Chapter 29: Project Nexus

Act 1:

After being alerted of the events taking place at Borbos Mine, a massive meeting was called by Victoria Eisenhower of Mirage. Its attendants included every board member of the Big Three, and despite Kisaragi corporation's current split, both factions managed to participate. Even officials from O.A.E were digitally present. Victoria and Mirage's board of directors sat at their lengthy table of power, the dozen or so monitors about the boardroom displaying the heads of the other companies. The decision to launch the nuclear missile had yet to be decided, and Victoria was clearly growing impatient with all the regressive chatter flying back and forth from the screens.

"Who says this 'Raven' is trustworthy?" a member from Crest then asked from one of the monitors displaying the company's board. "Is it not true this individual just betrayed Mirage and killed a number of your own people, Victoria?"

"Yes, and as I said for the fifth time, his actions, while barbarous, don't weigh against the facts he just sent us. Haven't your analyzers confirmed the AC's footage to be genuine?"

"They have." Harriman then said, a thick cigar between his equally thick fingers. "However, that doesn't mean his statements of these machines having the capability to eradicate the entire surface are true." Harriman pressed the cheroot into his marble ashtray and expelled the residue of his final taste. " An autonomous doomsday device..." he chuckled. "That's ridiculous. Why would the old ones build such a thing?"

"We don't know anything about their way of life," a female member of Takeshi's Kisaragi started. "their tactics and procedures during times of war. Perhaps this was a means to prevent being taken over by an outside force, or even a final resort to deal with the outbreak of some sort of biological weapon. The fact is we don't know why, and is it really important now?"

A head from Mirage then decided to speak his mind. "Even if his claims have been exaggerated, there were clearly hundreds of those devices in the footage." The clean-cut individual then began to shake his head in a grave manner. "I'd hate to see what would happen if even half that many made it into one of our cities."

"I agree," Victoria followed. "and that's why I refuse to risk such an event."

"My question has yet to be answered." one of the officials from O.A.E suddenly stated. "This Raven, Zen... Is he really the son of Zeal?"

"Yes." was the simultaneous response from both Kisaragi's, their attempt at keeping the facade alive, and the truth in their own respective corners.

"If that's true, it only makes his word that more trustworthy, does it not? His father was known to be a reckless man himself, but his actions-"

A portly member of Crest's board then interrupted the O.A.E official with a very audible scoff. "Zeal may have been considered a hero to the mindless masses, which obviously includes your organization's people, who know nothing of the truth behind that man's actions. To us, the corporations, he turned out to be nothing more than a rebel. One who sided with the terrorist faction know as Union, and destroyed the Controller. He took our very future in his own hands and set us down a path we had no choice but to walk."

"Not to mention his similar actions with the second Layered." Harriman added.

"From the size your stomach, I see it hasn't been much of a walk." Victoria then said to the portly speaker. "He brought us to the surface we never knew existed. Opened our eyes to the artificial sky the Controller tamed us beneath."

"And it was later proven that the Controller was indeed malfunctioning." another member of Mirage stated. "We could have suffered the fate of the millions who vanished under the Silent Line's Controller."

Victoria nodded in agreement and then offered sharp eyes to those from Crest. "And let's not forget, Crest only wanted to use the Controller as a means to manipulate us all."

"And you weren't trying the very same!?" Harriman barked in response to her accusation. "Isn't that the very reason your husband was killed!? For going against the Controller's will!?"

"How dare you!" Victoria shouted, slamming down an open hand upon the table.

"Please, everyone!" Takeshi called out in an attempt to regain order. "That's all in the past. Is this really the time for this. We're losing focus of the matter at hand yet again."

"Didn't Zen say that he managed to seal the weapons in the mine?" one of Tokishiro's men then asked.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean the threat is gone." Takeshi quickly responded.

"Then what exactly do you suggest, father?" Tokishiro said in a tone that was laced with scorn. "At first, I considered the strike... However, with this new development, I can send in the team I had on stand by to manually shutdown the facility."

Victoria lost a breath at his last line. "You had another team ready?" she whispered with almost stunned eyes.

"Of course, Vivi." Tokishiro whispered back in an almost flirtatious air. "They're still hidden in the area just south of the mine, and can go in to disable the facility at my word."

Takeshi grunted at the idea his son was proposing. "That will only disturb-"

"These are MY people," Tokishiro cut back in. "the best Kisaragi has to offer. They are using a small transport truck carrying just enough supplies for them to complete the task, and once close enough, they will continue in on foot, so as not to disturb the inside of the mine. I highly doubt they will attract the attention of the devices so long as they continue to do so."

"I would say I'm for it, but Crest has nothing to gain from such an endeavor." Harriman said to the proposal. His tone clearly hinted for a 'reason' to give his nod to postpone the strike, and Tokishiro didn't miss the bait.

"Actually, that isn't true." Tokishiro folded his fingers before his personable face and smiled before presenting his offer. "If you agree not to launch, I'll include you, along with Mirage, in the agreement to share the find."

"Tokishiro!" Victoria shouted. "How dare you hand out deals to sway votes and change the outcome of this decision in your favor!"

"The offer will only be on the table for this short moment." Tokishiro said to Harriman, ignoring Victoria entirely.

"Of course." Harriman replied with a smirk on his aged face. "A moment please." he then asked as he muted the audio and discussed the offer with the rest of Crest's board.

"Tokishiro, this is wrong!" Takeshi then yelled at his son. "There is nothing to be gained from toying with-"

"Silence, father!" he snapped back. "You've always talked about how the artifacts left behind by the Ancient shouldn't be tampered with, and yet Kisaragi is the leading corporation in the fields of lost technologies. It's that brand of hypocrisy that made your peace treaty notion fall flat on its face." Tokishiro stood up from his seat just as Crest came back on-line with their decision. "Listen to me, we've all been affected by the fight for control over Borbos. And what have we gained from this conflict?" he then asked, the dozens of men and woman taking in the facts, their expressions stating the obvious answer.

"That's right. Absolutely nothing." Tokishiro declared for them. "If anything, the conflict has all but devastated our previous standing. Harriman, thanks to this, Crest is barely ahead of Kisaragi on the ladder of power, even in our current state. Victoria, Mirage's overall power has even lessened to a noticeable degree. Now, after all our losses, you want for us to destroy the prize we've all sacrificed so much for, and without even obtaining something tangible?"

