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 30: Memory
"Guardian," a voice called from Avenger's radio. "what happened out there?"
"...He was stronger than you previously predicted, Sora." the pilot replied, wandering through screens of static and snow. "I was not able to sanction nor capture him... However, I did managed to kill the last R.O.M."
Silence filled the radio before Sora spoke up.
"I see... In any case, you did very well out there. Return to base and rest up. Next week, we will take the world by surprise."
"Thank you." Guardian replied. "Please also tell Senior Ishikawa that his son's true self was lying dormant and is now awake..."
"It is about time. When the lab secretly examined him through the AC simulation battles that were held at the academy, they yielded with nothing to prove the fact that the nanomachines were working. I wonder why the little buggers started operating now, rather than two years back..."
"Your guess is as good as mine..."
"I suppose you are right..." The radio clicked, signaling the end of the conversation.
Avenger stopped, standing before a clearing in the forest. Amidst the spotted afternoon sun and the fearless songbirds.
Kazuma. Guardian thought. It is very familiar... I know I have heard of that name before... but where exactly?
--Later…--
Kaze awoke back in the comfort of the hard bed. His green eyes slowly scanned the area he was in. The headache had disappeared along with strange feeling of being possessed by an invisible force.
My bedroom? he thought. But, how did I get here?
"I see that you are finally awake." a cold voice noted.
Kaze sat up and looked to the voice, sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a book.
"The first question that you will ask me is about how you got here." Tsubasa continued. "The second would be if I know the one that pilots the identical Mecha. And the third would be about the condition of Mecha. Need I go on?"
"Are you a mind reader?" Kaze asked.
"No. Those are the most common questions asked by pilots that fall unconscious during or after a battle."
"And your answers...?"
"Seeing that you were unable to pilot Mecha, I carried you back to base in the hands of Silent Blade. You were asleep for almost a day. As for the pilot you fought against, I do not recall anyone that pilots a carbon copy of your AC. That was a first."
"And Mecha?"
"It sustained moderate damage. It is really nothing that Chief and Rebel cannot fix. It should be ready in time for arena matches, so there is no worry."
"Okay..." Kaze nodded slightly as the room went silent.
"...I had to tell them." Tsubasa stated.
"Tell who what?" asked Kaze.
"On the way back, Chief asked me about what the pilot meant when he said that you were a failed test subject."
Kaze could hardly remember what happened beyond Mecha's fall... He felt half-awake afterwards when his body unconsciously retaliated against the opponent, as though he was becoming...
"I told the rest of the team about the Human Plus project," Tsubasa continued. "and how we were forced into becoming those that the average human population frowns upon. Thankfully, they will still accept us as their comrades through thick and thin..."
Kaze sighed silently, staring at the other end of his room. "I think... I know what it feels like now... to not have emotions..."
The blue eyes turned away from the book, its glare now aimed at Kaze. "Go on."
"I remember when I fell from the AC's charge, I passed out. But a few seconds later, I heard this strange high-pitched noise in my mind... like it was beckoning me to wake up. All the while, I began to feel less like myself... and more like you. My soul left my body, but my heart was still beating. The next thing I knew, my eyes were open and I had no control over my body... it was fighting for me."
Tsubasa pondered over Kaze's statement for a moment. "...Such is the work of the nanomachines..." he noted. "When the pilot feels threatened, they will take over, controlling the mind and body, negating all but one emotion: the joy of killing... Thus, making the pilot a heartless being, bent on destroying every and all targets given to them.
"In the beginning, the effect is short-term, lasting a hour or so. However, it eventually escalates to long-term, lasting for years... Apparently, I was not the lucky one..."
"Losing the right to have feelings..." Kaze added. "Being controlled like a puppet... The thought sickens me..."
Tsubasa nodded in agreement. "Take my advice, Kaze... Remember and hold onto every emotion that you have, because you will not have them soon..."
"I'll do my best..."
The intercom rang in a soothing tone followed by a computerized voice. "The time is now twelve-thirty-seven a.m. Now arriving in Kinzoku City: home of the world-famous Kinzoku AC Arena."
"...It is late." Tsubasa noted, getting up from the chair. "I should leave and let you rest..."
"'Night, Tsubasa." Kaze replied.
The cold ally silently nodded back, turned and left the room.
Kaze laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, when an image of Goki popped into his mind. ...Goki. he thought with a frown. You're not gonna be the one that's gonna get yelled at...
"Rule number five: stand by and protect those that you care about," a familiar voice noted, to which Kaze cringed at. "because sometimes they're all that you have..."
No, Goki... I'm the one Sensei gonna yell at...
End of Part I...
T.R.: Whoo! Good run! Now I'll get onto the second part and all of the AC battling! Please review, and I'll see you in the next story!