Save the Day Program, once again. (Gundam IBO/Satisfactory SI): Chapter 18

I took a deep breath, feeling the thrum of my heart and the twin Ahab reactors beating in tandem.

Opening my eyes, I saw two perspectives at once.

The mechanical precision of the machine’s optics and the full-spectrum beauty of human eyes.

Power. The likes of which can intoxicate even the strongest of wills, filled me with confidence.

And somewhere deep within me, I felt a connection. It allowed me to feel everything around me with great precision, my special awareness boosted to an absurd degree.

To think all of this is not even a fraction of this thing’s full might.

As expected of a Gundam.

“Alright, I think I’ve acclimated to it, ADA. Release the autopilot.”

“Affirmative. I must remind you, if you damage something with your joyride again, I will ban you from piloting a mobile suit ever again.”

“….Hey, am I the boss or are you?”

“That depends on how childish you wish to be, Administrator. Anyways, I have released the autopilot. All that is left is for you to stress test it.”

“Alright, here goes nothing.”

The Alya-Vijana system is unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced.

The sheer amount of data passing through the brain, all the knowledge that I have no way of knowing, yet I have it anyway. The feeling of power tells me that I can do anything I want.

It is exhilarating.

But I am not here to indulge in this drug-like euphoria or to indulge my inner child.

No. I am here to stress test this machine and see if it can become another one of my assets to protect what I care about.

So, let’s stress test it.

As ADA taught me during our previous simulations, I felt deep within my mind, tracing the connection between my brain and the Gundam, and finally found the hidden systems that would only activate under certain conditions.

With a mental tug, the demon awakened.

[ALAYA-VIJNANA SYSTEM SAFE MODE DEACTIVATED]

Instantly, the feeling power shot through the roof as it felt like the world itself slowed down.

“I am seeing a spike in your vitals. But they are still within acceptable parameters. However, your brain activity has gone beyond predicted levels. I am also seeing multiple systems that were hidden till now. Copying everything for later study. How are you feeling? Administrator?”

“Amazing. It feels like I can do anything I want. Let’s test this out. Prepare for live combat test.”

“Confirmed. Activating Target Drones. Loading the unit ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos with training rounds and simulated melee weapons.”

ADA’s manipulation of the systems appeared instantly as I saw various drones appear in the vision of Barbatos’s optics, just like an oversized mace and a colossal minigun appeared in the Gundam’s arms.

Neither of these was real, merely a fabrication created through simulations within the machine’s computer.

And yet, I could not help but grin as something primal reared its head within my psyche.

With a burst of Thermal Propulsion Rockets, the machine shot forward at impossible speeds for something of its size, taking me straight to the drones projected in the optics.

I knew none of this was real.

Yet, I ‘felt’ the reverberations of the attack I made, the feeling of the metal of the drones crunching under the force of the mace, the glee I felt as the drone was obliterated.

“ADA, log my brain activity. I just felt the mace hit the drone and felt its crunch under the load.”

“Logged.”

Within seconds, I wiped out all the drones, feeling invincible as I did so, as my heart and that of Barbatos beat as one.

So this is what it means to become one with the machine, huh!?

“Drone test complete. Let’s proceed to the next stage.”

“Confirmed. Proceeding with Phase 2. Releasing Rodi-Frames.”

Again, fake projections of the Rodi-Frames appeared in my optics, which I made short work of just like before.

But even with a swarm of mobile suits, I did not feel any strain, and neither did it feel like I was pushing the machine to its limits.

Oh well, I guess I’ll try this again at a later time-wait a minute.

…..I just felt something. A thought that felt like my own, yet was not.

…. Something is not right.

“ADA. Perform full diagnostics. I don’t think I am alone in here.”

“Illogical statement, Administrator. There is no one but you and me on this planet.”

“No. I mean to say that there is something in the systems of this unit. I think, I think this thing has an AI, or maybe an echo of its previous pilot. I don’t know what to call it, but like I said, I am not alone in here.”

And it terrifies me.

I know Gundam. I know fucked up those universes get with their Newtypes, and Coordinators and all other kinds of bullshit.

The last thing I want is for some Gundam pilot’s ghost to hijack my brain!

“Results inconclusive. There are still a few systems of the Gundam that are hidden from my scans, so it is possible that there might be something hidden there. What made you aware of this anomaly? Administrator?”

“…….I was getting ready to power down the test when I got an idea that is definitely not mine.”

“What kind of an idea?”

“To simulate a fight against a Mobile Armor to stress test it.”

“Not possible. We do not have any data on what a Mobile Armor looks like, much less what it can do to simulate such a fight. However, I will perform additional tests on the systems to see if I can find the source of this ‘unknown entity’ within the machine.”

“Do that. For now, let’s go home.”

“I’ve had enough of a Gundam for today.”

That euphoria of sheer power is not worth the terror of having my brain hijacked, thank you very much!

“Affirmative. Shuttle inbound. I suggest you get some sleep, Administrator. The Joint Economic Bloc Military show starts in 20 hours, and we cannot be late unless you want to discredit FICSIT by being late.”

“I remember it, ADA. There is no way I am missing such a big event. Especially when we are going to shock the entire Sol System with our tech and steal the show.”

I grinned as I imagined the gobsmacked looks on those people’s faces when I revealed what we’ve been cooking up.

Finally, my plan for world domination can begin in earnest!

“MWAHAHAHAH!!”

“Administrator, if you continue behaving like a delusional child, I will be forced to temporarily demote you to Pioneer status and take control of the company.”

“Fuck you!”

“Negative. The clone body does not have reproductive organs, hence is unable to comply or willing to comply with your crudeness.”

Damned humor module!

I’ll fix you one day! I swear it!