Chapter 19: BARRAGE
All he could do was pray for the best.
Esebu hefted his drill as he observed the Black Head's green optics before they vanished into the mist.
He started to scan around him, switching his vision to infrared so he could pick it out amidst the thick fog. But that was proving to be a lot easier said than done.
A flicker of a chuckle came over his COMM system and he jerked his helm up in shock.
The voice he was hearing was not Shashot, that much was certain. It was much deeper, more gravelly, and possessed a metallic edge to it. It sounded more synthetic than organic, unlike the Dragon of Denver's voice.
"So... you took out two of the Black Heads... Not bad, boy... Not bad at all. But can you do it while trying to save the trust of your teammates? Because you can only have one... not the other..."
The voice vanished from his COMM before he could even answer or make a retort. Esebu's frame shuddered as he gripped his drill tightly in his hand. "Who was that...?" he muttered to himself.
However, his musings were interrupted when he heard that copy of his voice call out to Matagi. "Matagi, just shoot the imposter already!"
"No! Don't!" Esebu cried, scrambling out from his hiding place. "Just stop and think!"
But a third barrage of gunfire forced him to roll to the side again, this time behind the nearest column that held the Rainbow Bridge's support cables. He was now panting heavily as he looked out, worry in his optics.
'Dammit, Akita! What's gotten into you?!' he thought.
Up above, a pair of red eyes flared in the mist before fading...
(Shows a pair of eyes opening before the eyes morph into optics)
START Kaitei no Orchestra (Precious Time) (ROMI)
(The optics flash as the camera pans out to show six shadowy mecha before they leap towards the camera, brandishing their weapons)
Hiroi aoi kono basho de tokiga nagarete yuku my precious time (The image fades to show a cat Faunus boy with brown hair and magenta eyes walking down a street close to the ocean, looking down at an image of his mother in his hand. He perks up as he spots a rabbit Faunus girl with light green hair and eyes hugs him, making him yelp. A boy with brown hair and brown eyes joins the girl on the cat Faunus's other side, and gives a thumbs up. A boy with dark purple hair and eyes approaches from the left and smiles a bit before a ninja youth leaps down on the right, his dark grey hair and purple eyes standing out with the purple highlight on the right side of his bangs. The five look up at the sky as a shimmering image of a cheetah Faunus with blue hair and eyes appears behind them. The title appears below them all.)
GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING
Itsu no manika kiete shimatte kakegaeno koega (The image fades to show the cat Faunus standing beside his mother's grave, his eyes fixed on her name)
Tsumaranai hibimo sorega sukide ikitetanda (Memories of her and his family march past as he bows his head)
Higa sashiteru tokomade omoikkiri hashitte (A wind blows past and he perks up as he sees something ahead of him, making him break into a run to try and reach the shadowy, winged humanoid shape as it looks back with yellow optics, holding out a hand)
Shinjirarenai koto bakari menomaeni okiru (The two embrace hands and then a flash of light engulfs the screen, fading to show a large Kaiju-class Grimm being attacked by a blue and white mecha wielding a drill before the two clash)
Taiyou no hou wo miagate tachiagaruno tsurakute (The impact throws off a light that engulfs the screen, dissipating to show the cat Faunus, but battered and wounded, looking at the sky, the sun shining down on him as he reaches up a hand, as if grasping at it)
Susumu koto dake omouto (He tries to stagger to his feet, only to collapse briefly before he lifts his gaze, a yellow optic forming in place of his eye as it glows brightly)
Setsunai tabiwo tsuzukeru kawatta me no okuniwa (The light of the optic fades as the camera moves out to show a green and white mecha armed with a sword and wings on its back attacking a porcupine Kaiju-class Grimm in close combat, only for the Kaiju to fire off a slew of spines from its legs and back, making the mecha block with a shimmering tri-colored Aura)
Natsukashii itoshisa wo motomete (On my way) (Behind the mecha appears an image of a cat Faunus woman, and the mecha lunges forward, its sword glowing as it traps the Grimm in an energy cage before slicing it in half)
Kizutsuke attanowa nikui wake janai nosa (The Grimm explodes before a Faunus Ultra gorilla lunges from behind, making the mecha spin to block with its sword, images of a peaceful world appearing behind it before punching the Faunus Ultra and sending it staggering back)
Sokoni kibouga arunonara my precious time (The images coalesce around the mecha's chest as it fires a blast of green energy from a hidden chest cannon at the screen)
Itsukaraka onaji keshikini kakomarete sugoshite (The screen comes back into view, this time showing the cat Faunus as he stands atop a building in Tokyo, his friends beside him as they eye the distant horizon, a shadowy shape behind Mt. Fuji in the distance)
