Chapter 4

Rivals


=ASH=

To say the conference was crowded would be a bit of an understatement. The plays was swarming with reporters, tech specialists and big name celebrities. Ash could have sworn he saw Jasper Gold, the renowned real estate entrepreneur and owner of Gold Industries, a manufacturing company that designs everything from boats to trains to forklifts. Ash read a magazine on him while he waited in the hospital, he learned quite a bit. Morgan went running off immediately, Ash saw her run up to a man in a white business suit with a large backpack. His hair was orange like Arthur's and similarly styled except for the greying strands along the sides of his head and the slightly balding forehead. He also had a thick greying beard. He pulled her into a close hug and lifted her off her feet. Ash realized that must be her father, Ethan Breninaur. He put her down and her face went beat red. She motioned towards the group. Ash glanced at Lyra, who was hiding under her hood.

"I thought the tournament was crowded." Lyra said.

"Tell me about it." Ash said.

"Bark! Bark! Bark!" Orphy emitted in a monotone.

"Why did you bring that thing?" Lyra asked.

"Because, my father wants me to keep it around me at all times." Ash said. "Or as often as I can get away with."

"I'm sure Miss Goodwitch will love seeing that thing in the cafeteria." Lyra said.

"I'll just tell her it's my weapon." Ash said. "Maybe that will work."

"I doubt it." Lyra muttered.

They approached Morgan and Ethan. She introduced him to the rest of the group. He smiled and shook everyones hand. When it finally came to Ash, he hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. Ash couldn't blame him.

"So what are you four doing here?" Ethan asked.

"My father invited us." Ash said.

"Your father is here?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, he apparently has something to show off." Ash said. Ethan shook his head and muttered something.

"Dad calm down." Morgan said.

"Sorry Morgy, I should have known he was going to do this." Ethan said. "Right in the middle of my conference."

"I thought this was Mister Ironwood's conference." Ash said. "What are you showing off?"

"New armour." Ethan said. "We're manufacturing a brand new suit, only one has ever been worn so far, I hear it's Billy here who received it."

"Was I supposed to bring it?" Billy asked. It was a little weird seeing him out of it. He was wearing an oversized and overpriced suit.

"No don't worry about it." Ethan said. "We have three in this room, we have two employees going to showcase off it's features."

"Where's the third?" Ash asked.

"My little secret." Ethan said with a smile.

"Doesn't that sound familiar?" Thomas called out, cutting through the crowd. "You certainly have plenty of those."

"Thomas, long time no see." Ethan said. "What are you doing here? Other than trying to steal the limelight?"

"Oh you know, getting my payback." Thomas said. "Great turn out, this will go quite nicely."

"Right, what is it you're planning on doing? Are you going to go publically bankrupt?" Ethan asked. "Or are you going to sell the yacht."

"Already did that." Thomas said. "It was a nice yacht too."

"I'm sure it was, well isn't that what happens when you throw stones in glass houses?" Ethan asked.

"Oh, you're right, let's just build the houses out of titanium, then nothing could ever damage it." Thomas said. "That solves all our problems."

"Well, you two certainly are great role models." Morgan said. She rolled her eyes. "Way to set an example, you're bickering like little girls."

"Morgy, stay out of this." Ethan said.

"Yeah Morgy, grown ups are talking." Thomas replied.

"Don't talk to my daughter." Ethan said.

"Why not, you were talking to my son." Thomas said.

"You know, I think we're done here." Ethan said. "I'm up anyways."

"That's right, walk away." Thomas said. "Just like you did with Iantha."

"What did he just say?" Morgan asked.

"Shut your mouth you son of a..." Ethan said raising a fist.

"Am I interrupting something?" A voice called out. General Ironwood stepped in between them.

"No, nothing. Just hashing out our differences like reasonable men." Thomas said.

"Right." Ethan said, he practically growled when he said it. "Like reasonable men."

"Good, Ethan you're up first." Ironwood said. "Today is an important day, we're going to remind the people that our industry giants are still here and designing new technology to keep us safe."

"Why do we need Gray then?" Ethan asked. "The Gray Dust Company hasn't exactly been a giant for a long time."

"Blame the Schnees." Thomas said.

"They do make better tech." Ethan said. "And even they can say they aren't criminals."

Thomas took another step, Ironwood pushed him back. "That's enough, both of you. I brought you both here because we need both of you to do this. Ethan, you are the shield, you design the gear that keeps our huntsman and soldiers safe." Ironwood said. "Thomas you are the sword, you design weapons that even the Schnees can't match the ambition of."

