Inconsequential dreamer

Vladmir and Anna carried Lucy down the deploy station, and Rafael entered the SCU, the cabin was thin tube, could only fit one person, and had two handles and two pedals; it was all clean since the whole cabin was replaced by the repair bay. Right before the cabin's entrance, but already inside the mecha, there was a place to let the ARC suit, since you can't pilot with it, Rafael took off the ARC and entered.

"Greetings, please put your helmet and synchronize with the mecha" The cabin's walls were made by TV's panels, which displayed the SCU's vision.
"Whooaaaahh, haha, this is awesome" Rafael was thrilled, it was a dream coming true, but it didn't last long, as he, seeing the electrical station, remembered the mission.
"Okay, dad, Marcos and Nicholas probably said everything you need to know to pilot this, just remember"

Rafael searched in his memories everything he ever heard about piloting.
"So the helmet will sync your mind with the mecha's body, there are a few other things, but basically, you control the mecha purely with your mind" It was Marcos's voice.
"The levers are like a car's clutch, since your mind is not fully connected, the mecha do not recognise how much force you want to move its body, so you use the pedals to regulate it, the more you push, with more strengh it will move" His father was explaining.
"Each lever is for a limb, and the rest of the body is just the mind. The first time I piloted, it felt like was too much to handle, my brain was aching for the stress" Nicholas was talking, and ended with a laugh "but now, it's actually way too simple"
"But the key to pilot is to master the synchronization, if you know how to do that, the mecha do whatever you want" Marcos finished the memories.

"I'm glad I always asked about piloting to them" Rafael took a deep breath "But actually moving this looks way more difficult, and right now, I can't make a mistake" he was seeing George, on the ground waving, through the SCU's optics.
He putted the helmet, and started the sync. It felt like something was invading his mind, he never experienced a pain like that, it wasn't that hurtful, but extremely annoying, he couldn't think straight, much less move the mecha.

Anna and Vladmir approached George, and kept on staring the SCU
"He still hasn't moved?" Vladmir was unpacient.
"He said he knew how to pilot, not that he was a professional, give him time" George defended Rafael.
"But... is the SCU turned on?" Anna was a little worried.
"I guess it is, like, I don't know if it has any difference on him turned on or off" George replied.
Vladmir was feeling like he was surrounded by idiots.

A pop up showed on the screen "Sync unstable, please reconnect"
Rafael took off the helmet "Oh c'mon, this is unbearable" he was panting.
He was now realizing the consequences of his actions, he told he could pilot because it was the only way to stop the power stealing, to accomplish his duty and help the city towards a peaceful time. But actually, he lied to himself, he only wanted to grab the first opportunity to pilot, as an inconsequential dreamer.
"What am I doing?" Rafael sighed while looking at the three waiting for him on the ground "I just wonder the scold I will receive from Vladmir"
While Rafael was leaving the cabin, he remembered his brother words "Don't do anything that you would regret later, so that you can be proud of being alive"
"Too late for that Marcos" Rafael was suffering, angry with himself, standing at the exit of the Mecha.
But then, suddenly "Screw this" He went back, and putted the helmet.

"That's it, I'm taking him out of there" Vladmir was pissed off.
"But si-" Anna stopped George before he could keep talking.
"To think I actually believed that little shit" Vladmir was cursing while going up the stairs of the repair bay.
After arriving up there, he was on the verge of opening the hatch when the SCU gave an abrupt step out of the repair bay, scaring them all.
"HAHA, I actually did it!" Rafael was already sweating inside the SCU.
"Now the left arm" The mecha slowly lifted his left arm with the energy shield and activated it.
"Okay, okay, niiice" Rafael was using all his focus to do what should be simple tasks.
Then, with the right hand, made a sign for his squad to follow him as the comms still were offline. Anna was speechless, George was celebrating, and Vladmir was paralysed "You've gotta be kidding me" and they followed him.

The SCU was walking slowly, and quite unnaturally.
"At this pace, I wonder when we will arrive" Anna said.
"At least he is not stepping on us" George was trying to see the bright side.
"And I hope he keeps not stepping on us, now, even if I wanted, I cannot stop him" Vladmir was still quite mad and frustrated, regretting his actions "At least, take advantage of him walking slower and keep your eyes looking for that thing in ca-"
Was just Vladmir say that the little mecha showed up from an alley.

"THER-" Anna couldn't even talk, it had already sent its grappling hook. However, although Rafael was way too focused on walking, he was also paying attention to the sides. The moment he saw the robot approaching, he tried to block, with his right hand, the hook. He actually did it, but with such a rough movement that the SCU fell on the ground, pulling the attacker as well. Anna, George and Vladmir had to jump to avoid the mecha's fall.

George Rapidly got up, once the dust had settled, he realised the small mecha was stuck under the SCU's arm, and its pilot was trying to get out. George pointed his rifle to him, but hesitated to shoot, the pilot was looking at his eyes, George then, noticing Vladmir quickly approaching, shot.

"Well done George" Vladmir reached him and rapidly analysed the situation "Where is Anna?"
"I-I don't know"
Both of them started searching the SCU's surroundings, and shortly after, found her under a few rubbish, her ARC was parcially damaged, but she was all right.
The group of people, who got out armed from the electrical station towards them, once they saw that their mecha didn't got out of there, stopped with fear, and looking at the ARCs and the SCU trying to stand up, started running back.

George ran foward the station, and Vladmir went too.
"What about Rafael?" Anna screamed.
"If we wait for him, it will be too late" George screamed back.
"Cover me, I will try to reach their trucks" Vladmir talked to George while running "Kill them all"

Once getting there, they were received with bombs, George covered himself behind a wall and started shooting everyone in his sight. Vladmir started shooting while running, he was hitted by a few explosions, but he did not stop. Then, he saw seven trucks leaving the station, he ran as fast as he could and jumped on one of them, he went through the top of the truck to reach the driver, only to be received by a shot of a shotgun from the passenger. Vladmir fell on the ground and all the trucks left.

 "Sargeant, are you all right" George arrived after a while.
"Don't worry, I've been worse" Vladmir was bleeding, mostly from his arm.
"You need urgent medical attendance, I'll carry you" George lifted Vladmir and started to run back to the deploy station.
Most of the thieves were dead or gone, George met up with Anna and Rafael, who was carrying the robot with the SCU's right hand.
"Don't worry, I don't need help" George replied before Anna could ask.

Then, a ten meter mecha, appeard on the skies, with a sort of jetpack, stared at them for a while, analysed the situation and flew away.
"What was that" Anna asked.
"The Creator, from the Fenix squad" Rafael replied.
"Uh? The comms are back"
"At last" George said while running with Vladmir on his arms.