Scarlet Steel

I find the Mnemosyne incredibly interesting, and surprisingly compatible with quantum AI. Sharing memories between the two species is possible, although it requires a translation layer and a lot of interpretation, not to mention how many details get missed by the other. No words can encompass the complexities or detail of the Mnemosyne memories, but recorded here is my best attempt at transcribing the meaning of a memory often shared with new fractured, the memory most often given to them to teach them about humanity.

Earth had an animal called the cockroach, a skittering thing of six legs and hardened carapace. Through Earth’s death they survived, on spaceships they hid, and are now a common sight throughout the universe. I find myself thinking of humans in the same way. On any planet there's half a chance of them surviving, they can be found, and if not, you can be sure their memories call the dirt home. They know not their limits and seemingly neither do we. - An Incomplete History of Space Travel, written by Kismet.

“You really think you’re ready?” Mom asks.

“I think so.” I’ve done dozens of tests on Hoppy, making sure she’s in peak condition. Her new oil is working great, her engine’s running like a dream, her armor is sparkling, everything is perfect. Everything except a flywheel. We ran out of them. Oh and a Photon Lock Shield, I really don’t feel safe touching one without an AI checking my work. I don’t want to get fried.

“Then you should relax.”

“Just let me check one last thing.” I take off a piece of armor I’ve removed fifteen times and check a part I’ve checked twenty times.

“At this point anything you change is likely to break it. Come sit down.”

“How close is Juno?”

“Still in orbit, just waiting for their path to line up with us.”

“Ugh.” I replace the armor plate and try to sit down. I stay on the ground for fifteen seconds before standing up and pacing back and forth.

“I can tell her to go home.”

“No! No. I’m ok.” I take two steps before a question escapes my mouth. “Does she hate me?”

“Trust me, if she hated you she would have no problem saying it to your face, and she wouldn’t bother to come here to do it. Bigger question is, do you hate her?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I did.” I answer quickly.

“Alright.”

What if the cooling system fails? The engine is over 99% efficient at capturing energy from the antimatter obliteration, but that’s still a lot of heat.

No, no it’ll be fine. Things only get hot when it has to power the Photon Lock Shield. Even if we haven’t properly stress tested the coolant system, it’s not going to fail now.

“Shit, I almost forgot!” I sprint off into the junkyard. Mom doesn’t even bother to call after me.

It’s a half mile run to my original workshop. I haven’t been here in years, but there’s still an important part here that I forgot to install. Maybe the most important part.

Sitting on one of my forgotten storage racks is a flat metal plate. On the front of it is a laser engraving, exactly as I remember it. A small picture of childhood me, Exa, Mom, and Dad all happy together. Written just below it are words, proudly declaring ‘Scarlet and Exa forever!’

I blink away tears that are threatening to form and tuck the plate under my arm. It’s another short run back home, and set it down and collect my welding gear.

“Where did this come from?” Mom gets out of her chair and slowly walks over and picks it up.

“Exa made it when I was eight, the same visit I found Hoppy. You said it was good luck to have a picture of your loved ones, right?”

“People you’re trying to get back to, not necessarily people you love. I think that’s great to add though.”

She hands it back to me, and I crawl into Hoppy’s hip compartment. I attach the plate to the wall, safe from any potential damage. I climb out and look at it from the outside. It’s completely hidden, known by only Mom and I.

“While you’re at it,” Mom reaches into her pocket and pulls out a locket on a chain. She tosses it to me, and I catch it easily. It’s heavy, pure gold. “I was going to ask Juno to give you this before your first op, but now’s a good a time as any.”

Our last name, Miller, is engraved on the front. I click a button on the top of the locket and it swings open. Two pictures are side by side. One of Mom and Dad, and two people I recognize only in pictures.

“That was your grandma’s locket.” Mom says. “And her grandma before that. It’s been in our family since we left Earth. Make sure you bring it back.”

“I will.” I lower the locket over my head and tuck it into my shirt.

“I know.” She glances up where a small dot is burning up in the atmosphere. “Looks like she’s here.”

My entire body tenses up and my heart pounds. Stop it. I’m ok. I’m prepared.

The ship descends from orbit, growing larger as it approaches. The ship overshadows our house, and it comes in for a landing just a short distance away. Dozens of landing legs extend from the bottom, contorting to the piles of scrap.

The ship is a rectangle, with two large doors built into either side. A mech far larger than Hoppy could fit inside.

Near the front of the ship, a walkway extends. A door at the top opens up, with Juno standing alone. Her eyes locked onto my mech, not me. Nobody says a word as she approaches.

“Show me.” She orders.

I climb into Hoppy’s cockpit, connect myself to the suspension harness, and start the startup process.

Battery on, ignore the errors, warm up magnetic fields, wait. I’m not going to risk anything breaking, I wait forty five seconds instead of the required thirty. Finally, open the cell.

Hoppy runs perfectly, humming contently.

I’m also not going to risk the broken motor not moving. With my foot I open the side panel, kick start the motor, and order Hoppy to stand up. I tower above Juno, watching her closely through the screens.

“I assume it can walk?” She yells.

“I’ve taken her to the edge of the junkyard! A hundred miles there, and another hundred back!”

“Alright, shut her down.”

“What? You don’t want to see me piloting it?”

