A/N: Man, I'm fast. I just wanted to thank you all who reviewed. Shelly,
DragonWinlan, all of you. This chapter is extra long just for you. I'll get
to work on the next chapter soon. First I gotta get me some grapes or a
peach, I'm starvin' over here!
Enjoy!!
Raven lay awake staring at the ceiling. One hand was behind his head. The other was around Moonbay, who was sleeping next to him. He was just cooling down as the fire inside had been put out. He was exhausted and sedated beyond belief.
He had the dream again. His parents were killed and he could do nothing. Then when Prozan took him. He could have killed him and none of this would have happened. After that he swore he'd never hesitate about anything again.
He looked over at Moonbay. She was resting on his bare chest. He'd never let anyone get this close to him before, but he trusted her and she was special. He brushed some of her hair away from her face. She stirred a little and looked up at him. She gave him a warm smile.
" What are you thinking about?" She asked shifting so she could look up at him.
" Nothing." He said.
" Liar. You can tell me." She said.
" Things." He said.
" Like what?" She asked.
" Just things." He said looking back up at the ceiling.
" You wanna talk about it?" She asked bringing his face down to look at her.
" Can't remember enough." He said looking down.
" Don't worry Raven. If it really is that important, it'll come to you." She said.
He smiled.
" Thanks Baybay." He said; utilizing the nickname he gave her.
" And don't call me Baybay, alright?" She said.
" 'Kay Baybay." He said.
She shook her head and snuggled against him. He was so warm. In her mind, she had berated herself for all of this. She was really starting to like Raven. He wasn't as bad as he had been before. He was gentle and compassionate and he had not caused any major damage. He spared the two bouncer's lives because she asked him to. And he told her he'd never hurt her. She chuckled to herself as she realized something.
" What's funny?" Raven asked.
" You were my enemy. You've tried to kill my friends and me for years. Now in a few short weeks, you're different. You've changed. And I think I.I think I'm in love with you." She said.
He looked at her in shock. He couldn't believe it. Somebody.. Somebody loved him?
***************
Hitlz and Reese stood above a cliff over looking Jubilation City. Specular and Ambient were next to them.
" He's been dormant too long. This is not how my plan is supposed to be going." Hitlz said.
" I vote we slice the transporter's pretty lips off and bury her in the desert." Reese said.
" You're jealous." He said laughing.
" Maybe." She said closing her eyes and looking down.
" She has to be taken out anyway. She's a distraction." He said.
" Agreed." She said.
Hitlz turned to Ambient.
" Your turn. Go kill the transporter girl." He said.
Ambient roared and shot off in a red blaze.
***************
Shadow moved along the plains in the Genosaurer. He wanted to get back before sunrise so no one would see him or Raven. He hoped he saw something he could destroy. That's when he saw the red flash across the sky.
Ambient. He growled.
The red organoid sliced through the sky like a scarlet arrow. He was looking for a suitable ZOID to kill with. He wanted to cause damage and the best ZOID for damage would be a-
Dibison. He growled spying one.
*****************
Raven had been silent for a few seconds. Had he just heard correctly? She was in love with him? He wasn't even sure he knew what love was. But here she had said it plain as day. She took a great risk in saying that. He had to admire her bravery.
Moonbay looked at him. Was she wrong in saying that? Did she mistake fondness for love? Maybe she didn't know what love was yet? Perchance she should not have said that.
" I'm sorry Raven, I-"
Before she could finish, Raven sat up straight and looked around.
" What was that?" He asked.
" What was what?" She asked.
" That noise." He said.
Moonbay perked up and listened.
" I hear it too. It's a ZOID approaching." She said.
" It's a Dibison." Raven said.
Without warning, the room started to shake violently. Moonbay cried out and held onto Raven. The entire building was shaking.
" What was that?! Who's attacking the building?!" She said.
Sooner than Raven could reply, their room was hit again. The whole wall was blown out. A Dibison was right outside and was aiming its guns at them.
" Who's piloting that thing?!" Moonbay asked.
" I don't know. Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Raven yelled.
