NA: Woooh! Here we are!
To those wondering… no I will not include Prototype, though the words are shared they are entirely different. Blacklight: Retribution has its own zombie/infected mode and I will keep it that way. I'm not even a fan of Prototype.
Note: Everything in picture is in my profile, from armor to vehicles to equipment.
Chapter 2: The Scinfaxi
Bavarian Alps, Germany
Outside the municipality of Berchtesgaden
Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest)
"You got this for us?" Kuroka looked at the mountain below her while she held her precious little son in her arms, at the top of the mountain she could see a sizeable house. Just outside the chalet-style structure was a landing pad for their VTOL aircraft to land on.
"Yep." Naruto nodded while wrapping an arm around his wife's waist, "I got the Kehlsteinhaus for us, it's no longer a restaurant but our new home, a nice place for Bolt to grow up in."
"How much did this all cost?"
"No need to worry, I was able to afford it… though grandma and Aunt Adelaide helped."
"I can't believe we're going to live here." Kuroka exhaled while gazing at the beautiful home along with the valley down below where the town was present. Even with the age of technology, the town of Berchtesgaden was still beautiful. "Oh wow… this is just wonderful!"
"Anything for you baby." The blonde said, kissing her fully on the lips which was returned in kind. "I already had our stuff moved so you won't have to worry about moving."
"Thank you Naruto…"
"I'm your husband, it's my job to get my family nice things."
"Just don't spoil Bolt too much." She chided playfully. "But at least we can raise our child in peace. I don't have to worry about the factions coming after me."
"I'd be damned if I would let that happen." He declared as they felt the aircraft descending down onto their new home's landing pad, "They are not taking you away from me."
She smiled and leaned closer to his chest, "Although I do hope Shirone-chan would get the chance to meet her nephew."
"In time." He reassured her, "Let's just get settled in first, the time to reveal ourselves to the supernatural world isn't right yet. For now let's just enjoy our new family."
"Meeting you two years ago was the best thing ever."
"Yeah… it was." He shivered a little as he felt her lips on his neck, "My family."
~oOo~
"Oh this is beautiful!" the two-tailed nekoshou let out a breath while gazing at the beautiful view of the valley and the Alps.
"Come take a look inside, everything's been already set up."
The black haired beauty in her iconic black yukata was rendered speechless, everything inside had been completely refurbished. The living room was now up to modern standards along with the largest television that could ever be fitted in their new home. The kitchen had also been built with the latest technology in order to maximize comfort and living conditions. It was everything she could have asked for and possibly even more.
The master bedroom had a queen sized bed with a large window that had the view of the valley, just next door was Bolt's room with a crib installed, stuffed toys, pillows, blankets, extra diapers and supplies for the baby alone was more than enough.
She truly was blessed to have met him, and now he had given her the future of the nekoshou race, a race nearly extinct. Due to Nekomata normally being female, they are forced to mate with other races, normally human males as they are the most numerous. No matter what race they mate with, the offspring would always be born a Nekomata. Kuroka on the other hand is a special variant of her racen the Nekoshou, a sub-race known for mastering Youjutsu and Senjutsu.
Youjutsu is the Youkai form of spellcraft and is mainly unique to the Youkai.
Senjutsu on the other hand is different from magic and sorcery. The biggest difference is that Senjutsu stresses the importance of something called chakra, the aura that is the great original power that flows into one's spirit, in other words one's life-force, and turns it into a constant current. It is a power that is both similar yet different from the magic of Devils and the light power of Angels. Its direct destructive power cannot match that of magic or the power of light, but Senjutsu can make use of the unknown part hidden within plants, animals, and people. For example, if one learned Senjutsu, it is said that they could excel at reading the flow of someone's spirit, of their aura, and that they can also grasp the movements of a faraway target to a certain degree.
The problem with Senjutsu though is that while it can read and handle spirit energy, it also takes in the malice and ill will that floats in the world. This means that absorbing too much of that malice will result in one becoming drunk with power.
