Infinite Stratos: Digital Prototype CH: 5 (I don't own Infinite Stratos)
Hi guys! I'm getting you a new update sooner than I expected! I had a tough time starting this one. And I kinda rambled on to begin with, but got it together soon after. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I had writing it!
Blue Days - Red Switch - Green Lines
"No way! Are you serious?" I heard a girl say as I walked into the back of the classroom. The girls looked at me, quieting down immediately. I just shook my head and said, "Don't stop on my account, I don't really care whatever it is you're talking about." I sat down and rested my head on my arms, leaning on my desk and sighing quietly. Charlotte and I had stayed up later than usual talking about our IS's and their capabilities, something we were very passionate about. Comparing her Revive Custom II and my Prototype was quite easy actually. Due to Prototype being manufactured mainly off of the standard Revive II, both of our IS had the same amount of bus slots. Prototype had a stronger core, allowing for far more powerful attributes in the bus slots. But her Revive Custom II was far more customizable than my Prototype. She could switch from offensive to defensive styled attributes within seconds while my transitions took longer and were mainly offensive or support styled attributes. We found that, since we had very similar machines, we could work almost seamlessly together with little communication. (We tested this in the simulators) She admitted to preferring a closer style fighting compared to my longer ranged preference. We came up with multiple plans that covered almost any strategies and were easy to convert to with little confusion. But enough about last night, I listened as apparently, there had been a discussion amongst the girls and whoever won the class league match would be allowed to date Ichika with little to no interference. Oddly, Char and I weren't added on or part of any other deals, just Ichika. I shrugged and then chuckled softly as Ichika walked into the room, completely oblivious to the conversation happening all around him. "Good morning!" He said. The girls went silent immediately and Charles walked in behind him and took a seat at the desk next to me. "What are you guys talking about?" Ichika asked the group of girls next to him. They muttered different excuses and made their way back to their seats. I chuckled again and Char looked at me questioningly, I waved my hand back and forth, letting her know I'll tell her later. We listened as the teacher began the lecture.
As the bell rang, signalling our final free period for the day, I stood and stretched, mimicked by Charlotte next to me. We looked at each other and laughed as we walked out of the classroom, "So, what shall we do with all this free time?" I asked, setting my bag in our room and grabbing a more comfortable shirt to change into. Charlotte walked into the bathroom and shut the door. I then heard the sound of clothes shifting and sliding. I shook my head and quickly changed my train of thoughts off of Char and on to the next thing to do today. That's when it hit me, "What about some practice with those plans we came up with last night? You know, to actually see if they work like we think they do." I said, shrugging on my shirt and grabbing some shorts to finish my outfit. "Sounds good. I'm about done in here, meet you in the arena in a couple?" Char said through the door. "Sure, just need to grab something really quick, then I'll head out." I informed her, undoing my uniform pants. Just as I was stepping into my shorts, the bathroom door opened and Char stepped out and around the corner. She was less than decent. I flushed and turned around, coughing to catch her attention. I heard her turn around and let out a small squeak. I laughed nervously, pulling my shorts all the way on. I covered my eyes and turned around. "Sorry, I'll get out of here now." I said, walking out the doorway and uncovering my eyes. I shut the door and let out my breath, leaning on the now closed door. "What a woman," I said to no one in particular, I shook my head, smirking. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was doing it on purpose. I just grinned and walked down to the arena.