"And what do you suggest?" another of Crest's people asked.

"Three days. Give my team three days to find safe passage into the mine and see if they can find a way to the facility's control room. If they aren't successful, I'll give my nod to the strike."

"Tokishiro... You're playing with the lives of millions..." Takeshi whispered.

"I agree." Victoria followed. "I'm against it. And we here at Mirage stand by our decision for the strike."

"As is Kisaragi." Takeshi stated.

"Hmph..." While not surprised by his father's side, he did have hopes that Victoria would be swayed. He then offered his attention to his last hope. "What does Crest have to say, Mr. Harriman?"

"We are in favor of Tokishiro Kisaragi's proposal." Harriman stated as he stood up from his seat, adjusting his grey business suit. "Besides, it's just enough time to allow me to make a little business trip." he then added as Yoko Tachibana appeared and handed him his coat. "Don't forget who gave you this opportunity, Tokishiro." he then added as he slipped on the extra apparel.

"You won't regret it." a very satisfied Tokishiro replied before Crest went off-line.

One of the reps from O.A.E then stood from their table. "We here at O.A.E can only hope that the right choice has been made, and expect to be immediately alerted of all news pertaining to the situation, as our role to maintain order amongst the corporations will no longer be ignored."

Veronica's eyes reacted to the statement, as the official was clearly using O.A.E's previous raid on her company's Abax Plain base as a standing example. She then notice a shady looking man whisper into Tokishiro's ear on the monitor, and the response he had upon receiving the news caused her to raise a brow.

Takeshi noticed his son's curious actions as well, and had a good idea who the news pertained to. "Tokishiro, wait." he then called out as his son prepared to make way. "We still have to discuss-"

"I apologize, but I must take my leave. Please excuse me, everyone, father." the monitors displaying Tokishiro and his limited board then blacked out and displayed their company's logo.

"Yes, I'm off as well." Harriman said as his board began to rise from their seats. "As I said, I must tend to Crest business." And with that, the monitors about the room began to fade out until Mirage and Takeshi's half of Kisaragi were the only ones left.

"Well, that went poorly..." Victoria sighed.

"We tried, Veronica." Takeshi replied in a similar air. "Now, all we can do is wait, wait and hope Zen can manage to do something before my foolish son causes another tragedy."

"You really have that much faith in him, Takeshi?" Victoria asked as she reached for the bottled water before her.

"I do." he answered. "To be honest, with the state of our company, I thinking of ignoring the decision entirely..." Several members amongst Takeshi's remaining board began to show their concern at his statement. "We may as well just-"

Victoria noticed this and quickly steered him away from the thought. "Don't speak such nonsense. Even with this situation, we still have order. If you act out, not only will you be throwing away everything you've built, you will also be condemning all the citizens of the Kisaragi corporation."

"I know that..." he whispered as his eyes fell to the table. "Still, if something isn't done, I don't think it'll make a difference..."

"Takeshi..."

After floors of descent, Tokishiro swaggered out of the only elevator that led into the lowest level of his base of operations, the thick metal doors closing hard behind, sounding out the density of their resolve. As Tokishiro continued down the network of halls, he was greeted by one of the scientists taking part in the Nexus project. "What's her status?" he asked as he took the fiber-optic sheet of data from the female researcher's hands, his sharpened eyes going over the active graphs and readings before them.

"There's been an incident..." the short woman replied as she made haste to keep up with the swiftly striding Tokishiro.

"What kind of incident?" he asked as he turned the final corner before his destination.

"I think it best you saw for yourself, sir." she whispered as she pointed to the reinforced doors at the end of the hall, where Tokishiro's cybernetic bodyguards were standing on-duty. "Right this way." she then said, pointing to the monitors on the station just outside the room.

Tokishiro's eyes widened in horror at the live feed being displayed. The metal room had been decorated with trails and splatters of thick crimson. The two scientist locked in the room had literally been torn to pieces, their body parts scattered about the floor. In the center of this butchery, a bloodstained, blue-haired Project Nexus. "What the hell happened?" he almost gasped at the sight.

"It seems that Oscar, in his foolishness, opened the pod in an attempt to make direct contact with her."

"Was she injured?" Tokishiro quickly asked.

"S-Sir?" the researcher was fumbled by his callousness. It was clear that not even the deaths of two of the best scientists on his staff mattered when compared to the project.

"Was she injured during the event?" he asked again, adding a bit more demand to his tone.

"No..." the slightly disturbed woman replied. "If you like, you can review the recorded footage... of their deaths..."

"I'll do that." Tokishiro replied with a spark of interest. "But right now, I need to speak with her."

"We've tried communicating with her, but, her responses were... Irregular..."

"What do you mean?"

"See for yourself, sir."

Tokishiro punched in the code that allowed access to the intercom system as he cleared his throat. He almost appeared nervous, which was a very rare sight to behold. "Hello." he said over the intercom. "Andra? Ms. Andra Lo?" After receiving no response, he decided to continue with the formalities. "My name is Tokishiro Kisaragi. Can you understand what I'm saying, Ms. Lo?" Sitting on her heels, her knees on the cold floor, and her back poised upright, Andra's nude frame continued to sit in the middle of the room as if it were still frozen in time. Her head was raised up, as if something on the ceiling of the room held more importance than Tokishiro's words. Andra's abnormally long hair blanketed her eyes, and was scattered about the floor around her as the trails of still shimmering liquid from the stasis pod slowly continued to evaporate. "Ms. Lo, please say something." Tokishiro continued. "Why did you kill those men?"

That question would be rewarded, as Andra's head slowly tilted towards the camera on the wall to her left. "...Because... he lied... to me..." she whispered through a throat that was slowly recalling its abilities.

"Andra, it's alright." Tokishiro said in his attempts to befriend the Ancient. The researcher standing at his side clearly didn't think what happened to her associates was 'alright', and her eyes rolled at his careless words. "Tell me, who lied to you?"

Andra slowly raised her right arm from her side, in tow, the severed head of the elder scientist from before. Oscar. "He... lied..." she said, slowly bringing the old man's lifeless face before her own. "He said... he knew... where Dr. Okamura was... I know when people lie..." Andra continued in her almost deranged and childlike state before tossing the head across the room and returning to her awkward position. "Do you know... where Dr. Okamura is...?" she then asked Tokishiro.

