Chapter 15: Information
08:14 AM (Japan Time), Sunday December the 18th…
"… I am glad to meet you again, Dr. Arachev."
"The pleasure is mine, Dr. Regal."
Dr. Arachev was a man on his forties, with blond hair and blue eyes.
He wore a black suit over a white shirt, gray pants, and brown shoes.
He was talking with Dr. Regal in an outdoor café.
"You know… I received a rather odd call yesterday…"
"Is that really so?"
"The caller went by the name of Mikhail Ivanovitch, and spoke in English with a bit of a Sharo accent… He asked me if the field in which I am specialized in, that is, super computers, has made big leaps lately. I replied to him that we on the Kanchev Research Institution thought that we could soon have a super computer capable of processing large volumes of data. He seemed very interested. He also asked about processing capacity, and I told him he'd need a big amount of it by combining several motherboards into racks and interlinking them together! Such is how supercomputers are made! To keep it short! He knew his stuff. What hit me as odd was that I heard the word "combat data" in the background. Then it ended."
"Interesting. How much time did you spend talking?"
"About… Half an hour, three quarters..."
"Could I ask you a question?"
"But of course."
"Hmmm… Could a supercomputer be built with the purpose of analyzing combat data and determine the best strategy to counter someone's patterns?"
"It's not impossible. If you provided it with the data and the parameters that it must use to analyze them, you could make it relatively easy."
"I see."
"Of course, depending on how much data you'd want it to analyze, you'd need lots of processing speed and to add a lot of processors… Maybe if you used compression algorithms then you'd be able to reduce the necessary amount of processing speed and capacity…"
"That's how it is…"
"Are you interested in building one yourself?" Dr. Arachev inquired.
"No. Wait. Was supercomputer tech being researched by any military in the seventies?"
"A branch of the Ameroupe military was researching on it back then."
"This solves it… Could you integrate a computer which would rely on the main supercomputer in a vehicle or robot?"
"You could. Given how nowadays even cars have an onboard computer then that'd be a piece of a cake."
"That must be it! I think that someone wants that supercomputer to control mobile weapons and wage a conflict with them."
"My God!"
"I know it's a terrific idea. But this is reality, Dr. Arachev."
"Then… What can we do? I suppose that weapon will be complete soon and it could prove deadly enough…" Dr. Arachev muttered.
"Please leave it to me. I'll report this to the Net Police! We'll stage preparations to deal with it."
"Thank you very much, Dr. Regal."
"It is nothing. Please call me if you get any more suspicious calls!"
"Please count on it. We'll meet again."
"Laser Man! Send a message to Commissioner Kifune!"
"Roger, sir. At once, sir."
00:28 AM (Spain Time)…
"Obihiro. Do you have a moment? I need to talk with you about a little something."
"Sure."
Sidier spoke with Obihiro in a metallic corridor while sounds of machinery rang out close by.
"STS – Zero is 90% complete. Using nanomachines to do the job proved to be a good idea, as I had calculated." Death Shadow exposed.
"The first unit of the supercomputer is already working on analyzing and coming up with the counters to the battle data we provided it with! Excellent! It's just a matter of making individual files and lists all of the used Battle Chips! The program searches the Battle Chip which can counter the attack on the database and tags it." Hunter Man explained.
Sidier and Obihiro entered the small bedroom while closing the door behind them, and Sidier looked nervous, for once.
"Obihiro. It's normal for men to… release…?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"It's totally natural."
"Then I can be relieved." He muttered with a hint of relief.
"You've been discovering yourself? I guess you must have some degree of "puberty" to your body… You don't look older than 13 or 14, and it's the age where guys and girls start "puberty", so… It must be part of it."
"Say! Can guys use their organs to do something with another guy? I think I heard something about it somewhere before…"
"That's a quite common thing, but try to keep it secret. There's always been a lot of prejudice against those things and people who do that tend to be labeled as "freaks"! If you want to, I could give you some material I have on my computer! "NSFW" material… It'd be good enough graphical reference for you to use."