Akinonai koega sukoshizutsu chiri hajimeta (The boy looks down at an image of his mother in his hands, his friends placing their hands on his shoulders to comfort him as tears streak down his cheeks)
Ameni utareta mamade omoku seouno tsurakute (The camera zooms in on his eyes before panning out to show him looking at the window, the same green and white mecha on the other side, both touching their hands to one another before it shifts to show the cat Faunus's mother as a transparent image behind the mecha)
Ushinau koto dake omouto (The camera zooms in on the mecha's face before panning out to show two Faunus, a fox woman and a bull man, standing atop a hotel in downtown Tokyo)
Togirenai omoino nakade hisshi ni tsukamunosa (The two Faunus lunge for the mecha, only to be blocked by a red and white mecha with two guns and a purple and white mecha wielding two shuriken in its hands Beside them is a white and green mecha armed with a sword and the blue and white mecha with the drill is close by)
Dokomademo dokomademo sagasunda (Find your way) (The five mecha charge towards a large shape as it looms out of the shadows of the two Faunus, and behind them is the shape of a white and blue mecha armed with twin energy blades)
Otagaini motomeatte kakera wo tsunagunosa (Shows the six mecha as they stand in a line, each of them holding their weapons at the ready before they charge forward; the green and white mecha fires off its chest cannon as the blue and white mecha spins its drill up, a blue aura engulfing it, the red and white mecha fires its twin guns in a rifle configuration as the purple and white mecha uses its shuriken as weapons, the white and green mecha swings its sword as heat radiates from the blade and the white and blue mecha swipes with its energy blades, releasing a shockwave)
Sokoni kibouga mierukara wow oh wow (The blasts combine to generate an explosion as it hits something before the smoke parts to reveal a scenic image of the city of Tokyo, the tendrils of Satyra retreating from it)
Kimiga tsukutta monogatari saikou no omoide ni nattanda (The image shifts to show the cat Faunus looking down at a photo album of his mother and his friends and family, tears pricking at his eyes before he sees his friends beside him and they hold out their hands, a smile crossing his face as he takes their hands and they pull him out of the darkness into the light)
Bokurano nakani ikitsuzukete soshite arigatou wow (They all hug before a flash of light envelops them, fading shortly after to reveal the six mecha, this time images of the six kids behind them as they charge at a shadowy shape as it looms over them)
Setsunai tabiwo owarasunda miraiwo kaete tsukuruno sa (The image pans to the right to show them all charging, this time transparent scenes of new enemies marching past them - Dr. Robotnik, Sammael, and Moloch - before fading to show the city of Tokyo at sunset, a light shining in this darkening world)
Istumademo akiramezuni oistuzukete (On my way) (The green and white mecha with the wings thrusts its hand out towards an image of the cat Faunus's mother as she reaches out, and their hands clasp before it shows the green and white mecha firing off its chest cannon, the beam this time a shining gold color)
Tashikani kanjitanda kimiga kureta yuuki wo (The blast strikes the enemy before them - Dr. Robotnik - before it shows the mecha with its companions as they join in on the attack with their own moves)
Bokuno subete wo gisei ni torimodosunda bokurano precious time (The image fades to show the six kids standing in front of Tokyo, the title of the series appearing below them)
GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING
OPENING FILES:
CLASSIFIED
DECRYPTING...
FILES DECRYPTED
OPENING FILES: FUMIKIRI BARRAGE
The Fumikiri Barrage is the special move of Akita Oga/Matagi. This move allows him to deal a significant amount of damage using his cannons' charged shot; the only difference here is that the charged shots split into several smaller shots, a resemblance to the Dragon of Denver's beam burst gun. These shots pack more power though. When in use, his Aura glows a brilliant red color, the Aura itself channeling into the guns before being released in a burst of red energy. The weakness of this move is that, while powerful, it takes time to charge, which can be disrupted by hitting Matagi anywhere. Therefore his friends need to keep him safe while it charges.
TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE
"Having artillery can lead to a major victory in any war. However, what happens when the artillery doesn't pull through?" The man looked up, his eyes flickering as he gestured to the main monitor. It flashed once and it came online, showing a massed artillery battalion as they opened fire, providing cover for infantry and other forces as they moved across a battlefield.
"That's the thing. You have to have trust in your comrades during combat to make it possible. And without that trust, then what? That is the thing. Working with a unit, no matter how long you've been with them, it builds trust. You learn their strength and weaknesses, and they in turn learn yours. That kind of bond means you can trust them to have your back. But if you lack that trust, then what happens? Defeat."
