Chapter 3: The Past and the Present

Crimson Tear moved at an incredible speed using its overboost function. Damn! What speed! He can't be human, Sara thought as her target, the AC Omen, zipped past her small grenade shell. Its very speed caused ripples in the air that it travelled through. Maybe I should try using the light-weight grenade launcher. Crimson Tear landed and unmounted its cannon. Omen saw this as an opportune moment to strike and shot a couple shells. The red AC simply flew off with its weapon still mounted and fired. The fiery shell caught the target off guard but Omen strafed to the right just in time.

What? Windbreaker was surprised at the move she just made, an OP-I user! The red AC in his screen started jump-boosting very high while strafing at an angle and firing grenade shells. Windbreaker was wide-eyed at the ACs tactics, It can't be...t-that's...He quickly recalled from his past someone neither friend nor foe. It was a pilot who was deranged from having been in Crest's regional campaign for far too long and started going mad. A familiar voice seeming young with a slight droning was recalled...

"I'm a mercenary...I'm used to betrayals...but, power is all that matters right now...beat me if you can!" The emotionless voice said on the comm-link.

"Stop this right now Genobee! What do you hope to gain with this action!" Windbreaker asked.

Ignoring his statement, Genobee continued, " Human arrogance will once again usher in the downfall of mankind!" The black AC did not halt in it's barrage of grenade shells. Windbreaker easily dodged the shells.

"What the hell are you saying! What do you know!" Windbreaker tried again.

"It doesn't matter now! In the grand scheme of things you and I are insignificant..."

"What!"

"You heard me! Now die, ungrateful wretch!" Dual Face rushed in with its short ranged blade attempting to slash the cockpit. Omen dodged it and countered with its Moonlight blade. The illuminating blade took out a chunk of the core but missed the cockpit. The black AC knelt down with its already smoldering armor smoking. "Our roles could have been so easily reversed..." was his last words before the AC blew a fuse.
Another grenade shell flew towards the dark blue AC. Windbreaker was too lost in his train of thoughts and didn't react in time to avoid the blast fully. The impact ripped off some of Omen's armor but not enough to be considered a serious threat. Damn...I was too careless...Windbreaker thought.

Yes! I got him...but just barely...Sara thought. The whole crowd was cheering, waving their arms outside the glass dome. A young man with long blonde hair that reached down to his waist stood up in awe.

"Such maneuvers! Impossible! Windbreaker...you have improved over the years." The blonde haired man said. Among the crowd that stood up and cheered three inividuals could be seen sitting and staring as if nothing was a surprise to them.

So I see your still a good tactician and pilot as ever, Windbreaker. A man with black hair that reached down to his shoulders. "What do you think, Carom? Who do you think will win?"

"Well, Evangel-" The man with short blonde hair was cut off immediately.

"Evangel does not exist anymore! My name is Vanguard! "

"Alright, Alright...sheeesh...well...I think that if the rookie was to have more experience, then she could be a decent fight against Omen judging by her tactics at this stage...I'm actually very impressed!" Carom stated.

"...those tactics..." A man with buzzed black hair and wearing a pair of shades started talking.

"Hm? What about those tactics, Shade? They seem pretty good to me." Carom said.

" Vanguard, don't they seem a bit familiar to you?" Shade asked.

"...now that you mention it...Crimson Tear seems to be using some familiar tactics...I've seen them before...but where?" Vanguard pondered.

Hmph...alright, I've hauled this out long enough...time to finish it! Omen dodged a couple of sniper shots and activated it's arm boosters. The blue AC sped past Crimson Tear at a demon speed.

What kind of boosters is that AC using! Sara could only see a blur speed past her. A loud thud followed by rumbling and tumbling in the cockpit caught the young female off-guard. "Wha-!" Sara turned the Eye2 head to look upwards only to be looking into the black cavity hole of a rifle. The last thing Sara saw was a brilliant and luminous light before her screens went dead.