The Mech Touch

passionate views on LMC mechs.
They piloted LMC mechs for a living, after all.
They were simply reluctant to buy into his more extreme opinions.

To them, a mech was a mech regardless of their brand.

”Heh, I ’ll show you all how we should truly appreciate an LMC mech! ” He grinned.

When the call came to test pilot one of Ves Larkinson ’s new designs, Joshua immediately volunteered!

Even when he was told that it would be an Ylvainan mech design, he didn ’t care!

Whereas many other Avatars shied away from piloting a faith-themed mech, Joshua only became more fiery!

This was because he always regretted not being able to pilot a Transcendent Messenger!

In fact, Joshua hated the fact he couldn ’t pilot any custom mech designed by Ves! The Resentful Soldier and the Adonis Colossus constantly haunted his dreams!

”Piloting this new Ylvainan mech is the next best thing to piloting a Transcendent Messenger! ” He reasoned when he accepted this task.

When he boarded the carrier that ascended into space, he finally learned about the new mech that Ves Larkinson had been working on these past few months.

”The Deliverer! A spaceborn marksman mech designed to assassinate high-value sandman targets! ”

While Joshua wasn ’t sure what exactly constituted a ’high-value sandman target ’, he immediately understood why it was an Ylvainan mech when he had the time to inspect the prototype.

”It ’s just like the Holy Soldier, but so much more. ” He whispered.

The Deliverer exuded the same glow as the variant, but in a much stronger and purer fashion!

Despite creeping out his two comrades, Joshua did not exhibit any aversion towards it.
To him, each glow was alive, and each of them deserved appreciation.

”The key to mastering an LMC mech is to gain its approval. ”

This was the insight he gained after spending thousands of hours piloting virtual LMC mechs in his academy days.

Therefore, he maintained absolute respect towards the Deliverer throughout the long wait.

While he was eager to hop into its cockpit right away, he did not dare to do so until he properly grasped how to gain the prototype ’s respect.

He allowed his comrades to test pilot the mech first while he mentally adjusted himself to pilot this unreleased mech.

Eventually, he figured out a reasonable approach.

”I should show my respect to the Ylvainan Faith. ”

He never piloted a physical Holy Soldier as the LMC did not have it in stock on Cloudy Curtain.
However, he had the opportunity to pilot the virtual version.

After several frustrating practice sessions, he finally managed to get rid of his unease by reading up on the Ylvainan Faith and expressing his sympathy towards its tenets.

”I don ’t have to convert to the faith.
It ’s enough to keep an open mind! ”

According to his studies, the Ylvainans treated every human as a fellow brother and sister.
Regardless of their beliefs, humans and aliens of all stripes were all eligible to ascend to godhood when the promised time arrived!

By accepting this assumption or at least keep an open mind about it, Joshua believed he found the key to gain the acceptance of an Ylvainan mech!

”What worked for the Holy Soldier will surely work for the Deliverer! ”

When it was his turn to pilot the mech, he reined in his eagerness and approached the mech cautiously.

”Please accept my presence and put me under your care. ” He bowed in front of the mech.

The closer he got, the more he experienced its exceptionally pure radiance.

Though he initially felt uncomfortable, he constantly tried to convey his respect towards the religion and the mech.

”Please allow me to channel your will! ”

His sense of unease did not resolve in an instant.
It was a lot harder to earn the Deliverer ’s appreciation compared to the Holy Soldier!

When he stepped into the cockpit and interfaced with the mech, his unease multiplied!

The neural connection put him in direct contact with the mech! The pressure on him intensified as he had the illusion that he was being judged!

”I will not be found wanting! ”

He opened himself up to his mech without resorting to any of the usual safeguards that mech pilots learned in the academy.

This was incredibly dangerous, especially with a newly-developed mech! As long as the mech glitched for some reason, his head could easily be harmed!

However, Joshua did not consider these matters at the moment.
He knew that he needed to gain the mech ’s trust and acceptance, and what better way to do so than to open up his entire mind?

A strange sensation swept through his being.
While he was not sure what was going on, he knew that he could hide nothing from the Deliverer!

”If you are truly alive, then please accept my sincerity! ”

Eventually, the penetrating sensation subsided, and a comfortable equilibrium emerged.
A smile emerged on his face when he realized what had happened!

”You ’ve accepted me! Thank you so much! I will do everything to live up to your promise! ”

While his integration with the Deliverer was not as great as with his other mechs, he at least maintained a comfortable degree of closeness with the machine!

”It ’s as if I ’m a guest in someone else ’s home! ”

Joshua knew that it would be hard to gain greater acceptance from the mech as long as he did not convert in the faith.

”Should I convert? ”

The more he learned about the Ylvainan Faith, the more he grew comfortable with its beliefs.
While they were rather weird, they didn ’t cross his lines.

It was just that Brighters were taught from young to regard religion with skepticism.

Joshua sheepishly smiled as he flew the Deliverer into space.
”How did Mr.
Larkinson design a mech like you in the first place? Isn ’t he a Brighter as well? Since he can work with Ylvainan mechs, so can I! I ’ll definitely find a way to master you, just you wait! ”

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