The man lowered his hand and the monitor went dark. "So when it comes to your friends, trust them. Because without that trust, then you have no one to turn to."
CHAPTER XVIII - BARRAGE
Nozoma was not doing so well.
Especially since after he had gotten the majority of the bystanders trapped on the surface of the Rainbow Bridge to the underside tollway he had been jumped by a Black Head.
The one he was currently fighting was armed with several sharp blades that could be thrown like shuriken, and that was enough to make him wise as to what was going on: apparently whomever had sent these things after them was taking advantage of the distrust between the team to cause rifts.
But to actually be successful was something that they couldn't have happen.
Especially since so many people were counting on them to win.
The white Shinkalion clenched his fists as the Black Head lunged for him, his optics flashing bright blue as a cry tore itself free from his vocalizer. The blue energy blades sprang free from his wrists as he thrust one forward, the other drawn back for a slash attack.
The Black Head screeched in a laugh before it drew a tentacle back before hurling that bone-like shuriken in his direction. Nozoma tensed his frame before he ducked down, skidding on his knees as he slid under the shuriken. His left blade swung up, gashing through one of the tentacles and making it vanish into thick smoke. He skidded to a stop and got to his feet, holding both hands up in a martial arts stance. The Black Head turned in midair to face him, and its optics flashed as it spoke in Fumikiri's voice. "Nice moves," it mocked.
The Shinkalion didn't answer. While he wasn't too keen on letting the younger ones fight, they seemed to be doing decently for the moment. So he had to just hope they could hold their own until he took this thing down. Then he could go after the others... and then the Mistery itself.
The Kaiju Grimm seemed to sneer at him, what with the way the speaker grille curved up at one side, before it thrust two tentacles at him. Thinking fast, Nozoma's arms became a blur as he started to parry and slash against the blades attacking him. His energy blades hummed and sparks clashed from the two impacting against each other. His optics were hard before he brought up both blades and blocked a tentacle blade before he moved his frame to the side at the same time, pivoting on a foot before bringing up his other foot in a roundhouse kick.
The blow connected with the Black Head's mechanical helm and it was sent flying, those tentacles flailing as it struggled to get its trajectory under control. Nozoma took the chance to crouch and, not even a moment later, he focused on something briefly. Then came the sensation of flames coming out of his back. Or rather the thrusters secreted there. He tensed his frame and his Aura seethed around him before he channeled into his hydraulics. He sprang into the air, boosted by his thrusters as well as his Aura enhanced reflexes to give him a greater jump distance. His optics pulsed as he thrust a blade towards the Black Head, only for one of those tentacles to wrap itself around his arm. He gasped in shock before the others wound themselves around his frame as well, pinning his arms to his sides and his legs together. He struggled, channeling his Aura into his hydraulics and pistons, but no amount of Aura enhancement had the effect he wanted. He tried to move one of his blades to cut the tentacles, but he couldn't even do that.
Nozoma looked around, a bad feeling suddenly surfacing in his gut.
He didn't know why, but it suddenly felt like there was another presence in the area, and it was not friendly.
A soft voice echoed over his COMM system and Nozoma's helm snapped up.
"Very clever... close quarters combatant. But not good enough..."
"Who are you?!" Nozoma demanded, looking around for any sign of the speaker.
"Ah. That will have to wait... Especially since this fight will end in our favor soon enough... Heheheheh..."
That was all Nozoma heard before something crashed into his helm, knocking him offline from the sheer force of the impact alone.
For Haifu, things weren't looking so good.
Especially as she had linked up with Esebu and Matagi, only to find herself under attack from the red and white Shinkalion.
She was plastered behind some of the debris that had been thrown around by the battle, and already she could see a Black Head with yellow optics similar to hers floating into position to mimic her voice.
A burst of anger flared in her chest at that, and she growled. There was no damn way in hell she was gonna be mistaken for a Black Head if she could help it!
She prepared to bolt out of hiding.
Her optics pulsed as she leapt into the air, her audios picking up on the Black Head as it floated out of hiding, its tentacles dragging on the ground. If she could only damage its speaker grille, then maybe they'd have a chance to reach Matagi and make him see reason. It seemed to be the only choice at this point.
The Grimm started to hover closer to Matagi's location, revealing itself to be one with yellow-orange optics... like hers. Haifu tensed, knowing that this was the one designed to mimic her voice. She hefted her sword and dove down, her blade poised to strike at its speaker grille. It stopped and pivoted, its optics flashing as she let out a short cry, jabbing her sword into its speaker grille, causing a shower of sparks and black stuff to fly out. A gargbled screeching came from its shattered vocalizer, and she pulled her sword out, cutting upwards at the same time.