"Fine, I'm up." Ethan said. He straightened his tie and took to the stage.

The crowd found their seat, team ALBM found their seats. Ash noticed Morgan looked a little on the distracted side. He wanted to say something but the presentation began. Lights shined down on Ethan. He brushed a stray strand of hair out of his face and cleared his throat.

"My name is Ethan Breninaur, I am the CEO of Aegis Technology. You may know me for the armoured suits that you see our fine soldiers wearing today. I'll be modest, we did have help from the Schnee Dust Company." He said, he stared towards Thomas for a moment. "Today I am priviledged to reveal that our company has a new inovation in security technology. We have developed a brand new suit of armour to be deployed by the end of the year. The Aegis Bastille MkV."

Two men stepped out of a backdoor wearing bulky looking armoured suits. Compared to the last generation, they looked huge and impressive. The armoured men flexed. The crowd began to laugh.

"The suit can handle more stress than the previous suit could. This could survive the claws of any grimm." He said. "It also comes equipped with it's own defensive weapons. As well as a few other little gizmos to provide the soldier on the go with more mobility and protection."

He gave a bow. Ironwood stepped onto the stage applauding. The crowd applauded with him. Ethan nodded and stepped off the stage and sat next to Thomas. They both shot each other dirty looks. Ironwood leaned over the podium.

"I want to announce we have another distinguished guest here today." Ironwood said. "One who also has a presentation for you. May we have a big round of applause for Thomas Gray."

The crowd seemed more surprised than excited, they half applauded, half broke into gossip. Thomas stepped onto stage and passed Ironwood. He leaned on the podium like it was a life raft.

"Hello everyone." He said. "Welcome to the show."

A couple people in the crowd chuckled. He smiled and leaned back. He swooped his hair back and cleared his throat.

"Today is an auspicious day for the Gray Dust Company. Today we unveil our latest batch of military technology. A long time coming if I might add. This was based on an old design we worked alongside the Atlas military to create. However, due to the General's indecision, we had to handle the rest of it's development on our own."

"What's your dad doing?" Lyra whispered.

"Calling out the general? At his own presentation?" Morgan asked.

"Oh boy." Ash muttered.

"When he unveiled his fancy paladins I was thinking, wow, what a gigantic waste of money!" Thomas said. "Not only is it a huge eye sore, but it's a huge eye sore."

"Oh no." Ash muttered.

"I thought to myself, why can't we have that exact design, in a smaller and more mobile package." He said. Ash watched the General grimacing. Now there were two men staring angrily at Ash's father. "So may I unveil, the GDC patented, Hellhound Mk3 Cerberus!"

A large metal dog, twice the size as Orphy, stepped out of the back room. It let out an automated roar. The crowd broke out into applause. Thomas turned to it. "Missiles!" He shouted. It's back opened up and two missile launcher racks folded out. The crowd began to cheer. "Lasers!" He shouted. It's eyes began to glow. "Stop!" He ordered, it stopped. "Sit!" He said. It sat down. The crowd laughed. "Roll over!" It rolled over, the crowd continued to laugh.

"It's a big puppy that one. With enough firepower to destroy a paladin in a one on one match, with enough maneuverability to keep even a huntsman on his toes." He said. "Even the fastest grimm will have trouble keeping up with speeds faster than the most powerful sportscars on the market. Available for private ownership as well as hopefully, government contract."

Ironwood stepped onto the stage clapping, he leaned over and whispered something in Thomas' ear that made him smile. "May we all have a big round of applause for the Gray Dust Company and it's CEO Thomas Gray." Ironwood said.

There was a loud bang and the windows shattered. A single robed man crashed through the windows. He growled like an animal and pulled out a club with a gunbarrel at it's core. He racked it like a shotgun, flipped it and aimed it towards Thomas. The Cerberus jumped in between them and took the hit. It stampeded towards the attacker, who spun around and cracked it in the side of the head, sending it tumbling. It flipped onto it's feet in mid air and leapt immediately upon contact with the ground. The man sidestepped and it flew out the window. Ironwood ushered the crowd out of harms way. Thomas drew a pistol and opened fire. The man blocked the shots with his aura. He charged, club in hand. Ash reached for his new weapon and drew it. He lunged. His father ran out of ammo and dropped the pistol.

