Chapter 3: Real Bout
“Get out. You’re next.”
The command was followed by the harsh sound of screeching metal. Opening the rusted jail door, the jailer entered the detention cell to drag Sousuke out.
An evening had already passed since they had been arrested.
An unjust arrest by the police based on fabricated evidence. But in a third world country, something like that was a common occurrence.
The detention cell was filthy, and it didn’t surprise Sousuke in the least. Sigh, it could be worse, was the first thing he thought when he first saw the cell. That was, of course, assuming that the cell was the worst room to spend the night in.
The walls and floor were damp and stained with filth. The cell was teeming with a heavy stench, and a noisy buzz of flies zipping around echoed through the cell. The cell was lit by only one beam of sunlight that was shining in from a grate close to the ceiling and out of reach.
It was said that if someone stayed there for 3 days and nights, they’d suddenly become ill in either body or mind. Actually, all the occupants of the cell were men, and most of them had too skinny shoulders that shook from the cold, and they muttered to themselves deliriously non-stop.
Sousuke was the only one they were summoning. Lemon, who was caught along with Sousuke, was left behind to mingle with the other prisoners. He watched Sousuke leave with a mix of fatigue and anxiety in his eyes.
“Sousuke.”
“Don’t worry,” is all Sousuke said before he stepped out of the multi-prisoner cell. Hands cuffed behind his back, Sousuke was escorted to an interrogation room located on the second floor of the police station.
Even though it was called an interrogation room, the only things in the room were a pair of pipe chairs and a naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling.
Many dark red stains decorated the bare concrete walls. More than likely blood that splattered during ‘Police questioning’ between the officers and prisoners. It was not just blood. In the corners of the room, blending in with the dust and rubbish, there was something that looked like brown pebbles scattered around.
Those – would be teeth.
Were they pulled out with pliers? Or were they knocked loose from being hit too hard? How many “guests” must there have been in order for so many teeth to be collected? Did they leave the room like this, without cleaning it, in hopes of fanning the next victim’s fear? He wondered silently.
But rather than being affected by the dreary scene, Sousuke was strangely nostalgic.
It’s true it was strange. Considering that place was supposed to be his own personal graveyard.
Nevertheless. He couldn’t help what thoughts passed through his mind.
A warm Tokyo apartment. A classroom overflowing with light. A good home-cooked meal and the feeling of laughter. Those, of course, were happy memories. But it was a world he no longer belonged to. Especially the way he was right now.
He must become a weapon.
A precise weapon that operates flawlessly.
The interrogation room was nothing special, except for the ruins of pain. Expressionlessly, Sousuke sat in one of the chairs and fixed his gaze on a spot on the wall. His heart slowly became cold, and his feelings became dry.
His eyes stared blankly, and his nerves sharpened.
Sharper. Colder.
In that way he turned back into “Kashim”.
It was a process he had been perfecting little by little, ever since he left Tokyo. It was essential for him to do so. Even if it had been a hindrance while living with Nami and Lemon.
After waiting for roughly an hour, a man finally entered the room.
It was “Chief”.
He walked casually with purposely-slow steps. Is this how the stupid man walks in order for it to be understood who’s in control here? The wide trousers – which had plenty of extra room for his overly large buttocks – and riding boots he was wearing remind Sousuke of a cold-blooded German Nazi officer.
“Burglary, assault, attempted murder.” the Chief listed, “Blackmail, false testimony, illegal immigration, illegal gambling conduct, article forgery, interference with a government official in the execution of his duties, and possession of illegal weapons… is there anything else you would like to add?”
“What is that?”
“Your charges, Sagara Sousuke. Estimated to get you at least 48 years of penal imprisonment. That’s almost half a century…”
“How about ‘Assaulting an Executive Officer.’ I can put it into practice right now.”
