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 19: Success
The two flying AC's took aim at the heedless Mobius, waiting for the green lock to turn red.
"Fire!" ordered Kaze as he and Lazy-Eye unleashed a barrage of bullets onto the AC's back, causing its boosters to explode.
Jolted by the shock of the blast, Sora pulled the trigger of the rifle, sending a thin, but lethal, beam of energy towards Silent Blade.
The monochromatic AC kept calm and stood in the same place as the beam flew over its left shoulder... unscathed.
A second of silence passed... yet it seemed like a whole day passed.
"...You missed." Tsubasa noted, drawing his blade. He charged towards the stunned Mobius and threw a slash.
Mobius quickly avoided the blade by jumping over Silent Blade, like a it was a hurdle, and dashed to the runway.
"...Coward." Tsubasa muttered under his breath. "Chief?"
"Yeah, yeah," Chief replied. "I know the drill..." He aimed the grenade cannons at the running mech. "Let's see ya try and run from this!" he said as he pulled the trigger.
Before Mobius could reach the other end of the runway and escape the mission area, a massive ball of fire shoved the retreating AC into the remains of a control tower.
...I ...lost? thought Sora as thick black smoke began to collect inside the cockpit.
The silver and black AC glided over to Mobius, resting on its side. Its entire body charred from the grenade blast. "If you are still alive in there," Tsubasa ordered, aiming the Karasawa at the still Mobius. "come out and surrender."
The cockpit door of the damaged AC shuttered but opened slowly, exhaling a plume of black smoke. The pilot staggered and slithered out of the cockpit, collapsing at the moment his entire body touched the concrete.
He was no older and no taller than Kaze, dressed in a gray uniform, similar to Tsubasa's. Short, pitch black hair partially covered his closed eyes and his pale-colored face. Sleeping as though he was a young child, oblivious to the dire scenes and the hellish symphony of battle.
Tsubasa continued to aim the laser rifle at the unconscious Sora, thinking of the times before he came to TALON, working alongside this person he once considered to be his friend. How did it come to this...? he thought.
He closed his eyes and heard that scream... The scream that he let out five years ago, right before he was put under for his first experiment. An experiment that he never asked for at the last minute, but his parents still insisted...
His emotionless self couldn't even shutter at that ear splitting sound. ...Mother ...Father ...Why? he heard that young voice cry.
He withdrew the rifle, turned and walked away from Sora. "...Chief ...Kaze ...Lazy-Eye." he called. "The mission is over. Let us return home..."
"Roger." Chief replied.
"I copy." Lazy-Eye replied.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kaze blurted, as Mecha flew over and walked alongside Silent Blade. "What just happened?"
"I spared his life..." Tsubasa replied. "Normally, I would kill the pilot and be done with it..."
Kaze fell into a stern silence as he and the rest of the team headed back to the Nomad.
...Leaving the half-conscious Sora behind. "...Tsubasa." he weakly hissed. "...You traitor."
To be continued...
T.R.: I write too much for my own good! But, at least I'm making my readers happy! You can go on now and review and I'll still be here... writing away...