Benkyou to Renshu (Ryona, GEAR)

[VeraC]

Okuni had arrived on Earth for the first time in her life. Having been stationed on the moon training the Knights and foot soldiers of Everglory, working as a consultant with the Moon’s military. With her two year contract up, she received a request from Terra Sentinel to assist in training some rookies as an Aggressor Pilot. Okuni had never been to Earth, so she wasn’t sure what to expect, though she kept her expectations low for the time being. It didn’t matter whether it was earth or moon, piloting a mech was all the same to her. Nor did she know much about Terra Sentinel’s military, other than she was to instruct the beginners.

In addition, she had three goals in mind during her visit to Earth: 1. Visit Japan, 2. Look into the relic weapons of ancient history, and 3. Find a worthy opponent. Having been born in Everglory, and dedicating her whole life to practicing the Kusanagi Sword-style, she had never been able to visit the place of her heritage, where her roots lie. Both her personally, as well as her clan requested her to look into the relic weapons of Japan. These famous blades were supposedly enchanted or cursed with magic, their history dating back to around the same time as the origin of the Kusanagi Clan. In fact, the legendary sword of the same name was crafted by the Kusanagi clan; though through the years, the clan lost possession of the sword. If possible, Okuni wanted to track down the sword. Thirdly, traveling to one of the origin points of martial arts, she would assuredly find someone who could challenge her. She was already the strongest warrior of the clan, and the Moon had very few who could stand against her in a one-on-one duel.

_____​

After a long flight, the shuttle had finally broke through the earth’s atmosphere, and was continuing to descend to cruising altitude.

“...So this is earth.” Okuni peered out to the view that stood before her outside the shuttle. She took a look at the vast ocean view below her from the cockpit of Amaterasu, which was docked within the shuttle.

“And all of that is water…” She was amazed by the vastness of the ocean, seemingly extending forever beyond the horizon. The smooth, wave-like movements of the water glistened and sparkled, reflecting and refracting the sunlight on the surface. It truly was a different sight compared to the moon.

The Shuttle was currently en route to Japan, where Okuni would spend a few days, before meeting with the Terra Sentinel officials. It should be a simple trip until Japan, though she had a feeling something was going to happen. Her warrior instinct could ‘sense’ a fight brewing.

 

[Luca Cross]

Standing on the bow of the ship, the young woman shielded her face as mist sprayed through the air. The old ship was a relic of the past, with its ancient trawling rig. Right now the net was lowered into the water, despite the season for fish being off. The woman leaned over the railing, enjoying the wind on her body. She hadn't had a moment to catch her breath in a while, which is why this boat ride was a welcome lull.


“Missy, do you have any idea where your Uncle was headed?” The captain, an old man with a grizzled beard, strolled out onto the open deck. His crew was currently nowhere to be seen, despite the fishing gear currently in use.

“None, Charles. He said that the Directory was going to pursue me as a bargaining chip to use against him. Said there would be friends...no, 'allies' in Tokyo from Terra Sentinel waiting for me.” The girl's gaze remained on the horizon, as she reached into her shorts' pocket. There was the crumpled remains of the letter within, from the fateful night. The old man walked over to the railing, standing across from her.

“That's unfortunate. He had his reasons, of course, for hiding the truth from you. Hell, Ryan didn't tell me half of the businesses he dipped his nose into. But he is a good man, both on his word and money.” The old man pulled a flask from his jacket, taking a long drink of the liquor within. His gaze went to the sky, where trails from ships traced white lines across the blue tapestry. “He only wanted happiness for you, Luca. He was happiest when talking about you and your passions.”

“...I see.” The girl reached out, snagging the flask from his hand. Before he could object, the woman took a long drink of the bitter liquor. Blinking away the tears in her eyes, the girl stared out into the open sea. “I just want to know the truth, Charles. Why my parents died...why the Directory wants my Uncle's secrets...why he gave me the Custom C...there's something at work here, and I don't want to be the pawn of anyone, even my loving Uncle.”

“Luca...” The old man was silent, unsure what to say next. Both man and woman were wrapped in their own thoughts, unaware of the reach of the Directory which sought to hide the truth...or the lengths that group was willing to go to accomplish that task.

 

[GEAR]

"We've found her."

Directory Captain Reynolds, of the Killer Whale Class Submarine DSS Ashburton, looked up from what he now hoped was his last meal of this dreadful, otherwise fruitless errand. He was a middle aged man, of African descent, and he had originally hailed from the farmlands of the aforementioned continent. His career with the Directory Navy had a carefully shepherded one, and he had been tactful in his advance up the ladder, mindful of the fact that kicking anyone on the way up would be sure to result in twice as much punishment on the way down, if he was unfortunate.

Yes, he had worked hard to make sure his job was uneventful and uninterrupted... Until recently, that is. Now, all manner of unfortunate things were attempting to intrude on his precious sense of normality, and he was keen on evicting them as soon as possible - hence, the news his saluting subordinate was bringing him was something of profound relief.

"You're certain?"
"Traveling south by southeast... On a civilian vessel, Sir."
"Can we intercept?"
"If we launch Armored Modules now, we should be able to, yes."

Reynolds leaned back in his command chair and massaged his temples, thinking it over. It would be better, he thought, to wait for them to hit the docks, and arrest the whole crew, but-

"It certainly took you long enough, Captain."