The Chief’s jaw spasmed in annoyance. A large police officer standing nearby stepped forward and immediately hit
Sousuke across the face. As expected, the officer held nothing back, and the blow was painful. Sousuke was hit so hard that his whole torso twisted sideways from the blow, and his body leaned backwards. Just when he was on the verge of falling off the chair, Sousuke was roughly grabbed by his shirt collar and pulled back into his seat by the same officer that hit him.
“Somehow I don’t think you understand the situation.”
“……tsk.”
“This is not simply just an interrogation room. It is also the court. It is the place where punishment is executed. I am the public Prosecutor. I am also the Judge. As well as the Executive Officer.”
“Wow, you seem to be extremely under-staffed,” Sousuke muttered the sarcastic remark with difficulty. The inside of his mouth was bloody, and a broken molar was tumbling around his tongue. He considers spitting it out, but, not wanting to give the room another trophy, he swallowed it instead.
“What do you want? There must be something you wanted to discuss, or else you wouldn’t have brought me up here just to inform me of a 50 year penal imprisonment sentence.”
“You’ve got good judgment,” the Chief laughed, causing the fat of his stomach and chin to jiggle back and forth. “It’s the Arena.”
“……”
“You’ve been on a winning streak right from your debut match, and it seems your team will be promoted soon, correct? Your skill is building quite the reputation, even among the Match-makers. If you’re promoted to A-Class, and you obtain sufficient funding, it’s only a matter of time before you reach the top.”
“That’s the idea.”
“That would be a problem.” the Chief casually took off his regulation cap and wiped his receding hairline. “The Arena holds
many flourishing teams. The balance of victories is good, and by managing the position of an Ace Pilot appropriately, the audience can continue to enjoy the game forever. Efficient management. Stable entertainment characteristics. With this, we enjoy a large profit. Understand?”
Sousuke understood the emphasis with which the Chief said “we” perfectly.
The Arena’s Management Committee. Match-makers. Merchants supplying AS parts. Influential people in the town. – It was all a Bureaucratic Organization within a Crime Syndicate. They all gathered around this competition, where a vast amount of money was flowing, to get sweet deals.
“Dao and his team were B-Class, but they worked well for me, keeping the order. And – Sagara Sousuke – you are about to disturb that order. That is the reason why you have been summoned to this room. I hope we can come to a mutual understanding. After all, don’t you think it’s best to make ‘adjustments’ in order to secure your own future?”
“So that’s how it is.”
“Adjustments” – in other words, a fixed match. Or something slightly different but along those same lines.
“Meaning, if I don’t comply, I’ll get 50 years of penal imprisonment?”
“The Frenchman too. It would be good to include your friend, the young girl owner, too. There’s no need to explain to you how those bored prison guards and prisoners would treat a young girl like her, is there? When you’re in this town it’s not a good idea to cross me.”
Even when Lemon and Nami were threatened, Sousuke didn’t lose his cool. On the contrary, he was seriously considering,
with his hands cuffed behind his back, whether or not he could kill the two officers and the Chief.
Yes, he could.
If he killed the three men and removed the handcuffs, he wondered if he could commandeer a weapon and escape.
It wouldn’t be that difficult.
Break Lemon out of the detention cell, run to where Nami is, and then leave town?
In all honesty, it would be easy.
But there would be no point. So instead Sousuke answered.
“I guess you’re right. If the ‘adjustment’ is necessary, then I will cooperate. However, I have a request.”
“Oh?”
The Chief raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“I don’t mind making friends and playing nice in the soccer stadium, but I want the opportunity to start getting serious. Somewhere I can display my skills freely, with no holding back, and where there is more money involved. That kind of place.”
“……”
“It exists, doesn’t it?”
In response, the Chief watched Sousuke with careful eyes.
“What are you referring to?”
“I heard a rumor.”
“Where did you hear it?”
“Here and there.”
Expressionless, the Chief said something in his native language, and one of the policemen nodded and left the interrogation room reluctantly. The other officer – the one who had hit Sousuke – stayed. It was more than likely he was aware of what Sousuke was talking about.