It is something that Kuroka even her is afraid of, but thankfully Naruto said that they will tackle it together now that he had learned how to use chakra from fragments of memories of his past life. For now he would use chakra to strengthen his body and do feats thought impossible.
She was elated though, for the first time in a very long time a nekomata had given birth to a son, a male… the future of her race never looked brighter.
She walked over to the living room after putting her son to sleep and saw her husband on the couch, looking at his cybernetic right arm. "Naruto?"
"It still baffles me how I can feel every touch with this arm." He whispered, flexing his prosthetic mechanical hand, "It's been ten years since I lost my right arm. Ten years since I lost my parents in that freak car accident. Ten years since Aunty Adelaide adopted me… ten years since my life changed dramatically."
"Oh Naruto…" she sat down beside him and cupped his cheek, "Don't dwell in the past… I don't think your parents would want that."
He let out a small smile while gently stroking his wife's hands with his cybernetic one, "I know… I have a beautiful wife and a wonderful newborn son after all. You gave me the happiness I have wanted for so long."
"Hey…" she chided while pecking him on the lips, "None of that old people speech, we're not that old."
"Heh…" he snickered, "Sorry…" but then blushed when he felt his stomach rumble, "I'm actually hungry now."
The nekoshou giggled and pulled him up to his feet, "Then let's go see what we can cook up."
~oOo~
Unknown Location
Days after the Kuoh Treaty
"And yet another group of fallen angels in Khaos Brigade fall victim to these attacks." A man with black hair and golden bangs, lacing his fingers while speaking to two other men, one with long golden hair and a halo atop his head and the other with long red hair. "This is the fifth one this month."
"This indeed is most concerning." The one with golden hair spoke with a grim nod, "To think that humans would have gained this much power without us knowing."
"True that is indeed troubling." The red spoke up, "But these people have been targeting only Khaos Brigade units and stray devils that had been killing humans. I don't we have any real cause for concern as long as we do not provoke them."
"Yeah you're right about that." The first person shrugged, leaning further into his chair. "At least in a way they're helping us with that problem. What do you think, Michael?"
The blonde known as Michael sighed, "While I do not deny that they have been indeed aiding us, I fear they may have an ulterior motive… and I also fear that they are not affiliated with the Church. They have the makings of exorcists and yet no sign of exorcisms in the scenes, using weapons not sanctioned by the Church."
"Don't expect these people to play by the rules, Michael." The red head spoke, "Because I can assure you that it will most certainly will not… a war between humans would be disastrous as it is, and knowing the hearts of mankind they will retaliate in force. Just to be safe, I would advise that you simply let them be and see what happens next."
"He's got you there." The first person with black and gold hair said in agreement.
Michael nodded, knowing that this was the best course of action, "Very well Sirzechs, Azazel."
~oOo~
Next Day
"…More reports and scenes of Purists attacking LIMB Clinics are rising as religion has become a major part of this. Many preachers and religious representatives have boldly claimed that augmentation is not unethical…"
The news then jumps to a Purist from Humanity Front.
"…These heathens do not know the repercussions of augmentation, no matter how much they deny it, they ARE playing God! Retribution is at hand-"
*CLICK*
Naruto sighed as he switched the channel to something more subtle, so Animal Planet was what he chose. It had only been a day since they had arrived in their new home and everything had fallen into normality for the young family. "Why do I get the feeling that this is only going to end badly?"
"They just don't know that God is dead." Kuroka shrugged while she had a blanket over her shoulder, currently breastfeeding her baby boy.
"The problem is the consequences of revealing that fact." The blonde said as he dug into his bratwurst sausage, "The Vatican will cease to exist because of this."
"A power vacuum." Kuroka connected the dots, "Is it going to be that bad?"
"Very… I mean we would be literally destroying not only Christianity… but Islam as well. We are talking about the two largest religions in the world, destroying their faith would cause the world to fall into a state of chaos. That's not even something Blacklight can handle with our secret fight against Khaos Brigade AND The Order."
