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Chapter 13: Trouble Brewing...
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Bzzt

'' What is it?''

'' Your guest is here sir.''

'' Very well. Let him in.''

Dr. Mattel spared one last glance toward the night view of the skyscrapers of Hiroshima before sitting down at his desk. Just over 150 years ago, Hiroshima had been wiped out by the first atomic bomb in 1945. It had been rebuilt, and was now a splendid city. It sort of represented the world. It had been almost destroyed by the Outbreak, but now it was rebuilt. Just like the city, broken and rebuilt.

Mattel himself was not a very imposing figure. He was constantly nervous, short and thin with watery eyes and thin blond hair that was turning gray with age.

The door to his office opened, and a much more imposing figure entered.

This man was broad and muscular, and he wore a black muscle shirt and baggy green pants. His black hair was cut in a crew cut, and harshness and evil lined his face.

'' You are Ace, I presume?'' Mattel began. '' Thank you for coming all the way out here to-''

'' Just cut to the chase Mattel!'' Ace said harshly. Why did you call me, a job I suppose.''

'' Yes, yes, a job...'' Mattel said nervously. '' You received that file on my Dimensional Chip project, correct?''

Ace nodded, '' I did.''

'' Well, then you know that there is a manufacturing plant located in western Japan, correct?'' Mattel continued. '' Well, there is a rebel group in that area.''

'' So?'' Ace growled, '' The rebel groups aren't a threat, and since you apparently want me to guard it, why aren't some government soldiers protecting it? They're much cheaper, and the government can simply pop an army out of its own ass.''

Mattel ignored Ace's crassness, but answered anyway, '' Because it is completely automated, and it's in a rather empty area. In response to what you said before, this group is, their leader, Akira 'Slate' Iwasaki, was a former Enforcer, and he stole duplicates of some important files regarding the project. My superiors warned me that if anything happened, they would refuse to fund the project anymore.''

'' Hmm. It's been a long time since I had a fun job...'' Ace muttered. '' How about, instead of guarding it...''

'' You want to WHAT!''

'' Yes, I do, but don't worry, I have a plan.'' Ace said mysteriously. '' I will kill all of them in a single blow. I'm sure your precious superiors will love that.''

'' Hmph, I guess I have no choice then.'' Mattel sighed, taking something out of his desk drawer. He tossed the object to Ace. '' Use this to full fill your plan.''

'' I'll contact you about the payment later.'' Ace said gruffly. He turned and exited the office, without even shutting the door as he left.

Mattel sighed at Ace's rudeness and closed the door himself. He went back to his desk and sat down, wiping more sweat from his brow. That man seemed to just emanate hatred and coldness.

If Mattel had known that he was being watched, and by whom, he would've been even more nervous.

A navi was watching him from a security camera, but he was no ordinary navi.

First off, he had no helmet. His head was covered with sleek, orange hair. His eyes were orange too. His bodysuit was white, and had various orange stripes. He wore a white vest like piece of clothing , and his gloves and boots were also white.

He smiled to himself, but then turned to see another navi materialize near him. But he recognized the signal, there was no danger.

'' Greetings, niichan.'' he said.

His sister was slightly shorter than he was, and had long purple- gray hair. She too had no helmet, but she did have a silver headband. Her eyes were pale purple. Her body suit was white, with several blue stripes down the legs and arms, and her tight bodysuit did not leave much to the imagination. Her shoulder pads were silver and vertically plated.

'' Do you have anything... unexpected happen, Solinar?'' she asked.

'' No Lunare, Mattel hired Ace exactly as we thought he would.'' Solinar said.

'' I hate the fact that we have to rely on scum like that mercenary, but the outcome will be amusing either way.'' Lunare said, her calm, feminine voice the perfect match to her brother's clear, cultured one.

'' Yes, to tell you the truth, I never cared for this Dimensional Chip project very much. But it has given us a good excuse to destroy those rebels. Akira is very resourceful, but he will learn that no matter how far he runs, he can never escape us!'' Solinar said, smiling.

'' Yes, brother, he will learn the folly of defying us.'' Lunare nodded.

'' Anyway, my operator and I are preparing to look into that other matter, so you will have to handle the outcome of this.'' Solinar said.

Lunare nodded, '' Yes, I will.''

The two of them logged out, their operators would be very interested in how things turned out.

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Meet Ace. He will be causing our good rebels no small amount of grief.

Solinar and Lunare aren't real important characters here, but, in the next story, we'll find out more about them. Yes, there is a sequel. But for now, they're high up on the T- Corp command chain. Solinar's outfit has changed quite a bit from when I first conceptualized him.