Not foolish enough to test her ability, he decided not to deceive her just yet. "No. But I can tell you that Dr. Okamura is no longer alive, Ms. Lo."

"No... longer... live..." she exhaled in each breath.

"I'm sorry, Andra." Tokishiro replied, maintaining his comforting tone. "Ms. Lo, you've been asleep for a very long time. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"No... longer... live..." she said in breaths again. Suddenly, Andra fell over on her side and her body began to jerk continuously. It soon became evident that this jerking was a result of the series of tickled breaths leaving her mouth.

Andra's unexpected fit of laughter and continued bizarreness caused Tokishiro to become aggravated, as he had expected to meet with another living marvel from an era long lost. One he had hoped he could get along with better, especially since his 'friendship' with Zen wasn't exactly one founded on the principals of the word. "Dammit!" Tokishiro shouted after muting the intercom. "What's wrong with her!?"

"Ha ha! Heh... Hee hee... No longer... live..." Andra continued to laugh to herself as the blood about the floor began sticking to her flesh and hair.

"Do you see what I mean, sir?" the researcher said as five of her fellow scientists arrived on the scene in a hurry, clearly just learning the news that Andra had awakened.

"Why!?" Tokishiro barked as he stared to the monitors displaying a series of giggling Andras. "Is it some form of dementia from the stasis!?" he asked himself in a moment of worry. "Impossible!"

One of the researchers decided to give his thoughts. "Sir, though she has the body of a woman in her early twenties, it's possible she may have been a child at the time she was placed in the capsule. That would explain her mental state. Maybe due to some form of damage to the device, its fading power supply, her body slowly aged with time in-"

"No..." Tokishiro interrupted. "She was an adult when this happened to her... A soldier..."

"A soldier?" another researcher repeated, his associates all looking to one another at the unexpected news. "How do you know that, sir?"

"It's not your place to ask." Tokishiro replied after regaining his composure in order to speak with the deranged Ancient once again. "Andra, is it alright if we get you cleaned up?" he asked over the intercom.

"Clean..." Andra whispered as she brought her giggles to a stop. "Is it that time? No... You're going... to punish me, yes?"

"No, of course not, Andra." Tokishiro pleaded in his most sincere tone. "We're going to help you, as best we can."

"Hee hee... You lie..." Andra responded as she returned to her previous position. "I hear it... All of it... Lies... Is Dr. Okamura there? He said you wouldn't... punish me... if I behaved..." Andra was clearly in a place that didn't allow sanity a pass.

"Andra no one is going to-"

"Please don't!!" She suddenly screamed out, wrapping her arms around herself in a state of intense panic. "Don't take my legs again!!" she then followed in the same state of dread. "Not my arms... please... You said if I behaved... you wouldn't... take them when they grew back... you promised..."

Tokishiro bared fangs at the shocking outbursts, and he put his hand on the heavy doors, placing a deal of his weight and worries upon them. "What the hell were they doing to her...?" he grumbled through his clenched teeth.

Act 2:

Making its way through dark skies, the Raptor had recovered its Ravens from Borbos Mine and was now en route back to the Nine Breaker facility. The malformed ACs filled the hanger with the stink of vanquished metals, save an untouched MMM, whose pilot was the first to emerge from her machine; it also helped that hers didn't need to stagger into the hanger. She wanted to pinch her noise to spare it the sting, but ignored it and ran across the walkway as Q was raised to Echoic's back. "Q!" Macawi climbed down the ladder, helped get his helmet off, and immediately began checking him for any serious injuries.

"I'm fine, Macawi." he said, his face soaked from the intense heat that managed to burnout his flight suit's cooling unit. Q then looked across the hanger and noticed Jack-O and Rain exiting Monsoon's heavyweight Core. Fox Eye was in no condition to make it back to the Raptor on its own, and with the pending strike, Jack-O decided to leave his cherished mech behind, catching a ride with Rain.

"Silphe..." Rain called out as she displayed a refined, but similar scene, striding across the walkway and down the ladder onto Front Runner's back as the entire cockpit struggled to the surface, revealing a still straining to keep conscious Raven. As she pulled off his helmet she noticed the thin trail of blood running across his face, and quickly wiped it away, relieved that it was just a lining of blood from a small gash atop his head, and not the horrible wound it gave the appearance of at first glance. "Are you alright?"

"Rain... I'm fine..." Silphe answered. "Heh... Didn't know you cared." he said as he reached to unlock himself from his harness.

Rain looked away at the statement for a moment. "The armor on you suit's left forearm is damaged." she calmly stated in an attempt to remain professional."

"It's not bad. Barely feel it..." In a display of macho fueled self-assurance, Silphe raised his left arm and quickly felt the sting of his injury. "Agh! Scratch that. It's broken..." he tried to say as playfully as possible, and Rain continued to hide her concern as he did.

"Don't move around like that, you nut." Sandoval suddenly called as he made his way across the boarding platform, cradling his side. "An obvious broken arm, and concussion." he quickly surmised. "C'mon, Sachko. We'd better let the onboard medic have a look at him.

"Sandoval..." Rain whispered, her eyes looking to the cracked breastplate and torso of his custom flight suit.

"Don't worry, just bruised ribs." he said while waving off his hand in an unconcerned gesture. "I'll get myself tapped up later."

Exhausted from the entire ordeal, the Ravens made their way to the end of the hanger and came to a stop where Proto Exus had taken a kneel within its station. Jack-O stood before the downed machine, its right side shredded. Jack-O continued to stand there in thought, his arms folded, and not saying a word as he continued to look upon Proto Exus.

"So, Red was the one who did it?" Silphe whispered. "Damn..." he exhaled at the thought.

Rain lowered her head a bit as she continued to support Silphe's body. "It would seem so..."

"Did you see the area just outside the canyon?" Q suddenly said to everyone. "There's no way Exus could have done that."

"It must have been the result of Sin Replica's destruction..." Sandoval answered. "Remember, that AC was far from normal..."

"That's a good point." Q replied as he noticed how depressed Macawi was over the situation, her head hung almost shamefully as she stood by his side.

"This is one mission success I don't wanna celebrate..." Silphe suddenly announced. "I just want to get in the bed and forget it ever happened."

"Etzam!" Sandoval called out to the broke down AC. "Etzam, I'm coming up, okay!?"

"Leave her be." Jack-O ordered the moment Sandoval took a step in Proto Exus' direction. "She'll come out when she's ready..."

