Chapter 3
"All That You Can't Leave Behind"
Written by Vincent

	They were awakened by a series of loud clangs from the training
room. It sounded as if someone were striking armor with a blunt object.
Glancing at the nearest chron, they all groaned. Who the hells would be
training at three in the morning? The five of them left their rooms to
find out what was going on.
	The training room was a mess. The terrain was a sort of plains
comprised of nothing but dirt. Said dirt was littered with the wreckage
of a Valkyrie squadron, a Logan, and a few CSA SAMAS Powered Armor.
Standing in the middle of the field was a CSA Enforcer that Ken was
currently attacking. For all the hits he was landing, Ken was doing
surprisingly little damage. The rail cannon had been compromised and
the leg armor was gouged. As the others watched, the Enforcer leaned
over and emptied the shoulder missile pods. Ken looked up in
astonishment as the five guided missiles streaked at him. The scene went
black as the program ended.
	"Not bad, Ken. You took down more than your fair share of
enemies, and the Enforcer isn't exactly the easiest target available."
	Everybody turned to take in the slight figure in the corner.
	"Vincent, what the hell is going on?!?"
	"Oh, hi guys. Did we wake you? My apologies. It is, however,
good that you are awake now. Step aside, Ken. It's my turn. DYNA."
	*YAWN*
	"Funny. Restart program Aleph-22. Increase difficulty 25%."
	*Program activated.*
	"Stand back."
	The scorched-earth scene came to life again without the wreckage.
In its place were fully functional units. Vincent turned his usual
combat glare skyward as the Valkyries, led by a Logan, initiated the
charge. They dove in firing. He let the rythm of the heat take him as
U-232 shells and directed energy rained down around him. In a flash the
crystalline armor had grown around him, the symbol on the chest
depicting a blood-dripping hand. No quarter. He assumed the Piccolo
stance and began to yell. The yell turned into a roar and the force of
the roar sent the Valkyries and their Logan tumbling out of control. 
Most of them smashed into each other, taking their assault force of
thirteen down to just six. He let them go as the SAMAS rose into view.
	He had been wondering what changes DYNA would make as per the
difficulty increase. Ken had faced standard Sams. These weren't
standard Sams. These were Smiling Jacks. Bad news.
	He reached down into the reserve of strength deep within himself,
and felt the call of the storm. He looked up to see the sky turning
black with the approaching t-storm. This one carried a message... He
stared at and whispered to it, almost too low for the others to hear.
	"Take me."
	His armor, once crystalline blue, changed now to black and
sprouted combat claws. He spoke again, one voice that sounded like
seven.
	"We are Dragnar. We are eternal. Those who stand before us
perish."
	He took the charge of Smiling Jacks head on, wielding no weapon
save the claws. In a thrice, they were vanquished and the Valkyries
were circling around again. He leapt up to a wing surface and sought
out vital components. One by one, the Valkyries landed. In flames.
He had now to face down the Enforcer.
	With one last roar, the armor faded again to its blue color and
the storm dissipated. He drew the Swords and wrapped their magic around
him as a cloak. It was the only way.
	"DYNA."
	*Zzzzz...*
	"Not funny. Splice in program Highland A-1."
	*Program running. Nice touch. Are you owning all their base
yet?*
	"No, but remind me to kill Xell when I'm done here."
	*Don't forget to...*
	"Shut up."
	In the distance, drums began to sound. War drums. And they were
accompanied by an odd, keening wail.
	"Ah, the sound of me pipers."
	The lone Enforcer rose out of the wreckage of its comrades,
searching for the only recognizable target. Vincent ran towards it,
hoping he would have enough of a lead to stay alive. Finding him, it
opened up with the rail cannon. This thing was damn accurate, almost
enough to beat his being damn lucky. He leaped and swung, using the
magic of the blades to see to it that his aim was true. He landed at
the same time as the cannon barrel. Its primary weapon compromised and
its only target too close to use much of anything else, the Enforcer
attempted to squash him as if he were a roach. Leaping again, he
called to his personage the crystal gauntlets, willing them to be
formed with the claws. Grabbing hold at about knee level, he dug in
and claw-climbed his way up to the left shoulder. Once again trusting
the magic to perfect his accuracy, he compromised every missile the
thing had in its shoulder tubes. Leaping down, he severed the legs at
the knees as he fell. The Colossus dropped, lacking the necessary
support to remain standing. Dragging itself forward with its arms, the
pilot resolved himself to finish this... annoyance. Dashing forward,
Vincent struck at its shoulder joints, thus removing the arms. Now
without locomotive means altogether, the pilot attempted a parley.
