The neural link was activated.
Pain lanced through his skull—a hot wire driven directly into his brain, seeking to connect human neurons to mechanical systems.
This was completely different from the virtual pod. It must be because it came from the future, and this one hadn't been polished yet.
[ERROR]
SYNC RATE CRITICAL.
[ERROR]
PILOT VITALS UNSTABLE.
[ERROR]
RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF—
Neville closed his eyes and let go.
The transformation began in his hands. Scales began to climb from the tips to the arms, then to the chest. Slits opened behind his ears, edged with silver filigree. His hair, that he carefully dyed in a hazel-brown disguise, bled to silver from root to tip.
It was a half-transformation that maintained his human legs. It was only in this form that he could withstand the neural load.
The mecha's warnings cut off abruptly upon transformation.
[SYNC RATE: 97.3%]
[PILOT STATUS: OPTIMAL]
[COMBAT SYSTEMS: ONLINE]
