Watching Raven exit sleep mode was a disturbing experience for Ayre that never got easier. Before they'd made Contact, she'd known that there were peculiarities with the older Coral-based augmentation surgeries, but the information she had now, about what was termed Coral burn-in... emotional withdrawedness, auditory hallucinations, psychosis, the way it seemed to make so many of its victims into machines in a human shell.

She'd seen some of those tendencies in his memories, but that was before they'd made Contact.

She could feel it when they synchronized, how Raven was more than just an empty husk now. It gave him a taste of emotion, of being human. Her mercenary didn't get to dream, to sleep... he just turned off and on, so their shared Contact was all he really had left.

"Raven, I know Walter sent you a request from Balam industries, but I also have a mission request for you." she offered, "It's from the Rubicon Liberation Front."

Ayre started the transport heli's motors while Raven went over the briefing, keeping a part of her presence with her partner so he would be aware of the details.

"Raven, we have a mission we'd like to offer you." a voice said, "The target is in Central Belius, so if you accept, we can book transport for your AC on a neutral vessel. The Rubicon Liberation Front is planning to retake the Wall from Arquebus... and we'd like you to lay the groundwork for us. Your objective is to assassinate V.VII Swinburne, the commander of the occupying force. We are able to jam their radio communications, but they have a tight beam satellite communications relay you'll need to disable before you're spotted. We also need you to disable a pair of tetrapod MTs standing guard near the center of the city area. The coordinates for the pickup will be provided after you accept the mission."

<>

Ayre could feel the tension leaving at her partner's words.

"Thank you, Raven." they replied.

Ayre quickly exchanged messages with the RLF contact, who had identified himself as Rainer, to confirm. They were directed to a location near the southern coast of the ice field, where they found a massive cargo floatship unloading hundreds of BAWS MTs, mostly smaller bipeds along with a dozen tetrapods. There were also a few BASHO and FIRMEZA model ACs being brought off the transport.

A BAWS logo was displayed prominently on the side; they sold to everyone and anyone, so they made a good neutral ground for transport services.

A radio communications request arrived, bearing a Liberation Front tag.

"Raven, this is Rainer. Can you move your AC near the loading facilities please?" he asked, "The trip across the Alean Ocean takes about twelve hours in this cargo hauler, so we're going to need you to exit your machine for the journey so it can be stowed in the hangar clamps."

She could feel the unease from Raven at the request.

"The Liberation Front will keep their word, Raven. And I'll keep an eye on your AC." Ayre promised, "If something goes wrong, I can get us to it quickly."

...

OBSIDIAN WING maneuvered over to the loading dock and backed into a hangar clamp. It was a portable frame for holding an AC steady and provided a way to easily move and transfer it into standard cargo bays.

After it was secured, Raven began the shutdown sequence and disconnected, opening the hatch and exiting into the crisp air. His skin might not feel it beneath the armored flight suit, but the cold air chilled his lungs for a second before the helmet's systems kicked in to make the air less uncomfortable to breathe.

Below them, a worker waved them down, watching as Raven descended to ground level before leading him toward the nearby loading ramp.

"Commander Rainer is inside, sir." he said, "Welcome aboard."

Raven walked up the ramp and stepped through the door, Ayre feeling him bewilderment at the treatment.

Just inside, a man greeted him, offering his hand to shake.

"You must be Raven." he said, "I'm glad you've decided to accept our request. While you're abroad, feel free to take your helmet off. It's going to be a rather long flight, no need to be uncomfortable during it."

He led her down a hallway and up a stairway to what appeared to be a flight cabin, dozens of seats arranged in rows and columns with storage compartments below them, spaced enough they could be reclined and comfortable for sleeping.

Raven sat down in one of the chairs the RLF officer had indicated before unsealing her helmet and removing it. His short black hair tumbled out.

The officer had left right after showing him to the cabin. A few short minutes later, he could feel the thrum of the engines starting and the thunking of the massive landing gear retracting into the hull.

...

Rainer found himself back in the cabin shortly after leaving. He'd needed to let the ship's captain know that he had no further business on the ice field and was ready for lift-off. After that, he headed back to speak with Raven.

I wonder if the mercenary is just going to sit there the whole time with his helmet on. He thought.

He was pleasantly surprised to find that he was now sitting with the helmet on his lap. The armored flight suit, far removed from the bulky, fabric suits worn by fighter jet pilots in ages past, made his robust frame quite obvious. Someone built like a twig wouldn't survive the stresses of piloting an Armored Core.

The mercenary was thin but muscled, and it showed.

His face was a different story, his skin paled as though he had not seen sunlight for years. His hair was pitch black. That certainly does give him the name "Raven."

