Shadow Mosses II

Just an hour later.

The BlackAquila descended elegantly through the open hatch in the roof of a vast hangar, located within the military base of Maverick Security Consulting, Inc., the cover PMC for Lazarus's ninth seat.

The base, though compact, stood out for its efficient and streamlined layout. Built to operate with a small team, every structure—from the hangars and laboratories to the workshops and electromagnetic launchers—was constructed to maximize functionality.

The echo of the turbines winding down reverberated inside the hangar as the ship finally touched the ground, its systems cushioning the impact with finesse. The matte black fuselage absorbed the light, giving it a menacing and stealthy air.

As the ramp deployed from its curved tail, a small delegation awaited at the foot of the helipad, watching the three people and an Eco who disembarked from the ship.

Leading the small delegation was Boris Vyacheslav, the operations supervisor and CEO of Maverick.

He was a man of sturdy build, with a thick mustache that arched over his upper lip like an extension of his straightforward personality. Upon seeing Sora, Jack, and Mathew disembark, Boris let out a deep, booming laugh, his eyes gleaming beneath his dense brows.

"Welcome!" he exclaimed in his hoarse voice. "It's a pleasure to have all you."

"You're not usually this welcoming when I return..." Jack muttered, a trace of resentment in his voice.

Without flinching, Boris let out a booming laugh before responding: "Don't worry about trivialities! Given the nature of our business, you rarely bring guests, do you?" Subtly emphasized the role of the company as a cover for Lazarus.

"It's a pleasure to welcome our comrades from Night City, on behalf of the entire Maverick team," Boris said with genuine camaraderie, looking directly at Sora and briefly at young Mathew beside him.

Sora both surprised and irritated Jack when, with a falsely affable smile, he took Boris's hairy hand and said: "The pleasure is mine. I hope our sudden 'arrival, wasn't an inconvenience."

The unexpected politeness of the 13th seat, whose lack of manners was somewhat notorious within Lazarus, also surprised the Maverick team, even Mathew and Eco, who stared at him in silence.

This prompted the technical support officer and liaison, Kevin Warrington, an African-American man with an athletic build, to unexpectedly say, with a mischievous grin, looking at Jack. "And this is the guy you warned us about? The one you said was a jackass?"

Boris, with a look of surprise and displeasure, exclaimed, "Kevin!"

Without flinching, Kevin defended himself with an air of feigned innocence. "What? That's what Jack said."

"I know, we were all on the call. But damn! That's not something you say to a guest's face," Boris exclaimed, pointing at Sora with his hairy finger—something that also shouldn't be done.

He was referring to the meeting they'd had, where Jack had tried to prepare them for the infamous character of the 13th seat.

Sora turned his gaze toward Jack, letting a small crack in his charming mask show, revealing his true colors as he made eye contact. With feigned surprise, he said, "Oh, is that what you said, Jack? Wow... that hurts."

Then, covering the crack, he turned to the rest of the group. "Don't worry, I'm sure he had good reasons when he said it. Still, I hope I can amend that rather unflattering description of myself."

Looking at each of them, Sora performed a polite bow, like the ones his grandfather used to do, adding as he rose with a saint's smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"He seems like a good guy," Kevin said sincerely.

"Agreed," Boris confirmed.

"No!" Jack exclaimed, clenching his fists, adding as all eyes turned toward him, "No—no, that's not it! He's just putting on an act."

Like a child having a tantrum out of envy, his own colleagues quickly ignored him and turned back to their charismatic guest.

Trying to make up for Jack's interruption, a young woman, with her blonde hair tied up and an adorable face, but with a professional expression, adjusted her smart glasses—filled with information and data streaming across the lenses—and said, attempting to contain her energy.

"Delighted to meet you, Mr. Inazuka, or do you prefer Mr. Okami? How would you like me to address you? I'm Courtney Collins," she said with restrained enthusiasm.

