Soul Drive: Ignition

Hisoka maneuvered her way through the forest, dodging trees as she tried to knock Nori off her tail. Behind her, Nori tried to keep the pace, choosing to blast through the trees instead of avoiding them. This wasn't the fight Nori had been hoping for, and with a sudden burst of speed, Hisoka's white Mach vanished from his view.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Nori taunted, his voice crackling through the comms, green eyes scanning the trees as he took a defensive stance.

Hisoka smirked, and remained silent, she took on a large branch that gave her a good sight line. "Patience, Nori. All good things to those who wait," she whispered to herself, her soul sniper assembling itself before her. Her gray eyes locked on to her target, and she slowed her breathing as she focused on the prize.

Nori paused, it was too quiet for his liking and he began to move back toward the greenhouse. But Hisoka silently moved through the treetops, positioning herself between Nori and the greenhouse. She flew into the night sky, her movements as precise as she tried to find a clear shot.

"I thought we were going to fight, Hisoka? Face me!" Nori bellowed, frustration filling his voice as he scanned the woods.

"I just need you to come to a clearing," Hisoka whispered, the soul sniper scope claiming the target can't be locked onto. A single shot whistled through the cool night air, a near-miss that sent Nori veering off course from the greenhouse. He dipped behind a nearby tree, giving Hisoka time to change her position so he couldn't track the trajectory of her bullet.

She knew the stakes; success meant killing Nori. She got comfortable in a nearby tree, she took aim at the night sky believing Nori would follow where the initial shot came from. But the red Mach never emerged from the treetops, Hisoka realized he was going back for Hiro. So plan B was a necessity, not an option.

"AI, call Osamu," she commanded, her voice steady as she carefully made her way back.

"Connecting," the AI responded with mechanical calmness.

"Osamu here," came the reply, deep and certain, from the car at the operation's perimeter.

"Get ready for a fight. Mach 2 isn't behaving as planned, he is prioritizing Hiro," Hisoka briefed him, her gaze never leaving the void where Nori had disappeared.

"Really, his desire to destroy a target should outway anything he feels for another person, all video evidence shows he shifts into a blind rage while fighting," Osamu pondered, the sound of leather creaking as he likely shifted while he removed the smartwatch from the glove compartment. "I'll suit up and join you."

"Good, something isn't right here," Hisoka said, ending the call. She returned her focus to her sniper scope, feeling the comforting weight of the weapon in her grasp. Their data was faulty, something had changed between the battle at the embassy and now.

"What changed?" she muttered, as she left from tree to tree. She knew she would have to adapt quickly to make up for this hole in data—no matter the change Mach 2 would be destroyed by the end of the night. She adjusted her aim, senses heightened, knowing full well the hunt was far from over.

---

Back at the greenhouse, Hiro was tossed to the ground next to Kazuki while agents packed up the vans. "Kazuki, are you ok?" Hiro asked, the cold barrel of a gun pressed against his temple by an agent assigned to watch them.

"What do you care.... this is all your fault" Kazuki accused, giving Hiro a look of pure hatred.

"I didn't mean to bring any of you into this, all I wanted to do was be normal," Hiro muttered, he knew Kazuki was right and this was all his fault for getting too comfortable. Hiro knew he had to get them all out of this alive, the question was how could he do it without getting himself shot?

"Kazuki look out!" Hiro screamed, his brown eyes flicking skyward just as a streak of light from a soul sniper shot painted a brief, brilliant arc above heading directly toward them. Both the boys and the Canadian agent leapt out of the way just in time to avoid the deadly strike. "Who is shooting at us?" Hiro gasped, struggling to sit upright with the cuffs on.

Hidden among the treetops, Hisoka could feel victory within her grasp. If she was right, Nori had witnessed her little stunt. sure enough, Nori charged toward where she had fired from, blaster blazing.

"Got you," she whispered with a sly grin, finger tightening on the trigger. The shot rang out, slicing through the air and finding its home in Nori's shoulder.

A metallic grunt echoed as his AI chimed in, "Left arm breached, function compromised."

"Damn it!" Nori cursed, feeling the strength leave his limb, the blaster powering down. His rage threatened to consume him for the stupid mistake, he wanted nothing more than to watch Hisoka and her Mach explode in front of him.

"Focus," he breathed, trying to regain control, he couldn't let them take Hiro. Hisoka, ever the strategist, took advantage of his self-reflection, firing again. This time, the shot made its mark perfectly—a thruster on his Mach's back exploded in a shower of sparks, sending him plummeting to the ground and causing trees to uproot from the earth.

