Flowers waited by the Red base for Church to arrive. There was a lot to talk with him about in regards to what happened, and Flowers was almost afraid of what the result would be, considering his orders.
One of the things he'd made sure Doc did when replacing Church's arm with a cybernetic prosthetic was implanting a recorder/transmitter linked to a device Flowers kept on him at all times, designed to erase its program and data if Flowers armor ever stopped reporting vital signs. On the way to the Red Base, Flowers had examined the readout regarding the training match...and what it showed had been distressing. Somehow, Church had overclocked his brain and body in a way that was only possible for a body controlled by an AI...specifically, by an AI that was aware of its situation.
Captain Flowers orders were clear. He was to protect the Alpha only so long as it remained ignorant of its true nature. If Church ever remembered the Freelancer Program, his true nature as an AI, or anything along those lines, Agent Florida was supposed to terminate him immediately and recover the AI chip for alternative storage and protection...and that was assuming the Alpha AI stayed within the chip. But Maud complicated the situation, as did Church's bond to her. Flowers had no doubt that if Church thought his Captain was a threat to Maud, Flowers seconds would be numbered. It didn't matter that Private Jimmy was a barely fit Sim Trooper and Freelancers were the peak of physical capability with the best armor. The human body could be pushed insanely beyond its limits with the right impetus, and only the awareness of damage to one's body held that back...and as shown by the confrontation with Sarge, Church could subconsciously turn that awareness off if he felt it was necessary to protect Maud. The only Freelancer that might be able to take Church down in that state would be the former Agent Maine, and that only because his situation was even worse in its own way.
He did his best to push all this from his mind as Church approached. "You did an amazing job today, Private!" he offered as he fell into step beside the man.
"Y-yeah," Church offered, his tone showing he was still in as much awe of his achievement as before. "I don't know what happened. One moment I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn no matter how hard I tried, the next...the next it was impossible to miss."
"Start at the beginning," Flowers instructed as he let his step slow so he was behind Church, just in case he needed to pull the trigger. "When you broke communications."
"Oh, that's because Maud appeared behind me," Church explained. "Kinda like how she's behind you right now."
Flowers struggled not to tense up as he turned his head, seeing where Maud sat against the wall just behind them, watching curiously. "I...see. And then?"
"Well, I spotted Grif and tried to hit him," Church continued. "But I couldn't. Then Maud told me to stop trying and just do it. And then...she said if I failed, they'd get her." Church fell silent, his step slowing.
"...Church?" Flowers asked carefully.
"I just...kept hearing that in my head over and over again," Church continued. "It...I was going to lose her, and it was my fault..." He came to a complete stop. "Then it happened."
"It?" Flowers asked curiously.
"The world seemed to...stop when I breathed in," Church explained. "Like...like I reached some new level of focus. I could see where everyone was and exactly what they were about to do. My...my thoughts moved so fast...it was all so easy. And..." He hesitated, releasing the sniper rifle in his arms with his organic arm, shaking it out. "And my arm hurts a lot now."
Making it move faster than humanly possible will do that, Flowers thought to himself. "Well, I have to say that is quite impressive," he offered aloud. "But I think we should take you off sniper duty for now. Next week we'll see what you can do in melee range."
"But if I did so well-" Church began.
"Need to be a well rounded soldier, Church," Flowers insisted. "What would you do if a genuine threat got too close for you to snipe at?" Church had no response. "Exactly. So let's get you skilled with other weapons. For now, let's take the flag."
"Right!" Church confirmed as he grabbed the Red flag. "Let's go. Come on, Maud."
Maud clambered up Church's leg and back until she was able to grasp the back of his head, riding on his shoulders. Flowers shook his head at the sight. Well, more evidence for my theory, he thought to himself as they headed out.
It didn't take long for the trio to make it back out of Red Base, walking past where Sarge was still flat on his back with his helmet covered in the training paint, leaving him immobilized due to how it interacted with his suit's systems. Church stared at his handiwork as they walked past. "Uh...is he going to get up?" he asked worriedly.
