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Constructs.
Babylonia's frontline soldiers. Developed solely for the purpose of defeating the Punishing Virus which has turned the earth into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
These constructs are humans that has been modified into combat cyborgs; their consciousness stored into a device inside their bodies. To put it simply, they can share their consciousness with human commandants by using an inver-device which is connected to an emulator known as the M.I.N.D.
So long as they have their inver-device intact, constructs whose body or frame has been destroyed can transfer their consciousness to a new frame. thus allowing them to "live" on.
Many humans decides to become a construct for different reasons. they would throw away the majority of their humanity that was left in them and fight the corrupted, for the benefit that Babylonia has promised them.
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[ M.I.N.D. system code:BPO-84 initiated ]
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[ M.I.N.D. system code:BPO-84 initializing... ]
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[ initializement: SUCCESS ]
"bzt-- Serial Number BPO-84. We have completed the M.I.N.D transfusement. Please respond to confirm. --bzzt"
My eyes starts to open up and i was blinded by pure white.
My eyes gradually adapts to the brightness, but there wasn't anything grand I could see. it's an exceedingly large and empty room. I then noticed i've woken up on a plain twin-sized bed which wasn't all that comfortable, in the middle of what seems to be a testing room.
I slowly gets up to a sitting position. the first thing I realized was the rigidness of my movement and the cold hard metal that materializes my whole body.
A construct's body.
I had already planned to become a construct once her commandant role has ended. It was decided quite early, but I couldn't tell anyone about it. it wasn't in my list of priorites, and...
I didn't want to admit it, but I just didn't have the courage say it to my squad members.
my time as commandant was short. as expected of a role that's meant for a human, commandant's dying rate is exceedingly high in the frontlines. It isn't a rare occurance for them to want to become constructs as a guarantee.
I tried to stretch out my right hand in front of my torso. My open palm turned into a fist, and i stretch it open again. repeating that gesture a few times.
I doesn't know why I'm doing this even though there's was no uncomfortabilities. I could move around completely fine, but perhaps, I was just fascinated by what my body was turned into.
So this is what being a construct feels like.
Feeling like it was enough observation, I rub my wrist and stood up from the twin-sized bed. looking around, I spot a small speaker in the corner ceiling of the room. so that's where the system announcement were coming from.
"--bzt Confirmation complete. Consciousness transfer procedure has been completed. you may leave the test room. We thank you for your cooperation-"
As the system kept talking, I was already walking towards the exit before it finished its speech.
"-We greatly expects your loyalty and strength as constructs. For the glory of babylonia, and for the glory of humanit--"
thud.
the automatic door closed as soon as I step outside of the testing room.
My first destination after the initializement is President Hassen's office. As why i knew that information, i can't tell exactly. All i could guess is that, the central system connects directly to my M.I.N.D. and controls the information distribution.
As I was walking through the familiar halls of the space station, I could start to hear voices and mumbles from beyond the steel walls.
"i heard that gray raven commandant is becoming a construct!"
Are they talking about me?
"for real? haha! i thought she was already one in the first place! her cold attitude was more construct-like than the actual constructs she commands."
"For real~ hahaha!"
It seems that this frame enhances a construct's hearing abilities by quite a notch as I could hear the voices of people's chatter through the walls. Unfortunate luck, their gossip is about me.
No matter, I brushed off the voices and continued on to my destination.
Not long after that I arrived in front of a metal door with a small intercom device in front of it. pressing in the passwords I received, the device starts to speak.
"--bzt please state your name and division. --bzzt"
"Gray Rave-" As i almost spit out my old unit by mistake, i stopped in my tracks.
right. I'm not the gray raven commandant anymore.
"...construct serial number BPO-84, reporting for duty."
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Hard and fast stomping sounds could be heard through the corridors. The source of that noise is the figure of a girl with long black hair and red eyes, her presence and name known all through out Babylonia. The Gray Raven elite squad leader, Lucia.
her face was filled with a mix of worry and anger. Her movements clumsy and rushed.
It was after she received the news of her commandant's transfer, in disbelieve she ran straight to her superior's office for an explanation.
Slam!
"President Hassen!"
