Chapter 2
~*~*~*~*~*~
"What took you so long? I was bored," Raven hissed as Reese walked through the front door of their little cabin they had "borrowed".
"You were bored? Watch out! For you information Raven, I was just making sure everything went smoothly," Reese retorted with a wicked smile.
Raven was sitting on a gray couch; a book sprawled out by his side. He narrowed his eyes; he still couldn't understand why Hiltz made him work with Reese. He folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her to continue.
"And it did, when do I get to fight Van? I hope you know my only source of entertainment is this book."
Reese leaned in front him so she was eyelevel with the hotheaded warrior. "Poor Little Raven was forced to read a bookie-wookie. Poor Poor Raven," she said in baby talk.
She howled with laughter while Raven shot her his most dangerous death glare.
"So what? I am a warrior! Not a reader! When does this pathetic mission get fun?"
Now Reese was in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. She took a small slip, letting the moist liquid grace her dry throat. She thought over Raven's childish question, actually it was a good question. She, herself, didn't know the answer but she was having a good time watching Van and his miserable friends suffer. But Raven did not share her opinion of fun. His definition of fun was blowing up Zoids, bases, basically annihilating everything in sight.
Boys will be boys.
"This 'pathetic' mission will get fun as soon as we have them where we want them. What part of that don't you understand, Raven? Don't you see if you destroy another base you'll get Van's attention? But he's in no condition to fight, then you'll destroy him but you wouldn't have beaten him when he was at his best. I know you, Raven," Reese stated logically.
Raven arched a dark eyebrow. As much as he hated to admit it she had a good point, what fun would it be to defeat Van when he wasn't at the top of his game? "I guess your right, but when do I get involved and don't you dare say 'what's its time'."
She giggled, all this time she had spent with Raven they had learned to put up with one another. They knew each others behavior well enough to at least get along, which was a big improvement considering they'd barely even looked at each when they teamed up. The two had been scheming for some time, er at least Reese was Raven just put in the parts with the destruction.
"Then I won't, we'll start annihilating in a couple days or so."
Just as Raven was say something, Reese appeared right beside him. He scowled, he hated it when she disappeared and reappeared whenever she pleased. His black organiod, Shadow, groggily rose to his side but not before letting out a loud yawn. He had been sleeping while Raven read.
"Grr, must you do that?" he barked.
Reese just laughed at his frustration. "My dear, dear, Raven why don't you try using your mind every once and a while? It's amazing what the human mind can accomplish. Besides," she placed her index finger on his lips. "it'll give you something to do."
Raven swatted her hand away as if it was a fly. "I'll keep that in mind, now if you'd excuse I have some reading to do."
He forcibly grabbed the book and started to read, his lips still in a scowl. He had to admit the book was okay, it was titled 'Unwanted'. The story took place in the time of Prozin's rule over the empire just about the time Raven had joined his elite army to destroy Van. It was about a young zoid warrior who got dragged into the war between the Empire and the Republic; oddly enough the warrior was a girl. Her zoid was a blue Saber- Fang. She had fought a character that reminded Raven of him, the character's name was Crow. Hmm, wonder where the author got the name. And the warrior and Crow fought numerous times, and each time Crow had won. This was as far as Raven had gotten, before he became bored with it.
"Whatca readin' that's so good you can't put it down?" Reese asked in a singsong voice.
Growling, Raven put down the book and turned it so she could read a passage. Shadow poked his face into the book, curious to see what was distracting the boy for so long.
"Not now Shadow!" he pushed the organiods face away from the small paperback.
Reese scanned the two pages exposed to her carefully; it was a detailed zoid battle between Shanna (whom she guessed was the main character) and Crow, who sounded an awful lot like someone she knew. It was beautifully written as if the author had witnessed the battle herself. Did she detect a hint of romance between the two battling zoid warriors? She decided not to say anything about that to Raven, because he'd drop that book faster than a hot potato and she needed him to be occupied so he wouldn't be bugging her.
