"Have you heard the news? King Wesley is blaming the attack on King Esten and is moving in to crush his army. King Esten responded by saying that the attack was not of any way, shape or form his countries fault and says that the unnecessary use of force will be met in kind. Both sides are saying that they will crush the other side once and for all." Falian said, as they were all eating breakfast.
"Yeah, but is that weird in any way? Both sides are blaming each other for the attack. Isn't that the general rule of war?" Tsuike asked, chewing on a piece of bread.
"Normally yes, but we've found out that this war is a farce. The original war between their fathers was actually over territory, both sides wanting this land in between the two. However, King Esten and King Wesley are friends. They started and continued this war for fun. They never had any ill feelings toward each other." Falian responded.
"Yeah, they treat Tackanian lives as their playthings. That's why they have to be stopped."
Milia responded.
"So, why were you trying to stop them before if you just found out that this war is fake?" Saya asked.
"Because a life is worth more than the reason a war is fought for. The only reason there should be a war is a war to defend a life. More than likely the battle will commence late this afternoon. It's our job to stop anymore lives from being lost. So lets go over our battle plans." Falian stood, walking toward the door.
"Wait, we aren't gonna have the plans in here with the holographic projector?" Saya asked.
"No, it will be easier to do it in the very cramped hangar." Falian said dryly, leading the way toward the hangar.
When they entered he turned the lights on, revealing two Zexis. One resembled Hunter, but had a couple modifications on it. The other one was completely different. It was blue and rather plain. The only thing that was weird about it was the fact that it had four cylinders on it's exoskeleton, one on each hip, and one over each shoulder. "This is my newest model, based off your style, Tsuike. There are boosters in the feet for increased mobility and four energy swords in those cylinders. The entire fighting style of this machine is based off those swords. It can release waves of energy through those swords for long range attacks. It also has reinforced armor and is faster than most Zexis that you will see." Falian explained.
"So... what's it's name?" Tsuike asked.
"I think you should name it."
"Hmm. I think I'll call it Exx."
"Exx? I guess that's okay. Exx and Hunter will go after each of the kings, breaking through the army to bring them down." Then Falian stared at Milia. "I also upgraded Hunter's systems as well. She should have a better response time and be better able to keep up with your movements. I also increased her power output as well. She should be about 75% more efficient."
"Really? Pacet is stronger?" Milia said.
"Pacet? Who is Pacet?" Tsuike asked.
"Pacet is Hunter and Hunter is Pacet. Those that name their machines are assigned to them. Even though you can pilot Hunter, you can't use her full power. Think of Hunter as a nickname for all to call her, and Pacet as the real name that only the family knows and use." Falian explained.
"So what about Exx? Does it have a nickname?" Saya asked.
"Yes. It is named Saber."
"And we are supposed to wait here for them to do all the work?" Kori asked.
"No, you have a job to do as well." Falian pressed a button, and further back, some more lights came on in the hangar. Three more Zexis could be seen in the back. "You all came out to be good pilots, just not as good as Tsuike and Milia."
"And so you decided to build incredibly powerful weapons for us..." Kori started.
"And gave them to us without any kind of training whatsoever?" Akari finished.
"And you are complaining? When it comes to the training, all it takes is practice. You can only be trained in the basic ones, since every one of those is different. The same is not true for specialty models because every specialty model has it's style and power output that is higher than your general mass produced models. The only difference between Tsuike's, Milia's and yours is that they just don't have the CPU to allow for the type of piloting that Tsuike and Milia will be doing. And as for a run down of their abilities..."
Alarms started to blare throughout the complex. "They started early! We've got to get started now! Tsuike, you take the army of the west and get to Wesley. Milia, you take the army of the east and get Esten. The rest of you prevent as many battles as possible, agreed? Refer to your in computer schematics to answer any questions you may have about your machines. Prevent this tragedy!"
"Right!" They all split up into their various machines and left the hangar.
"Wow, I didn't even have to say whose Zexis is whose." Falian said, before walking to the radio tower.
Tsuike jumped into his cockpit, not realizing that it was drastically different from the Hunter. It seemed like an empty room. Moving toward what he believed to be the center, he was picked up by an immaterial light. It circled around him, forming bands around his joints. "What's going on here?" A computerized voice answered Tsuike's question, "This is the latest in piloting technology. It uses interactive holograms to simulate the weapons on the outside of this machine."
"Yeah, but it's dark. How am I supposed to see the outside of Exx?"
"Exx? Is that the label attached to this machine?"