"Jack, look at her AC." Sandoval pointed out as he walked up to the senior Raven. "She could be injured, or worse."

"She's alive." Jack-O announced in a faintly proud air. "Go. Get your injuries taken care of." he then said to the group. "For those able, I'll have another contract ready soon. There are many traitors that must be dealt with."

"What about the facility in the mine?" Macawi suddenly asked, her head still hung in grief. "How can you all act as if that doesn't matter?" The young woman bit down as she struggled with the thought of such a device, as well as being the only member its existence seemed to bother. "How can anything be more important than that? Everyone might die..." Despite her belief, she wasn't alone in her concerns, and everyone's eyes displayed this, everyone except Jack-O.

"That is none of our concern." the silver-haired vet coldly stated. "We don't get involved until a client pays us to." he said as his eyes stayed on the crimson mech before him.

Macawi was taken aback by his level of insensibility. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Death was something she tried to force herself to accept, but not on the pending scale presented by that of the Internecine. Though she had issues with her parents, the thought of losing them along with everyone else was more than she could take. "But... But..."

"Macawi, stop it!" Q suddenly said as he placed assuring hands on her trembling shoulders. "The corporations are going to deal with it. They don't need us right now. That's a good thing, right? It means they have the situation back there under control."

"I-I guess..." she whispered. "I'm sorry..."

"Hey, Macawi, you should rest until we get back." Q suggested with a warm smile.

"Alright..." she replied, walking off and giving her still troubled eyes to Jack-O on the way out, who paid her no mind as she did.

"Let's go." Rain then said as she and Sandoval helped Silphe out of the hanger to meet up with the Raptor's onboard doctor.

"Macawi... She's a prime example of what a Raven should strive not to be." Jack-O said to the young man in his presence. "Despite that, she still seems to have a deal of piloting potential. The fact she's gotten this far proves that."

Q walked up and took a similar stance beside the senior Raven. "Jack, I don't appreciate you threatening Macawi like that..." he said in a serious tone. "I know what she did was wrong, but-"

"If you know that much, why bother continuing?"

"Were you really serious about that?"

"Do you really need to ask?"

"I can't accept that..." Q replied. "The kind of executions you're talking about were ceased years ago, and for good reason. It was a barbaric means to maintain our order. The only death sentence that still stands is for those who register for the Raven exam without having earned a diploma from one of the Ravens' Academies."

"And do you know why that rule was created in the first place?" Jack-O suddenly asked, still watching Proto Exus. "The sudden introduction of these academies..."

"Like I said. It was to civilize the way of-"

"Wrong." Jack-O immediately cut in. "It was a means to make money. They sacrificed one of our most sacred rituals in order to justify the existence of the 'Raven' academies." Jack-O's disgust was clear both vocally and visually. "By guaranteeing a comforting pillow to the cowards, the greedy ones in power took advantage of the fears of those who wished to become Ravens, offering a pat on the back, instead of a bullet in the head for failing the exam, or critical missions. Of course... this promise of safety comes at a substantial fee. It allowed those who would have never dared enter our fold the 'courage' to do so, tainting our ranks with the unworthy. A Raven doesn't fear death, and it was those who didn't that braved the trials. Before the academies, the only schooling one needed was their own raw skill, determination, and talent." Jack-O eye's, feeling the times lost, finally managed to look away from the AC in front of him. "Becoming an MT pilot, battling, surviving, that was the original schooling, and the only training one needed to work their way up the ladder in order to become a Raven."

Jack-O always managed to make an impression with his words, and Q suddenly became interested in the man's experiences. "Were you an MT pilot?"

"That's right, just as my father, and his father." Jack-O answered with pride. "For years I piloted MTs for Mirage, and earned my right to be called a Raven. Passing the REAL exam after I felt I had surpassed the abilities of the lower tier units."

"I took the exam without a diploma as well..." Q reminded him with a brave voice.

"You did so only because you couldn't afford the tuition to enter any of the academies..." the senior Raven countered with the details his administrative side had learned. "It wasn't out of fearlessness, more, an act of desperation and impatience."

"It doesn't matter how or why, so long as I passed..." Q poorly counter. "And for the record, the only one in this group who went to an academy besides Macawi is your 'prized' Etzam."

"True, this woman was lost, and knew nothing of battles." Jack-O admitted as he looked back upon the ripped AC. "Had I not taken notice of her skill, I would have been quick to agree that she didn't belong here. She entered our world blindly in search of something, and turned out to be an ace."

"I'm not saying Etzam doesn't belong, and yeah, she's proven to be a great pilot... an amazing pilot..." Q was immediately called back to the Arena battle he had against Etzam a month prior. "When I fought against her it was like... like fighting against some kind of demon. I just couldn't keep up with her... It was like she was in another place, on another plane." Q, who would have normally despised a pilot for besting him, held no ill will towards her. Maybe it was because she was kind to him, or maybe it was simply because he thought she was hot... "You know, Jack... Etzam and Macawi aren't that different. Macawi just needs a little more-"

"Don't be foolish enough to compare the two." Jack-O interrupted. "It's just as you said... Etzam is in a league that surpasses that of normal warriors." his eyes grew sharp at the thought of her role in his future plans. "The battlefield has awakened her true self." He then looked to the Raven at his side with a raised brow. "Unfortunately the same can't be said for you at this moment. You've still yet to find your place, your fire. I wonder now if that girl is holding you back after all... Or, is it the other way around?"

"What's that suppose to mean!?" Q barked in response to Jack-O's last comments.

"You already know..."

Q wasn't in the mood for Jack-O's games and insults, and quickly recalled why he was angry with the vet in the first place. He was too dangerous a Raven to take missions with, especially for Macawi. "You know what, Macawi and I are gonna pass on your next contract. We'll probably be heading back to Crest for another job." Q said as he began making his way towards the exit. "I don't like the stench in this place..." he added before disappearing. It was a comment that earned a smirk from Jack-O.

Within Proto Exus, Etzam, still in tears, finally raised her head from the comfort of her own lap and looked to her main monitor. The LCD displayed her updated files, the newest flashing with urgency. After a few wipes and sniffles, she accessed the update which began with:

From: Zenobis Wards

To: Elza Nardo

If you have received this update, it means that Replica has been destroyed. I made it so a satellite would automatically send both you and Genobee this update upon such an event. This is all the truth you need to know, my mission. It's to the both of you that I now entrust the duty to. The future. Elza, once you've taken all this in, I'm sure you'll know what to do. I have faith in the both of you. And again, I'm sorry for all this.

