Chapter 19.1

 Michelle took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as pain coursed through her body. Her mind was numbly telling her of the excruciating pain from connecting her synapses to the AKEERA she was piloting. A neuron interface was connecting her mind to the mech; the device intercepted the signals her brain sent through her spine and forwarded them to a mechanical nervous system built in the AKEERA. This was allowing her to move the mech like her own body and the experimental technology was groundbreaking.

Instead of piloting an AKEERA through the conventional petals and controls, the user would be controlling the mech through their mind. This was revolutionary due to the fact that it allowed an AKEERA to have a reaction time as fast as the human piloting it. On average, an ordinary human has a reaction time of 215 milliseconds but AKEERA pilots were trained to mostly have a reaction time of 120 milliseconds. However, there is a small delay between the pilot and the AKEERA due to the inherent use of controls, thus the fastest reaction speed of an AKEERA was 250 milliseconds.

"Michelle, the Cerebral Synaptic Interface has been calibrated," Watson's voice crackled through the internal comms within the AKEERA. "Try to raise a hand, for starters. But take it nice and slow and stop if you feel a migraine."

Michelle, with her eyes closed, willed her mind to move her right hand. A tingling sensation passed through her spine as cheers rang through the open comm. Opening her eyes, she looked in surprise at the digital HUD; she could see the AKEERA's hand had risen just as she willed it to. She moved her left hand up as well and flexed the mechanical fingers, closing and opening them at the speed and versatility of a human being.

Watson, who was watching from an observational deck, talked through the comms. "Alright, Michelle, that's enough for the first test. Power down the suit and take a breather."

Five minutes later, Michelle hopped down the hatch of the AKEERA and landed on the floor. Several scientists wanted to walk forward and congratulate her but hesitated as Watson walked into the hangar. Watson smiled at Michelle who was drinking water from a bottle with her right hand. Her left hand's prosthetic wasn't compatible with the AKEERA's CSI, so she currently didn't have it on.

"Good job, sweetie, I'm proud of you," Watson said.

"Merci, mama," Michelle breathed out after finishing half of the bottle in one shot. "What now?"

"Now, you go home and rest," Watson said softly, her eyes were soft with motherly love.

"And I won't take no for an answer. She'll still be here waiting for you." Watson added sternly while pointing at the AKEERA when she noticed that Michelle wanted to protest and the latter could only nod defeatedly.

A notification rang through Michelle's phone and she used her holo-lens to check the message. A wisp of a smile etched her lips as she turned to Watson.

"Je suis désolé, mama, but I can't go home," Michelle said, a glint shone through her eyes. "Alina has invited me to her maison, and I want to go."

Watson smiled bitterly and shook her head. "You already know what I'm going to say. Alright, as long as the medic here gives you the clear, you may go."

"Merci mama, je t'aime!" Michelle kissed her mom's cheek and left for the medbay leaving an exasperated Watson behind.

Watson looked up at the looking AKEERA and sighed. Her eyes were fixed at the side of the arms, where the codename of this AKEERA model were located. Painted in white, the simple initials stood out from the dull gray plates that had yet to be painted: C-09a.

***

Emily and Asami exited the arcade, both were glowing with flushed cheeks and refreshed looks. Asami sighed contently while Emily had a faraway look as she shook her head, trying to come back to reality

"That was …"

"Great? Fun? Relaxing?" Asami suggested to Emily's mutter.

"No," Emily sighed as she replied. "Let's just … not talk about it. Ever."

"Oh, c'mon," Asami stretched her body as they walked towards a bus. "We both needed that. Especially you. When was the last time you actually let yourself loose and relaxed?"

Emily didn't answer and avoided eye contact with Asami who smirked at her reactions.

"Lemme guess, since you first saw Jason. Imma right?" Asami asked teasingly.

"... Maybe," Emily answered trying to avoid the topic.

It was true though, she hadn't been able to relax and enjoy herself after meeting him. Every time she tried, alone or with someone, he would inevitably appear in her mind, with his trademark smirk, and she would feel guilty afterwards. Even this time, she closed her eyes and imagined Jason's hands and lips when Asami and her made out.

"Oh, don't be such a slouch," Asami went near Emily and draped an arm around her shoulder. "It's not like your dating someone or anything. This was just … releasing your pent up … feelings."

"Yeah but, like, it's- I mean it's awkward now," Emily said. "Between us, you know?"

"Nope, I don't know," Asami replied spontaneously. "I just helped massage you that's it."

"I swear, I pity the girls you ate," Emily said jokingly while Asami giggled.

"Oh, that reminds me," Asami looked at Emily, her face serious. "How are you feeling? Any changes?"

"Yep. I'm feeling great," Emily replied, her voice excited. "I'm a level 3 Esper now."

"For reals?!" Asami asked stunned. "How …?"

"I don't know exactly but I feel like a was improving at a fast rate when that stuff came out," Emily frowned a bit as she explained, the excitement in her voice still apparent. "It was like something pushed my energy levels up forcefully."

"I still think you need to check up with a doctor though," Asami said. "You might feel ok but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?"

"Yeah, ok. But not today," Emily checked her watch as she spoke, a hint of concern in her voice. "We're already late as it is."

"Don't look at me," Asami replied while looking away and trying to whistle, but failing spectacularly as she blew air out of her mouth. Frowning she turned to Emily who was watching her amusedly. "What? It's harder than it looks like!"

"Speaking of hard …" Emily looked down at her outfit and then turned to Asami, her eyes inquisitive. "Why'd you get me this outfit? Don't get me wrong, I love the jacket and all … but the pants..."

"What's wrong with them?" Asami asked as she slowed down and checked Emily's backside, like every other male nearby. "I think it looks good, Em."

She nodded with admiration at how well the leather pants hugged Emily's curvy ass while slimming her legs even more than they already were. Her eyes glimmered as she thought about smacking that ass, but decided otherwise when she thought about how far she had already pushed Emily today.

"Yeah, they're great but they're chafing the skin a bit," Emily said.

"Well, you know what they say: you can't be beautiful without suffering a bit," Asami shrugged as she spoke. "Besides, look on the bright side. Don't you want Jason to see you in that?"

Emily nodded as she thought about it and blushed slightly.

"Based on how successful Melanie was last time, I'd say the odds are pretty good," Asami said as Emily checked the maps on her phone. "Speaking of which, be careful of her. My dad told me multiple times not to get involved with her."

"I won't lose," Emily said before pointing out a bus while Asami shook her head wryly when she realized that Emily misunderstood her. "We'll reach the Loft if we take this bus."

"The Loft?" Asami asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's the Rubric Building but Alina said the place was called the Loft," Emily shrugged and the two hurried onto the bus.