"Thank you. I owe you one." Sidier thanked.
"Don't mind it. We're companions, after all."
"I better get working on the next supercomputer cupboard… We need to add some of the components."
Sidier scratched the back of his helmet and focused.
"I know how to make a good test drive for STS – Zero!"
They exited the room and Sidier headed northwards while Obihiro walked towards the south and stepped into the main room.
Death Shadow and Hunter Man were looking at something.
"It is receiving the encrypted signal from the supercomputer and its boot sequence has begun. It should be operational in less than 6 hours once we run all checks and diagnostics."
"We're gonna bring out a headache which is gonna make them consume aspirins in masse. And pain-killers too." Hunter Man chuckled.
"True, true!"
"All you need is a submarine!" A voice giggled.
"Kagehi – sama?" Obihiro asked, surprised.
A hologram of Kagehi projected next to the wall, and she toyed with her guitar as she looked up to them.
"Excuse me for the interruption, Death – dono. I wanted to see if the machine's building is progressing."
"I do not mind. As you can see, it is a matter of a few hours."
"Excellent. Sidier's helping as well?"
"Of course. His help is much appreciated." Obihiro confirmed.
"Excellent. Teach him a lot of things, senpai!"
"Y-yes, ma'am… If it doesn't interfere with his duties…"
"I do not see the point. Let us resume work…"
08:48 AM (Japan Time)…
"Morning. You guys have been trying out the lighting for this year's Christmas celebrations?"
"Sure thing! Rocky and Gemini Spark DS managed to upgrade the electrical systems at last."
"It took some convincing. But the result was worth it."
Kuroumi was talking to Acid Ace DS and Grave Joker DS.
"Been a while! I arrived yesterday but I didn't get to see you guys because I wanted to relax in my quarters."
"It'd seem your friend is on the mood to play Empress as of late, Solo."
"And that's why ya bothered to come to camp here."
"Don't tell me… Anyway… STS is about to begin Phase 1."
He rolled his eyes before he sighed.
"Interesting." Acid Ace DS smiled.
"Those "Net Saviors" will be sweating a lot." Grave Joker DS chuckled.
"By the way… Have you tried tackling on the challenge in the basement caves, where the foundations are? It's the sneaky type."
"It was fun. We cornered that Mettool Chief but his warriors tried to overwhelm us with sheer numbers. I managed to lift the helmet and we then blew it up." Grave Joker DS admitted.
"Emperor S – sama had a bright idea! It was to be expected."
"So? Are we gonna have a thrill?"
"Let's go for it!" Acid Ace DS cocked his gun.
"I'm ready for anything!" Grave Joker DS swung his arms.
"Gotcha. Battle Form: Engage!"
"OK!"
"Burai DS has arrived!"
"Sure."
"Gotcha."
"Wait. Come out, blade!"
Burai DS drew his blade and readied it.
"Kogarashi!"
"Giant Buildings!"
Acid Ace DS shot a small green tornado towards Burai DS while Grave Joker DS punched the ground and materialized three tall and metallic prism blocks with red patterns drawn into them.
They fell into the ground and made maneuvering hard.
"Let's go~!"
Burai DS warped and reappeared at mere inches from Acid Ace DS.
He swung his sword in a wide 180º angle but Acid Ace DS had alredy jumped backwards and into the air.
"Giza Wheel X!"
"Grave Swing!"
Acid Ace DS shot a small brown buzz saw disc while Grave Joker DS swung his fists around while trying to hit Burai DS.
Both attacks collided with a blue round transparent shield.
"Burai Rejection. Next is… This!"
He warped and fell down from above, hitting the ground with the blade.
Columns of purple energy came out of the ground north, east and west of his blade's position, and both Navis dodged just in time.
"0:59 and no – one got hurt yet. This is gonna be one of those adrenaline-filled battles."