The source of his problems made herself known, stepping- No, the correct word, he thought, would be slithering into his quarters. Esmee Oleander was her name, and she never appeared any less than all black-and-white - dark hair, lips, and dress, with coal irises that glimmered unsettlingly in the light... And especially when she smiled, like she was then. This woman... His attaché, for lack of better word - had been thrust upon him by Director Lao. Rumors abounded about that strange man, and the company he kept - ones that Reynolds would, unfortunately, now have to vouch were true.

Their vessel had been commandeered by this woman for the express purpose of pursuing... A young girl. Normally he would have objected... But Reynolds was not the kind to rock the boat in any sense of the word, so for the time being, he kept his head down.

Esme gave a poisonous smile. "Even with my help..." - she cooed, sliding herself onto his desk, and folding her legs.

"Attaché Oleander..." Started Reyolds, unable to stop himself from meeting those onyx hues; "...Did you have a suggested course of action?"

"What are you waiting for? Go and get her."

"...There's a civilian ship involved-"

"Civilian?" - She leaned forward suddenly, causing him to recline back in his chair to put further distance between them, giving him a full-eyed stare. She smelled... Like flowers, he thought. The kind that you used to dress up a corpse... To hide the smell.

"Whoever they are, they stopped being 'civilians' the second they got involved. Bring me the girl. I will not tell you again."

Reynolds swallowed. He had heard rumors of what had happened to the last unit this woman had sortied with. Ones that were too terrible to be true... Yet which had managed to persist to an unusual degree. He nodded to his subordinate, and with it, Oleander rose once more, looking satisfied.

"Good man." She purred as she rose, following the other man out of the room. Reynolds, once he was certain she had left, reached under his desk, and procured a set of antibacterial wipes, beginning the arduous process of wiping out every trace of the woman's presence. It would take a while this time... But it was the only way he was going to get any sleep tonight.

***​

In the distance behind the ship, the forms of several fighter-jet like chassis were beginning to come into view, arranged in a tight V formation, the sound of their plasma jet engines screaming through the sky starting to fill the air. Several Lion Fs - the emblem of the Directory Navy emblazoned upon their shoulders - were closing in at a surprisingly rapid pace, starting to descend from the clouds, the sunlight glittering off their alloyed hulls. No transmissions or warnings were given... At least, not yet.

But it appeared that Luca's run from the law was about to enter a new stage of difficulty...

 

[Luca Cross]

The woman's focus was interrupted, as a cold shiver ran down Luca's neck. She reached back and looked over her shoulder, in time to see the gleaming specks in the distance. From the speed of the shimmers, her 'company had arrived. Her gaze narrowed, as the woman began jogging across the deck. Her goal was a large military bag tossed to one side.

“Charles, we got company!” The old man didn't speak; the boat instead jerked, as the vessel began slowing down. The captain shifted his stance and began working the trawling lines. Luca ripped off her jacket, letting the garment fall onto the deck. Her shorts soon followed, leaving the woman standing only in her undergarments. The bag was opened, and the contents dumped onto the deck. A flight suit, red in color, lay at the woman's feet. She began sliding into the tight suit, ignoring the way it clung to her skin.

It would've been fine for you to call and check my measurements, Uncle, rather than using the ones you had while I was locked in that room!
​

Yanking the zipper up until it was fastened, the girl tucked the letter into her suit between her breasts. Snatching the helmet off the ground, the girl shoved her clothes into the bag and slung it over her free shoulder. At the same instant, the trawling chains finished dragging up it's 'bounty'. The head of a Personal Trooper, painted purple, berthed first and was soon followed by the chest of the huge robot. Leaping off the deck onto the climbing handles, the college student fumbled for the controls to open the cockpit. It finally hissed open, and the woman tossed her bag in. Sliding into the chair, the girl began going to through the lengthy process of flipping switches and activating the on-board systems.

“Put on your helmet! Our company is getting closer! I'm going to lower you back into the ocean and try to buy us time with the boat's speed!” Charles' shout reached Luca, who nodded in agreement. Slipping the helmet on over her head, the girl attached the helmet to the built-in air supply of the Gespenst. With a flip of the switch, the hatch hissed shut and locked the girl into darkness.

-----​

Charles hit the quick release on the trawling chain, as he reactivated the ship's engines. His gaze went to the Lions in the distance; he knew what they were capable of, and how futile his attempts at escape were. Under the controls to the boat was a small box, housing his last resort if captured. A small smile crossed his lips, as he thought back to the girl he'd been escorting.

She'll make a great pilot, as long as she can put her past behind her. I hope you were right, Ryan.
​

Pushing the engines to their max, the old man sighed. It was going to be a beautiful sunset this evening; it would be a shame if he didn't live to see it.

------​

Surrounded by darkness and switches, the young woman took slow breaths of the processed oxygen. She would never be able to enjoy this darkness again, not after she'd escaped it all those years ago. The tedious wait before the cameras activated and the weapon-systems came online, her controls gained their power and she became the Machine...it would never be the same, not after her Uncle dragged her out of that world. Her gaze became blurry, and the woman began frantically blinking her eyes in an attempt to clear the tears there.