"Well, yes it is."
"Well, in that case, this machine sends information directly to your nanomachines, so you see the scene outside through the cameras as if they were your own eyes. If you want to move, move like you'd normally walk. If you want to fly, point your feet downward. Be aware that even though this machine has the most powerful generator of it's kind in it, it is not unlimited."
At that point, Tsuike didn't see the dark cockpit, but the hangar. Watching the others take off, he took off as well.
"So this is what it feels like to actually pilot one of these." Kori's voice came through the radio.
"I know, it's completely different from flying inside a ship." Akari's response also came in through the radio.
"Did you just use a contraction?" Tsuike asked.
"I don't think I did, check your translator." Akari nervously responded.
"People, focus! We have work to do. Me and Tsuike need to split up at this point. You guys go ahead to the predicted conflict coordinates." Milia scolded.
"Fine. Let's get going." Tsuike said. Tilting his body forward, he increased his speed as he headed toward Wesley's army. "Hey, Exx, how do I fight?"
"As I am sure that Falian already explained to you, this particular Zexis uses energy swords. The two on the hip are more powerful and when connected in tandem with the ones on your shoulders, they become gunblad..."
"Never mind! You're worse than Carrie!" The first round flew by Exx's head. "Looks like they're finally in range. Let's get started!" Exx lowered his altitude, flying closer to the tree line. Reaching the army, Exx took one of the swords off his hip. Aiming for the rifles, Exx continually slashed the rifles in half. "Wow, this thing is pretty powerful. " He took another one off his back, and attached it to the sword he already held in his hand. "Let's see, if I just attach it like so, I can..." Tsuike said, talking to himself. Holding the Blade in Exx's hand, Tsuike pulled up the specs of the weapon. "Sweet, I can use this as a gunblade." He slashed, sending a wave of energy through the Zexis' motivator units, immobilizing them. "Detecting the King of Gold. " Ex said, putting a marker up on his machine to follow. "Let's get this over with." Tsuike grunted, as he started to cut his way through the army to reach Wesley.
Kori stood on of her Zexis', firing ice at Wesley's troops. "Geez, you'd think that they wouldn't send those unprotected by armor in first?!"
"Please get back in, Lady Kori." An electronic voice came from inside her machine.
"Cobo, Call me Kori. Besides, it would be unsafe for me to face those troops in you."
"You'd be perfectly fine."
"I mean for them! Remember, we're trying to prevent casualties, not cause them." Kori grunted, and summoned a large block of ice and threw it behind her. It shattered, knocking most of Esten's troops.
"Hey, at least you're useful. I can't use my power yet, and Saya's will more than likely kill them." Akari said over the radio.
"I have a question. Why did you start using contractions?" Saya asked.
"Because Milia says it sounds stuck up." Akari responded proudly.
"My guess is that it's more for Tsuike than Milia, you don't want him to think badly of you, do you?" Kori responded. A couple of quiet seconds passed. "Well, I guess that's my answer."
"You do know all of my machinery is on this frequency, right? I can hear you." Falian said over the radio.
"We all can hear you." Milia's response came next.
"...Yeah." Tsuike's response followed.
"Kori..." Kori winced when she heard Akari's voice.
"...yeah...?"
"You do realize that I am going to kill you, right?"
"...sorry."
"Here come the heavy troops!" Saya exclaimed. Kori looked around to find that they were surrounded by Zexis. "Finally, let's see what this thing can do!" Kori said as she jumped into her machine.
"Do you really think that you can take on all of us?!" Tsuike stood surrounded by eight gold Zexis holding a variety of weapons, with the King of Gold standing behind them.
"So you must be the special forces that I heard so much about. Well, I hope I can." Exx pulled the other sword off its hip, and lunged at the group. One Zexis stepped forward with a shield, blocking Exx's attack. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Exx jumped back, and the sword in his right hand was shot away by a knight with twin pistols. "WE ARE THE KNIGHT'S OF GOLD!" One more came ran at Exx, hitting it squarely in the side with a mace. "WE WON'T BE DEFEATED BY THE LIKES OF YOU!" Exx went flying, bouncing along the ground before hitting a rock formation. Using his sword to stand, Exx got up shakily. "What's the matter?! Is this all you've got, Ura?!" King Wesley's voice came through the radio, taunting Tsuike. "I can't believe I thought you were better than this. "
"Looks like you need my help for everything." The voice in his head "appeared" again.
"You're the voice from that time with Cerberus. Who are you really?" Tsuike responded mentally.
