Ryuichi slowly lowered his hand from his eyes. “How the might have fallen.” he chuckled. Ooh, shiny! Ryu leant down to pick up a shard of metal which seemed to incorporate some kind of sensory electrics, it was still hot and he juggled it between his hands in an attempt to prevent his hands burning while trying to inspect it Hmm, a robot eye.
When the phone calls had ended, Caroe was right on the point to make some harsh comment about Maximilans swaggering on killing her pressing a single button a button which was now a poll of bubbling melted plastic but then, the Drakkengaardians expression was definitely the best satisfaction she could have ever had.
«Oh well lets make a short list of what has happened in five minutes, Your Majesty. Youve almost created a diplomatic incident, youve given the FPSians a good chance to make some practice with their ka-boom lasers, half of the Drakkengaardian delegation in FPS would like to skin you and I suppose the Shiro staff will be of the same opinion» she giggled «Oh and youve just covered yourself of ridiculous in front of those wholl be your mates for the months to come, which is probably the worst thing, considering how teenagers relationships work, isnt it?» she added, winking at the young Terasian near her.
«However Caroe Lemish, from Madras Airbus UK, you know» she smiled, all traces of the former animosity disappearing from her eyes.
As Caroe listed the last events, he started to lose the little calmness he had managed to achieve and, by the time she winked to Ryuichi he was already considering drawing his handgun and start another diplomatic incident. But when she looked at him without animosity he got almost as shocked as when he lost his AC…
" …Uh, right. Pleased to meet you, i guess… And you probably can add my AI and my father to that list of those who want to skin me…" He said with a grin, despite all the troubles he created for himself.
“…How about accompanying me to the admission office? I´ll have to walk my way there now… They pretty much took the roof ruining option from me. Oh, and you call call me Max, although i really don´t mind being called your majesty.”
Then he turn to Ryuichi juggling his AC eye
“Liked that, huh? You may have it. If you´re interested in mechas, i can show you a catalog later. But i´d wait this eye to cool down first if i were you.”
The phone rings
“Hi, Max here.”
“Sir. We have captured all data of the last 5 minutes. Most of it is very good, but the ending…”
“Yeah, i know… But i tell you what. We´ll use it anyway. Just say that our Dragonfly is so scary that its foes only dared to attack it when i was out of the cockpit, even though they outnumbered it by 4 to 1. Or just give a free chromium laser-reflexive coating to first buyers…”
“Understood.”
Turning his attention back to Caroe
“So, shall we go?”
On Space
After receiving his master orders, Max´s shuttle not only stopped but started flashing lights and changing modules, but before the FPS could misundertood the act, a message was sent to the communicators of all ships in the vicinity.
“Welcome to the Zwei Enterprises mobile store! Please notice that both our engines and weapons are already offline. We now anxiously wait to be boarded! A free gift to the first to enter! 10 to 50% off in all products!”
And instead of a shuttle, now all that the FPS forces see is a convenience store in front of them.
Shiro Academy - Dormitory C-10
Main Entrance
Peeking his head out the door, Matt surveyed the situation for a moment, trying to determine what had happened. It didn’t take long for him to figure it out, between the smoking wreckage of the AC, and the heated discussion of the students standing in front of it.
Turning, Chris bowed to Ness. “I’m sorry, but, I’ve got to run. A little situation to deal with here. I hope I’ll see you later,” he added, glancing at Ness’ child.
With that, Terrus walked out of the building, making his way straight over to the pilot of the armored vehicle. “You want to tell me exactly what is going on here? Whats your name?” As he spoke, Matt pulled out his staff ID, making it clear exactly who the man was speaking with.
Garneldo Naval Base
Command and Control Center
“Absolutely, Mr. Secretary.” The Commander of the Garneldo Naval base, Admiral Walter Holmes, kept his voice as respectful as possible as he continued his conversation with the head of the Department of International Relations. “Yes, sir, I do understand the situation. No, sir. I don’t think it’ll be necessary either. Thank you. Have a good day.”
Hanging up the phone, Holmes turned to his executive officer, who was standing nearby. “He might not be on the chain of command, but, there’s no way in hell I’m going to piss him off. Did we already dispatch ground units?”
The Vice Admiral nodded. “We’ve got three blackhawks en route to the location of the destroyed AC with a total of eighteen marines on board.”
“Well, call them back, Sam. It appears this was all some sort of publicity stunt.” Walter sighed. “Contact the local fire department and tell them to head over there. Get a hold of whoever is in charge of the National Protection Agency office for Garneldo, too, and tell him to get a customs and immigration officer over there. And get me the Dean of Shiro Academy. I’ve a bit of a complaint to file.”
Earth Orbit
Kelsk just stared at the shop, unsure of what to say, and completely clueless as to what to do. He’d experienced a good deal in his career, but, never had he even imagined something so strange. Before he could even think of an appropriate action, his radio crackled, and the voice of the commander of the Aurora came through.
