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.
"So, are we done Lyn?" I ask, rubbing my eyes from exhaustion.
"I'd like you to describe that AC. You said it was mostly older parts?" Lyn asks, looking as exhausted as Zak and me.
"Well, the configuration resembles my norm. There was an advanced head, I'm guessing it was Crest. The core is the same as mine, though much older. I don't know a thing about the legs, but I could definitely recognize them…"
"Jake, wait! Maybe you should build it on the computer. I'll access the parts archive. Besides, the description already sounds familiar." Lyn says, punching a few keys.
After a moment, an AC systems map shows up onscreen. So I grab the keyboard, and start to place parts.
__ __
__/--/ ) ( \--\__
------| / \ |------
/ / \ \
0 0
__ _ __
/ _| __ / \ __ |_ \
/ /-- / |\____\_/____/| \ --\ \
|_| \ | | / \ | | / |_|
| | | \ (°) / | | |
| | \ \ / / | |
|_ | \_(_____ ) _/ |_|
_ (| |) _| |_ (| |) __
/\ \ | | (| \ / |) | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | ( )
| | |/ | ( " | |\ /| | " ) V
|v|/|/ |A | | A|
\| | | A||A A||A
| | | / \ / \
| |/ | | | | | | | |
| | \ | | / \ | | /
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | V | | V |
V | | | |
| A | | A |
A/ \A A/ \A
With the system map replaced by the correct parts, I hit "Search" and watch the computer work. The parts come together to form an AC, then the image shrinks and moves to the upper left corner while a new window opens up. The new window then starts to shuffle all the parts, matching legs, core, arms, and head. It then matches visible weapons and extensions.
'Three Matches Found!'
'Lockdown'
A bluish AC, and it has a small chaingun on the right shoulder. That's not it.
'Riptide'
Another AC. This one's blue and green, with a howitzer, instead of a flamethrower.
'*Classified*'
What? Classified! That's gotta be the one. Damn! The image is grayed out.
"I found it…" I say. I can see a look of curiosity on Zak and Lyns face. "It's the classified pilot."
With a skeptical tone, "How can you tell, Jake?" is all that Lyn can say.
"Process of Elimination. There's no other Raven with this configuration."
"Well, Jake, We apparently can't get info on this guy. I suggest you two get some sleep." Lyn says, yawning and rubbing her tired eyes. This debriefing took us two hours, at least. It's now 2330 hours, and we've all had a long day.
Zak, Lyn, and I all get u[, and walk out of the room. Then we all split up. Lyn still has paperwork to do, Zak feels like having a couple more drinks, and I just want to hit the sack.
I get to my room, and open the door to a great surprise. Actually, a couple of surprises.
"Venom Strike! What are you doin' here!" I can't believe she's still here. She must've gotten back from her mission awhile ago.
"Hey hon. You said I could stay here awhile. Now you're kickin' me out?" Venom says with a hurt look on her face.
"I meant a couple of hours, until you left to go on a mission, or to go back to your dorm!" Now she really looks hurt. "I'm sorry. I'm just tired."
"Okay. OH! You have a message from Kisaragi." She says as I step into my dorm, peeling my shirt off as I go.
"Thanks."
I walk over to m terminal, deciding to read the message. Turning on the monitor, and typing in my password, I see the sender name and subject.
'Kisaragi VP'
' A gift fit for a Raven'
Looks interesting, I think I'll read it. So I open it, and get the surprise of a life time.
'Raven, you've shown extraordinary talent. You also saved our development lab by finding the hidden bomb that we didn't know about. For that, we at Kisaragi would like to give you a gift Fit for a Raven! We are giving you the AC that you piloted today, the WhipLash. We would have had to dump everything in the memory, and remove your registration of it had we not given it to you. This gift in no way obligates you to us. We here at Kisaragi hope that you will accept. If you do, then we will send you all the specs, later on of course.
Vice President of Kisaragi'
SHIT! I've never just been GIVEN an AC before. How can I refuse such an offer. I garb the holo keyboard, and start typing my response.
'Yes. I accept you're gift, and thank you.
Dark Vent'
With the excitement of the surprise over, I can feel sleep coming for me again, and twice as strong. I'd better go to bed.
'So, Dark Vent, what'd they say?" Venom asks me.
Crawling into bed, I say "They gave me an AC." Her jaw drops as low as naturally possible, and she just stands there, motionless and speechless. The perfect sight to fall asleep by. I'm out soon after that.
~
"She's a thing of beauty, isn't she, Marcos?"
"Dude, she's the best lookin' core I've ever seen. I mean, It actually looks Alive! It actually looks like it could breath at any moment. Oh, I called your friend Zak. He should be here any moment."
I hear footsteps a ways off. "So, Jake. What is it that you'd like to show us?"
I turn to see Lyn and Zak jogging across the garage towards me. They apparently haven't heard yet.
"Lyn, Zak, I'd like you to meet my new AC, WhipLash." I say. At this, both of them stop dead in their tracks, dropping their jaws in the process. It'll take about a minute or two before either can talk.
"When… How… Are those parts even on the market?" Zak asks in complete awe! I wish I had a camera, So I can always have a picture of what his face looks like right now.
"The Kisaragi VP contacted me last night. He was impressed by my sctions so much, that he gave me the AC WhipLash, obligation free. I highly doubt the obligation free part, but we'll see" The truth is, I really just want to find out what this thing's made of. I could care less about obligation. I head over to the lift, heading towards the cockpit of WhipLash.
~
Damn, man! This thing handles like a dream. I barely have to touch th.. OH! The VP finally sent me the statistics of this unit. I decide to stop and check it out.
"Hey, Lyn! I just got the stats on this beauty, and you should see some of this stuff!"
"Like what?" She sounds enthusiastically interested.
"Besides what I already know, there's lots of things. The blade, for one, has a third mode as a circular saw. And the rail-gun, It has a superheated short-range mode."
"Damn! Jake, you gotta let me try that core." I hear Zak say.
"Like Hell!! You're not getting' your paws on this thing!"
I continue to look at the specs displayed on the laptop. Let's see here, enhanced stability control… triple dense capacitor… a radar range of nine twenty-eight… hacking ability, Seven! Cool, the most any other head has is five! I finally reach the generator stats, and nearly fall out of my seat! A five part Generator!
"Hey Zak, Lyn, get this! This AC has a new prototype generator," I say, still unable to believe the spec report, "It says that the wings, rail-gun, and blade all have a sub generator. This says that each one doubles the total output generated!"
"But… That's Eight FUCKING TIMES the original Power!" Lyn screamed. I have to cover my ears because the speakers are so loud!" Oh, Jake, I just got a message for you from Ignition. He's challenging you to an arena match."
Ignition? I've been trying to get a match with him for months. Why would he want to challenge me?
"Let him know that I accept the challenge. I just need a day to repair Oblivian."
"He says that the match must be today, or it won't happen!"
"Today! That means I'll have to use WhipLash! I'll be there at five o'clock."
This means that I'll have to use WhipLash in the match. Could he have heard about it already?