Without waiting for his response, she continued excitedly:

"As an analyst, I'm a big admirer. I've reviewed all the records of your missions—well, at least the ones that aren't classified. Including the capture of Byle, which is my favorite. I've really learned a lot from them," she added in an accusatory tone, "though they're written somewhat obtusely, almost as if you were deliberately trying to hide information."

Sora, a bit surprised by Courtney's exuberance, responded in a cautious but kind tone.

"I'm glad you like them, and I don't make them 'obtuse' on purpose… it's just laziness."

"You're here, Jack. Alright, I've prepared your new frame for the mission." Behind them stood a slim, academic-looking man with rounded glasses and a white lab coat that fluttered slightly as he walked toward them with quick steps.

Noticing they had visitors, he exclaimed, "Oh, Herr Inazuka!" Wilhelm "Doktor" Voight said with a Bavarian accent, delighted to see him after their acquaintance during the operation to capture Dr. Fabius Byle.

"Hello, Doktor," Sora responded, genuinely affable, finding the doctor's friendship to be quite valuable after their exchanges on various... complicated aspects of Byle's research, including the hypothetical application of the dangerous mutations recorded in his studies.

After approaching, and shifting his tone to a serious and solemn one, the Doktor said, "I've heard about the tragedy that occurred at the Lazarus headquarters in Night City. I'm very sorry. Professor Strauss and his staff certainly demonstrated admirable resilience and character."

Although he hadn't known them well, having been in exile, the mention struck a sensitive chord within Sora. Dropping his act, he responded sarcastically, in a cold voice filled with murderous intent, sending chills down Courtney and Kevin's spines: "The culprits felt it even more... Believe me."

After swallowing audibly, not expecting the intensity of his "reply," the Doktor cleared his throat before saying, "I don't know why, but I do believe you. Anyway, changing the subject to something related—the entire team is prepared and ready for your departure. We can begin the mission as soon as you've changed and equipped yourselves."

With a mix of curiosity and confusion at Sora's apparent lack of equipment, the Doktor asked, "Hmm… do you need me to lend you something for the mission?"

Jack, who had remained silent, intervened. His gaze slid towards Eco, the colossal cybernetic wolf resting loyally beside his owner, with its muzzle leaned against Sora's shoulder. "Don't worry, Doktor," Jack said calmly, "he's got everything he needs."

The Doktor, pragmatic by nature, nodded, satisfied with that explanation. "Then I'm reassured," he remarked, assuming Jack was referring to equipment stored in the ship.

Taking advantage of the pause, the Doktor shifted topics with his usual professional tone. "By the way, as I mentioned earlier, you'll need to accompany me, Jack. I've prepared a new frame for you to test during the mission. It's a considerable upgrade from the previous one. I'm sure you'll like it."

Sora raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'd love to see it," he said, with a hint of sarcasm barely masking his genuine curiosity.

Jack didn't hesitate to exclaim firmly, "No! I refuse. Changing frames is... personal."

Sora let out a mocking laugh. "Personal? It's just metal and plating."

Before the tension between the two could escalate, the Doktor intervened seriously. "Ah, Herr Inazuka, you're mistaken. For those who have undergone a full conversion, changing frames is a very personal process, almost like shedding skin. Even I limit myself to just reading the data and ensuring everything goes well during the procedure, giving them as much privacy as possible."

Sora sighed, quickly losing interest. "Sounds gay..." he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else, before ignoring the subject entirely and turning to Courtney, who was still watching him.

"Is there anywhere I can change, or should I do it on my ship?" he asked, carefree but with a polite tone.

Courtney, clearly surprised by the question, hurried to respond with renewed enthusiasm. "O-of course! The changing rooms are this way. I'll show you," she said, unable to stop her cheeks from reddening slightly at the thought of Sora changing.

Seeing this, Sora grinned like a hungry wolf, drawing the attention of the other men, who recognized that smile. Even Jack couldn't help but shout as they walked away, "You got fiancées, for heaven's sake!"

With his characteristic disdain, Sora raised a finger in a mocking farewell before disappearing down a nearby hallway with Courtney, without bothering to look back, with Eco following him.