Operating System Bravo Papa Beta, Online! ​

“Thanks, BP. Let's try and escape this situation, just like the one a week ago. Ammo...95% remaining. Energy levels...85% remaining? Not terrible, but I don't want to draw things out. Armor durability....65% left.” The woman's gaze narrowed in frustration, as she recounted the damage she'd accrued the first night she'd piloted for real. Grabbing the two control handles on either side of her seat, and slipping her feet into the acceleration controls, the woman took a deep breath.

I won't become the Machine ever again...I was just a weak girl running from life's responsibilities. Being good at a game doesn't make me an Ace in real life...don't get confused.

Ignoring the tremble in her hands, the college student flicked open a thumb toggle. Scrolling through a list of options that filled the display, the selection of Tesla Field caused a hum to appear within her comms feed. A sign it was operating, which was a plus. Her cameras finally lit up, revealing the map of the nearby terrain, the destination as an arrow on the edge, and the distant blips of the pursuing enemy. Her gaze shifted from the Navi to the visual feed, which showed the white water above from the ship and the blue of the sea beyond.

Reaching one, huge hand of the Gespenst behind, the woman grabbed the chain dragging the Personal Trooper along. Severing it in one motion as she spun the robot in the water, the woman triggered the Tesla Drive in the same instant. Shooting past the ship under the water, Custom C exploded from the sea and began sailing in a straight line towards the unseen islands in the distance. Water split around the huge Gespenst, as it remained only a couple meters above the splashing waves. Her goal was simple: attempt to draw the Lions as far from the Captain as possible before moving to engage if necessary.

Simple plan...but it rarely works out that way, huh?​

 

[VeraC]

________
​

The lights within the cockpit of Amaterasu were off, the inside pitch black. Within the silent darkness, Okuni’s eyes were closed, and her hands were in the Dhyana Mudra, and she was deep in meditation. Something was coming, she could sense it. At this moment, her focus was at the max, she could feel everything around and within her. She could sense the cool air of the cockpit entering her nose, quickly warming up as it spread through her neck and into her lungs. She could feel the steady flow of blood from and into her heart, she could hear it. She could feel the brisk touch of the air within the cockpit enwrapping her body in its cool flow.

In an instant, her eyes opened.

A second after, the systems of the Amaterasu came to life, its sensors picking up movement outside the shuttle. “One… two… several PTs… although one of them…” She double checked the one separated from the rest. It had a Terra Sentinel IFF signal. While she wasn’t allied with Terra Sentinel, nor was her contract underway yet, she figured it might be bad manners to let one of their own get destroyed before her eyes. She turned on the comms and spoke to the pilot of the shuttle.

“I’m heading out. Continue on route, I’ll catch up.” she informed the pilot. He obliged and opened the bay doors of the shuttle.

The double doors opened at the bottom of the shuttle with a slow movement, and looking from below, one could see the black silhouette of the Amaterasu. The red lights of the mech flashing to light with an almost sinister glow to them.

“Ikazuchi, Amaterasu, engaging.” Amaterasu dropped from the shuttle, free falling a hundred meters before engaging the orgone thrusters, the overclocked green energy rocketing the mech forward, beginning a beeline to the pursuing Lions. A surprise attack, Amaterasu quickly descended through the clouds, closing in on the unaware formation of Lions.

“...Ippo…”

“RAIKIRI!” ​

Amaterasu immediately vanished from its current position. Mere milliseconds later, it reappeared right in front of the lead position Lion. It grabbed the hilt of a blade on its left hip with its right arm, the first movement of the basic battō. It drew the hilt, and as it did so, a solid, glistening green blade materialized at the same pace as the draw, before unleashing a powerful horizontal strike. The whole movement took less than a second, as Amaterasu continued the strike all the way through the Lion, before Amaterasu spun around and ‘resheathed’ the sword, now dead center in the middle of the Lion formation.

雷　一
切　歩​

 

[GEAR]

"This is Mustang 1, closing in on the target."
"...It's just a fishing boat-"
"No, wait. Something came out."

The assembled Lion formation dropped its altitude further as they drew a bead on the Gespenst. The lead pilot gave a sigh of relief. The idea of having to shoot apart a civilian ship really hadn't been appealing to him. Even if that woman wanted the Gespenst taken, dead or alive, the less people involved in this farce the better. Suddenly, his radio screeched, as one of the Lion pilots cried out:

"CAPTAIN! ABO-"

Too fast.

Something struck down into their unit. It was glittering and dazzling, and it gleamed an emerald shine, like a verdant thunderbolt cast by an angry God. It was the last thing he ever thought, as his vision seemed to... Split in two, his body cut perfectly down the center. The remaining Lions banked away hard from the center as the center Lion F fell apart... Before detonating against the sea in a plume of black smoke. Panicked radio transmissions flickered between the remaining machines as they struggled to regain their balance.

"What is it?!"
"A new Colonial weapon?"
"Fire! FIRE!"

The remaining four's focus was no longer on the Gespenst. It was on the black-armored nightmare that had fallen into their midst. They spready out, the roar of their engines casting sprays of white on the ocean below. They let loose with everything they had - railguns flared, missiles lashed out - all fired directly at the Amaterasu, a cacophony of destruction that sent seagulls diving for cover, and fish scrambling away beneath the waves.

 

[VeraC]

The Four Lions all directed their attention to Amaterasu, which was floating menacingly in the air in the middle of the four. Okuni looked at her surroundings, counting her enemies.