"Interesting, I suppose I see what's got you hooked," she stated, rising. "Isn't a little funny about this Crow person?"
Raven smiled a little, not much just a bit. "Yeah, I wonder where they got it from."
Just as Reese was about to retreat into the room she claimed as her own, she remembered to tell Raven the day's events. She knew if she didn't he would be bugging her about it sooner or later.
"One more thing, our plan is working perfectly. Fiona is the only one who sees the connection, but that can be easily dealt with."
A wicked grin found it's way on Raven's lips. "Great, so Van is acting like a lost puppy?"
Reese nodded happily. "A lost puppy that will never find its way home."
"How long will it last? I want to have a go at him when he's at the top of his game and I will defeat him, but we can play with him in this state."
"A day more, but the damage is unfixable. Remember it was set two days ago, so you'll have your duel soon enough," she rubbed her hands together, smirking.
"I'll survive until then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Please Fiona, may I explain?" Van pleaded for the tenth time.
All eyes were on the Ancient Zoidian, who was getting annoyed with his pleas not to mention on the brink of an major migraine. The thought of Van being manipulated made her heart break; he was so strong how could he fall so easily? Was this the real Van talking to her? Or was it Reese doing the talking for him? Fiona took deep steady breaths to calm herself so she could at least try to listen to whoever it was talking.
"Alright," she sighed wearily.
Thomas watched his secret love with worried eyes, she looked ill. That Van was bad for her health, he thought unhappily.
"Thank you," Van paused as the lecture he had formed in his mind vanished. "Now that I think of it, I don't know what came over me. I needed to go on an adventure, Fiona; I needed to feel adrenaline go through my veins. I guess with all these slow missions I was restless, but I'm better now. It'll never happen again I promise."
Fiona stared at him with bright eyes that promised the water works, she didn't know how to react. His response sounded like something Van would say, but she wasn't sure anymore. She wasn't sure who she was talking with.
"Why didn't you say anything? We could have told headquarters to give us a little break," she chided softly.
Thomas and Zeke turned to Van, bother anxious to see what happened next. It was like watching a train wreck, you don't want to stare but you can't look away.
"I kinda wanted to be left alone."
Zeke blinked in confusion, since when did Van want to be left alone? He knew this was not like Van at all. Fiona held her breath, this wasn't quite the response she had in mind but it was logical. Maybe he had seen the error in his ways and was being very mature about, and Reese wasn't controlling him.
"Oh, you still should have said something. We would have left you alone, wouldn't we, Zeke?" she turned to the silver organiod.
Zeke nodded his head sadly.
"Zeke, I'm sorry. I really am, why don't you believe me?" Van pleaded gently. "Not you too buddy."
But the organiod crossed its short arms on its metallic chest and stuck its nose up in the opposite direction of the boy. Fiona's expression softened, how could she be angry with him when even the loyal Zeke turned his back on him?
She sat on the foot of the bed, smiling gently even though she felt like sobbing. She'd help Van as soon as she could figure out what was wrong with him. It was obvious that what had gotten a hold of him was going away.
"I'm sorry Van, I didn't mean to yell at you like that. You've been through.something. I can't chide you for what happened in the past, what's done is done. I was so worried about you, you gave all of us quite a scare, mind you."
Van looked at her shyly, fully aware of the heat growing in his cheeks. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm really sorry, I never meant to hurt you guys. The next time adventure calls my name I'll run far, far away! Do you forgive me?"
She caught him completely off guard by hugging him tightly. Zeke carefully looked back at them, unsure of join in on the love fest or not. He pounced on them, purring loudly. They laughed loudly.
"If you guys think I'm going to hug him, you're mistaken," Thomas stated stubbornly.