"I thought you'd have figured that out by now. I am Seretion. The sword you hold at your side. And right now it looks like you need a hand." Seretion lifted out of the holster on Tsuike's hip and dropped to the floor, embedding itself into the bottom of the cockpit. Then the entire cockpit shone with a green light. Outside, the legs and the arms changed to a deep green color, with vines coming out of the palms of Exx's hands, then retracting, revealing holes. "Now fight, like you would a Grek." Exx crouched down and lunged at the closest Zexis. Grabbing it by the ankles, he sent an electric shock through the movement system and tossed it aside. Spotting his energy blade that was still in the ground, he grabbed it, and vines covered it, transforming it into a giant version of Seretion. Tsuike paused for a second. "Come on, show me what you've got!" Tsuike announced to the seven Zexis in front of him. Six of them charged ahead with the one with the energy shield staying behind. Exx slashed wide, sending a wave of energy out and cutting the Zexis just above their cockpits, forcing them to eject. That left only two Zexis: The Gold Shield Knight and the King of Gold. The Shield Knight lunged at Exx, trying to slash at it with his energy barrier. Exx used Seretion's hilt tip to stop the attack, and then engaged the blade, ripping through the the generator in it's arm, dropping the Zexis from the fight. "You were saying?" Tsuike said.
King Wesley growled. "Of course, Uras would ruin my fun. Of course, I never would have thought the son of the last fool would have gotten in my way as well. Oh well, his death was the greatest thing that happened here. Now all I need is your death and the death of that pretty little thing that has been ruining our fun, and everything would be perfect. Then again, I think it would be perfect if she was my Urian slave. If you only knew what I was thinking of doing to her..." Wesley laughed.
Tsuike dropped in the cockpit to the floor. Grabbing Seretion, he yelled out. "EXX! Open the cockpit!"
"Sir, I would not advise..."
"DO IT!" Tsuike yelled, his pupils having changed from purple to orange.
The cockpit opened, with light streaming in where it wasn't before. "You don't deserve to be beaten by a Zexis! I'll take you on myself!" Tsuike jumped out, standing alone against King Wesley's Zexis. "Fine then, I'll show you, Urian scum!" Wesley cried, charging Tsuike with his Zexis. Seretion's blade expanded, lengthening the blade from three to five feet, and expanding it's width by a foot. It's color changed from green to orange. Tsuike started to run at the King of Gold, but disappeared. "I'll say this once!" Tsuike's voice came out of nowhere. All of a sudden, there was a flash of light, and the King of Gold's left and right arm were sliced clean off.
"Your majesty!" The special troops stood and watched as their king's chances of winning dropped. After that, there was another flash of light, and as both legs, as well as the head severed, causing the cockpit to start falling out of midair.
"Any ruler willing to sacrifice his people out of boredom..." Tsuike landed on the still falling cockpit, placed Seretion on his back, and punched through the cockpit. Ripping it in two, he grabbed King Wesley, and disappeared once again, only to be standing on the ground, holding King Wesley by the collar. "...does not deserve to rule." Tsuike said, with the remains of the King of Gold behind him exploding.
Still trying to be defiant, Wesley said, "Who do you think you are, touching the King?"
"Actually, according to the law, you aren't the King." Tsuike dropped the king. He pointed the tip of Seretion's blade at Wesley's neck. "I do hereby place you under arrest for two counts of Treason. One for Trying to take the throne from the rightful ruler, and Two for trying to kill the aforementioned ruler. All others who do not wish to be charged with this crime follow, but do not attack." Tsuike grabbed Wesley by his ankle, and dropped him in the hand of Exx. Jumping in the cockpit, Tsuike made an announcement, "All of Wesley's troops, stop attacking. I have your leader!"
"You're a little late, Tsuike. We were waiting for you to finish up. We're done." Milia's voice came in over the radio.
"Nice to hear from you too, Milia." Tsuike responded.
"Well, all flirting aside, I need the both of you and the Kings back here ASAP. I can make the worldwide announcement from here." Falian ordered.
"Okay." Tsuike then switched the cockpit's communication so he could be heard outside. "Sorry, Wesley, but we're gonna be moving kind of fast, so I'm probably going to be holding on to you a little tightly. It'll also be dark. Oh, and by the way, Taryan Novaus is alive and well." Exx closed his hand over the other one and flew back towards Falian's compound.