“It is an honor to die my blade.” Okuni spoke on the open comms. “Now, witness the ‘Supreme Swordsmanship’ of the Kusanagi-style Kenjitsu.” Her voice was monotonous, her face with a blank expression, eyes seemingly having had the light faded from them. Okuni’s Battle trance was the result of her clearing all thoughts from her mind, save for the task that lay before her.

As the Lions opened fire on Amaterasu, it once again vanished from the space it was in, having performed a short time-space jump. A brief moment later, it reappeared, once again in a readied stance, right hand firmly gripping Masamune. The Green blade began crackling with energy, a faint glow emanating from within. The glow grew brighter and brighter, the blade now shining with a brilliant white and green light.

“...Niho...”

“YUKANHA”​

With a quick, wide arcing slash, Amaterasu drew the sword, unleashing a deadly gale along with it. The Orgone blade, having become volatile, fractured throughout the swing, with countless shards of solidified orgone flying out along the arc, as if hundreds of needles were being flung out. The shards, should they pierce or hit one of the lions, would quickly explode, essentially becoming mini-explosive projectiles.

勇　二

敢　歩

刃　　
​

Amaterasu then resheathed the hilt without a blade, taking another look at its surroundings.

“Now then, who’s next?”

 

[Luca Cross]

Luca was focusing on managing the various systems within the Custom C, in order to maximize speed without sacrificing all of her safety. Her gaze kept jumping from the Navi and the visual feed, trying to ensure the bogies were focused on her and not Captain's ship. Her eyes widened in shock as a new player entered the battlefield, cutting down one of the Lions and taking its place on her Navi. Her computer didn't recognize the ID Codes of the new robot, which meant she couldn't identify which faction or group they represented.

Gripping the handles and working the accelerators, the girl whipped the Gespenst around so she could see behind her. Her Tesla Drive kept the Personal Trooper flying in the same direction, away from the ensuing battle. Toggling a different option through her quick-select, the woman activated the enhanced viewing setting. There, in the skies above the Pacific Ocean, was a monster standing amid the Lions. It was a Personal Trooper, of a model the woman had never seen before. Clasped in one hand was a katana; an ancient tool of the Samurai, but one this robot wielded like it was the most powerful weapon in the universe.

Continuing her backwards flight, the girl flipped a switch on her opposite control stick. The display became red, as multiple targeting reticles appeared on the screen. Her missile pods hissed and sprayed mist into the air as the seals came undone on the explosive payload. Selecting the two Lions nearest her Custom C, the woman pulled both triggers inside her cockpit.

Two missiles exploded from the pods on the Custom C, arcing through the air in the opposite direction the Personal Trooper was retreating. Midway to the target, the missiles split open and shot dozens of smaller explosives into the air.

The timing wasn't intentional; but as the mysterious Personal Trooper sent shards of green crystal spraying through the Lions' ranks, a barrage of anti-armor missiles would fly into the group from behind. Luca nodded after the payload was confirmed as on the way, whirling her Gespenst around and continuing her fast retreat across the ocean.

 

[GEAR]

Between the storm of beautiful emerald shards, and Luca's split missiles... The remaining Lions, fanned out as they were, didn't stand a chance. The four machines were perforated utterly by Okuni's graceful strike - and would take the secret of Orgone, the prize technology of the Moon - with them to their graves, as it was intended. Only the sunlight was left, glinting off their smoldering wreckages as the sunk into the sea.

Beneath the waves, in the Killer Whale Class's command center, Captain Reynolds watched in disbelief as first one, then all four Lions were registered as destroyed, each replaced with a "UNIT LOST" icon on the submarine's deck. Beside him, Oleander pouted.

"That was fast."

His grip tightened on his armchair as he glanced up at the woman, who looked... Bored. How could she act like this, he thought? Good men had just died because of her - and his - poor judgment.

"Don't you have any more?" She whined, folding her arms indignantly.
"Yes, but-"
"Then send them too."

There was a long pause. For many years, Reynolds had simply followed orders. If he did so too now... He could never live with himself. Special Attaché or not... This was his ship, and she was going to learn the hard way that he had his own set of rules if she wanted to stay aboard.

"No."
"No?"
"I refuse to send more of my men to their deaths to satisfy whatever vendetta you're pursuing. Human lives are not just... things to be expended at your whim!"

At Reynold's outburst, there was a deafening silence. A small crowd of Directory sailors had gathered around their captain, seemingly equally ready to bring the fight to the woman and her disquieting entourage. Her eyes flicked from one face to another... And at length, she held up her hands, giving an apologetic smile, her voice honeyed and sweet as she spoke:

"...You know what, Captain? You're right. I can't use you." She said, brightly.

"At least... Not as you are."

Confusion worked its way across Reynold's features, as a robed figure - one of her attendants, passed something to her. It looked like... An old vase, he thought, its surface a stained violet. Within it... Something that made his hair stand on end crawled about... As though it were alive. Oleander smiled again... But this time, only with her mouth, her delicate hand clasping the diamond-shaped "stopper" lodged in the vase.

"You, and this ship... Are more useful to me dead!"

With that, she yanked the container open-

It was the last thing that Captain Reynolds ever saw, as a foul black smoke - immense and choking - tore from it like it had been compressed for an eternity. It wound its ways through the halls of the ship, strangling everyone it touched, wrapping itself about their throats as ancient and evil spirits ran amok, unsealed from their prison, awash in a tide of dark Prana...