When the door closed again, a crooked smile crossed the Chief’s face.
“Do you know exactly what you’re talking about?”
“Of course. The Yami Battle is intended to entertain VIP guests. Live ammunition firearms are used. The reward is in a completely different league from the Arena, as well.” Sousuke said, repeating exactly what an old friend of one of his war buddies had told him before, when he was still in Tokyo. In fact, Sousuke had come to this town specifically for the Yami Battle.
“Do you realize that half of the participants die within a few months?”
“Obviously.”
When Sousuke answered so casually, the Chief put back on his regulation cap.
“… There are only two kinds of people who wish to appear in that place,” he muttered. “A weak AS pilot trapped in debt, or a foolish, hot-shot pilot who has too much confidence for his own good. It’s either one or the other. Mind telling me why you’re so interested?”
“First of all, I need the money. I want to buy back a woman. She’s a prostitute.”
“Where?”
“Not here. In Tokyo.”
Of course, the story was nonsense. It was a common story Sousuke had heard in the pubs and on TV. As for deciding that the woman was in Tokyo, it was simply to make it difficult for the Chief and the policemen to investigate his story. He was guessing that the Chief would not be very interested in a story about a woman. And the Chief himself confirmed Sousuke’s suspicion.
“And the other reason?”
“I guess you could say it’s similar to you with your work. You like this kind of room, right?” Sousuke said, surveying the interrogation room around him and taking it all in – the traces of blood and teeth alongside scattered fingernails.
Traces of pain. The smell of violence.
“The competition in the Arena is a sport. Even if the irritating odor of jet fuel is there, the smell of blood and gun powder is not.”
“That’s your reason?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
The Chief threw his head back and laughed. His whole body shook with laughter. His flabby meat jiggled endlessly, and the drawn laughter leaked from his gaping violet lips.
“Looks like you’re somehow the second kind. You definitely aren’t lacking self-confidence in your skill.”
“I would like to hear your answer.”
“Interesting. Very interesting. I guess I can put in a word. However – you have no sponsor. We’ll be keeping the Frenchman and we will release him after the match, as long as you can prove you’re trustworthy. You may leave, Sagara Sousuke,” the Chief concluded and left the interrogation room.
♦ ♦ ♦
He was hesitant to leave Lemon behind, but for the moment he had no choice. However, before leaving, Sousuke choose a suitable looking police officer and gives him $50 with the instructions, “Do not harm the Frenchman, and make sure he is treated politely. If you can do that, then afterwards I’ll give you another $50.”
After leaving the station, Sousuke only walked a few steps before he heard Nami’s voice.
“Sousuke!?”
Nami rushed across the dusty road. She probably already knew about the arrest. She looked like she was waiting – just killing time – at the cheap café across the street from the police station.
“What happened!? Where’s Master Lemon?”
“Still inside. They let me go after I talked to the Chief.”
“The Chief…… that cold-hearted villain?”
It seemed like the Chief was well known. Reading the surprise and doubt on Nami’s face, Sousuke nodded his head in confirmation.
“Why did he let you go after you talked to him? … Ugh, something stinks.”
Nami made a sour face and sniffed the air. Even though it was only one night, he had been among a bunch of unhygienic, filthy prisoners. It was no surprise that he reeked.
“Let’s return to the hotel. I’ll explain the situation there.”
The two of them hailed a taxi and headed back to Lemon’s hotel room.
After a shower, putting on some clean clothes, and drinking some mineral water, Sousuke felt refreshed. He was more than gratified after going so long without clean clothes or drinkable water.
When he returned to the living room, Nami was sitting cross-legged on the sofa watching TV anxiously. It was more than understandable that she hadn’t calmed down.
“… So? What’s going on?”
“We won too much. It seems like it got on our colleagues’ nerves. They held Lemon under ransom, threatened you, and
suggested a fixed match. I consented.” Sousuke said, sitting down on the sofa.