A growl emitted from the ZOID as it started to ram the building. Raven glared hard at the ZOID. He knew that growl.
" Chikushoo!! That's Ambient!" He yelled.
" Huh?" She said confused.
" Shadow!!" He yelled.
The Dibison was knocked out of the way. The Genosaurer had shoved it out of the way. It roared and shot off it's cannons at the Dibison. In the few spare seconds they had, Raven and Moonbay dressed. Raven went to the blown- out wall and jumped in the cockpit.
" You can't fight a Dibison here! There's hardly enough room for you to even stand up straight, not to mention the civilians!" Moonbay yelled.
" I'll lead him away from the city, you stay here, you understand?!" He yelled back.
Before she could argue anymore, he closed the cockpit and went off to fight. Moonbay huffed. She hated being left on the sidelines. But she knew she was no match and would only get in the way.
*****************
" Alright Shadow, we need to get him away from this place! There are too many people and not enough room to fight!" Raven ordered.
Shadow roared and caught the Dibison in the retractable arm. He then took off dragging the Dibison on the ground. They reached the desert soon enough and stopped. Raven had a little damage from the Dibison firing at him while they dragged it, but it was nothing he couldn't fix.
" Alright Ambient, if it's me you want, then c'mon." Raven said.
The Dibison growled. Then it fired a Burn Out. Raven let the shots hit him. They were no threat to him. He didn't have to worry about anything that Ambient threw at him. He just had to worry about the stray fire. He waited for the smoke to clear.
" Kono mo nano kai (Is that the best you can do?)?" He said taunted.
But when the smoke was gone, he couldn't see the Dibison.
" What?! Where'd he go?!" He yelled.
He turned to look above and behind him. But the Dibison was gone. Raven growled and slammed his fist down on the side panel.
" Find him Shadow!! Now!" He ordered.
Lights danced all over the cockpit as the scanners searched the area for the Dibison. Raven was angry. He was doing his best to keep his temper from getting out of control. He couldn't just shoot off the charge particle gun. There were too many people around.
Wait a minute.
Since when did that stop him?
He smirked to himself. He had asked himself that question while he was dragging the bull ZOID out of the city. He'd never let civilians' lives get on his case. So why should they now?
" *Because Moonbay wouldn't want all those people to die just because I was careless at where I aimed the charged particle beam. *" He thought to himself.
He had made some changes for the transporter. He had spared lives, agreed not to kill and destroy. He had even dragged that ZOID out of the city because she didn't want the people to be hurt. He could have dealt with Ambient there if he had just fired the CPG(Charged Particle Gun) at him. But he went off with him without arguing or questioning her.
" I'm getting' soft." He said to himself.
The beeps from the scanners grabbed his attention from his thoughts. Shadow had located the Dibison. It had gone back to town.
" He went back to town. But if he didn't want me then what did he.Moonbay! Shadow maximize thruster output and get to that city NOW!!" He yelled.
Shadow roared and took off in a black blaze of metal. Raven gripped the controls so tight, if he weren't wearing black gloves, you could see his knuckles turn white.
" If he does anything to her I swear I'll turn him into go kart." He said.
****************
By the time Raven got to the city. Most of it was in shambles. It looked like a tornado had ripped through there. Raven looked around for any sign of life. There were bodies piled up for as far as he could see. Signs were hanging from their respectable places and some were on the ground.
Electrical wires and lines were down and a few were still active. They jumped and hissed as Raven passed. He'd seen destruction before and he had caused it. But actually seeing all the bodies was new. Before he didn't have to see the bodies. It was a little unnerving.
" Shadow, I'm going to get out and look for Moonbay, you try and find some survivors." He ordered unbuckling his seatbelt.
He jumped from the cockpit and started to look around. He couldn't seem to find anybody living. In his mind he knew that he might not find Moonbay alive. In his heart, he prayed that she was alright.
" I WILL torture that blue bag of boltz if she's hurt." He muttered under his breath.
He finally made it to the hotel. It's whole left side was blown off. Part of the other side was in flames. It would be a good while until the paramedics and fire department got there.