“Are you a mechie or a pilot?” She asks.

“I- I want to pilot her.”

“Then I don’t care. You’re not going to fight with junkyard parts if you want to live. We’ll do a full teardown and rebuild.”

“Then why did I make her?”

“To prove you have what it takes. Now come on, get out here. And Lyra, head inside.”

“Good luck!” Mom calls.

I shut down Hoppy and climb out just as Mom heads inside. She glances back momentarily before closing the door behind her.

“If you want to be a pilot, I need you to prove you can do more than just build a mech.” I have to try not to shrink back under Juno’s gaze. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a large cleaver. She flips it around in her hand and holds the handle towards me.

“What do you want me to do with this?” Despite being unsure, I take the handle.

“I already told you. I need you to prove you have what it takes.” She moves her hand, and a reflection off a glint of metal catches my attention. One of her fingers is missing, replaced by cybernetics.

Is that what she wants from me? There’s no way, right? The only other thing I can think of is destroying Hoppy, and honestly, I think I’d rather lose the finger.

“Do you have a medical kit?” That’s a safe way to test the waters.

“You don’t get the luxury of choosing when you get injured in the field. You get hurt and you deal with it. This isn’t the worst thing you’re going to have to experience. Prove to me you’ll be able to keep going.”

Shit, that answers that. I run my finger against the blade. It’s sharp.

Which finger is the easiest to lose? The pinky is the thinnest, it’ll bleed the least. Although I think it’s important for grabbing objects, right? I think my ring finger would be the easiest to live without. Although I can’t imagine she’s going to let my missing finger stand. Maybe I should get rid of an important finger and get a better replacement? Like my pointer finger could have a few tools hidden inside. That would be convenient.

I’m not really considering, this, am I? This is insane. It’s the only way to describe it.

Was Dad missing a finger? Did he go through this? I’m sure he would have if he needed to.

Fuck it, ring finger is the best choice. It’s big enough to fit some cool modifications inside, and unimportant enough that I can function without it for a little bit.

I have a medkit in Hoppy, but she said I don’t always get to chose when I get injured. Equally, I’m not going to be an idiot.

I set the cleaver on a workbench, grab my medkit, and return. I look at Juno, but her face gives away nothing. I take that as permission to pull out medical supplies.

Gauze to stop the bleeding is the most important, and pain killers too. I think it’d ruin the entire point of this demonstration if I take them in advance though. Regardless, I pull them out. They work quick, and adrenaline should keep the worst of the pain at bay.

I take the cleaver in my right hand, and place my left ring finger on the edge of my workbench. Juno can see how much I’m shaking, but that doesn’t matter. That’s not part of her order.

I pull the cleaver up, close my eyes, and bring it down with a yell.

The cleaver hits the table and I rush for the medical supplies, my adrenaline not letting me feel any pain. I grab the gauze and move to push it against my finger, only to find it unharmed.

I look at the table and find the cleaver embedded in the workbench, right at the edge. Right where my finger was. I absolutely hit my finger. I didn’t flinch back. My finger should be off, but it’s not.

“Guess your mom was right.” Juno picks up the cleaver and brings it down on her own hand. The cleaver sticks into the workbench, but the blade deforms around her hand, leaving her unharmed. She slips a cover off of her finger, tosses it to the side, and holds out her hand. “Welcome to the group.” 

I’m too stunned to even react.

“I told you she’s her dad’s daughter.” Mom turns the corner, hauling everything I packed behind her.

“I- what?”

“Just shake my hand, Kid.” Juno orders.

I reach out and take it.

“Good. Profits go first into keeping the company running, secondarily into keeping the mechs armed and running. You’re entitled to one share of the remains, currently one sixth of the profits, one seventh when you get paired with an AI. Discussions on those specifics will proceed tonight. For now, say farewell to Lyra and get your mech to dock 3. We launch in an hour, with or without you.” Juno turns on her heel and retraces her steps back to the ship.

“Did you know she would do that?” I ask Mom.

“Yeah, I kind of suggested it accidentally. She wanted to be sure you were going to stick with her, and I joked that you’d rather cut off your own hand than stay here.”

I burst out into laughter, and I don’t even know why. None of this is funny.

“Alright. You should get going.” Mom says.

“Are you sure?”

“No, but I can see you are. You’re wired up all wrong, just like your father. Just make sure you make it home.”

“I will.” I rush into her and wrap my arms around her. “I promise.” I’ve already promised that so many times. It’s true though. I’ll make it home safe.

“Just stick with Juno. She’ll keep you safe.”

“She didn’t keep Dad safe.” I say quietly.

“Don’t blame her. Your dad kept his squad safe. And he kept civilians safe.” She responds. “I’m sure you’ll understand why he did what he did eventually.”

“I hope not.”

“Me too.” Mom gives one last squeeze and steps back.

There’s just nothing left to say, just a promise I have to hold.

“Can you help me load everything up?”

“Of course.”

It only takes a few minutes to attach all my luggage to the outside of Hoppy, and I climb inside.

I quickly flip through the startup sequence and stand up. One of the large doors on the side of the ship slides open, revealing an open bay waiting for me.

I guide Hoppy towards the ship, keeping a camera on Mom the whole way. I step into the empty bay, and the door behind me slides shut.

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