12-31-2012, 03:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-31-2012, 03:15 PM by gomezcreative01.)
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Armored Core: Silent Calamity
Chapter 10
___________
Past It
It’s a trap! Thinking and talking about the past. But nobody would like to hear it. She used to fall for it too. Begging for the tales of father. The great war hero, and leader among men; sensible, strong, gentle and all that business. Victor Valentino was a hell of a pilot, or so she had been led to believe. She probably wouldn’t stand a chance in a match against him. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but to doubt his “greatness”. Battle is rough, blinding, and very hard to recall. Survivors are hardly credible sources. It is possible that with all the retellings that the exploits and the story grew larger than life.
Heroes! Who’s to say he was a hero anyhow? Death and mayhem. Those countless enemies he felled, they are nothing more than victims. Dirty scum they were, but still just victims felled before their time. She hated them all. Ravens, like her, are a cancer in this world. Without her kind, death might once again come naturally.
Angel is different. A raven nearly God-sent. He took only on missions that benefit those down-trodden. His money was covered in the blood of large corporations, the other disease of the world. Of course, this made him an enemy of powerful groups. She didn’t envy his position. He routinely thwarted contracts on his life. She feared for him, but it was comforting to know that he carried the weight of his title, Ninebreaker, solidly. The title is held only by the number 1 rank raven in the arena. Word is that the title dates back to a raven-hero of sorts, Leos-something or another. Defeated some big bad by the name of Nineball. Freed mankind from oppression, or restored their free will or some bullshit. The story is one as grand as that of Apathy. Old and retold, probably remixed and expanded too.
She was nothing if not burdened by shame. She felt shame carrying the pilot name of a grand figure, and not nearly deserving it. She felt shame carrying the name and trade of a murderer. Shame for her feelings toward him. She was ashamed in her impotence to understand the reasons behind her father’s decisions.
How was Angel different? He was a murderer too. He was, but he was also a protector. Who’s to blame the man that will fight to the death for the good of people? She was assured that that is exactly what Victor did. But she couldn’t see it. Every time she pilots the Revivify, she saw what he saw. Felt what he felt. Explosion. Fire. Smoke. Death. Destruction. Ruin. She knew he saw and felt it too- he bloomed in it. Angel too, but Angel’s eyes couldn’t be sweeter, hardened as they were. He still nobly bragged about how great his brother and fallen comrades were. Was Angel to lie to her? Angel loved her. That alone wouldn’t keep him from lying to her though. He could lie to protect her from the truth.
She loved her father. Never met the bastard, but he sounded like a great man. Fighting for justice, defeating great evils, and dying ultimately fighting for what is right. Angel made it easy to understand. One look into his eyes and his smile, and she could see the purity behind his intentions. Her father wasn’t offered the same chance. She had turned into a vile raven because of an ideal and a man that can’t even guide, council, or comfort her!
She didn’t hate her father. She hated herself. She couldn’t carry the name. It is much too heavy. She was all show. Not nearly strong enough to pause evil, and not nearly pure enough try. She couldn’t even reveal her identity as her uncle’s niece! She feared death more than the disgrace and shame. She wondered if her uncle was disappointed in her. Her father would be.
“Hello? Here I was indulging you and Chris with a tale about your father and you space on us.” The grizzly but handsome Angel teased his niece. Chris turned to her daughter.
“You used to love these like a treat, child! Besides, as a raven you should pay close attention. You could learn from your father’s tales. He and his friends went through so much. They weren’t granted the same privilege that you have as a second generation raven.” Chris, beautiful even at her advanced age was still scary when she turned stern. Long brown hair with a few streaks of silver draped over a sophisticated woman in a black conservative suit and long skirt. They all sat around in a living room adorned modestly and neatly.
“I’m sorry. I was listening. Please go on, you were talking about how you got your AC, Angel.”
“Come on Chris. Look at her, is she not the very image of Victor? Pensive was his favorite look too. He genuinely had thoughts in his head though, pea brain.” Angel laughed.
“Guess that trait skipped you too, huh old man?”
“Psh, I’m in my prime, kid. Besides, who needs intelligence when you are this good looking?” Angel countered.
“Yeah, you could get any girl you want,” the youngling rolled her eyes and then shot a glance back as she delivered her blow, “oh, that’s right, not ANY girl.”
“Sylvia! Be nice.” Chris snapped.
“Our romance was complicated,” Angel blushed and retaliated, “and at least I’ve seen romance.”
“Angel!” Chris got up. That was all the threat that was needed. Both combatants seized. Chris sat back down.
“He started it.” Sylvia whispered.
Angel chuckled and slowly laughed deeper. As he did he looked down and hit his knees.
“Angel, please continue.” Chris insisted.
Angel took a moment as he was still facing the floor chuckling.
“If only Victor could see, just how fitting the name he chose for you really is. Syl always had to have the last word too. Of course, she was also smart. Unfortunately, it seems u took more after Will’s brains.”
“Well you-” Sylvia began but stopped. She noticed the small dark spot on Angel’s shirt. A tiny droplet glittered its way down from the hidden face into the dark spot on his shirt. It crashed and disappeared silently into it.
“This is the first mission we took on together: Victor, Syl, Will, and I. We rescued a prototype AC from between two rival factions.” Angel got up from his seat and looked up.
His wet cheeks were hardly noticeable. Sylvia acted like she didn’t see them at all. She stuck out her tongue at the story teller. Angel was the best.