“Kelsk, Aurora actual, abort your mission and return to ship. Let the vessel go as it pleases. Thats an order. Aurora out.”
Shaking his head, Kelsk acknowledged the message, before broadcasting to the shuttle-turned-shop. “Unidentified vessel, you’re free to go, have a nice day.”
Turning his ship around, Kelsk made his way back home, wondering just why he’d been called off.
As the students and faculty looked upon the wreckage that was the young Max’s Mech, a large van pulled up to the guest parking spaces and stopped, its door opened and the driver stepped out, he walked to the group and surveyed the scene then said “I can understand it is modern art but deos it have to be on fire?”
Matt was about to respond as he turned his head he saw
and mearly said, “Vargas?”
— Begin quote from ____
“So, shall we go?”
— End quote
«Oh well Your Majesty is indeed a bit too long, but well, probably Ill end up opting for YM. A bit shorter, isnt it?» she winked «And youll get Maximilian if and when youll stop considering yourself as both the center and the top of the universe»
Noting Maxs expression frowning again, she smiled charmingly.
«Oh and you should definitely start taking life a bit less seriously, YM. And about your proposal nope. I wont accompany you. Im a girl, after all… so you can accompany me back to the admission building: Ive to check my room number, because the RA who has scribbled it writes as bad as a lame donkey deal?» she asked, glancing interrogatively at him.
“Hey,” Ryuichi said nervously, he rushed up to Caroe and tapped her on the shoulder. “Can I come with you? I don’t know where my room is, or where I have to go, and I’m lost!”
Surprised by the Terasians impetus, Caroe glanced at him before nodding while stifling a smile.
«Of course you can we can be a little team of room-seekers with Mr Flying Tank leading the mission» she chuckled, winking at Ryuichi before turning back at Maximilian «Youll do it for me, my hero, wont you?»
Despite the loss of his AC, Max was actually enjoying the current conversation and decided to play along with a slight bow and a smirk on his face
“As you wish, my princess. Rest assured that i shall guard you and your companion from any harm on this dangerous trail that leads to the admission office. Now, onwards.”
And then he started walking to entrance of the main building while saying:
“…Your Majesty, Mr Flying Tank and now, your hero. As much as i liked the titles you bestowed upon me, i wonder if i´ll ever hear you calling me by my name… But then again, it is a daunting task you set upon yourself… Convincing me that i´m not both the center and the top of the universe.” he said with a smile on his face.
“Oh, right. Uh, right.” Lucille was suddenly aware of Anthony staring at her. “Um…go out of this building, on the other side, and go that way, and that should be it. Just take the map.”
“Thanks.” Anthony said taking a step down the hallway “Um also my name is Anthony” Anthony said whith a smile. “And your’s?..” Anthony asked.
Twenty minutes later
«451? Oh well I thought your colleague needed to improve his calligraphy, madam but I see the situation is even worse than what I thought 451 well, at least the 4 was indeed a 4!» giggled Caroe.
«Im sure youve a lot of more important things to do, girlie far more important than criticizing the staff. Above all considering the company you seem to have chosen for yourself» replied the employee, dryly «Now please move along. Have a nice day»
Nodding, Caroe looked around and then finally saw Maximilian and Ryuichi, who were obviously waiting for her near the building exit. Trying to avoid a couple of students in a hurry, she finally managed to reach the two guys.
«So news?»
«Well theyve told me they have not yet decided if Ill be examined by the school staff or if it will be the FPSian police to handle the whole case» replied the Drakkengaardian «But but the strangest thing is »
« that the two of us will be room-mates» added Ryuichi.
Raising an eyebrow because of the surprise, Caroe tried to stifle a smile, well knowing she would have never succeeded.
«Roomies wonderful! Ill be in the same room with a Kandarinese girl, instead Lucille Ekerin, it seems» she smiled «Well shouldnt we go? I suppose weve already wasted enough time, havent we?»
OOC: Draken, I didn’t play all the AC games so I’m not sure which one your chars intro is based on.
Nee’la sighed as she got out of her car. It felt like a while since she was last at Shiro. As much as she despised Sha’la’s hard partying, fun loving antics, her absence was going to be felt strongly.
“Professor Nakamura,” Nee’la introduced herself to the receptionist at the main door, holding out her ID pass. The receptionist nodded and waved her through. Waving hello to her fellow staff and research students/assistants, she walked through the lobby at the main building of the campus. After checking her mailbox for any correspondence, she decided to go for a walk, seeing that the calendar indicated she arrived a week earlier than her scheduled teaching dates.
10 minutes later
Nee’la ended up outside the C-10 dorm. Looking around, she noticed the mangled wreck of what looked like an Armored Core.
