The sun was hidden within the cold storm, its rays not shining any warmth. The day was miserable, suiting the situation very well. It had been a day since Van was killed, now everyone was paying a last respect to the boy who had saved them all many times within his short life. It was cold outside, the wind and slight drizzle didn't help any. They wanted to bury him next to his father, but Raven had destroyed the cemetery Dan had been buried in. They had decided on this place, a small graveyard, which held the royal family of the Empire, Rudolph had decided he deserved it more then many people who were already buried here. It was near a small lake, trees all around and mountains all along the east horizon. It was beautiful and peaceful, the kind of place Van enjoyed when he was alive.
Zack and Marcus stood behind the crowd of about 50 people, which stood in a circle around the casket that held the body of their dead hero. There was an eerie feeling in the air, something most funerals had. The calm and steady breeze gave the already cold air a freezing chill. Zack looked around, a few people were crying. He listened as the priest recited a prayer, as he did the people had there heads lowered paying a last respect to there young hero who died in the line of duty, just like his father.
It ended a few hours later, the sun still away behind the clouds and the cold air piercing their clothes. Irvine, Moonbay, Fiona, Thomas, and Rudolph stayed behind as the coffin was lowered into the moist ground.
"I still can't believe he's gone." Irvine said, reading the marble tombstone. "Damn how did we let this happen."
"I don't know." Thomas said.
Fiona looked down at the freshly carved gravestone and wiped the raindrops off of it, she hadn't cried much since she saw him die in battle. She had never gotten a chance to love him, and she would do anything to see his bright smile again. She felt Moonbay put her arms around her, comforting her. They all walked out a few minutes later, the cold finally getting to them.
Raven opened his eyes, finding himself staring at the night stars. He rubbed his head and felt the soreness of it. Looking around he saw he was nowhere near the battle site, but the Fury and Shadow lied there on the ground, both lifeless. Raven wasn't sure how the battle had ended and for some reason he didn't care. He looked back up at the clear night sky, the millions of stars shining brightly and the two moons full. He watched though as a shadow covered his face and a man walked up to him. Raven got up quickly but was to weak to do anything.
"Surprised you lived." Drake said, looking over at the Fury. "Guess your Zoid didn't get as lucky."
"Who are you?" Raven said frustrated.
"My name is Drake, very nice battle though. Jason was impressed."
Raven looked at the man. "Fine, then tell him to leave me alone."
"Don't want your parents back Raven."
Raven looked at him and closed his eyes. "What does he want?"
Drake shook his head. "Listen to yourself, once I say that one sentence you are at my command."
Raven charged the man, but felt his body go thrown to the ground.
"You know, as hard as this is to believe I am trying to save you."
Raven got up. "From what, all I want is to see my mom and dad again, I lost them long before I should have."
Drake punched Raven in the chest forcing him to fall on the ground in pain. "You can thank Jason for that, he has a obsession with killing parents."
Raven looked back at him. "Jason had nothing to do with it, they got killed by a Organoid."
"You think that." He picked Raven up by the hair. "Is that what you think Raven, you don't even know your real name." He threw Raven back to the ground. "You look at the obvious, and that's hardly ever right."
Raven spit out some dirt in his mouth and got up, he was feeling dizzy and in pain but still stared at the man. "I know what I saw, Jason was nowhere near them."
Drake laughed. "Jason never does any of the dirty work, he had people do it for him. Hilz killed your parents, he freed the Organoid and had it kill your parents, ever wonder why it didn't kill you as well."
Raven made another fist but didn't charge or throw a punch.
"Jason has been using you as a tool for nearly 10 years, controlling your life just like you were a puppet. He has done the same exact thing with me. Remember Prozen, ever wonder how he got those nasty little power." He smiled. "Thank Jason for that as well."
"How the Hell can he do all of this?" Raven was breathing hard and fast, but he was starting to get angry.
"Let me tell you a nice little story Raven, how much do you know about Zoids Eve."
Raven shook his head. "Only a little."
"Well that's all anyone except me and Jason know. That psychotic bastard is Zoids Eve. Most of her power is in him."
"How, why?" Raven was now confused, trying to understand what Drake was talking about.
"Long time ago there were four Zoids with incredible power. Three of them created by Zoids Eve, the other created by a man. The only Zoid ever to be created by a man."
Raven relaxed his body and took a deep breath.
