The Mech Touch

When Ves thought about rebuking Maikel for violating a lot of taboos and developing a ritual that had a high chance of killing the mech pilots of his own product, he couldn't summon the motivation to commit to this choice.

As principled as a mech designer he may be, he felt like a hypocrite if he accused Maikel for committing misdeeds that Ves already committed!

Had Maikel gone astray?

Not necessarily, at least by the standards of Ves.

The more rigid adherents to the rules and regulations imposed by the Red Association may harbor very different opinions about Maikel's work, but Ves appreciated his bold attempt to develop the man-machine conversion process.

Even if it entailed a lot of potential dangers to the mech pilots that might become exposed to it, Maikel's intentions still remained noble. He never meant his potential customers any harm, and genuinely sought to better their lives by providing them an alternate way to live.

Mech designers were ultimately service providers. They designed mechs to solve the problems of the mech pilots that they pledged to serve.

Most people tended to interpret this principle with limited notions on how mech designers should better the lives of mech pilots.

Ves preferred to adopt a much more expanded approach to solving problems. He did not hesitate to venture into other fields and fulfill needs that no one expected from a mech!

Looking at Maikel was looking at a younger and less fortunate version of himself.

In his struggle to design and popularize his living mechs, Ves had borrowed a lot of conveniences from the Mech Designer System.

While Maikel had likewise benefited a lot from the benefits and infrastructure of the Larkinson Clan, these advantages paled in comparison to the ones available in the System.

It was pretty admirable that Maikel managed to get this far given his circumstances. He never lost his heart and continued to commit his heart and soul into his chosen research direction despite how many people would object to his taboo conversion process.

Could Ves bring himself to crush Maikel's earnest dream?

No.

Did that mean that Ves should just smile, pat Maikel on the head and encourage him to continue his illegal research?

Not necessarily.

After a bit of thought, Ves eventually realized the fundamental reason why he struggled to find a resolution to this case.

He felt he did not possess the right to judge Maikel.
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What Maikel had done went beyond the jurisdiction of a teacher.

Only one authority had the right to pass judgment on Maikel and his work on living conversion mechs.

Ves briefly struggled with his decision before he ultimately chose to go through with what came up in his mind.

He decided to pass the buck.

"Maikel." He spoke up in a voice that conveyed the seriousness of this moment. "Before I say anything else, I applaud your initiative and your courage. You have chosen to stray off the beaten path and find a unique direction to develop your mechs towards. You have made an inspired decision by trying to develop a radically new design application for living mechs that I haven't even thought of. I know how difficult it is to pioneer a new field, but there is always a price to pay for making unconventional decisions. In your case, the legal and ethical implications of your work is too great for me to handle. I have no choice but to turn to the Red Association to figure out what to do with your research."

The Apprentice Mech Designer looked afraid. Maikel knew very well that his work would not be met with approval of most mech designers, especially the ones that represented the authority of the Red Association!

The mechers were the managers, caretakers as well as the enforcers of the expansive mech community.

Their persistent efforts ensured the rise and prosperity of a reliable mech industry and a huge mech market.

One of the reasons why the MTA and the RA were able to keep mechs ascendant for so long was because they always applied the rules fairly, at least on the surface.

The mechers understood extremely well that for mechs to maintain its dominant place in society, every industry and market process needed to be handled fairly and without bias.

This was bad news for Maikel. If the RA stuck to the letter of its laws, it would definitely prohibit living conversion mechs without a doubt, and sanction their creator at the same time!

Ves gave the Apprentice an encouraging smile. "Relax, Maikel. There are certainly problematic elements in your case, but none of it is serious enough for the mechers to treat you as a criminal. At most, they will label you as a scientist that has pushed too close to the edge. There are so many of them in our society that there is nothing special about it. Besides, one of the main reasons why I want to call in the RA is because I think the Transhumanist Faction will take an elevated interest in your work. Instead of remaining uncertain whether the Sword of Damocles will fall onto you, it is better to proactively pick the smallest possible knife and drop it onto your own neck."

"..."

"I'm sorry, that was a bad analogy. I will call one of my pals over. If he is not preoccupied with anything, he should be arriving fairly quickly."

Fortunately, it did not take too long for the mecher in question to arrive.

Since the Red Association had recently upgraded the anti-teleportation defenses of Diandi Base, the invited guest was not able to arrive directly in the office.

He had to teleport at a designated area outside and pass through multiple entrances before arriving at the design lab.

Soon enough, Professor Vector Loban arrived in the office.

"I assume you are already aware of our discussion and what I am expecting from you, right?"

The other Senior Mech Designer nodded. "I am. You have made the right choice, Ves. We would have come to Maikel sooner or later, but it is better that you have brought me in on your own initiative. Just to be certain, are you willing to transfer responsibility over deciding what must be done with Mr. Maikel Larkinson and his design work to the Red Association?"