"Sure! Grave Missile!"
"Daba Flame X!"
Grave Joker DS summoned about fifteen missiles aligned in three rows having five missiles each while Acid Ace DS shot a stream of fire shaped like the Alphabet "T" character towards Burai DS.
"Flying Knuckles!"
His right fist glowed and several purple fists formed before they flew out.
They intercepted the missiles while Burai DS jumped into the air to dodge the other attack.
"01:33! I guess the real show starts here!" He announced.
"Bring it on!" Acid Ace DS challenged.
"It's time to get serious!" Grave Joker DS added.
"Wing Blade!"
"Grave Laser!"
"Burai Break!"
Acid Ace DS ignited the thrusters on his back and sped across the ground towards Burai DS while Grave Joker loaded up his cannons and shot a powerful red blast of energy towards the adversary.
"Yikes!"
Burai DS warped and appeared in front of Acid Ace DS to deliver a four-hit combo to him that caused him to stop his attack and fall into the ground.
He and Grave Joker DS' attack shot past the spot he'd been.
"The four hit combo… It's as powerful as always!"
"As fast as always…!" Grave Joker DS muttered.
He jumped down from above and hit Grave Joker DS' chest with his sword, but Grave Joker DS pushed him off while Acid Ace DS recovered.
"This is your serious mood! Let's go! Grave Laser!"
"Long Sword!"
Burai DS brought up his barrier and managed to block off Acid Ace DS' incoming attack but the Grave Laser swept through him and he hissed as he tried to hold his ground.
"That attack keeps on being as powerful as always! Let's rush it up!"
"Climax!"
"Destroy it all!" Grave Joker DS roared.
The three of them jumped into the air and spread around the room while forming a triangle before running towards each other.
"Grave Swing!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Burai Swing!"
Burai DS swung his blade again while ducking to dodge Grave Joker DS' attack, but Acid Ace DS rammed into him and continued until he ended up stuck into one of the walls.
"That's the spirit! Let's go!" Burai DS chuckled.
He broke free and warped into the air before dropping down while plunging his right fist forward, which entered into Grave Joker DS' body, where he closed it.
He became limp, falling into the ground, while Burai DS jumped away and landed on the ground to face Acid Ace DS and his custom gun, which he cocked.
"Classical. But I won't make it easy, Burai DS."
"I won't, either."
"Acid Gun!"
"Flying Knuckles!"
He ignored the multiple bullets hitting him and bombarded his opponent with the Flying Knuckles, kicking him into the ground.
Burai DS wasted no time and hit him with the sword, leaving him out of the fight.
"03:37! Last time it was 04:04! I've achieved a new record!"
"Good fight! It was totally worth it" Grave Joker DS exclaimed.
"Hmpf! Burai DS loves adrenaline rushes."
"I do. The guys out there will soon get one which is gonna be way too much for 'em to handle." Burai DS confirmed.
"And let's hope we can stop Dia from pestering Jack too."
"Sure… She's overdoing it this year." Grave Joker DS sighed.
"I know! Poor Jack!"
"Beware, mortals! The greatest sorceress ever will curse you~!"
"Dia! Stop bothering! What happened to the reflection!?"
"The goddess of fate told me to become a sorceress!"
"That sound so… childish!" Acid Ace DS grumbled.
"Goddess of fate…? Sure, sure…" Burai DS sighed.
"Looks like you need a lesson!" A girl's voice fumed.
"Devil! It's Queen Tia DA!"
"Don't overdo it either!" Grave Joker DS warned.
"Understood, chief. I challenge you to a duel, Dia Iceburn DS!"
"My pleasure, aneki! I'll become the new boss of this syndicate!"
"What syndicate…? Is she watching yakuza TV series?" Burai DS sighed.
"Dunno! Anyway! STS is gonna make those guys out there sweat!"
"Well said, aibou! They lack passion and guts!"
