"621. We're picking up where we left off." Walter informed, "Now that you've dealt with the laser barrier, we can explore deeper underground. We've received a request from Arquebus to continue the advance survey. There was something else, too..." "

Orders for Raven, Advance Survey Squad," came V.II Snail's voice, "We've received some concerning information that an AC has been following your trail. Arquebus cannot tolerate unauthorized surveys that will put its Coral interests at risk."

Photoage from some camera then showed a small glimpse of what may have appeared to be some kind of really thin AC. It was too dark for either Raven or Ayre to identify.

"If you spot this rogue agent... eliminate them." Snail ordered.

"'Where there's Coral, there's blood.'" Walter quoted, "Remember that, 621."

Raven nodded and then felt OBSIDIAN WING being held up and being taken outside of the hangar.

"Who could be following you?" asked Ayre curiously, "The Liberation Front? Another mercenary?"

"Commence mission." ordered Walter, "Make your way down to the next Depth."

Ayre kept her eye on the radar as Raven glided down the giant cavern. There was a giant machine that must've stretched up to like who knows where. Suddenly, Ayre started to realize that something may be wrong.

"Something's jamming the radar." she said in warning, "It must be interference from the active Coral.. Rely on your eyes and ears."

<>

They then spotted some kind giant eel-like thing.

"Is that... a mealworm?!" Walter asked, sounding horrified, "Thing's grown into a monster..."

That thing then suddenly began to glow a little bit and act strange, aiming right for Raven.

"Coral response from inside the creature!" Ayre warned, "Watch out!"

<>

He zoomed straight past them all, eventually finding a hole leading to another section. There, they saw two giant machines.

"Breeding pods for mealworms." Walter identified, "Looks like they're out of commission now."

"Raven, I'm reading something behind us," Ayre detected, "and it's getting closer."

Raven then hovered over a small open area with a large body of water and onto a ledge made from fallen metal rubble. However, before he could continue, the sound of high-speed thrusters sounded in his ears, stopping him in his tracks. He turned around, seeing a familiar AC dropping in.

It's him...

"Go deal with a mercenary who went in alone, they said..." Rusty muttered, "Figures. Seems both of us are too dangerous to keep around. And the higher-ups wouldn't miss an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Hate to say it, but... Rubicon still needs me. So, buddy. Who needs you?"

He then took off, aiming his blade straight for Raven.

"AC, STEEL HAZE incoming!" Ayre shouted.

They dodged each other's attacks. Raven shot at Rusty with his handgun.

<>

"I don't want to dance to their tune, but this time, I don't have any other choice. I'm coming, buddy." said Rusty.

"Rusty, wait!" a new voice demanded.

It was Middle Flatwell. He flew right in with TSUBASA. Raven and Ayre stared at them in shock. What's going on?

"Flatwell?! He's a Liberation Front leader..." said Ayre.

<>

Great. Now Raven had two enemy ACs to handle. First Rusty and his high-speed STEEL HAZE and now TSUBASA. Now how he thought today would go.

"Rusty... That pilot's more than just a hound." Flatwell pleaded, "You don't see the potential!"

"Oh, I see it, Uncle." said Rusty rebelliously, "But potential and danger are birds of a feather."

TSUBASA stopped for a moment. It then looked up and pointed its MA-E-210 ETSUJIN L Machine Gun and MA-J-200 RANSETSU-RF Burst Rifle right at OBSIDIAN WING.

"I wish it hadn't come to this... Raven," he started, "it's too late now!"

<>

"There must be an explanation, Raven. But we have to defend ourselves now." said Ayre.

Due to TSUBASA being more on the lightweight side, its AP was lower. And because of that, it made it easier for Raven to take him down within a few more direct hits along with perfectly timed double-spinning laser blade swings.

"My AC can't take much more!" Flatwell grunted.

"Get out of here, Flatwell." said Rusty, "You still have work to do."

He then felt OBSIDIAN WING slash at his chest and kicked him into a wall. He saw missiles coming his way, but he dodged it just in time.

"You're good... And that's not the only thing that makes you a threat." he said.

He then zoomed right at OBSIDIAN WING using his own blade to land several cuts on OBSIDIAN WING's armored body.

Once using a repair kit quickly, Raven immediately then kicked Rusty off and used assault boost to pin him against a large fallen machine, where he engaged the assault armor, causing an electrical explosion. He backed off, seeing STEEL HAZE skidding across the water.

"Something's... changed since last time." Rusty openly admitted, "But you still haven't found a purpose."

Raven stopped at that. Was he right? Even after everything that's happened so far... Raven still didn't know what he was fighting for? Ayre's voice kicked him out of his thoughts and back into reality as he saw STEEL HAZE coming by.