There was no way in hell; he was going to hug Van Flyheight. Not a chance. If they expected him to join them, like in some corny movie, they had another thing coming. Just because he worked with Van did not mean he liked it, nah uh no way. But then again, Fiona was in on the action he could do it for her stake... He decided to earn some of Fiona's praise by putting away the groceries, she would surely be happy with him and then he could tell her how he felt without Van interfering.
The small bedroom grew suddenly quiet, all the sounds of laughter long since a fading memory of the past. Zeke tilted his head, looked at Van and then at Fiona and repeated the fashion several times. He couldn't get why they kept staring at each other. When he tried to communicate to Van, he ignored him what's up with that? Is it a crime, he didn't have a clue what was going on? Some people.
"Fiona, I.."
Van gently caressed her cheek, her skin was so soft and he, himself, didn't understand why he was doing it. There was something about her that made him feel at ease. Fiona smiled that angelic smile of hers, in the back of her mind she hoped it wasn't Reese making him do it. If it wasn't praise the gods of Zi. If it was, well then Fiona would give Reese a piece of her mind to put it kindly.
Zeke stared wide-eyed at the two as they slowly began to get closer and closer.
"Fiona." Van muttered.
"Yes Van?"
"I."
"Van, shut up."
Van blinked in pure confusion. With that said Fiona caught him off and kissed him; he barely managed to kiss back, he was so surprised. But he quickly overcame the surprise, he leaned closer to her and the kiss deepened. Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck while Zeke's jaw fell straight to the fall.
"Oh My dear Miss Fiona! Look what I've got to show you!"
Thomas walked into the room with a small rose bud in hand. He looked at Zeke, who was in total shock, and wondered what could be so shocking. Then he laid eyes on the bed, the rose fell onto the floor as he promptly fainted.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Authors Note: hehehe what do you guys think? I'm finally done Fred!! The next couple chapters will get more into what Reese's and Raven's plan is, and then it'll go back to Van and Fiona where he meets someone who has a big impact on him. Well I hope you guys liked it! Now review people! Lol.
Peace Out
~*Mi ChElLe*~
~*~*~*~*~*~
"What took you so long? I was bored," Raven hissed as Reese walked through the front door of their little cabin they had "borrowed".
"You were bored? Watch out! For you information Raven, I was just making sure everything went smoothly," Reese retorted with a wicked smile.
Raven was sitting on a gray couch; a book sprawled out by his side. He narrowed his eyes; he still couldn't understand why Hiltz made him work with Reese. He folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her to continue.
"And it did, when do I get to fight Van? I hope you know my only source of entertainment is this book."
Reese leaned in front him so she was eyelevel with the hotheaded warrior. "Poor Little Raven was forced to read a bookie-wookie. Poor Poor Raven," she said in baby talk.
She howled with laughter while Raven shot her his most dangerous death glare.
"So what? I am a warrior! Not a reader! When does this pathetic mission get fun?"
Now Reese was in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. She took a small slip, letting the moist liquid grace her dry throat. She thought over Raven's childish question, actually it was a good question. She, herself, didn't know the answer but she was having a good time watching Van and his miserable friends suffer. But Raven did not share her opinion of fun. His definition of fun was blowing up Zoids, bases, basically annihilating everything in sight.
Boys will be boys.
"This 'pathetic' mission will get fun as soon as we have them where we want them. What part of that don't you understand, Raven? Don't you see if you destroy another base you'll get Van's attention? But he's in no condition to fight, then you'll destroy him but you wouldn't have beaten him when he was at his best. I know you, Raven," Reese stated logically.
Raven arched a dark eyebrow. As much as he hated to admit it she had a good point, what fun would it be to defeat Van when he wasn't at the top of his game? "I guess your right, but when do I get involved and don't you dare say 'what's its time'."
She giggled, all this time she had spent with Raven they had learned to put up with one another. They knew each others behavior well enough to at least get along, which was a big improvement considering they'd barely even looked at each when they teamed up. The two had been scheming for some time, er at least Reese was Raven just put in the parts with the destruction.