P.S. I think your real name is cute, and suits you more. Go into the future wearing it proudly, my dear friend.

Records A:

File 01: Ancients

File 02: Governments/Factions

File 03: War

File 04: AI

File 05: Justice Cannons

File 06: Asteroid Delivery System

File 07: The Great Destruction

File 08: Internecines

File 09: Pulverizers

File 10: Leviathans

File 11: Beelzebubs

File 12: Moth Series

File 13: Layereds/Controllers

File 14: Andra Lo

...continue...

The files went on, page after page of old age intelligence. The very secrets that eras of corporations had warred over were sitting right before her. The woman's entire being was captivated by the details within the first few files; and her heart and resolve were slowly being reforged as her eyes scanned each line, the irises becoming more intense by knowledge and realities that had the power to change her perception, ways of thinking, and her very life as a whole. It was as if she were maturing in a matter of minutes, being reborn by the fires of pain and verity. Etzam didn't think to emerge from Proto Exus, that was, until she heard a loud buzz in the hanger, which told her that the Raptor was about to commence its docking sequence.

The AC powered up and came to a stand as Etzam transferred the files to her computerized watch, then delete the backups from Proto Exus' computer. She would transfer them back manually when needed. After the Raptor completed docking, Etzam emerged from the cocoon of metal that was Proto Exus. Though employing a new and determined mentality, the blows of Zen's loss hadn't gone anywhere. "Zen..." Etzam sighed as she reached the top of the walkway above her machine. "I'm so sorry..." As she made her way down the ramp, she saw that Jack-O was waiting for her at the bottom.

Jack-O noticed the light rings around her bloodshot eyes and offered a hand in support. "Are you alright?" the senior Raven asked, his eyes doing their best to prove his concern. But his offer was ignored, and Etzam walked by, not giving his presence much attention. Though she had disobeyed a direct order, Jack-O knew that she was vital to restoring the ways of old, and said nothing to the fact. "Aren't you going to tell me what happened back there?"

"I would, but right now, I don't think it would be a good idea for you to be around me for a while..."

"Why is that?"

"So you can continue breathing..." she warned before heading off, leaving a mildly stunned Jack-O in her wake.

As Etzam made her way down the ramp and onto Nine Breaker grounds, she saw the rest of the team. Silphe and Sandoval were being looked at by more medics who were on stand by just outside the Raptor, while a stubborn Q continued to assure them that he was in good standing.

"Etzam!" Macawi called out upon seeing her.

Etzam paused and gave them all a stern gaze. "I'm going to my quarters, and I don't wish to be disturbed for the remainder of the day. Is that understood?" She received their comply and prepared to head to her room, until...

"Hey..." Q called. "For what it's worth... at least it was you who did it, right?" he said in a respectful tone.

"Q!" Macawi angrily shouted at the foolish statement.

"Q..." Etzam came to a stop and reared her head in the young Raven's direction. Though his words were genuine, and clearly had not traces of contempt, it would have been best to follow the others, and said nothing about the event.

"No, don't misunderstand!" he said in a mild panic as Etzam strode his way. "I'm just saying, you being the one to take the target down was more appropri-"

POW!

Sandoval and Silphe squinted in unison as Q fell to the metal floor after being punched in the face by a fuming Etzam. Macawi dropped the helmet she finally realized she was still carrying around and went to Q's aid.

"What do you know!" Etzam barked down at the floored Q. "Don't you dare speak of Zen as if he were just the objective in a contract! As if his life were nothing!" The tears she had finally managed to stop quickly began to pour freely once again. "You have no idea what's going on, you ignorant child!" she screamed before hanging her head in shame. "I didn't know..." Etzam grunted as she clenched her fists.

"E-Etzam?" a stunned Q whispered as he held his nose, which began to bleed through his fingers. For a second, he wanted to act on his pride, but Q didn't dare say anything back, as he gave the tall woman standing over him a really good look. It was right there he finally saw pass her allure and realized that Etzam was a physically tough woman even outside her AC. She clearly would have pummeled him if he tried anything foolish. He also came to another realization, concluding exactly why he didn't despise Etzam, and it clearly wasn't her kindness...

"Etzam, wait!" Macawi pleaded as the fiery Raveness began to leave.

She came to a stop at Macawi's call. "Please don't call me by that name anymore. That's not my name." she announced in a strong and refined voice. "My name is Elza Nardo." she then declared.

"Alright, Elza." Sandoval suddenly called as a blushing female medic continued taping up his detailed torso. "I can't begin to understand what you must be going through, but I need to ask this."

"What is it?"

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to do what I must. Not as a Raven, but as someone who won't allow the past a new chapter to relive."

"Red..." Silphe exhaled, a confused expression on his face. "Elza, what are you saying?"

"You intend to finish what Zen started?" Rain then asked, her piercing purple eyes scanning the determined woman before her.

"That's right. This fight is one that goes beyond our simple desires. I was too caught up in my own to see what Zen meant. It's probably why he felt I couldn't deal with the truth..." Elza admitted to herself.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Elza." Silphe said. "I don't think anyone here would have believed it." Silphe began to shake his head about, pondering on the Borbos discovery. "Hell, I still don't believe it..."

"So..." Macawi whispered to Elza, her head back in its 'hanging' mode. "Did he say anything before..." She didn't have the strength to ask the question proper, but it was clear enough.

She nodded to Macawi's question, and Elza's eyes fell shut as she delivered her answer. "The future... Humanity's survival... That outweighs anything, everything."

"Elza," Rain started, the new name already sticking. "if you begin acting on your own, Jack will-"

"Jack can go to hell, Sachko." Elza nearly barked at the thought of his frigid brand of rules and regulations. "Because of what we've just done... we all might be joining him there." Elza finished as she left the scene.

"Come back!" Macawi called out.

"Macawi, you should leave her be." Rain advised as she helped get Silphe into a wheelchair so he could be carted off to get his arm fully tended to. "At least until she's had some time to rest. To cope."

"So, will you be needing our services now, Raven?" one of the nurses asked as she lowered to Q, who had made the floor his temporary residence until Elza had gone.

After being aided to his feet, Q noticed several of the nurses trying their best not to giggle. "Laugh it up..." he muttered. "It's not like I would've fought her."