“A fixed match. So that’s what this is about.”
“You’re not angry?”
“Not really. I heard rumors about this kind of thing before. Besides, anyone that expects good sportsmanship from a gambling town full of swindlers, is an idiot. I’m just glad that’s all that happened. But…”
“But?”
“The situation could get ugly. Their real intention behind arresting you and Lemon, and making us work so hard for nothing, is because they’re beginning to consider us a threat. If we don’t cooperate, they’ll just use force and get rid of us. The police Chief, did he give you any terms or conditions?”
“Some, for the time being.”
“What were they?”
“I’ll be fighting in a Yami Battle.”
“Come again?” Nami’s leg, which she had been bouncing up and down, suddenly stopped. “Yami Battle?”
“Yes.”
“You serious?”
“Yes. The profit seems good.”
“Wait a second. Do you even know what kind of competition that is? There’s been rumors floating around between the people in this trade, but nothing’s been confirmed. That it doesn’t matter how strong you are, it isn’t enough. Don’t they use live ammo? Isn’t it an actual battle?”
“Seems like it.”
“Using my AS?”
“That’s the plan, yes.”
“You’ve gotta be joking!” Nami yelled, shooting to her feet in anger. A reasonable reaction. “You think it’s as simple as using that AS in the Yami Battle and having a fair fight?! Well it’s not!
You realize, I haven’t even touched the F.C. (Firearms Control) system since I first picked that Savage up!? The armor is worn-out too! The Administration demanding a fixed match, that I can understand, but competing in the Yami Battle!? That’s a whole different story! This is seriously dangerous!”
“You’re right.”
“Then why did you agree!? If you want to die, that’s your own choice. But why do you have to risk my precious AS?”
“That’s…”
Sousuke trailed off and continued towel drying his hair.
Should he tell her the truth?
Or, should he just leave it at that?
This was the question he had been hesitant about answering since he left the police station. He would have to give a vague explanation.
However, if he did express his desire to participate in the Yami Battle, no matter how high the reward, Nami and the others probably wouldn’t consent to it. That was only speculation, but Sousuke’s intuition was usually right about this kind of thing.
“Lemon was taken hostage, so I had no choice but to agree to the terms.”
After telling them that, and resolving the funds issue, it may be possible to persuade them.
Because he’d lived with her up to this point, Sousuke knew Nami was a good person. From his own point of view, he couldn’t really say whether there was enough trust between them.
But suddenly he remembered.
“I don’t want to die without knowing anything!”
Tokiwa Kyoko’s words from that time, and the look on her face with her eyes full of tears were never far from his mind. But they hit him hard right then.
Pathetic. Only half a day ago he had felt nothing and was doing so well – had been so close to becoming that deadly weapon. But now every phenomenon, every circumstance, swayed his heart. Could he really achieve his “Strategic Objective” in such a state?
He didn’t know.
“Is it about abacus calculations?” Nami asked after waiting patiently for a while for an answer.
“……”
“Hey. The thing is, I may never shut up about the financial situation. Even if it’s called being stingy, I feel like it can’t be helped. But, you know? You and me, are we only business partners? I mean, you can talk to me about it, right?”
“Huh?”
Sousuke didn’t understand what she meant, and looked up into Nami’s eyes. She leaned forward toward the sofa.
“…that isn’t the reason.”
“I thought that we were at least friends. Was I wrong?” she asked and leaned closer. Incidentally, the motion caused her breasts to peak out from the top of her tank top. Startled by the unintentional act, Sousuke suddenly felt conflicted and like a fool.
What is the precise weapon? What is the strategic objective?
Didn’t he know the answers only a moment ago? It turned out he was only human, an existence full of contradictions. No matter how hard he tried, that was a fact he could not escape.
That’s why he had such a hard time.
Averting his eyes away from the soft skin before him, he said, “You’re right. Then I will tell you.”