" Moonbay?!" He yelled.
No answer. He stepped through the rubble and avoided the bodies of employees and guests of the hotels. He tried to get around a hanging power line, but fell. He landed on a person who was halfway between dead and dying.
" Di.bison.ugh." He said.
Raven almost freaked and got away from him. He stood as far gone from the body as he could. He didn't like this sight. He didn't know it looked like this when he had finished attacking. He backed away and bumped into a large pile of plaster and wood and part of a wall. He heard a groan from under it.
" Rav.Raven.."
" Moonbay!! Shadow!!" He yelled.
A few minutes later, the Genosaurer landed outside the building. Raven pointed to the pile he was standing next to. Shadow shot out the arms and removed the debris, piece by piece. Moonbay was underneath. Raven kneeled next to her and placed his arm around her waist gently and carefully lifted her head up.
" Hey, Baybay, say something." He said.
She was silent. He couldn't hear her breathing and he couldn't tell if her heart was still beating. He held her in his lap. His hand was shaking as he placed it on the side of her face. Salty tears trailed down his cheeks as he realized what might be true. He closed his eyes to try and stop them, but the tears would not obey.
" Uuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed throwing his head back in rage, fury, misery and grief.
******************
" Lieutenant Flyheight! There's a phone call for you sir!" A soldier said.
" Phone call? From who?" He asked.
" The Jubilation City hospital. I think it's important." He said.
" Thank you." He said.
Van picked up the phone. His expression changed from confusion to shock. He dropped the phone.
" What is it Van?" Fiona asked.
" They said that..Moonbay's in the hospital there." He said.
" What?!" Both Fiona and Irvine said.
" They said the town was attacked. Some of the survivors were talking about a Genosaurer and a Dibison. Moonbay was in bad shape. They said.they don't know if she will live." He said.
Then his face changed from shock to fury. He clenched his fist and glared at nothing.
" They also said Raven is in the hospital too." He said.
" Is he hurt?" Fiona asked.
" I don't know. They didn't say. Just get ready. We're going to go to Jubilation City." He said.
They nodded and went to get ready. Van's fist shook in anger.
" *If she dies Raven, so will you.*" He thought to himself.
Enjoy!!
Raven lay awake staring at the ceiling. One hand was behind his head. The other was around Moonbay, who was sleeping next to him. He was just cooling down as the fire inside had been put out. He was exhausted and sedated beyond belief.
He had the dream again. His parents were killed and he could do nothing. Then when Prozan took him. He could have killed him and none of this would have happened. After that he swore he'd never hesitate about anything again.
He looked over at Moonbay. She was resting on his bare chest. He'd never let anyone get this close to him before, but he trusted her and she was special. He brushed some of her hair away from her face. She stirred a little and looked up at him. She gave him a warm smile.
" What are you thinking about?" She asked shifting so she could look up at him.
" Nothing." He said.
" Liar. You can tell me." She said.
" Things." He said.
" Like what?" She asked.
" Just things." He said looking back up at the ceiling.
" You wanna talk about it?" She asked bringing his face down to look at her.
" Can't remember enough." He said looking down.
" Don't worry Raven. If it really is that important, it'll come to you." She said.
He smiled.
" Thanks Baybay." He said; utilizing the nickname he gave her.
" And don't call me Baybay, alright?" She said.
" 'Kay Baybay." He said.
She shook her head and snuggled against him. He was so warm. In her mind, she had berated herself for all of this. She was really starting to like Raven. He wasn't as bad as he had been before. He was gentle and compassionate and he had not caused any major damage. He spared the two bouncer's lives because she asked him to. And he told her he'd never hurt her. She chuckled to herself as she realized something.
" What's funny?" Raven asked.
" You were my enemy. You've tried to kill my friends and me for years. Now in a few short weeks, you're different. You've changed. And I think I.I think I'm in love with you." She said.
He looked at her in shock. He couldn't believe it. Somebody.. Somebody loved him?
***************
Hitlz and Reese stood above a cliff over looking Jubilation City. Specular and Ambient were next to them.
