Sergeant Theodore was the current head of the Philadelphus police.
After the lengthy tests that they did with the only survivor of the human-machine integration project in the morning, this Sergeant came to his own conclusion regarding the project.
Since he was the one who gave the consent, sanctioning Lucius Volstad to go on ahead with the experiment, he felt that he had a responsibility.
His verdict was that mech pilot Andrew was not ready to return back to active police service and hence why he sent him back to the mech company.
He didn't just send him back though, he sent a letter along.
~Mr. Lucius Volstad, this is my verdict of the only survivor of the human-machine integration project~
~Your deduction was right, his neural aptitude did increase, something unprecedented in history but it seemed to have affected him in other ways~
~Mech Pilot Andrew is not himself. It's almost as if he's piloting a mech for the first time, his combat ability is literally below sea level and I'm not even exaggerating~
~I don't know the side effects of your experiment, but I have a reputation to protect here. I don't want the media to write epistles about how poor mech pilot Andrew's brains were fried to a crisp inside a mech~
~So, do me a favor. Do not place him inside a physical mech!~
~This is not me asking, this is an order~
~I feel that he's currently too volatile to pilot a real mech, let him be confined to only virtual mechs for now~
~With future tests, I will decide if he is ready to climb a cockpit again~
~Sender: Sergeant Theodore Bane~
Lucius Volstad read the letter in his office.
He was already informed of his prime test subject's arrival a while ago.
This golden-haired mech designer's golden eyes gleamed after reading the letter, there was a teasing smile at the corner of his lips. "A temporary regressed combat ability is within expected possibilities".
"Afterall, Dr. Garp tweaked his brain so much just to save him, even compartmentalizing sections of it with machines".
He stood up, sipping a cup of coffee. "It's no cause for alarm or panic, a temporary regression in mech piloting skills is only normal". He kept on muttering to himself.
And then, he grinned. "Well, the decision to enter a real mech again is not yours to make, Sergeant".
"I think that honor belongs to the subject in question here".
"I'm not the one who said it," he shrugged. "The law said it".
This mech designer called his assistant the next moment. "Check the company system and tell me Andrew's current location".
He adjusted his dark blue suit. "I think I have some persuasion to do".
"Yes, boss".
…
~__________~
[You have made use of your daily simulation ticket!]
[Current Daily Simulation Tickets: 0]
[Simulation time frame: 30 minutes]
[Simulation parameters:]
*Location- grassland
*Scenario- combat simulation
*Enemy- sword-wielding mech
*Perk- teacher enabled
[Commencing simulation…, please wait…]
[Simulation complete!]
~________~
Andrew saw himself appear in a grassland that was extremely similar to the one simulated during his neural aptitude test.
And at this moment, like before, a sword-wielding mech was standing opposite him but it was not exactly the same mech.
It was a different type of mech, one that he was familiar with.
'It's the Lucius Prime II, sword variant'.
Andrew was familiar with this mech having seen it multiple times within the past six months in the hangar of the Lucius Mech Company.
It was the base swordsman mech of the Lucius Mech Company designed by Lucius Volstad himself.
It was also one of the most popular mechs in the mech company.
As Andrew deduced all this, this was when he remembered something. 'My computer system!' His eyes widened.
There was no superimposing interface in his vision this time.
He came to a conclusion. 'The computer system can't access inside the virtual space here which means my system secret is safe at least'.
No matter how many times Lucius Volstad assured him of his privacy with the computer system, Andrew was no fool.
It took his street smarts to survive so long in his previous world.
He was 95% sure that through the computer system, his daily activities were constantly monitored by Lucius Volstad.
Bzzz!
Andrew's thoughts were disturbed by another existence that appeared in this simulated world.
It was a stern-faced middle-aged man on a military suit.
"Face your enemy!" This stern-faced military man roared.
"…"
Andrew just opened his mouth; he couldn't even refute and one glare from this simulated military man did it.
Andrew finally focused on his opponent.
The enemy mech was already charging towards him.
"Your stance is wrong".
"You're facing your enemy and your sword is still faced down? Wrong!" He barked loudly like a dog.
"You're looking at me instead of your enemy? Wrong!"
"If this was a real battlefield, you'll be dead, wrong!"
Andrew became distracted.
BAM!
His mech was destroyed in one blow by the opposition mech, a ruthless attack that destroyed multiple critical systems of his mech, impaling his cockpit in the process.
Of course, he didn't die, it was a virtual world.
Andrew came back in a new mech and he looked at this so-called military teacher with a pleading gaze.
"You're looking at me instead of focusing? Wrong!"
"Now, focus on your enemy and attack!"
Andrew did just that as controlling his own sword-wielding mech, he lunged at the enemy and swung wildly with his sword.
"Wrong!"
"That's the most pathetic sword swing I've ever seen!"
"Do better!"
Andrew became used to it; he was speechless throughout…
"Wrong!"
"Wrong!"
"Wrong!"
And then…
~__________~
[30 minutes complete!]
[Simulation time exhausted!]
[Congratulations on your first system simulation!]
[Rating: F]
[System Remark: Do better next time.]
~________~
And then, Andrew came back to reality.
Blink!
Blinking his eyes open, the first thing that he heard was knocks on his door. Andrew immediately sprang up to his feet.
Looking through the CCTV screen connected to his door, he saw a familiar face, Lucius Volstad.
"Hey Andrew," he waved. "How are you?"
Andrew opened his door and welcomed the boss in.