You feel a pang of sympathy or pain at the way your damaged Valkyrie just crumbled from Amber's kick after all it went through to protect you. And once again you felt that hallucination where you could swear for an instant something in her seemed alive, even if the bullets exposed part of her metallic insides under the skin of her face.


But you know what you should do. Unit 22 was your first Valkyrie but she was a robot, a mass produced one. You are an inexperienced lieutenant with severe blood loss.


"Let's go" you tell Amber and lower your gun. She quickly sets you in the same position 22 was trying to escort you to safety, and you notice how her grip was somewhat rougher than your fallen Valkyrie but how her movement seemed to be more efficient, her movement was quicker and more decisive, something you guess was due to not only her probably superior technology but also the experience gained on previous missions.


"So what brings an Aurora Federation rookie to die here?" You shudder noting the nonchalant way this robot refers to your life, even if she was aiding you


"Retrieval mission" you state dryly


"Ah, that explains the disposable model" Amber chuckles


"What do you mean?" you grunted, feeling another jolt of pain as Amber wraps her hand around you with a bit more force. You feel everything within your body becoming more difficult to do, even breathing, and something inside you makes you feel quite certain that you will pass out again soon from the blood loss.


"Didn't your superiors tell you? This is currently a warzone. A rookie and a cheap trash robot would only get sent here if they aren't expected back" Amber said with a snarky tone, as if finding the whole thing funny. You stay silent as she details a bit of what's going on, how the entire zone is one of the many places where the Great Kingdom of Alba is struggling against waves of mercenaries and independent factions that desire to get rid of the outdated monarchy and once they get expelled, fight against each other for control of the resources. From what Amber was saying the enemies believed the first part of the plan was done and that's why things became even more chaotic recently, to the point of blowing up neutral transport ships like yours without a second though was seen as reasonable.


You wanted to argue, to defend your nation, your allegiance, your mission, but the energy to argue wasn't there and instead what filled you from this reveal was a sense of hollowness that added salt to the physical wounds. Amber was right in a way, you were shown a kinda desolate environment, but you weren't told nor prepared to engage and survive in this harsh environment. And it's not like Aurora didn't have the means to stay updated about the situation either. Was she right? Was whatever that black box contained worth more the life of a soldier wanting to do his best for his nation? 


Another grunt and Amber stopped, her expression telling you she knew you were going to pass out again. But before, you felt you needed to ask something. You felt vulnerable and lonely, and your only ally was..


"Could she.. be repaired?"


"She? Who?" Amber was visibly confused


"My Valkyr..." your body finally gave up with another probable hallucination, Amber gasping at recognizing that you were talking about your discarded robot.


What happens next?

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August 8, 2023
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