It was better to confess to this new friend than to lie to her. If they couldn’t reach an understanding between them, then he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
“The one who suggested the Yami Battle to the Chief, was me.”
“Why!?” Nami demanded with wide eyes.
“Because that was my objective from the start. Competing in the Arena was the only means I had to get closer to the Administration’s darker side. I heard rumors from my fellow mercenary friends, about the real fighting level of the Yami Battles. It’s suspected that ‘Amalgam’ is involved with it in some way.”
“Ama…lgam?”
“It is the name of a certain organization. They are a Terrorist organization and a Military-Industrial Complex with deep connections. They instigated disputes in many places all over the world. Amalgam has masterminded many of the serious terrorist incidents which have occurred over the past several years.”
“Whoa whoa. Wait just a minute…”
“There is a highly top-secret Mercenary Corps who fought against Amalgam. They have the fortune to use equipment that is one generation advanced, they pride themselves on rivaling the special forces of regular armies. It’s a Corps that fights against brutal Terrorist and Criminal organizations. As well as intervening in regional conflict crises and resolving the situation. I’m a survivor of that Mercenary Corps.”
The story was suddenly becoming large-scale and serious, and Nami was becoming more and more confused.
“I- … I don’t really get it. What do you mean ‘survivor’? What happened to your Mercenary Corps?”
“Amalgam wiped it out.”
“……”
“Amalgam’s true nature is unclear. Neither who nor where. Very little is known about the extent of their influence. The few clues that I could gather pointed to Namsak and the Yami Battle. A
few times my Military unit overthrew Amalgam’s ASes. From the defeated machines we were able to collect identities, specifying how many of their operation soldiers had once worked as players in Namsak.”
“Oh…”
“You don’t believe it?”
He looked at his companion with his face as straight and hard as possible. Nami, still looking half in doubt, stared at Sousuke and froze.
“Are you serious?”
“Affirmative.”
“Well, I always kind of knew that no ordinary person could possess your caliber of skill… that aside, aren’t these people you’re going after dangerous?”
“Yes.” Sousuke nodded, then said in a completely casual tone, “I want to get closer to Amalgam. Your cooperation is necessary to do that.”
“……!”
What followed that was a reaction that was only natural.
Nami flew into a rage shouting ‘You got to be shittin’ me!!’, up-turned the table, scattering the contents across the room, yelling “Fight alone without permission?!” Then after hurling a PET bottle at his head screamed, “I never want to see your face again!”.She then stormed out of the hotel room, slamming the door behind her.
It didn’t make Nami a bad person.
It was a totally understandable reaction.
As I thought, it really is impossible.
Sighing deeply, Sousuke began cleaning up the mess Nami had caused. By the looks of things Nami would probably be firing
him, and he wondered if he’d be able to find someone else with a suitable AS in time. No one reliable came to mind.
Well, what should I do? he thought as he cleaned up all the rubbish. That’s when the doorbell rang – resounding through the room.
Opening the door, he looked outside to see that the visitor was Nami. Looking very displeased, she stared at Sousuke motionlessly.
“For the time being all I want to know is this,” she said with a slight pout. “Are you in trouble?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need my help?”
“Affirmative.”
Receiving the honest reply, Nami’s tense shoulders relaxed and she tapped Sousuke good-naturedly on the chest with her fist.
“Okay. I guess I’ll let you stick around a while longer.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Master Lemon is in prison. Plus, the reward money is good, right?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“I don’t want you to get your hopes up though, because I don’t know if the crew will go along with it. If they say no, then it’s no.”
“Roger.”
“And don’t tell them anything about Amalgam. It’s harder to be involved in something if you know nothing about it.”
“Thank you.”
♦ ♦ ♦
It turned out that Nami had quite a bit of charisma at her disposal.
