Chapter 6

[Revenge]

The sound was silent as Anna and Angel walked down the hall, still embraced. A loud shriek and sounds of crying came from a room in their hall. They both separated, and ran toward the room, where the door was open.

"No…" Anna and Angel walked into the room, where Claire was on her knees in front of Jonathan, who was sprawled out on the floor. Sobs and tears rolled down her cheeks as she held Jonathan in her arms.

"No, Jonathan…" she said. "you can't die…" she said, as more tears came down. The dried blood on his clothes slightly clung to Claire's kung-fu pants. She sat there, looking at Jonathan. She sobbed, and she put him down. As the couple walked into the room, dried blood was everywhere. Anna looked around in shock as she too ran to Jonathan. Angel closed his eyes as tears started to roll down. Angel looked to the floor and many tears started to fall from his eyes.

// No… //

// He was my good friend… //

Looking at Jonathan, his eyes rolled in the back of his head, blood slightly dribbled out of his mouth.

// I'll kill whoever did this to you, Jonathan… //

Claude, at that time, walked in amidst a smell of blood and death.

"No," said Claude. Claude leaned toward the wall and pounded it. "It can't be…" Angel put a comforting arm around Claude as he, Anna and Claire walked out of the room.

Sean was standing in the lobby with his glasses pulled over his eyes, his trenchcoat wrapped around him. He looked up to the four remaining pilots who walked up to him. Right before Angel opened his mouth, Sean responded quickly.

"I know what happened," said Sean. "We'll have a funeral soon, they're picking up the body now," as he looked past the coroners taking Jonathan's body away. Claire walked past and sat down on the couch. She curled up and started crying again.

Rain was pouring, and the pilots stood in a desolate cementery. The rain, pattering upon the land sounded as if it were mourning. It sounded as if anything were. Jonathan's coffin stood on a small platform in the rain. Rain and tears dripped down all of the pilot's faces, as they looked on.

Fighting a war that they were never chosen for,

Is that they were hand picked for destiny…

Is it that one of the chosen has fallen?

Angel looked around in the rain, looking over his dark glasses as he held Anna closer to him, who was also crying. Claude stood with his head bowed, tears also dropping to the ground.

One of the chosen has fallen?

Fear not;

Another Angel of peace has come to restore justice to the universe…

Angel closed his eyes as he looked onto Jonathan's grave. He took the flowers that he had bought from the florist and slowly set them upon Jonathan's coffin.

"We always were by you," Angel whispered, "rest in peace," as him and Anna walked away towards the van, still embraced. Claire approached the coffin and set her hand upon the pitch black hardwood.

"You know, Jonathan," she mumbled as she smirked, "I'll settle this f***in injustice that put you here…" she pounded on his coffin as she strut towards the van. Claude, finally approached as he stood facing the coffin. He reached under his jacket and pulled out his quantum theorem textbook. He slowly lifted the lid and placed the book inside.

"Rest in peace, my friend…" He smirked, dropping a tear of sadness as he walked in the direction of the van. Claude got in, everyone still mourning.

"Guys, we're heading to the base," said Sean. "Some modifications have been made to your Votals if you expect to match up to those mass-produced EvA Votals." Sean turned around as he looked toward the coffin as it was being lowered into the damp earth.

// I'll avenge your death, Jonathan… remember that…. //

The second sight of the base was slightly confused, since the day's past events have taken one of the worst turns. Large buildings filled the area as many soldiers trained upon the fields or were jogging along the roads. The pilots stepped out and walked into the large hangar.

"Since you have turned against the U.E.O. you will be accepted and will be taken in as Advanced Votal Pilots, also known as AVP. After remodeling them, we also have updated them." The luminous sight of the remodeled Votals stunned all of the pilots. Sean started again. "You will use your updated Votals in your battle against the U.E.O." He looked toward Angel. "Also, if you still go against your promise, you know what happens…" Angel nodded his head in acknowledgement, as he looked on. Sean handed out individual papers, and Angel looked at his.

"Angel Xero…" Angel mumbled as he read through it. "Upgraded rifles, chain whips, Angel wings? Upgrades to speed and defense…" His eyes moved down the paper. "Good…" He said as he climbed up the ladder toward the cockpit.

~With Anna~

The size of her new Votal was overwhelming as she looked at the paper, which was handed to her from Sean.

"Nightsound Votal…" she said as her eyes flickered across the paper. "All weapons upgraded, faster speed…." She looked around the paper again. "swell…"

~With Claire~

Walking toward her Votal, Claire read the paper and followed the direction at the same time without looking up.

"Blackwind…" Claire said as she looked at the luminous size and read on. "Upgraded speed and booster size, stealth modules fitted upon the back and front, Ki blasters from the wrists…" she smiled. "revenge is sweet, isn't it…"

~With Claude~

The previous death of Jonathan left Claude stunned and he was sitting on the platform next to his Votal. Suddenly, he pulled out the paper given to him and started reading.

"Diablo," Claude said as he looked upon the large, dark and blood red Votal. "This could be interesting…" said Claude, as he read on. "Fire cannons placed in the shoulders, extendable shortel chains outfitted in the arms…" Claude's eyes widened. "Quite interesting…" Claude climbed up the ladder and disappeared in the cockpit.

