Disclaimer – Don't own Eva or Armored Core or anything in this chapter with a copy write on it, but you know that, don't you.
A/n here's the 11th chapter
But anyway…on we go
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Quote the Raven
Chapter 11
Gone Solo/Enter 9-Breaker
That morning Yui, Shinji and Misato saw Rei off to her first solo mission. Requiem had said his goodbyes earlier that morning. Promising her they would talk on her return. She was nervous, this time she would have no back up to help her if things went bad. She was on her own. In the mean time Requiem had gotten a call from Larna, his opponent for the day had been killed fighting against a B-Rank Raven, called Kaze. Fortunately Kaze had accepted Foust's challenge in his place. Requiem smirked at the thought. If he could beat him, he would take his spot as the ranking B-2.
Larna also told him to check his mail, he had received a rather large package from Kisaragi, they wouldn't say what it was, and they only said the mail would explain. Requiem opened his Mail and the massage
From: Crest Industries Presidential Offices
To: Requiem (Joshua Anders)
Message: I'm glad to see you've made it into the Arena and have won your first victory, I have also heard of your impending match with the B-2 ranker. As you know when a higher ranking Raven challenges a lower, should the lower win he progresses to the loser's position. Don't be surprised I know about this ahead of time as I had made the arrangements. But on to other matters, you will be proud to know that our R&D team here at Crest HQ has completed the project your parents worked on up until their deaths. Unfortunately the units in question have been deemed to costly for general production. As such I have had them shipped them you as you will find them more useful than any others. They are prototype Core and Leg units based heavily on our model CR-C90U3 and CR-LH80S2 both of which you already use. There are heavy differences however, which will be explained by the head mechanic who is most likely going over them with a fine tooth comb. I have taken the liberty of informing the Nest of the Units and their capabilities so there will not be any cheating allegations once you use them on your AC, which once you see what they are capable of, you will.
It should at least give you some closure and help you come one step closer to 9-Ball, should this be the same man.
Regards: Katherine Harrison, President Crest Industries
Requiem just shook his head, he shut off his computer and got dressed, he hadn't left the house yet as his arena match was that afternoon. Misato and Shinji had taken Yui shopping. She had only arrived with the basics and only one change of cloths. They would be back soon, and then they were, suppose, to head down to the Garage to look over the Wraith before his match. He left a note on the dining room table for them and headed out early. He wanted to see these new parts.
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Rei sat in the Lillian, which sat secured in one of the raven transports on its way to the Crest, June Station. She was nervous, but ready. Her training as a Raven had made her ready for this, as had her training as an Eva pilot. Suddenly her communication link to the transport activated
"Were half an hour out, looks like their gona be waiting for us, get ready for a hot drop"
"Acknowledged transport"
Rei sat back and calmed her nerves; this was going to be one of those days. She checked her systems and then did it again to be sure.
She was as ready as she could ever be.
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Requiem arrived at the Garage and headed for the Wraith. Once he arrived he saw the new parts, the core attached to the new legs standing in the empty space next to the Wraith. Requiem walked up to the head Tech.
"Hey Morison, Larna said I had a package"
"Yeah these beauties here"
Morison and Requiem walked over to the new legs with the new attached core standing in the stall alone. Requiem looked up at the parts
"What are the specs on these?"
Morison looked at the palm computer in his hand
"Well it's a bit heaver than the one you're using now, not by much though, the new legs offset that. The core is called the CR-52PXC and the legs are called the CR-21PXL. Other than the weight and a few…other things, the core is a modified version of the one you're using, the legs look like modified CR-LH80S2. The way it looks, Crest just took the CR-C90U3 core and the CR-LH80S2 legs, striped out the insides and used new stuff. Oh yeah, come on check this out"
The pair climbed the ladder up the catwalk behind the AC's back. Requiem froze when he looked at the core. The hangers had been replaced by a classic OverBoost system, but that wasn't all. It was nestled between the two over boost thrusters. There on the armor between them sat a single prototype Crest built Orbiter Gun., Requiem was dumb founded
"An Orbiter…on an OB core, what the hell"
Morison looked down at his palm PC
"According to this it's activated by the cores onboard computer, it's what adds the extra weight. As an added plus the Hangers have been moved to the sides of the upper legs, but other than being able to take the extra weight, that's the only difference from the normal model. The core has the same number of option slots as well as the same type of missile intercept system built in"
Requiem looked over the new equipment
"And the nest passed these"
"Yeah, they came like this so their legal"
"Good…transfer everything else from the wraith onto these, can you do it by 5 PM"
"don't worry we'll have it done in time for your arena match, oh, it can handle 500 more weight before going over, you want to put anything on Hip Hangers"
He thought for a moment
"Yeah, put my PIXIE 3 machine gun on the right side, I'll drop the Karasawa and use it if things go rough or I run out of ammo"
"Alright, we'll get on it"
"Thanks"
He checked his watch, it was 2:28, and it was almost time for Orchid to drop in on her first mission. He hoped she would be alright
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Right now things for Rei weren't going so hot, she had dropped early because of incoming fire on the transport aircraft. She hit the ground and located the friendly mirage forces on her radar. She thrusted over to them, the force was rather large consisting of many different types of MT. she approached the leader
"Ahh good timing Raven, I assume your ready to go"
"Yes, what of the surface fire, we were fired upon on route"
"it's just some surface turrets we had yet to locate, we've secured the lift to the first sublevel, go down there and destroy all hostile forces"
Rei didn't respond, she just boarded the lift and began her descent
After about 2 min, she found herself in a large room filled with ore processing equipment, she also noted 4 radar blips in and among it.
