Chapter 5: Just Friends?

Chapter 5: Just Friends?

Kyleen stood, stunned at Ray's reaction to her question. It was something she just didn't understand. She wanted to find out what this was about. Megan from across the street, looked around and saw Kyleen still standing in the same place. She decided to go and talk to her. "Hey Ky, are you ok?" Kyleen didn't respond, she just stood there. "Kyleen get back to Earth please...may I assume that things didn't go as planned?" Kyleen turned then walked away, toward the direction of the school. "I have to find out," she said to herself. "But I'm guessing he probably asked her to a date, that seems to be the only answer."

Lisa walked with Clyde, and filed into the bus. Since he didn't want to leave the matter at hand. "Come on Lisa you got to tell me!" "Why would I do that!?" "Gosh Clyde, is it really that important, for goodness sake." "If you really want to know, Ray just asked me out on a date." "Ooooh...Ray did, I didn't think he had it in him." "Well, there's a lot of things you don't know about him Clyde." "Well suddenly he decides on somebody else, well Kyleen must be mad." "How does this deal with Kyleen?" "Well no to be the bearer of bad news, but Ray and Kyleen used to go out with each other, in fact if I didn't know any better, I'd say they were boyfriend, and girlfriend." However by the time Clyde came to this point Lisa wasn't listening. The bus had just arrived to the combat area, and then class was going to be started.

A loudspeaker blared overhead "Welcome to the combat area everybody here we train future mobile suit pilots, and security pilots, for future jobs that may involve mobile suits." "Also we are having a competition, between us and several other schools to see who would be the best pilots for the job of United Alliance pilots, Here is how combat will work, you are to cripple the opponents mobile suit, not destroy it. You are ranked according to wins, losses, and how well you do." "Good Luck Everyone!" Lisa was standing next to Clyde, and then decided to ask. "Hey Clyde isn't this basically a tournament?" "Yeah its just their excuse of finding pilots to fight for them. See they haven't won the tournament yet, so they hope each year to find a pilot that can win it for them."

As the two talked two pilots prepared to board two mobile suit Soldati class suits. Soldati's are the descendants of the Leo. They have the same capabilities. However the Soldati's are a bit stronger and more durable. The last ditch attempt to bring mobile suits back into the mainstream, after losing their glare in the Omega Wars. The mobile suits prepared for battle, and clashed the first suit, fired rounds from a 100mm rifle. The second suit brings a shield up to deflect. During the fight, Lisa and a group of others started to discuss the tournament and who's ranked what. (Just a little note, although the mobile suits appear to be close, in reality they are not, they are a far distance away, the instructors use small type of cart to drive them to the suits.)

"Well does anyone know who's ranked number one?" Lisa asks the group. The group discussed between, themselves, and finally came up with an answer. "That would be Ray, he just recently defeated the other top ranked pilot." "Ray...so who's the second?" One of the guys points over to Clyde. "Hmm...its you Clyde?" "Yup, don't want to brag." "Well that's quite a standing..." After they had finished the talk, they discovered that the fight was over. The first Soldati had used a beam saber, and had it against the cockpit of the second pilot. "The next match will be between the lower ranked pilots." Lisa find out the rank of her ability. "Hmm...that would be me wouldn't it?" "Yeah, and me." A gruff voice comes from the group. "The name's Barry Walters, no mercy from me little rookie pilot." "Rookie?" "Well I'll show you what a rookie can do." "Will the pilots Lisa Matthews, and Barry Walters please report forward."

"That's me..." "Good luck Lisa, hope you go up a rank." "Uh...thanks Clyde I hope I do as well." "Not a chance with you fighting me." The two the report and the instructors lead hem to the suits. The instructor that lead Lisa, to the Soldati, was a familiar face, although Lisa couldn't place it. "Good luck miss." "Thanks." "She's ready!" he shouts. "He's ready!" "Ok then you may begin." The two Soldati's then begin their move forward. Barry's Soldati takes out a beam saber, and begins to rush forward. Lisa's Soldati also takes out the saber, and rushes to meet Barry. However to Barry's knowledge he tried a special maneuver, he stopped, drew out the rifle with the remaining, hand, drooped the saber, and began firing. Lisa however ignored the technique and kept rushing with the saber. "Huh? This can't be! Usually they stop after that barrage..." During his confusion he had let down the guard. Lisa used the saber, and dropped the rifle with the saber, and brought it to the cockpit where Barry stared at a large saber near him. "OK I give in! Just don't bring the saber any closer!" The instructor heard the cry from the communicator, and stopped the fight. "Well done Lisa! You can go up a rank now." The group cheered her on. Without too much thinking though she and Clyde gave each other a big hug of excitement. "Well done Lisa you did great!" he gave her a great encouragement. Lisa then found out what she was doing and immediately let go. Lisa blushed a dark shade of red, and looked away. There were a few more matches, and the day ended. However one person had been watching the whole time. Michael Fitz the instructor looked on, and wondered if those two were really only just friends.