Kevin, watching his finger disappear, couldn't help but murmur, "Maybe he really is a jackass…"

"Hmm?" Boris, doubtful, considered it too.

Jack, already used to this kind of behavior on his part, let out a sigh of frustration and exasperated "I told you so," as if it had been obvious from the beginning.

Doktor, always efficient, didn't waste any time and looked at Jack with impatience. "Come on, come on! We can't waste any more time. We have a lot of work ahead." With a swift gesture of his hand, he began to walk towards his laboratory, not waiting for a response.

After Jack left too, Kevin and Boris took the young Mathew, who hadn't said anything, to the cafeteria.

-

After flirting a bit more…

'What am I doing?!' Courtney exclaimed inwardly. Her back was pressed against the hallway wall, while Sora held her by the chin, their faces mere inches apart.

Even so, she didn't resist. On the contrary, her embarrassment only increased as she vaguely sensed what kind of expression she was making, feeling her face hot, her eyes reddened, and her breath shaky.

'What the heck has gotten into me? I only just met him, though I've known about him for years… and now, to finally meet him, and he's as charming as he is handsome… I… nothing else matters anymore. I just need to let myself be devoured by the Okami,' she thought, frozen in place… simply waiting for it to happen.

However, to her surprise, Sora suddenly let her go, turned around, and entered the changing room, closing the door behind him.

"Huh?" Leaving the intoxicated Courtney in the hallway, confused until she realized what had just happened. The heat on her face was replaced by growing shame, and soon the feeling of humiliation sparked a flash of anger within her as she stormed off, upset.

As for him… loyal to his fiancées, after completing the hunt and bringing down the metaphorical prey, that was enough.

After a quick scan, ensuring there were no cameras or surveillance devices, Sora turned to the imposing direwolf at his side and joked, "Let me wear it today."

Next, Eco, who still towered over Sora even while seated, tilted his neck back, and his chest opened up. The process was almost ethereal, as if his fur and torso turned into living black sand that moved in an orderly fashion, revealing the hidden contents within.

Sora smiled at the sight of his mobile arsenal, with a variety of weapons and armor, all carefully stored. Among them was Sora's usual Okami armor, along with other pieces and accessories he had created, including the "gifts" he had stolen from Eran.

Due to the event's etiquette, Sora opted for the stealthier armor, the same style he had used during the BlackAquil heist.

The light armor naturally refracted light and absorbed sound, but on top of that, it was covered by a combination of lightweight yet durable fabrics, with photo-reactive panels capable of mimicking the surroundings, styled into a multi-layered poncho.

After adjusting the armor, Sora switched Getsuga's sheath for the combat version, with a battery and trigger protruding from it, making it look like a loaded weapon. The hilt, formed by nanobots, also changed automatically, adjusting to its new sheath.

After grabbing several knives, grenades, and a few bricks of explosives, Sora reluctantly went to leave his twin Malorian Arms, following the boss's order of "nothing recognizable."

But, after reconsidering… "Fuck it," he muttered, and hid them under his poncho.

Not planning to use it, Sora picked up two custom-made Tsunami Nue pistols by Eran, fully personalized into SOCOM versions.

The SOCOM variant is a "weapon system" rather than just a pistol. The system includes the weapon itself, along with a complete module under the barrel, featuring a small high-intensity flashlight, the AN/PEQ-6 Laser Aiming Module (LAM) with a microprocessor capable of reading vibrations in certain structures via laser, and, to finish, a clasic tactical suppressor.

After securing them in the holsters on his thighs, Sora picked up two Arasaka JKE-X2 Kenshins, which, although they kept their original shape, had been internally modified to be unrecognizable in their function, holstering them at his hips.

Finally, his hands rested on two special weapons, both "gifts" from his last encounter with Eran, along with the SOCOMs.

First, a perfect fusion of the old and the modern: the Malorian 6618 electromagnetic lever-action rifle.

The lever-action mechanism evoked the old rifles of the Wild West, along with its elegant dark, polished wooden stock, equipped with compartments for different types of meticulously aligned ammunition.