She headed for the first one; it was a modified construction MT with a laser drill mounted in its right arm and a nasty looking claw on its left. She quickly unleashed a barrage of machine gun rounds into the target, destroying it.
The other 3 noticed what happened and fell back into the hallway connecting the room Rei was now in with the adjoining elevator shaft down to sublevel 2. They had gathered at the shaft, waiting on the elevator.
Rei saw her chance and activated her chain gun, she then unleashed a hail of nickel and copper rounds into the group destroying each and every one of them, unfortunately one of the rounds had severed the elevator cable, dropping it down the shaft.
She just followed it down.
Once she reached the 2nd sublevel she slashed through the closed doors of the elevator. In the rather large room she found 4 turrets, one in each corner of the room, each had a single mounted chain gun atop it.
All 4 opened fire on her AC.
She hit the first one with her laser blade then, keeping her movements as random as possible, spun of it and fired her machine gun at the next one, blowing the gun off its top.
For the next two Rei followed the same pattern. It worked every time.
She then activated the next elevator to the next sublevel, number 3. She began to wonder if the Mirage forces had eve entered the base at all. With there numbers they should have easily taken the base this far in
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Misato stood with Requiem looking at the Wraith, now equipped with its new parts. Shinji and Yui had decided to spend the day together catching up for the past 10 years. The Wraith didn't look much different, except the machine gun now mounted to its right upper leg and the Orbiter Gun sitting in its place above the over boost. Misato shook her head
"I don't get it, what's so different about it"
Requiem sighed then looked back to his AC
"Well it's got both OB and EO functions, some kind of new computer system in the core and the magnetic locks on the legs for 2 more hand weapons. The only reason I can use it at all is because Crest built them like that. I already had Morrison tune both the Core and Legs"
Suddenly they heard a voice behind them
"You're damn lucky they came like that too"
Behind them stood a man about 24 years old, he wore a black muscle Shirt under a dark blue jean jacket with crossed Swords on the left sleeve and Major bars on the collar, a pair of dark grey slacks and a pair of military combat boots. He had silver-ish color hair and was very good looking to Misato, Requiem recognized him as Executioner. He walked up to the pair and rumbled Requiems hair
"So kid you going to introduce me to the hotness or what"
Requiem groaned
"Sure…Misato this is Executioner, he's the 1st arena Ranker. Executioner this is Major Misato Katsuragi, she's the Sub-commander of Nerv"
"Ohh right, you're the guardian of the new kid Zero right. I had heard that you were here
He took Misato's hand and kissed it. She blushed bright red as he turned back to Requiem
"You're getting ready to test those new parts right"
"I'll probably have to test them in the Arena against Kaze why"
"I want to see what they've got, that's all"
"We'll you'll have to wait, how's Genobee"
Executioner chuckled a bit
"Oh you know him, still pouting because I beat him"
Requiem shook his head
"I don't think he pouts"
A voice from behind the three caught their attention
"There you two are, I've needed to talk to you two"
Behind them stood a man in his mid to late 40s with some gray beginning to show in his hair, Executioner and Requiem nodded to the man as he approached. Executioner broke into his trade mark easy going attitude
"Hey jack, what do you need"
Jack stopped when he reached them
"Well for one, you Executioner have a mission"
He sighed
"I know, I don't leave till tonight"
Jack nodded
"Good and you Requiem"
"Yes sir"
"Be careful when dealing with the Corporations, especially Crest, or you may give the impression you're showing favor"
Requiem shrugged
"Well they are my Arena sponsor, but these new parts, were what my parents died to make"
"Ohhh I get it…ok…you're going to use the parts 9-Ball killed your parents over to kill him"
Requiem nodded
"Yeah, and I'll make sure to do the job this time"
Jack nodded and then noticed Misato
"I'm sorry, you are"
Executioner stepped in
"Oh sorry, jack this is Misato Katsuragi of Nerv"
Executioner continued
"Major this is the Ravens Nest administrator and former 3rd rank in the arena, this is Jack-O"
Misato shook his hand again
"Good to finally meet you"
He extended his hand to the major, who shook it
"Right Zero's guardian, nice to meet you as well"
Jack-O thought for a moment before he continued
"I hate to be forward but do you think you could do a favor for me"
Misato narrowed her eyes
"That depends"
Jack-O continued
"I'd like to arrange a meeting between the Nerv main staff and myself, if that's alright"
Misato's expression shifted
"Oh, yeah I think I can do that, I'll be talking to the Commander tonight. I'll see what I can arrange"
"Thanks, good day major, Ravens"
With that he walked off, Misato watched him wirily
"I don't trust that guy"
Executioner and Requiem chuckled, Requiem shook his head
"Jacks harmless, you don't have to worry about him"
Requiem turned to Executioner
"Well I gota get into the Arena, I'll see you later"
"Alright see ya later. Good day Misato"
He kissed her hand again as he left. She headed off to the observer boxes with a blush on her face and Requiem boarded the Wraith, his hardest arena fight about to begin.