"...And according to the law, the only time royalty from a previous regime can reclaim the throne is when all traces of the currently ruling family have abdicated the throne, have been overthrown by the populace, or have died. Therefore, Tsuike Taryan Novaus, is the rightful ruler. On a related note, The Huntress, or Milia, will be exonerated of all crimes generated against her. That will be all for today." Falian cut the transmission afterwards. The special forces from earlier came and took Wesley and Esten away.
"So what now, King Tsuike?" Milia asked mockingly.
Tsuike shuddered, "Please don't call me that. All I want to do at this point is go to sleep. I'm exhausted."
"Well, do you mind if I land on the planet then?" A hologram of Carrie showed up in between Tsuike and Milia.
"Wow, I never thought I would have missed your explanations..." Tsuike began.
"Save it. I heard your remark while you were inside of Exx."
"How'd you hear that?"
"All I had to do was tap into your key."
"Oh. In that case, get as close to Falian's compound as possible. And try to stay cloaked. They might think we're invading if we make too much of a commotion."
"Well, aren't we getting better at politics. Anyway, you should get some sleep."
"All right. See you in the morning." Tsuike walked out of the room.
"Milia, can I see you on the bridge? I also need the other three, if you don't mind."
"I guess..."
"Good." Then a white light enveloped Milia.
"WHY'D YOU do... wow!" Milia's anger was completely dissolved when she saw the stars above her. Looking down, she saw Tackard.
"I know. It's an unbelievable view." Saya said.
Milia jumped again, but there was nothing to run into this time. "SAYA, WILL YOU STOP THAT?!"
Saya giggled. "Sorry, can't help it."
Carrie interrupted them all. "I didn't call you up here for fun! Does anyone know how we measure energy?"
Milia spoke up, "Yeah, we follow the energy buildup and determine it's potential. From there we separate it into levels."
"That is how most races in the LOIB measures energy, the system being developed by Tackanian hands. However, what happens when the source of the energy is organic?"
"Well, generally, it is determined to be infinite."
"Correct. If the source is organic, it will be able to adapt to it's own limits, being able to surpass them. With an infinite amount of time, the potential of the organic being will be infinite. However, taking twenty years to come up with enough energy to fight your enemy is inefficient, no matter what the potential is. And when your main enemy is biomechanical, it throws off your priorities when all enemies have infinite potential."
"Oh."
"Then, a scientist revamped our system." Akari jumped in.
"She came up with a system for determining destructive power by the speed that the subject generated power. By using that, and factoring an amount of time appropriate to the battle, a measurement of destructive power could be identified." Kori cut Akari off.
"Correct." The Carrie hologram looked confused, surprised that Kori knew that information. "Tsuike's energy usage in the battle inside of Hectarian against the army of Nids was rated as Class C, which is a little more powerful than expected, but still acceptable. Afterwards, Tsuike was pretty tired from using that much energy. However, this is the energy analysis of the battle earlier today." As Carrie said that, an overhead map of the part of the forest Tsuike fought in appeared. "As you can see here, we have a Class C and a Class A reaction in the same place. The class C is of Exx. Tsuike generated enough energy to be rated as a Class A."
"What's the big deal? Class A is able to destroy an army." Milia said.
Akari shook her head. "Not in the Urian measurement system. Class D is one on one battling, or small groups. Class C is able to destroy a city, or an army. Class B is able to destroy a continent. Obviously, Class A is able to destroy a planet."
"Well, as powerful as that is, any organic being with enough time would be able to create that much energy."
Kori was the one to answer this statement, "Not with a generating time of two minutes."
"Well, anyway, you can get some sleep on the ship. I'll land in the meantime. By the way, I have something for you, Milia."
A little girl and her mother are walking through the ruins of an old city. The woman is walking around, pointing to various buildings and explaining what they are for. However, the little girl is not listening, totally entranced by a white gem that she carries.
"You haven't been listening to me at all, Kori. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just want to know about that gem you carry with you. What is it?"
"It's something that's been in my family for generations. We have one, even though there are two in existence."
"Two? Who has the other one?"
"Ironically, your sister has the other one. Here, why don't you try holding it." She handed the young Kori the gem.
"Wow, it's warm." Kori looked in the gem, and saw swirling lights inside.
"Pretty, isn't it? One day it will be yours."
"Really? I can't wait.
"It's time to get back to the city. They made a new virtual reality game, if you want to try it. It hasn't been released yet, but I know the creator. It's from Tackard. We'll go if you're good."
"Okay."
Kori woke up. Looking at her nightstand, she saw her bracelet. She turned it over and pulled the gem out of it's socket. She sat for a moment, staring at the lights within the crystal. "Mom..."