Aside from that, the rest was a technological marvel, with a foregrip made of alloy, designed to cool down and protect the user from the heat generated by the electromagnetic barrel.

At the mouth of the rifle, an imposing octagonal suppressor stood out. Unlike conventional suppressors, this one was completely solid inside, as it wasn't designed to vent gases but to block the muzzle flash and silence the characteristic whistle of the bullet accelerated by electromagnetic pulses.

After putting on the strap and letting the Malorian 6618 hang on his back, Sora finished gearing up, grabbing the Malorian SMG intelligent.

The intelligent Malorian SMG, as was usual with Eran, its creator, was clearly inspired by another weapon from a different era: the Kriss Vector from the early 21st century.

Compact but lethal, a work of engineering. With an angular body and matte black polymer structure, it housed an autonomous targeting system linked to his neural interface.

This allowed it to automatically adjust the firing rate and trajectory just by thinking about it. It could even detect and neutralize multiple targets, including enemies in cover.

After checking its condition and hiding it under his poncho, Sora grabbed several magazines, filling his tactical pockets with more ammunition for his rifle. Then, ensuring everything was in place, he partially concealed his face with his tube scarf and headed toward the exit.

-

Sora went out with Eco, and in the middle of the empty hallway... he closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, he was already inside the base's system.

Through the security feeds, he saw that most of the staff were busy working or with Mathew in the cafeteria. 'Perfect,' with no one in sight, he headed toward the Doktor's laboratory.

Accompanying Sora's 'Jedi' hand movement, the heavy double doors of the Laboratory opened with a soft creak. Before entering, he said, "Stay—cover me."

Eco nodded and lay down in front of the door. As he settled, his fur began to reflect the light, turning his form blurry until he became semi-invisible, with only his eyes remaining visible for a moment before he closed them.

Sora glanced over the immaculate laboratory; sterile, gleaming, and white, as he made his way toward an adjoining room. Inside, the Doktor was bathed in the cold light of a dozen screens of various sizes, his attention completely consumed by the operation unfolding on the other side of the opaque glass.

A few seconds later, when he finally noticed Sora, upon seeing a black and blurry figure beside him watching the screens like he was...

"For God's sake, Herr Inazuka!" The Doktor's voice rang out in shock. "How the hell did you get in here? If you're going to infiltrate allied territory, at least give a warning! You nearly gave me a heart attack."

Sora, with a half-smile, like a mischievous child proud of scaring him, responded as if the words were almost unnecessary to state the obvious. "Well... that's what they sent me for, isn't it?"

The Doktor sighed, trying to appear calm, while internally wondering how the passive technology of his armor worked, which didn't seem fully activated. Even when standing next to him, his Kiroshi implants only registered him as a blurry figure in his peripheral vision

Causing him to have to agree. "You can say that again…" said the Doktor, adjusting his glasses as he turned back to the screen. "Since you're here snooping around, don't tell Jack I let you, alright?"

"As you say, Doktor," Sora replied, closing one eye and keeping it shut as he connected to the cameras in the operating room.

It revealed a small, almost suffocating, clinical room. A circular, hollow operating table held Jack's semi-naked frame, his limbs extended and fixed to the metal ring as if he were a trapped insect being dissected.

Jack, looking down, and the ring were tilted at a 45º angle, his metal back open, and his biological spine being removed from the rest of the frame by four long robotic arms descending from the ceiling.

"A real tragedy, what happened to him to end up like this," murmured the Doktor, breaking the silence.

Sora understood what he meant, seeing how, when finished, the arms carefully lifted Jack's head and spine, the only part of his original body that remained.

From his head, Jack retained only the core of his face: the forehead, a single eye, the nose, and the lower lip. The rest, excluding his scalp, had been replaced by cold metal that extended along the sides and the back.

"Hm? I thought he discarded his body voluntarily… to perform better in combat, you know, like one of those combat fanatics," Sora replied, with a cold indifference that didn't match the tragic tone the Doktor had used, recalling people like Smasher.

