Infinite Stratos: Uncle Sam

Chapter 1

The infinite stratos was developed at the eclipse of the twenty first century, plunging the times into what many consider the second great technological revolution. Humanity, equipped with the power of gods, entered an age of golden prosperity. However, what many did not realize, or perhaps chose not to realize, was the looming darkness our ascension would herald.

━━━

Muddled darkness was all the young Ichika's dark brown eyes could discern past the brown cloth tied around his head. The barest hints of light and shadows dancing across his peripherals and the light tapping of footsteps on concrete were the only things that clued the boy to his circumstance. He didn't have much time to ponder nor pity however, as the blindfold was roughly yanked down to his neck.

"Same as the picture and features check out too. This runt's Orimura's brother alright, M will be pleased for once," a woman noted with an almost disinterested candidness.

Ichika winced as the overhead lights momentarily blinded him before snapping his eyes to the woman who just spoke. Shoulder length black hair neatly lined a young face like a picture frame. Only a single scar across her cheek blemished her otherwise porcelain-like features.

Her eyes made him instinctively shrink away however. Contrasting her aloof countenance, her red eyes glimmered with restrained cruelty. There was a sadistic desire underneath her gaze that was only held back by a chilly professionalism. Even the adolescent Ichika knew that the woman and he were vastly different creatures.

"You know, we've still got some time. Why don't we have a little fun with the kid? I got a brand new tool just for this kind of stuff," another woman with long brown hair cackled, a manic smile smearing across her face as she dangled a jagged knife in front of the boy's nose.

However the woman drew back with narrowed eyes as the soft roar Ichika recognized as the mechanical sounds of an infinite stratos landing interrupted whatever act of cruelty that was about to play out.

"The hell? It's too early for Orimura," the woman with brown hair growled.

Blonde hair swayed from side to side as another woman entered the warehouse. Her eyes swept across the smuggled weapons lining the warehouse but paused on the large metallic frames of two IS in their inactive form.

"Did you forget our secondary objective? You'll be disposed of if you ignore another briefing." The red eyed woman swung her gaze to silently scorch her comrade before turning back to the blonde. "We're making a deal with the Americans while we're here. The warehouse is burned after the exchange here so we're knocking out two birds with one stone," the red eyed woman with black hair explained with a frown.

The blonde's gaze flipped from the two women to the obviously kidnapped boy. Had she seen this kid somewhere before? Something in the boy's features was rattling the alarm bells in her head.

"I didn't realize Phantom Task embarrassed themselves with human trafficking, talk about unprofessional," the blonde remarked with a dramatic shake of her head.

The brown haired woman chomped the inside of her cheek, bits of blood internally staining her teeth. Americans, oh so great and patronizing, their pretty little country dripping with hypocrisy.

"We don't, just a standard HVT in an operation we're in the middle of. One that doesn't concern you whatsoever," she snarled.

The blonde frowned while her brain raced to put her thoughts together. She flicked her eyes to the stolen IS before settling back on the boy who she saw trying to subtly loosen his bindings. Shit, now she knew why she recognized the brat. This was Ichika Orimura, Chifuyu goddamn Orimura's little brother. The world's leading terrorist organization in possession of the strongest IS pilot's kid brother. The whole situation was a red flag. Was she on her way now? How much longer did they have?