surely a hundred thousand exo soldiers and a few thousand mechs can’t protect all of Europe.”
“And Africa,” Mace added.
“Yeah!” He said all of a sudden he was emotional.
They ran on for another five minutes in silence.
“We really do need to make that billion bitcreds,” Daedo said.
Mace was crying, it was only a tear or two. She wiped them away and said softly, “Surely it can’t be left to us? That street rat was correct, we’re kids. We’re just kids.”
Daedo stopped Mace. He put his hands on her shoulders and made her look at him.
“We’re not alone, there is the Marais, Colonel Martin and even Master Nader, but we have to do everything we can,” Daedo consoled and inspired Mace.
She pulled him in close and hugged him. “You’re such an idiot,” she said softly.
The tone sounded like a compliment, but the words were confusing. He felt uncomfortable but accepted the hug and even returned it a little.
Suddenly Mace pushed him back, “We better start running again. If the others catch us like this, we will never hear the end of it.”
They crossed the river at a bridge and began the return run leg on the other side of the river.
“Speaking of Marais,” Mace said, “How did you and Barran convince them to loan us two million bitcreds.”
“Oh,” Daedo began, “Well, at first we offered them Daedalus as collateral with all our IP. But Sophie, the CEO, rejected that saying it wasn’t nearly enough.”
Mace sniggered, “You were going to ask us?”
“Yes and only a unanimous affirmative decision would suffice,” Daedo said.
“What happened then?” Mace asked.
“She made a counter offer that I couldn’t refuse,” Daedo said.
“Spill it, stop playing with me,” Mace groaned.
They ran a few more metres before Daedo finally replied, “If we are relegated I will have to hand all my shares to Marais and not only work for them, but they would own any invention or discovery I make.”
“For how long?” Mace asked.
“Forever.”
“Daedo!” Mace yelled. “Why did you agree to this!” Her eyes widened in surprise.
“We won’t lose,” he said emphatically.
“I know Barran is this stupid, but I didn’t think you were as well. I am never leaving you two alone again,” Mace stated with a large slice of authority.
The pair arrived back at the workshop just in time to witness Ikaros and the robots finishing assembling the second prototype Mech for the Upper Inter-Academy first team. They would need to manufacture sixteen Mechs in all, but only after they got the design right.
“She’s ready Daedo,” Ikaros called. “Well, no paint job, but that can wait, you may want to recycle this one as well.”
“She?” Daedo asked.
“You’re right, best not to give her a designation if you’re going to kill her in a few hours,” Ikaros stated smiling.
“You’re still doing it,” Mace observed.
“Bah,” Ikaros said, “Okay lady let’s get you jump-started.”
“I guess this one’s a girl,” Axel-Zero said after arriving on the scene.
“We can’t go back now,” Daedo responded.
Within minutes Ikaros had the reactor working. “I’ll walk it to the shed,” he said.
The shed was what the squad were now calling their large practice area next door, their first practice range was simply called: lower one.
Daedo: Alright Myrmidon, I don’t want to fry myself so keep three eyes on the temperature in the plasma storage, please.
Although simulations in their new modelling tool showed the mech was stable in both power generation and thermal loads, from experience, Daedo had learned that even the best modelling tool was wrong most of the time.
Myrmidon: I will have eighty eyes on the temperature and can force a shutdown in nanoseconds if needed.
Daedo: You can shut it down in nanoseconds?
Myrmidon: Misleading. I am sorry. I can begin the shutdown process within nanoseconds of determination.
Daedo: Understood. Okay, lets put this lady through her paces.
The rest of the squad watched jealously as Daedo ran, twisted, jumped, knelt, dodged and even slid.
“Oh my freakin ballsack,” Barran exclaimed.
“Wow,” Axel-Zero agreed. The Mech ran rings around Old Dawg and made Dead Beat look dead in terms of movement capability.
“Did you know it was this good?” Vannier asked Kang.
She shook her head, even she had to hand it to the smug little bastard. No Mech in the pro league moved this well.
Barran was getting more excited by the second, “It’s fecking Svarski material.”
“This is his first Mech design?” Kang asked Vannier who nodded once.
“Fark me,” Kang said.
Chapter 21
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null
Term: 2, Round: 5
Daedalus Financial Position -1,650,000 bitcreds
◆◆◆
“Daedo!” Barran yelled at the top of his lungs outside the door to Daedo’s room. He proceeded to pound on the door, “Daedo, you gotta see this.”