The Doktor gave a crooked smile, and without taking his eyes off the monitors, joked, "Like you, perhaps?"

"I only defend myself," Sora replied with a slight indifference, sincerely believing he wasn't looking for a fight, but almost always finding one.

"Allow me to doubt that, Herr Inazuka. Even here, isolated from the rest of the Lazarus, we hear the stories about what happens when the 13th and 10th seats cross paths. Last time, Mr. Blackhand had to intervene, or so we were told."

(*: Warbringer)

"As I said, I only defend myself." he murmured coldly.

The Doctor let out a short laugh, "I'm one of those who believe there's no fight unless both are looking for it."

Sora, hearing those words spoken with that accent… couldn't resist using a classic, "Tell that to the Jews."

The Doctor stopped typing, his gaze fixed on the data, but his words came out with an unsettling calm. "Please, Herr Inazuka, don't say that. My parents were... and their parents before them survived the camps. I, like most of this era, have traded those spiritual roots for something more... practical."

At that moment, with Jack's head and spine firmly secured by the surgical arms in the middle of the room, the operating table with the old frame rotated, becoming parallel to the floor, and exited the room through a horizontal slit in the wall. Then, a new metallic ring emerged on the other side, carrying a new one.

Through his closed eye, Sora could observe the new frame in greater detail.

A marvel of modern engineering, formed by artificial muscles of a deep copper color, each fiber perfectly visible, created from IPMC (Ionomeric Polymer-Metal Composites), polymers that responded to electrical currents to contract and compress at great speed.

The joints and abdomen were reinforced with strips of a beige material that evoked the flexibility of natural cartilage. The metal plates covering the frame were intimidating, sharp, with edges that seemed capable of slicing flesh with just a touch. His feet, with a senseless heel, ended like a beast's, with sharp claws.

Sora, watching as the installation process began, arms crossed and leaning against the wall, turned to the Doktor. 'What did you mean about Jack earlier?'

He sighed and looked away from the monitors. For a moment, his Bavarian accent resonated with unusual gravity, softer than usual, as if he were about to cross a delicate line. "It shouldn't be me speaking about this, Herr Inazuka. I do it because, frankly, it hurts to see how you treat Jack. He really respects you, more than you might imagine.

And knowing how things are… if I, of all people, don't act as a 'social lubricant' in this situation, the two of you would never talk about anything serious."

Sora merely nodded, while the Doktor continued speaking. "Before I go on, let me ask you a question: why do you think some people can handle more cyberware than others?'

Before Sora could answer, the Doktor cut in. "You don't need to answer, it's a rhetorical question. We know there are multiple theories on the matter.'"

"The scientists say that the key lies in psychological resilience: a strong mind can endure more... while a weak one, well, you know what happens. But what is a strong mind? How is it forged? Some say it's a combination of genetic predisposition, experiences, ideals, traumas... everything one lives through since childhood."

Sora, arms still crossed and with only one eye open, looked at the Doktor as if trying to read between the lines of what he was referring to.

"Then there are the more... spiritual theories, if you want to call them that," the Doktor continued, "which claim that it's a battle between the human spirit and the machine."

Sora frowned. "And you, Doktor, what do you believe?"

"I believe it's a mix of both. A bit of science, a bit of spirit, as Jack himself demonstrated..." The Doktor paused, staring at the opaque glass as if he could see through it. "As documented, even among identical twins who share the same DNA, tolerance to cyberware varies."

Sora knew the document, or rather the study, that the Doktor was referring to. He had even read it. Letting the silence dominate the room for a moment, he reopened those dark files in his mind.

About 50 years ago, when cyberpsychosis began to spread, several megacorporations dedicated to cyberware, along with ethically questionable organizations, decided to investigate the condition of cyberpsychopathy.

One of these studies, the most notorious—and not for any good reason—was conducted by one of these questionable organizations before it was dismantled following the public scandal that erupted when it came to light.

However, the destruction of the organization came too late; its toxic legacy had already spread across the net.

