-2: 67
The night was spent spoiling Marian, pampering her, and making her feel loved.
She was still a bit sick though.
Maybe she caught a cold?
I didn't think Nikkes could get sick like that, but considering Laplace and Drake HAD gotten both hangovers and severe nausea from drinking... Makes sense.
Anyway, after tucking her into my bed with a pillow and a spare shirt of mine, I let her sleep in while I headed to the Outpost to take a look around.
The moment I stepped out of the Commander's Office building, I was struck by how lively the Outpost was now.
Mass-produced Nikkes from all manufacturers walking around, but with different hairstyles to express their individuality despite looking the same.
Nikkes from other squads who were stopping by to rest before continuing on to whatever mission they had on the surface.
Streets now cleaned and maintained instead of cracked and decrepit like when we arrived...
'It looks like they did a good job fixing this place up.'
Granted, it probably helped that we had the man power now.
Since I put up an open notice that we were accepting Nikkes of all sorts to work up here, regardless of condition or combat readiness, the desperate who didn't want to be erased or scrapped had shown up. And when they saw the conditions were good, they quickly got their friends, and so on...
'And now it looks like... what, a population of a few hundred at least?'
It was hard to tell.
Most of the buildings WERE still empty, but the Outpost looked like it was functioning properly now.
Solar panels set up to create a power grid, wind turbines... a river in the distance diverted for water along with some roads steadily being paved to head outwards.
'Kind of feel like I'm playing a kingdom builder or something.'
It was objectively pretty cool.
As I rounded the corner, some Soldier OW model Nikkes noticed me and saluted.
"Good morning, Commander!"
"The Valiant! Oh my gosh, good morning!"
"Have a great day, Commander!"
Bright, respectful, and awed greetings.
I was caught off guard, but I saluted them back and said, "Keep up the good work." Then I headed off.
It was unexpected and made me feel a bit too much like a celebrity for my liking... but it was nice to see even people like them being able to relax.
As I continued my walk around the outpost though, I was struck by how chilly it was. Then I checked my phone and realized why.
"Huh. It's already October."
We'd passed through fall...
I hadn't noticed it on the road because we were in combat-mode... adrenaline and framing mattered a lot, after all.
But come to think of it, I had showed up here in... summer? Late July?
I vaguely remembered it being hot when I woke up in that crashed transport and in the missions afterwards. Then Rapi had also mentioned it had been three months or so, right?
"To think the new year and winter is already this close."
A warm smile crossed my face as I continued on my walk, taking in the happy faces of people around me. The women I'd managed to save and return a little bit of normalcy.
'...Yeah. This is why I fight.'
Not because of the Ark itself.
In all honesty, I didn't care much about that.
But for people who were trapped in circumstances like Nikkes. Some who had no choice but to donate their brains since they were riddled in debt. Others who were tricked into becoming Nikke because they were sold a lie about being goddesses of victory. Others still who had no choice because they were converted after their will when they died...
Up here, in the outpost, they could have a breather. For a while, they could live as ordinary humans again. Make friends, have fun. Eat good food, laugh...
'The next step is probably just getting regular people up here, huh?'
That was difficult.
Nikkes were fine because I had that authority. But unless the upper brass put out a recruitment flier for normal people, it'd be bad. Well, bad in that it was against protocol, at least.
Civilians weren't allowed on the surface because it was a war zone. While it was certainly peaceful here and in the areas where I'd been, that was definitely the exception to the rule and not the rule itself.
The verdict was still out on why the Raptures were actively avoiding me, but that didn't change the fact that it was ONLY in areas I'd been.
Fairly certain that places beyond the outpost and now the 5th Weapons Depot were still collateral damage for most people. Not to mention most people ALSO weren't able to handle Raptures on their own...
'Hm. Maybe I should make power armor?'
There were multiple avenues I could think of to bring up humans to that level. And power armor technology DID exist here... only mainly for Nikkes.
But a bit of innovation, some retooling, and consulting with Sophia and I could probably get it to work.
Though, I don't think I'd use power armor myself. For me, something like an exoskeleton was probably better.
