[Mechanization, Pilot Corruption]
"Help me get stronger!"
"...How exactly did you find this place?"
"Ai helped. Now help, please. It's really hard to fight all these Spirits, Witches, Mages and Demons, you know!"
"No. You really shouldn't be fighting in the first place."
"Then who's supposed to save people? Didn't you want to save them too?!"
"...You're not going to go away unless I help, are you?"
"Nope! Now come on, I'm serious!"
A sigh echoed out through the dusty lab as a black-haired scientist slowly ran her hand through her hair. She was already getting a headache, and the day had barely even started. She really didn't know where exactly her old friend managed to find girls like her, but at this point she wasn't going to get rid of her unless she indulged her. Something that she really didn't want to do, but her words... To say they had struck a chord would be an understatement.
Her name was Nue. Formerly the head of the Link Strikers organization, she ended up retiring due to what had happened between her and her former partner. Now she merely tinkered with gadgets and gizmos in her spare time, creating devices that were close in function to the ones that the Strikers used, just with much less danger attached. And besides, her actual goal now wasn't to make devices that would help people fight, but individuals that could do all the fighting for them.
The door to her lab opened up, and she laid her single exposed eye on the blonde with the pink streak. According to the intel she was able to grab thanks to her 'daughter', this was... Link Love. Her actual name eluded her, mostly because it wasn't data that Nue was interested in. She was more concerned with leaving them unable to fight, so they could be the girls that they were meant to be.
"Thank you so much!" The girl chimed, as she gave the older woman a tight hug. "I'm Emiko. Emiko Amato! I'm really glad you want to help me, Miss Nue!" Emiko introduced herself as she pulled back, positivity radiating off every inch of her body. Way more positivity than what was recommended. Honestly, she might just turn into a hazard if she kept being that positive. Maybe she'd give people smiling disease or something...
Nue narrowed her eyes as she walked deeper into the lab, gently brushing her hair so she looked at least a little presentable. The girl was essentially her successor, even if she had long since quit the Link Strikers. "So you want to become stronger. That's why you tried to get to me. Because you knew that I had a hand in the creation of the Link Devices. We're clear on that much, right?"
"Mmhm. You made them, so you can make them stronger, right? That way, I won't have to run dry when I keep fighting against those Mages, and the Witches, and the Demons, and especially the troublemaking Spirits!" Emiko cried out, slamming one hand into the other. "It's a perfect plan!"
"One problem." Nue replied dryly as she reached for her favorite coffee cup, before noticing that there was still some stuck in there. Furrowing her brow, she dumped it into the nearby sink and started brewing a fresh batch. "I can't actually make you stronger. The Link Devices essentially draw out your inner power. So unless you believe you can get stronger, you can't actually improve." She explained, all while crossing her arms. "So you're stuck with a mental wall you can't break through. That's why you can't get stronger."
Emiko blinked as she processed all of that, before rubbing her cheek. "Something's holding me back... Huh. Never thought about it that way." She muttered. Honestly, she didn't expect to get a lesson like that when she tried to reach out to this old Link, but at least she got something out of it. "Okay, so I can't get stronger through just the Link Device... But isn't there something else that you could do with it?"
Nue was honestly just as surprised at Emiko being willing to bargain like that as the girl was to be confronted with her own limitations. "...Perhaps Asami really is better at picking the right kind of girls than I thought she was." She muttered, all while reaching for her coffee once she heard the soft 'beep' echo out. "You're on the right track. There's a few experimental features I can enable that might be able to help you. But I must warn you, I have not done any sanity testing on these features. There's a high chance that you'll lose yourself if you abuse them. You understand, right?"
"Of course. I wouldn't be a Link Striker if I didn't know that I was putting myself in danger!" Emiko smiled as she made it clear that she wasn't afraid of a little danger. If anything, she was ready for it. "So what's the experimental stuff like? Does it like, make me really buff so I can channel my own power better?" She asked, not really able to picture what the experience would be like.
"I'd call you foolish if that spirit of yours didn't impress me." Nue said, before clearing her throat slightly. "Look at me, Emiko." She asked, all while the black lens in her glasses started to tremble. "This is not going to hurt. However, it will cause momentary discomfort."
Emiko raised her eyebrow, only for the lens to split apart and reveal a powerful light. "AH!" She cried out for a moment before her eyes went completely white, and she collapsed onto her knees as if she had just been knocked out. She wasn't prepared for a flashbang, much less one infused with special energy like the one that Nue just shot off using her glasses...
Nue's lens pieced itself back together as she pushed up her glasses. All while she looked at Emiko with a rather troubled gaze. Was she really about to pull this off? Asami had always told her that she would allow this if push came to shove, but it was her hesitation that...