He engaged assault boost as they zoomed right for each other at full speed. Raven shifted his angle suddenly and swung as hard as he could. They then landed on the ground. Raven then saw the shoulder blade suddenly explode, ripping STEEL HAZE's right arm off.

"Never failed to impress... But this isn't over yet... Buddy." he said, almost more gently this time, "Find your purpose. Then we'll settle this!"

His AC's own assault armor then kicked in. The surge of energy then exploded. Raven dodged the entire thing. He looked at where Rusty once was. Nothing. Nothing there. Just... nothing.

"We've lost all signs of STEEL HAZE... He's escaped." Ayre informed him, "I'm picking up a major Coral response coming from the bottom of the pit. Let's keep moving, Raven."

...

OBSIDIAN WING then stood at the edge of a cliff in what seemed to be a massive area. In the distance was a massive structure seemingly stretching so high into the sky.

"Institute City..." said Walter sounding surprised, "...Of course. No wonder we couldn't find it. I need to prepare before the corps move in. ...Head"up the base and rest up."

Raven sat back down and relaxed for a moment. This was all starting to get a little bit on the too intense side for him just at the moment. Ayre could feel his stress about what just happened back there. She wrapped her ghostly arms around his shoulders and held him close.

"It'll be okay, Raven." she assured, "We'll find a way, we always do."

...

Raven was back at the base. However, his rest was interrupted by Ayre's voice.

"This request comes from ALLMIND." said Ayre, "True to form, they've sent us an encrypted message with top-level security. I expect it must be about Coral Release."

"Augmented human C4-621, Raven." ALLMIND greeted, "There is an obstacle to the project that must be removed. The target is V.III O'Keeffe, an Arquebus Special Intelligence officer. A second-generation augmented human, O'Keefe was once our ally within the corporations. But it seems he has had a last-minute change of heart, and means to betray us. You are to ambush the target during his Arquebus-ordered survey of Depth 3. His records will note death by misadventure. The Release Project must succeed. Only an exceptional augmented human can be the key. C4-621, Raven. ALLMIND is certain of your success."

"Whatever your choice is, Raven, I'll go along with you," said Ayre.

Raven then tapped the side of his helmet. He didn't know. If he was correct, basically, Coral Release had something to do with spreading Coral all over the galaxy, or the entire universe. He really didn't know. It sounded... too dangerous.

All of humanity and the Coral, fusing together. Everywhere too as well. It didn't sound... like much of a good idea.

And also... not to mention the... mealworm.

<>

Ayre could sense her partner's distress. And of course, it was also against her own ideas. However, she always wanted him to have a say in just about everything they're about to do. She wanted to hear and listen to him speaking his piece. And this might be one that maybe she needed to hear.

It had already started to make sense. Maybe spreading Coral everywhere right out of the blue, probably forcing people into situations they don't want to be in might make an even more bigger war, not just between corporations anymore, but all of humanity will be after her family.

But what about the "other consequences" Raven had let out so shaky as if it terrified him? She then saw Raven pull up a picture of one of the meal worms, mutated by the Coral.

Suddenly, Ayre's own horror struck her; If the Coral could turn mealworms into hostile monsters, what could it do to... other creatures throughout the galaxy, perhaps all the way to the entire universe?

If a war between Coral and humanity all over the galaxy, maybe even the entire universe isn't bad enough, then a war between them an Coral-mutated monsters will be enough.

Then Ayre and her family would be declared dangerous... they'll be hunted until the rest of her days... However, unless Raven still thinks it's possible to do it without making it so extra dangerous...



"Do you want to at least consider this as an option?" she suggested.

<>

"I like that. Okay."

Ayre wanted to support Raven, as his operator, as his partner, as his best friend. She'd feel terrible if she'd force him to do something he doesn't feel is right.

...

All Iguazu could remember was the feeling of flames licking his skin, a burning sensation spreading throughout his body. He then did nothing, just a pitch black world. Is this Hell? He wouldn't be surprised.

Then suddenly, a light showed up. It was almost blue, but at the same time, green, like an aqua color almost.

It was small, and yet almost pulsing.

"G1 Iguazu. Member of the Redguns." it said, sounding feminine, "This is ALLMIND. A system meant to help mercenaries. We saved your consciousness right before you lost your physical body. We have a favor to ask of you: A certain mercenary has gone against our plan. And we want you to help us rid us of the situation."

What did it mean by "a certain mercenary?" Wait. The freelancer. G13. That son of a... That petty excuse for a life.

Yes. He'll do it. But he doesn't care about whatever this "plan" is. He just wants that damn freelancer dead.

________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for Reading!

https://youtu.be/WEsibVKPNA0

________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for Reading!