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 18: Encounter

Accurately aiming the gold-colored laser blade at Mecha's core, the blue and black AC dove towards it target.

Mecha swiftly turned to face its challenger and drew its laser blade out in front its face.

Electricity sparked and sang its static-like song as the two blades collided. Each pilot hoping that their blade would slice through their opponent's blade, and then some.

The two AC's made sharp eye-contact with one another. Delving into their rival's computer generated mind, attempting to find all the information that they need.

"AC identification unknown." Mecha's AI voice informed Kaze.

"It's him..." Kaze hissed, his left hand holding tightly to the left controller. "It has to be..."

"AC identification verified as Mecha." Mobius' AI voice noted. "Pilot identified as Kaze."

Sora looked directly into Mecha's eyes. "...I found you."

Kaze took hold of the right controller and commanded the AC to aim the machine gun at Mobius' core.

Sora quickly saw this sneaky move and countered by bringing Mobius' left leg up and driving it to Mecha's right side.

The black and red AC went airborne, crashing into the wall a few seconds later, leaving a spider-web pattern of small cracks chiseled into the barrier.

"Dammit!" Kaze hissed, maneuvering Mecha to stand up again. "He's good."

"Kaze, are you okay over there?" the voice of Chief asked over the radio.

"A few dents in the armor, but I'm all right." he replied as he looked for the stealthy AC.

"Well, sit tight, kid. I got a lock on the bastard... fire!"

Two missiles jettisoned from AC on the top of a hill and flew towards Mobius as it ran along the outside of the base perimeter.

"...Pathetic..." Sora muttered, looking at the missile on his radar.

Mobius made a small jump in the air then activated it boosters to make itself hover a few meters off the ground. It turned around and locked on to the incoming missiles and fire the anti-missile lasers from its core, exterminating the hissing pests before they got closer to hitting it.

"You lucky son of a..." Chief cursed, slamming an open palm at the monitor as though it was the screen's fault.

Silent Blade glided along the runway and appeared behind the backwards gliding Mobius for a counterattack.

The quick AC spun around and drew its yellow blade only to be blocked by a powerful blade, glowing in a wondrous blue.

"Tsubasa..." Sora muttered. "I did not expect to see you again..."

"I see that you are finally piloting an AC..." Tsubasa replied. "Is Murakumo getting desperate to gain the upper hand in this war?"

"No... Only changing its strategy..." Mobius parried the Moonlight blade away, shoving the silver and black AC back a few meters.

Silent Blade retracted the blade and aimed the Karasawa at Mobius, who was already aiming the energy sniper rifle at him.

"Do not bother with such a obsolete model." Sora teased. "It only makes burn marks on armor. This rifle can drill a hole through an AC's core with perfect accuracy!"

Tsubasa had to admit it, Sora was right. Though the Karasawa model has a strength of one-thousand five-hundred fifty and is deemed an instant legend by those that have seen or used that weapon, it only pales in comparison to the energy sniper rifle and its strength of three-thousand eight-hundred. However, only skilled marksmen, ace pilots or one in the same can safely use this low ammo model.

Off the corner of Tsubasa's eye, he saw two AC's flying over the barrier with machine and hand guns drawn and aimed at Mobius...

To be continued...

T.R.: This battle isn't over yet, it just seemed like a good place to stop. Anywho, go and review, peoples:D