A flash of the blade and the Black Head was in two pieces, black smoke and oil oozing out of the severed halves. Haifu landed on the ground, her sword held out to the side and she turned to look at where Esebu was hiding. She could barely see him in the smoke, but it looked like he was having trouble against the Black Head mimicking his voice. Or was he? She wasn't too sure, so she decided to try something. She focused for a moment, her mental energies directed towards the horn on her frame. In a second, a loud blast of sound came from it, startling her as well as the others. She jerked back in shock, before she regained her composure.
"Haifu? Was that you?!" Matagi shouted. "Blast your horn again if it was!"
Haifu's optics glowed briefly as an idea dawned. She blasted her horn again.
"Thank Glob! I'm having trouble trying to find out who is who between the two Esebus!" Matagi called to her.
Haifu blasted her horn a few times. She wasn't willing to speak in case the Kaiju Grimm could adjust their optic color and voices to continue the mimicry. But as it stood, she wasn't sure how she was going to communicate... unless... She focused on her horn a bit more, and blasted it again. This time the sound was sort of...muffled... at the middle of the tone. Then she gave a loud blast before it faded away. Matagi's voice called out to her. "What was that?!"
She mentally gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists on her sword. She had to get him to see which was the real Esebu! But how if she couldn't directly speak to him?! Her optics flickered as she glanced around. Maybe... there had to be some way to get her message across!
"Haifu! Answer me!" Matagi called out.
She gave an irritated blast of her horn to let him know she was there. She was on the move at the same time, making her way to the location where his voice was coming from. Given how the Black Head responsible for his optics and voice was taken care of, there was no need to be wary, or so she hoped. She wasn't about to take chances though, and gave another blast of her horn as she got closer to where he was.
He glanced out from his hiding spot and a surge of relief rushed through Haifu's frame as she ran over. "Matagi!" she cried, finally daring to speak.
The red and white Shinkalion was not doing too good, but at least it was better than she had feared. The scuffs and scrapes could easily be buffed out. He glanced at her, and his optics flashed as he suddenly aimed his guns at her. She yelped and ducked as something flashed through the air, the bullets hitting it and making it withdraw. She slowly looked up as he holstered one of his guns and held out a hand. "Sorry," he said. "But that thing was trying to get you."
"What thing?" Haifu asked.
Matagi didn't answer. He just looked down at his gun before handing her one.
Haifu began to get a bad feeling in her gut. She shook her helm at once.
"Why not?" Matagi asked, his optics pulsing in anger.
"Because our friends are out there," she responded.
"So they say," Matagi growled. "I don't even know which one is the real Esebu, or even if Fumikiri is here."
"Then we'll just have to trust them," the female Shinkalion retorted.
"How can I, if I don't know who is who?!" Matagi cried.
"Just trust me!" she shot back. "I trust them, and you should too! That is one thing we have, right? Then don't misplace that trust! I trust in them, and that is something you should do, too! Now, do you trust me on this one?"
Matagi was silent for a moment, but then gazed into her optics. They were filled with resolution and drive... and trust in those she called friends. Some small part of him was insistent that he couldn't trust anyone, not even his own allies and friends. But the rest of him, the more realistic side, told him to put his faith in them. They had always backed him up numerous times, so why should they stop now?
He hesitated, but then nodded. "I... I trust you, Haifu..." he said.
"Good." Haifu nodded back. "Because you can."
The red and white Shinkalion wasn't sure if this was the right idea, but he had little choice in the matter. He finally sighed out of his vents as he looked around. "So, what now?" he asked.
Haifu's optics dimmed a shade as she peeked out from behind the overturned vehicles and debris. She decided to take a chance and called out. "Esebu, can you hear me?"
"Yes!" came two voices, both of them the same. She twitched her rabbit ear-like helm extensions, trying to use the enhanced sensors there to pick out the real Esebu's voice. In truth, she didn't even know if it would work. She had never done this before; actually, this was her first time even trying this. She bowed her head, listening intently. "Esebu, if you really are the real one, answer me first!" she said clearly, while also listening.
"What are you doing?!" Matagi hissed.
Haifu didn't answer.
Then, one of the Esebus responded.
"Whaddya want me to do?!" came one of their voices.
Her 'ears' twitched and she looked up, optics flaring online. "There!"
She pointed with her sword.