"Have any of the investigators found anything as to whom or what exactly The Order is?" the wife asked.
Naruto shook his head, "No… though we speculate they could be some kind of old organization that had been in the shadows for a very long time. Though how they got technology similar to ours is a mystery. Right now though they aren't that big of a problem but they will still need to be checked… right now it's Khaos Brigade that we will need to focus on."
"And what of the Purists?"
"Our guys down at the States will handle that."
Kuroka nodded but was then alerted by her son no longer feeding, smiling down at Bolt she lifted her yukata to cover her breast, "Well, looks like he's full."
Naruto chuckled while digging into his breakfast, "He's a healthy eater, that's good at least."
"You're going to grow big and strong like mama and papa, right Bolt?" Kuroka cooed, getting a yawn from her son while she held him up and placed him on her shoulder so that he could burp.
"You know…" Naruto placed his head on his hand while looking at his wife, "I find it hard to believe that someone like me was so lucky to have a wonderful wife like you."
The nekoshou giggled while gently patting her son's back, "I've lost count on how many times you've told me that."
"It's still true."
"You're a wonderful person Naruto… I mean you took in a criminal like me."
"You're no criminal." He denied, "You protected your sister… family always comes first."
"But it nearly got her killed in the process." She solemnly said.
"You didn't know something like that would happen." He gruffly said, "There are just some circumstances we just can't control… all we can do is pick ourselves up and move forward."
"Yeah…" she said, giving loving looks to her husband and precious baby boy.
"He's going to be a lady killer when he gets older." Naruto said whilst chuckling, "I just know it."
"No he won't!" Kuroka haughtily declared, "He's not allowed to date until after he's married!"
"Honey…" Naruto deadpanned, "Are we seriously going to discuss his love life? He was only born a few days ago."
"I stand by my statement!"
Naruto could not help but smile at how cute she looked being all haughty and whatnot; it was just one of the many traits he loved about her.
He truly was the luckiest man in the entire universe.
"So what's on the agenda today?" she asked him while she placed him on a crib near them as she resumed her breakfast.
"Nothing… I got a few reports to file out but after that nothing really."
"So a family outing?" she asked with a hopeful, earning a nod from her beloved.
"Family outing indeed my fair maiden."
~oOo~
Down in the town, Bolt had become a smash hit as flocks of women young and old came to see him. All making 'awws' as they cooed at him. Thankfully Bolt was asleep when they were all flocking over him, and he hadn't developed his eyesight yet, Kuroka had already explained that Nekomata develop their eyesight after a week of birth.
"You two must be very proud!" an elderly woman sad while patting the father on his shoulder, "Your son looks like you."
"But he has his mother's eyes, that itself is the best trait he ever got."
Kuroka to her credit simply flushed a light shade of pink, he always had his way with words. Her flush only brightened at the many young women cooing at the sweet words he had given her.
"I wish I had a man like that."
"She's so lucky to have married Count Reiger."
That only inflated the nekoshou's ego, she really was lucky to have snagged a man like him.
"Well then…" Naruto began, "If you will excuse us, I would like to spend some quality time with my family."
"Of course." The elderly women nodded while the young women pouted, all of them wanting to look at the baby more.
~oOo~
Today's outing was wonderful, Kuroka had thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her husband and newborn son. As soon as they got back Naruto had gotten a call on his phone, and she knew what it was about.
It was time for him to go work.
"Ja?" he asked as he spoke to the phone, "Ja… yeah I'll be there… see you then."
"Work?" she asked him with a sad look as she set her son down on the crib in the living room.
"Yeah…" he smiled sadly while giving her a kiss, "I'll be back before you know it, my heart."
"Just be careful out there."
"I will." He said, kissing her passionately once more before kissing his son's forehead. "Go ahead and order dinner if you want."
