Chapter 3

Plumes of smoke rose into the air from the recently destroyed Armored Core. I boosted off the dark highway bridge and headed towards the Crest base. Flashing red lights to warn any vehicles near by. The building wasn't touched surprisingly. The destroyed MTs surrounding the bridge were badly damaged by some sort of blunt weaponry. If it was a strong new weapon I wouldn't be surprised that an Armored Core took this base all by it's lonesome. My AC thudded toward the giant steel door of the base.

I smelt a setup.

I press the open latch and the giant door quickly slides out of the way. The base was pitch black so I turned on my night vision sensors and enter. One long hallway laid in front of me and a open door. My radar started getting fuzzy as I closed in on the other room.

Deathlok - "Damn interference."

I pressed down on my accelerator pedal and entered the new room. There was nothing. It was nothing but an Armored Core Arena. Had my information on the mission been bad or was this a dup? My radar shot back to normal and a Armored Core was standing in front of me. It had giant boosters on it's back and held a weapon that I have never seen. It was a giant two handed energy lance. A shield also covered his right forearm.

Deathlok - "I've come to destroy you. Prepare yourself."

I pressed my overboost button ready to charge at my opponent. 5 armor piercing bullets left in my rifle. My Armored Core was in fair condition but not at full strength. Blue flames ripped out of the back of my Armored core rushing me toward the Lancer AC. He lowered his lance and boosted from the other end of the arena. The giant red lance was coming up on my screen fast. I lowered my rifle and fired. The first round wizzed past him and blew a hole in the wall , but the other found the Golden AC's left knee joint.

The Lancer went boosting into the ground sparking as he still came my way. I pulled back on my control sticks and pedaled my booster. My AC shot into the air , the sparking Lancer went boosting right under me. He hit the right wall of the building hard crashing through it and into the dark night. I landed my AC and waited for the dust to wash on by. My radar went blank as I saw a giant beaming blast come my way. I didn't have enough time so I raised my gun in front of me. The blast washed over my AC rattling me in my cockpit. I lost control a went down under the giant beam. My alarms were screaming as I hit cracking the floor.

Deathlok - "What the hell was that? My , my face….."

I felt a deep cut that ran down my forehead , over my eyes , and down my cheek. The blood ran down into my eye blurring the red lights in my cockpit. I held my control sticks and pedaled my boosters again. My AC miraculously raised up but it was heavily damaged and I didn't have a gun. The Lancer AC stepped through the hole he made in the wall. His giant red beam weapon raised high.

Deathlok - " The deathblow? Fuck you my friend….. I won't die today , not to you."

The pilot didn't respond and boosted forward. The red booster flames trailed as he came towards me. -Time for some old school shit- The lance came down and I boosted to the right. I wasn't fast enough and his blade cut through my left arm like it was made of butter. I boosted back and away , he came at me. I lowered my AC to a squat and waited until he was right on me and boosted my AC forward. My AC's right fist gutted the cockpit. His lance crashed down behind me shutting off.

Deathlok - " Got you , you bastard!"

His cockpit shot out electricity and everything went white.

End Chapter 3