I walked into the arena locker room and quickly changed into my IS uniform. I scratched Prototype's tattoo, which had been itching since I'd walked out of Char and I's room. Then I froze. The last time I felt like this, it was when I was about to be jumped by those drones back home. Prototype had been 'itching' for a fight, since we hadn't had a fight for awhile. I worked my way around the locker room, looking for any assailants. Nothing at all in the locker room, then I heard the sound of IS's clashing and I ran for the room out into the arena. I called up my IS HUD and messaged Char's phone, telling her to get down to the arena immediately. Laura was fighting both Rin and Cecilia at once, and winning. I crouched in the doorway, watching Laura wipe the floor with the two girls without breaking a sweat. I watched as she used the A.I.C to its full effect. It stops Ryuho in its tracks, that's pretty powerful to be able to do that. I thought, Prototype mentally agreed, watching through my eyes. He was impressed by the power that Laura's third-gen held without actual handheld weapons. I had to agree with him. I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned to see Ichika and Char walking out of the locker room. I looked at Char, motioning with my eyes at Ichika, she barely shook her head in a negative. I shrugged and looked at Ichika, "No offense, but what are you doing here?" I asked, looking him up and down. Ichika looked at me and then at Char, "I saw him hurrying down one of the halls and I asked what was going on, Charles said that three of the representative candidates were having a match in the arena and I asked who, she told me and I hurried down to see for myself." He answered, looking back at me. I nodded and looked at Char, "Laura's IS is equipped with A.I.C, that's going to be a obstacle for most of our plans, maybe 3B or 4C could still work, with some small modifications." I said, referencing some of our late night battle plans. She nodded in agreement, looking at Ichika. "Stay here, Laura already has tried to fight you, don't give her another chance." Ichika nodded in total agreement, Charles and I were about to step out and call our IS's, when Houki called out from the stands; "If someone doesn't do something, Cecilia and Rin could get seriously hurt." I hadn't heard any more shots of any kind and that was worrying me. I took another peek around the corner to see Laura, punching Cecilia in the gut, shattering the protective armor there. Then she swung at Rin, landing a punch before Rin raised her large IS arm in front of her, shielding her from the next punch, which left a fracture in the armor where Laura had struck. Both girls were strung up by cords that were originating from Laura's IS. "Scratch 3B, we need to be highly mobile to not be caught up in her cables. Add 1A to the mix with 4C and 5B, heck bring 2C in as well." I said, thinking about the numerous plans we had concocted. Char nodded, remembering which plans I was talking about, all 4 called for quick powerful strikes, mainly hit and run tactics till our opponents were extremely low on energy. "Let's start with 1A, I'll distract her, you get into position and let me know when you are, timing is everything here." I said, calling Prototype as I stepped onto the arena floor.
I called one of my pistols into existence, leaving it down at my hips for the moment. Laura pulled the two girls, still in their IS's, into the air, probably to continue beating them. "Laura, stop this now!" I commanded, coming to a stop a good 10 feet away from her. Laura looked over at me, then smirked. "And what are you going to do, American? In case you've forgotten, I have a 3rd generation IS, compared to your outdated 2nd generation junk heap." She replied, smug. I left my facial features blank, training from years past kicking in as I sized up my opponent. Railgun is powerful, slow, but the IS it's attached to isn't slow at all. A.I.C will be an issue till Char is ready, especially with those cords in play. "How about you drop the two idiots and fight a real challenge?" I taunted, bringing up my pistol and filling my other hand with a standard issue IS knife, the blade white as snow and unscratched. The green rings around the blade, made to match my IS color scheme glared in the sun. I had instinctually dropped lower to the ground, widening my stance and preparing to clash. Laura grinned, seeming amused with my antics, but she dropped the two girls none the less. As soon as they were released, their IS's returned to their standby modes and the girls collapsed. I glanced at them, then returned my attention to Laura, who had sent her Rail-gun back into storage, but was facing me fully now. "Well then, American. Let's dance!" With that, we both charged.
"I'm in position. Ready for your signal, Z." I heard as Char, who was now above me, reached her position and made me aware of it. "Alright, good. I'm hoping that she'll use her A.I.C, when she does, make your entrance." I replied, checking my distance as I raised my pistol, firing at Laura's sprinting form. Instead of using A.I.C like I'd planned, she dodged to the side, boosting forward towards my side, fist raised to strike. I used my boosters to turn myself to face her, dropping my pistol into storage and meeting her charge with open arms, literally. Laura raised her fist higher, hoping to drop me to the ground and trap me under her. I grinned just as she threw her punch, catching her off guard as I moved my head to the side. Usually her fist would meet shield this close to my body, but her fist went straight through, not meeting any resistance like she had planned. I stepped into her punch and wrapped my arms around her IS's midsection and activated the boosters on my feet, sending my feet up and my head down. I held Laura's midsection as we began our flip, she tried to wiggle out of my hold, but I held on tighter. She looked up from me to see the