The hooded man was fast, Thomas attempted to block his strikes but he was easily getting overpowered. His father flip kicked the would be assassin, sending him into a flip. The assassin curled into a ball in mid air and landed back on his feet. Thomas sent another kick only for the assassin to catch it this time and throw him by it. Thomas flew towards the window and landed in the broken glass. The assassin spun around and aimed the shotgun towards him. He fired.

Jumping in between them was a massive armoured shape. Bigger than the on display, this one had something big strapped to it's back. He stomped the ground and a bubble emerged from his suit. The assassin opened fire. Rounds absorbed into the shield. The man raised his hand and a massive beam of energy burst out sending the assassin crashing through the wall behind him. The assassin came leaping back, the armoured man blocked the first strike and countered. His fist began punching like a jackhammer, actually detaching from the rest of the suit. He continued to pummel the assassin to the ground.

The assassin grabbed the suit by the arm and flipped flipped around it, wrapping his legs around his head and flipping the entire suit over himself. He climbed to his feet and swung for Thomas once again. The armored man leaned forward and the thing strapped to his back released a massive beam of energy sending the man flying out the window and out of sight.

Ash and the others merely watched in awe of the whole fight. Ironwood came running back into the room, a pistol drawn. He and several dozen soldiers stormed in sweeping the room for hostils. The man in the armoured suit clicked a button on the side of his helmet, it retracted into a heavy looking collar. Ethan Breninaur shook his head and wiped his hair back into position.

"Ethan, where did the attacker go?" Ironwood asked.

"Out the window." Ethan said. "I don't think he's coming back."

"I don't know, he seemed awfully interested in me." Thomas said dusting himself off. Ethan spun around and clocked him right in the jaw. He dropped to the ground. His aura disipated.

"Was that really neccesary?" Ironwood asked.

"No, it just felt good." Ethan said.

"If I had my weapon." Thomas said, climbing to his feet. "This could be a fair fight."

"Are you kidding? You think that little gunblade of yours could possibly do something to this suit?" Ethan asked.

A massive shape climbed through the window with a torn hooded robe in it's mouth. It let out a robotic growl. Thomas approached it and pulled the robe out. The symbol of the White Fang, a red wolf with three claw marks along it.

"Friends of yours?" Ethan asked.

"Ha!" Thomas said. "That was funny Tin Man."

"The White Fang, I should have known." Ironwood said. "I have people to inform of this turn of events. Gentlemen." He stormed off, he brought his soldiers with him.

"Dad that was amazing." Morgan said. He ruffled her hair.

"Thanks Morgy." He said. "Thomas what did you do with that old gunblade anyways?"

"My son broke it." Thomas replied. "Isn't that right Ash?"

"Yes father." Ash said. "I told you, wasn't entirely my fault, it was that or die."

"I did hear about the cave incident." Ethan said. "Well done Ashton, you did well, for a Gray."

"You just can't lighten up for a minute can you?" Thomas asked. "This is just like what happened in Mystral."

"Don't even talk about that like we are still friends." Ethan said. "Morgy, let's go."

"Walk away again!" Thomas said. "Like you always do."

"Don't forget who just saved your life Thomas." Ethan said.

"Prick." Thomas muttered. He glanced out the window. "Can't even save someones life without holding it over them. How did he ever call himself a hunstman.

"Father, are you okay?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, just some scrapes." He replied. "Also, isn't that my line?"

"As you said, he only had eyes for you." Ash replied.

"That he did." Thomas said. "I know who it was as well."

"I've seen him before too." Ash said.

"Victor Onyx." Thomas said. "White Fang cleaner."

"Wait you two know who it was and you didn't say anything?" Lyra asked. "Oh wait, look who I'm talking to."

"Right, let's just reveal that my son met the assassin to General Ironwood and open the doors to unsavory questions by the authorities." Thomas said. "Not likely little girl."

"So what do we do?" Ash asked.

"You focus on winning that tournament for our company and I'll sick the dogs on any more would be assassins. Keep Orphy close. You're going to need him if the assassin changes targets." Thomas said.

"I'm not surprised this didn't happen sooner. I may have irritated them a bit." Ash said.

"I'll be fine. Silver Faust is coming out of the shop with a few upgrades pretty quick." Thomas said. "It's going to turn a few heads let me tell you."

"We'll as long as you're covered." Ash said.

"Don't worry about me son, I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve. I mean I was a hunstman once." He said. "Go on with your friends. I've got some things I need to take care of."