"Then I won't, we'll start annihilating in a couple days or so."
Just as Raven was say something, Reese appeared right beside him. He scowled, he hated it when she disappeared and reappeared whenever she pleased. His black organiod, Shadow, groggily rose to his side but not before letting out a loud yawn. He had been sleeping while Raven read.
"Grr, must you do that?" he barked.
Reese just laughed at his frustration. "My dear, dear, Raven why don't you try using your mind every once and a while? It's amazing what the human mind can accomplish. Besides," she placed her index finger on his lips. "it'll give you something to do."
Raven swatted her hand away as if it was a fly. "I'll keep that in mind, now if you'd excuse I have some reading to do."
He forcibly grabbed the book and started to read, his lips still in a scowl. He had to admit the book was okay, it was titled 'Unwanted'. The story took place in the time of Prozin's rule over the empire just about the time Raven had joined his elite army to destroy Van. It was about a young zoid warrior who got dragged into the war between the Empire and the Republic; oddly enough the warrior was a girl. Her zoid was a blue Saber- Fang. She had fought a character that reminded Raven of him, the character's name was Crow. Hmm, wonder where the author got the name. And the warrior and Crow fought numerous times, and each time Crow had won. This was as far as Raven had gotten, before he became bored with it.
"Whatca readin' that's so good you can't put it down?" Reese asked in a singsong voice.
Growling, Raven put down the book and turned it so she could read a passage. Shadow poked his face into the book, curious to see what was distracting the boy for so long.
"Not now Shadow!" he pushed the organiods face away from the small paperback.
Reese scanned the two pages exposed to her carefully; it was a detailed zoid battle between Shanna (whom she guessed was the main character) and Crow, who sounded an awful lot like someone she knew. It was beautifully written as if the author had witnessed the battle herself. Did she detect a hint of romance between the two battling zoid warriors? She decided not to say anything about that to Raven, because he'd drop that book faster than a hot potato and she needed him to be occupied so he wouldn't be bugging her.
"Interesting, I suppose I see what's got you hooked," she stated, rising. "Isn't a little funny about this Crow person?"
Raven smiled a little, not much just a bit. "Yeah, I wonder where they got it from."
Just as Reese was about to retreat into the room she claimed as her own, she remembered to tell Raven the day's events. She knew if she didn't he would be bugging her about it sooner or later.
"One more thing, our plan is working perfectly. Fiona is the only one who sees the connection, but that can be easily dealt with."
A wicked grin found it's way on Raven's lips. "Great, so Van is acting like a lost puppy?"
Reese nodded happily. "A lost puppy that will never find its way home."
"How long will it last? I want to have a go at him when he's at the top of his game and I will defeat him, but we can play with him in this state."
"A day more, but the damage is unfixable. Remember it was set two days ago, so you'll have your duel soon enough," she rubbed her hands together, smirking.
"I'll survive until then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Please Fiona, may I explain?" Van pleaded for the tenth time.
All eyes were on the Ancient Zoidian, who was getting annoyed with his pleas not to mention on the brink of an major migraine. The thought of Van being manipulated made her heart break; he was so strong how could he fall so easily? Was this the real Van talking to her? Or was it Reese doing the talking for him? Fiona took deep steady breaths to calm herself so she could at least try to listen to whoever it was talking.
"Alright," she sighed wearily.
Thomas watched his secret love with worried eyes, she looked ill. That Van was bad for her health, he thought unhappily.
"Thank you," Van paused as the lecture he had formed in his mind vanished. "Now that I think of it, I don't know what came over me. I needed to go on an adventure, Fiona; I needed to feel adrenaline go through my veins. I guess with all these slow missions I was restless, but I'm better now. It'll never happen again I promise."
Fiona stared at him with bright eyes that promised the water works, she didn't know how to react. His response sounded like something Van would say, but she wasn't sure anymore. She wasn't sure who she was talking with.