"What-" Matagi's protest was cut off when a familiar shape leapt out of the mist, its optics flaring. He whirled, one hand flying for his guns, but instead Haifu placed a hand on his.
"No!" she said firmly. "That's Fumikiri, not a Black Head!"
"Wait... Black Head?" Matagi was confused, but then a bellow of rage came from somewhere close by and he looked around, his hands on his rifles.
A gasping sound came from further off, and then Esebu's voice drifted out of the mist. "G-Get... off me, ya hunk of scrap!"
"No! You get... off of me!" came the second Esebu. Matagi was now confused. Who was he supposed to trust out of the two?!
The incoming shape emerged from the mist completely into their line of sight, revealing the ninja Shinkalion, his shuriken held at the ready. His optics flashed as he gripped the weapon and then, something on the sides slid open and a greenish white mist began to seethe out from slots on the shuriken itself.
Fumikiri had just discovered his own weapon's Dust dispensers. Or rather, Haifu and he had uncovered it before meeting up with Matagi. The two had planned for this, to expose the Black Heads to Matagi and Nozoma...wherever he was. His frame tensed and then he threw his shuriken towards where Haifu was pointing her sword. "Fumikiri Kaze Shuriken!"
His shuriken spun through the air, the wind Dust coming from its blades generating a whirlwind of sorts, creating an artificially generated tornado. While not as powerful as the real deal, it was enough to toss a few cars off the bridge and to snap a few strands of the suspension cables. The mist also began to part, drawn in by the swirling vortex. Matagi watched in astonishment as the mist began to vanish, exposing familiar objects and shapes. He could see the cars and trucks more clearly now that the mist was being drawn up. But also, he could see several other shapes, one of which was Fumikiri as he clung to the side of one of the pylons, his hand held out as he waited for his weapon to return to him.
The other was Esebu.
The real Esebu... as well as a Grimm he had never seen before. To him, it resembled a Seer, but more mechanical in nature, with the same green optics as Esebu, and a speaker grille where its mouth would've been, had it had one. Its tentacles were wrapped securely around Esebu's neck, but the lead Shinkalion was not stopping his struggles as his drill jabbed at the Black Head, trying to hit it with the weapon. And off to the side, lay an unconscious Nozoma, being lugged along by two more Black Heads. He wasn't sure what the things wanted with him, and despite not even really trusting him, he still felt he had to repay the other mecha for having helped them during the Misertree attack.
"Matagi...!" Esebu rasped. "Take this damn thing out...!"
"Ooh... how clever..." an unknown voice hissed in the mist as the wind Dust finally dissipated, leaving the shuriken to return to Fumikiri's grasp. "So you found a way to dismiss the mist... Clever, but not enough... For this is only the beginning of the end for you!"
"Who the hell are you?!" Matagi roared.
"I am your demise... I am your end... I am the Devil..." the voice sneered.
Haifu's 'ears' twitched as she looked around, her optics finally landing on something hovering above the group. "There!" she cried.
The four Shinkalions all looked up at it, only to gasp as something sinister slid out of the mist.
And Matagi actually gulped in terror.
This thing was not a normal Kaiju Grimm. For one thing, it was solely made up of thick mist. His sensors could detect an incredibly strong electromagnetic field designed to contain it, and it held a vaguely humanoid shape. In its face hovered two red lights, flashing like optics. Its face was blank, with no features to speak of aside from those two red optics. Its hands were just clawed lumps, and its feet resembled talons.
This was the true form of the Mistery. And it was about to go on the attack.
"MOVE!" shouted Fumikiri as the Mistery held out a hand. A thick blast of scalding mist came their way and the duo leapt away from their hiding spot. Esebu meanwhile twisted his frame to the left, tearing himself free from the Black Head's tentacles as the mist barely hit its armored frame. Its tentacles writhed as it was scorched to a crisp from the sheer heat alone.
"Shit...!" he muttered in terror.
The Mistery leaned in, its misty hands reaching out for the team.
The Shinkalions that were still online dodged, and Esebu spotted the Black Heads inching away with Nozoma. "No you don't!" he growled. He pressed the trigger of his drill three times and the slots opened, ice Dust seeping out and covering his drill in a thin sheet of ice. He lunged forward, his treads whirling on the ground as he thrust his drill out in front of him. The Black Head closest to him got impaled in the back, freezing it solid into a black sphere of ice. The tentacles grew limp as it fell, landing on the ground and shattering into pieces. The second Black Head spotted the demise of its companion and it whirled around, its tentacles lashing out as it screeched its fury at him. Esebu tensed his frame and leapt back, flipping his frame as he did so. He looked back to Haifu.
