Animus Complete Series Omnibus, page 257
“There’s one more,” Genos said and pointed to a figure with a long coat who strolled casually behind the group.
Kaiden zoomed in with his visor and noted the man’s elaborate garb and the armor beneath that looked much like his outfit. His smile was a little carefree and almost mocking and was very familiar. It took a moment to put it together but the heat of anger followed immediately.
“It’s that asshole from the factory,” he stated coldly and Chiyo and Genos glanced at him. “Dario.” He looked at the others. “Our plan is to kill them, right?”
“I don’t think a simple chat will suffice here, boyo,” Wolfson replied.
“Good.” The ace stood and with a stern voice that was more rage than authority said, “Target whoever you want, but that bastard is mine.”
Chapter Forty-Two
“It seems to be clear sir,” one of the Ark soldiers said as Dario sauntered nonchalantly into the main chamber of the old facility.
“No more droids and turrets? I’m almost disappointed.” He chuckled as he walked farther in and stopped at a large metal wall with two large doors that blocked their path to the prize within. “It has a nice ambiance, I must say, but the décor leaves a little to be desired.” He held two fingers up and made a beckoning motion. “Demolitionists, this would be your time to shine.”
Four of the soldiers stepped forward and each drew their launchers as they stood in front of him and aimed at the door. One began a countdown from five and at zero, they delivered their salvos simultaneously, which struck the large frames with an explosive punch. They waited a moment to let the smoke clear and studied a few breaks and a large dent in the doors. Clearly, they weren’t sufficient to enable their team to make their way through.
The assassin sighed. “Fire again.” He waved his hand carelessly. “And again and again if need be. We haven’t come this far to give up due to stubborn doors, my friends.”
The demolitionists nodded and took aim once again. After another countdown and a round of fire, the doors bent a little more and a section came loose to expose a white, chalky substance beneath. The men didn’t wait for the next order and another countdown began, but this was interrupted by two bright lights that rocketed from above, one green and the other red.
These orbs streaked toward the demolitionists. Dario’s eyes widened momentarily and he summoned his nanos hastily to shield himself as the projectiles collided with two of the men, detonated, and killed all four when their weapons exploded and scattered their remaining teammates.
The Ark soldiers scrambled to their feet and tried to determine who had attacked. While they attempted to regroup, they were bombarded by small missiles. Some destroyed shielding devices while others struck the floor and erupted to damage the metal and make the cave shake.
“It would appear we have company,” Dario muttered as his nanos dispersed. He looked at one of the soldiers. “Send for the remaining droids at the entrance. They shouldn’t have a problem getting here now unless they trip over the broken parts along the way.”
The soldier nodded and pressed a switch on his gauntlet as another charged shot seared from above. The assassin’s frown turned to a puzzled expression when four figures leapt from a ledge near the top.
He studied them quickly and identified each one by their armor. The one with the insulator was obviously a Tsuna, the heavy one who wore an older armor model could only be Baioh Wolfson, and the female was Chiyo Kana, the infiltrator he fought at the factory. The final figure wore power armor and looked familiar. He was sure he had seen a set among several of the Omega Horde, although in different colors.
A thought occurred to him as he considered who this might be. Chiyo had been at the factory, along with two Tsuna, whom he had to believe both worked with a certain ace. A smile settled on his lips. It appeared dear Kaiden had finally sought him out after all this time.
The man also aimed at him right at this very moment. He once again drew his nanos around him as the ace fired a charged shot at the Arbiter assassin. The explosion was enough to dismantle his defense but he leapt back and formed three spears that he hurled at the man one by one. Kaiden shot the first two and rolled out of the way of the third. Dario snapped his fingers and the spear began to glow, but before it exploded, his adversary took flight using jets on the back of the armor.
The chaos of battle began around him as the newcomers attacked the remaining soldiers. He simply frowned as he watched the soldier soar above him. “Jets? This will be tricky.”