"Why didn't you say anything? We could have told headquarters to give us a little break," she chided softly.
Thomas and Zeke turned to Van, bother anxious to see what happened next. It was like watching a train wreck, you don't want to stare but you can't look away.
"I kinda wanted to be left alone."
Zeke blinked in confusion, since when did Van want to be left alone? He knew this was not like Van at all. Fiona held her breath, this wasn't quite the response she had in mind but it was logical. Maybe he had seen the error in his ways and was being very mature about, and Reese wasn't controlling him.
"Oh, you still should have said something. We would have left you alone, wouldn't we, Zeke?" she turned to the silver organiod.
Zeke nodded his head sadly.
"Zeke, I'm sorry. I really am, why don't you believe me?" Van pleaded gently. "Not you too buddy."
But the organiod crossed its short arms on its metallic chest and stuck its nose up in the opposite direction of the boy. Fiona's expression softened, how could she be angry with him when even the loyal Zeke turned his back on him?
She sat on the foot of the bed, smiling gently even though she felt like sobbing. She'd help Van as soon as she could figure out what was wrong with him. It was obvious that what had gotten a hold of him was going away.
"I'm sorry Van, I didn't mean to yell at you like that. You've been through.something. I can't chide you for what happened in the past, what's done is done. I was so worried about you, you gave all of us quite a scare, mind you."
Van looked at her shyly, fully aware of the heat growing in his cheeks. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm really sorry, I never meant to hurt you guys. The next time adventure calls my name I'll run far, far away! Do you forgive me?"
She caught him completely off guard by hugging him tightly. Zeke carefully looked back at them, unsure of join in on the love fest or not. He pounced on them, purring loudly. They laughed loudly.
"If you guys think I'm going to hug him, you're mistaken," Thomas stated stubbornly.
There was no way in hell; he was going to hug Van Flyheight. Not a chance. If they expected him to join them, like in some corny movie, they had another thing coming. Just because he worked with Van did not mean he liked it, nah uh no way. But then again, Fiona was in on the action he could do it for her stake... He decided to earn some of Fiona's praise by putting away the groceries, she would surely be happy with him and then he could tell her how he felt without Van interfering.
The small bedroom grew suddenly quiet, all the sounds of laughter long since a fading memory of the past. Zeke tilted his head, looked at Van and then at Fiona and repeated the fashion several times. He couldn't get why they kept staring at each other. When he tried to communicate to Van, he ignored him what's up with that? Is it a crime, he didn't have a clue what was going on? Some people.
"Fiona, I.."
Van gently caressed her cheek, her skin was so soft and he, himself, didn't understand why he was doing it. There was something about her that made him feel at ease. Fiona smiled that angelic smile of hers, in the back of her mind she hoped it wasn't Reese making him do it. If it wasn't praise the gods of Zi. If it was, well then Fiona would give Reese a piece of her mind to put it kindly.
Zeke stared wide-eyed at the two as they slowly began to get closer and closer.
"Fiona." Van muttered.
"Yes Van?"
"I."
"Van, shut up."
Van blinked in pure confusion. With that said Fiona caught him off and kissed him; he barely managed to kiss back, he was so surprised. But he quickly overcame the surprise, he leaned closer to her and the kiss deepened. Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck while Zeke's jaw fell straight to the fall.
"Oh My dear Miss Fiona! Look what I've got to show you!"
Thomas walked into the room with a small rose bud in hand. He looked at Zeke, who was in total shock, and wondered what could be so shocking. Then he laid eyes on the bed, the rose fell onto the floor as he promptly fainted.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Authors Note: hehehe what do you guys think? I'm finally done Fred!! The next couple chapters will get more into what Reese's and Raven's plan is, and then it'll go back to Van and Fiona where he meets someone who has a big impact on him. Well I hope you guys liked it! Now review people! Lol.
Peace Out
~*Mi ChElLe*~
