IS Nine Ball
Disclaimer: I do not own Armored Core or Infinite Stratos.
Chapter 10
Dominick was enjoying his sleep like many of the other students who were at the summer resort. Unfortunately that sleep was rudely interrupted by a really fucking loud crash that shook the ground under him and jolted him awake. Pissed off that someone ruined his sleep Dominick got up, grabbed his black and red desert eagle and walked out of his room to the courtyard where he traced the sound to. Other students who were woken up by the same sound had gotten out of their room only to jump back in when they saw a pissed off guy with a gun in hand walking down the hallway. No way do they want to end up in his cross-hairs.
Arriving in the courtyard Dominick saw Ichika sitting on the floor and a large carrot? What the fuck…hold up! A carrot…That meant…And he got his answer as the giant carrot opened up and out came out a woman with long purple hair, red eyes, wearing a blue and white maid dress with rabbit ears on top of her head.
The Nine Ball pilot became very pissed. This…bitch was the very reason why the world was such a clusterfuck right now! The reason why there's such a bullshit power play between nations and genders. The same reason why his life became a living hell!
"Tabane Shinonono…" Dominick growled in rage getting the attention of both Ichika and the woman in question, "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Both Tabane and Ichika screamed and ran for their dear lives from a Dominick who was only seeing red right now and shooting at them with a desert eagle, which also got the attention of a lot of people and caused a lot of panic. It took the efforts of Laura, Chifuyu, Maya and many others to calm the ballistic Nine Ball pilot and save the creator of the IS and the younger Orimura sibling.
…
"Good, everyone with personal ISs are here." Chifuyu said as she looked at the four young women and two young men gathered before her in the beach, all in there IS suits. Beside her was Yami Kusanagi to assist. "And hopefully one of you has a much calmer head now." Dominick just glared at his instructor and ignored her altogether making her ticked.
"Shin-chan, don't be rude!" Yami scolded.
"And you should shut the fuck up!" Dominick snapped back, startling her.
"Alright, that's enough Dominick!" Chifuyu yelled.
"Tsk…Whatever…" Dominick shrugged.
"YAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO!"
Ichika, Houki, Chifuyu and Yami deadpanned, and Dominick growled as they heard the childish voice of the one person that annoys them the most or in the case of one enrages.
"CHHIII-CHHAAANNN!"
Flying at breakneck speeds, a familiar figure came down towards Chifuyu. Chifuyu easily held down the woman with one hand, grabbing onto her face too as the fingers sank mercilessly into the flesh.
"I really missed you Chi-chan! Let's hug to show our love-fuheh!" The woman was interrupted as Chifuyu smacked the woman on the head with a folded book.
"Shut up, Tabane." Chifuyu ordered.
"OWWW! Chi-chan you've killed the brain cells in my pretty little head!" Tabane whined.
"That's good, since that means that you'll think a lot better."
Right then and there, Houki hid behind a couple of rocks. But even that didn't save her.
"HIII!" Tabane popped her head over the rocks and smiled at the brunette.
"Hello." Houki replied in embarrassment.
"Hehehe, long time no see. How long has it been? A few years? Houki-chan's really grown up, especially the breasts-"
SMACK!
"I'm gonna hit you." Houki said with a shinai magically in her hands.
"You've already hit me! Houki-chan you're so mean!" Tabane complained with teary eyes as she pressed her head.
"Tabane!" Chifuyu barked out once more, "Introduce yourself, my students don't know what's going on."
The woman pouted but then spun around and waved at the other students, "Huh-that's so troublesome... hello, I'm the genius Tabane-san! That's all!"
"Tabane…" Rin gaped, "You mean that Tabane?"
"Tabane Shinonono." Charlotte said as she also gaped at the woman.
"The one and only bitch that turned this world into a clusterfuck, created a stupid power play between genders and governments!" Dominick growled. Laura held his arm to calm her fiancé down and it worked for now.
"Mou! Chi-chan! Your student is so mean…saying those things about me…" Tabane said with mock tears.
Chifuyu face palmed in frustration, "That's because he hates you. A lot."
"Really?" Tabane asked.