"Okay…"
~oOo~
Several hours later
Somewhere deep in the Arctic Circle en route to the pacific
Fully geared and holding his AK-470 and custom built sniper rifle, he boarded the VTOL aircraft and no sooner than that it lifted off into the air. Within the aircraft he looked into a datapad where the mission data was being displayed. Apparently there have been a few terrorist attacks in Japan's LIMB clinics… and to his luck the terrorists have been traced to a small town.
Kuoh… the town his wife's sister Shirone was currently residing in.
"Sir…" the pilot snapped the man out of his daydream, "We're approaching the Scinfaxi."
"Thank you… alert the ship that I will be arriving shortly."
"Yes sir."
The Scinfaxi-Class of submarines was a testament of Reiger Industry's technological and military capabilities; well it would be a testament were it not for the fact that it was kept secret to the entire world. It was a fully functional, fully underwater aircraft carrier that has been powered by a nuclear fusion reactor that was encased within a container that should the ship be destroyed, the reactor would be still intact, preventing any radiation from spreading.
It was a massive ship, 433.3 metres long, and 75 metre wide vessel, it dwarfed the already massive Borei-class submarine that superseded the Typhoon-class currently being used by the Russian Navy. It could house a single fighter squadron while still leaving room for transport aircraft and land vehicles. Only three of these monsters were built due to cost, and one of them was Naruto's to command.
"Scinfaxi to incoming VTOL aircraft, we have you on our radar."
"Copy that Scinfaxi, requesting permission to land." The pilot of the VTOL acknowledged, "I have Disciple on board."
"Acknowledged, permission granted. Welcome back commander."
The aerial ship's runway made way for the VTOL as several soldiers line up to greet the grandson of their leader, Marlene von Reiger, CEO of both Reiger Industries and the secretive Blacklight.
As soon as the VTOL aircraft landed and was sealed within the vessel, the submarine immediately submerged. Rendering it invisible to both radar and sonar thanks to its magnetohydrodynamic drive, or better known as the caterpillar drive, a silent propulsion system built on every Blacklight submarine. Along with its undetectable propulsion system, it was layered with thick rubber in order to prevent sonar detection. But even with its massive size it maintained an average speed of 35 knots topside and 28 knots underwater, extremely fast in terms naval capabilities.
Instead of torpedoes, it was armed with tactical high energy lasers or THELS. It was armed with a total of twenty lasers, four on the bow, four on the aft, three on each side, three on the topside and three on the bottom. From that it was armed with three SAM missile launchers and several 20mm anti-air guns. But it was not the lasers that it was the most powerful.
It was armed with several NIMBUS missile tubes. The Nimbus missiles are special shockwave intercontinental ballistic cruise missiles, armed with a high-explosive warhead designed to detonate in mid-air (airburst). The warheads used allow the explosion to remain airborne for several seconds before dissipating mid-air and destroying anything in its radius.
It was the next best thing to a nuclear missile.
The ship had a compliment of only 500 men and women due to it being a submarine and because of the advancement of technology that allowed fewer crewmen to operate a vessel. Along with that it had 12 pilots for its fighter wing, several pilots for VTOL transport aircraft, and a company of Blacklight's elite soldiers and Spider Tank crews. Thanks to the benefits of having fewer crew, it was a spacious ship, allowing personal rooms for each crewmember.
"Welcome back tovarishch komandir." the submarine's XO saluted the blonde along with the bridge's crew who did the same.
"Thank you, Ramius." The blonde shook the older man's hand before addressing the bridge, "As you were, all of you… let's get down to business."
Ramius nodded and did so, "The ship's course is en route to the Pacific as we speak, we'll have a VTOL ready within the hour."
"Good." Naruto nodded as he approached the tactical table, the ship's mission was to set up a presence and operate in the Pacific Ocean while the other two operate in the North and South Atlantic oceans. From there the Scinfaxi can be used as a relay and mobile command base.
"So how is the wife and newborn?"
Naruto smiled at the XO who was at least twice his age, "Good… I am the happiest man in the world right now."