"Looks like I didn't need Osamu after all," Hisoka smiled coolly as she descended gracefully before the fallen Nori, her soul sniper aimed at his head. "It's time to finish this, don't you think?"

"Go… to hell," Nori spat, as he lifted himself up to face her, his green eyes blazing.

"Charming to the end," Hisoka replied with a smirk, her finger tight against the trigger.

The first light of dawn began to spread across the grounds, as Nori awaited his death at the hands of Hisoka. Hisoka, in her white armour, dragged Nori to Hiro, and Kazuki, all three restrained and at her mercy.

"Naomi!" She called out into the stillness, amplifying her voice with the helmet's speakers. "You have five minutes to show yourself or I'll start with the boy" – she tilted her gun towards Hiro – "and work my way down."

From the safety of their tree-top hiding places, Ai listened with wide, fearful eyes. "We can't just let her kill them," she whispered urgently to Naomi, who remained stoic beside her.

"Hisoka isn't looking for prisoners, Ai," Naomi replied, her voice low but firm. "Surrendering wouldn't change the outcome here. It would just get us killed."

"But Hiro..." Ai's voice trembled as she tried to find an argument for going down the save him.

"Is strong. But remember, my mission is to ensure your survival. there is no point in adding to the death toll," Naomi countered, the direction of Hisoka's announcement.

As the silence stretched, Hisoka's fingers danced impatiently on the trigger of her weapon. The sun crept higher and Hisoka worried that potential witnesses could stumble across them. It was time to act.

"Sorry, boys," she said, almost casually, and she pressed her gun to Hiro's head. "But loose ends tie themselves up one way or another."

Before Hisoka could follow through, a new figure emerged from the treeline. Osamu, in his green Mach armour, stepped forward with a purposeful stride. His dark eyes under the visor met hers squarely.

"Looks like you took care of things here," he acknowledged, looking over at their hostages. "Should I prep them for transfer,"

"No need," she said simply, nodding towards their captives. " We have Mach 1, we don't need the pilot or these other two."

"Wait." Osamu held up a hand before she could fire off her first shot. "We need Hiro alive. His parents created the Machs, he could have answers about the abnormalities that have been occurring."

"I doubt this boy has anything to offer you about that, he was an infant when they were designed," Hisoka snapped back. "That rogue Mach has caused enough damage. It ends here."

Osamu shook his head, frustration etched into every line of his body. "You don't see the bigger picture. At the embassy, his Mach created a weapon, a sword at a power level it shouldn't have been able to create. It's not coincidental—he was the first to do it. We need to know how he did it."

"You said it yourself, the suits are getting stronger," Hisoka retorted, her hand steady. "We have orders, Osamu. And right now, you're either with me or against me."

"Then it looks like I don't really have much of a choice here do I?" Osamu asked, his voice cracking at the end of his question.

"Don't be stupid," she said, her lips curling into a humourless smile. "You can analyze his Mach back at HQ, don't turn this into a fight you can't win."

Hisoka watched Osamu carefully, her gray eyes locked on his trembling hands. "Are you seriously this conflicted? Don't forget where your loyalties should lie. Don't make me kill you too, the paperwork is simply not worth it."

"Hisoka, I have tried to do what he did with my Mach and it claims it isn't possible, there is something more than enhanced power needed" Osamu tried to plead his case, and he began to step slowly closer to the woman. "Think about, why would they be designed to become stronger after a pilot dies. It doesn't make sense."

"Stand down Osamu! That is an order from your superior officer, we will discuss your actions here later," Hisoka interjected sharply. "Hiro's existence undermines the program's integrity. As long as he breathes our government could lose everything."

"Then let me handle it," Osamu insisted, as he came to a halt in front of her. "He's just a kid, we don't even know where he got the Mach or if there are more we don't know about."

"You are becoming far more trouble than you are worth" Hisoka's words were like daggers, questioning his allegiance. "If you don't stop now I will have you arrested for treason, Stand down right now!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Osamu retorted, "Not if you are going to kill the kid. I will accept any charges laid against me but I won't let you kill anyone today."

"You are fully aware of what is about to happen now." Hisoka's posture stiffened and she set her sights on Osamu.

"I do," Osamu replied calmly.

"Osamu you have been found guilty of treason against the Canadian government..." Hisoka began but Osamu raised a hand to cut her off.