 

[VeraC]

With seemingly no enemies left in sight, Okuni turned her attention to the fleeing Gespenst, deciding to pursue after it. It wasn’t hard to catch up to it, as the capabilities of Orgone gave Amaterasu the ability to travel distances quickly.

“Terra Sentinel Soldier, speak your name and your reasoning. I need a situation assessment. Why are you being chased by the Directory?” Okuni spoke more in demands rather than as a friendly tone. “...It’s the least you could do; I did save your life.”

 

[Luca Cross]

There was an audible blip, as her OS confirmed the successful hits of the deployed payload. Nodding to herself, Luca continued pushing her Gespenst to its maximum speed. She glanced at the Navi, only to find her gaze locked there in shock. The mysterious pilot, the one who had attacked the Directory first, was closing in rapidly. It was as if the Custom C was standing still in comparison. When the communication line appeared on her display, the college student reluctantly opened the channel.

She was instantly hit by demands, as a the unknown pilot spoke across the channel. From the closer distance, the woman could tell the Personal Trooper was of some foreign make. Definitely not something originating from Earth, unless it was the prototype of some military contractor. Narrowing her gaze as she stared at the controls, the woman debated her choices. Clicking the left joystick, Luca began toggling through a variety of options. Ending on one, she hit accept on the option.

On the right arm of the Gespenst, three plasma stakes began crackling with energy. The woman took a deep breath and spoke softly across the net.

“I'm not your enemy, but I'm not a Terra Sentinel Soldier. I can't tell you what's happening or why I'm being chased. Please let me go; I have a goal to reach. If you won't let me go...” Reversing the thrusters on one side of the Gespenst, the woman swung the huge mech around in a tight circle. As the water crashed around the Personal Trooper, the mech slipped into a preprogrammed stance. Energy gleamed off its red visor, as it held the charged Plasma Stakes close to its waist and thrust the other palm out to guard. “...I'll have to fight you to escape.”

Waiting for the response, Luca toggled the subweapons, priming the Split Missiles to fire if she was forced into the defensive.

That mech has that weird katana; closing into close combat would be the worst, and probably last, mistake I could make.

 

[GEAR]

Beneath the surface of the ocean, Oleander walked slowly through the red-lit passageways of the Killer Whale, two hooded attendants in tow, making her way towards the vessel's launch bay. She stepped daintily over the countless corpses as she did, and at length, from her wrist, she unfurled a small brazier, ornate brazier, held by a length of bronze chain - one that glowed with an eerie blue light. She let it fall beside her, as she walked, her elegant voice lowering to a steady octave as she began to chant:

"Curdled resentment, ashen bone...
O' those that linger, those forgotten,
By the Black Oath of Kamazagh,
The phantom light of the Craven Eye Star,
And the silver, cursed blood of the ancient scions,
I command you...
Heed my call, and obey."​

The dark mist about her feet stirred... And with it, the bodies of the crew, which began to twitch and writhe. Imperceptible to the ordinary eye, all around the ship... Hundreds of thousands of spirits descended upon it, swirling about in a great storm, with Oleander and her pendulum of light at the center. They gnashed and clawed at the edges of reality, a tide of unseen, warped faces that had long since forgotten their original form, and were anchored only to this world through burning resentment. Such things would serve any master, if only to experience even a brief mockery of life once again. She rose the brazier up high, and the

"These shackles, I give you...
Vessels of flesh and steel, I promise you...
Come forth, my servants,
To dance, feast, and drink the blood...
Of the living once again!"​

****​

All around the two of them, the waters began to churn, as something began to stir. A fog had begun to roll in... Strange, considering that the day had been clear only moments before. The clouds began to darken as well, as if a sudden storm were coming on. Were Okuni or Luca to spare a downward glance... They might have beheld a chilling sight, as the water rippled with... Faces, it seemed, the suggestions of... Shades, mouthing, pointing, almost... Accusingly, as though the surface of the sea were only a window between this world and the next.

There was a sudden crash of water. One of the Lions from earlier, it seemed, was not quite as dead as it had appeared... But what rose from the murky depths was far from a familiar form.

It was hunched and harrow, seemingly threshed together of rusted, limpet and barnacle-encrusted water, over which blackened, gnarled tarp formed a billowing, ragged cloak. Chains of gold and silver hung about long, grasping skeletal arms, and a fan-like golden half-wheel was embedded into its back, jutting out in a series of vicious spikes over its shoulders. Its face... Its face was like nothing this world could have ever imagined. It flickered between this world and the neck, a distorted, pale facsimile of the human form.

"GGggkkasshaAAaa…!"

The Spirit Soldier gave a distorted screech as it rose... And more came with it, their forms hovering on the fringes of the fog, drawing closer... And closer. How many there were, none could tell... But they approached from all angles, attempting to block the ship's escape route as pale metal hands reached up from the water, grasping at the hull as they clustered together, their distorted moans and rasps filling the air...

 

[VeraC]

“You ungrateful little…” Okuni was slightly irritated at the girl over the comms who was being uncooperative. But she said she wasn’t Terra Sentinel? Then why was her unit displaying a TS IFF? The situation grew more and more confusing, and Okuni was beginning to wonder why she even helped in the first place. Upon hearing her last remark though, Okuni gave a slight grin.