Team Crossbow’s maintenance crew did consent to participate in the Yami battle. There were a few people who were opposed to the idea, but after Nami explained about Lemon becoming a hostage, and reassured them that Sousuke had extraordinary skills, eventually, they reluctantly gave the “OK”.
The following evening of the next day an errand boy arrived with a message from the Chief. It said:
[On Saturday at 21:00, come to the Church ruins, north of Munamera. Of course, bring the AS, too.]
Munamera was a small farming village along the highway, roughly 20 km north of Namsak.
There was no way they would hold the battle in Namsak. The live ammunition the AS’ use – 30 mm bullets – could easily reduce anything they hit to rubble. The Yami battlegrounds were
somewhere in Namsak’s outskirts, in the mountain areas, where there weren’t very many people.
[Don’t be late. If you are, your friend in the detention cell may face various inconveniences.]
After delivering the Chief’s message the errand boy exited the hangar.
“I feel sorry for Master Lemon. Not only will he develop neuroses in jail, but he’ll also be violated by the gay prisoners.”
Nami grumbled while quickly dismantling the white Savage’s control box.
“I gave the prison guard a tip,” Sousuke said, helping with the maintenance.
“It would be nice if that’s all there is to it. We can remove that switchboard over there. That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Nami picked at a circuit connected to the F.C. system.
“Is it any good?”
“Uh-huh. At any rate, the Flbn-32 probably won’t be of any use. If that’s the case, you had better reduce the burden with the home-made software.”
“Home-made software?”
“I rewrote it. Specifically for the Yami Battle. It took me most of the morning to finish. I’m pretty weak when it comes to stuff like that, and I mean big time”
Sousuke stopped what he’s doing and stared intently at Nami’s smiling face.
“Just this morning? You rewrote the software on your own?”
As far as Sousuke knew, that wasn’t a job someone could finish in a few rushed hours. Even a specially trained engineer would need at least a few days – working slowly and carefully – to complete it as much as possible. It was not a process a 16 or 17
year old girl, who had not undergone any specialist training, could handle.
Actually, in the beginning, when Sousuke was in Afghanistan, most of the amateur or beginner engineering students in the guerrilla groups tampered with the Savage software like that. But the custom-made software was ineffective and they had to suffer with it until they got a hold of the software that was actually professionally made for the ASes.
“Have you studied it before?”
“No way. I just kept tinkering with it a bit.”
“Even then, it’s not something that can be done so easily. Where on earth did you get technical skills of that caliber–”
“Like–I–said!” Nami waved her hand as if she were shooing something annoying away. “I said I was weak at it, didn’t I? Well, if I touch it a little, I think I can get a general understanding of it. It’s not really that big of a deal, right?”
Impossible.
“When you first got your AS, you learned AS maintenance methods from someone, right?” Sousuke asked the question as casually as possible, waiting for the answer.
“Huh?”
Nami stopped her maintenance work and stared at Sousuke with a look full of wonder.
“You didn’t learn it from anyone?” Unease started to tickle the edge of Sousuke’s mind. “Then, why–”
“But, even if I don’t understand it, I can just fiddle with it a bit and I work it out. Somehow.”
It was hard to think. Even if it was a 2nd generation type, to understand the AS system, let alone operate the AS, proper training was necessary.
For a teenage girl who didn’t have any engineering knowledge – who hadn’t been taught by anyone– it shouldn’t be possible.
It can’t be. Her too?
No. Such a coincidence was impossible. The chances of one person being that are one in tens of thousands. Actually, the probability of their existence was less than one in a million. The chances of meeting one himself so abruptly and by accident–
“Hey buddy,” Nami said, shaking Sousuke from his thoughts. “Don’t space out on me. Quickly, unfasten that plug over there.”
“Right.”
Sousuke returned to doing maintenance work on the Savage, with a heavy heart.
Right now I’m busy.
I’ll worry about it when this mission is completed. If time allows, I’ll look into it with more detail, Sousuke thought carelessly.