As soon as the door opens she called to the middle aged looking man who is none other than the council leader of humanity's resistance. He turned around from the sudden loud sound and beside him was a white haired girl with a soft demeanor.
"Lucia..." The girl called out.
"Liv...? You're here too?" Lucia asked the girl in front of her.
"Yes...that's right, Lucia. The commandant, she's-"
"No, no way. I can't believe it. Sir Hassen, that notice of the commandant's leave...to become a construct. It isn't true is it?"
With both girls' attention now focused on him, Hassen sighs as he rubs his temple.
"Calm down you two. I can't tell you the details, but it should be obvious that the information given to you by no means are a mistake."
"Then, the commandant's have..."
Liv worriedly lay out her words, unease written all over her face. Hoping, grasping at straws, just so this reality won't be the truth.
"Yes, she has agreed to become a construct."
Hassen sighed exasperately, deciding to not cushion the truth with half lies. Shock was shown on their face as the everything was laid out in front of them.
"But isn't it way too sudden!?" Lucia raised her voice and exclaimed next.
"Not at all, she had this planned for at least a year now." Hassen calmly refuted her.
"A year..." Lucia repeated Hassen's words in disbelief.
Hassen crosses his arms and nods. One can't suddenly become a construct in one night. But this consciousness transfer has been planned for months, she was already determined to become a construct.
"On the other hand, did she not tell you guys about this?"
That question shook both girls, heavy silence fills the room. she didn't say anything. Hassen cracks out a bitter laugh and looks away in nostalgia.
"That sound's like something she'd do."
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening could be heard. The people inside instinctually turn their heads towards the sound. By the door, it was none other than the former commandant and beside her was a blond and tall young man with an inexplicable expression. That young man is Lee, and it seems like they've accidentally met eachother outside Hassen's office.
"Speak of the devil." Hassen said, as he sat down on his desk.
Without missing a beat the two girls ran and surrounded her desperately.
"--!?"
Startled, the former commandant took a step back. not long after both of her hands were hold on to by Lucia on the right side and liv on the left.
"Commandant, why didn't you tell us!?!" Lucia closes in.
"Becoming a construct means you're giving away your humanity...Why...why didn't you tell us something so important?" Liv follows.
Their former commandant closes her eyes. Cold sweat dripping on her forehead. What should she say in this situation?
After putting the matter aside for too long, the consequences of her actions- or perhaps inaction - were all dumped onto her in that moment.
After a moment of thought she decided to tell the truth. They are...no, they were her precious squad members. The least she could do to atone is to say the truth, without hiding any details.
"Sorry. I didn't know when the right timing was to say it. As time passes... the operation day just came and i wasn't able to tell you."
She said in monotone whilst slightly lowering her gaze as to curtly apologize.
"That's the excuse you came up with?"
The blond man who went in with her has finally raised his voice and it was a spot on, snarky remark.
"No, Lee. It's the truth."
'How sharp.' She thought so in her head.
"Not a single word. All we got was an official notice letter that wasn't even written by you. Ridiculous, don't you think?" Lee continues.
She did not respond to his comment this time and closed her eyes once again.
Feeling the ever tensing atmosphere, Hassen clapped his hands to gain the attention of all four of them.
"Alright, alright. Haven't i told you guys to calm down? if you're going to have a friendship quarrel at least don't do it in my office, yeah?"
He tried to make the air lighter with a casual joke but unfortunately for him none of the Gray Ravens are quite the humorous individuals.
Upon realizing his futile efforts, Hassen gives a face as if he'd given up and cleared his throat. He then continued his speech in a more serious tone.
"well continuing, i was planning on only saying this to your commandant, but since you're are all here then i'll give you guys the share of information as well."
"in regards of your assigned team, the Council planned to put you in the back-up team as you are considered a new construct, but.."
He explains as he sorts the documents on his desk.
"considering your highly regarded profile and many achievements you received from the time when you were a commandant, i decided to promote you straight to an elite class construct."
Surprise could be felt all throughout the room.
"And for the team you will be assigned to..."
"Construct BPO-84, you will now be assigned to the Gray Raven squad."
fin.