“Do you really think you can beat me?” Amaterasu vanished from sight, before reappearing in front of the Gespenst, keeping pace with it as the two were head-to-head.

“I see how you pilot, you’re outta’ your league kid.” Amaterasu placed its hand on Masamune, preparing to draw.

But Okuni was caught off guard.

The unnatural fog that began forming at their feet caused Okuni to pull back and turn towards the spot where she had felled the lions. She could feel the hairs on her neck perk up, and she got shivers down her whole body.

“This isn’t good...” Amaterasu was skirting backwards along the waves, though Okuni saw it wise to raise her altitude.

From the area before them, several abominations began forming out of the ocean, reminiscent of the lion she had downed minutes before. She knew not exactly what it was, but a single word came out of her mouth.

“悪魔.”

She turned back to Luca, and spoke with a serious tone. “Forget about running away, this is a fight we can’t avoid.” She turned back to the Akuma, which was now spreading in number.

“Perhaps this will be a worthy opponent.” She knew this was a bad situation. But the warrior blood in her told her, no it demanded that this fight be fought. Masamune began taking its form of a Katana blade once again, as Green particles began forming and condensing around Amaterasu.

“参らん！” Amaterasu assumed a ready position, and charged forward.

 

[Luca Cross]

“I know I can't. But I have to try.” Her finger began squeezing the trigger, when a shift in the air caused her to pause. The mysterious trooper pulled back as a dark mist began rising from the water and rolling in from the ocean around them. Her navigation system began fizzling out, as interference made it impossible to discern the number of the rising figures in the distance.

Her heart stopped as she saw the first of the fallen robots. It was clear something was wrong with that 'thing', a mechanical being that couldn't be called a Lion any longer. From the grotesque shape of the robot to the 'face' it had, the creature was more nightmare than science. Luca's heart began beating fast, too fast to count, as she struggled with her choices.

I need to run! I can escape this encounter and make it to safety with the Terra Sentinel and my uncle! I didn't sign up for monsters or a war!

Her own thoughts pushed her forward, as the girl started to readjust the Tesla Drive for further retreat. Until she noticed the distant monsters, circling around a distant vessel. Her heart sank further, as she identified the small boat in the mist. Robots were surrounding the boat, attempting to drag it into the depths where they hid.

I can't! I can't just leave him! I've lost too much! I can't handle this! I can't just run!

Luca struggled to maintain her composure, as the Mysterious Trooper prepared to charge. Luca didn't recognize the language the woman in the other mech was speaking, as the woman tried to figure out what move to make next. An audible drop landed in the turret, as her hazel eyes widened. A small smile crossed her lips, before her expression shifted to nothing.

Easily navigating dozens of menus in moments, the woman selected a hidden option within the OS. It wasn't meant to be touched here, but she deemed it necessary now.

Disable Pilot Assist Mode? Yes/No.
Warning: Only for testing purposes.
​

“Don't mind if I do.” Selecting 'yes', the Gespenst shuddered and the girl immediately seized the controls. The purple mech shot forward, as the charged stakes released their energy. The mech was now moving at double the speed it had before; all of the former safety and fear of the inexperienced pilot was gone, but there was no room for error. Her hazel eyes were expressionless behind the glasses she wore, as the woman pushed the huge Personal Trooper to its limits.

“Samurai, I'm going to take a ranged approach. You assault the monsters from close quarters; don't get shot by my attacks. You should be capable of that much, right?” Her voice was cold now, none of the former emotion in her speech present. Her Gespenst reached back, detaching the G-Revolver from its holster. She checked the response and clicked her tongue.

“3 millisecond delay. Nothing major, but it'll make things interesting if the monsters engage in close distance. Now...” Her gaze remained on the monsters displayed in front of her, as the Gespenst shot forward. An aiming reticle appeared with a click of a button, as her attention shifted to the boat. “...let's test this Custom C fully.”

 

[GEAR]

More and more of the shades emerged from the mist, their shackled forms gliding silently across the water towards their foes. As one, their moths opened - and a cascade of particulate, a chorus of ochre beams that lashed out at both Okuni and Luca from all directions. As Okuni charged the Spirit soldiers, three of the ghastly apparitions broke ranks from their fellows. Glowing scythes of proverbial sharpness formed in their withered grasps as they swung in great, gleaming arcs towards the Lunar samurai, aiming to viciously disembowel her machine as it charged.

Meanwhile, Oleander, her ritual complete, continued her trek. All around her the bodies of the crew stirred anew, their bodies now possessed by... Something dark, something wicked. She hadn't been kidding, she thought, when she said they'd be more useful this way.

The Undead made excellent soldiers. They never disobeyed, they never surrendered, and weren't deterred by the loss of a limb or two in the line of duty.

Satisfied at her acquisition of a whole new submarine for the Cult, she stepped through the bulkhead with her attendants in tow, into the ship's hangar. Inside... Something truly beastly awaited. Compared to the Lions surrounding it, it was hulking and brutish in construction, its form hidden beneath massive tarps that had protective circles inscribed into their surface - not only to prevent the mortal crew from looking too closely at it, but to keep the machine's own dark spirits, hungry even by the standards of their organization. It was flanked by two other, smaller machines, their strange half-eggshell lower bodies and cruel, bladed heads calling to mind dark and wicked things.

