Your Handler just killed your only friend.

That was the only thought rushing through your head, as your AC flew at top speed towards the broken, shattered remains of STEEL HAZE ORTUS. You couldn't care less that you had finally won, and liberated Rubicon.

You landed at the site of his AC's carcass. An extremely powerful, top of the line AC, now broken, mangled, and useless.

Smoke poured out from the ripped-open cockpit, only to begin clearing. Your heart sunk, as you feared the worst, only for a voice to faintly reach your AC.

"B-buddy?.."

Rusty lay sprawled within his Armored Core, his lean yet muscular wolven form now seeming delicate, and weak. He was bleeding horribly, marked by shrapnel, his clothes burnt.. Yet he was still breathing, if barely.

"Raven.. You.. came back.. f-for me.."