"Yes, Tabane. My brother hates you a lot." Yami said.
"No, I'm not your brother! When will you get it through that head meat of yours that I'm not your brother?!" Dominick yelled.
"Brother?" Tabane looked at Dominick and Yami in puzzlement. "What does he mean by that Yami-chan?"
"Tabane. That boy that hates you so much and tried to kill you earlier…is Shin Kusanagi, Yami's younger brother." Chifuyu explained, "However he now goes by the name Dominick Santos."
"EEEEHHHHHH!?" The Shinonono siblings and the other students except Laura yelled but for different reasons.
"Yami-sensei's your sister!?" Rin gasped.
"I don't believe this…Miss Kusanagi is related to this boy?!" Cecilia asked.
"So the Nine Ball pilot is actually the younger brother of Yami-sensei?!" Ichika said as he also gaped at Dominick and Yami.
"Hold on…T-That's Chibi-Shin-kun?!" Tabane blurted out. "And he's the pilot of Nine Ball?!"
"It's Dominick Santos you crazy woman!" Dominick corrected. "And yes Nine Ball is my creation!"
"You created Nine Ball!? AAAHHH! I've been wanting to meet the creator of that death machine! Never expected it to be Chibi-Shin-kun!" Tabane said in excitement.
"Forget about that! You tried to kill my sister, Dominick!? Why!?" Houki yelled out.
"She's the reason why my life went to hell to begin with, that's why." Dominick replied.
"She's the reason why your life went to hell?" Charlotte repeated.
"What do you mean by that?" Ichika asked.
"Why don't you ask your sister? Better yet ask the glorified bitch Yami! I'm sure she can explain everything." Dominick said maliciously.
The other students except Laura who already knew about Dominick's past, turned to Yami and Chifuyu. Chifuyu sighed in frustration once more while Yami averted her eyes from them as their stares were making her uncomfortable.
"Well aren't you going to explain to them? Or should I?" Laura spoke up.
"You mean you know?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes." Laura replied before turning back to Yami. "Well? Aren't you going to talk? We don't have all day."
"ENOUGH!" Chifuyu ordered, "She doesn't have to tell you anything, besides that's none of your business."
"If she won't tell them then I will." Dominick said. "But that story is for another time. You did call us here for a reason Miss Orimura."
"Yes, I did." Chifuyu said, "As I was saying to those that have personal IS…"
"Um..." Rin raised her hand to interrupt, "Shinonono doesn't have an IS."
"Not to worry. I prepared that already. Here, behold the great sky!" Tabane said excitedly as she made a ridiculous pose and pointed up towards the sky. Suddenly a large red diamond shaped metallic object impacted with the ground from exactly where she pointed at.
"Well now, this is Houki-chan's personal IS, The Akatsubaki! Its specs are superior to every IS in every way, a fourth generation IS made personally by Tabane-san!"
The crimson red IS then made itself known and the other IS users except Dominick looked at the machine in awe, "Fourth Generation?"
Cecilia gasped. "All the other countries still have experimental third generation ISs!"
"Yet this is already…" Laura muttered in disbelief. She looked to Dominick to see him just looking blankly at the machine with boredom. 'Not surprising. He wouldn't believe that it'll be better than his own creation.'
"Don't be so surprised everyone." Tabane chided, "I'm the Tabane the genius after all! Now Houki-chan, let's get you fitted into your IS."
"Very well." Chifuyu turned to the younger woman, "Shinonono."
Houki nodded and approached her personal unit, "So this is my own IS…"
Tabane typed in the coding for her sister's IS and at an astonishing, which alone amazed its bystanders as thousands upon thousands of codes were being downloaded into the Akatsubaki. Even Dominick was impressed at that even if he still hated the woman herself.
"There! All done!" Tabane swiped the holographic screen away and retrieved all the wiring that seemed to disappear into her dress. "Okay then, now for a test run. Try flying, it should move according to your thoughts."
"Okay." Houki nodded and closed her eyes, and just like that the machine started to hover and then fly up into the air.
"Wow!" Rin gasped, "It's fast!"
"So this is fourth generation speed." Charlotte could only look on as the red IS soared through the air.
