Steely

Date/Timing: late 2016
Setting: SHU Headquarters; Tokyo, Japan
Built up from a comment!fic
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Takako loads the latest simulation of the HC's right arm on the wall screen.
They should've let Yoshida design it, as she'd volunteered to do.
Bloody American ego.
Outside, in the corridor, a clicking of heels: Chief's ever-so-slightly uneven steps and a military-sharp tread.
And the pattering of a child's feet.
Odd.
Takako pokes the sim into motion, frowns at the way the wrist judders as the right hand supinates. She stops the animation, flicks the diagram to peel away the armour and expose the hydraulics and cables within. She searches for the problem's source, using the half-dozen flags Yoshida left before she had to take a cat-petting break as a guide.
Bloody Americans.
A very young, steely-eyed person approaches her.
「May I help you?」
「Teacher says you make Jaegers.」
「That I do.」 
Who is this child?
「I'll also make Jaegers.」
Oh.
Takako nods. 「Where do you want to start?」
Mx Mori says—pauses, then: 「It needs a sword.」
「A sword ... a sword needs a strong shoulder and arm with good flexibility to wield it, yes?」
Mx Mori agrees.
「Then I believe a Mark III—」 Banishes the HC to a corner, taps through menus, frowns as a new wireframe blooms. 「This VS is likely too slow to be effective, but it will be good for testing ideas.」 Smiles ruefully. 「I lack blueprints for the more robust CB or GD series.」
「What about the one you pushed aside? It looked strong.」
Takako smiles. 「You have a good eye for machines.」
Mx Mori ducks their head.
Takako swipes the VS back into its folder, pulls the arm back to center. 「This Mark IV, the HC, is a much better choice for a sword-bearer than the VS. Unfortunately, I only have the plans for this single arm.」
「One arm is enough to hold a sword.」
「Well said. Let us give this arm one.」
For the first time, Mx Mori smiles.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Tokyo (setting)
Category:Shinohara Heavy Industries
Category:Takako
Category:Takako's POV
Category:Takako (ficlet)
Category:Chief Barclay-Harvey (mention)
Category:Pentecost (mention)
Category:Mako
Category:Mako (ficlet)