Approaching the suit Ivah’s heart began to race, the excitement was palpable. Perhaps training had instilled a sense of adrenaline rush before getting into the suit, perhaps the suit was just…awesome looking.
“Ruby, run diagnostics, how are we looking here?”
Ivah inquired as he ran his hands over the chest of the suit, knocking the parts here and there with his knuckles, at every impact shimmers of nanytes flocked to the area. Hardening at the impact, leaving a darker look to the armor.
“Fascinating, how on earth they figured you could take medical technology and convert it into combat armor, it must have taken years of research and development.” Ivah wondered, if Mr.Tamer ever intended for this to happen to his creation.
From helping medical candidates, to war based armors and weapons. The nanytes changed the very world we lived in, diseases and conditions once thought to be incurable, became trivial. The nanyte technology became the highest profitable stock trade in the world, corporations clamoured for partnerships, especially the major health manufacturers.
They were a godsend, little AI controlled robots that could change their very structure in an instant. From being malleable, to solid titanium strength molecules.
Eventually they were in use everywhere, people finding uses for it in day to day life, companies eventually adapted the nanytes to construction and the like. Workers were able to lift weight far above what the average human being could. A scientist from a 3rd-world country that figured it out, A South African.
Ivah figured, that it must have just been a matter of time before the local military got their hands on it. Then international millitaries.
“Diagnostics completed Ivah, please don’t abuse the suit this time, know your limits, it’s why we train, so that you can break plateaus, not the suit.” Ruby announced while running her mechanical claws up and down the suit, tweaking and pulling at it.
Ivah positioned himself behind the suit, as per standard procedures, you lead with the dominant foot and follow suit, as if you were stepping into a shower.
The suit slipped on easily, the nanytes shifting to accommodate body size, once Ivah’s body was inside, a tiny zap of electrical surge, like static. Surged from Ivah’s body into the suit. This was known as "the spark".
The internal bio nanytes within his body speaking to the suits nanytes. After the spark, at a rapid rate, the nanytes moved and covered the rear part of his body, a warmth spread over his back legs, then torso and finally his head.
Ivah’s body shivered gently, “ooh ho ho, that always gives me the shivers, feels great, like when I have to go to the bathroom and p..”
Ruby cut Ivah short,” Okay, enough of that, you and your body, really, it’s like you discover parts of yourself you never knew existed. Yet you have had 17 years in it.”
A claw descended behind the suit, in the claw a small purple triangular prism was held, this being Ruby’s AI suit core. The only time Ruby actually is not in control of the room, is when placed into the suit. The full attention of the AI is needed when the suit is in operation, the AI is responsible for health diagnostics, real time battlefield processing and information statistics. There is no time to bake cookies while roaches are attacking your pilot.
“Claw descending, prepare for insertion Ivah” ruby said.
The prism was gently placed on the neck of the suit, the nanytes rushed to cover and absorb the prism, it carefully is then locked into an internal chamber where the nanytes create a bond.
At this the suit kicked into life, Ivah was able to lift his arms and legs, he flexed and stretched, making sure he was comfortable. The visor flicked on, body vitals and other information flooded his view, slowly taking their places as the nanytes analysed his body. Ruby now a part of the suit could be heard internally. The bond between AI and Pilot is a special one, allowing the AI to feel what the pilot is feeling, should the need arise. There is no lying to your AI, it knows when you are in pain, when you are hesitating and when to step in.
If necessary the AI can take control, but only in drastic and emergency situations. Times where the pilot cannot make a call that would save their lives for example. In all cases though, the AI’s priority, is the survival of its pilot.
“Ok, I think im good to go Ruby, you settled in okay?”
“Yes Ivah, melding is complete, suit functionality is at 100% stability. Weapons offline, for obvious reasons, we don’t want you slicing control panels again.”
Ivah clicked his tongue, “ That was a mistake, you know it was, you know everything about me when we are together.”
“Yes, yes I do, and don’t you forget it” said Ruby.
Ivah reached out towards the lift control panel, and pressed the yellow blinking button. At this an audible click sounded and the platform began its decent.
