Chapter 14
Valkyrie
"So lets get this straight," Gamagori said as he placed the bounty sheet on the table. They were all gathered. Uzu, Houka, Nonon, Ryuko, Satsuki, Renjiisk, , and Caitlyn. Her large rifle at her side and her legs over a table. Her short blue hair fell to her shoulders and strands covering her forehead.
"There was a bounty for him," she said, "Over seven million units in cash. I'm not a math whiz but that's alot of money for someone. In my opinion that is."
"Since when did you start caring for the price of a bounty?" Renjiisk asked.
Caitlyn held up two fingers, "One, when the price is too low for a man, and Two, when it is too high for scum," she said as she made her fingers into a gun and aimed at Renjiisk. 'Bang' she mouthed.
"So you're here to retrieve him and turn him in?" Ryuko asked.
"Aw, don't tell me you're worried about me," Renjiisk snickered.
"I am not," she said.
"Don't worry," Caitlyn said, "I'm not here to collect the bounty, or at least not yet," Caitlyn explained.
"What does that mean?" Ryuko asked.
"It means, she wouldn't kill me, or at least not yet. She's here to help," Renjiisk stated.
"Help with what?" Ryuko asked.
"Dr., this is the part you start explaining," Renjiisk said.
"Valkyrie has been activated," she said. She placed her tablet onto the table and a hologram began to form. It was a large metalic suit. Bulky arms and legs and it's torso filled with metal. The sides of his shoulders carrying missile racks and on his back a mounted mini-gun.
"This was project Colossus, a land type of suit. Its basically a movable tank, to wear. But, its control is in the mainframe in the REVOCs tower. Or it was. After the fall of the tower, they became useless, or so it seemed. Generation II models don't have this and so are used as suits for people. It's Life Fiber Metal. Or according with the Periodic Table, LF."
"Then what's Valkyrie?" Satsuki asked this time.
"Valkyrie was the top secret project led by REVOCs research group led by Delsin Walker, or as we know him know, Renjiisk's Father. Or do you want us to call you by your real name, Raiden?"
"Either one is fine," Renjiisk said, "After All, the outcome is the same."
"Is that really true? Because it would seem that it wouldn't be the case here," Houka said as he typed away at his computer. He pulled up a image and a second one. Both were images of the same person, Renjiisk. One of them had the word 'wanted' in bold letters, in the other it said 'Cyber-Criminal'.
"It seems REVOCs was not the one that issued the bounty, but another company," Houka went on explaining.
"What company issued the bounty?" Satsuki asked this time.
"Sundowner Industries," H0uka said. The room was silent.
"Alright," Ryuko said, "I'll break the silence, who is this Sundowner?"
"The Sundowner group are an overseas branch with REVOCs that supply Life Fibers from the other end of the planet. It seems that the Life Fiber ship we took down a few months ago wasn't the only one in this planet. Afterall, Life Fibers are everywhere now. That being said they supplied REVOCs with the product," Cornwell said.
"Life Fiber Metal," Renjiisk said.
"Quite," Cornwell said, "It's the same as when the Life Fibers were being used to create clothes. They are now being used to create weapons like this," Cornwell said motioning at the Colossus.
"That's not it," Renjiisk said, "There's more. REVOCs has started developing using Life Fibers as their cores. Ships, tanks, planes, everything you can imagine will be made out of Life Fibers. But there's also another reason why no one has put a stop to this. Governments are weak, both economically and management. REVOCs are the top. It was their plan to engulf the world with Life Fibers. It seems that idea isn't far away."
"Not to burst your bubble but you might as well become their spokesman given the circumstances," Caitlyn said, "People are calling the destruction of the REVOCs tower a terrorist attack. Because of the, governments will start buying REVOCs security. The suits, the weapons, everything in the hands of different countries. But, will be ultimately controlled by REVOCs."
Cornwell moved the image until a new one was present.
"Their newest development is EXO. Lightweight and give the average human intensified stamina. They increase all of human productivity by 150%. Imagine what that could do?"