It was blank, with no trace of emotion on it that he could see. He sat with his eyes closed, but they snapped open upon hearing his boots as he entered the cabin. His expression still did not change, but his eyes were like still, empty waters. No emotion at all.

"Raven," he greeted. "We're underway. If you don't mind, I'll join you here for the flight back."

The young man then looked ahead for a moment. There he saw himself. There were some apparent...changes to his look: On his black hair was some kind of red strand at the front, it seemed to be...glowing almost.

His eyes shined red too, almost as if some life had been restored.

His skin also seemed to have "un-paled" a bit, despite having not seen sunlight in so long. The dark bags under his eyes remained however, but not as noticeable.

Raven assumed there must've been some kind of physical side effect from connecting with Ayre.

He just nodded at Reiner's greeting, seemingly content to sit in silence. He'd spoken with some of the other mercenaries the Liberation Front had hired recently, though none face to face, and most had to be asked to shut up. This one, he'd be surprised if he even got him to speak.

"I remember when I first offered you a mission after the fall of the Wall. You're a confusing one, Raven." he admitted, "You destroyed the STRIDER, defended the Gallia Dam, took the Wall. And now you have someone claiming to be your operator, talking to the Liberation Front for you. Most mercs won't shut the hell up about their prowess... but you... you don't even talk."

Rainer watched as he sat there, face still impassive. His eyes though, he could see something in them. And when he did speak, he almost missed it, having started to zone out.

"What do you know about Handler Walter?" he asked.

He attempted to speak back in reply, but it didn't work out very well. His voice was too quiet, and too rough, as though he hadn't used it for a long time. So, he was forced to use sign language. Thankfully Rainer was able to understand it.

<>

He didn't answer him. A reflective flash of light caught on a metallic surface on the sides of her head, behind the ears.

They were neural interface ports.

He'd not realized before, but it all made sense once he could see Raven in person. Handler Walter's hounds were augmented, and with behavior like this, it was likely that they were leashed using Coral-based augmentation surgeries.

But somehow this one had slipped the leash, at least partially.

...

Raven yawned a bit, it was almost quite. Then again, of course it was. He was just about to probably rest or something when Ayre's voice suddenly came. "Raven?"

He replied with a small grunt.

<>

"I was just wondering... do you think you could probably... maybe... what do they call it? It's when you... do something with your... hair?"

<>

The young man ultimately got Ayre's message. However, he never really thought about it. He hasn't taken care of himself since... then. He never thought it'd be important to him. However, he thought that he might as well.

He went to the mirror and studied his face. Before they made contact, his eyes were brown, dull, like only a corpse was there. And that red strand was white. And his skin was so much paler too, to the point where it would make one worry about him getting "vitamin D" which he rarely cared about.

Eh... he'll do it later. Maybe...

...

Ayre kept watch the rest of the flight through Raven's suit sensors while her partner slept. He'd asked Ayre to hold him while he went to sleep, and she would be there when he awoke. If there was trouble, she'd rouse him sooner, but it looked to be a peaceful flight.

The Liberation Front officer, Rainer, had decided to sleep a while ago, so it was only Ayre who was awake in the cabin, though none save Raven knew she was there.

While he was shaving, Ayre had taken notice of some kind of... markings on the left side of his neck. She took a better look, and gasped as lowly as she could, not wanting to wake him up. Those were not markings. They seemed to be... scars. Almost as if someone swung a blade multiple times too. It was a horrifying sight to see.

Is this the cause of the stiffness on his right shoulder? It would... make sense...

Was that from the Generation Four surgery Raven had undergone? Or did someone actually try to strike him in the flesh in memories long taken away from him, unreachable, deep into the seemingly endless void of the subconscious?

She'll... have to ask him about that later... hopefully.

She woke her mercenary when they were half an hour out from their destination, swaddling his mental presence with his own, holding her close.

<>

She took the opportunity to have Raven eat something, knowing they wouldn't have much chance until the operation was over.

The landing was smooth, and Rainer guided them back to the exit, Raven walking calmly behind the Commander until they arrived at the feet of OBSIDIAN WING, already unloaded from the cargo bay. Raven immediately began to climb the ladder to board his machine, wanting to be back in the familiar surroundings.

"Raven." That was Rainer. "We'll be departing for the target in the next thirty minutes. I'm sending you instructions to get to the transport helis, be there in ten please."

Raven nodded his assent before climbing in and settling down, the hatch sealing behind his as he pulled on his helmet and wired himself into the AC.

The generator hummed as OBSIDIAN WING came to life, optics lighting red as they initialized. It was time.

...

The chopper dropped them a kilometer north of the Wall, behind a section of terrain that radar wouldn't be able to spot.