"Haifu! Get Nozoma out of here!" he ordered.
The female Shinkalion nodded and darted into the area, her wings giving her some thrust as she bolted. Her sword vanished as she reached out with her hand and grabbed the unconscious Nozoma, hoisting him onto her shoulders and running for the very entrance to the bridge's main roadway. Once the two vanished outside the mist, Esebu looked to Fumikiri. "Okay! Let's try and take this thing down!" he cried.
"Hai!" Fumikiri said with a nod.
Matagi glanced to Esebu, and his yellow optics met blazing green.
For a moment, Matagi feared that Esebu was going to scold him. But much to his surprise and relief, he merely held out a hand. The red and white Shinkalion hesitated before he reached out a hand and took Esebu's. The leader pulled him to his feet.
"Glad to see you finally came to your senses," he remarked.
"Yeah. Actually, I have to thank you for doing that," Matagi stated. "You really helped me see what was really going on by exposing the truth."
"Actually, I didn't," Esebu corrected. "My guess is that Haifu and Fumikiri came up with that plan themselves. I just had to trust them to have a plan in place."
Haifu's words came back to him. "Trust in them."
Trust... It was so hard to earn, but so easy to break.
But... it also held much promise. Trust in those around him was what enabled him and his friends to get this far. Trusting Director Hayasugi helped them win several of their battles. And now... he had to trust in... an AI.
Or at least to help them. As much as he hated to admit it, it was better to give people a chance rather than assume the worst and be paranoid all the time. That was what had led several other scientists involved in researching anti-Kaiju Grimm weapons to going mad. And maybe that was what had led to the first AI going rogue back in 1962. Who knew what happened then? But regardless, it couldn't hurt to give this Shashot AI a chance, could it?
And besides... he wanted to give this thing a serious payback for what it had done to him, nearly making him attack his friends and killing them.
That alone sent fury surging through him. His Aura began to flare as he looked up. "I trust you, Esebu," he said. "So... what's the plan?"
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
COMMAND CENTER
"Sir, we got good news! Fumikiri and Haifu have managed to expose the Black Heads as well as take down two of them and damaged one! Esebu took out another to save Nozoma from being captured, and now the team is preparing for the fight against the Mistery!" Futaba reported.
Director Hayasugi wasn't too surprised to hear the progress of the fight, but to hear that Nozoma almost captured was disturbing.
Whatever they wanted with him, it was clear that the enemy was now intrigued by the presence of these 'aliens' and were after them. And the only good thing was that the project's true nature wasn't even known of. In a way, the project was based on both lies and fact, relying on the lies to cover up the fact of the Drivers being mere teens. It made him feel a bit sick, but then again, who wouldn't feel sick in this kind of situation?
He grimaced and forced his nausea aside as he took in a breath to calm his stomach. He let it out before he opened his eyes, returning to the task at hand. "Is Nozoma safe?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Haifu got him to safety, and he is coming to right now," Futaba stated. "No doubt he'll be wanting to go back in and fight."
"Yes, but we can't let him. Not after this. Right now though, the mission is first and foremost: to take down the Mistery and those Black Heads," Hokuto remarked.
Futaba nodded and returned her gaze to the screen. "The only question is... how? So far there has been no sign of any weaknesses... least of all a core like with that Coal Walker..."
The AI's digital avatar flickered before his voice echoed over the speakers. "If I may, I have run a detailed analysis of the Mistery based on the data that has been gathered over the course of the years. While there isn't much in the way of its capabilities aside from jamming, what isconsistent is that there is always some sort of glowing orb secreted within its back."
Director Hayasugi's eyes went wide. "What? There's been no mention of any kind of orb in any of the reports that have been submitted and published!" he blurted.
"Not in the officially publishedreports," Shashot clarified. "The official reports were heavily censored because of fear that the Kaiju Grimm in question could appear at any given time. And based on what little I have been able to get, this orb seems to be heavily protected by a field of some kind."
Hokuto sat back in his seat, his eyes hardening. "Relay this to Esebu and his companions at once," he ordered the AI.
"Hai!" Shashot said.
RAINBOW BRIDGE BATTLESPACE
"Esebu. This is Shashot."
Esebu's helm perked up at hearing the AI's voice. "Shashot!"
"There has been a recent discovery in the composition of the Mistery," Shashot said.
"Huh? You serious?" Esebu blurted.
"I am dead serious on this, Esebu," Shashot said, though the tone of his voice indicated displeasure at being questioned. The Shinkalion gulped nervously, unsure of what the AI would do next. But nothing else happened, aside from communications resuming.
