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
Chapter 17: Search
The three bi-pedal AC's walked through the military base in shock. Hangars and bunkers blown away, pavement scorched by explosions, scraps of MT's and aircraft littering the base like confetti -- as though it was welcoming the TALON pilots to hell.
"Damn..." Lazy-Eye blurted. "Looks like we just missed the battle... I don't see any signs of life on my radar..."
Kaze checked his radar as well. "Same here." he noted.
"In any case, be on your guard..." Tsubasa informed. "The AC knew that we were coming. It is possibly hiding from us and preparing for an ambush."
"So, what do we do now?" Kaze asked.
"We will split up." Silent Blade pointed the Karasawa out to the ravaged road in front of the three. "I will take the north road and investigate that area." The silver AC turned to the black and red AC. "Kaze, take Mecha through the western road." Silent Blade did a one-eighty, now looking at the black, gold and silver AC. "Lazy-Eye, take Sinner through the eastern road. We will meet back at this point in about two minutes, all right?"
Mecha and Sinner nodded.
Tsubasa nodded back. "...Move out."
The three AC's turned and walked through their designated areas.
"Chief, what is your current position?" Tsubasa asked as he glared at all of the fallen MT's along a runway.
"I'm on a nearby hill," Chief replied. "it's high enough to show me a bird's eye view of the base."
"Do you see anything unusual on your visual?"
Chief looked carefully at every building, ruined or not. "I see nothing."
"What about your radar?"
"Hell, I'll get nothing on that! That's why I'm up here!"
"Ah, yes, I remember now. Please forgive me for being so forgetful."
"Um..." A confused Chief uttered. "Okay... You're forgiven."
Meanwhile, Sinner zigzagged between the broken rubble for signs of an AC. Hmmm... Lazy-Eye thought, looking at what appeared to be a laser blade gash along the side of a hangar door. If we don't find this AC... does that mean we still get paid?
Kaze, on the other hand, was thinking of a different outcome. I know you're here... he thought as Mecha walked over a small man-made crater.
The AC stopped. A dead end. To its right, a beaten hangar that once housed a few MT's. It's left, a freshly made scrap pile, no taller than itself. And ahead, a tall concrete barrier.
Kaze took a deep breath. Quit it, Kaze. he thought. You're just overreacting...
An odd sound broke the silence. Noise? Moving? To my left!
Mecha quickly turned and aimed the machine gun directly at the scrap pile...
...as a piece of metal slid from the middle of the pile to the ground.
The pilot sighed, shaking off the small and unnecessary adrenaline boost. Nothing to worry about... just a scrap pile... Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a red light flashing next to the compass: LOCKED ON.
An explosion came from the roof of the run-down hangar behind Mecha and out jumped a thin AC with its laser blade drawn...
To be continued...
T.R.: OOH! The suspense must be killing you! (not literally, of course...) Yay! Big battle coming up! Until then, review:)