18: One more time, the Messenger carries the news of Victory...

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[1]

[Post "The Shield of Time's Last Stand". Locked to Jade Falcons]

Since the war between Clan Jade Falcon and Wolf has finally ended, and especially what with the blue robot simulacrums wrecking stuff all over the Earth, Matthew decides to call up his old sibko pal Lola with the long-distance comm.

"Star Captain Helmar? This is Matthew. Could I talk with you for a moment?"

Hopefully he hasn't interrupted something.

[2]

[Open to all.]

Those who find themselves in the hanger bay, whether helping with the evacuation or giving their mechs one last tune up, might overhear Matthew talking with a group of techs who are reattaching his Nova's arm with gantry cables, frantically trying to restore the squat, birdlike OmniMech to fighting condition.

https://static.mwomercs.com/img/clans/artwork/nova_paint.jpg

"What?" Matthew says, eyes widening. "Are you sure?"

"We did an x-ray and everything." the lead tech says, holding up a datapad with false negative images. "The endo-skeletal frame's studded with hairline fractures. Battle scars from lots of fights and rush repair jobs. And from age too. Didn't you once say this mech was built 130 years ago, in your dimension?"

He shakes his head and clucks his tongue. "Tough old bird you've got. I'd say she'd last for a year more, if you stuck to patrols and recon missions. But another battle like the last one...we'll do what we can, Matt."

He pats Matthew on the shoulder, then returns to his work. Matthew stares into space at his customized Nova, looking stunned.

Talk to him?

Comments

[not_the_deer]

I don't see the problem. You can always switch to another mech afterwards, no? Just make sure those battle scars don't kill you.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff, that is what I will do." Matthew agrees.

Still, his expression as he meets your eyes looks hurt. "But how would you react if you received similar news about your Crossbone Gundam? Would you be content with simply switching to another mech after using up your previous one?"

He says to the pilot from a Gundam canon...

[not_the_deer]

That'd be nothing new. This is the fourth Gundam I'm piloting - I gave away G-Saviour to another pilot, left the X-2 behind as a distraction, sacrificed the X-3 to beat Dogatie. And that's not counting other Mobile Suits.

I like Gundams. But in the end, they're just tools. What matters with tools is what you do with them.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff..." Matthew says cautiously. Then he sighs.

"In my more youthful, reckless days, I once swore that this Nova would be the mech I would die in. A glorious death in battle, against a fearsome foe, a death that would earn me an entry in the lore of heroes! And maybe it shall be this battle, but–!"

He struggles for words. "–there are still things I wish to do in this world."

[not_the_deer]

You can't die now! We all worked so hard for world peace. You must enjoy it a little first!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff, aff, I know!" Matthew says, holding up his hands to placate Tobia.

"I just feel glum that my Nova will not be able to continue on without me! I know it is just a machine, with not feelings or mind of it's own. And I...know how silly and sentimental I must be sounding to you right now."

[not_the_deer]

Eh, if you want to preserve it that bad, I'm sure there's a way.

What do you think compromises the core of your robot?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew strokes his chin in thought.

"Hmmm...."

[not_the_deer]

When the rest is broken, just take that thing and build everything else anew around it. That way your old friend is still with you!