"The Mistery has been noted in official Huntsman reports to contain some kind of glowing orb in its back, protected by a field of some kind. Very few have been able to find this orb and take it down, but if this orb can be taken out, then it stands to reason the Grimm would go down at the same time," he continued. "So it is of the utmost importance that you and your team find it and take it out."
"We will. Trust me," Esebu said. "I'll relay this to the others at once."
The COMM signal shot down and he turned to face his teammates.
"Guys, I just got a message from Shashot," he stated.
"And what did he have to say?" Fumikiri asked.
Matagi said nothing, but his optics hardened as Esebu relayed the message. He glanced back at the Mistery as it launched another attack of scalding hot air at the trio, forcing them to dodge. Esebu rolled to the left, Fumikiri backflipped onto one of the pylons, and Matagi darted to the right, aiming his guns at the Mistery and firing at it. The bullets just passed through its body, making him growl in frustration.
"Come now... surely you refuse to trust an AI? For all you know it could be tricking you..." that dark voice hissed over the airwaves.
Matagi's optics flared as he looked to the Mistery as it seemed to sneer at them, the two remaining Black Heads hovering over them. Their optics flashed before those tentacles dove down, their bladed tips glinting in the dim light from the mist covered battlefield. Matagi's engine seemed to stop as he realized what was coming... They were aiming right for...him!
"GET DOWN!" Esebu bellowed from further back.
"MATAGI!" Fumikiri yelled. "DUCK!"
"GET DOWN!" Shashot's voice roared in his COMM system.
But he couldn't move.
Terror, fear, and panic... they were all he could feel. He had been played... they all had. Played like fools right into a trap... and he was their weak link. His distrust of his own teammates and friends... and a possible new ally... had led them to this point.
He had no way to counter... He was dead... He saw his life flashing before his eyes...
And then it happened.
A blast of light cut through the air, and then the tentacles got shredded as something carved them into millions of pieces. Matagi glanced back, only to stare in shock as the forms of Nozoma and Haifu came running back in, this time with Seph right behind them. His silvery eyes were hard as he glanced to Matagi. "Hey, kid! Get your ass back in the game! You wanna kick this Kaiju's ass? Then stay focused and get serious!"
Matagi was baffled as to how Nozoma and Haifu had gotten back in the game, but he figured that maybe Seph had something to do with it. (He later learned that the hybrid did have a hand in it, mostly in getting Nozoma to wake up and Haifu to accept going back into the fray. That would come later, though, he figured as he glanced to the trio of Grimm before them.)
His optics flared as he looked to his friends and teammates. "Any ideas?" he asked.
Esebu looked around, his optics pulsing as he ran through several ideas, but one of the main aspects was Matagi using his sniping abilities. And trusting in Shashot. He glanced to the red and white Shinkalion. "Matagi..."
His helm snapped to look at his leader.
"I know you don't trust any AI, but at this stage of the game you have to trust me," Esebu said. "If you can't trust Shashot, then at least trust me when I say that we need his help, even if I don't like it myself."
Matagi looked down, uncertainty crossing his mind. But, now that he thought about it, he wouldn't trust anyone else with his life. And if he trusted Shashot enough to rely on his words and recommendations... then he could too.
He looked up, optics hardening into shards of golden crystal. "I do, Esebu."
The lead Shinkalion flashed one optic in a wink. "Good. Now, we got a plan, but we need someone to take this thing out. And that's you, Matagi. At least from a distance. We'll keep the Black Heads busy. You get in and take out that orb, if it exists."
"Hai!" Matagi nodded once and darted forward, his objective clear in his thoughts.
His optics pulsed as he drew out his guns and spun them before he attached them in their cannon form to his shoulder guards. His Aura seethed as he revved the wheels on the sides of his feet, pushing himself to his limits in terms of mobility. The last two Black Heads, one of them damaged, lunged for the group, their tentacles blazing as Esebu activated his Wheelset Driver and Fumikiri summoned his shuriken. Nozoma, Seph, and Haifu went after one of the Black Heads while Esebu and Fumikiri attacked the other one. It became a battle of sheer skill to try and keep them at bay, but Matagi ignored the fighting behind him as he swerved around a cluster of cars. He could see the Mistery as it came at him with a blast of scalding hot air. He crouched and leapt over it, using his agility to great effect. He landed and sped at it from the ground, his wheels whirling.
"Ah... so brave, and so bold... yet so foolish..." that voice hissed from the mists.
Matagi ignored it.
"Such foolishness will get your beloved companions killed... Do you really trust them to cover for you? What if it's the opposite in that they are covering only their own skins?"