"Amazing." Ichika said in awe.
"Hmph! It's still nowhere near Nine Ball's speed." Dominick stated, "I'm not impressed."
"You don't know that yet Dominick." Laura chided, "It's too soon for you to compare her IS against Nine Ball."
Her fiancé shrugged, "Whatever."
Laura sighed at his attitude though she saw this coming.
"What do you think, the mobility is amazing right?"Tabane asked Houki on the comm-link.
"Yeah…" Houki nodded, "I guess."
"Then try out your katanas. The right one is Amatsuki, and the left one is Karaware. Sending special weapon data your way!"
In an instant, data of her two weapons popped up into Houki's HUD, showing her the two weapons available to her. She then stopped midair and swung her swords, sending out a torrent of red lasers that soared through the clouds.
"Nice right?" Tabane then teleported in an anti-air missile launcher and commanded it to launch its missiles, "Now try shooting this one down."
The missiles then soared through the air and attempted to shoot down the brunette IS pilot. Houki didn't waste time and then started flying in circles, doing high-g maneuvers. Swinging her swords she shot down the wave of missiles like they were nothing.
'So what do you think Seraph?' Dominick asked his partner.
"This is a Fourth Generation IS? HA! What a joke! At least when compared to me!" Seraph replied.
'Thought so. I've already done the same thing.'
"Whoa." Laura spoke up.
"Amazing." Ichika said.
"Not bad right?" Tabane giggled.
Dominick scoffed, "So this is the power of a Fourth Generation IS huh? Doubt it can stack up to Nine Ball."
A tick came on the genius inventor's head. "Of course it can Chibi-Shin-kun!" Tabane chided, "It was made by yours truly after all!"
Dominick slyly grinned back. "Oh I know that. And I made Nine Ball to surpass ANY IS in the world, no matter the generation and the best part…it's piloted by a male."
That surprised everyone. Nine Ball was created to surpass any IS in the world, even a fourth generation. And like the pilot said, it was piloted by a male. Yami wished she could be proud of her brother for creating that IS but she couldn't because of what he had become. A vengeful and blood thirsty individual. Houki did not like the fact that Dominick was mocking her sister's creation. She may have experienced Nine Ball's destructive ability first hand but back then she was in a different IS. She felt that she needed to defend her sister's work and bring Dominick down many peg.
"Is that right? Well then Dominick why don't we see that for ourselves?" Houki challenged.
"Gladly." Dominick then touched his cross and in an instant Nine Ball was deployed in all its intimidating glory. "Well now. Shall we begin?"
Just as the two pilots were about to take off they were interrupted by Maya Yamada rushing into the scene holding a phone. "ORIMURA-SENSEI! T-THIS IS B-BAD!"
"What is it?" Chifuyu asked.
"P-Please look at this." Maya showed her colleague the image on the phone. Upon seeing it Chifuyu's face darkened and she turned to the students. "Testing has been cancelled everyone! We have a mission to do!"
"We'll settle this another time." Dominick said.
"Agreed." Houki replied.
…
Chifuyu, Yami, Maya and those with personal ISs were inside a secret room where Maya was typing on a computer while Chifuyu was briefing the pilots.
"Two hours ago, a third generation IS called the Silver Gospel, joint developed by the US and Israel was undergoing a trial operation when its user lost control. Also the pilot has been rendered incapacitated and is now being held hostage by the rampaging IS. We have been informed that it has escaped the observation area." Chifuyu explained.
'Leave it to the Americans to screw things up.' Dominick sighed.
"Tell me about it partner." Seraph deadpanned.
"Fortunately with satellite imaging, we've managed to track the Gospel's signal which is coming from 2km away. It's heading our way and with its current speed the ETA is fifty minutes." Yami added.
"Which is exactly how long we have to handle the situation." Chifuyu continued before motioning to the digital map, "The academy staff will initiate the blockade of the airspace as well as the waters using the academy's training machines. Thus leaving those with personal machines to take care of the vital part of the operation."
"Which is to shut down the rampaging IS and save the pilot." Yami said.
"Exactly." Chifuyu said.
