Since I promised a couple of plot twists in my story I decided to actually keep my promise. There ought to be a major twist in this one (or the next one, depending on how long this chapter becomes) so, please, keep reading! Also, please review! Thanks and enjoy!
Part 2
Chapter 5
After returning to their base, Rayne ended up spending a lot of her spare time in the hanger with her two zoids making simple, pointless repairs. Most of the time she wasn't even thinking about what she was doing, it had become second instinct, but was thinking about the bit of information Gin had fed her at the Eatery.
'That Storm Sworder has an organoid? But wouldn't that make it an Ultimate X like the Liger Zero and the Berserk Fury? Impossible,' she shook her head repeatedly. 'I've seen zoids that have a temper without an organoid. It's just a normal zoid. It… it has to be. Damn it! I can't control a zoid with an organoid!' She continued to align Saix's left leg, which was the one nearly severed by Sai in that battle. As soon as that was done she used a rope to lower herself down so she was level with that leg and began checking and rechecking the wiring. Lyle stood in the doorway leading to the hanger and Gin was right behind him.
"She's really worked up. I haven't seen her do this since before the Ace Tournament. What do you think she's so worried about?" When he didn't receive an immediate reply he turned to face them woman behind him. She looked past him at the girl whose mind was obviously racing. She shook her head slowly and sighed, closing her eyes.
"She doesn't think she can handle the Storm Sworder. That's why she's devoting all of her attention to working on Saix."
"It makes sense… but why would she do that? I know Rayne, and I know her piloting skills, and she can handle that Zoid."
"I agree, but she's convinced herself otherwise." Gun moved passed Lyle on her way to Rayne. Lyle grabbed her arm and shook his head slowly.
"Let her figure this out for herself. That's the only way to convince her, I know that too." Gin nodded and stepped back inside the base.
'Why I am so scared of that zoid? Why couldn't I control it? I can pilot Saix at full speed can't I? But that's not the same, is it? But I'm the Ace of Spades; shouldn't I be able to handle any zoid? Shouldn't I-' her thoughts were cut short by an explosion from outside, the vibrations knocking her off of her delicate perch. With both skill and luck she turned to land on her feet instead of her head, though she crouched to one knee from the force of landing. Both Gin and Lyle were beside. They ran to the hanger and opened it to look outside.
A black Whale King began landing just outside of the hanger and Rayne had to throw her arms up to keep the sand from her eyes. Gin held onto the hanger frame as another explosion rocked the base. Lyle ran up to Rayne and put a hand on her shoulder, shouting something that she couldn't hear over the landing Whale King. She managed to make out a single word, though.
"… Backdraft…" Then he backed off, running to tell Gin what he'd tried to tell her. Rayne stepped back a couple of steps as the Whale King finally settled down and opened its "mouth".
"The hell-" Rayne began before she was cut off by a person's appearance. It was Sai.
"Hello, Ace Team."
"Sai! What's the deal! You're with the Backdraft now?!" Lyle shouted, running up behind Rayne with Gun right behind him. Sai smirked before replying.
"You could say that. And in accordance with Backdraft rules and regulations we have the right to confiscate your zoids."
"What?!" Down the ramp came the two Rev Raptors, each improved greatly beyond what they were when the teams last fought. "You have no right to do such a thing!" Gin was outraged and, if it weren't for Lyle, would have been at Sai's neck by now. Rayne was just staring at him wide-eyed.
"By agreeing to battle us you were agreeing to allow us to confiscate your zoids should you lose. It's pretty simple; I don't see what the big deal is."
"Well I do!" Gin had gotten free of Lyle's grasp. "It wasn't stated that you were with the Backdraft when they fought you! Also, you cannot confiscate either the Hell Cat or the Storm Sworder because they weren't on the team at the time of battle."
"The rules state that any and all zoids under the possession of the defeated team are to be confiscated and-"
"Since when has the Backdraft had rules anyway?!" Rayne sighed and looked at the ground and then to Lyle, who simply shrugged. Gin wasn't helping by arguing with Sai, he could go on for days. Rayne turned and glanced back at the hanger. The door was open and she could see Saix just standing there. Time for action. She started sprinting for the hanger.
"Sai! She's heading for her zoid!" Sai looked up at Kristie's accusation.
"Come now, little sister, did you think you'd make it to your zoid? Kelley! Kristie! After her!" The Rev Raptors charged after Rayne, who had just gotten inside the hanger and was using the rope she had been sitting on to climb quickly up into the cockpit. Once inside the cockpit of Saix with the canopy closed she began to work a few of the controls to make sure everything was operational. It was. After a couple of quickly input commands she was off and running towards the opposing zoids.
"Damn it, get out of my way!" She charged and, with a bit of luck, knocked the first Rev Raptor on its back, causing the second to halt in front of it. Kelley pulled her zoid back a little, now wary of the Lightning Saix that stood in front of her. With a howl the cat-like zoid was upon its enemy, teeth and claws flashing. The Rev Raptor fell with little effort beneath the might of the Lightning Saix and its enraged pilot. Sai's smirk faded instantly as he stalked back up into the Whale King. Though the "mouth" closed, an opening in the "belly" of the transporter opened as it took off. As soon as it was above the two wrecked zoids and their attacker, two iron claws connected to chains shot down towards the ground. Saix dodged one in time to come out unscathed and the claws grabbed the fallen Rev Raptors and pulled them into the Whale King. When it had finally disappeared into the horizon Rayne jumped out of Saix and landed next to Lyle and Gin.
"The Crimson Team is with the Backdraft, then."
"We shouldn't accept any battles from them from now on." Rayne sighed and her partners looked over at her, worried.
"I think I'm going to try to learn how to pilot the Storm Sworder, organoid or not." Gin immediately brightened up and Lyle's expression shone with respect for his fellow zoid warrior, and perhaps a little jealousy, too.
End chapter 5. Okay, so another cheap shot having the Crimson Team join the Backdraft but I planned that much from the start. I hope I haven't become too monotonous with my story so much that my readers are getting bored. Please review so I know if I am or not. Also, thanks for reading my story!