"I am willing." Ves confirmed. "What about you, Maikel?"

The young mech designer helplessly shrugged. "Do I have a choice?"

"Hello, Maikel." The new arrival approached the Apprentice and offered his hand. "You may have already heard of me or seen me visit Ves a number of times, but let me introduce myself properly to you. I am Professor Vector Loban, a biomech designer and an esteemed member of the RA Transhumanist Faction. I am attached to the Bluejay Fleet to serve as a direct liaison between your patriarch and my faction."

"Well met… professor."

Vector smiled wider. "There is no reason for you to feel concerned. Your work, while flagrantly violating a number of the rules that our Association has set, has remained entirely theoretical and imaginary thus far. You have invested much of your love and effort into developing a radical new solution that can potentially save the lives of many people. I can understand your eagerness to bring it into reality. You have had opportunities to fabricate experimental mechs and test your highly unreliable man-machine conversion process many times, but you have exhibited satisfactory self-control. These are qualities that we greatly appreciate in a mech designer. You have demonstrated the courage of a mech designer that is not content with being average, but also exhibited the caution that is necessary to avoid accidents that can prematurely end your career."

Maikel Larkinson quickly grew relieved. The praise even inflated his pride and satisfaction over his work. He had lost much of his apprehension towards the RA and no longer maintained much wariness towards Vector anymore.

What a sublime example of manipulation.

Professor Vector Loban continued to maintain a refined but relatively gentle bearing. It was the posture of a mecher engaging in friendly conversation with a humble space peasant.

"Now, you are not in trouble, but we are not entirely certain how to handle your case. I will need to interview you and examine your research in much more extensive detail before I am capable of making a decision that will directly affect your future as a mech designer. Ves."

"Yes?"

"I need to bring Mr. Maikel to another office so that we can talk in depth with each other. I estimate it will take two hours to conclude our discussion."

Ves waved his hand. "Go ahead. Take all the time you need, Vector. As for you, Maikel, cooperate with my friend as best you can. Be completely truthful and transparent even if you have to share our clan's trade secrets with him. If you truly care about your research direction, then do your best. This is your chance to pursue your passion."

The young Maikel nodded in understanding and stood up without any further words. He proceeded to follow Professor Vector out of the office so that they could enter another room.

"Will… will Maikel be alright?" Zanthar cautiously asked.

Ves smiled back. "Definitely. As the Transhumanist had said, Maikel's work only exists in a bunch of electronic files. The mechers have always made a strong distinction between fantasy and reality. Anyway, now that this is over for the time being, I suggest you go back and put your time to good use. Once Vector and Maikel are done, you can come back to hear the RA's verdict."

"Okay, teacher."

Two hours and thirteen minutes went by fairly quickly. The two mech designers emerged back out with different expressions.

Professor Vector looked as if he was a cat who got the canary while Maikel appeared both confused and maniacally happy!

Ves and Zanthar immediately returned to the main office so that they could all hear what was to become of Maikel.

The Transhumanist did not drag out his verdict. "After an informative and illuminating discussion with Mr. Maikel here, I have conferred with a number of colleagues over at the Transhumanist Faction. We soon came to a consensus on how we should respond to this affair."

"What is your verdict?" Ves asked as he tried to hold in his impatience.

"We have extended a formal invitation to Maikel Larkinson of the Larkinson Clan to join the Red Association, naturally under the auspices of the Transhumanist Faction."

"What?!" Ves reacted with shock!

He had guessed the Transhumanists would be lenient towards Maikel because his work partially aligned with the goals and ideology of their faction, but to outright invite him to become one of their own was much more amazing!

Zanthar also looked shocked at his fellow Larkinson mech designer. He never imagined that Maikel had gone as far as to impress the mechers to such an extent!

"Congratulations, Maikel!" Ves genuinely felt happy for him. "You have managed to gain the best kind of appreciation of the greatest mech authority in our civilization. Once you join the Transhumanists and gain their extensive support, your research will be able to progress by leaps and bounds. Designing and fabricating a truly safe and reliable living conversion mech has become a lot more viable once you are able to gain the support of the RA."

Maikel thrust his palm out further before Ves could continue to speak.

"Teacher, you are mistaken. I… rejected the invitation. Rather than join the Red Association and work with complete strangers, I prefer to stay in the Larkinson Clan and collaborate with my fellow clansmen. Almost nothing makes me happy than to design mechs with many other Larkinsons by my side. I won't have all of that if I transfer to the Red Association."

"..."

This kid.

Ves became speechless for another time. Everytime he thought he figured Maikel out, this confounding clansman unveiled another surprise!

Why the hell did he reject the holy land of mech design in favor of remaining in the much smaller and vastly more limited Larkinson Clan?!