"Before we start, I haven't been entirely honest about my Mach's capabilities," Osamu whispered, almost to himself. The words 'Soul Target' passed his lips like a secret incantation.

The AI embedded within his Mach suit hummed to life. "Name targets," it responded mechanically.

"Stun all Canadian personnel," Osamu ordered, his voice laced with determination.

"Target selection confirmed," the AI intoned. A swarm of wasp-sized drones burst forth from Osamu's suit, their sleek forms cutting through the air so fast the agents didn't see them coming.

Small darts whizzed past, finding their marks with perfect accuracy. One by one, the Canadian agents crumpled to the ground, their bodies succumbing to the venom's effects.

Hisoka, reacted quickly, having anticipated a move from Osamu. She raised her Mach's shield just in time, deflecting the incoming darts with a shimmering barrier of energy.

"Predictable, Osamu," she sneered, her shield flickering from the impact. "You always were too soft."

"Soft?" Osamu countered, his voice steady despite the chaos. "No, Hisoka. I am just not a killer like you. I would never do what you did to get here."

"You have no idea what it did to get here." Hisoka's gaze was ice, her hands readying her own counterstrike. "How could you? Your father wasn't seen as a trader to his nation."

"Is that what you told yourself? Is that why you could kill him," Osamu said, standing tall amid the fallen. "He wasn't a trader, he just wasn't willing to kill an entire family on the commands of some politician."

Hisoka remained silent as Osamu finished, the images from that day replaying in her mind—her father's lifeless body lying before her as she was congratulated for the mission's success.

Hiro took Hisoka's moment of self-reflection to his advantage. He bolted toward the fallen agent, his eyes locked on the prize hidden within the enemy's pocket—His Mach's outline clear in the fabric. Hisoka caught sight of him in her peripheral vision, raising her arm toward him, she discharged a pulse of lethal energy. Hiro twisted in mid-stride, feeling the heat scorch the air where he had just been.

"Careful, Hiro," Hisoka taunted, her voice dripping with malice. "I'd turn that man to dust before I let you touch your Mach."

"Hisoka!" Osamu's shout drew her attention back to him. "You are outnumbered here, I suggest you power down and go, if you want to live,"

"You're the only threat here," Hisoka growled, as she summoned the sniper. "These boys are all tied up with nowhere to go."

"I don't want to kill you," Osamu said, a tinge of sorrow in his voice. "I just want to find out the truth about this thing before it is too late."

"You've already been found guilty," Hisoka's laugh was bitter as she surged forward in a blur of motion. "It's time to carry out your sentencing,"

Osamu wasted no time. He blasted up into the sky, avoiding Hisoka's charge at him. Hisoka quickly followed him, her full attention now on him.

Meanwhile, Hiro made his way back to the agent and dug through his pockets, his fingers closing around the old cell phone. Nori was beside him, as he freed his Mach from the man's pocket.

"Can't help you fight, Hiro," Nori admitted, his suit emitting small sparks as it attempted self-repair. "But I can get Kazuki out of here."

"Like hell, I'm tagging along with you!" Kazuki protested, his face pale as he spoke.

"Choice is yours," Nori snapped back, his green eyes flaring with a volatile fire. "Come with me or stay and die."

Kazuki swallowed hard, and then nodded, following Nori's lead.

Above them, the sky turned a canvas of green and white sparks as the duelling Machs made contact with each other. Hisoka and Osamu sent each other spiralling, both catching themselves before they hit the ground. Hisoka's anger began to seep into her actions, each assual more aggressive than the last, as she chipped away at Osamu's defences.

"What happens to accept your punishment, Osamu!" she spat, sending another blast his way.

"I told you I would wait until Hiro was safe first," Osamu countered, barely dodging her attack.

Osamu corrected and sent himself soaring toward her, his hand moved with a calculated swiftness, attaching a grenade to Hisoka's armour before she could pull away.

"Got you—" His triumphant smile was cut short as Hisoka's blast made contact with his leg. Osamu plummeted from the direct hit, crashing heavily to the earth below.

Hisoka towered, savouring what she believed to be her victory. Osamu tried to get up but his foot slipped from under him, too damaged to support the weight of the suit. Osamu knew he needed to use his trump card.

"Detonate." he coughed

The word was simple, but its effect was catastrophic. The grenade erupted into a ball of fire and shrapnel, tearing through Hisoka's Mach, and engulfing her in its fatal flames. Her screams were lost to the roar of the explosion as she was consumed entirely by the blaze.