A heavy Ark soldier raised his kinetic hammer, but Wolfson punched him in the face before the blow could be delivered. He then thrust his shotgun into the man’s chest and fired before the man could recover, spun with surprising speed, and shoved a vanguard back with the side of his gun. He drew a plasma ax and lodged it into the side of the vanguard’s helmet and the man promptly slumped as blood drained out of the wound.
The head officer looked at the heavy, who had thrown his hammer at him. There was no time to avoid it and the weapon careened into his chest. As the energy inside released, it hurled him back about thirty yards before he impacted with the side of one of the walls.
“Cheeky little bastard, aren’t ya?” He grunted as he stood but the heavy’s only response was to draw a heavy pistol and aim it at him. The man tried to fire but the pistol flared and exploded in his hand while the Wolfson drew his own weapon and fired five shots into the already compromised chest plate of his adversary, who immediately toppled. The head officer looked at Chiyo, who nodded at him, and he nodded in appreciation as two more heavies advanced. He holstered his pistol, retrieved his shotgun, and roared a challenge as he went to engage them.
Genos flipped over a large rock and a group of Ark soldiers opened fire at his surprisingly fragile blockade. He began to charge a shot and noticed a round stone nearby. He picked it up and flung it at the soldiers.
“Grenade!” one called frantically and the firing ceased temporarily.
The Tsuna simply smiled as he darted from behind his shelter and fired a blast from his small cannon to catch two of the soldiers in its blast. He drew his repeater pistol and fired at the other two to destroy their shields so they were forced to retreat and hide behind another large rock. Now, it was his turn to be the attacker and made a mental note to not confuse rocks with explosives as he charged another shot.
“I can’t see!” one of the soldiers called when Chiyo darkened his visor, having hacked into his armor’s systems. Two others echoed the cry and they all began to fire blindly. A direct battle was not her strongest suit, but she had no trouble ducking under their laser fire as she made her way around and fired into the backs of the three enemy soldiers. She then noticed that her own HUD had begun to distort and realized that apparently, they also had a hacker among them. It did not, however, need her personal attention. “Kaitō, please clear the nuisance,” she requested.
“At once, madame.” Only two seconds later, the HUD returned to normal and the hacker had been purged. “I traced the culprit, madame. He is to your left, seated on the ridge.”
“Appreciated.” She raised her gun arm to her left and fired her SMG to force the hacker out of hiding when his shield shattered. He tripped and rolled down the ridge. Chiyo walked over as he tried to stand, aimed her gun, and pulled the trigger once more to finish him.
Dario continued to pursue Kaiden and hurled nano-made spears, blades, saws, and bombs at the airborne soldier, who was able to outmaneuver them or was relatively unaffected by the explosions thanks to his strengthened shields. The assassin heard a soldier cry out and realized that his force had been quickly whittled down to about seven remaining soldiers.
“I can see why we need real Ark Academy soldiers,” he grumbled as he raised his hands into the air. “Damyen needs a talking to.” A multitude of nanos condensed upon themselves to create a giant orb above him and he cast it down as it began to glow with the tell-tale sign of a growing explosion. “I have to handle everything myself, it seems,” he said with a dark chuckle as he watched the bomb descend on Kaiden’s team. He might lose the rest of his men too but at least he could have a proper fight with ace thereafter.
Chapter Forty-Three
“Chief, do it!” Kaiden shouted as he raced toward the bomb. It began to glow brightly and increase in size. Dario smiled with smug anticipation, both enjoying the sight and seemingly oblivious or at peace with the fact that he would blow up his own men.
“It’s a good thing he made something so big,” the EI commented. “It makes this easier. Uploading Kaitō’s diffusion program.”
The bomb’s glow reached its apex but the giant orb simply fell to the cave floor and broke apart to litter the ground with thousands of tiny nano machines. The assassin stared, his expression perplexed, and Kaiden took the opportunity to fire several shots. While the man dodged most of them, one struck his left ribcage and another his right thigh to thrust him back, although they inflicted no particular injury thanks to his armor.
