Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Armored Core series. That belongs to Agetec and From Software. I only own the original characters. Thank you.
In TALON's Grasp
by: T.R. Fanatic
AN: Italicized sentences in this chapter (unless said otherwise) are used to tell a story.
Chapter 11: Reason
"So, that's two sightings in a month." Chief muttered. He, along with Kaze, Pyro, Rebel and the woman with short dark blonde hair and a black patch over her right eye: Lazy-Eye, sat around the table in the meeting room, contemplating the mission's performance.
"In the team's case, yes..." Kaze replied sadly.
"Aw, don't feel bad, kid." Lazy-Eye said with a smile and a pat on Kaze's back. "You should be glad! We all made it out alive!"
"I should be... But, he was right there! I had the chance to kill him... yet, I froze at the sight of him... Just like before."
"Well, I'd hate to be a thorn in your side, but he has much more experience than you, while you just got started in the business. What makes you think you can defeat 'em?"
Kaze closed his eyes. "My thirst for revenge." he replied calmly. "It's what drove me to become a Raven, and gave me a new goal in life: to destroy the one that destroyed the ones that I cared about..."
It was two years ago... I was walking home from school like every other day when the area-wide siren went off. At first I thought there was some sort of error in the security system, then possibly a drill, but when I heard a classmate say, "It's an AC attack!" ...I knew that I had to find shelter and fast... Yet, I was so close to home that I could see it from where I stood and I didn't want my family to worry about me...
As I thought about that, the AC that the classmate mentioned appeared... Nine-Ball, expending his payload every which way like the madman he was, and still is. Eventually using his grenade launcher to bore a hole into the complex that I lived in, then used his laser blade to make the entire place collapse to the ground.
I was in shock. My life was torn apart in a matter of seconds by Nine-Ball. I wanted to do something out of revenge, but I remember my older brother warning me not to pick on someone bigger than me...
Then it came... A black and red AC flew from behind me, firing a barrage of bullets at Nine-Ball. Nine-Ball countered. As soon as the new AC got close enough, the red AC dodged and sliced the opposing AC in the back, hard enough to make him drop to its side in defeat.
The next thing that Nine-Ball did was unthinkable... he walked away. To this day, I'm not sure why he did that, but it was an opportune time to help out the pilot of the black and red AC, who was staggering out the metal beast.
As I got closer, I found out that the pilot looked familiar... It was my older brother, holding the bloodied wound on his back. I asked if he was all right, but he replied with, "Don't let our father and his horrible intentions get a hold of you..." Then he fell, face forward... I caught him... but it was too late...
I didn't cry, though... I was more angry than sad. I set my brother down, said a little prayer, turned looked at the fallen AC and then glared at the retreating Nine-Ball. At that moment, I thought: if that AC is working for Murakumo, then it has no right to live!
"Wait," Pyro interrupted. "why Murakumo?"
"Murakumo is the corporation that my father works for." Kaze informed. "His 'intention,' as my brother put it, was to have us, along with other employees' sons and daughters, 'participate' in Project H.P."
"Project H.P.? What is it? Sounds interesting!"
"...You need not know about it!" Tsubasa ordered in his calm tone, overhearing the story. "Kaze, please continue..."
Driven with that purpose in my mind, I hopped into my brother's AC and somehow, with no experience in piloting, managed to stand. I remembered calling to Nine-Ball and ordered him not to run from me. I charged at him, hoping that I would hit 'em in one shot...
...But, then I blacked out...
The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital, recovering from serious injuries... I was told that six months had past since the attack on B-3 and I was the only survivor... Another month past until I was able to leave the hospital. All of my wounds healed completely, except for this hideous scar I have on my right eye...
"'Hideous?'" Lazy-Eye asked. "If ya ask me, I find it kinda cute!"
"You're one to talk..." Pyro muttered silently.
"Just because I have an eye-patch," The angry one-eyed pilot muttered back. "doesn't mean I can't hear as well!"
From there I went straight to the Ravens' Nest where I finished up the rest of my education and began in AC piloting and mechanics... Right up to the day that I took the AC test. And, well, here I am!
Lazy-Eye was stunned. "Damn, kid!" she blurted. "Never knew you're that persistant!"
"Do you still think I'm a fool?" Kaze asked.
"Shoot, no! I sure do hope that you get your revenge back at 'em someday."
"...As well as your father." Tsubasa added. "Your pain must be unbearable..."
"What do you mean?" the curious Kaze asked.
"May I have a word with Kaze in private, Chief?"
"Sure, of course!" Chief said as he, Pyro and Rebel stood up. "I guess this would also be a good time to show Lazy-Eye around."
"Now, hold on a minute!" Laze-Eye objected to Tsubasa. "Y'all shouldn't be keepin' secrets from me! I have a right to know what's goin' on too!"
"You really shouldn't have said that..." Pyro warned.
The cold Tsubasa shot a silent glare at the brash Lazy-Eye.
"Aw, hell," she said as she looked into the blue-eyed stare while pulling off her eye-patch. "two can play at that game!" The eye hidden behind the patch was almost demonic, like looking at the negative of a photo. Where there was white on her left eye, there was black on the right eye; instead of a hazel iris like her left eye, the right eye was blood red. The only part of the seemingly cursed eye that was similar to her normal eye was the black pupil.
...Tsubasa was not impressed, nor did he budge from his spot. Only silently glared at Lazy-Eye, who was now growing uneasy of his scowl.
"All right!" Lazy-Eye said, backing away from Tsubasa. "You win! I'll go..." With that said, she followed the other three pilots for a tour around the base. Not remembering to put the eye-patch back on, Pyro fainted at the sight of her right eye.
Rebel, catching Pyro in her arms, had to ask that burning question: "What the hell is wrong with your eye?"
To be continued...