"The Death Sauer, the two cores of the Death Stinger, and the most powerful the Tiger. Zoids Eve had created the power cores for us Zodians to use and create Zoids to help out are lives. A few power-hungry people however decided to use them as weapons of destruction. A few scientists took a power core and created the Death Sauer, Zoids Eve got mad at this and took control of the Zoid herself. It began to destroy every trace of life on Zi. One man decided to fight this by creating a Zoid without a power core, meaning Zoids Eve could never control it. So he did, and when it was done the Tiger was born. The Zoid was too powerful, ended up killing its creator but choose his son to pilot it. So Jason now had control of the deadliest weapon the galaxy has seen. He eventually destroyed almost everything, including the Death Sauer and Death Stinger's. Finally Zoids Eve stopped the Tiger by putting its power within a small stone giving it to a man to hide. Jason used the chance to get the power of Zoids Eve. He asked for her and she merged with him, leaving only a small amount of her power within the statue that lies in Evepolis. But most of her power came with her in Jason's body, giving him full command. He can do everything except create a power core for a Zoid."
Raven listened as Drake finished the story. "So what does all of this have to do with me?"
"Simple, he knew he had to do everything he could to keep people away from the Tiger. So he gave Prozen a power. Van and Fiona were so worried about Zoids Eve that they would never even say the word Tiger."
"Why the Hell did he kill my parents and ruin my life."
"You became part of that distraction. Because of Jason Van found Fiona, he got to skill he gained and saved the planet many times, he also searched for Zoids Eve because it haunted Fiona's past. You simply gave more space for him to work."
Raven sat down and looked back up at the night sky. "He never was going to bring back my parents was he?
Drake shook his head. "Jason wants to put the universe in a genocide and eventually he will. He started watching how skilled you and Van had gotten, and that scared him. So he twisted your mind like he did mine and made a promise he wasn't going to keep. Everyone believes the greatest evil is now over. They are all dead wrong." Drake smiled. "They are about to wake up to a living Hell created by a man with the power of God, the evil of Satan, and a weapon which can destroy the heavens. You killed Van, his plan worked, nothing can stop him."
"I hate Zoids, I wish they would all just die." Raven said, his mind wandering in a dream.
"You say your life was ruined, why not try to live it." Drake said looking at him. "I hate Jason more then I hate anything, only reason I obey him is because he has me twisted around his finger so tightly if I even budge it will drive me insane."
Raven got up. "Can he be killed?"
"Sure, not easy though."
Raven smiled. "Then Ill kill him myself."
"Hang on Raven, if you try to do this by yourself you'll lose even before you started."
"I want him dead, he ruined my life Ill pay him back."
"You want to kill him, fine. But your going to have to swallow your pride a bit and pick up a few allies you hate."
"I don't need them." Raven said, walking over to the Fury.
"You will Raven, I would help but I can hardly work on convincing you without Jason knowing."
Raven stood still and thought. "None of them are good enough anyways, only Van was good enough and now he' dead."
"Are you willing to work with him?" Drake asked walking over to him.
Raven closed his eyes. "This is all Jason's fault, he is the one that killed my family and destroyed any chance of a life."
"Basically." Drake said nodding his head.
"How are you going to bring him back from the dead?" Raven asked, his eyes still closed.
"Jason, Ill get him to do it, don't worry about that."
Raven took a deep breath and was ready to swallow every bit of his pride. "Fine." He said.
Drake smiled. "Your doing a good thing Raven, this is what your parents would have been proud of."
Raven just nodded.
"Shadow will be fine, but you're going to need a new Zoid." Drake thought for a moment. "Ill take you to my black GenoBreaker, that should be fine." He smiled. "You told me you hate Zoids, you willing to go ahead and risk your life killing only one."
"I hate them all, but for now Ill work with Van and all of his friends. But when this is done."
Drake laughed. "I don't give a damn what you do when your done, just kill him and his Tiger."
Raven lied down on the ground next to his Organoid and quickly feel asleep.
Drake shook his head. "Well Jason, I got him against you. Lets see if you can take it as well as you give it." He started walking off, going to fetch his GenoBreaker.
Jason opened his eyes and smiled. "Poor Drake, has no idea what he is getting himself into." He looked over at Phantom. "I guess well have to kill him long before we planned." Jason listened to the growls coming from his Organoid. "Yes, Ill bring back Van for him, it should make for a very interesting turn of events." He got up and walked over to the pit. "All we need is a much more trusting assistant." Jason stared down through the clear water, down within it was the deadliest Zoid on the planet, and the deadliest weapon they could find. He looked over and stared at a skeleton, a smile came about his face. "Perhaps one we have had before." He walked over and put his hand on the exposed ribs, watching as it slowly began to glow.