The ace landed in front of him and his adversary leaned against the wall and simply stared at him as he aimed his rifle into his face. “You put up a better fight the first time.”
“I’ve had a long day.” Dario chuckled, moved one leg back, and rested his arm across the knee. “So, you’ve come all the way down here for me, mio amico?”
“I didn’t even know you were here,” he retorted. “I’m simply lucky that way, I guess.”
“I suppose we both are.” The assassin stretched his gauntleted hand forward and rummaged it through the nanos. “Let me guess—a diffusion program?”
“Chiyo made it after our last fight,” Kaiden said as his finger tightened on the trigger. “You’re not that tough without your tricks.”
“It’s why I try to not let those who see my work live long enough to talk about it,” Dario replied with a grin. “That and being an assassin, but I can tell I’m not the only one who didn’t learn well enough after our last fight.” He raised his hand. “I can control my nanos in a couple of different ways if you recall.”
“Kaiden!” Chiyo called before an Ark soldier with a sword swiped at her and forced her back. The ace turned and cursed as the previously deactivated nanos now rose and formed into a large tendril. It whipped at him and he elevated sharply with the tentacle in pursuit.
Dario stood, brushed himself off, and walked casually toward him with one hand raised. He controlled the nanos using the unique magnet setting of his gauntlet as he hummed snatches of an unrecognizable tune. “You should also remember to end the fight before gloating. But I suppose I have that habit too.”
The infiltrator dodged another slash from the soldier and fired her SMG at the assailant, who raised his other arm and created a medium-sized shield to block the shots as she pushed in closer, slashed viciously, and cut her weapon in half. The swordsman kicked her back into the cavern wall and stabbed the blade at her chest. Chiyo’s shields temporarily halted the blade as she drew her pistol, but they broke and the blade sank into her chest plate. Before it could touch her skin, however, the swordsman was blasted off her and she slumped to her knees and yanked the blade out once she’d caught her breath.
“Are you all right, Chiyo?” Wolfson asked and held his hand out.
“I am, thank you,” she said as she took it and he helped her up.
“I’m only returning the favor,” he replied and both turned at a thump behind them. The two heavies he had fought stood several meters away.
“You haven’t beaten them yet?” she asked.
“I thought I had,” he admitted somewhat sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his helmet. “Tough bastards.”
There was the sound of a blade drawn to their left and they looked at the swordsman who was back on his feet and had drawn an auxiliary blade.
“Dammit, he’s still alive too?” Wolfson brandished his weapon in frustration. “I’m losing my touch.”
“You know,” Chiyo began and studied their opponents. “Heavies have more systems in place and are easier to compromise and I don’t think that swordsman can stand up to your armor and shields.”
He caught her meaning immediately. “Shall we switch partners, then?”
She nodded. “I think it would be best.”
The head officer grinned, nodded, and roared a challenge as he attacked the swordsman, who jumped back in surprise. The two heavies began to give chase, only for Chiyo to toss a shock grenade at their feet. It stunned the two briefly and she had Kaitō accessed their suit systems quickly to deactivate the weight distribution mod. The two men regained the ability to move only to topple due to the weight of their own armor.
“Come here, you!” Wolfson snapped as his opponent jumped and darted constantly around the larger man. He was finally able to catch hold of him when the Ark soldier ran up a wall and flipped to attempt a strike from above. The head officer dropped his shotgun and stopped the attack by grasping both his hands in one of his massive armored gauntlets. The man was at his mercy as he dangled in the air, and he lowered him slowly.
“That was a bad move on your part, idiot,” he said mockingly as he drew his other arm back. The soldier flinched a second before his fist ground into his face and launched him against the cave wall. The man fell and his sword clattered free. The large man broke the blade under his boot and retrieved his gun. As he walked away, he looked back, lifted the bottom part of his helmet, and spat on the ground in front of the man before he replaced his helmet and shook his head. “They always gotta try to be fancy with it, those sword guys.”