"Got that right." Silphe chuckled.

"What's that?" Q asked through the pinching fingers of the nurse cleaning his nose."

"She would have kicked you ass, Q." Sandoval admitted in a humorous wind.

"Agreed." Rain simply added.

Q sighed at the truth he had hoped they didn't realize as he looked to Macawi, who was still in a poor mood. "Macawi, I'm gonna head out after this." he said as the nurse reached for another swab. "Seems Crest needs someone to escort a convoy. You should stay here for a while, get some more rest."

"But your AC is a mess." she replied in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I'll be taking the backup they've been helping me out with."

"I'm not entirely comfortable with that..."

"Don't worry, I'll keep him company." Sandoval volunteered.

Q was surprised by the offer, as were the other pilots. "Sandoval?"

"You need a consort, right?"

His charismatic smile and personality was one not many could reject. Then there was the fact that Sandoval was probably the only guy in the group Q looked up to, as Jack-O had just recently lost the young Raven's admiration. "Why not." Q replied as a doctor okayed his injury.

"You really think you should be going right back out with those ribs?" Silphe asked as Rain stood ready to wheel him away.

"Silphe is right." Rain then added. "You need to rest as well."

"What is this?" Sandoval asked with a raised brow. "You guys worry too much, besides, I think it would be nice if you two spent some time together without me around."

"What are you implying!?" Rain asked in an almost panicked voice.

"Yeah, what are you implying?" Silphe followed in a flirtatious wind as his eyes mischievously looked over Rain's slim frame; and for a moment, it almost looked as if her face was about to change a shade.

"Enough playing around..." she said in a cold voice. "Let's go." Rain spun his chair around and began wheeling him off behind the doctor, and added a punishing jerk as she did.

"Ouch!" Silphe barked to the jolt.

"An accident." Rain calmly responded, her thin lips struggling not to give up a smile.

"Hey, don't push yourself too hard out there, Sand!" Silphe called as he raised a thumb with his good arm.

"Don't worry, I've got Q watching my back."

"That's what I'm worried about!" he laughed as he and Rain left the scene.

"Funny..." Q grumbled.

Within a small encampment just outside of the Nucleo area, the survivors of Crest's regional campaign were taking a much needed rest. After having lost well over half their forces in the last battle, the goal of stopping the corporations from getting their hands on ancient technology was a fading one. Supplies were scarce, moral was low, and their machines were receiving what would be their last repairs. Genobee was brooding within Duel Face's cockpit, his eyes galvanized by the automated update on his main monitor, which he soon cracked with an angered fist. "Zenobis..." he whispered in his refined rage. "How could you have allowed yourself to be killed now..." Genobee then recalled the bigger matter at hand. "No... With or without you, I was to continue." His eyes were then captured by a single name on the screen. "Elza... Agraya's childhood friend... If the both of you have so much faith in her, then it's time we met. As an administrator she should also be able to help us with supplies."

"Genobee, are you there?" Fade suddenly called over the radio.

"What?"

"You're not gonna believe what I just hacked from one of the HQ ACs we managed to salvage." Fade paused and awaited some form of response, but soon remembered his leader's sulking personality. "Oh! Sorry!" the young AC gearhead radioed at his mistake. "The 'fat cat' was scheduled to leave the litter box for an inspection of Bayload City's redevelopment. The perfect time to trim his whiskers, eh?"

Genobee's dark eyes lowered at how such news was worded. This was one of Fade's bad habits... "Krauser will be there personally? What time is the inspection for?"

"Uh, about an hour ago?" Fade responded in an unsure tone.

"Unfortunate... We couldn't make it in time if we wanted."

"Not true. It says that he plans to stay overnight due to concerns of his convoy being subject to a late night ambush."

"So, he plans to leave in the morning. What time?"

"Sorry, it doesn't say. I can tell you that several of the ACs that we busted up were meant to escort his jet to and from Bayload."

"Meaning he'll have hired a couple of Ravens to protect him in their place." Genobee began readying his machine for combat. "This is an opportunity that can't be passed up." The black mech quickly came to life, recklessly tearing through the tent it had been kneeling under, and began making its way towards Baron and Big Momma, who were helping the mechanics put the finishing touches on their almost repaired ACs.

Baron and Big Momma stopped working and came out from under the tent that was their makeshift garage. "Genobee, what's going on?" he called out to the tower of darkness before him.

"Krauser Harriman is currently in Bayload." Genobee's voice said from the AC's speakers.

Baron grunted at the news. "I'm almost done here, give me-"

"No, I must be the one to do this."

"Genobee, don't be foolish!" Baron shouted back.

"From the reports we've been able to obtain, Crest already thinks we've given up and disbanded due to our lack of arms. Let's allow them to continue believing that, and my going in alone will help with the illusion."

"Chances of getting into Bayload are gonna be slim." Big Momma warned. "Not only is the area crawling with Crest forces, the place itself is a fortress. And you can't sneak in the way Agraya and I did in the past."

"I'm aware... However, if we're able to score this blow, it will cause disarray amongst the corporations, and will allow us-"

"Yeah yeah!" Trance suddenly interrupted from within his own machine. "Enough of that. Since when have you been so talkative, boss?" he then asked as his fully repaired AC stomped towards Duel Face. "Delirium is ready for action, and I think we all know how things will play out once we kill that old fart." Delirium's blade arms raised for action. "The two of us will be more than enough, boss. Just two more rebels looking for a place to die. At least, that's what they'll be thinking." The purple lightweight then spun to face Duel Face, its green mono eye glaring into its comrade's. "Besides, there's nothing you can do to stop me from following you, unless you wanna fight?"

"Trance, did you take your medication?" Big Momma then asked from below.

"Of course!" Trance barked back, which caused Big Momma to sigh upon realizing he was just being a jerk, and not under the control of his artificial rage.

"Very well..." Genobee submitted. "Big Momma, you know what to do if we are not successful in this mission. Take care of Agraya, and don't allow her to get into another AC." he ordered. "Also, make sure she gets in touch with a woman named Elza Nardo. It should not be too hard. She is an administrator at the Ark."

"I understand..."

"You can't be serious, Genobee! Trance!" Baron called out in an attempt to stop them from going on what would surely be a suicide mission. "This is crazy!!"

"That's why I love it!" Trance replied as he activated Delirium's Pegasus boosters and took off across the dusty plains. After a moment of stillness, Duel Face followed suit.