" He's been dormant too long. This is not how my plan is supposed to be going." Hitlz said.
" I vote we slice the transporter's pretty lips off and bury her in the desert." Reese said.
" You're jealous." He said laughing.
" Maybe." She said closing her eyes and looking down.
" She has to be taken out anyway. She's a distraction." He said.
" Agreed." She said.
Hitlz turned to Ambient.
" Your turn. Go kill the transporter girl." He said.
Ambient roared and shot off in a red blaze.
***************
Shadow moved along the plains in the Genosaurer. He wanted to get back before sunrise so no one would see him or Raven. He hoped he saw something he could destroy. That's when he saw the red flash across the sky.
Ambient. He growled.
The red organoid sliced through the sky like a scarlet arrow. He was looking for a suitable ZOID to kill with. He wanted to cause damage and the best ZOID for damage would be a-
Dibison. He growled spying one.
*****************
Raven had been silent for a few seconds. Had he just heard correctly? She was in love with him? He wasn't even sure he knew what love was. But here she had said it plain as day. She took a great risk in saying that. He had to admire her bravery.
Moonbay looked at him. Was she wrong in saying that? Did she mistake fondness for love? Maybe she didn't know what love was yet? Perchance she should not have said that.
" I'm sorry Raven, I-"
Before she could finish, Raven sat up straight and looked around.
" What was that?" He asked.
" What was what?" She asked.
" That noise." He said.
Moonbay perked up and listened.
" I hear it too. It's a ZOID approaching." She said.
" It's a Dibison." Raven said.
Without warning, the room started to shake violently. Moonbay cried out and held onto Raven. The entire building was shaking.
" What was that?! Who's attacking the building?!" She said.
Sooner than Raven could reply, their room was hit again. The whole wall was blown out. A Dibison was right outside and was aiming its guns at them.
" Who's piloting that thing?!" Moonbay asked.
" I don't know. Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Raven yelled.
A growl emitted from the ZOID as it started to ram the building. Raven glared hard at the ZOID. He knew that growl.
" Chikushoo!! That's Ambient!" He yelled.
" Huh?" She said confused.
" Shadow!!" He yelled.
The Dibison was knocked out of the way. The Genosaurer had shoved it out of the way. It roared and shot off it's cannons at the Dibison. In the few spare seconds they had, Raven and Moonbay dressed. Raven went to the blown- out wall and jumped in the cockpit.
" You can't fight a Dibison here! There's hardly enough room for you to even stand up straight, not to mention the civilians!" Moonbay yelled.
" I'll lead him away from the city, you stay here, you understand?!" He yelled back.
Before she could argue anymore, he closed the cockpit and went off to fight. Moonbay huffed. She hated being left on the sidelines. But she knew she was no match and would only get in the way.
*****************
" Alright Shadow, we need to get him away from this place! There are too many people and not enough room to fight!" Raven ordered.
Shadow roared and caught the Dibison in the retractable arm. He then took off dragging the Dibison on the ground. They reached the desert soon enough and stopped. Raven had a little damage from the Dibison firing at him while they dragged it, but it was nothing he couldn't fix.
" Alright Ambient, if it's me you want, then c'mon." Raven said.
The Dibison growled. Then it fired a Burn Out. Raven let the shots hit him. They were no threat to him. He didn't have to worry about anything that Ambient threw at him. He just had to worry about the stray fire. He waited for the smoke to clear.
" Kono mo nano kai (Is that the best you can do?)?" He said taunted.
But when the smoke was gone, he couldn't see the Dibison.
" What?! Where'd he go?!" He yelled.
He turned to look above and behind him. But the Dibison was gone. Raven growled and slammed his fist down on the side panel.
" Find him Shadow!! Now!" He ordered.
Lights danced all over the cockpit as the scanners searched the area for the Dibison. Raven was angry. He was doing his best to keep his temper from getting out of control. He couldn't just shoot off the charge particle gun. There were too many people around.
Wait a minute.
Since when did that stop him?
He smirked to himself. He had asked himself that question while he was dragging the bull ZOID out of the city. He'd never let civilians' lives get on his case. So why should they now?