First, they managed to identify a DNA sequence that matched in hundreds of cyberpsychopaths, who demonstrated greater psychological resilience.

Then... they sought the ideal specimens for their experiment: twins. Two identical lives, whose paths they ensured would diverge radically.

One would be experimented on from day one, altering their small body with cyberware, replacing parts of it as they grew

While the other brother, the "fortunate" one, would live a normal life until it ended when he turned 20. At that point, he was reunited with his brother, sharing the same cruel fate.

The results were cruelly fascinating. Both ended up becoming cyberpsychos, but one took longer.

The one who had something to hold on to—friendships, experiences, hope—resisted longer before his mind collapsed under a hollow, drugged-up, and haunted life.

And as in any experimentation story… when they managed to escape… the two cyberpsycho brothers slaughtered the scientists who created them, killing them slowly and methodically.

The two continued killing indiscriminately until they were neutralized after taking out half a hundred people following their escape from the facility where they were mutilated, bit by bit.

Sora snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes locking onto the Doktor. "So… you're telling me Jack is one of those twins?"

The Doktor shook his head slowly, and without altering his serene volume or tone, he revealed:

"No, he is not one of the twins." When Sora sighed, the Doktor continued, "He is something… different." Gazing at the opaque glass as if he could see through it, he added, "Jack is an artificial life, created from the genetic material of those same twins. You could say he's… the triplet."

Unlike the calm Doktor, Sora... "WHAT?!"

The Doktor's tired eyes scanned the screens, as if he were trying to fill himself with data rather than face the words he had to say.

"Jack was... created as a test subject, designed to endure all kinds of advanced cyberware. From his conception, he lived inside a simulation. There, he was educated, trained, and observed, while his physical body was progressively replaced by cyberware. He spent most of his life in that lie, until the only thing left of him was part of his spine, his head, and a fragment of his face."

Sora frowned, waiting for the Doktor to continue, digesting the horror of what he had just heard.

"As you can imagine, Jack suffers from all kinds of aftereffects... chronic post-traumatic stress, identity crises. He's not always sure if what he's experiencing is real or just another simulation. Sometimes... he doesn't even trust his own memories."

With a controlled and cold voice, fearing the answer, Sora asked, "Who was responsible for those experiments?"

The Doktor shook his head slowly. "The one who found him was Boss. Only she and Jack know who was responsible. But I'll tell you something, Herr Inazuka... even though Jack hasn't said a word about the culprits, he wants nothing more than revenge, and it's easy to understand why."

Sora let Jack's past sink into his mind. 'Without a doubt...', he thought, 'Jack has been through a far worse hell than I have... and yet...'. He recalled Jack's professional and courteous demeanor, someone who didn't use his tragedy as an excuse to do whatever he wanted. 'He doesn't use his past as an excuse... unlike... "others,"' he reflected with a touch of self-critical irony.

For a moment, Sora felt he was on the verge of a revelation, one of those that make a person mature and change, realizing that his past didn't have to define him, like Jack.

However, before the change could take hold, another realization shook him from within, causing him to murmur dazedly to himself: "How terrifying genetics can be…"

Suddenly, he understood that his character wasn't just the result of years of pain, resentment, or envy. There was something deeper that shaped him: his genetics. That inheritance, his inheritance, had molded him far more than he was willing to admit.

And as he realized this, he felt something unexpected... a sense of release. 'If that's the case then... it's not my fault, it never was.' He was just another victim of his genes.

This idea—or rather, excuse—caused a slow smile to spread across his face, and with a shrug, he said to himself, "Bah, who cares! I'm awesome." And with that, any attempt at maturity or change vanished, replaced by a strange, proud arrogance.

Slapping the Doktor on the shoulder, Sora lit a cigarette where it was clearly not allowed, and with an indifferent tone said as he walked out, "It's been fun, tell tin model man to hurry up, or I'll leave without him."

When Jack stepped out of the small operating room with his new frame installed, he sniffed the air and asked in a reproachful tone, "Doctor... has someone been smoking?"

