//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Project X // Story: Armored Core for Answer : Project X // by TheKon2000 //------------------------------// "How are the tests going Mills?" asked the head researcher, a tall, dark skinned man with no hair and a lab coat adorning his somewhat broad frame. "Optimally, sir. Project X seems to be progressing in the augmentation nicely. They're all taking." replied a short and chubby lighter skinned man with messy black hair, a lab coat also resting upon him. "The increase thought process chip and the microprocessor to enhance focus and thinking skills are already implanted, now all that remains are the neural link ports, the AND (Automated Nanobot Defense) , and the CRN (Cell Regeneration Nanobots)." The mention of these two chips reminded the lesser scientist of there purpose. -Flashback- "The combination of these to chips will make our guy nearly unkillable, the nanobots reinforcing his skin to be almost unbreakable in most places, and the other able to regenerate any cell, and even brain cells to an extent, after injury." -Realtime- The only problem was some more sensitive organs couldn't be reinforced or regenerated, due to the level of technology available. The other problem was that he could still be one shot, if they got the drop on him. But other than that, the nanobots would grant him enough strength to lift NEXTS (Giant ten meter tall mechs) and even live through being shot with a Sapla (Mini grenade launcher weilded by NEXTS) head on. "Implantation complete, X is now done with the augmentation phase." the synthetic voice of the cradle's AI spoke through a speaker in the ceiling. "Thank you Sierra, you are relieved for now." the taller man said. "As you wish captain." the synthetic voice resonated again. -2 weeks later- "And this is your NEXT, it's equipped with an assault rifle, an energy blade, missiles, a dual laser cannon, and a pulse shotgun." the tall man said as he indicated to a medium weight NEXT to his left, the build mainly comprised of Rosenthal parts. This was due to Project X being of Rosenthal Origins, and thus funded and built by them. The NEXT was black with red highlights running along it's frame. It had a mark on it's left shoulder of a red gravestone, with a black arrow pointing down and 2 black swords crossing behind the arrow but in front of the gravestone. It's weapons were colored black and a variety of other colors. The assault rifle was colored gold, the blade dark green, the laser dark blue, the missiles a light grey, and the shotgun was red like the outside hull, and blended in nicely with the thigh. The room the two stood in was a large hanger, around 80 feet high and 200 yards in either direction from a corner. The NEXT was of to the left in the middle, and the room was a buzz with activity. "Cool." X said as he stared wide eyed at the hulking machine, wires hanging off at odd angles and scientists and engineers running scans to make sure everything was in working order. He looked to the tall man next to him and asked "When do I get to take her for a spin?" "After you've gone through some training, but for now, how about you name her. PRS-1D146 isn't a very suiting name if you ask me." the tall man said, chuckling a little at the young man's enthusiasm. "How about, Gravestone?" the X replied. "A predictable name." the taller man says. "But then again, it's still better than the stock name, that's for certain." "Well at least it fits." X chuckled a little, followed by the taller man beside him. -In equestria- "A strange anomaly indeed sister." said a dark shaded equine as she and her counterpart stared at the black rift in the ocean before them. "It's seems another world is dying." the lighter one said. "It'll be the first one in thousands of years." "How will they react?" the dark one again spoke, not averting her eyes from the raging rift in the middle of the gently flowing tide. Two complete opposites, one twisting and snapping as if in agony and the other slowly moving without a care in the world. The other laughed. "Poorly, I'm sure." -4 weeks later. Earth.- The dark skinned man was standing in a room next to a strange device. The device was some kind of chair, with wires and other devices placed around it. X was currently seated in the chair, adorned in a combat suit and a practice helmet. The helmet was a kind of virtual reality, and was used in this case to train pilots and Linx. "Perfect simulation. Congratulations X" Sierra said to X after his perfect test run against 5 NEXTs at once. The feat was noting to brush off, the simulation was incredibly difficult to do while taking hits, and event the best lost most of there AP (Armor Points). To lose none was incredible, however the novelty had worn off the 4th time he'd done it. X got up out of his chair, and removed his helmet, revealing a robotic left eye. The eye had been lost when his optic nerve was severed by a piece of debris during an accident. "Good work X, I think we're done here." the dark skinned man said to X. In the short time he'd been here, X and he were already close friends. "Okay Caleb, let me don some comfier clothing and we'll go." X said as he started to change out of his suit. X was now in a black tee-shirt and black shorts that came down shortly passed his knee. "Okay, where do you want to go?" "Let's go get a drink, it's been too long." Caleb said to his friend as he unlocked the door and walked out X following behind. "Sweet man. It's a great night for a beer or two, maybe mingle with some of the residents, talk to some ladies." X said as he wiggled his eyebrows. "Shut up." Caleb said as he smacked X upside the head. "Ow, okay okay. You want to talk to some of the guys oka- OW" X said as Caleb smacked him again. "Dammit X." Caleb said as they resumed their walk to the bar. "Haha, you're so easy to mess with." "Oh shut it you overgrown monkey." Caleb said as they walked into the bar.