" *Because Moonbay wouldn't want all those people to die just because I was careless at where I aimed the charged particle beam. *" He thought to himself.
He had made some changes for the transporter. He had spared lives, agreed not to kill and destroy. He had even dragged that ZOID out of the city because she didn't want the people to be hurt. He could have dealt with Ambient there if he had just fired the CPG(Charged Particle Gun) at him. But he went off with him without arguing or questioning her.
" I'm getting' soft." He said to himself.
The beeps from the scanners grabbed his attention from his thoughts. Shadow had located the Dibison. It had gone back to town.
" He went back to town. But if he didn't want me then what did he.Moonbay! Shadow maximize thruster output and get to that city NOW!!" He yelled.
Shadow roared and took off in a black blaze of metal. Raven gripped the controls so tight, if he weren't wearing black gloves, you could see his knuckles turn white.
" If he does anything to her I swear I'll turn him into go kart." He said.
****************
By the time Raven got to the city. Most of it was in shambles. It looked like a tornado had ripped through there. Raven looked around for any sign of life. There were bodies piled up for as far as he could see. Signs were hanging from their respectable places and some were on the ground.
Electrical wires and lines were down and a few were still active. They jumped and hissed as Raven passed. He'd seen destruction before and he had caused it. But actually seeing all the bodies was new. Before he didn't have to see the bodies. It was a little unnerving.
" Shadow, I'm going to get out and look for Moonbay, you try and find some survivors." He ordered unbuckling his seatbelt.
He jumped from the cockpit and started to look around. He couldn't seem to find anybody living. In his mind he knew that he might not find Moonbay alive. In his heart, he prayed that she was alright.
" I WILL torture that blue bag of boltz if she's hurt." He muttered under his breath.
He finally made it to the hotel. It's whole left side was blown off. Part of the other side was in flames. It would be a good while until the paramedics and fire department got there.
" Moonbay?!" He yelled.
No answer. He stepped through the rubble and avoided the bodies of employees and guests of the hotels. He tried to get around a hanging power line, but fell. He landed on a person who was halfway between dead and dying.
" Di.bison.ugh." He said.
Raven almost freaked and got away from him. He stood as far gone from the body as he could. He didn't like this sight. He didn't know it looked like this when he had finished attacking. He backed away and bumped into a large pile of plaster and wood and part of a wall. He heard a groan from under it.
" Rav.Raven.."
" Moonbay!! Shadow!!" He yelled.
A few minutes later, the Genosaurer landed outside the building. Raven pointed to the pile he was standing next to. Shadow shot out the arms and removed the debris, piece by piece. Moonbay was underneath. Raven kneeled next to her and placed his arm around her waist gently and carefully lifted her head up.
" Hey, Baybay, say something." He said.
She was silent. He couldn't hear her breathing and he couldn't tell if her heart was still beating. He held her in his lap. His hand was shaking as he placed it on the side of her face. Salty tears trailed down his cheeks as he realized what might be true. He closed his eyes to try and stop them, but the tears would not obey.
" Uuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed throwing his head back in rage, fury, misery and grief.
******************
" Lieutenant Flyheight! There's a phone call for you sir!" A soldier said.
" Phone call? From who?" He asked.
" The Jubilation City hospital. I think it's important." He said.
" Thank you." He said.
Van picked up the phone. His expression changed from confusion to shock. He dropped the phone.
" What is it Van?" Fiona asked.
" They said that..Moonbay's in the hospital there." He said.
" What?!" Both Fiona and Irvine said.
" They said the town was attacked. Some of the survivors were talking about a Genosaurer and a Dibison. Moonbay was in bad shape. They said.they don't know if she will live." He said.
Then his face changed from shock to fury. He clenched his fist and glared at nothing.
" They also said Raven is in the hospital too." He said.
" Is he hurt?" Fiona asked.
" I don't know. They didn't say. Just get ready. We're going to go to Jubilation City." He said.
They nodded and went to get ready. Van's fist shook in anger.
" *If she dies Raven, so will you.*" He thought to himself.