This is my first Fan Fic ever...so don't chew me out if things here aren't like the others. I will be using my own story line and my own character I made a long time ago for this story, but it does takes place during Armored Core 2. I didn't come up with the idea of Armored Core 2. All the things here besides the characters belong to Agetec (whoever came up with the game), such as part names, characters I might use from the game, and anything else I have forgotten. If the owners do not approve of this Fic, then I will gladly remove it ASAP. Now that i have that out of the way, enjoy!

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(Note: I will be using the AC I created when I first played the game, it got me through the whole game! So my AC deserves its props! lol)

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Another Age, Yet Again

Chapter 1: The Newest Raven

"...Damn..."

I deactivated my boosters, coming to a stop near the wall. Looking at the panels in front of me, I noticed that my current weapon indicator glowing red, indicating my weapon was out of ammo.

"Out already? A lot of ammunition my ass.." I growled as I switched my ZWC-CN/500 (Lightweight chain gun) back to my primary weapon of choice, the Karasawa-Mk2 (Large plasma rifle, energy based)

"Now...where did he go?" I checked around, relaying on my eyes first and then turning to my radar. "Crap, there's no place for him to hide here, so why can't I...." I was cut off my a large explosion, rather several explosions, as my AC was bombarded with rockets, nailing me in my back and forcing my AC to the ground.

I checked my AP counter, wide-eyed as my AP points dropped another 1000 points, leaving me with a sparse 900. "Damn, I won't be able to take much more...why is it that I can't see this guy in my radar!?" I yelled as I got my AC back on its feet as soon as possible. Just then, it hit me.

"Duh! He must be using something...his energy readings are dimishing" I read the gauge from my computer screen as I finally saw my target. This AC was using a very unexpected back unit, a ZXR-S/Stealth (Enemy Radar Jamming Equipment), which kept me from locating him on my radar. He probably had snuck up behind me while I wasn't looking and unleashed a barrage of missiles. It was a good tactic, but now I had him where I wanted him, in my sights.

"Gotcha! I'm getting rid of that little equipment you have there too!" I yelled as I brought up my Karasawa and aimed right for his right arm. Just as I was about to fire, my opponent activates its boosters, and begins to charge at me, bringing up its left arm up, unsheathing the compressed energy from his L5-Moonlight (Left Arm Energy Blade) and slashed at me with downward swipe.

"Crap!" I pained, and hit my boosters, quickly strafing to the left, barly dodging the blow. "Now you die" I brought up my Karasawa and fired two quick shots, one nailing his jamming equipment, and the other right into its head unit, destroying the part completely. The AC then fell to its knees and its function ceased. I had won...

De-activating my combat mode, I brought my AC in front of my opponents, savoring my victory. As soon as I did, the crowd cheered as the walls around the arena rose, revealing the crowd that had just witnessed the battle that had taken place.

"Another victory for our newest fighter, please give a hand to Espikes, and his AC, the Thunder Omega!" The announcer yelled through his microphone toward the crowd, as they stood and clapped and whistled for my victory.

I return my AC to the arena's garage, where it receives its repair (At my expense!!) and I picked up my prize credits. "This is it? I won't be able to get any new parts with this kinda dough.." I thought to myself as I walked toward the exit, leaving my AC behind until its repairs are complete. I pushed the handle bar to the exit door, and walked outside, the cold air hitting my face as I stepped outside.

Its about 4:30 a.m., and the sun will be rising soon. Leaning up against the arena's outside wall, I look out over the ocean, waiting to see the sun rise, awaiting morning. The arena is located on a large island, far away from civilization, the city can not be seen even if you were in a AC or hovering over the island. If a AC were to explode, the people in the city would never hear it. This location makes it a perfect place to hold underground AC tournaments, where the best pilots and they're AC battle just for money and sometimes AC parts. Me on the other hand, I fight for the money.

As for me, my name is Espikes, and I'm the newest member of this underground brawl we call "The Tournament of Champions". At 19, I am the youngest AC pilot around, and I am always looking for a battle to test out my recent AC, the Thunder Omega. That's basically the only reason I am in this tournament anyway...well..that and the credits. Any credits I receive from my victories I use to upgrade my AC or buy parts.

The Thunder Omega is no ordinary AC, its overweight, but is still functional. It can match up to some of the toughest AC there is. It has its weaknesses though. Because it is overweight, the AC is slow, so I must rely on my boosters and energy to get me out of tight situations. To save money, most of my weapons are energy based, which either overheats enemy AC's, or do serious damage to certain parts. All the parts on the Thunder Omega are specially ordered through the Earth and Mar Corporation, via our little tournament. Some people work for these Corporations and smuggle in the parts we wish, for a high price, which makes it very illegal. (Now you understand why the tournament is held late at night)

My AC's parts are all original made, except the core. The core is specially made, which not only holds inside, booster and other parts, but my cockpit is also located there. The metal is of a unknown material, but no weapon has yet to penetrate it...as far as I know anyway.

My mind was on my next match, when the exit door suddenly flew open, and my thoughts were interrupted by one of the tournament officials.

"Espikes?" He said, as he walked outside.

"That be me" I replied, not even turning my head to look at him.

"Repairs on your AC will be complete tomorrow afternoon, so you won't have any more matches until tomorrow, do you understand?" He glared at him, thinking that I wasn't listening to a word he was saying.

I simply nodded, and finally turned my head to look at him. "Anything else?"

The official blinks, then flips through his notebook. "Yep..thats about it. Just be here tomorrow. And on time...or you will be disqualified." He finished, turning around and leaving the exit door.