ground rushing at her. She tried to put her hands out to break her fall, but it was too late. She crashed face first into the ground, while I released her and completed my flip, activating the rest of my boosters to correct my motions. I finished my flip coming to rest kneeling over her. I brought my fists down quick and precise, pounding away at her shielding, she brought her arms up to shield, so I boosted off her and a little ways away. I landed a little way, breathing a little hard, but grinning. "Come on Laura, don't tell me that's the best the genetically enhanced German super soldier that's superior to everyone can do, I'm barely breaking a sweat." I taunted, then said to Char, "Get ready," Just as I had expected, attacking her pride was her downfall as she blindly rushed at me. I took another stance and used her own energy against her and sent her sprawling as I stepped out of harms way again. "Why aren't you using your shields, American? Why do you leave yourself so open to personal attack? Don't you know it's dangerous to your health?" Laura said, stumbling as she stood. I grinned and reactivated my shields, shrugging. "Gives me a good adrenaline rush." I replied, returning my pistol to my hand. I pointed the firearm at her, "It's over Laura, deactivate your IS now." I commanded, my eyes not leaving hers. That's when I realised her eyes weren't on me, but behind me. I activated a rear facing camera to see Ichika, in Byakushiki, flying the girls to safety while I had her occupied. He was about to reach the safety of the locker rooms when Laura summoned her Railgun and fired a shot at his retreating form. I reacted as quickly as I could firing at the shot, luckily hitting it and knocking it off course. Ichika noticed the fire coming his way and looked our way to see me on the ground after hitting the shot off trajectory. "Ow, that stung." I said, having been hit with a cheap shot from behind by Laura after I had turned. I rolled over to see Laura, grinning as she leveled her gun at my face, "Say goodbye, American." She cooed, charging the shot that could end me. So I reacted, badly. "Not today, I'm not dying today!" I chanted as I returned the pistol and called my SMG's into play, pulling the triggers as soon as I could, filling the air in between Laura and I with lead. This time she activated her A.I.C, "Now, you die!" She cried as the shot reached it's charge, I closed my eyes, readily accepting my death. "Not today, Laura!" Char yelled as she began to rain down fire from her position in the sky, rocketing towards us as she fired round after round from her rifle. I turned to look as Laura was rocked as the rounds impacted her shield, throwing off her balance and focus. I quickly grabbed the cannon in my face and forced it upwards, away from me. Laura fired, sending the shot into the arena walls. punching a IS sized hole in the barrier. I twisted as I rose to my feet, ripping the cannon off her shoulder and tossed it behind me. She screamed her frustration into the sky as she took off into the sky to avoid Char's bullets. I moved my SMG's up, pulling the triggers again and tracking her as she tried to avoid our combined fire. Sparks flew as rounds pounded her shields lower and lower. In her rage, she brought out the cables, I tried to dodge the ones sent at me, but one was able to wrap around my left arm, pulling me towards her, so I brought the other arm in front of me and started firing, prompting her to activate her AIC to catch my rounds. "You can't win, American!" She cried victoriously. I looked at her and put away my SMG, replacing it with a knife. I cut the cord wrapped around my arm and she turned her focus from the last of my rounds to my charging form. I froze midair, caught in the AIC field. She wrapped more cords around my limbs, "I have one question," I said, seemingly calm, despite my situation. "And what is it, American?" She said, grinning as she reveled in her victory. "Have you seen Charles anywhere?" I asked, grinning. Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake, "Too late, bitch." Charles said as she hit Laura with her Shield Pierce, then quickly cut the cords holding me. I nodded my thanks and called my rifle out as Charles rushed Laura with her Shield Pierce again. Laura saw Charles first and caught her in the AIC field, then I fired. The shot hit her shoulder, knocking her off balance and allowing Char to get in close with the Shield Pierce and begin to rapidly fire it into Laura's abdomen. I took shots when I could, keeping Laura's focus too confused to use her AIC and her shield rapidly dropped. I shouldered my rifle as Laura's IS dissipated and grabbed Char before she could attack the unconscious girl. Our IS dissipated as well and I grabbed her in a hug, effectively immobilizing her as she yelled and screamed out profanities that would make most sailors blush. I spun her around to face me and clapped a hand over her mouth, shutting her up. "It's over, Char. It's over!" I said, finally snapping her out of whatever trance she had been in. She looked at me and began to cry into my chest as I held her to me, letting her let it all out. "You idiot! What were you doing before I intervened? She almost killed you!" She said, voice raising as she continued to talk. I watched her as she continued to rant to me about how stupid and idiotic I was before finally falling silent, out of steam and words. "Are you done?" I asked, looking at her. She nodded, not looking at me. "Good, now let's go! I don't want to be here any longer than possible." I said as I took off towards the locker rooms, Char followed right behind me. I get the feeling that we haven't seen the last of Laura and her violent temper. I heard Prototype say in my head. I agreed completely.
Hello again! Like earlier, hope you enjoyed reading it, because I had a lot of fun writing this one! I'll probably start writing the next one soon! Peace out everyone!