Food for thought-
"Commander! Finally!"
An upbeat female voice... who was vaguely unfamiliar?
I blinked and looked over to see... Is that Saber?!
Oh, wait. No. Not Saber.
Maxwell, right? The other member of Matis.
I watched as the blonde-haired... researcher? Mechanic? Toolsmith?
Well, whatever she was classified as.
Anyway, Maxwell ran over and said, "I've been dying to talk with you! I wanted to chat over the comms, but Endless said it might be compromised."
I walked beside her and said, "No worries. I take it you've been well? I haven't had a chance to talk with you much."
"I've been fine. But I wanted to tell you... I did it."
I blinked. "Did what?"
"You know! The thing! The microbots!" Maxwell's emerald eyes sparkled and she said, "I completed it!"
"...WHAT?!"
===
I couldn't believe my eyes. "Holy shit."
Maxwell's emerald eyes sparkled as she waved her hand, wreathed with glittering golden light. Or at least, what looked like glittering golden light. "Cool, right?! Ah, don't tell Drake or Laplace about this yet. They'll probably bug me all day to make them some too." After that, she swung her arm and the golden light flowed into a spear.
"...This isn't what I had in mind. But holy shit."
I had been thinking Big Hero 6. Like, microbots that could turn into a suit, a floating cloud, smashing attacks and things.
But Maxwell had basically just made an on-the-fly 3D printer for weapons.
Granted, it wasn't firearms. But...
Maxwell laughed and swung her arms out, causing the golden light to swirl around her into a golden suit. After raising her hand to her face, the light- No, the microbots.
Because that's what they were. Not light, but actual molecular sized robots that flowed around into the form that she envisioned.
They gathered and then turned into a golden mask, making her look like something straight out of Kamen Rider.
Maxwell laughed, her voice slightly distorted from the microbots. "What do you think, Commander? I modeled it a bit after the Ark Rangers tech."
I paused. "Wait. Hold on." I held up my hand. "Back up a step. Did you just say 'Ark Rangers?'"
"Huh? Yeah." Maxwell nodded. "It's that show that Drake always watches. That's what her outfit's based off."
"...THERE'S AN ARK RANGERS SHOW?!"
===
A mad rush to the nearest TV... which happened to be Maxwell's research lab (which used to be a spare warehouse.)
Once inside, Maxwell hooked up her TV to Tetra Line's network and said, "I'm surprised you've never heard of it, Commander. With how well you were getting along with Drake and Laplace, I thought you were already a fan."
I didn't respond. Instead, my eyes were glued to the screen.
*The Ark Rangers... Will always protect peace on the Ark!*
"No... fucking way."
A woman in a black sentai suit, completely armored up from head to toe. Then paired with her, a blue ranger and a red ranger...
Although the color scheme was off...
*So long as the Ark Rangers are here, you will not lay a finger on the citizens of the Ark!*
A dramatic jump kick. Blue lightning crackling around the Black Ark Ranger as she dove onto a Rapture- No, a 'Rapture Fiend' and exploded it.
"...Maxwell. Friend. My new Bestie." I kept staring at the screen, watching as the Ark Rangers fought off against a horde of Rapture Fiends. "...Are these special effects or CG?"
"Huh? Well, a little bit." Maxwell watched alongside me and said, "But the transformations and combat sequences are basically real. It's a lot weaker than what they show, but it's real technology."
I punched my fist into my palm and said, "Change of plans."
I was holding out because I thought it'd be completely out of place. Since I hadn't seen anyone using power armor, I'd refrained from making it and stuck to normal armor. But now...
Wait.
I turned to Maxwell and said, "Bestie, Maxwell... Do Megazords- I mean, giant mechas exist?"
"Hm?" Maxwell hummed. "In the past, I overheard Syuen say that Mustang consulted her about potential gigantic robot vehicles that could combine, but it apparently cost too much to maintain-" She paused. Then her eyes lit up. "...Commander."
"MAXWELL!"
"COMMANDER!"
I ran over and scooped her up in a hug, spinning her around. "MAXWELL! WE ARE MAKING MEGAZORDS!"
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT I'M IN!"