621's approach took longer, waiting for the RLF units to catch up while scouting ahead. It had to dispatch a few Arquebus patrols, but fortunately none of them had managed to radio back.

When the EW unit was in position safely at the edge of the Wall, 621 took a moment to survey the base.

"Raven, I can see a comms mast and a radio dish, it's sitting in the gap at the center of the Wall. That kind of equipment must be the sat link. We're out of range for a missile lock, but with such delicate equipment, we'll only need a single volley to destroy it. Perhaps we can skirt around the edge until we're closer and surprise them."

It was a solid plan, and OBSIDIAN activated boosters to glide around the edge of the massive fortress. Radio chatter from MT squads patrolling the city area began to increase, and then a series of explosions went off near the east edge.

"I just contacted our support forces. It looks like Balam dropped some MT troops to make their own attempt at the Wall. They must not have known there was a Vesper here. Our support is still hidden and waiting for our signal."

By now 621 was near the gap at the middle of the wall, peering down at it from above, standing on the upper shelf on the outer edge of the wall. The targeting radar confirmed a lock and six missiles were spat from their tubes, lancing downward and wrecking the array.

"Raven, we won't have long now before MT forces start to converge, we need to find Swinburne and eliminate him as soon as possible. I've detected signs of an AC in combat mode near those explosions from earlier."

A quick assault boost landed OBSIDIAN WING on the upper shelf of the Wall on the other side, and it looped around the outer edge of the city structures, avoiding contact with the MT squads. One of the secondary objectives, a BAWS tetrapod, was standing guard nearby, obscured by the buildings.

...

Rainer watched the progress of the mercenary from the transport helicopter's camera feed. It wasn't without risks, given that Raven was known to be a preferred mercenary for the corporations.

Yet he had also completed every mission undertaken so far. In the event that Raven did decide to betray them, he'd requested that Rokumonsen be on standby to finish the mission. Hopefully the AC pilot would stick to the plan and just engage Swinburne if necessary, but who knew with him.

"Rokumonsen, Raven has found the target and is moving to engage." he informed, "Please clear with me before you attempt any action, no matter what."

"Betrayers pay their dues." said Rokumonsen, " If Raven's sworn word be false. I shan't stay my blade."

Rainer just grimaced at that. The assassin was an incredibly powerful ally, but he was also unpredictable and hard to understand at times. Hopefully Raven wouldn't manage to set him off accidentally.

...

From the vantage point on top of the smaller defensive wall, 621 could see a few wrecks at the edge of the loading docks and an Arquebus tetrapod AC.

"All these lawless ruffians..." said Swinburne, "They never learn, do they?... Wait, this isn't how the Liberation Front builds their ACs."

"That's Swinburne, the Vespers' number seven." informed Ayre, "This is our opportunity for an ambush, let's go."

Assault boost got it down to the loading docks and they were closing in on the unaware Vesper.

"I see... Balam. A tired old concern, falling further and further behind. I'll have you all sent for reeducation... Snail will be pleased to have you."

By then, OBSIDIAN WING was standing behind the target, just waiting. 621 could feel Ayre's disbelief that they'd been able to get so close without being noticed. Swinburne suddenly turned around and 621 raised the shotguns and fired, sending GUIDANCE stumbling from the force.

"Agh! Wh-What do you think you're playing at?!" he demanded, "W-Wait! You're not one of mine... Another ambusher?! "

Swinburne deployed his pulse shield, absorbing the volley of missiles that followed and burning a repair kit for his damaged front armor. He activated assault boost, launching forward and landing a kick, the multiple legs of the tetrapod battering OBSIDIAN WING and almost staggering it.

"No! I am Swinburne!" he shouted, "I can't lose!"

The Earshot grenade launcher on his shoulder was aiming when the blast of assault armor hit the pulse shield, overloading the enemy mech. 621 fired the machine gun, the laser blade in hand and charging when the target moved, the hit instead smashing into a redeployed shield and launching Swinburne's AC back.

"I don't know who put you up to this... But clearly you need to be disciplined!" said Swinburne.

The stun baton on the AC's left arm deployed as he charged forward again, swinging recklessly.

"What is he doing, Raven?" asked Ayre.

Evidently, she was just as confused.

A vollley from the machine gun slammed into the extended arm, shredding the armor plates. GUIDANCE stopped immediately, deploying a pulse shield and lowering its weapons.

"W-Wait! Let's not do anything hasty!" he panicked, "You realize I lead the Vespers 7th squad... which means I hold the purse strings. Every single transaction goes through me. Let me go, and you'll still come out on top... Understand?"

621 sent an acknowledgement in return.

"Raven..." said Ayre.