It was 0430, and the cadets didn’t usually rise for at least another hour.
The door slid open with Daedo rubbing sleep from his
eye, “See what?”
“The Japanese pro league,” Barran said excitedly.
“What about the Japanese pro league?” Daedo asked with a hint of irritation in his voice.
“They know about us!” Barran did a little dance, and after spinning around, he announced, “One of the teams want to purchase a Mech by the company that built Dead Beat.”
Daedo put on his helmet and unnecessarily said, “Noise Cancelling, all frequencies.” It was for Barran’s benefit. The door promptly slid shut, and Daedo disappeared.
Vannier stormed out of her room, “Seriously Barran!”
“What?” He said.
“Not only did you wake everyone up, but don’t you think he may need his sleep? He’s been working himself to death after you made that stupid bet!” She said angrily.
Vannier didn’t view the bet as stupid, she saw it as Daedo backing himself. It scared her, but she admired him for his chutzpah.
However, right now, at 0430, a cranky Vannier let Barran have it both barrels. “It’s four thirty!”
Barran looked guilty for a record time of two-point-nine seconds.
“But Japan,” he said in an elongated fashion stretching his arms out theatrically.
Vannier hit him with her best death stare. Barran had survived death stares which were several orders of magnitude more deathly. After holding the stare for a good fifteen seconds, her door slid shut, and Vannier went back to bed.
Mace: If you’re up, we need to talk. Or we can talk after the obstacle course if you like.
Daedo: No, I’m up now. My powernap superpower doesn’t work at this time of day apparently.
Mace: Let’s go to the cafeteria and get a sneaky shake.
Daedo: No way! I’ll die on the course. But we can go there. I’ll just have water and see if they have any bananas.
Mace: You’re dreaming. They only had bananas once last term, and they lasted for an hour.
Daedo: Aah um... And when did they have them last term?
The pair had now met in the corridor and were walking towards the cafeteria.
“Um, let me check,” Mace said. “Oh! It was during the tournament week.”
It was the second week of round five, the tournament matches were beginning today, including M1 group matches.
The pair raced to the cafeteria only to be disappointed.
“There was only a point-zero-four-seven percent chance there would be bananas,” Daedo said sadly.
“You got my hopes up!” Mace accused him.
“You were dreaming so don’t blame me,” Daedo replied, and he changed the subject, “What was it we needed to talk about?”
Mace looked around to ensure no one was in earshot and she checked her frequency sensors.
Daedo waited patiently intrigued by the measures she was taking to ensure they weren’t overheard. Next, she would want a secure VR room like Master Nader.
“I’m worried about you,’ she said finally.
“Yes, I got that message loud and clear. We are on schedule, and I should be able to return to a more balanced timetable soon,” Daedo replied.
Mace paused for a moment, she looked at him seriously, “I’m not stupid. I see what’s happening with Master Nader.”
Daedo panicked for a moment, how could she possibly know? She noticed him panicking and looked a little concerned. Daedo’s mind began to review all possibilities. It was possible she didn’t know, but suspected something due to the time he had been spending with Master Nader. And although she was insightful, she wasn’t an all-seeing oracle from the fantasy streams.
“What do you see?” Daedo asked, calling her bluff.
Mace smiled, “We don’t need to play games. I trust you. But do you trust me?”
“I do, but there are things I can’t tell you,” Daedo said honestly.
Mace nodded solemnly. “I’ve tried to crack her security since the first week of term one, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mace admitted.
Daedo panicked again. He wasn’t worried about Mace finding out. He was worried for her life. “She will know! You know what happened to 'you know who'. Don’t test Master Nader!” It was sufficiently vague, but the pair knew exactly who Daedo was talking about. Master Ustinov.
Mace shook her head, “Oh she knows. I think she even encourages me to try as she has sent me subtle messages when I have broken through layers.”
Daedo looked stricken, “Mace, you have no idea!”
“Then tell me,” she said looking hurt.
“I can’t,” Daedo said stricken.
“Fine,” she said angrily.
Daedo had not been educated on the meaning of the word 'fine' when spoken by the opposite sex with a specific tone. He was still young.
“Good,” he replied. “And stop trying to pierce her defence, even Fortescue couldn’t.”
“Fortescue are amateurs,” Mace said and then she looked like she wished she hadn’t.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Daedo asked.