Time passed, and the pilots spent time with themselves. After more time passed, Angel, Anna, Claire and Claude sat alone in the briefing room, alone and confused. Angel got up and pounded a desk.

"Bastards," mumbled Angel. "I'll kill them for what they did…" He pounded the desk and his eyes looked to the floor.

"Look, I know what happened because of his death," said Claire. "I should have done something…" She sat glowering at the wall. "I was in the room next to his…" She punched the table, making a large dent in the shape of her fist. She stared at the dent, and her eyes started to water as she leaned upon the table and started to cry again. The other three pilots could not do anything as Claire felt all her pain coming back.

"Those bastards! *sniff* I'll kill them all…" she screamed as she pounded the table again. She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Sean, passed her by while entering the room.

"What was that about?" Sean said as he took off his glasses. "Is she still mourning?"

"Yeah," replied almost everyone in the room.

"Since she's not able to fight, we'll use our resources and you'll have me on your next mission," said Sean as he straightened out his trench coat. "Meet back here tomorrow morning at 6:00." At that time, the four pilots left the room, dazed and confused after the day's events.

~The next morning~

Angel got up and stretched, looking out the window. The dim sunlight barely filtered through the shade as he slowly walked toward the bathroom. After stepping out, Angel scratched the back of his head then sat down on his bed. Looking at the ceiling, he took a tennis ball from the bedside table next to him and started throwing it up.

"War…" Angel mumbled, "never a peaceful victory…" continued Angel as he threw the tennis ball and it bounced back and he caught it. He grabbed his CD player and ran out the door. Approaching the Votal hangar, he saw his Votal standing among his other friend's along with one that had not looked familiar. A green colored Votal, Which had a throw off cloak, large light cannons fused to it's forearms, and missile launchers mounted on the shoulders. He shrugged and ran into the hangar. He came in to see everyone, talking to Sean.

"Angel, get over here," said Sean as he waved Angel toward him. "We're going on a mission to assault the U.E.O. base on colony sixty five," Sean continued as he pointed to a board which had blueprints of the colony. "All of you will be split into separate groups and will be sent to attack a different part of the base," A man with a couple of papers walked up to Sean and whispered something into his ear. "Actually, now it will be two groups," said Sean. "Angel, Claude, you are group one," Continuing, he started again. "Me, Anna and Claire will be the second group." Everyone nodded in acknowledgement as they all pondered what attacks would be used. Five minutes later they walked off. All of them climbed into the cockpits of their Votals and started the warmup program.

"We'll be launched in twenty minutes and follow the coordinates, we'll attack soon." Said Sean, as the Votals slowly started to lurch and slide out into space. Angel looked out into space as he felt something would happen.

~Twenty minutes later~

"We're approaching the colony, arm your weapons," Sean warned as Angel pulled out his now Neo-Reitan rifle and glided toward the base. Angel pressed a button, and the Votal's massive angel wings spread into space and made the Votal look intimidating.

"Split into your groups, let's head out…" came unto Angel's headset as he sped towards the base. "Attack!" Said Sean as he fired the first shot upon the colony, with the unknown green-colored Votal. An explosion rocked the colony and reinforcements came out immediately. EvA Votals poured out into space to avenge the scar that was left upon the colony. The fight began as the Rebel Votals tore through the mass-produced EvA Votals that were from the U.E.O.

"Some weapon that was just created!" screamed Angel as he fired a shot from his Neo-Reitan rifle, which tore through 5 EvA's.

Suddenly, five other Votals entered the fray that was just started. Angel's View point turned as he saw the five new Votals.

"What the hell?" said Angel as a Votal identical to his faced him.

"Angel…" said Jun.

"You Bastard!" screamed Angel. "You used me and the others just for your sick twisted plot?"

"Yes…"

"Why?" Then, Jun's Votal pulled out a long Beam Katana as he faced Angel. Jun swung, and Angel's Votal barely missed it.

"What the hell?"

"Destroy… Pilots…" said Jun in a drone type of voice.

"What the…?" Said Angel again as Jun swung more and more, just barely scratching Angel's Votal. "Bitch!" Then, Angel pulled out his Light Katanas and charged at Jun. The Katanas forced against each other, causing a shower of electricity and sparks to pour down on the Votals. Locked in intense battle between Instructor and Student, a fatal miss by inches or a let-down of guard would cause immense pain unto the victim. Repeatedly striking, sparks showered down, and no signs of letting up showed at all.

~With Claude~

"Veronica…?" came from Claude, as he became scared after what he heard Angel say upon his headset.

"Claude,"

"Yeah?"

"Time to Die!" screamed Veronica as she pulled out a large metal bo staff and charged toward Claude. Claude desperately dodged in hope of deterring Veronica from killing him.

"I thought we had something going on?"

"Traitor…" She screamed as she swung again and again, in hopes of hitting Claude. Claude dodged every one, and hoped that she would snap out of this rage. Finally she hit him, very hard. Surges of electricity flew through Claude's cockpit.

