I'm not owner of the personages of Dragon Booster, this fics was written in order to offer awhile of diversion. Some words (Like which they appear in the vocabulary section) are invented by me or some one else whose allowed me use them. Every similitude with a real word is a coincidence.

OPPOSITE FACTIONS

By

Airshadow

CHAPTER I

VISITORS

Review: Two rival families, an anonymous racer, a bet... All this results in is a situation that nobody had been able to foresee.

"Have they arrived?"

Cain respectfully watched the man who posed the question. He was far too familiar with Word Paynn's cold facial expressions to feel the fear that any other would. Moordryd, on the other hand, watched his father with interest, thinking to himself that his father was certainly planning something, if he would allow the two more powerful Diamath Corp CEOs to enter Paynn Citadel.

Diamath Corp had become the most powerful rival of Paynn Incorporated in recent years, all thanks to the emergent leadership of Sehanmus Diamath, a young and enterprising seventeen-year-old financial genius. It was said that his cruel and cold father, Adaberth Diamath, thought to be one of the shrewdest and calculating man that Draconia City had met, had personally taught him everything that he knew about business and profit.

Paynn frowned and raised his eyebrows as old memories wandered through his thoughts. He and Diamath had shared a hidden personal and corporate rivalry during last few decades. The power balance had been slowly shifting towards Diamath Corp until an aggressive corporate maneuver by Paynn forced Diamath to leave Dragon City seven years ago. It was in Draconia City, which was almost as old as Dragon City and it was located around 400 miles to west of it, where Adaberth Diamath passed away some years later.

"Have they arrived?" asked Paynn coldly.

"They are being escorted..." responded Cain curtly.

"Moordryd..." said Paynn coolly.

"Yes, Father?"

"Don't forget what we spoke of..."

Moordryd, with an air of an annoyance, was about to respond with a quick retort when the back doors of the room opened and a group of three young people, including the Diamath siblings, entered.

Sehanmus Diamath entered first. He appeared both arrogant and attractive; at first sight his long black hair framed a face that had the expression of a daydreaming and serene boy, but challenging blue eyes that shone as live coals on either side of an aquiline nose denied this. The determination reflected in his broad chin was confirmation that it was dangerous to cross him. His thin and strong body was elegantly dressed in white, silver, purple and a clear tone of blue-gray; appropriate for informal meetings.

Word Paynn watched Sehanmus with interest and unconsciously made a fast calculation of the possibilities of success in his projects of having him as an ally. The idea was rejected almost immediately; although Sehanmus lacked the experience that the years give and had double Moordryd's determination, still he was a deadly rival; after those brief reflections, Word Paynn fixed his attention to Sehanmus's sister, Silvanna.

Silvanna was Sehanmus' twin sister. She had pale skin, and that gave her a spiritual air to her appearance. Her blue-grayish eyes were very expressive; they could have a benevolent sparkle, and then a second later, show her fury with their glance. The smoothness of her features was framed by her silver long hair.

Her body was thin and well formed; she simultaneously radiated grace in her walk and security in herself. At those moments she was wearing a gray simple suit with blue. Word Paynn stopped himself from a sardonic smile; if her brother was dangerous, she was very inoffensive, almost undeserving of his attention and he turned aside his glance to the third visitor: Elsie Drakhe.

Paynn watched, interested. Elsie Drakhe's sun-tanned face was expressive as a stone statue; no emotion or expression was reflected by her intense green eyes, which were shielded behind her glasses, or by her thin lips. At the same time, she was efficiently personified; Diamath's siblings could always count on her to logically reason and make cold calculations in any circumstance.

Elsie was as tall as Silvanna and she had a similar physical constitution. She wore a dark gray suit and an elaborate ponytail cascaded from the crown of her head down to her shoulders.

She had in her left arm her DNB (Digital Note Book), that was a compact computer that allowed its owner take quick notes with the D-Pencil and kept the info in a mini compact disk. She also carried her personal communicator with a hand-free device and microphone, which were the weapons that she most frequently used in the corporative wars of Diamath Corp.

"I welcome you." said Word Paynn while he walked towards the young people with a big smile and a benevolent attitude that didn't manage to deceive those who knew him well. "You don't know the deep sorrow that I felt when I knew that my old friend, Adaberth had passed away, I am so sorry not to be able to settle down the old differences that were between us. I am very pleased that you two accepted my invitation and came to visit me. "

"It was the least we could do for a businesses-mate of my father's" talked back Sehanmus while he thought It's always good to know who your adversary is. Isn't it, Paynn?

"How you have grown, little Silvanna. Still, I remember how you liked to ride your dragon cub when you were a little girl, you were a great rider," said Word Paynn while he turned aside his glance to the girl and Moordryd approached his father "I think that you still remember Moordryd, don't you?

Both teenagers watched each other for a second then they forced a smile. Silvanna said, "How could I forget such a great little Pain?"

It took Moordryd great effort to contain himself while a badly disguised mocking smile appeared on Silvanna's fine lips; Word seemed to ignore that and to Sehanmus, said "I believe that your father has not mentioned this to you, but we worked together on several projects, that thanks to our terrible misunderstanding, never reached their conclusion."

"Then" Sehanmus said, "It's time to bring those unfinished projects to an end."

"Moordryd, stay here with Silvanna and Miss Drakhe" said Word in a more benevolent tone, while he watched his son. "­We have some pending work to take care of." He added, as though it had been a sudden idea that had struck him, looking at the girl, "I guess, little Silvanna, that you will want to visit part of Dragon City in order to remember old times and to get what you need for your University course, Moordryd can go with you."