The older man smiled as he stood beside his commanding officer, "Just be sure to not repeat the mistake I did… don't ever let them go."
"I don't ever plan to." He said before putting on his commander face, "Status of the AMCM?"
"Anti-Magic Countermeasures are online and functional sir." A weapons officer reported, "We are also running silent, no one can see us."
"Good."
The Anti-Magic Countermeasure or AMCM – pronounced 'am-cam' – was a special barrier that protects the Scinfaxi from any known magical attack that was used by the three factions. Speculations say that it could probably even protect it from a dragon's attack… though they are just speculations as its full potential hadn't been fully tested due to the lack thereof.
But for everyone, it was the best defense against the Three Factions, though even then they were still unsure if it could withstand an attack from a Seraph or the Four Demon Lords of the Underworld. But it was still better than nothing.
"So what's the situation that our precious LIMB Clinics in Japan need fixed?"
The XO brought up the information on the tactical table's computerized screen and showed images of several damaged centers, "We received reports of our clinics firebombed by terrorists, suspected to be Purists along with religious zealots within their ranks. We tracked them into a small town in Kuoh… Gremory territory."
"Possible Order or Khaos Brigade involvement?"
"Unlikely but there is still a chance."
"A chance is a chance… and I am not taking any chances. I want a perimeter in the town, seal all points of escape. I want a fallback contingencies setup as well in case of supernatural encounters. Japan is one area where the angels have significant influence especially with exorcists. Be prepared to have them attack us just for being augmented. Once we are within range contact Major Motoko from Public Security Section 9 and inform her and her unit of the situation in Kuoh."
"Da komandir…"
[Play The Hunt for Red October Theme]
"Brothers and Sisters of Blacklight!" Naruto spoke through the comm as he addressed the entire crew, "A new dawn is rising for our people! From this day onward, we will finally show our true colors to the supernatural world! No more will humanity lag behind while our... cousins bask in luxury, enjoying their cradle of power. From this onward, we will stand among them as equals! Helm, set course 093 to 0115, ahead full, time to go work!"
Outside the large vessel, deep beneath the arctic ocean, the Scinfaxi engages its optical camouflage and other stealth systems as it makes way for the Pacific Ocean. Flanking the beast were two Akula-class (Shchucka-B) attack submarines that had been retrofitted with the same kind of weaponry, following the beast they engaged their own cloaking fields.
NA: Plan A never works… it's a universal fact. Yes! Scinfaxi from the Ace Combat universe and one of my absolute favorite super weapons! I also guess who Marko Ramius is if you are all Tom Clancy fans.
Omake: Tachikoma's take on God
"Hi Mr. Naruto!"
The blonde turned around to see a blue four-legged bipedal walking tank just roughly over seven feet tall. It had a pair of three fingered arms with what appeared to be machine gun barrels installed in the centre, along with that it had a 'snout' that housed a 50mm grenade launcher.
"Hey Tachikoma… how are you today?"
"I'm good! Say… you know about that existence of God thing that I had trouble understanding before?" the robot asked, getting a nod from the blonde, "I think I understand it now! Maybe… just maybe, it's a concept that's similar to zero in mathematics. In other words, it's a symbol that denies the absence of meaning, that meaning that's necessitated by the delineation of one system from another. In analog, that's God. In digital, it's zero. What do you think?"
Through the entire time, Naruto simply stared at his robotic friend, not knowing exactly what to say about it all.
"What I'm getting at is this… the basis of our design and construction is digital, right? So for the time being regardless of how much data we accumulate, none of us will ever have a ghost. But for analog based people like you, Mr. Naruto, no matter how much digital components you add on through cybernetic prosthetics, your ghost will never diminish! Plus, because you have a ghost, you can even die! You're so lucky!"
Naruto simply could not comprehend what he just said, sure he already has a degree in cybernetics and technological science and development… but hearing it from a robot was just… well…
"I take it back… you guys are a weird."
NA: Oh Tachikoma you crack me up.
