Bullets whiz by as Zeta follows the lumbering machine, the stomp, stomp, stomp of its metal feet joining the cacophony of battle. “Keep up,” said the pilot of the machine. “Those foot soldiers keep hiding behind cover and I need you to take them!” Zeta drew their gun, rushing forward as they call back to the pilot, “yes sir!” They slid behind a boulder, readying the thermal pistol to fire. They tossed out their personal drone, hovering it just above the rock, waiting for a shot to ring out. Bang! The drone went down and they popped up, firing multiple shots and taking down three foot soldiers before dropping back down. “I got em’” called out the pilot, firing the mech’s machine gun into the foot soldiers, taking down the rest of them. The mech leaned over and zeta climbed on, hopping into the squire seat at the base of the neck.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Shots slammed into the cockpit of the mech, causing it to drop to its knee. “Sir, are you ok?”

“H-Help... me.”

They popped open the cockpit of the mech to see the pilot with 2 holes in the suit, blood beginning to soak into the fabric. “Sir! I’ll help you,” they said, digging the patch kit out of their bag and riffling through it to find a bandage but when they turned back the pilot was slumped over in the chair. “Sir? Sir! Please respond! Please acknowledge! Sir!” But there was no response. He was already dead.

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They knew there was no choice. They pushed the body out of the way, climbing into the chair and grabbing the controls. “Just take a breath. We know how to do this. We have been training for this,” they thought. With a big breath they gunned the speed, racing towards the dropship. The main screen was out, but the side screens still worked. “That means the map, side cams and diagnostics still work.” They use the map and side cams to run towards the ship, taking one last leap and slamming into the boarding ramp. “Please! Help! This pilot is dying,” they yelled as the cockpit popped open, dragging the bleeding pilot out of the seat and into the ship as the doors closed.

“And for that Bravery, Zeta Balderdash, I award you with the title of pilot,” said the Program director, handing Zeta the medal. They turned it back and forth, remembering the pilot that they once knew, watching it shimmer in the sun.