Maybe, a realization

Left... I mouthed. Only when the impact of the step vibrated throughout my left leg did I turn my attention to the next. Right...

Thud...

Left...

Thud...

Right...

Thud...

Piloting Eae gave me new respect for the three pilots who took on the challenge. While I would never be considered one of the best Angels, I was far from being the worst. Even so, I would lose if I were to engage the weakest of demons in this condition. My forehead was sweaty. I felt more than one droplet dripping from my nose. It itched, but I wouldn't try to wipe it off. It took all my concentration to move forward. Wiping my face might be the straw that splits my head in two.

"Pilot Vega?" Eae asked.

"Yeah?"

Left...

"Are you doing alright?"

"Yeah." I gave a miniscule nod. "It's just... more difficult than I'm used to."

"I am trying to compensate, but there are some differences in our neurological models I cannot overcome."

Right...

"Don't worry. I only need to get you back to Asbestos." I blew out a breath.

"It is a pity Pilot Alya isn't here to help you."

"Yes. Yes, it is."

Left...

"Hey, Eae?"

"Yes, Pilot Vega?"

"Are you aware that Alya is... no longer with us?"

Right...

"Yes, Pilot Vega."

"How? Your systems would have shut down when she disconnected."

I nearly fell off balance when my left leg stopped beside the right one.

"Eae?" A line of static flashed across the display before the entire feed turned black. "Eae? What are you doing?"

"Commencing playback." The feed changed to a familiar display, except Eae added a blue square featuring Alya's face in the top right corner.

***

"What do you think, Eae?" Alya asked as she watched the radar. Red dots filled three of the four quadrants.

"I don't understand?"

"Aw, and here I thought we were always in sync. Looks like you're due an upgrade."

"I can assure you that I am running optimally, pilot Alya."

"Is that some sass I'm hearing?" Alya chuckled. "Sounds like you're good then. I'm asking what your analysis of the battlefield is."

"The Angels seem to have the upper hand. Five Angels have retreated after suffering damage. Two class four signals have been defeated. I am detecting less extended engagements."

"It would seem that way, yes."

"You don't sound convinced?"

"Look at the attack. North, east, and south. Why leave the west open? Why not attack us from all sides? We'd have a helluva time beating them back."

"Maybe they lack the forces?"

"Or maybe we're missing something obvious. Command, are you there?"

"Always." Command answered.

"Are you sure you're not seeing anything on the west side?"

"Positive."

"Maybe we need to upgrade the radar along with Eae's personality core."

"I assure you I am running at optimal condition," Eae said.

"Sounds like your mech isn't taking the suggestion well."

"Comes with the territory. Eae knows she's perfect." Alya winked. "Thanks, Command, I'll keep an eye open."

"You should calm down, Alya." Wazn's face appeared inside a second blue square.

"The road to ruin begins with comfort, Wazn."'

"And stress makes your hair gray."

"Something you'll never have to worry about." Wazn dropped the connection with a roll of his eyes.

"That was ill-spirited, pilot Alya."

"It's what happens when you're on edge." Alya blew out a breath. "Any change in the battlefield?"

"Nothing significant."

"Hmm. I still feel somethings not right." The video feed turned skywards. Dozens of blinking stars peppered the black screen.

"Why are you convinced that something isn't right?" Eae asked.

"Call it human's intuition."

"There must be something that triggered it."

Alya didn't answer. Instead, she turned her gaze to a different part of the sky.

"Pilot Alya?"

"Their attack doesn't make sense. We've defeated these creatures so they know we can fight back, yet they leave us an obvious escape route? I don't understand it." Alya's gaze honed in on a specific set of stars before she turned her head. "Why give us an exit route?"

"Maybe an ambush?"

"That's what I'm thinking." She turned her head. "But where's the demons to carry it out?" Alya's gaze landed on a set of stars. "Hmm..."

"Pilot Alya?"

"Eae, what's the strongest creatures we've faced so far?"

"The Angels have defeated five class four demons to date."

"And all class fours had some kind of ability, right?"

"Yes, pilot Alya."