No, now was not the time to dwell on past events. The girl had shown her conviction. Now, to pay her back for that show.
---
Emiko blinked. Or rather, her brand new optics blinked. She was very definitely aware that her body was far from natural at this point, and she had only just regained consciousness. Wow! What in the world had Mistress Nue done to her? And why did she consider her a Mistress?
The blonde sat up, and was immediately confronted with her brand new visage. Because she wasn't blonde. She was pink-haired, just like when she had turned into Link Love. In fact, barring a couple of mechanical touches, she looked just like she did whenever she transformed into her Link Striker form, which made it seem like Mistress Nue had managed to make the form permanent. That was certainly one way that she had been improved!
"Mistress! Where are you?" Emiko asked as she looked all around. She even had her head spinning around without having her neck move, which was a really cool trick. She couldn't wait to show that to Yuriko! She'd probably get really spooked. Serena would too, but she always avoided her. Maybe she'd like her more now?
Nue tapped a button on the wall, letting light pour in. All while sweat poured down her face, as it seemed like she had been quite winded by the process of converting Emiko into this mechanical form. "I am... Never doing that again..." She muttered, pushing her glasses up. It was bad enough that she had to use her own abilities to facilitate the transformation, but the finer details of transforming a human into a mechanical being was way beyond her scope. No wonder she had originally scrapped this plan.
"Oh, there you are! Thank you, Mistress Nue!" Emiko giggled as she climbed off the table she was currently laying on, grinning from ear to ear. There was something about her new operating system, or the frame that housed it, or just... The feeling of being a robotic being. She didn't know what it was, but she felt boundless joy. Much more joy than she felt when she was nothing more than flesh and bones!
The former Link winced as the robotic girl quickly wrapped her arms around her and squeezed tight, causing her to let out a bit of a pained groan. She had made her far too strong. She could feel her bones creaking and begging to snap, but she held on. Despite the fact that she really shouldn't be able to.
"I still haven't explained what exactly I did, please let go for a few minutes, Emiko." Nue managed to say, causing the pink-clad robot to let go of her and smile as she gently swayed back and forth. All while Nue now had to contend with her exhaustion and the pain of nearly being crushed. She definitely should've tried to change her personality data, if she knew this was going to happen...
Emiko just stood there, waiting for an explanation. All while admiring the better parts of Mistress Nue. Oh, she was so perfect. Even though she had seen much better days, that aged look and weary aesthetic really tickled her inner core. She wanted to be just like her some day.
"To make a long story short... You no longer need to use the Link Device to enter your Striker form. Because you ARE the Link Device now." Nue explained, as she pointed towards a very haphazardly scribbled whiteboard. "You'll have to pardon my writing, it's been a while since-"
"I get it!" Emiko giggled. "As part of my transformation, my compatibility with Demons, Mages, Witches and Spirits have all increased! I can use them as batteries to further enhance my capabilities, and should I be able to contain enough of them in a short timespan, I can mix them together and increase the output even further. Then, I can attach to one of my fellow Strikers and enhance their capabilities too, or even turn into a weapon if the situation calls for it! Wow, that sure is a lot of great upgrades you've implemented, Mistress Nue!" She chimed, already beaming once again. Ah, she was way too excited to try them all out! Maybe she could even help Yuriko become a Link Striker like this! Ehehehe, to fight alongside her like that...
Nue blinked rapidly. Well, that certainly cut down on all the explaining she had to do. "Are you satisfied with your upgrades then, Emiko?" She paused, before shaking her head and clearing her throat. "I mean... Link Device L-0, are you ready to return to duty?" She had to use the proper designation. The girl had... Well, to call her current situation a cessation of existence would be excessive, but she really couldn't help but see her as less now that she had upgraded her. Even if she was as excited as ever.
L-0 blinked as she registered her own serial number. And suddenly, her friendly smile turned a little devious and malicious. "Of course, Mistress Nue! This Link Device is ready to convert all living Spirits, Mages, Witches and Demons to fuel for the sake of achieving peace!" She chimed, as the subroutines that controlled her priorities showed their faults. All while her eyes glowed bright pink as a soft siren echoed out. "Mage detected! Moving to intercept!"
The former Link barely had a chance to process what she just heard and what just happened before she witnessed the robotic Link's arm turning into a bow-shaped cannon, which she pointed into the sky and used to blow open the ceiling. And not a moment later, jets on the bow turned on and allowed her to blast straight through the hole she made, preventing Nue from even getting a word in before she disappeared on the horizon.
All that she could do was watch, and slowly go back towards her cup of coffee. She had done what she asked. If the girl was going to go overboard due to a few faulty circuits that were meant to control morality.. Well, then that wasn't going to be the biggest problem at the moment.
After all, she'd still accomplish their mutual goal...