"So what? Do we target REVOCs directly or what exactly?"
"Are you not in the slightest worried about what could happen if this counties?" Caitlyn said.
"Like I said, I don't care what happens as long as we make REVOCs history," Renjiisk said.
"Then you're going to love this then," Cornwell said as she moved to another slide.
This time it was of a female wearer with what seemed like a kamui. It matched the exact image of Ryuko in her transformed state, but with different add ons. On the back them stood jet-like engines with wings connecting to the engine. As well as four pillars around them, two on each side.
"This is Valkyrie. Look familiar?" Cornwell asked.
"It kinda does," Ryuko said.
"I wouldn't be surprised, since after all it was inspired from Ryuko's Senji Shippu form."
Cornwell sat down once again and lighted a cigar. She didn't look like the smoker type, but there were rare occasions. Like now, when she was nervous. She let out a large cloud and drew breath. She looked at Renjiisk, who was now full attention at the image.
"So, Renjiisk, I'll ask again. What now?"
Renjiisk stood quiet.
"Since when does he lead this group?" Ira said. "It should be Lady Satsuki who decides what to do. Right, Lady Satsuki?"
Satsuki let her cup of tea down and looked at Caitlyn.
"Are you the only Bounty Hunter after Renjiisk? Or are there more of you?"
Caitlyn nodded to the remark, "I wasn't the only one on his trail. Besides he does leave a giant trail behind. He might as well wear a big neon target on his back."
"What are you thinking?" Ryuko asked.
"REVOCs didn't order the bounty on Renjiisk, did they, Houka?"
"No, Lady Satsuki," he responded.
"Then place on new Bounty on Renjiisk. Double the amount that Sundowner put."
"Whoa, you can't be serious," Caitlyn said.
"What are you playing at?" Renjiisk asked, ticked.
"Either you help us take down Delsin or your brought to him, body part by body part. You're choice," she remarked.
"Subjugate to me, Renjiisk, no, Raiden. If you don't want to end up dead, do this," she finished.
"If I refuse," He said.
"You're still going against Lady Satsuki!" Ira said. "Even after all she's done for you. This is a kindness."
"I don't want your charity," he said as he stood. "Nor do I like being indebted. I'll help you out, but to my own accord," he finished as he walked towards the exit.
"Even if it means a bloody death to a friend of yours?" Satsuki said without looking up.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Delsin is stronger now that he has your core, or have you forgotten that?"
"What of it? Without a body, it might as well be scrapped."
"He does have a body," Satsuki said as he motioned towards Cornwell. Cornwell understood the gesture and the hologram changed. This time it was a young female, about 17 or 16, but instead of arms, there were metallic limbs. Metal covered her arms and legs. The 'wings' like the others were on her and half her face was covered by a metallic helm with a large visor. Her long hair braided and at the tip of it was what seemed like a spear point.
The name at the bottom of the screen caught Renjiisk's attention.
Sakura Walker
"Is that...?" Renjiisk started but didn't finish.
It was in fact the person Renjiisk thought of. Sakura Walker, Delsin's adoptive daughter and Renjiisk's step sister.
"It seemed that after your outbreak, Delsin wanted security, so-"
"Did you put the core in her?" He asked Cornwell.
She didn't respond. In an instant, Renjiisk seemed to blur and reappearing in front of Cornwall, holding her by her throat. She raised up her feet, choking.
"Put her down Renjiisk!" Satsuki said. All of the four stood ready, their aim towards Renjiisk. Even Ryuko got her scissor blade ready.
Is this his true self? She taught to her self.
A red aura seemed to flow around him. Everyone stood up, deciding whether or not to intervene. Renjiisk didn't care, instead he let go of his grasp.
"Did you or did you not?" He asked one more time.
"I...I was under orders. Please, understand," she said. But the only thing he cared about was the answer.
He turned without a word and into the elevator. The doors closed with him in it.
"You have no idea what you've done," Cornwell said t0 Satsuki.
"Oh but I do," she said sipping from her tea.
"We have our Ace," she said.