Act 3:

Elza's quarters were a mess. It almost looked as if a whirlwind had stopped by for a visit just recently. The wall units which held the dozens of gold trophies from her achievements at the Nine Breaker facility had been knocked to the floor, and the sink was littered with the numerous brands of alcoholic beverages she retreated to when lost (they weren't opened). Elza sat in her bedroom, continuing her 'studies', taking the occasional break to fall into her bed and sob, which she was currently doing at the moment.

"Elza, are you there?" Kass' voice suddenly called from the Raven's computer. Being her professional self, the name update had already reached her ears and been acknowledged.

"Yeah, I'm here." Elza replied after peeling herself out of bed and sitting before the monitor, making sure to wipe her eyes before opening a visual. "What is it? I said that I didn't want to be disturbed."

"I know. I'm sorry..." Kass replied in a tone reflecting her sympathy. "I just wanted to let you know a client is requesting to speak with you directly for an important mission."

"Kass, I'm not inter-"

"Yes, I told him, but he insisted on at least speaking with you first. Also, I think you should know that the man requesting the mission is Ishi Nakushite."

"Navis' acting CEO?"

"Yes."

"Why would he want to speak with me? There's nothing I can do to save Navis in its current state."

"Shall I tell him you're not interested?"

"Put him through."

"Ma'am."

Ishi's face appeared on the monitor, and the man was looking rather terrible, giving even Elza a run for her money in that department. "Elza?" he said as best he could through his clear state of anguish. "It's good to finally speak to the Raven that has saved our company from so many-"

"Not to be rude, but can you please tell me the details of this mission? I'm very busy at the moment."

"Yes, of course..." Ishi replied. "Navis is clearly finished, I don't need to tell you that. In our attempt to prevent our complete demise, we managed to activate a massive weapon from the lost era..."

"Foolish..." Elza exhaled at the news.

"Yes... Unfortunately we haven't been able to gain control of it, and the situation is deteriorating rapidly. If Mirage hadn't disturbed our research in the desert this might not have occurred."

I doubt that.

"The moment we managed to get its weapons back on-line, the device went berserk, killed the staff, and began repairing itself. While it's still secured inside one of our fortified MT storehouses, the weapon will easily free itself once its back to 100. There isn't much time before that happens..."

"Understood. What's the codename of the weapon?"

"Leviathan... That's one of the few things we could retrieve before the machine went on-line. The great beast which slumbered beneath Koilos... And we were foolish enough to think we could control it..."

"Leviathan..." Elza quickly brought up the files she had temporarily transferred to her computer in order to see exactly what she would be up against. Schematics, combat potential, strengths and weakness, everything she needed to know about the weapon was displayed from Zen's records. The realization of what a single one of these AI-controlled monsters could do caused Elza to shoot to her feat in preparation for the mission. "Damn it! If something like that gets free..."

"Yes, I know..." Ishi whispered in regret. "This is our last request, Ms. Nardo. Raven. Please get here and put an end to this nightmare before it's unleashed upon the world." The sounds of explosions were suddenly heard in the background, followed by flashes of light and the sounds of people screaming for their lives.

"Wait a minute, you're still on scene?" she asked as she snapped shut the series of locks about her armored flight suit.

"Yes..." the clearly defeated CEO replied as Elza reached in her closet and retrieved Zen's old coat.

"Then you have to get out of there!" Elza demanded as she put the dark garment on.

"No. I've failed. Just as Saan did..." Ishi admitted in shame. "And because of that, I deserve to share his fate..."

"Mr. Nakushite-"

"I've already provided your operator with all the instructions and access codes needed to enter the storehouse. The weapon must be destroyed and we'd like you to handle it. Please make haste, Raven." he managed to say before his feed died.

"Nakushite! Damn it..." Elza quickly transferred Zen's reports back to her computerized 'watch' and called her operator. "Kass, I'm accepting the mission!"

"Received." Kass' face then appeared in a corner of her monitor. "It looks like the feed was terminated on their end. Elza, you had better hurry. The emergency team has already repaired your AC, and it's ready for combat."

"They really are the best." Elza said to the news. "Alright, I'm off." she called as she shut off the monitor. Elza paused and looked to the stars that filled the night's sky just outside the transparent wall of her room. "Looks like I'm already on the clock, eh, Zen?" She then allowed a warm smile to visit her face. "I won't let you down." Elza quickly headed out and made a stop at the infirmary, where Rain was keeping a freshly plaster cast Silphe company. "Rain, I need to borrow something from you."

Still pondering on how to deal with the deranged Ancient in his 'safekeeping', Tokishiro paced back and forth before the metal doors that caged her. "I was told that an Ancient's nanomachines even had the ability to deal with such traumas, so why, why isn't her mind recovering!" he suddenly shouted in his frustration.

"Sir, maybe she just doesn't want it to." the short female researcher guessed.

"What?" Tokishiro asked as he brought his pacing to a halt.

"It's clear from what she's been babbling that the woman has been subjected to horrible forms of experimentation. Maybe they were forced into during so because of her unwillingness to disclose her people's secrets. Perhaps her current state of mind is the result of some sort of bio mechanical fail-safe." The researcher received several impressed nods from her associates. "For all we know, her current psychological state, it may entirely be the collective will of the micromachines throughout her body."

"That at least does seem plausible..." Tokishiro said in a long sigh. "Even so, she can't just sit there. We have to do something. I've waiting far too long for her to finally recover."

"Sir, that's the kind of impatience that got Oscar and Greg killed."

"Regardless, steps must be taken."

"What do you suggest, sir?"

Tokishiro braced his narrow chin in thought. "Hmm... Gas the room." he then ordered. "Afterwards, we can move her to a more comfortable setting. Perhaps if she's placed in a more relaxed environment..."

"That's an excellent idea, sir." the researcher replied with a smile as she made her way to the terminal. "I'm proceeding."

The vents about the room quietly began introducing a colorless, orderless sleeping agent into the room. Suddenly, Andra began to sniff out the new agents that slowly filled the air around her. "Heh..."

Tokishiro smirked as he watched Andra continue to sniff the air. "She's registering the contents of the gas. Amazing." Tokishiro whispered.

"I knew you were going... to punish me..."

Tokishiro moved aside the researcher and activated the intercom. "Andra, I promise you that no one is going to hurt you. We just want you to relax so we can take you to a nice room. One that can be catered to your liking. Then we'll get you cleaned up, provide you with clothing, something to eat as well."