"As long as he realizes when the paint breaks off," Flowers responded immediately. "It'll crumble off on its own once the charge runs out, and then his suit will fully reactivate. Right now, life support is functional, but nothing else."
"So he's not gonna be hurt," Church concluded. "That's...good. ...right?"
"Of course it is!" Flowers confirmed enthusiastically. "That's the agreement, right?"
"Right, right," Church allowed as they kept walking, passing by where Tucker was still trying to waddle along with Simmons' face plate fused to his crotch. Church couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"So this paint isn't permanent, right?" Tucker demanded desperately. "You can get rid of it, right?"
Flowers hesitated. While there was a way to make the paint dissolve before the charge ran out - specifically in case of medical emergency, like what happened when Tex was in the training room and her opponents switched to live ammunition - Tucker had made that comment about Maud... "Sorry, Tucker," he offered jovially. "You'll just have to wait until it dissolves off...or go find Doc. He might know some way around it for medical reasons."
As Church chuckled and kept walking, Tucker growled angrily. "I'll get you for this, Church..."
Can't wait the moment Maud meet Tex.
Tex and Carolina want to have words with you Flowers. Something about saying Maine could do something and they couldn't.
Remember it's not about if you're right or wrong, it's about how quickly they could eviscerate you for pissing them off.
8445248
He was saying what the former Maine could do.
In other words, what the Meta could do.
8445254
Oh I got that. It's more that with how proud and stubborn those two are about their capabilities they'd still take it as a direct insult and beat him into oblivion for it
8445258
...well, to be fair, Texas technically could do it as well. She just doesn't know how to.
Is it bad if I'm pretty much just waiting for Caboose to show up? Because that's going to be awesome.
HA! Good luck there Tucker. If anything, chances are that things like this is going to become a regular thing between you and Church.
Maude then appears on his shoulder "So I heard you were talking shit..."
Reverse that. Got it in your mind?
Now you're imagining Nightmare Maud.
Can't sleep now? Me neither! You're welcome.
I just realized, based on the cover, Tucker’s not going to get
The sword, is he? if so that’s a shame. Getting it was the start of some rather interesting character development for him, along with Junior.
8445445 Well, considering the revelation in season 12 or 13 that The Meta/Maine only died because the four holes in his armor caused by being stabbed by Tucker's key allowed water to get in. He survived the fall, and had previously survived that sniper shot to the throat... so there's no guarantee that her shot, even having his helmet dead-center in her sights, would kill him.
I interpret the cover image to be something not quite so obvious. Beta (Tex) and Alpha or Epsilon (Church) are arguing over the right tactic to use in the fight. Maude is huddled somewhere safe and far from the actual combat, and the scene is going down more-or-less how it does in the series with the exception that Beta is clearly 'ghosting' in Maude's suit rather than riding the robot body waiting to get face-stabbed by the capture unit. Beta is telling Maude to not shoot until after Tucker stabs The Meta, while Alpha/Epsilon is panicking because his friends are getting the shit kicked out of them. It's not a case of one saying 'use your sword' and the other saying 'stay back where it's safe and use the sniper rifle.' It's one saying wait for the stab so he's distracted and can't avoid your shot and the other saying FUCKING SHOOT HIM, HE'S GOING TO KILL OUR FRIENDS. This interpretation is backed by one of them having had actual Spec-Ops training (likely twice) while the other is only just now learning how things really work in combat under Flowers.
Spoilers because I don't want just anyone to see it without having made a conscious effort to do so if I'm right.
So, When is Tex gonna punch Griff in his little head?
Guess Church really sniped the competition in the end.
I hope tucker still gets the sword, the shows story and his characterisation kind of depends on it, but anyway it's your story so you can do what you want
As a certain mech pilot would say, "Cross training is the key to success. Specialization is the key to failure."
I just reached season 11 and I wouldn't even start watching this, if not for you Tats. thanks.