"Ma'am. I'd like to see the specs of the Silver Gospel." Cecilia requested with her hand up.
"Same here." Dominick joined in, "We need to know exactly what we're dealing with."
"Request granted. Just know that if you disclose this anyone outside of this group you'll be charged for treason and will be imprisoned for it." Chifuyu warned.
"Sure."
"Whatever."
Dominick and Cecilia got the data they requested for and looked through it.
"Oh my god…This thing's specs are insane and it's been outfitted with never before seen tech. In fact it reminds me of Dominick's Nine Ball." Cecilia said, shocking those present.
"That's troubling." Laura stated before looking at Dominick who looked at data while he was mentally discussing things with Seraph.
'Cecilia's right. It's been outfitted like me and J's ISs! How the hell did the US and Israel get their hands on this tech?! Only the Foundation has this stuff to begin with…unless…'
"Unless 'Monica' supplied those nations with those AC parts! I knew that bitch was up to no good."
'So is this a part of whatever plan she's cooked up?'
"Definitely. In fact I think she's the reason why that IS' on a rampage."
'Alright Seraph. I need to know what you know about 'Monica' now.'
"Fine I'll tell you but only after the briefing."
"For this operation to succeed we need a one shot ability to take it down as quickly as possible." Chifuyu said.
"Fortunately we have someone who can do that here." Charlotte said as everyone looked at the one person in question, Ichika Orimura. Said person noticed the attention he was getting and was feeling uncomfortable. "Hey! Why are you all looking at me?"
"Because your IS' the only one with one shot ability." Rin said.
"Meaning that you're the one who has to undertake this mission." Cecilia added.
"Are you sure about that? Don't forget that this thing's been outfitted like Nine Ball." Dominick said, "This is something only I can handle." 'And maybe J too though I'd rather deal with this myself.'
"Do you have a one shot ability Dominick?" Chifuyu asked.
"Yes, I do. My orbital cannons can take the Gospel out in one shot but the problem with it is that the Gospel is on the move which would make it difficult to lock on to it." Dominick replied, "Even then Nine Ball is more than a match for that damned thing."
"You may have that overwhelming firepower but you still don't have a guaranteed one shot ability." Chifuyu stated, "I'll be assigning this task to Ichika."
"Hey don't I get a say in this?" Ichika complained.
"NO!" Everyone yelled.
"But…"
"Ichika. You're the only one who can get this done quickly and efficiently." Chifuyu stated, "Of course it's your choice whether you want to undertake this task."
Ichika stayed silent, contemplating the situation.
Dominick scoffed and got up to his feet. "If he's too much of a coward to do this then I will be the one to handle this."
"I'll do it." Ichika spoke up.
"Are you sure?" Yami asked, "You don't have to force yourself."
"I know. I've made my decision."
"Tsk. Do as you please." Dominick sighed.
"Good. Now you need a way to reach the target at supersonic speeds." Chifuyu said.
Dominick was about to suggest that he help with that but someone else beat him to the punch.
"HOLD ON, HOLD ON!" A sudden voice came from the ceiling. Everyone looked up to see Tabane drop from there and land gracefully across from Chifuyu. "I've got a better idea!"
"Get out Tabane." Chifuyu growled.
"Wait listen! This is the chance for the Akatsubaki to shine." Tabane explained. "It has the supersonic speed you need to reach that IS!"
…
Dominick secretly watched as Ichika and Houki stood beside each other before deploying their ISs and taking off using the Akatsubaki's thrusters. He had also noticed that the brunette had been letting the power of her IS get to her head which made him shake his head in disappointment. He wanted to handle this by himself but Chifuyu had ordered him to stay put and leave it to those two. He could have ignored her and gone off anyways but he decided to trust her judgement as the mission commander.
'I have a bad feeling about this mission.' Dominick thought to himself, 'It has disaster written all over it.' He then materialized a holographic screen and pressed a button to access the orbital cannon which also doubled as a surveillance system to watch the mission.