"What the hell, Veronica?!" He extended the Heat chains from his wrists as he was ready to protect himself from her. She swung repeatedly, and again hit him.

"What's wrong!" as Claude's Votal slowly tilted to the side and more surges of electricity flew through the cockpit.

"That's it!" He swung his chains, as they wrapped around Veronica's Votal. The heat melted her armor and heat came through Veronica's cockpit. She screamed in pain as the heat became higher and it started to melt some of the things around her.

"Ahhhh!" she screamed, and Claude let the chains go of her Votal.

"You stupid fool!" screamed Veronica as she regained control of her staff, smacked Claude's legs as he lost control of them.

"No, Veronica! Stop!" Claude replied as he countered with the chain, wrapping the Votal in it, and turning up the heat. She once again screamed in pain, but Claude didn't let go, and the Genitanium slowly melted away.

"No!" screamed Veronica as the heat started to burn her and her skin.

"I'm sorry, Veronica…" Claude said as he turned on the flamethrowers, and the flames engulfed the Votal, which became a solid, half melted block of Genitanium. Claude heard the screams of Veronica as he killed his once thought love.

"No…." whispered Claude. "No…" as the chains let go and his Votal stood in space, EvA Votals surrounding him.

"No!" Screamed Claude as he went into a rage, attacking all the EvA Votals in sight. Red chains flew and looked like a blur, melting and destroying armor whichever laid in its way.

~With Claire~

The two identical Votals floated eye to eye in space, and at the same time, they withdrew their weapons. They both disappeared, then reappeared, weapons clashing at exactly the same time. Suddenly, the battle drew to a stalemate, both holding weapons which were locked, sparks also showering. Suddenly, Claire said something.

"You know Joseph," she continued. "I always thought you were cute…"

"You did?" Just then, Claire took this as the right opportunity and hit the weapon in the right place. The beam sword cut straight through the middle and straight into Nicholas' chest. Blood came down and also came across the cockpit as his eyes flashed around and then looked around in terror.

"Why?"

"Weakling…" She said as she slid the sword in deeper and pulled it out. The vacuum of space sucked the air out, and Nicholas ran out of air, suffocating. His last breath of air was a mumbled word.

"Bit..ch.." he said before he collapsed and died. Claire stared long and hard at the screen and then went on a rampage, destroying everything in sight, the EvA Votals.

~With Anna~

Anna and Joseph were duking it out. Sound blasts were firing back and forth and dodges and counters were performed many times over. Suddenly, they became in a lock and both had their sound blasters aimed at each other's head. Out of nowhere, Claire suddenly entered the small fray. A large body check sent Joseph's Votal flying. Up against the two rebel Votals, 5 EvA Votals already assembled behind him, ready to back him up. Claire flew toward them with her Light Rods, tearing through the EvAs, then reaching Joseph. Suddenly, Claire and Anna sat face to face with Joseph. He had his blasters aimed at both of them, when out of nowhere Claire struck Joseph with no warning. Slicing off his legs, he lost control of his boosters and he started floating. She then proceeded to slice off the arms, then the head. The decapitated Votal floated in space, surrounded in a ball of electricity. Then, Anna screamed in anger and fired a large sound blast that engulfed Joseph's Votal and it exploded.

"Bastard," she said as she and Claire flew off to join the others in fighting the EvA's and to destroy the Colony.

~With Sean~

"Who are you?" questioned Sean as he looked at his enemy, who was a young girl.

"Jonathan, you traitor!" screamed Maria as she charged at Jonathan. He slowly moved out of the way, and smirked.

"Do you really know who I am?" said Sean as he pulled out his large Katanas, which showed out of the corners of his cloak.

"You'll pay for treason!" she screamed again as she flew with high speed at Jonathan. Suddenly, she was cut down easily by Sean's massive Katanas. Maria screamed in pain as she felt herself being cut into half, feeling the hot beam slicing through her. Blood splattered throughout the cockpit, as she tried to move her legs as when she looked down she was in half. Just then, a vacuum of air suffocated her, and she suffered the same fate as Joseph.

~With Angel~

Screams of traitor and cussing could be heard over the wavelength as Jun and Angel clashed for a full hour now. What seemed like hours were really minutes and Angel could feel some bad karma. Suddenly, Angel fell into a large rage and his aura filled the cockpit. A bright, visible light could be seen from outside the cockpit of Angel's Votal, and suddenly everything erupted into slow motion. The beam weapons collided once, twice, and suddenly, Angel tore through Jun's Votal, demolishing it and cutting it in half. Jun's final scream was during the final attack, and finally cutting through, most of the EvA Votals started to retreat and stop advancing. Suddenly, firing stopped as a large fireball engulfed the colony, brightening up the small area like a red giant. The explosion destroyed some EvA's, as well as the five pilots were fleeing.

"Get out of the area!" screamed Angel as the Votals exited the fray as fast as they joined it. Angel looked to the side and saw Sean's Votal.

// Is he the true fifth pilot? //

// Is he really? //

Gliding at top speed through space, the five pilots headed back toward the fire-covered planet they would eventually would call home.