Disclaimer: I claim no rights to any logo, insignia,

or corporate name in this story. They are

property of Sony, and AgeTech. I've only read two AC

stories on this site so far, so any copyright infringement is

purely by accident. Oh, and thanks to SilentLine for the idea of first person.

Dark Revival

By:

Dark Hunter

…Boot Initializing…

…Systems Check:

Reactor…Online

Database…Online

Mainframe…Online

Security…Online

…Accessing File Archive…

…Loading System Parameters…

…Booting AI…

…AI…Initialized

…Controller…Online

…

…I am The Controller

…Returning Layered under my control

…

Ch. 1. Anomolies

"System switched to Normal mode."

"So Jake, any clue who those guys were?"

"Nope, not a clue, Zak," I say, hearing my echo in the comm system, "but I'll check with Lyn when we get back."

"Who?" I hear Zak ask over the communication channel.

I answer, "Lyn, you know! Our Liason Officer!…"

"Oh, the Bitch!" is all Zak says in response.

Damn, you'd think he'd have forgiven her by now. She puts one whoopee cushion in the guys cockpit and he thinks of her as a harpy from then on.

"Zak, that whoopee cushion thing was five years ago! I can't believe you're still sore about it." I tell him.

"Fine Jake, besides, we're almost back to HQ."

As we come back into sector five-one-seven, I notice a warning light, you know them, those annoying little things that just start flashing and you don't know why or for what, was flashing like mad. I'll have to check with the mechanic when we get back.

"Yo! Jake! Headquarters is this way." I hear, bringing me back from my thoughts.

There it is, the Global Cortex Headquarters. HQ is this giant, fifteen story, octagonal building. The northern and northwestern wedges are designated specifically for the Garage. The northeastern wedge is the Shop. The eastern face is the recreational wedge, with everything and anything to keep you happy. Hell, on floor fifteen, they have a prostitution and gigolo service.

The southeastern wedge contains the Global Cortex Services department. That's the shit hole these corporates go to to request our services, then we have to go there ourselves to pick up our missions. In the southern wedge, we have the Dorms that Global Cortex provides. I stay there mainly for the convenience of it.

Global Cortex's southwestern wedge WAS the Office wedge, until last week when a rookie blew off half the southwestern face when returning from his evaluation. Needless to say, they revoked his rank as a Raven then and there, confiscated his AC, and permanently assigned him to a construction MT. Poor bastard, never even got a mission in.

The western wedge now contains temporary offices, though its normally just empty space. But hey, they put it there for just such an occasion.

"Hey Zak," I yell over the comm channel.

"Yeah bud?" I hear.

So I continue, "what's your game tonight?"

After a minute or so of dead air, "Darts, if I want even a snowballs chance in hell of winning."

I turn and start to enter Bay Two of the Garage. I almost always get shutdown before him.

"Shutdown complete. Goodbye Jake."

I love the sound of the computer. I always have preferred the heads with the female voice. Well, better get the grease monkeys on this tin can.

"Hey Marcos," I call down, "I need you to check one of the warning lights in here for me."

Marcos, "No prob, dude. Should I send the report to your room?"

I thought, then, "Naw, send it to the rec room."

As I'm getting out, I'm able to see the full extent of the damage. I hope I have enough creds. The tank of my flamethrower is completely gone, that'll cost me. The core has a hole in it the size of my head! Looks like it didn't hit the radiator though, what a relief. It also explains the sluggishness of the left arm. Well, better get to the rec room.

As I make my way to the back of the garage, I hear Lyn's succulent voice over the P.A.

"Would Jake hunter and Zak Hindler please report to the debriefing room immediately."

Shit, this can't wait until we've eaten? Now I'm starting to understand why Zak thinks she's a bitch.

Damn, He's in here already!

"Yeah?" I ask on the way through the silvery door.

"Good Jake, you're hear." Lyn started, "I've got the analysis back on the MT data. I've also got some disturbing news, boys."

Zak and me exchange one really dumbfounded look, then he asks, "So what is it?"

"First, those MTs you faced weren't standard MTs. Fr…"

"No Shit!"

"Yes, well. Frankly, we can't tell who made them, or what enhancements they have. What we can tell you is, that there were no biosigns being picked up inside. Hell, we couldn't even detect cockpits."

Frankly, this shocked the hell out of the both of us. I'm the first to speak.

"What?! No pilots, but how the hell can that be?!"

Lyn, "I've no clue. No one has ever been able to create a successful remote MT. Well, other than security drones, that is. But those weren't security drones, they were too mobile."

"Yeah, we know that already, don't we Jake."

"Fuck yeah! One of those bastards took out my flamethrower."

"Calm down boys. I know all about that. Look, we don't know who they were, but we here at HQ do know that those MTs took out your intended targets."

Amazed and surprised, I look at Lyn and ask,"How the FUCK do you know that!"

"Because I had the mechanics run an energy residue scan on your units the moment you two got back. It's the same energy signature that we found on a heap of rubble 'bout four clicks from your Area of Operation. The rubble was the remains of the Mirage forces, your intended targets."

"WHAT!" Zak and I scream, simultaneously jumping to our feet.

"The strange thing is, similar occurrences happened about seven years ago. That was when Layered was still under the rule of The Controller. But The Controller was destroyed by your father, Jake, the Dark Hunter. Unfortunately, no one has heard from him since."

"Yeah, Lyn, I know. I spent two months wishing he'd come home. Now, back to those MTs."

"Right. Frankly, I haven't seen this type of thing since the Controllers reign. This is starting to really concern me, and I'm not sure why. After all, The Controller was destroyed and can't come back online. Well, dismissed."

"See ya, Lyn. Zak, ready to eat." I ask, feeling my stomach grumble.

"Race ya there!"

Damn, he's already ahead of me. Through the heavy door and into the blue and orange hall, shit, he's still ahead. Sharp right ahead, hey, I'm catchin' up. I'm catchin' up and, wait, what's th…

"Hey buddy, you okay?"

"Aaoooohh. What hit me?

"That would be my door. Are you going to be okay?"

Damn, my head hurts. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Well, I finally made it down here, and of course, Zak beat me. Why does the have to have a green neon light. I guess I owe Zak five hundred creds.

"Jake, Marcos sent your report down here."

"Thanks Ted. Can I get a beer, and an ice-pack. Oh, and a couple of aspirin."

Hmm, where's Zak at? Never mind, there he is at the dart board.

"Hey Zak, I owe you five hundred. I'm gonna read my repair report, then I'll kick your ass."

Turning on the monitor, I instinctively took the more comfortable of the two chairs at the table.

'Enter Global Cortex Password'

' * * * * * * * '

'Access Granted'

'Accessing Mail Account_'

'Income Report:'

' Reward: 45000c'

' Additional Reward: 0c'

' Special Addition: 0c'

' Repair: 27000c'

' Ammo: 3527c'

' Special Deductions: 0c'

'Balance: 14473c'

'Comments:'

'Hey dude, I checked that warning light. Dude, that thing leads to nothing. I mean, it leads nowhere. The thing has a kill circuit, but no circuit other than the one to the processor. This fucker doesn't link to a single system on your unit. Everything else checks out though, dude. Talk to you later.'

"What! No systems link? But, then why was it flashing?"