Erasing Ghosts: The Nest Data Center Raid
The tutorial mission for intercepting the Nest invasion force in the Metal Frame. It was a simple raid on a data center guarded by a small security team. No backstory, no explanations—just follow Sonya's orders, blow every database to hell, and extract. Client unknown.
But why a data center of all things? The online communities were buzzing with theories. Some said Sonya was covering her own ass for personal gain, like wiping debt records. Others figured a corp had slipped in the contract for some shady purpose to kick things off. And then there was the one about... the protagonist being an experimental subject, needing her past scrubbed clean.
No one knew what data that center actually held. If they did, none of those guesses would've even come up.
—I came all this way myself just to see what kind of fool climbs into a Nexus without fear. You won't disappoint me, will you?
But right now, all those speculations were leaning toward the last one. The theory about erasing the protagonist's past history. If she'd operated under another pilot callsign—Rabe—before, it all fit perfectly. She'd ditched it for some reason and laundered her identity.
If she needed a full identity wash, did she piss off some megacorp? Unless it was crippling her operations, it didn't make much sense. I had no clue why she'd do it, but honestly, it wasn't my business.
What a coincidence. Of all the machines to snatch from that crash site, it had to be the one the player used before. Ironic as hell.
—Done thinking?
Suddenly, Scarab's machine burst in from my blind spot.
—You're slowing down, you beast! Got time to look away in front of me?!
His right arm swung wide, clutching that thing I'd seen before....
Thud!!
"Guhk…!"
The shock rippled through my whole body like electricity. My head throbbed like it might split, and on reflex, I triggered a burst.
That freakish weapon…!
Flames erupted from the pillar's head, slamming straight into my Nexus. Why that grotesque thing when there were plenty of normal weapons? Broke or something?
But damn, I like it! The uglier, the better. Felt like I'd used something like it once, though the memory was fuzzy. Even if I had, it wouldn't have been as sleek with rocket boosters. I wanted Scarab's weapon now. That brutal shape screamed prototype—not mass-market. Some lab's experimental toy, probably.
Who the hell designs something that insane for testing?
Still, I wanted it. Snapping back to focus, I locked eyes on his arm. He suddenly backed off, like he'd seen a ghost.
I could've pressed harder—why'd he break his own momentum? No idea it was trauma from our last fight etched into him, so I figured great, and charged.
He hesitated again, then rushed me head-on.
—No running this time! I'm winning!!
Honestly, he was annoying. Scarab had improved since last time, sure. But he still couldn't match the player. Anon, that kid. I wanted more time with him, to learn who he really was. That fight was the fun one. Scarab kept getting in the way.
Rat-tat-tat—
As he raked my machine with his gatling, I blew past him mid-charge, straight ahead.
He spun, yelling in disbelief.
—What the hell? Why run now, you bastard? Fight like before!!
Then, realizing, he barked at Anon too.
—Stay out! Interfere and you're dead!!
Did he think I was pulling back for a 2v1? Not wrong, but unnecessary concern.
—Even so... you sure about this?
—Damn right! I'm winning, obviously!! Last time was beginner's luck!
Scarab didn't even seem to believe it himself, but he charged after me anyway. Anon and Sonya hung back, watching as ordered.
Could take both, but this works.
I halted my retreat, turning on Scarab. Killed my engines to recharge drained energy, waiting for him to close.
—Time to put you in your place! Gonna crush that cocky skull!!
As he gritted for impact, I surged forward, bursting like mad. Energy drained to zero in seconds.
—Not falling for it this time…!!
His voice cracked with fear despite the snarl. Ignoring it, I swarmed from every angle.
Boom, boom!!
Missiles and rounds flew wild; explosions blurred into chaos. Durability plummeted on both sides. Worse for him—he couldn't even grasp what was happening.
—Crazy bitch, ngh!! Don't you dare yield!!
Blind-spot frenzy in milliseconds. I saw him twisting desperately to aim, but I owned the flow. Kicked, rammed, kicked again, fired, missile pod open. Less human combat, more feral biting.
—Fuck, shit!! What the hell kinda movement is that?!
Pillar swung wide—huge wind-up, easy to dodge by backing off. What he did with the pillar, I did with the Nexus frame itself.
—Hahk, you…!!
Energy finally tapped out; engines stalled. Scarab locked on in the gap, gatling grazing me. Tanked it. Energy refilled, back to berserk mode.
Bang, bang!!
High-speed maneuvers flashed red warnings on my aux devices. We'd been altitude-hopping unconsciously, now dropping low. That's when I spotted a bridge behind him.
Vroooom!!
—Grrgh!!
Boom!
Point-blank missile. Cruised in cruise mode, wedging him between leg pillar and my frame. Pummeled from all sides till he couldn't think.
—Kuhk, hahk…!
His comms went from curses to groans—no coherent words left. Durability still decent, but his moves slowed. Pilot issue.
—Hey, you. Might wanna bail.
—I... I'm not... not losing this time...!!
Sonya's words reignited his spark. He rallied for another charge. But that gap was enough.
While pinned, riddled with rounds and blasts, stalled—rail cannon fired again.
Thud!!
Slug nailed cockpit chest dead-on. No penetration, but shock enough.
—Gahk…!!
Scarab was done. Thrust faded; machine descended. It slipped into the gap under the pillar.
—All that bravado, and it ends like this.
My durability: 35%. One more to go.
—Pushing that pace without guarding yourself? Your damage is worse. Check durabilities.
Player's near full—yeah, my loss. But until destroyed, winner's whoever fights.
—Rabe, what the hell….
Hermann's stunned mutter came through, but I ignored it. First, snag that weapon.
Closed on Scarab's wobbling Nexus, pillar still clutched, unable to climb.
—Hah... ugh…….
Grabbed his arm rough.
—You, ngh… no……!!
Ignored his terrified stammer, ramped boosters. Arm yanked; his frame couldn't match thrust, weight pulling it apart.
—Again, again…!! Damn it… stop! Stop it…… grrk!!
Crunch!!
—Guhk… kuh…….
His machine whimpered as the arm tore free. Now in my grip: that brutal right arm with the pillar.
—My god.
Sonya's shock hit the comms.
—You really are a beast, huh?
Finally got why Scarab called me that all this time.