“Ho boy,” Nee’la thought, “Either Sha’la has decided to return and make a big impact or someone has stolen an AC out the depot.”
Nee’la walked into the dorms lobby and had a quick chat with the receptionist before heading upstairs. She dusted off her uniform and then walked into the commons. Looking around, she smiled at the sight of the students going around their business in the room. Nee’la stood and quietly watched by the doorway, deciding not to say anything for the time being.
“How should I know?” Terrus demanded, emerging from one of the offices on the ground floor building along with a fire fighter, who appeared very anxious. “Look, I didn’t blow it up, I just showed up afterwards. You’re the expert; go deal with it!”
Sighing as the state employee walked off (mumbling about ‘those damned kids’ as he went), Matt turned to go back into his office, but stopped when he spotted Nee’la. Letting a smile cross his face for the first time since a armored military vehicle had landed on the lawn of his dorm, Terrus made his way across the room, waving as he went. “Nee’la Nakamura-Dam’acie!” Matt declared happily, pronouncing her name with the correctness of a person who knew nothing of the Dannistrian language, excepting how to pronounce the words Nee’la Nakamura-Dam’acie. “A pleasure to see you here! What brings you to the wonderful Dormitory C-10?”
A loud bang followed Matt’s question and several fire fighters went running by outside the nearby door. The young professor didn’t seem to notice.
Nee’la gave a soft smile on seeing Matt.
“Nothing in particular. I felt like visiting the place I used to spend a large amount of my studying days here. You know, nostalgia and all that. So how is your father these days anyway?” Nee’la asked as she glanced out the door where the firefighters ran past.
OOC: Dann, it was based on AC2 opening for PS2. Very old… It was a pain to find one to buy… But it was worth, its my favourite!
“Yes, now that i´m almost a wanted criminal. I´d better be on the move.” replied Max, with a smirk
In the C-10 dorm lobby
As he saw the fire fighters running around, he smiled to himself and thought on how he made things around more “lively”, but as he remembered the cost of his entrance, the smile faded and he spoke:
“I guess you´ll have a lot of room for yourself, Ryuichi… All my luggage was inside that AC. And even though i requested new stuff from our local retailer, it will take a few hours to get here… Luckly i carry the essentials on my flight suit, so… catch.”
And Max throw a booklet on Ryuichi direction. As Ryuichi catches it, Max continues
“This is the pocket version of our 2018 catalog! I never leave home without one. Take a look, I think you´ll find the ACs interesting.”
After a moment thinking, he gets playful again
“Y´know, now that we´re roommates, would you film my “grand escape” if the FPS police try to arrest me? I wouldn´t want to miss those first moments that will pass before the tv arrives.”
Turning to Caroe
“So, Caroe. Want to be my hostage if they come? A little risky, but well, you´ll get to be on TV too. And i can´t be a proper bad guy without one.”
“Just call me Lucy. Look, I won’t keep you up.” Lucille started to open her door. “You’d better be going.”
Ryuichi caught the book and quickly read the front cover. English wasn’t his first language but he could probably speak it to a higher degree than a large number of those who spoke it natively, but his English skills weren’t as great when it came to reading and writing and he struggled for a moment as to what exactly ‘Armoured Core’ meant.
“Um, yeah, okay. My phone has a camera I think,” He muttered as Maximillian quickly turned his attention to Caroe, If I can ever get my head around this stupid thing. He thought while mindlessly clicking buttons on his new Toshio cell phone with one hand and trying to stow the AC catalogue into one of his various bags with the other.
“Maximillian,” If I can tear you away from your lady friend… “I’m going to find our room… I guess I’ll choose my bed and everything first!”
Without waiting for Max’s answer he heaved his bags back over his shoulder and set off down one of the corridors to which his room was apparently on. I hope the rooms are decent, and big.
“See you later then,” Anthony said. Anthony then looked down at is watch and realized class was going to start in 40 seconds. Anthony grabbed his book bag and ran outside of the dorm. He quickly opened up the map Lucy gave him, and found the Humanities building. He ran towards the buildings entrance and ran up to the second floor of the building and opened up the door on the left. He saw everyone was already at their desks ready to begin. He walked inside the room and sat at the seat with his name on it.
“Well, y’know, the usual. Self-righteousness, obsession with work, strange propensity to find himself in the news.” The young professor sighed. “I’d thought he’d change after retirement, but as I think about it, he was like that before he became President.”
Watching as a black four-door sedan pulled up to the building, Terrus let a smile come back to his face. “I’ve got to wonder what the NPA will think about this one,” Matt stated, watching as four customs agents stepped out of the vehicle, and walked over to the Armored Core. “Don’t think they’ve got a form for the space drop of armored vehicles.”
Shaking his head, Matt looked to Nee’la. “So, how’re your folks? Everything goin’ a bit better over in Dannistaan?”