She snapped her fingers, and her attendants stood to attention.

"Now then, boys..." She cooed into the hangar, her voice echoing off the metal bulkheads as she spoke;

"...Let's have some fun."

 

[VeraC]

Okuni took note of the boat and Luca’s valiant charge towards it. She gave a slight smirk, beginning to understand the relationship between the two. Okuni looked back at Luca and could only commend her.

“You actually got some fight in you, I respect that.” she turned back to face her front. “I can handle the ones ahead, you focus on the defending your boat. It’s an honor to fight alongside you, who stands tall before a mighty enemy.”

She took a deep breath, calming her mind and spirit, a quick preparation for the fight to come.

“...Be as quick as the wind, as serene as the forest. In raiding and plundering, be like fire, be immovable like a mountain…” Okuni softly spoke these words.

“Inmetsu, Nippo!”

“FUURINKAZAN, DAIICHIMON, RELEASE!”

火　風

山　林​

The second step of the Inmetsu branch of the Kusanagi sword school. Fuurinkazan was a technique that wasn’t a strike, but rather an internal technique meant to increase a user’s capabilities by removing a series of limiters on the human’s Ki flow. It hightened the user’s strength, agility, and senses, the first gate increasing a person’s ability by four fold. This technique puts a toll on the body, as the excess Ki is capable of damaging the muscles and nervous system of the human body. With enough training, one can mitigate the damage of the lesser gates, though the body can only handle so much.

Amaterasu became quicker. It wasn’t moving faster, but it was more agile, easily avoiding the incoming fire of the spirits. It evaded most of the shots simply by shifting side-to-side, but the shots it couldn’t dodge were dissipated by the orgone cloud of the mech. As it closed on the horde of spirits, Okuni called forth her next techinque.

“Rokupo…”

“TENGOKU SETSURI!”
​

Amaterasu sheathed Masamune, and held both hands out at its sides. From thin air, various green, crystalline weapons of various types began forming. Katanas, spears, longswords, halberds, the number of weapons was almost uncountable. Swinging its arms forward, the plethora of weapons launched forward at the horde of spirits. A barrage of orgone weapons assaulted the crowd, any weapons hitting an enemy, detonating in a violent orgone explosion. After launching the first volley, Amaterasu spun held its hands up high, a mass of orgone being condensed above it. Its eyes beginning to crackle with a red energy. From above, a massive arrowhead, roughly 20 meters in length, descended on the enemies in front of Amaterasu.

“Be greeted by the Providence of Heaven…”

The Arrowhead continued its descent down, before crashing into the ocean. One impacting, it violently ruptured in a great explosion of Orgone.

摂　天

理　国​

 

[Luca Cross]

Luca nodded as she heard the words of the pilot, silently acknowledging the path of the mysterious robot. Angling her path towards the monstrous creatures surrounding the boat, the girl tried to decide the best route for assaulting the boat. The small size of the ship and the proximity of the demons to it made explosives and bullets too risky; she knew she could make the shot on a level surface with no variables, but the strange composition of the enemy and the ocean terrain would push her own skills to the limit.

Plus, this is my first time piloting a real mech with the intent to fight a living opponent.
​

As she shot the remaining thousand meters towards the monsters, the Custom C slid the G-Revolver back into the holster. Her targeting reticle shifted from the group of monsters and focused onto the center figure. The Split Missiles primed themselves, before the reticle dipped dangerously low, targeting the sea between the monsters and the Custom C.

Two missiles shot into the air and slipped into the water between the charging Gespenst and her prey. Missiles split and payloads exploded, sending up a cloud of blinding water between the targets and the Custom C.

At the same instant Okuni's orgone arrowhead exploded in the ocean, two lines of purple energy appeared within the wall of water and mist. Shooting through the air above the boat, the Custom C wove through a custom assault pattern, one made on the fly by the young pilot. Plasma Cutters traced arcs through the air, aimed at the Lion-lookalikes surrounding the boat. When the energy blades came within dangerous distance of the trapped boat, the pilot deactivated them until the blade reached a point it could be safely redeployed. Finishing the whirlwind of purple slices, the Custom C sailed past the boat and tried to reverse the Tesla Drive which had been pushed to its max. The woman slammed her face into the control panel, losing her glasses inside her helmet as the G-forces slammed into her. The Custom C spun out of control on the far side, before slamming into the ocean waves and starting to sink.

Luca struggled to clear her blurring vision, as the college student cursed her own stupidity in not accounting for the added weight of real combat vs the simulations of the past. The Custom C floundered in the water, before rising from the waves. Back under control, the woman struggled to see her opponents and ally through the blurred reality in front of her.

I need to let go of the controls to take off my helmet and retrieve my glasses...but I don't have that kind of time right now. Dammit, why didn't they just program the visor for my prescription of glasses?!

 

[GEAR]

The young woman's blitz tore holes in the ranks of the Spirit Soldiers as she hurtled through the air, plasma saber ripping through their forms, causing them to detonate in clouds of ectoplasm, cast back to the oblivion from whence they came. As Luka fell below the waves... Darkness and silence enveloped her Gepspenst. Around her, spirits wormed through the waters, mouths agape, pressing themselves against her machine's armor, leaving half-seen, ominous, threatening reflections in their wake.

But... Not all in this quasi-Netherworld was harmless.