"I know the rules....besides...that was a accident." I was late the last time, and I got really chewed out by the officials....all 25 of them. "I'll head home and hit the sack, nothing left here." Getting up off the wall, I walked back in the same way I came out. As the door closed behind me, a strange figure still outside steps out from the shadows as the sun finally rises.

"I believe he's the one...I'll inform the captain." He then runs off, tripping over objects on the ground on his way.

To get back to the city, all pilots that participate in the tournament are transported to and from the arena via sub. Its a nine hour trip back to civilization, but I didn't care. All I wanted to do was get home and sink into my warm bed. Too bad I wouldn't get to do even that.....

After the long ride and we arrived, I hurried home which wasn't to far from the port where the sub dropped everyone off. I opened the door to my house, and walked in, locking the door behind me. I didn't even bother checking if I had messages, all I did was drop my coat on the sofa, and walked like a zombie to my room and dropped onto my bed.

"Finally!" I whined as he tried to get under the blankets, but just as I got comfortable.....

"OPEN UP! WE KNOW YOUR IN THERE!" The sound could be hear all the way to my room, which was about three rooms down the hallway.

"The hell?" I got up, growling as I rushed over to the door, hoping to get rid of whoever was at my door so I could get some sleep, but I was in for a surprise the second I turned the knob and opened the door.

"Earth Government!" The official flipped the badge in my face and let it linger there for a moment before recalling it and placing it back into his coat pocket. "We have a warrant, you'll have to come with us." He snapped his fingers, and as he did, the two officers he had with him grabbed me by my arms and pulled me from my doorway, taking me over to they're car and stuffing me into the backseat. "At least I can sleep back here..." I thought as I was shoved into the car.

After about ten minutes, we arrived at the destination. One of the officers gave me a rude awakening, jabbing me with one of his weapons. "Wake up! We're here.."

At first, I though we had arrived at a prison or a police station, but instead, we arrived at the one of the Earths Corporations, Nerves Concord.

"Huh? Hey....why are we here? This isn't a police station or anything...what is going on?" I asked.

"You've been called." One of the officials replied. "I've been told to bring you here. All your questions will be answered soon enough."

"They better be. Because I'm going to really pound on the guy that won't let me get my sleep!" As you've noticed, I get really upset when I don't sleep, I mean...who wouldn't?!

As I taken through many places inside the Corporation, we finally arrived in a large office, where the official and the officers left me in the middle of the office and left, closing the door quietly as they did.

I noticed a figure sitting in a large indigo chair, he was facing away from me, looking out the large window of his office. For a moment, there was silence, and then he finally spoke.

"Please...take a seat."

I nodded, doing as he asked, sitting down in a chair in front of his desk. "You are going to face me right?" A drop appeared on the side of my head, hoping this wasn't one of those discussions where he would never see the face of the person we was talking too.

"Hehe...very well.." He turned around, finally facing him. He was a very young man, about in his 30's, wearing the usual black formal outfit with a tie and all that. "My name is Robert Sans, and I'm the vice president of this Corporation."

"Enough of the formalities...get to why I'm here. I'm tired, broke, and I have business to take care of later on tonight!" I yelled. At this point, I didn't care about who this guy was or where I was. I just wanted to get home.

"I see. Then I'll get right to the point." He opened a drawer to his desk, taking out a small folder and slid it toward me. I grab the folder and looked inside, noticing numerous pictures of the Thunder Omega and I in battle at the arena.

"We've been watching you for some time now, and I believe you have just what we're looking for." He turned his chair around again, facing toward the window. "To be blunt, your a very young pilot with a lot of experience, so...

"So?" I said, still holding the folder.

"So, I want to hire you. I want you to become our own Raven."

This really surprised me. I basically stole from they're Corporation, and took part in a illegal tournament, and now, instead of sending my ass to the slammer, they're offering me a job, a job that, to me...I would take without hearing anymore. But something was still bothering me, a question that was in my mind that needed to be asked and answered.

"Wait...so, your not arresting me? Why not? I mean, if you know what we've been doing...why not put the cuffs on me and impound my AC. That is what you were planning...wasn't it?"

He simply laughed, then answered. "Yes...that was my original plan, but after seeing you in action, my plan changed." He then turned his chair toward me again, looking at me with a grin on his face, and at that point....I knew he had me.

"I do know what you've been up too, so I'll cut you a deal. You accept this job, then all charges toward you are dropped, and you may have the use of our parts for your AC at your disposal, instead of smuggling them in...for a price, of course."

I thought about it. It sounded like a good deal, but should I take it? After a while, I finally nodded. The grin on his face grew wider.

"Excellent, now...for your first mission. You are to go back to the tournament tomorrow as scheduled, but once you win, you are to take out the entire arena."

My eyes widened and I bolted up, slamming my hands on the table hard. "What?! Are you telling me you want me to destroy that arena?! You want me to betray a lot of people and maybe kill others?"

"Its the only way to see if we can even trust you. Besides, you will receive backup from our forces as soon as everyone has cleared out of the arena...you may then destroy it. Please be advised that you will only be paid if you complete your mission."

This really angered me, and he got lucky. The only thing that stopped me from jumping over the table and choking this man was the amount of money he offered for the mission.

"Nine Hundred Thousand Credits, but only if the mission is a success"

To others, that might not have been enough, but for me, I was a sucker for credits. Crossing my arms and turning away from him, I gave him my answer.

"Alright...I'll do it"

And with that...I became a Raven. That was the easy part it seems, and I got off pretty easy. But, what's gonna happen tomorrow when its time to start the plan? I thought about that all morning after I was dropped off at my house. I wasn't able to sleep that day.

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Well, there you have it, the first chapter of my Fan Fic. I hope you enjoyed it. Please read over and review it and tell me what you think. I will come up with Chapter Two as soon as I can! ^_^