	"I wish to surrender."
	"On what terms?"
	"Unconditional, if need be."
	"Your surrender is... unacceptable."
	Dashing forward with a yell, he leaped on to the back of the
doomed Enforcer. After a few strategic slashes, he was eye-to-eye with
the terrified pilot. Dispatching him casual efficiency, Vincent turned
towards the waist section. Now things got interesting. Letting go the
Sword of Earth, he leaped for the final time, landing point first on
the second of the five subnuclear batteries powering the Enforcer.
Slashing down the long axis, he compromised at least two of the three in
his path.  He leapt down and joined the others.
	"I'd stand back if I were you guys."
	"Why?"
	"That thing's about to achieve flight. And I don't mean with a
jet pak."
	Alarms and recording began to activate within the Enforcer.
	"Warning. Subnuclear cells 2, 3, 4, 5 breached. Core temperature
at 63% and rising. Meltdown imminent. All crew evacuate. Core
temperature at 70% and rising."
	"On second thought, run. Far and fast."
	"Again, why?"
	"I didn't count on hitting cell 5. That thing's gonna unleash
hell."
	They ran. All of them but Ken, who was thrown back by the
resulting explosion. Again, the training room went black with the end
of the program. Vincent turned to Ken, who had risen and was staring at
him slack-jawed, and resumed his professorly attitude.
	"I warned you about those missiles. You did good with the cannon,
though. In all my years of fighting those things, I've never been able
to cut the barrel in half like that. The Sams and Valkyries were
apparently nothing. Maybe we should change the unit parameters next
time. A few more Logans should do it. Maybe a Thanatos or two.
Any questions?"
	"You're amazing."
	"What?"
	"How did you do that?"
	"Do what?"
	"That Enforcer. And those Sams. How did you know exactly where
to strike them?"
	"Simple. I've piloted both."
	"What?!?"
	Vincent turned to the others.
	"You didn't tell him, did you?"
	"Um... no."
	He turned his attention back to Ken, who was apparently oblivious
to the byplay right before his eyes.
	"You... haven't seen my quarters, have you?"
	"No."
	"Let's go. I make a mean cup of tea. Interested?"
	"Sure. I don't know what tea has to do with anything, but ok."

	Ken stared, dumbstruck, at the vibro-sabre mounted on the wall
above the head in the jar.
	"Who is this?"
	"Wrong question. You should ask 'Who _was_ this?'"
	"Ok. Who was this?"
	"That was Emperor Carl Prosek, late ruler of the Coalition Empire.
I used to work for him."
	"Huh?"
	"In case you haven't noticed, this outfit of mine isn't exactly
NDF issue."
	"I've been meaning to ask you about that. Everybody else I ask
just smiles and says 'Sore wa himitsu desu.' Not like I know what that
means."
	Vincent almost smiled. At least morale was at its usual level.
	"This is a Coalition Army uniform. I wear it to remind myself of
what I once was, of the life I left behind in fear. That, and it's
comfortable."
	"You were CSA?"
	"A long time ago. I kind of... had to leave."
	"Why?"
	"I have the gift, as you've no doubt noticed by now."
	"Uh... yeah.  Kinda obvious."
	"Yeah. I like to think so. Anyway, Carl there found out and
tried to... persuade... me to train as a Psi-Stalker. Me, I was happy
with the piloting gig, so I turned him down. That's when things got...
ugly."
	"How ugly?"
	"Let's just say I spent the next five years of my life running
from the Coalition military. And Triax and the NGR. And the Japanese
Tech Republic. And..."
	"I get the point. How did it end?"
	"I ran into a Gate. The price you pay for looking back while you
run. A few years ago I returned, infiltrated Chi-Town, and killed
Prosek. I had sworn to myself, after I had gotten over the initial
shock of being here, that I would have Prosek's head. There it is."
	"What's become of the Coalition now?"
	"There is no Coalition. The only creatures there now are
supernatural beasts and the killers that hunt them. After Prosek,
nobody was strong enough to control the Coalition States. Last time I
checked, it was all one big Xiticx hive, with the exception of Los
Alamos."
	"Why has Los Alamos survived?"
	"The Los Alamos Genetics Complex still produces Xiticx Hunters.
Thus they are able to stay a stronghold."
	Ken opened his mouth to voice another question, but Vincent
silenced him.
	"Enough questions. Get some sleep. Tomorrow you train harder."