"Oh! Thanks Mr. Paynn, you and Moordryd are very kind," replied Silvanna with apparent courtesy.

"It's a pleasure… Indeed, I only ask you to try to return before the dinner. "He added "I'm extremely pleased that you two accepted to dine with us tonight."

While Paynn and Diamath retired to the offices to discuss their projects, Elsie began to answer one incoming call to her communicator. Moordryd took advantage of the occasion to speak with Silvanna.

"Then, do you plan to study at Dragon City University?" said Moordryd with a pretending courtesy

"Yes," confirmed Silvanna" the best thing of all is that you won't be there to pull my braids like when we were kids."

"How charming" muttered the teen while he thought that she was more than irritating.

Moordryd was considering how he could maintain conversation in courteous terms when Elsie, who already had already finished her call, spoke "It was the committee in charge of organizing next week's race "she said while watching Silvanna. "They have allowed Jhanus to participate."

"Who is Jhanus?" Moordryd asked.

"Jhanus Ghemins is Diamath Corp.'s sponsored racer." replied Elsie, sounding a little bored

"Good," interrupted Moordryd. "I hope that your sponsored racer doesn't feel so bad when I leave him in the last place."

"With a little help, I suppose?" said Silvanna in a blatantly mocking tone

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?" Moordryd yelled while Cain held one of his shoulders, trying to contain him.

"Come on. Moordryd!" Silvanna answered sarcastically "The whole planet knows that the only way you can win a race is with tricks, but the only problem is that we can't prove anything."

"Ahem, ahem" All people there turned to Elsie "Excuse me, Silvanna, are we going to the mall in the Sun City section?"

"Oh! Yes," said Silvanna with a wide smile

"And, do you wish some company, ladies? " said Cain with in his most educated tone. He knew about the Paynns' objectives and thought that it was the best strategy to help to obtain them "I've heard that once in a while, those wraith dragons appear around there and we wouldn't want something bad to happen to you, would we?"

"That's true." said Moordryd, trying to keep his keep his composure.

"Oh! I'm not worried about that," said Silvanna. "If one of those wraith dragons appears, I am sure that The Dragon Booster will stop it. Elsie, I believe that we will have to take our DNB with us, if Dragon Booster appears, we can get his autograph, what do you think?"

"I've prepared yours, in case that happens."

"Good, then we're leaving. Good bye, Moordryd, I'll see you at dinner."

After those sarcastic words and followed closely by Elsie, Silvanna left the room laughing.

"I don't envy your work." said Cain after the door had been closed

"AHHHHGGGGGGH!" Moordryd shouted with rage. It was lucky that nobody outside of that room could hear him "I JUST CAN'T STAND HER! FIRST, I'LL DEFEAT THAT JHANUS IN THE RACE, AND LATER I'll MAKE HER REGRET IT ONCE AND FOR ALL"

---------- o0o ----------

"But... who's Jhanus?"

It was the question that all Dragon City asked, and that was raised in that precise moment in the forgotten temple where Mortis resided.

"I said, who's Jhanus?" asked Artha.

"Wait, wait... I am configuring the interphase of scanner... "

"Stop the class, professor," said bored Kitt. "Just told us, who's Jhanus?"

"Just a second," said Parm. "It is almost ready"

In a screen appeared the racer image with all the information available about Jhanus, so everybody there could watch it; Mortis couldn't avoid making a gesture with his chin, and it was the only signal that something in that racer had surprised to him and was something that he hadn't anticipated to see.

The only available image of Jhanus showed a racer dressed with a baggy uniform, that prevented anyone from seeing the rider's physical constitution, and combined the colors gray, turquoise and purple. Thanks to the gloves, boots and to the uniform's high neck, nobody knew the tone of the racer's skin. The hair and face characteristics were covered with a helmet which showed the aggressive logo of Diamath Corp.: a three-headed dragon that seemed ready to jump and attack.

The rider's bio also appeared alongside of the picture

Full name: Jhanus Ghemins

General Information: 5'8'', 139 lbs, Ambidextrous

Age: Unknown

Primary DraconiumUnknown

Influence:

Secondary DraconiumUnknown

Influence:

Skills: Acrobatics, martial art, agility, team work, races.

Comments:Winner of Draconia City's street circuit. Racer sponsored by Diamath Corp.

Seconds later a thin black dragon image, with a light blue blurred markings, appeared; her light-green eyes had a malignant brightness and her four powerful paws were adorned with threatened claws. Eclypse's triangular mouth was full of razor-sharp fangs. The corresponding information appeared to a side of the threatening image.

Dragon.

Name: Eclypse

Attributes: Intelligence, balance, speed, team work, loyalty.

Bone Color:Black

Skills: Races.

Commentaries:

"Wow," said Kilt almost laughing "Jhanus's very timid, or so extremely ugly that he has to hide his face... "

Almost immediately the glances of Kitt and Mortis met. The girl smiled, as if ashamed about her commentary.

"That is from the database of Draconia City, but it still has not yet been confirmed which other events he's going to participate besides the 'Annual Mid City Race" Parm observed while he keyed more buttons. "Rumor says that he will participate in Dagon City's Foundation Anniversary Race"

"It doesn't matter!" Artha exclaimed, "We're going to beat him!"

" Drac! Go team!" confirmed Lance and laughed

Beau also confirmed this with a wide smile and nodded his head. In the middle of all that joy and optimism, there was one person who had a vague sensation that he had heard the Diamath surname before.