The Mech Touch novel Chapter 3847

Chapter 3847 Vox Machinae

I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LARKINSON CLAN, CREATOR. WE ARE JUST AS ALIVE AS THE HUMANS IN OUR CLAN. JUST LIKE OUR MECH PILOTS, WE MECHS READILY PUT OUR 'LIVES' ON THE LINE IN DEFENSE OF THE LARKINSONS WHO NEED OUR PROTECTION. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT WE RECEIVE APPRECIATION FOR OUR SERVICES? WE ARE NO LONGER MACHINES THAT YOU PUT BACK IN STORAGE WHEN YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR OUR STRENGTH ANYMORE.

"..."

The Shield of Samar certainly possessed strong opinions on the manner. Now that Ves finally brought this matter up, the powerful expert mech freely voiced its wish list.

It appeared that the Everchanger was not an exception. Third order living mechs were more aware, more intelligent and more complex. It was natural for them to develop more extensive wants and needs.

In fact, the Shield of Samar developed even deeper thoughts on the matter! Out of all of the third order living mechs designed by Ves, Venerable Jannzi's expert mech was definitely the oldest among them! Even if it only reached this order of life only recently, it had already come into existence before Ves advanced to Journeyman!

It was one of the veteran mechs that held the greatest seniority and prestige among the mechs of the Larkinson Clan. Even upstarts like the Amaranto had to show a measure of respect towards this honored pair of machines.

Having grown up alongside the Larkinson Clan, the Shield of Samar experienced a lot of different twists and turns. Its life experience among the Larkinson mechs had accumulated to an impressive degree!

After Jannzi advanced to expert pilot and after its latest and most dramatic upgrade, the growth of the Shield of Samar had skyrocketed, thereby ensuring that it would remain the 'eldest' living mech within the Larkinson Clan for at least a generation!

If not for the fact that Venerable Joshua's life domain was so conducive to growth, the Everchanger would never be able to lift its head in front of the Shield of Samar!

The topics that Jannzi's expert mech brought up during this interview session were both deep and profound.

Ves frowned as the Shield of Samar forced him to open up his eyes to how poorly the Larkinson Clan treated its living mechs.

While it was generally fine for the Larkinson Clan to treat second order living mechs as normal machine that just demanded a bit more care, when machines like the Shield of Samar gained true awareness, they were substantially greater entities and required much more extensive treatment!

LET ME ASK YOU A PRESUMPTUOUS QUESTION, CREATOR. DO YOU CONSIDER LIVING MECHS SUCH AS MYSELF AS FULL AND EQUAL MEMBERS OF YOUR CLAN?

"Uh…"

YOU DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE. I CAN SEE THE RELUCTANCE IN YOUR BODY. YOU HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN THE CLAN, BUT FOR A LONG TIME YOU HAVE ONLY EXTENDED THIS CONSIDERATION TO YOUR FELLOW HUMANS. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT LIVING MECHS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE A PART OF THE FAMILY AS WELL?

"That… of course you are family." Ves instinctively answered. "Each and every living mech in the service of the clan is a part of our brotherhood."

The Shield of Samar had taken the initiative in this conversion and did not intend to let Ves off that easily.

YOU SAY THE WORDS, BUT DO YOU MEAN THEM? I AM AFRAID THAT YOU ARE STILL WAVERING IN YOUR THOUGHTS. YOU MUST CORRECT YOUR MINDSET, CREATOR. WHILE OUR BODIES ARE MADE OF ALLOY RATHER THAN FLESH AND WHILE OUR VEINS CHANNEL ELECTRICAL CURRENT RATHER THAN BLOOD, WE ARE LOYAL AND DEDICATED TO THE BETTERMENT OF EVERY LARKINSON, HUMAN, PET OR MECH.

The mention of pets reminded Ves of animals like Lucky and Clixie. The clan had always fostered a welcoming attitude towards pets. Each of them enjoyed a beloved status within the clan. Even if they did not enhance the clan's productivity or combat power, their companionship warmed people's hearts.

Pets along with kids brightened people's lives and made it a lot more bearable for the clansmen to live aboard starships. This was also why they were valued to the point that numerous clansmen had begun to consider them as full members of the clan!

At the very least, particularly important cats such as Lucky and Clixie fully deserved this designation!

In comparison to all of the welfare and pampering that pets enjoyed, the living mechs in the Larkinson Clan did not receive as much love.

Sure, their mech pilots cared for them on an individual basis, but this did not compensate for the lack of institutional welfare and support.

YOU SAY THAT WE ARE WORTHY TO BECOME FULL AND RECOGNIZED MEMBERS OF THE CLAN, BUT I DO NOT SEE MANY SIGNS OF THAT. AS ITS LEADER, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ENACT THE CHANGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BUT FOR YEARS YOU HAVE SAT ON THIS ISSUE AND NEVER THOUGHT TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR NEEDS.

Ves grimaced. "Please cut me some slack, Shield. Third order living mechs such as yourself are a relatively new phenomenon that I have pioneered myself. Who could have thought that it would be possible for people like me to hold an actual conversation with a mech like you? We are all venturing into completely new territory here. Mistakes are inevitable. What matters is that we recognize what is wrong and do our best to address them. My visit here is a reflection of that. I am giving you an opportunity to help me understand what can be improved."

The Shield of Samar's demeanor grew a little bit more warmer towards him. The expert mech was afraid that Ves would take a tougher stance on the matter. If that was the case, then the machine would have pressed even harder!

I APPRECIATE YOUR OPEN-MINDEDNESS, BUT I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT YOU WILL LIKE WHAT I AM ABOUT TO CONVEY.

"Hit me with it." Ves straightforwardly said. "The reason why I am discussing this with you today is to understand the opinions and perspective of living mechs like you. It's better to air your full thoughts to me so that I have the clearest and most accurate picture of the state of living mechs in the clan."

IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN I WILL NOT HOLD BACK ANY FURTHER. AS YOU CAN ALREADY SURMISE, I BELIEVE THE STATUS OF LIVING MECHS IN THE CLAN MUST CHANGE. I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO OFFER SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER TREATMENT TO MY FELLOW LIVING MECHS THAT ARE NOT AS CONSCIOUS AS MYSELF, BUT YOU MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MACHINES SUCH AS THE QUINT AND THE AMARANTO DESERVE ACTUAL RECOGNITION.

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