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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Feb 6, 2012 18:06:17 GMT -5
"Yes, EDI, back then, I wanted to give you a chance, but of course some superiors that weren't as well informed of you didn't understand your potential. They didn't trust you. For a while my trust faltered, but such hesitation is natural. That same hesitation came back in a different form when they ordered me to do so. It didn't seem right at all. I did what I could to protect you. They didn't see you as a success, but I did." Keith replied, thinking back to those days. Those days were all a blur, and he certainly didn't want to remember most of it. "I'm certainly glad I didn't get caught in the explosion when you and Ben fled. I'm glad you were able to work something out with him, I really am. I felt different about my superiors after I heard what happened to Kara." he added.
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Post by Tinman on Feb 6, 2012 18:17:09 GMT -5
EDI's tone grew soft then as he responded to Keith. "I am glad you see what I have become as a success and not a failure, despite what I had done. And I am glad Ben chose to trust me to help him rescue Kara from the north Koreans. Ben said that one thing he had learned from Captain Marshfield was that you never abandon your wingman. Kara was Ben's wingman, she was my wingman, we were squadron mates, I had to help Ben rescue her. When the north Korean helicopter appeared and began shooting at Ben and Kara, I tried to protect them. I fired the last few rounds I had from my gatlin guns to draw their attention away from my friends, my squadron mates. I was out of ammunition, I had no more missiles, all I had was myself, so I rammed the helicopter, hoping to destroy it and protect Ben and Kara. At first I thought I would die, but I found myself awake and aware of what was around me, though my sphere was broken. All I could think of was Ben and Kara, hoping they had escaped to safety, and I thought of you, hoping you were safe, hoping you were not angry with me for what I had done, what I had to do to save Ben and Kara."
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Feb 6, 2012 18:52:47 GMT -5
"What you did was very noble, EDI. I would hope, I would like to think that I would have done the same thing if I was in a similar situation." Keith replied with a smile. "Ben and Kara were very proud of you after that, I talked to them a little after it happened for closure." he replied, once again thinking that maybe in the near future they could reunite and work together again somehow. It would be good for EDI, because he was continuing to learn from new things and from his own mistakes.
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Post by Tinman on Feb 6, 2012 18:58:33 GMT -5
EDI hummed contentedly then, happy that Keith felt the way he did towards EDI's actions in North Korea. "I would like to see Ben and Kara again, I would like to fly with them again. I miss them. I miss flying. I want to fly again, I want to fly with you and Ben and Kara. All of us together. I would like that very much." he offered softly, a wistful, almost dreamy tone in his voice then, imagining what it would be like to fly alongside Ben and Kara with Keith riding in EDI's cockpit. The thought made him feel very good indeed.
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Feb 8, 2012 5:03:59 GMT -5
One of Keith's recurring thoughts/observations came back to him then. It seemed EDI was interested in being part of a family, even if he didn't think about his wing mates that way, he certainly felt that way towards him, his creator. If EDI saw him as a father, surely he saw Ben and Kara as pack mates, something like kin - brother and sister. He knew when he got to see them again, their bonds would grow significantly. "They're gonna be psyched to see you, EDI." he patted the AI reassuringly with a smile. "I'll get in touch with them as soon as you are operational."
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Post by Tinman on Feb 9, 2012 7:03:27 GMT -5
"I hope we can find them. I hope they are still alive. I hope they are still flying. It would not be right to fly without them. One is a prime number, EDI is one. Two is a prime number, Ben and Kara are two. Three is a prime number, Henry said it was lucky. EDI must rejoin Talon Squadron, for Henry, for Ben and Kara. Father must come with EDI. Three aircraft, three pilots. Three is complete, whole, prime, lucky." he mused, he was almost rambling in his thoughts, something EDI hadn't done before. Yet it seemed as if he was almost desperate to voice his thoughts, to tell Keith everything he was thinking as he tried to sort out his thoughts and identify his feelings. "Father, I do not understand what I feel. All I can think about is flying, finding Ben and Kara, and protecting you. I do not want to be separated from you." EDI seemed distracted and unfocused, almost scattered and a little fearful then. He was clearly attached to Keith, afraid of being separated from his creator, and he seemed almost obsessed with finding Ben and Kara.
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Feb 14, 2012 17:40:44 GMT -5
Keith smiled reassuringly. "That is because you are a flier, EDI, and no one can take that away from you. No matter what, you were meant to fly. I'm positive Ben and Kara are still active, I know they loved to fly. I haven't spoken to them since your accident, but I know they're out and about, they were in the somewhat early stages of their career with the Navy when you were created." he said. He was positive those two Navy Officers were still alive, they were great pilots and certainly didn't seem to go down easily. "You will definitely see them again, and I can understand why you want to, I don't imagine it'd be fun flying alone all the time."