♦ ♦ ♦
That Saturday evening-
After they loaded the Savage onto the huge tractor-trailer, Sousuke and the rest of the team drove out of Namsak and headed to Munamera Village. The narrow roads they had to take were in ill repair from the long years of war; making it nearly impossible for any on-coming traffic to get passed the bulky AS trailer.
The scenery on either side of the road seemed to go on forever. On one side there were rice fields as far as the eye could see, and on the other was endless line of mountains covered with
leafy trees. But they could barely see the scenery, or much of anything really, on account of the dust obscuring their vision. It was the dry season, so all the dust the trailer was kicking up wasn’t settling at all; it just stayed floating in the air, making it very hard to see.
When they finally arrived at the church ruins, there were already some policemen – from the Namsak police department – waiting for them. Sousuke and the rest of the team weren’t late. They’d actually arrived before the promised time, but by the way the officers were acting one would think that they were late.
“Wait here and don’t move!” stated an officer gruffly, pointing his gun at Sousuke.
So they waited.
30 minutes later, the Chief arrived by helicopter. The roaring turbo shaft engine resounded loudly as the helicopter landed in an open area in front of the church ruins.
The Chief stepped down from the helicopter and when his eyes rested upon Sousuke’s stern face a lewd smile blossomed across his pudgy mug.
“Sagara Sousuke! You’ll board the AS here,” he ordered. “Go 2 km northeast to more ruins. That is the ‘Arena’. The rest of you will be obedient and wait here.”
“What?! The radio signal won’t reach if we’re that far away from the location! What the hell kind of–”
An Officer turned and aimed his carbine rifle directly at Nami, cutting off her protest.
“– on second thought, it’s a wonderful idea. Aha ha ha ha….” she finished lamely.
“That’s enough young lady,” the Chief said and walked over to a nearby pick-up truck that had arrived around the same time as the helicopter.
“Will you be observing the match?” Sousuke asked the Chief’s retreating form.
“I will be. But you don’t need to know from where.”
“Fine. Just be careful of any stray bullets.”
The Chief paused as he went to climb into the truck, and snorted.
“Your concern is touching. However it’s unnecessary. We would never expose our important clients to something so dangerous.”
“Then I can fight without reserve.”
Without another word Sousuke boarded the white Savage, and the Chief climbed into the truck.
♦ ♦ ♦
When Sousuke boarded the AS the first thing he did was go through a primary system check. Boot the support power unit up. Check. Headgear connection stable. Check. And so on and so forth. After he finished the pre-battle system check, Sousuke turned on the main power unit – a 1200 horse power diesel engine.
The engine roared to life – the groaning voice of raw power.
Sousuke turned off the safety on the control system and, in one smooth motion, the Savage stood up.
The oil pressure was normal and the muscle packages were in mint condition too. It had taken three days of intense preparation to get the AS into the condition it needed to be in for this battle. The white Savage “Crossbow” had never looked so good.
“I’m going,” Sousuke stated after he switched on the external speaker. His eyes stayed glued to Nami’s worried face displayed on the screen. The grainy, rough video feed showed Nami turn and yell in the direction of the external microphone.
“Be careful.”
“Affirmative, do not worry.”
“I’m not worried about you! I’m worried about my AS!”
“Oh.”
“Still-”, Nami hesitated and glanced down at her feet – her body language screamed uncertainty – and she looked back up at the camera. “Maybe it’s pointless even saying this – maybe kind of unreasonable too – but you’d better come back in one piece.”
“That is my intention.”
Something urgent flashed across Nami’s eyes, but the optical sensor blurred her facial expression too much to pick it up. However, the look was gone in an instant, and Nami gave a hesitant smile instead.
“All right. You are so treating us when this is over.”
Sousuke couldn’t help but find that smile alluring. He was so tempted to just abandon his quest that very moment and return to Namsak with her. The idea had such a strong appeal. In fact, he was suddenly seized by the strong impulse to climb down from his AS and take her into his arms and just hold her tight.