"You're quick on the uptake, aren't you?" asked Swinburne, "Splendid. I'm sure Snail will see you're properly honored for this... You're not like those savages. Keep up the good work."

...

Ayre watched as Raven switched to his laser blade when Swinburne turned to leave. The coward must have sensed something was wrong, because he started to turn back, only to see the mercenary he thought he had made a deal with boosting toward him.

The laser blade launching forward and slashing the torso armor, flinging GUIDANCE back with the force of the impact.

"Y-You cur!" he cursed, "Who taught you to- EAAARGH!"

The AC went up in flames, sagging to the ground with its legs spread out around it.

"Confirmed." Ayre said slowly, "Target destroyed."

Why had he done that?

"Hmm... I have a question." she asked, sounding hurt, "The way you dealt with him- did Walter teach you that?"

<>

"... Raven, I'm picking up an incoming AC!"

Her partner turned to face the radar contact, zooming his optics to try to identify it. It was purple, with the characteristic sharp angles of parts manufactured by Elcano. Suddenly, a loud voice boomed over the speakers from the open radio frequency as it got closer.

"Death and dishonor... Such is the oathbreakers due." said a voice.

The machine dropped out of overboost, gliding across the ground toward Raven.

"Pay the Sanzu- toll...?"

It stopped, optics turning to look at the burning wreck of Swinburne's AC.

"Raven, that's Rokumonsen, an elite assassin associated with the Rubicon Liberation Front." Ayre informed, "He's also known for his theatrics..."

"Rokumonsen!" The voice of Rainer suddenly filled the channel. "I told you to confirm with me before you did anything! And you were only to step in to kill Swinburne if Raven failed!"

The colorful machine, now identified as SHINOBI, bowed at the waist, as much as it was able at least.

"My apologies. For acting with haste, Raven." Rokumonsen apologized, "You prove yourself true."

With that, he turned back toward the north and activated overboost, rocketing off. Ayre could feel her partner's amusement resonating with her own.

"Well, we still have a secondary objective to complete." she pointed out, "I saw one of the tetrapods earlier, displaying marked coordinates."

She watched the radar as Raven made his way over to the target. The second tetrapod was in the distance, but it wouldn't be able to get here before this one was destroyed.

The machine gun crippled one of the legs and the pile bunker ripped through the side of the torso. It must have destroyed something critical because a moment later the machine collapsed, the entire right side seemed to lose all power, and the pilot ejected.

The other enemy machine was equipped with the heavy cannon, the radar alert sounding as it prepared to fire. The round impacted the other disabled machine, blasting a hole in it when Raven boosted out of the way. Her partner didn't seem to be in the mood to play around, assault boosting toward it to kick it before assault armor fired, staggering it. The pilot ejected preemptively, and the machine exploded a second later when the pile bunker breached the generator.

"All objectives complete. I've marked the coordinates for our rendezvous with the transport, and let them know we're coming." Ayre informed, "Raven, I'm still detecting active electronics in the first tetrapod, will you see if you can connect to it? Perhaps it has useful information."

...

It was a weird feeling, talking to a pilot after witnessing what they did in an AC. They'd wanted Swinburne dead, and Raven had delivered.

He just hadn't expected it to be like that. He was exiting his machine as he waited, the white surface of it now marred with soot and damage from weapons fire.

"Raven. You have our gratitude for eliminating Swinburne." he said, "Some of us were worried that the enemy might have won you over. But it seems we can trust you after all. Glad to be on the same side. Another shipment will be departing for the Central Ice Field shortly, and the rest of the cargo was loaded while you completed the mission. All that's left now is to load your AC and we can leave."

When he'd stopped to listen to the Vesper and he offered payment, he feared that the corporations had bought him out. A moment later, the AC was destroyed.

"And, I'm sorry about earlier." he apologized, "I'd asked Rokumonsen to be on standby to finish your mission in case you were unable to. I absolutely never intended for him to attack you."

He shook himself out of his thoughts, leading Raven to the interior cabin of the floatship. The majority of it was occupied by Liberation Front MT pilots, with a few AC pilots scattered throughout. He'd have him sit near him. Not everyone was willing to accept independent mercs, especially one who had murdered so many of their comrades.

...

Ayre kept watch again on the journey back, even though Raven was too tense with all of the Liberation Front pilots around them to want to sleep.

"Raven, that data log you pulled from the enemy tetrapod... It was from V.II Snail, sent to Swinburne and his forces." she explained, "He was discussing sending Rubiconians to be 'reeducated,' or if they resist, sent to 'the Factory.' It's where Arquebus uses prisoners to test new weaponry. Perhaps Swinburne got off lightly."

https://youtu.be/WEsibVKPNA0

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