“I can’t,” she said honestly, but with a little satisfaction that she was holding back just as he was.
“I knew you were a superb coder from the first week. And I know you’re cunning and insightful,” Daedo stated the truth.
Mace blushed slightly.
“You worked out the thing with 'you know who' and you weren’t even at the meeting with me, Vannier and Master Nader,” he continued.
“Even Vannier didn’t put two and two together, and she was at the meeting!”
He looked at her. She had hung her head down and wasn’t making eye contact.
“Then you produce that tiny spider drone. You’ve never used it before, well, I’ve never seen it. And you said you had it all along.” Still no reaction from Mace so Daedo continued.
“And your parents, I know they travel all the time, but what exactly do they do?” Daedo listed all the facts he had gathered regarding Mace. She slowly lifted her head and met his gaze.
She stated with all seriousness, “We are at a stalemate, and I will warn you just as you warned me. Don’t think or talk about what my parents do again, it's not safe to speculate on such topics,” Mace said mysteriously and ominously.
Daedo wondered for a moment.
“They are trade brokers, that’s all you need to know,” Mace said. That was the cover story, and she knew Daedo would see right through it. That’s why she didn’t try and convince him.
“Agreed, stalemate!” Daedo said finally. He would not push her any further no matter how disturbing her background was. He began to wonder about her. Did he really know her? Did she have an agenda other than what they all took for granted?
And as if she could read his mind she said, “Don’t! Speculation will only build distrust. If I say I am your friend and I am with you, then believe me.” She said earnestly, her eyes were watering. She turned her head and wiped her face before a tear could fall.
Daedo nodded and said, “Fine!” He stood as it was time to head to the obstacle course.
◆◆◆
Despite not completing all his work last round, despite many M1 squads renting the two-point six exo, despite ranking sixth on the gauntlet because as he only completed it once in round four; Daedo was still rank one cadet in M1. But the leading margin must have narrowed, and he would certainly lose it if he didn’t complete all the activities by the end of the week.
Performing well in the tournament would also help solidify all M1TS0 rankings including Kang. Unlike term one, M1TS0 were only competing in M1 with the additional match on Friday with Siderus’ squad. The Academy admin had placed it in the premium slot, as the main exo match, with the M1 and M3 finals moved to earlier in the morning.
Term 2, Round 4
Rank, Cadet, House
1, Daedo, Thoth
2, Mace, Thoth
3, Vannier, Thoth
4, Paget-A , Horus
5, Fortescue, Horus
6, Lazard, Shu
7, Raoult, Horus
8, Barran, Thoth
9, Picard, Thoth
10, Moreau, Horus
11, Almeras, Osiris
12, Delcroix , Amun-Ra
13, Gallois, Osiris
14, Axel-Zero, Thoth
15, Gaumont, Thoth
192, Kang, Thoth
Daedo considered the importance of the rankings, in the scheme of things even his competitive spirit was not a motivator to keep rank one. If there was an urgent priority, it would come before Academy studies and competitions. The only reasons he could think of to retain it, even from Mace or Vannier, was the morale of Daedalus and the stature it granted him in negotiations.
It had proven useful on more than one occasion that he had held a stranglehold on rank one, whether it was dealing with admin, Fortescue or even sales completed by Barran. Daedo had unwittingly created an air of pre-eminence surrounding his persona.
How others viewed him was far from reality, but it did have its advantages.
Daedo looked up and down his squad. They were in three-point-two exos and the only other squads to possess this version was the Inter-Academy teams. It gave them an advantage over the rented exos, which he would rectify next term. There simply wasn’t enough time this term to upgrade everyone. The machines at the workshop were working overtime manufacturing Mechs, now the design was stable.
Which reminded Daedo of the early morning wake-up, “Barran when does this pro league team need the Mech? I have your message, but it lacks a deadline.”
“I told them they had to wait, and they said as long as they had it before next season, they don’t want to tip their hand this season anyway,” Barran answered.
That told him little. Daedo wasn’t up on Asian or Japanese pro league season schedules. “When does the new season start for them?”
Barran quickly looked it up and replied, “In six weeks so tons of time.”
“How much did you sell it for?” Kang asked Barran.
“Ah, 50 km,” he replied smiling.
“Is that all?” She said surprised
“Rental, per season,’ Barran qualified.
“Oh,” Kang said. “Nice!” She thought for a moment, “Make sure you determine the Asian Champions league as a different season or competition.”