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Post by Tinman on Feb 14, 2012 20:47:16 GMT -5
EDI seemed to accept the explanation and settled in his creator's arms, glad to be with Keith so he could ask such questions and learn from his creator. "Yes, I was made to fly, and so I must fly." he agreed. It made logical sense after all, and he could not dispute that logic. "Doctor Orbit, thank you for my life, thank you for teaching me, thank you for being my father." he said softly then, looking up at Keith. His tone was gentle, almost affectionate as he spoke, wanting Keith to know on no uncertain terms how he felt and how much he cherished his creator.
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Feb 28, 2012 19:10:22 GMT -5
"You're welcome EDI. You've made my dreams a reality. I won't let you down. Promise." Keith assured the AI. He would make sure EDI was safe to the greatest possible extent he could manage. EDI, in his very essence, was his passion, he encompassed all he knew and liked about science, and applied it to every fiber that made EDI and his sphere. "I should probably get back to work soon. The sooner your body is complete, the better."
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Post by Tinman on Mar 1, 2012 17:04:40 GMT -5
EDI hummed softly, content to be with his creator, to be held by him. "Yes, that would be good. Once my new body is finished, then I can hold you, just as you hold me." he offered. EDI was very protective of his creator, and as the AI saw Dr Orbit as his father, it was certainly understandable. "I look forward to my new body, father." he added almost tenderly. He wanted desperately to fly, and he wanted Keith with him. Of that, EDI was absolutely certain. He was also absolutely certain that he wanted to fly alongside Ben and Kara again, to take his place in formation with his squad mates again.
((I'd say a response from Keith, then time skip to the completion of the new air frame and EDI's first flight with your next post?))
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Mar 13, 2012 4:19:32 GMT -5
"Me too, I garantee you it'll be worth the wait." he replied cheerfully, getting right to work.
<Timeskip to when EDI is in his new form>
Out on the tarmac, EDI can be seen in his new aerial frame, with Keith occupying the cockpit. They taxi to one end of the runway and stop at the holdling lines. "The hour has finally come, EDI. You ready for take off?" Keith was so excited, as he hadn't gone flying in a very long time, and this would be his first real chance to fly with EDI. One could hear the excitement in his voice, he had made sure to rest his mind before the flight, so he could be on alert in case any malfunctions or abnormal situations popped up.
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Post by Tinman on Mar 13, 2012 4:32:22 GMT -5
EDI flexed his Aero-Elastic wings experimentally as he readied for flight. "U.C.A.V. - E.D.I. ready for flight, Dr Orbit." he replied in a calm tone, checking his systems and displaying the systems check on a holographic projection screen so his creator could see exactly what EDI was doing, though his frame shivered slightly in anticipation as he powered up his twin scram jet turbo engines. Flexing his wing flaps downward, he waited for clearance to lift off the tarmac, and once granted, he rose smoothly several yards before tucking in his landing gear, remaining in a stable hover for several moments. "Final systems check complete, Tinman awaiting orders." he offered, a slight note of amusement and excitement in his voice knowing he was starting his very first flight with his creator.
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Mar 13, 2012 5:01:59 GMT -5
Once they were at a hover and received clearance, Keith kept his hands on the controls, just in case. "Systems check confirmed. Go ahead and take off whenever you're ready, I know I am. Vertically or use of the runway, doesn't matter, you're cleared." He checked the area just in case, scanning the approaches on either end of the runway in case any aircraft were just landing or turning off the runway.
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Post by Tinman on Mar 14, 2012 10:11:48 GMT -5
EDI tilted his air frame in acknowledgment. "Confirmed, Doctor Orbit, Tinman has control." and with that he launched skyward, though not too high and not too fast for the sake of Keith's more delicate frame. EDI soared, testing out his new air frame with his creator on board. "It is good to fly with you, father. I have wished to fly with you for a long time" he admitted, a clear and cheerful tone in his voice then as he flew. He selected a song to play then, Lenny Kravitz – ‘I Want to Get Away’. EDI really liked that song and felt that it suited how he felt about flying with his creator and father, though he did not blare the music too loudly so as to spare Keith's sensitive ears. If EDI was going to play music, he could at least be considerate to his passenger after all.
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Post by Dr. Keith Orbit on Mar 19, 2012 18:35:06 GMT -5
"Yes EDI, it is nice to get up in the air with you finally." Keith smiled, excitement still ringing in his tone. "Where do you want to go, and how far? I have absolutely no preferences, anywhere and everywhere is fine with me so long as the weather permits. Don't want to go near any of those lightning bolts." he inquired, looking around alertly as the AI took off. He kept the radio active, though enjoyed the music as well. He knew EDI could take care of the radio calls, it was something an aircraft like himself could pick up on easily.
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