After around a minute, the platform ceased to move, Ivah waved his hand around dispersing the steam. Walking forward he gazed at the tunnel ahead of him, lights were running back and forth along the walls of the steel reinforced tunnel. At the end, a large door with DANGER: SUIT REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES BEYOND THIS POINT, was written in large red writing.
“Weapon systems armed Ivah, the suit is fully operational. Please be cautious until we leave.”
Ivah smiled, "Do you have to tell me the same stuff every time we go out for training?”
“You have a tendency to be impulsive and hard of hearing it seems Ivah” Ruby responded, jolting his body forward.
“Okay, okay im going” said Ivah.
“Please keep in mind, that at your request we will be entering an area you have not been in yet, a new training zone. I have unlocked new weapon designs for the suit as well, dual forearm blades.”
Ivah's forearms suddenly jolted forward, shining black blades trimmed with purple nanyte shot out from the arms and ran over his hands. Leaving his hands free to move, a low audible buzzing was heard as the nanytes raced back and forth along the blade edge, creating the dull purple glow.
“These blades can cut through most things Ivah, roaches should not be an issue” Ruby said.
“These are so damn cool!” Ivah exclaimed, swishing his arms up and down, testing the blade weight and feel. “At least I don’t have to punch things anymore, it was getting really old”.
The doors to the training area started opening, a loud ringing noise alerting anyone wanting to exit, that the doors are opening. On the other side a rotating chamber was moving.
Ivah approached the location keypad, and entered in the number Ruby displayed on his visor.
Training Location : 7771
The rotating chamber spun around at an incredible speed, eventually slowing down to a slot with the numbers "7771" indented above what looked like a slotted doorway, big enough for a suit to stand in.
Ivah got into the doorway and the doorway shut promptly in front of him. A glass panel allowed him to view outside of the chamber he was standing in.
The chamber again began to revolve, Ivah saw what looked like other circular doorway exits, just like his that he just came from. But to his knowledge his training location was isolated. It must be something else he thought.
The rotating chamber grinded to a halt, sunlight shone through the glass blinding Ivah initially, the suit reacted instantly to his eyes reaction to the bright light and darkened around the visor, allowing Ivah to see outside the glass window.
The landscape was lush, bush like.
“The savannah, Ivah”. Ruby spoke in a gentle tone.
“Home to many animals at one time, thought of as being the cradle of humankind. A place where life started and humans spread out from.”
“Now it’s a dangerous land, roaches love the area, it is home to many caves and underground hives.”
“We need to be careful Ivah”. Ruby warned.
The door opened and Ivah stepped out, the ground was dusty and cool to the touch. The suit reacting to the external temperature immediately warming Ivah up.
“Ok, where to Ruby, load the co-ordinates” Ivah asked. Immediately a dot landed on a map located on Ivah's heads up display, an optimum travel path highlighted in green showed the easiest way to get there. Navigating around the local mountains to make travel faster and more efficient.
“You have 2 hours to complete the training Ivah, your task is to find and restore satellite communications to the facility, it went down last week and the parts for the repairs arrived yesterday, I shall guide you on restoring the connection once we arrive, as always, expect resistance.”
At this Ivah lunged forward, his body surging in an effortless sprint, the nanytes creating mini discharges under his feet every time they touched the ground, propelling him forward.
The landscape was amazing, beautiful hues of purple, green and gold due to the radiation, an aurora of color to the senses. A gentle breeze blowing through the wasteland.
Baobab trees littered the landscape, once mighty looking, now resembled dead hulking husks. The environment clinging onto what life it had left to sustain itself.
Ivah's location marker pointed that he had around 2km to get to his destination, he bounded over rocks somersaulting, twisting and flipping as he maneuvered around various obstacles.
“Pulse please Ruby, lets see if we are still alone”.
A ripple coursed down Ivah's body and what looked like a sonar pulse echoed from his body, the air dispersing around his feet.
“All clear, no hostiles Ivah” said Ruby.
In the distance a large satellite dish appeared overhead, it started getting bigger and bigger the closer Ivah got.
A ping sounded in his helmet to signal his arrival.