“I would highly recommend you give up now!” Genos shouted as he continued to adjust the settings on his cannon. The only response was a concerted volley of enemy rifle fire from across the cavern. Both he and the four remaining soldiers had barricaded themselves behind large piles of rocks and crystals, though the Ark soldiers did far more shooting than he did.
“Are you all right, Genos?” The Tsuna looked up as Chiyo crouched beside him, holding a pistol. One of the soldiers lobbed a thermal grenade and it exploded a fair distance behind them.
“I am doing quite well, friend Chiyo, considering the circumstances,” he replied and nodded, finally finished his work, and settled into a crouch as he prepared to stand.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.
He considered it for a moment. “I suppose they might try to flee. If any make it out, please attend to them,” he requested and fired his cannon, which now delivered a single long beam instead of charged shots. He moved it across the enemy barrier and it bored through the rocks and into the men behind, who yelled in pain and shock. As Genos had guessed, one was able to scramble out of cover and raced across the cave away from the beam. Chiyo was ready and with several well-placed shots, the soldier fell in mid-sprint and laid unmoving.
“I believe that is all of them,” the engineer said smugly, turned his cannon off, and vented it. “We should help friend Kaiden now.”
She nodded. “He might not be happy about it but we have a more important mission.”
Dario glanced over his shoulder and sighed. All his men were now dead or disabled, Kaiden had proved to be a rather slippery target and his friends were about to join the fun. He checked his gauntlets and grimaced at the seventeen thousand, eight hundred and forty nano count. He was running low and it didn’t help that a good seven thousand were effectively worthless on the floor—or were they?
He ceased his pursuit of the ace and brought the tendril toward him as he raised his other arm and transformed the remaining diffused nanos on the ground into a spiraling tornado that he directed at the approaching Nexus soldiers. They were forced back and Wolfson and Genos fired at the swarm as Chiyo retrieved her remaining shock grenades.
The assassin wound himself in the tendril and used it to take himself above and onto the top of the building. When he looked down, he almost giggled when he realized that despite its massive size, it was certainly not complete as many areas had no roofing. He landed on one section that did and looked at the glowing orb. He didn’t know what it was but he had no use for it so turned the tendril into a spike and aimed it at the sphere as he glanced at Kaiden, who flew toward him.
“Come on then, Kaiden. Make this all worth it,” Dario said, his tone too low for anyone to hear other than himself as he cast the spike at the orb and destroyed it to plunge the area into darkness.
Chapter Forty-Four
“I’m hitting the brights,” Chief warned and Kaiden’s HUD adjusted to the darkness. He scanned the building quickly in search of Dario. He was no longer on the roof, which meant he had to have jumped down into it.
“Do you see him, Kaiden?” Chiyo asked.
“Not yet, but he can’t have gone far.” He descended slowly into the building. “I’ll go after him.”
“We should accompany you, friend Kaiden,” Genos protested. “He seems to be a devious foe, and we no longer have enemies of our own to—”
“Look out—bots!” Wolfson yelled. A group of Arbiter droids had entered the cavern from the entrance Dario had blown open with the massive bomb. Wolfson, Genos, and Chiyo all fired at the enemy and the mechanicals immediately retaliated with laser blasts and energy shots. The teammates dispersed to find cover.
“Do you guys need help?” Kaiden asked, his attention divided between them and inside the building.
“Get after him, Kaiden,” Wolfson ordered. “We can deal with the junkers. Go and stop him.”
“Please be careful,” Chiyo warned.
The ace nodded. “I’ll get him, then we’ll find the transporter and end this fight,” he promised as he used his jets to slow his fall. When he landed, he looked around warily. He knew Dario’s nanos glowed when activated—except when he used the magnetic function—but he could only make simple shapes in that form and those wouldn’t do much damage. They could, however, catch him off guard and maybe keep him in place as the man made another bomb to blow him away.