The unknown voice was teasing, mocking... trying to make him distrust his friends. But he ignored that and focused, much like a hunter, on the objective. His prey was in sight.
"And what of that newcomer... an AI, I believe? Or is it someone new to your little team? Do you trust him as much as you claim, given what he could possibly do...?"
Matagi crushed the doubt ruthlessly.
The Mistery screeched as it thrust an arm forward, intending to swamp Matagi in its misty clutches. But the red and white Shinkalion aimed his guns and fired off a few shots at the appendage. Although they passed through it, the field that contained the mist was disrupted, allowing some to seep out and causing the creature to recoil as though in pain. And then he saw it.
Glinting red, hidden in between where the shoulder blades would've been on a human, was the orb. "I found it!" he cried.
"Excellent!" came Shashot's voice. "Now you have to take it out!"
"Any ideas on how to get up there?" Matagi asked, ignoring the fear building in his chest. Right now he needed help, and Shashot was the one to provide it as his friends and Nozoma were too busy elsewhere.
"There are the suspension cables," the AI said. "You can use those to get to the top of the nearest pylon, and then attack it from the rear. Its field is strongest there, but a sufficient boost in power will allow you to break down the barrier and take it out."
"Oh... I have just the power to do that indeed!" Matagi growled, his optics flaring as his Aura began to glow brilliant red. "Because I am gonna give this thing some serious payback!"
"Then go!" Shashot ordered.
Matagi roared as he lunged forward, grabbing onto one of the cables and starting to shimmy up it like a monkey Faunus. The Mistery looked back, its red eyes gleaming as it slowly pivoted... far too slowly, Matagi noted. Its size may have been great, but due to the mist making up the composition of its body, it was slow. Far too slow to even counterattack properly! He seized on this and scrambled to the top of the cable and ran along the main cable to the pylon tower. His optics flashed as he leapt atop the tower and sprang off, his hydraulics giving him greater jumping power than a human wearing an exosuit. Matagi adjusted himself as he targeted the glowing red orb in the Mistery's back.
His friends' faces marched past his mind's eye as he clenched his fists, channeling his Aura into his cannons.
If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was trusting his instincts and senses. But the Mistery and those Black Heads took advantage of that and fooled him. They made him attack his friends and distrust them. They made him nearly kill them. And for that, he was about to deliver a hell of a beatdown to this thing.
His cannons glowed a brilliant red, almost like a blazing red sunset, as he channeled his Aura into their barrels. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" His Aura began to return to its tri-colored state, the red Aura fusing into his cannons for his newest move. His optics flared as he finally let loose with his attack. "FUMIKIRI BARRAGE!"
The cannons roared their fury, sending a brilliant blazing red beam right for the Mistery's back. It couldn't turn in time to block it, and it proved justified as the blasts suddenly split into dozens of smaller shots, peppering the field containing the mist and causing it to seep out. The orb was now in plain sight. Matagi clenched his fists again, and increased the power output of his cannons. The blasts increased in power, striking the field... as well as the orb when they passed through the holes within it.
The Mistery screeched in agony before the orb shattered, causing the field containing the mist to vanish in a pulse of energy, the mist dissipating shortly after.
The red and white Shinkalion landed on the deck of the bridge, denting it and making it sway a bit. He staggered, but regained his balance before he collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. "C...Crap... Didn't... Didn't think that... would take so much... out of me..." he gasped, falling to his hands and knees.
"Well, now you know how I felt," Esebu joked.
Matagi's helm snapped to look at the leader of the team as he emerged, his drill dripping with oil and several other fluids. Haifu, Nozoma, and Fumikiri all followed him, looking a little worse for the wear, but still alive. Seph hovered down, his silver wings arched before he smirked and gave a thumbs up.
"Heh. Yeah..." Matagi gave a weak nod as his friends helped him up.
"Good work," Seph remarked. "Just don't let yourself fall for this trick again." His face turned serious as he said those words. "Because trust is needed just as much as teamwork."
With that, the man turned and, with a flap of his wings, flew off.
Of course, no one knew what was going to happen later on down the line...
KAIJU GRIMM DATABASE UPDATE:
NAME: Mistery
SPECIES: Kaiju
CLASS: Mega
BASIS: Humanoid
ABILITIES (UPDATED) : The full extent of the Mistery's abilities were unknown, but one ability was jamming of all communications, forcing Shashot to link into Tokyo Tower to boost the communications signals directed at the Shinkalions. It also demonstrated the ability to use its misty form to launch blasts of scalding hot air at the team.