"Truth... and lie..." she said as her body fell hard on its side.

"She's under. I'm clearing the gas, sir."

Once the room was cleared of the agent, Tokishiro looked to his personal bodyguards who were standing near the cluster of eager researchers. "Alright, you two, go and secure her. Most importantly, be gentle with those arms of yours." he advised.

"Understood, Mr. Kisaragi." was their simultaneous response as the thick doors began to part.

"Lab 11A should be perfect." the small woman said as she opened a feed to luxurious facade.

Tokishiro offered only a second to the display on one of the terminal's monitors. "That will do." he said as he continued to watch Andra with a pair of fascinated eyes.

"It's modeled after a high-class apartment in the Shijumo district." the scientist said as she gave her attention to the two ogres approaching Andra.

"Excellent." Kisaragi said, still watching the handling of his prized possession from outside the room. As one of the cyber-armed guards reached down to lift Andra, a sharp smirk made itself known across her face.

"You lie. I lie." she whispered as one of her hands cleared the bodyguard's chest and exited his back." After a quick recovery of her blood-soaked limb, the large body of the cybernized man slammed to the floor. The second Cyber took a few steps back in response. Only his arms were mechanical, and as his longtime partner just proved, the majority of his body was just as frail as the next man.

"S-She's wasn't under!?" one of the researcher called out.

"Quickly, seal the room!" Tokishiro ordered the tiny intellect. "You, restrain her!" he then commanded the remaining bodyguard.

"Y-Yes, Mr. Kisaragi." the large man answered, removing his shades and placing them in his pocket.

Andra's hair-covered face turned to the doors of freedom, which were growing smaller by the second, and she made a dash for them, but was quickly placed in a metallic bear hug from behind the moment she passed the second guard.

"Easy!" Kisaragi yelled just before the doors closed before his frustrated face.

"Just calm down, Ms. Lo." the bodyguard advised. "We have no intentions of-" he was quickly silenced by her blue head smashing back into his face, crushing his nose in the process. The savage blow caused him to release her and stagger back.

"Lies... I'm tired of them..." Andra whispered as she approached her next victim, who, in a panic, threw a cybernetic-fueled fist her way, snapping her head back, and breaking her sharp nose in turn.

"No, you fool!!" Kisaragi screamed over the intercom.

"Heh... Better..." she mumbled as her neck collapsed back in place, her hair once again adorning the top half of her face as it did. "Honesty is best... Be true..." Andra then said as she snapped her broken nose back in place, which gave off an awful crunch when she did. The dark trail of blood that exited her nose was quickly wiped away by a helpful tongue. "Be ended... an honest person..."

The scientists looked away from the monitor while the man trapped in the room screamed in agony as the Ancient tore his cybernetic arms off. Which were followed by other parts of his body... Kisaragi's intense eyes didn't falter for even a moment, soaking up every detail of her abilities.

Suddenly, Andra began to dig her bloody fingers into her own head, growling furiously at her environment. "GAAAAAAA!!!" In her burst of rage she began pounding upon the reinforced doors. Each blow was clearly inhuman, and the doors cringed at the fact as they echoed her furious strikes. "OUT!!!" Andra roared.

"Oh my god!" The short researcher began walking back in terror. Her associates did the same in fear of Andra getting loose.

"Calm down. She won't get through." Tokishiro said in his attempt of maintaining control over the situation. "Dammit..." he then grunted at the sight on the monitors. The flesh on the fronts of Andra's fists was clearly gone, a deal of it sticking to the dents she put in the metal doors. Regardless, she continued on. Fist after enraged fist.

"OUT!!! OUT!!!"

Tokishiro saw that her forearms were also beginning to bleed under the reckless pressure. Eventually her arms would shatter. "Andra, calm down!" Tokishiro begged over the intercom. "You're hurting yourself!"

"Hurt?" Andra ceased her attacks on the doors and made her way to the stasis pod. After zoning out for a few seconds before the device, she quickly became enraged again. Andra grabbed the pod and literally tore it free from its secures in the floor with her already damaged hands. The large cables on its sides tore off and hissed as they began releasing sparks and steam throughout the room. "HURT!!!" Andra screamed as she raised the ton of metal over her head in a display of terrible power, and hurled it at the door, causing a calamity of metals. After another moment of zoning, Andra stared towards the immovable doors and began to calm down at the sight of the pod as it rocked back and forth a few times before its unbreakable frame came to a stop.

Tokishiro had one of the cameras zoom in on the horrific wounds which decorated Andra's fists and arms. They were already in the process of healing, and a sheet of fresh meat was already sheathing the bones. It was at this moment Andra took advantage of one of her crushed hands, and managed to slip it through the metal shackle that had been locked to her wrist. She then flung the object to the floor as best she could. The property of Dr. M Okamura no more.

"This power. This is our future." Tokishiro said to himself in excited air, a fist clenched tightly at his side. "The abilities that were snatched away from us so long ago... I'll be the one to reclaim them."

"Sir, if we can't control her, it seems highly unlikely that we'll be able to get near her, let alone attain samples."

"I know that. And it seems her system can filter out certain agents in the gas. We can't risk hurting her..."

"I don't think that's a problem, sir."

"No... I won't resort to the deplorable techniques they used on her. I want her back to normal, and there's only one way that can be done..." Tokishiro lowered his eyes and smirked at the thought of his coming actions. "Looks like you win after all, Zenobis... Good show." he whispered to himself just before he accessed the intercom. "Andra, I'm going to call someone to come see you. Someone who wishes to see you very much. Someone I'm sure you wish to see as well."

"No... lie?" Andra asked as her head tilted to the camera on the wall.

"No lie." Tokishiro replied warmly. "Zenobis-"

"Alive!?" she immediately interrupted in an almost cheery voice, accompanied by a smile that couldn't be considered anything less than creepy as her hair continued to cancel out half her face.

"Yes, Zenobis is alive. He's been searching for you for a very long time. And I've been helping him."

"Zen... obis..." Andra whispered as the smile on her bloodstained face began to intensify. "I miss... him... My Zen... obis..." Andra wandered about for a moment, babbling incoherently before reclaiming her seat in the middle of the destroyed room, her head returning to the ceiling. "My... Zen... obis..."

Next Chapter: Silicon Avatars