---
"Searching... Searching... There!"
L-0 giggled as she spotted the source of the signal that she had picked up on. A certain Mage that had gotten in her way far too many times. Mage Eclipse, who was currently standing on one of the many rooftops in Bakehara. So there was no way that she was going to see L-0 coming if she headed straight for her. Hah! This was going to be quick and easy!
Mage Eclipse, one of the protectors of the Spirits of Bakehara, could feel a chill running down her spine as she felt the wind brush past her. There was some foul energy in the air. Just as foul as those Link Strikers that had gotten in her way so many times over. But where did the energy come from? And more importantly, what did she need to do to stop it? Because if it kept spreading, then...
"Initiating forced linking!"
Eclipse's eyes widened as she heard that voice cry out. That was a distinctly mechanical voice, but it was also the voice of that blasted Link Love! Not to mention, it came from above her! How did she get up there?!
The Mage looked into the sky, and she just barely got a chance to see a pink blur head down towards her. She didn't get the chance to cast any spell or use any of her powers before it was too late, as that pink blue was replaced with a deep and tender darkness. As well as a really tight fit all around her. What in the world just happened..?!
"Ehehehehe... Mage Captured!" L-0 chimed as a bit of steam poured out from the gaps in between her various parts. Turns out, trying to open up and slam shut around a cutie was kind of tricky. That, and it meant that she had to cool off because of all the strain that it put on her parts. No wonder Mistress Nue considered these features experimental, they were making her all hot and bothered!
Captured? "When did you get this upgrade, Link Love? Or did you keep this one secret until you could get the better of me?!" Eclipse cried out as she tried to pry herself free from inside of this mechanical mess, but it was really hard to move around. There really wasn't a lot of space for her to move, and the more she tried to move the more exhausted she grew. It was like her body was nothing more than a piece of energy for the robotic girl to drain...
"L-0, actually! Not Link Love anymore!" L-0 corrected her common enemy, before her body softly hummed. "And I got it done just a few minutes ago! Mistress Nue made sure to make my body the best it could be, just as I asked her to! I can't believe it made me this great though, it's really something special!" She chimed, not even caring about what might be happening to the Mage inside her. No, she just had to drain her and leave her a husk so she could make others... stronger..?
Eclipse trembled a little as she felt her energy growing weaker and weaker. Her transformation was destabilizing. Damnit, she didn't want to give up and lose to a Link. Even if that very same Link had been upgraded far beyond what was even close to sensible...
"Aaaaah... So thaaaaaat's why you were fighting against me so much. I didn't know you were a Mage, Yuriko!"
Eclipse's eyes widened. As she heard her real name, the penny dropped. Link Love... No, L-0... She wasn't just her enemy, she was one of her closest friends. "Emiko!? Let me out! Stop doing this!" Her tone was a lot less aggressive, as she realized that she shouldn't be fighting against a friend. No matter the rivalry, she didn't want to hurt her. And sure, she could probably break free if she put all her power into an escape attempt. But then...
"No way! I'm made to drain Mages, so I'm gonna do that!" L-0 cried out, before giggling a little. "But I don't wanna lose you either, Yuriko. So just look forward, okay?" She chimed, as her mood quickly swapped from a desperate one to one that was as playful and positive as ever.
Yuriko didn't like where this was going. But she didn't have a choice in the matter. She stared straight ahead. Into one big pink spiral, which quickly started to make her already drained mind slowly spiral as well. "Emi...ko... Stop..." She muttered, as she grew weaker and weaker...
Only for a surge of power to rush into her, gasping as she blinked. What had happened, exactly..? It was like something had been taken from her, but now she was filled with way more of something. What...
"Good morning, Emiko!"
Ah. That voice... That's right, that was her Link Device. How silly... She fell asleep inside of her again...
"Good morning to you too, L-0. What were we doing..?" 'Emiko' asked, all while still staring into the spiral in front of her. Completely unaware that she wasn't actually Emiko. Completely unaware that she was actually Emiko's dear friend. As far as she knew, she had always been Emiko. The positive and bright Link Love, who was permanently bonded to the autonomous L-0!
"Just dealing with some Spirits that were being bad! Ready for another round?" L-0 chimed, all while giggling a little. She'd have lots to do before she had fully made Yuriko take her place, but it was worth it. They'd be the best combo. Two Emikos for the price of one!
"Of course!" 'Emiko' cried out, as she took control and struck a pose. "With you by my side, we'll definitely keep Bakehara safe!" She shouted with gusto, as she reached out and let the jets on the back of her bow fire up.
Even though Emiko was now a robot, and Yuriko was now Emiko, the two friends were together as they always should've been. And with L-0's many enhanced features, Bakehara was definitely in safe hands.
All thanks to the two hearts united in one body!