Why was it, regardless of his intentions, this doubt kept surfacing in his mind again and again?
Is it too late to turn back? To stop taking such dangerous risks altogether? To live freely and happily and easily with Nami, and to enjoy each day in Namsak with her… Is it so wrong to want to live that way?
“What’s wrong?”
“… nothing.”
He was being foolish.
Why is this happening now? What should I do? As these troubling thoughts bubbled to the surface, Sousuke suddenly remembered the reason why he was there in the first place, and an
unspeakable guilt settled into his conscience. He remembered the hardship he had went through with the person who had first made him feel – and then had made him care.
The human heart is a very strange thing, he thought, and shook off the lingering sting of regret and guilt.
“I will do what it takes.” Sousuke said firmly, and began to run.
After about 100 meters he looked back. Nami and the others were still watching him go. Sousuke gave them a casual waive and ran toward the appointed area.
The terrain of the Arena was intense by no small means.
Every step the savage took rattled the AS’ frame and disturbed the dried mud, kicking dust into the air. Bushes and trees had to be pushed aside in order for Sousuke to go due northwest.
Sousuke checked each individual system as he piloted the white Savage.
The systems he hadn’t used in this unit yet took priority in his analysis. He checked out the optical sensors again and the newly installed Firearm Control System. Even though he didn’t have any firearms yet. In this situation, compared to the equipment he had during his time with Mithril, this AS seemed pretty pathetic–
But this was how they all started out in the beginning.
The situation wasn’t too bad though. It wasn’t the first time Sousuke had embarked into such a scenario, but at those times his AS and equipment were in a far worse state than what he currently had. So he wasn’t going to complain.
Sousuke glanced at the digital map out of the corner of his eye; it indicated that he had arrived at his destination.
He could see the ruins of an old temple.
Vines as thick as people were twisted and weaved over, through, and among the collapsed parts of the temple. It was so intertwined with the remains that – if Sousuke didn’t know any better – he’d think that nature itself had brought the temple to ruin. Sousuke glanced off to the side and, placed beside a statue of a god that was destroyed in a recent battle, he spotted a 37 mm AS rifle.
A BK-540.
A standard firearm for ASes, which kind of resembled an AK assault rifle that humans used. Beside the rifle were two prepared rifle magazines and two HEAT hammers for close proximity combat.
“Welcome Crossbow, to the Real Arena.”
A voice came over the radio. It was the Chief.
“Those there are your weapons. Use them well.”
Using the communication equipment, Sousuke tried to locate the dispatch source of the radio wave the Chief was using. He tried the old style infrared sensor too. After all, he had no idea where the Chief and his goons were. Unfortunately the super broadband sonar that would have made the search conveniently easy was a luxury only available to him in Mithril issued ASes.
Searching the area – before or during the match – for the location of the Chief and his VIP guest was improbable. He would have to wait until afterwards. First, he had to defeat his opponent.
Sousuke brought the Savage down to one knee and picked up the weapons and magazines.
“Thanks for the welcome,” he muttered, and calmly attached the newly acquired equipment to the AS’ hip and back. “Where is my opponent?”
“He’s right in front of you. The pilot is laughing at you.”
“…?”
Besides the movement of some small animals, Sousuke couldn’t sense anything in the ruins except for himself and his Savage.
The Savage was kneeling on the ancient paved ground and there was nothing in front of him.
According to the optical and infrared sensors nothing was there.
Wait–
He probably wouldn’t have even noticed if he was inside an AS cockpit with a complete direct venting system. But the old Savage was different. The distorted armor left gaps and holes where outside air snuck in.
He realized what was there only because the ion smell that tickled his nose was so familiar. It was so familiar it was nostalgic.
The atmosphere shimmered.
“!!”
With astounding speed, Sousuke moved the Savage and jumped back.
The scream of metal.
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