Chapter 1

With the death Squadron armored core a smoldering heap in the street I pushed the overboost button. The back of my core opened up as I heard the boosters whine to life. I held onto my controls as the blue flame spewed fourth from the back off my core. The force was amazing but after so many years of armored core battles , a pilot gets used to it. The rain was dissipating now as I shot through the city streets.

Com Channel - "Deathlok , this is Apone."

Deathlok - "Yeah Apone , I read you."

Com Channel - "The V-Unit is done. Do you want me to install it in Shade ver.2 or wait until you get back with Blaze?"

Deathlok - "Go ahead and install it in Shade."

Com Channel - "Great! It should be installed by the time you get back."

The V-Unit was finally done. Also called the Vision system , it lets the AC pilot see the opponent's movements before the opponent even attacks. Its sounds perfect but I'll have to see what the effects on the pilot will be.

As I reach the end of the city limits I shut off my overboost system. There it was , my lovely home. A giant old abandoned garage. Tinted cracked windows , and metal plates that where ready to fall off the foundations. I pushed the garage button and carefully dock my machine in the hanger. My mechanic Apone was dressed in his usual geeky outfit. Giant fogged up goggles held tight to a dark complex. Greasy oil soaked into his gray mechanic clothes , as he excitedly raced my way. I took off my helmet and sat it in my cockpit seat.

Apone - "I installed the V-Unit to Shade ver.2. When your ready take it out for testing."

Deathlok - "Let me sit down first ok…….oh yeah , thanks."

Apone - "So I heard you got into another scuffle with a Death Squadron member."

Deathlok - "It was in my job description to take him out , so I really didn't have much of a choice."

Apone - "3 fights in 2 weeks though. Don't you think their leader is going to be a little pissed?"

I guess I didn't notice. When you're a vet of the AC game you don't really care about the job….. As long as you get paid.

Apone - " Hey Death….are you ok?"

Deathlok - "Yeah , yeah sorry. I guess I've made some enemies. How bout we go watch some TV eh?"

Apone - "Yeah sounds good. I hear the Unreal match today is great."

I moved through the giant dim lighted hanger to the communication room. 3 TV screens , one for the TV of course and the others for mission briefs. God I've been doing this for a long time. Ever since Apone was a teenager , now he is almost a man. He was my old partner's son , so I guess he looked up to me as an uncle to him.

Deathlok - "Time to relax."

Apone - "I heard that."

I sat back in the giant communication chair watching the Unreal match. I just wonder how long I can keep doing this. My career as a Earth Federation MT pilot all the way up to an AC pilot. I even ranked 1st in the arena at a time , but I don't know if I should keep going on. I want a family and kids…..if I die…. I wont get that chance. Human plus enhancement thoughts have always lingered in the back of my mind but I wasn't willing to sacrifice my body to something like that. The screen above the TV flashed red , a mission.

Apone - "Looks like it's from Crest."

Deathlok - "What do they want?"

Apone - "Looks like the leader of the Death Squadron is calling you out….by holding a , Crest Base….."

Deathlok - "By himself?"

Apone - "They say his AC isn't natural and suspect Human Plus enhancements."

Deathlok - "How much money."

Apone - "5,00,000 credits upon mission completion."

This looks like my retirement job.

Deathlok - "Tell them I'll do it."

Apone - "They need you to deploy immediately and our transferring funds into your account now. I'll put the crest coordinates into your AC."

Deathlok - "I'll take shade , I guess I'll test this new V-Unit out."

Apone - "Sure you don't need any backup?"

Deathlok - "Hey don't worry kid , I'll be fine. I'm just gonna finish what I started."

I started to walk back towards the hanger. I wish I could believe my skills but I was worried about this job. Not because the Death Squadron had me spooked but I just had a bad feeling. I got on the hanger elevator , you think these things would move faster these days. I finally got to the top , my boots clanking on the metal grates.

Apone - "The helmet helps you use the V-Unit. Don't take it off if the system has engaged , ok?"

Deathlok - "Sure thing."

I strap myself in and push the cockpit button. The giant core sliding down in front of me and the screen shining to life. I ignite the core system , the whole ac awakened from it's sleep. The helmet was connected directly to my Core's system.

Deathlok - "Deathlok , ready to launch."

Apone "Roger."

Game time

End of Chapter 1