“Okay, this thing is huge, I don’t even know where to begin, everything looks fine, no sign of attack or damage.”
“I think perhaps the radiation might be the culprit here, parts don’t last very long out here.”
“You might be right Ivah, the control box is there, let’s run a diagnostic”. Ruby circled the control box in Ivah’s visor.
Walking up to it Ivah noticed the delivery crate needed to repair the satellite, placed near the control box.
Nearing the control box, Ivah placed his hand on the screen. The nanytes slowly dispersed from his hands, Ruby was then able to connect to the diagnostics box.
“It looks like one of the cables blew free from a control rod. Nothing too bad.” Ruby reported.
“Alright, I guess the crate will have the parts I need”, Ivah turned to the crate and opened it up, popping the lid open with ease.
Inside were a few power tools, nuts & bolts and spare cabling. He took the cabling and wrapped it over his shoulder, he took the toolbox with wrenches in it and some spare clamps.
Looking to his left he saw a ladder leading up towards the satellite housing. He climbed up the ladder with relative ease, considering he had to with one hand free.
At the top, he noticed the disconnected cable. The wind speed reading on his HUD showed a strong wind moving through this area. It must have been the cause he thought to himself.
Ivah replaced the cable and managed to lock it in place, he put extra clamps on it to prevent it from blowing off again. The satellite whirred to life, slowly moving in its place towards an easterly direction.
“Was this it Ruby, where is the resistance you mentioned? Why give me new weapons for a repair job, that’s a rather cruel joke.” Ivah questioned.
“Well, if I told you a repair job had to be done, you would have been less inclined to want to do it. Wouldn’t you?” ruby giggled, particularly proud of her mischievous prank.
“I cannot believe an AI is playing jokes on me” Ivah kicked at the sand.
“You got any other surprises I should be aware of?” Ivah said, standing with his hands up at his sides in disbelief.
“No, we are done here, you may head back home.” ruby said. Drawing a path back to the entrance.
Ivah sighed, and began the sprint back home, he jumped down from the ladder and landed on his feet, with a loud thump.
Nearing the location of the chamber entrance, ruby launched another ping, a circular door opened from the ground. A tubular chamber rose from the ground allowing Ivah to step inside.
Out of the suit, Ivah walked over to the couch and slumped onto it. The disbelief on how utterly boring his challenging mission written all over his face.
“Im sorry Ivah, I thought it was funny. Would you like an apple?” Ruby asked.
“What!? no? an apple? Are you serious, that really sucked Ruby, I was looking forward to something different today, I have been asking for ages for something a little more exciting!” Ivah’s tone bordered anger, but he knew it was pointless. Ruby wouldn’t understand.
“I get it Ivah, I apologise. We will resume combat training tomor...” Ruby paused. Ivah eyed the claw suspiciously.
The kitchen claw moved along the side of the kitchen table to where the delivery chute was. Just out of reach, a white piece of paper was lightly blowing in the air conditioner vent breeze.
Unable to reach it, the claw returned back to baking cookies.
“There is something in the vent Ivah, I cannot reach it.”
Ivah looked up, and saw the paper, walking over he eyed the paper, raising his eyebrow. What is that doing there he wondered.
He grabbed the paper and unfolded the crudely scrumpled mess.
Ivah’s eyes widened at the writing, in big capital letters.
YOU LOOKED GREAT OUT THERE TODAY, REPAIR BOY – “A”
Ivah gulped.
“Ruby someone saw us out there today.” Ivah's heart began to race. He had never had any other interaction other than from Ruby.
"Repair boy? what the heck?"
“Ruby is this another sick joke, did you put this there?” Ivah asked, demanding a response by waving the paper in the air.
“No Ivah, I am just as confused as you are, this is rather concerning. Nobody should know we are here. It must have been placed while we were out on mission, and I was unable to monitor the living area”.
Ivah noticed the A written after the sentence. It offered him no clues as to who this A, might be.
Ivah glanced at Ruby's Green glowing orb.
“We need to get out again tomorrow and scan the area.” Ivah said sternly to Ruby.
Ruby’s orb flashed and a light response echoed the living chamber.
“Agreed” .
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