The Waterfall
by Kitsune D'gon
Quick Disclaimer: I don't own Armored Core... (is this really required?)
Henry dodged left as the enemy A.C. (Armored Core) sent forth another bazooka shell. He was then forced to the right as his foe attempted to cut him off with a salvo from a machine gun. Henry darkly thought of how his day was getting worse and worse... and it had started off so well.
Henry had looked forward towards this mission. It would be the first real action he had in months. He also needed the valued credits the client would pay him.
All his client wanted him to do was to attack another A.C. The mission success rate was recorded at a 77. The area he would be fighting in was a lush undeveloped jungle, normally meaning no reserve units would be flung at his face. These all pointed at an easy mission, which was turning out to be anything but.
The second bright spot of the day was the newest member to the Ravens. Ever since his breakup several years ago with Mia he had been reluctant to be involved with anyone else. Eventually, this must have rubbed off on all of the females around him, who would never give him any signs of interest. The newest member of the Ravens, however, had searched the room with her bright green eyes directly after initiation, found his eyes, and warmly smiled. Maybe he had a chance left in his life after all.
When he had entered the garage, his armored core was all ready to go. It was repainted into a forest camouflage pattern. The micro missile launcher and two machine guns glistened dangerously in the sun as he went out for a brief test drive. All systems go.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed as the enemy's laser blade came within an inch of slicing through his core and into the vital components beyond. His trainer had always said that his daydreaming would get him killed one day and his words had almost come true then.
Well, without his micro missile launcher, and his left arm machine gun replaced with his backup laser blade, he couldn't afford any mistakes or daydreaming.
He lighted up his blade in warning to the other pilot of what the consequences would be if he tried that again. As the enemy slowly started to back up, he let loose a magazine from his machine gun. Several rounds hit and chipped off armor before his foe was able to maneuver the A.C. out of harms way.
Henry decided to charge for the initiative. Letting loose another salvo from his gun, he flung his A.C. at the enemy with reckless abandon. The trick worked.
His foe turned and boosted away, perhaps not willing to risk losing any more armor to his machine gun. Henry followed in pursuit, albeit a bit slowly. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't catch up, only follow a rough path of the other A.C.
His A.C. crashed through the edge of the forest. He noticed a small (comparatively to his A.C.) pool. On the edge of the pool, there was a waterfall. The waterfall created several beautiful rainbows, arcing down to the pool. He felt drawn towards the waterfall. He shook himself out of his examination of the pool and was ready to attack again when he noticed the other pilot was unable to tear away from the view either. Seconds later, a comlink opened.
"May I ask who is attacking me?"
"Henry Sykes. Member of the Ravens." suddenly he thought of the green eyed girl.
"Ah, You were the one standing in the middle of the crowd..." she faltered for a moment.
"You know, we don't have to do this..."
"You and I both know that is a lie."
Then they began anew their dance of death around the waterfall.