…
'Why did my hunch have to be right?' Dominick sighed in frustration. The mission was a disaster alright! Thanks to distraction by some foolish whalers who had somehow passed the blockade and Houki's arrogance Ichika ended up taking serious damage from the Silver Gospel and is now being taken away on a stretcher by medics and he was in critical condition. Of course Dominick had made sure to obliterate the asshole whalers with the orbital cannon just out of spite.
He watched as an angry Chifuyu stomp away from the scene back to the command room just as Houki and the other IS pilots and staff watched. Dominick tightened his right hand into a fist as he looked away from the scene in anger.
'And now I have to clean up their fucking mess!'
With that Dominick walked away from the area without anyone noticing him.
…
Right now Dominick was on the comm-link with J.
"Hey Reaper Leader! It's Dominick. We have a situation."
"The Silver Gospel? Yes I know about it…What else?"
"The IS Academy tried to neutralize the situation but failed badly. Now I'm about to clean up their mess! I may need you to back me up just in case this gets ugly."
"I'm a long way from you Dominick since I just finished another assignment. It'll take me a while to arrive to back you up, even at top speed. You're on your own for this!"
"I know that. I intend to deal with this menace myself anyways. Also I have a suspicion that someone is behind this situation."
"Monica huh? If that is truly her name."
"Yes. The Gospel is an IS/AC hybrid like our own and the only way the US and Israel could get the tech for that was through someone and that is definitely Monica."
"The boss also thinks so too and he's not happy about this Monica woman's stunt. He wants this insult dealt with."
"And I'll make sure of that but are you still coming as backup."
"Most likely but until I arrive you're on your own."
"Roger that. Dominick out!"
Cutting off the link Dominick wastes no time deploying Nine Ball. However before he could take off someone stops him.
"What do you think you're doing?" Dominick turned to see Laura walking towards him.
"What I should have done to begin with!" Dominick replied.
"You know the instructor wouldn't approve of this."
"Does it look like I give a fuck?"
Laura said nothing as she instantly deployed the Schwarzer Regen. Dominick just sighed.
"You'll still follow me even if I tell you not to."
"That's right Major! I'm coming with you. Ichika is our classmate after all. I'm also doing this for mentor, I've never seen her so vulnerable in my life."
"Well then soldier hold on. We're moving out!"
"Jawhol, Major!"
Laura held on to Dominick and he took off at supersonic speeds. Fortunately his orbital cannon had tracked the location of the Silver Gospel and it was still on the move and still within the blockade. Suddenly he got an incoming message from Chifuyu and knew what was up.
"What do you think you're doing Santos, Bodewig?" Chifuyu demanded.
"Cleaning up your fucking mess that's what!" Dominick yelled in reply.
"I'm ordering you two to come back right now!"
"Screw you! I let you have your way because you were in command of the mission but your crappy judgement turned that mission to hell! Now Laura and I have to help you unfuck yourself!"
"Shin-chan! Bodewig-san! Get back here!" Yami's voice joined in, "You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Like you give a shit about me bitch! Save your breath for someone who gives a fuck!"
"Santos-san! Bodewig-san!" came the voices of the Maya and the other girls.
"We'll handle this!" Laura yelled and Dominick cut off the link.
Not long the two IS pilots caught up to the Silver Gospel which noticed them immediately. Dominick dropped Laura off on a cliff and took off to the air.
"I'll engage from mid to close range while you support from long range. Got it?"
"Yes, Major! Let's do this!"
"Right on!"
"Commencing hostilities!" Seraph stated.
The Silver Gospel scanned both ISs and then focused on Nine Ball.
"TARGET ACQUIRED: NINE BALL. NEXT ORDERS: DESTROY NINE BALL!"
…
Meanwhile in the distance illuminated by the moon was a female IS pilot staying in the air and watching the battle in interest while in her dark blue IS/AC hybrid of her own.
"Well it looks like Ichika failed and now Dominick is up next." The woman said, "Will he succeed or will he fail? Oh the suspense is killing me!"
Chapter 10 End.
The gauntlet has been thrown and Ichika is down! Now it's Nine Ball vs the Silver Gospel. Who will prevail?
Who is Monica? What does Seraph know about the mysterious woman? What's she planning?
All will be explained soon. Until then leave a review and anything to improve this story.