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Rei stood in the elevator looking into the final room of the facility; it was all that separated her from the control room. She was nervous, this had been too easy, the Mirage forces that had entered the facility had been destroyed before they could report in. she cautiously took a step, then wished she hadn't. A high velocity grenade slammed into her AC knocking it off of its feet.
She managed to get the AC to stand. There at the other end of the room, standing before the control room stood a black AC with bits of very dark brown, her computers female voice chimed in
AC Identification verified, AC Duel Face, pilot Genobee, Rank A-2 in the arena. Recommendations, immediate withdrawal
Rei didn't like this; Genobee was very skilled, one of the best. Suddenly she heard a voice over the line
"You understand your mission Raven; do not let her come any closer"
"Acknowledged"
The Duel Face came on hard; his first laser blade slash destroyed Rei's machine gun. She jumped back into the elevator and headed back to the second sublevel. Genobee followed, preferring to fight in the level above anyway. Rei thrusted into the room and went to its far side and knelt down. She readied her chain gun for the duel face. It followed her up the elevator shaft and was immediately met by a shower of bullets, but not from the Lillian. Rei looked to the door to see a group of Mirage MT's standing in the destroyed elevator shaft to the 1st sublevel. Her radio crackled to life
"Raven, your Contract is complete, you cleared a way to the control room. We'll take it from here"
"Roger"
Rei boosted for the elevator shaft, glad her first mission was done. Once on the surface her operator contacted her
"Excellent job Orchid we're sending the transport in, Return to the nest."
"Roger, waiting for extraction"
Rei closed her com unit, removed her helmet and sighed; her first mission was a success.
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Requiem in the Wraith stood facing Kaze's AC the Hyperion. The Hyperion stood on a set of Mirage heavy Reveres joint legs with the head, core, and arms also built by Mirage. It had an orange camouflage paint job, a Laser cannon on its right shoulder, a medium size Missile launcher on its left shoulder, a Mini gun on the right hand, and a Kisaragi built KLBTLS/SOL energy wave laser blade on its left arm.
Requiem had switched his Linear Cannon for his small missile and his Linear Rifle for the Karasawa like last time.
They received the go signal
Kaze immediately kicked in his boosters and shot forward towards the Wraith, firing his Mini gun all the way.
Requiem activated his OB and shot to the side. He leveled his Karasawa and fired. The shot hit the laser cannon, detonating it.
The Hyperion stumbled a bit and Requiem saw his chance. He was about to activate his Orbit gun when the core's onboard OS did it for him
Orbit gun activated
This voice was different than the old one, its was…Requiem froze
"It can't be…mom"
The Hyperion saw its chance and began to unload its mini-gun at the Wraith.
The Wraiths OS saw this and moved the AC on its own. Requiem was shocked back to reality and began to fight back, his computer commented
Don't worry; I'll explain it all later
Requiem pulled up the Karasawa and took aim. His energy round collided with the Hyperion's core, ripping away most of its armor and dropping the core AP to 20 percent.
Kaze hit his boosters and shot forward, planning to return the favor with his laser blade. He unleashed an energy beam from the weapon, aimed strait at the wraiths core.
Requiem thrusted over the beam and fired his rifle into the Hyperion's face at nearly point blank range, the head was torn away and the AC slammed into the arena wall, out of action. The Hyperion's pilot contacted him over his link
"Oh well, I figured you'd win anyway"
Requiem directed his AC back toward the Garage, he would have an interesting conversation with this new computer OS
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Once back in the garage Requiem finally spoke
"Mom?"
After a moment he got a response
No, but she did do my basic programs
"Who, what are you"
I'm an experimental AI protocol, designed for use in AC's. Your mother is responsible for my programming and your father my hardware
Requiem nodded a bit
"I understand"
I will give you what ever details you seek at a later date, for now you must rest
Requiem nodded
"Yeah, later…umm what do I call you?"
The designation of this AC is Wraith, I would prefer that
"Well, goodnight wraith"
Rest well
Requiem sighed and jumped out, though more advanced, it wasn't much different that any other AC onboard computer AI he had seen. After showering he met up with Misato and headed home. Yui and Shinji were already there and Rei had called and said she would be home that night. He would have a busy night tonight.
A/N there's 11, on to 12