"What! Of course not!" the Doktor replied, cursing Sora inwardly, almost certain he had done it on purpose. "C-come on, let's not waste more time, your annoying companion is waiting for you on the launch pad."

-

Moments later, Jack stepped out of the small operating room and entered the observation room with his new frame freshly installed. Seeing the Doktor's suspicious and guilty expression made him sniff the air. Furrowing his brow, Jack asked in a reproachful tone: "Doctor... has 'someone' been smoking?"

"What! Of course not!" the Doktor replied hastily, cursing Sora inwardly, almost certain he had done it on purpose. "C-come on, let's not waste more time, your annoying companion is waiting for you on the electromagnetic launch."

-

The metallic sound of cranes moving echoed through the hangar. Alarms signaled activity as the ceiling began to open slowly, revealing a clear night sky dotted with stars.

Two MQ-133C Stealth Aircraft were aligned on parallel rails, which would serve as both launch track and cannon. With the ceiling fully open, the rails elevated to a 45-degree angle. Then, the rails extended through the opening, launching the ships into the sky.

The air in the hangar began to smell of ozone and hot metal, while vibrations spread through the floor, caused by the magnetic field of the rails charging up.

The hangar lights cast long shadows over the fuselages of the MQ-133C, giving them an imposing appearance. With their wings folded forward in pre-launch mode, the ships resembled arrowheads ready to be fired.

The interior of the MQ-133C was sophisticated. The exterior, however, retained the essence of old stealth designs, but updated with cutting-edge technology: its fuselage was coated with IronBeast's HoloCamo panels, capable of mimicking and projecting optical camouflage.

Additionally, its structure was specifically designed to scatter and absorb radar waves, combined with advanced materials that dissipated heat, concealing both the thermal signature of the engines and its detection signal, making it virtually undetectable.

"I told you to squeeze against the back," Sora growled, struggling to close the cargo compartment beneath his horizontal cockpit.

"[Hmm-Waaf!]" Eco's muffled whines returned, accompanied by a couple of irritated barks.

"Who cares if you're uncomfortable!" Sora huffed, before quickly glancing around and adding softly in a whisper, "Release your nanobots throughout the ship when we take off, okay?"

"[Waaf!]" barked Eco in agreement, squeezing himself in as tightly as he could.

Finally, Sora managed to close the compartment with a soft click, sighing like a satisfied parent who had just won a battle with an overstuffed suitcase.

"Everything in order, Herr Inazuka?" the Doktor asked, approaching. "Had I known your companion's dimensions, I would have prepared a suitable space."

"Don't worry, Doktor. Eco's a fighter," Sora replied, ignoring his companion's evident discomfort.

Eco protested. "[Waaf!]" casting doubt on that statement.

The Doktor, unable to understand Eco, simply nodded and turned to the other member of the mission. "Yours is ready and loaded in the ship. You just need to activate it once you 'land,'" he said, making air quotes with his fingers. Then he asked what really interested him: "How's your new frame working out? Everything okay, Jack?"

Jack wore a visor divided into two halves on either side of his head, ready to fold away at any moment. Instead of an ocular implant, a black bandana covered his empty eye socket, giving him an almost nostalgic air. 'He looks like a modern version of the old Ojii patch,' Sora thought with irony.

"Thanks, Doktor. Everything's fine. It feels like the one I've been using, but much more powerful," Jack replied, looking at his hands as he opened and closed them, testing his strength.

The only visible weapon he carried was a small tactical backpack—metallic and rectangular. It functioned as both a launcher and a sheath for his katana and tanto, sliding along a rail that ran from his spine to his hips and sides.

"Exactly!" the Doktor exclaimed, adjusting his glasses to contain his excitement. "The armor plates are made of nanomaterials with a memory that contains detailed blueprints of every part of your body. Plus, with a Daemon inserted into your systems, if you encounter an enemy using nanobots as well, you could reprogram them to repair your frame."

Sora, who had been listening attentively, frowned. "Doktor, while nanobiotic technology is booming... assuming our enemies are using it seems a bit hasty, don't you think?"