See, Flowers probably should have made some off-hand comment about it being one hell of a massive adrenaline kick for him to have that happen, and he would have rationalised it.
8445269
Yet. Maud could trigger it for Church, she could trigger it for her. I'm also betting once she figures out she can, she'll figure out how to do it at will a few hours later.
8445528
A mech pilot, Eh? Which show?
Nice chapter, but Tucker should know that hurting Church means Maud hurts HIM!
8445957 Probably from a Mechwarrior/Battletech game, given the nature of the quote versus the philosophies of Clan versus Inner Sphere societies.
Holy shit I only watched the first season of RvB and I thought it was just a comedy.
8446129
Oh, you sweet summer child, you have no idea.
8446177
(nods head in agreement)
8445957 i'll put it this way...
8446129
It makes a transition where there's a nice balance between comedy and serious action... It's not as good as standing around, talking but it's awesome.
8445524
Normally past Season 3... probably around the time she appears since Tat doesn't have the restrictions RT has... sorta.
I'm comparing amazing coligraphy spelling out "square" to an actual cube.
Eh. It was either Papa Church or the special hell for pedophiles and people who talk too loud in the theater. All things considered, I'd say Tuck got off lightly.
8446211
We have found a sheltered child.
8446685
That's where your problem is, you're comparing a square to a cube, when you should be comparing a square to a circle!
8446912
All these squares make a circle...
All these squares make a circle...
All these squares make a circle...
8446915
But does that Circle make a triangle?
8446919
I dare you to use perfect squares of the same size, in any amount, without splitting a single square and see if you get a triangle.
8446931
Take three, line the upper left of one to the upper right of two. Take the top corners of third, line right with lower left corner of 1, and do the same with 2, but using upper and lower right corners. Now you have an equilateral triangle in the middle of three squares.
8447035
I was expecting some witty response but you just blew my mind.
Have you ever heard of a chesterhedron?
8447069
The sculpture with seven surfaces?
8447103
Yes. The one that can fit into Saturn or a human heart.
8447937
Then yes, I have heard of it
8446405
I have now marathoned nearly the entire series, and I can safely say that the CGI doesn't hold up when recorded to VHS, and then uploaded to YouTube at 144p. That said, I am going to keep marathoning this until I get through all 11 episodes. ...and then try to track down one of my old Mechwarrior PC games. I haven't been keeping up with current releases.
Edit: found another two episodes. All thirteen episodes have been witnessed.
8449008 I think my fave was Mechwarrior 4.
Honestly I never imagined this crossover! I'm glad I found this!
8449204
Just checked Steam. Apparently a new TBS BattleTech game a la MechCommander is in the works. I'll have to check GoG later for Mechwarrior games. Steam only has an MMO.
8446129
8446177
Well, Master of Potatoes. If you just started watching... a few bits of advice. If you're going to marathon it, I mean the WHOLE thing.. I suggest going to sleep at some point.
Maud is still a child so she'll probably need some
homebaseschooling. I can already imagine what Maud's science classes will be like;8449459
1 Lopez + 1 Lopez = 1 Grif. Because Grif is as fat as ten men. So if Grif is Lopez * 2 then how do we get divide to get 1 Lopez?
*Grif walks by and gets shot by a hidden Shiela.*
You blow him up! Now let's get into physics! You will build a catapult to throw Grif so I can shoot him! What are you learning? You're learning how to use levers!
8449459
You ever wonder why we're here?
You're certainly a paranoid one.
Surprising what humans can do in times of desperation.
Yeah, Maine, Maine's not quite in his right mind.
Doing what you did does that.
Flowers has a point, you can only do so much with a long range weapon like a sniper rifle.
Good.
8446056
Understatement of the year 2018!
8513959
Well he didn't say he'll hurt him. He said
maybe he meant "I'll get you a nice Christmas present for this."
"I'll get you for this, Church..."
Yeah hes....pissed .