Out of the dark, a pair of neon green eyes loomed, rising out of the depths to meet her. In absolute silence... A pair of massive, cabled forearms reached out slowly, razor-sharp claws glowing with an eerie, ethereal light that illuminated monstrous, bladed features - as if the concept of a ritual knife had been given mechanical form - as the Jiwen attempted to seize her by the arms, clamping them close to its chest.

Meanwhile, the Amaterasu scythed through the Spirit Soldiers. Spears, axes, and swords cast of gleaming Orgone punctured their semi-ethereal forms, turning them to dust, and sending the weapons hurtling to the depths of the sea. They struggled to regroup, making strange clicking and knocking sounds as the circled her - but the apparent reason for their fear would become immediately apparent.

From immediately below, a massive, bladed fist erupted from the ocean, aimed to smash directly - and brutally into the Amaterasu's chest as it passed by, like a frog expertly snapping a dragonfly out of the air with its tongue, as something approached from the depths... But what?

 

[VeraC]

Amaterasu hovered in position as it observed the surrounding enemies. They weren’t attacking.. Simply circling around her as they were reforming ranks. Why aren’t they attacking? Are they… afraid? Of what though? They don’t seem like the type to fear marching to their death, if they were, they wouldn’t have fought me… Which means there must be someone orchestrating them, leading them. She didn’t know who or what was, but thinking about it more, they definitely were well organized for seemingly patchwork abominations.


Okuni closed her eyes and focused inward. The opening of the Fuurinkazan heightened her senses, giving her an almost super-sensitivity; an unnatural reaction speed. For those who believe in it, Okuni currently had a sixth sense, stronger than the average person’s. By eliminating her sight, her other senses grew proportionally, she didn’t attempt to ‘see’ this danger, but rather feel for it.


….Silence….


Her breathing slowed, her heart rate becoming quieter. The hairs on her body stood up, as if they were like an ant’s antennae, scanning the surrounding area for anything.


As if a drop of water fell into a still pond, a shockwave of ripples tore through Okuni’s body, as she immediately opened her eyes and knew.


Below!


From the water, a hand, a fist, a claw? A bladed appendage thrust forth from the depths below, aimed directly at the torso of Amaterasu. Okuni’s eyes widened, as she drew her sword.

“Go-po…”

“HIEN!”


飛　五

燕　歩​

With a singular, quick motion, as if a bird attempting to fly away from a crocodile snapping its jaws, Amaterasu quickly gained elevation, swiping its blade at the hand of the new machine during its retreat, a quick counterattack requiring no less than nigh perfect timing. It was part acrobatic maneuver, part defensive strike, a difficult technique requiring proper coordination between a person’s agility and strength.


Gaining distance between the new foe and herself, Okuni was able to properly inspect and observe the mech that stood before her. It only took a brief moment to realize. This was a powerful foe. Her battle instincts were never wrong at times like this. Okuni was able to accurately grasp a person’s combative capabilities due to her extensive experience in duels and fighting other warriors. She could take a guess that this was the director of this scene.


“So its you.” With the head of the snake finally appearing, she could quickly cull this problem before it scales out of control; beyond this area. She stared into the eyes of the enemy, trying to get a gauge of their character. Granted she was looking at the eyes of the mech, in her philosophy, true warriors were one with their machine, it wasn’t a tool, but rather an extension of their body.

“Inmetsu, Nippo…”


“FURINKAZAN, DAINIMON, RELEASE!”


解　大　風　隠

除　二　林　滅

　　門　火　二

　　　　山　歩
​

It was the release of the second gate of Fuurinkazan, increasing the user’s potential by ten fold. Okuni winced at the release of the gate, as she could feel her body heating up beyond natural temperatures, but at the same time, could feel power beginning to overflow within her. The density of orgone particles around Amaterasu continued to rise, almost as if a permanent, visible cloud of orgone was persisting around the mech. Within the hazy cloud, the vibrant glow of Amaterasu’s red eyes glimmered through the orgone, its light piercing into the eyes of the mech across from her.

「さぁー．．．　来い！」Okuni taunted the mech in her native tongue.

 

[Luca Cross]

Luca's eyes widened in shock as the proximity alert went off, informing her that something was within attack distance. She deactivated both Plasma Cutters, ensuring both were returned to their place immediately with her left hand's deft control. With the other, the girl pushed the Tesla Drive to do an unorthodox maneuver.

Jerking her mech upwards at its top speed, the woman was jerked to a stop as the Custom C's waist was grabbed by the monster. Her glasses spun up in her helmet from the shift in momentum, as she thrust her head forward. Her glasses looped over her head and landed perched on her nose. Glaring down at the glowing green eyes pinning the Custom C in place, the woman shifted her targeting system.

In a fluid motion, the Custom C drew its G-Revolver in one motion.

“Asshole.” Emptying every round from the weapon into the water and, hopefully, the target beyond, the woman ejected the spent rounds and began reloading in the same speed she'd initially drawn the weapon. Her gaze went to the face-off happening across the ocean. Surrounded by ominous spirits rising from the murky ocean below, the mysterious trooper was squaring up against a new, terrifying mech. Luca's eyes widened in shock, as she saw the strange shape and armor of the monstrous opposition.

Wait...did my shots actually affect my opponent? Why hasn't it let go of the Custom C?​