The Doktor looked at him for a moment, knowing full well the inquisitive mind hidden behind those sharp eyes, from the "theoretical" exchanges they had had. He responded with his strong German accent, and a tone full of double meaning:

"Why do you think so, Herr Inazuka? It was precisely your own employee, 'Jerry,' who triggered this technological boom, as you call it. And if we have been able to develop it to this level... it would be dangerously arrogant to think our enemies couldn't achieve the same... or something worse."

Boris, unaware of the tense silence created by the Doktor's argument, intervened with a roar as he reached them. "We've already received the final mission information and clearance from the base! I'll brief you once you're in the air... What are you waiting for? Get inside!"

Boris, standing in the Operations Coordination Room, observed the giant screen covering one of the main walls with piercing eyes. It displayed a real-time image of the electromagnetic shuttle, with the two black MQ-133C ships ready for takeoff. His authoritative voice echoed through the room, requesting the final checks. "Status of the systems?"

Kevin, at his station in front of one of the terminals, responded with the precision expected of him. "Electromagnetic shuttle at 100%. The rails are ready, and the magnetic fields are fully charged and stabilized. The ships' cloaking system is set to activate in phase one of the ascent."

Boris nodded and spoke over the radio to the MQ-133C pilots, whose images were displayed on the large screen: ["Tovariches! (comrades), prepare the flight systems for launch, activate the cloaking system in phase one... and enjoy the ride!"].

From their cabins, Sora and Jack, lying down, confirmed the order while adjusting the final parameters on their consoles. The hangar lights flickered before shutting off momentarily, only to return with a dim glow. A deep hum reverberated throughout the entire base, the vibrations synchronizing with the violent electric discharges surrounding the ships as the launch rails entered the firing phase.

"Clearance is secured," interrupted the Doktor from his scientific terminal, where he was monitoring the integrity of the shuttles. "The electromagnetic matrices are responding well to field fluctuations. The ships are ready for launch."

Boris, with a look of approval and confidence, activated the final protocol.Boris, with a look of approval and confidence, activated the final protocol. "Kevin, initiate the firing countdown."

Kevin began the countdown. "Launch in 3... 2... 1..." A sharp hum echoed through the hangar as the MQ-133Cs began to hover smoothly over the powerful electromagnetic rails.

The entire hangar vibrated with increasing intensity, as if its hypothetical spirit machine trembled in anticipation, waiting for Kevin to finish.

"0"

A blinding flash engulfed the hangar for a fraction of a second. In the next frame, the MQ-133Cs had disappeared from the cameras, shot off with a high-pitched whistle that broke the sound barrier, ascending into the night sky while accelerating without the need to activate their still-cold engines.

For Sora and Jack, the horizontal position made sense now. As the sudden, violent acceleration hit them, they instinctively pushed back with their legs, using the soles of their feet to remain "upright" in a horizontal world.

They became nothing more than bullets fired from a railgun—no longer pilots, but projectiles. The rush of air, the pull of gravity, all fell away, leaving only the silence of pure velocity. They were weightless, carried by momentum alone.

Outside, the HoloCamo camouflage system activated automatically, enveloping the ships in an optical projection that made them practically invisible under the starry sky.

Everything had happened so fast that no camera would have been able to capture them in two consecutive frames.

Mathew, who had witnessed everything from a corner of the room, was convinced that they needed a launcher like that at their base.

"Successful takeoff. Phase one completed," Kevin announced as his fingers flew over the touch panels, tracking the MQ-133Cs' trajectory on the screens.

Boris watched with satisfaction. "Good job. Okami, Reaper, from now on we'll use code names for the mission. You'll receive the next report once you reach cruising altitude. Maintain radio silence until further notice."

The two nodded one last time before their images disappeared from the screens as they entered stealth mode.

-

As always, I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a comment or a review; knowing that you liked it really helps a lot.

Also, for those who want to support the story and stay close to the plot, two chapters are already available in advance on my Patreon. The link is in the comment.