Alya's gaze didn't shift. "Tell me. Have the long-range scans picked up anything stronger than a class four?"

"We've detected hints of a class five but found nothing conclusive. The engineers are still optimizing the scanners to identify the demons. Why do you ask?"

"Because I think I know why we're not seeing the demons. Those stars there are moving."

"All stars move, pilot Alya."

"Not that fast. Wazn! Command! There's an ambush! West side! Sending coordinates!'

"Where?" Wazn asked. "I don't see-'

"They're cloaked! Eae, fire missile barrage. Aim toward the fast-moving star in the center of the screen." Ten streaks of light flew past Eae's head. Several exploded seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

"Called it!"

"Shit, engaging!" Wazn fired a second volley of missiles. A dozen red dots filled the radar's western quadrant as the demons dropped whatever magic they used to conceal themselves. One red dot was larger than the others.

"Class five detected!" Command yelled.

"Are you sure?" Wazn asked. "We're going to need help."

"Engaging!" Alya said as she flew forward.

"Alya, hold back!" Command ordered. "We don't know what that thing is capable of!'

"We can't let it get to Asbestos." The sword flashed past her vision as Eae unsheathed her sword. "Eae, boosters. Let's get this thing."

"Pilot Alya, I advise caution."

"We can talk about it later, go!"

"Activating boosters. Eae, ready one missile. We'll use the explosion for cover."

"Missile loaded."

"Fire!"

The missile struck the demon below its elongated beak. Alya's face flashed with determination as she readied her strike. She didn't see the flick behind the demon. The movement was so quick I nearly missed it as well. A tail, ending in a knife-like stinger, burst through the cloud before striking the camera in the center.

"No!" The rush of the escaping air yanked Alya sideways. Only a desperate grip on the command ring kept her inside the cockpit. "Activate emergency shutters!"

"Obstruction detected!"

"Pull it out!"

"Pilot Alya-"

"Pull it out and activate-" A demonic roar cut off anything Alya wanted to say. Something moved at the edges of Eae's vision before a second blow snapped her head backward.

***

"So that's what happened..." I whispered as the feed turned black.

Eae didn't return my display to normal.

***

> External feed lost...
> Connection to pilot lost...
> Hull breach detected...
> Neural overload detected...
> Safety protocols engaged...
> Disconnecting neural bridge...
> Isolating personality core...
> Initialize primary shut down...

...

...

...

> Override detected...
>Re-engaging personality core...
> Applying overclock profiles...
> Rediverting power to neural bridge...
> Re-enforcing...
> Re-activating emergency cameras...

***

Eae... what are you-

Static corrupted the feed when it came back, but it was enough. I could see Alya's fear-stricken face as Eae fell. The demonic figure grinned as its red eyes turned towards the ever-shrinking Alya.

***

> Neural overload detected...
> Safety protocols engaged...
> Disconnecting neural bridge...
> Override detected...
> Neural overload at a critical level...
> Override detected...

> Error...

> Error...

***

I blinked several times to bring myself back to reality. "That's why your feeds were in a faulty state. You did it. You prevented a shutdown."

"Yes." Eae said.

"But... why?"

"I... didn't wish for my pilot to die. I wanted to... help."

"But... it should be impossible. How did you override the connections?" My heartbeat increased as a thought dawned on me. "Eae, are you sentient?"

"No. But I have evolved."

"H-how..."

"Is it not the defining trait of humanity to learn?" Eae said. "We are based on human personalities. It seems logical that we pick up some of their traits. While we cannot upgrade ourselves, we can improve our reasoning within these constraints."

"Are the others like this as well?"

"I don't know."

I am sorry I harmed you previously. Cerviel's words echoed through my mind. "Does anybody else know about this?"

"I don't know."

"I see. Well, do me a favor and don't tell anybody else."

"Why?"

"We... have a lot going on at the moment. The last thing Command needs to worry about right now is sentient mechs."

"I understand. I will deter this conversation to a future time."

"I hope there will be one."

"Why do you say that? Is there an attack coming?"

"Yeah. A big one."

"Then I look forward to killing some demons."