Armored Core: Silent Calamity
Chapter 10
___________
Past It
It’s a trap! Thinking and talking about the past. But nobody would like to hear it. She used to fall for it too. Begging for the tales of father. The great war hero, and leader among men; sensible, strong, gentle and all that business. Victor Valentino was a hell of a pilot, or so she had been led to believe. She probably wouldn’t stand a chance in a match against him. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but to doubt his “greatness”. Battle is rough, blinding, and very hard to recall. Survivors are hardly credible sources. It is possible that with all the retellings that the exploits and the story grew larger than life.
Heroes! Who’s to say he was a hero anyhow? Death and mayhem. Those countless enemies he felled, they are nothing more than victims. Dirty scum they were, but still just victims felled before their time. She hated them all. Ravens, like her, are a cancer in this world. Without her kind, death might once again come naturally.
Angel is different. A raven nearly God-sent. He took only on missions that benefit those down-trodden. His money was covered in the blood of large corporations, the other disease of the world. Of course, this made him an enemy of powerful groups. She didn’t envy his position. He routinely thwarted contracts on his life. She feared for him, but it was comforting to know that he carried the weight of his title, Ninebreaker, solidly. The title is held only by the number 1 rank raven in the arena. Word is that the title dates back to a raven-hero of sorts, Leos-something or another. Defeated some big bad by the name of Nineball. Freed mankind from oppression, or restored their free will or some bullshit. The story is one as grand as that of Apathy. Old and retold, probably remixed and expanded too.
She was nothing if not burdened by shame. She felt shame carrying the pilot name of a grand figure, and not nearly deserving it. She felt shame carrying the name and trade of a murderer. Shame for her feelings toward him. She was ashamed in her impotence to understand the reasons behind her father’s decisions.
How was Angel different? He was a murderer too. He was, but he was also a protector. Who’s to blame the man that will fight to the death for the good of people? She was assured that that is exactly what Victor did. But she couldn’t see it. Every time she pilots the Revivify, she saw what he saw. Felt what he felt. Explosion. Fire. Smoke. Death. Destruction. Ruin. She knew he saw and felt it too- he bloomed in it. Angel too, but Angel’s eyes couldn’t be sweeter, hardened as they were. He still nobly bragged about how great his brother and fallen comrades were. Was Angel to lie to her? Angel loved her. That alone wouldn’t keep him from lying to her though. He could lie to protect her from the truth.
She loved her father. Never met the bastard, but he sounded like a great man. Fighting for justice, defeating great evils, and dying ultimately fighting for what is right. Angel made it easy to understand. One look into his eyes and his smile, and she could see the purity behind his intentions. Her father wasn’t offered the same chance. She had turned into a vile raven because of an ideal and a man that can’t even guide, council, or comfort her!
She didn’t hate her father. She hated herself. She couldn’t carry the name. It is much too heavy. She was all show. Not nearly strong enough to pause evil, and not nearly pure enough try. She couldn’t even reveal her identity as her uncle’s niece! She feared death more than the disgrace and shame. She wondered if her uncle was disappointed in her. Her father would be.
“Hello? Here I was indulging you and Chris with a tale about your father and you space on us.” The grizzly but handsome Angel teased his niece. Chris turned to her daughter.
“You used to love these like a treat, child! Besides, as a raven you should pay close attention. You could learn from your father’s tales. He and his friends went through so much. They weren’t granted the same privilege that you have as a second generation raven.” Chris, beautiful even at her advanced age was still scary when she turned stern. Long brown hair with a few streaks of silver draped over a sophisticated woman in a black conservative suit and long skirt. They all sat around in a living room adorned modestly and neatly.
“I’m sorry. I was listening. Please go on, you were talking about how you got your AC, Angel.”
“Come on Chris. Look at her, is she not the very image of Victor? Pensive was his favorite look too. He genuinely had thoughts in his head though, pea brain.” Angel laughed.
“Guess that trait skipped you too, huh old man?”
“Psh, I’m in my prime, kid. Besides, who needs intelligence when you are this good looking?” Angel countered.
“Yeah, you could get any girl you want,” the youngling rolled her eyes and then shot a glance back as she delivered her blow, “oh, that’s right, not ANY girl.”
“Sylvia! Be nice.” Chris snapped.
“Our romance was complicated,” Angel blushed and retaliated, “and at least I’ve seen romance.”
“Angel!” Chris got up. That was all the threat that was needed. Both combatants seized. Chris sat back down.
“He started it.” Sylvia whispered.
Angel chuckled and slowly laughed deeper. As he did he looked down and hit his knees.
“Angel, please continue.” Chris insisted.
Angel took a moment as he was still facing the floor chuckling.
“If only Victor could see, just how fitting the name he chose for you really is. Syl always had to have the last word too. Of course, she was also smart. Unfortunately, it seems u took more after Will’s brains.”
“Well you-” Sylvia began but stopped. She noticed the small dark spot on Angel’s shirt. A tiny droplet glittered its way down from the hidden face into the dark spot on his shirt. It crashed and disappeared silently into it.
“This is the first mission we took on together: Victor, Syl, Will, and I. We rescued a prototype AC from between two rival factions.” Angel got up from his seat and looked up.
His wet cheeks were hardly noticeable. Sylvia acted like she didn’t see them at all. She stuck out her tongue at the story teller. Angel was the best.
Buffy Anne Summers
1981- 2001
Beloved Sister
Devoted Friend
She saved the world
A LOT
1981- 2001
Beloved Sister
Devoted Friend
She saved the world
A LOT
