OGE: *Ducks various flying objects.* Gomen nasai minna-san! I've been so busy lately. Do you know I've had a consistent migraine since November 24? I can barely sit in front of this demonic thing to type, but I did it because I've neglected it too much. And I've brought presents!! *Throws Raven and Moonbay plushies with magnet lips in the air* Plushies for everyone!!

" Van, who do you think these G.O.Z. people are?"

" I honestly don't know. Some terrorists, I guess. Raven said the guy that attacked him said he was going to correct the Emperor's mistake and make sure he didn't hurt anyone else."

" But Raven's not a bad person anymore!"

" You know that. I know that. But not everyone believes it. Some people cannot forgive others as easily as we can. Raven has done some bad things in the past. Things that have hurt and caused people pain."

" I know. It's just…Why does everyone have to be this way? Why can't we live in peace?"

Van and Fiona were getting ready for bed. Both had tried to put the situation of the terrorists out of their minds for as long as they could, but the subject would not simply go away.

These people, whoever they were, were after Raven and they intended to either kick him off the planet or kill him. It was as simple as that. They knew where he lived, they knew how to get to his house. They could be watching them right now. But there was so little information, they could do nothing but wait and be careful.

Fiona worried over what this would do to her best friend; Moonbay. The transporter was living a happy and content life with the ex-Geno Breaker pilot. He was a good guy now. He and Van were the absolute best pilots in the world. He was deprived of naivety and childhood; deprived the goodness of mankind. He was a stoic person that didn't care who got hurt as long as he got what he wanted done.

Then when he and Moonbay got together; he did a complete 360. He laughed; he played around with Van, Irvine and even Thomas. He got along with the other soldiers in his units and in other bases. He hadn't destroyed a base since the whole ZOID EVE deal. Moonbay made him happy and he did the same for her.

" I don't know Fiona. I'd like to live in peace. But even then there are those who must fight to keep that peace. I don't mind doing that. I like protecting people. I think Raven does too. But they were happy before and they'll be happy again. You'll see."

" I hope you're right."

*********************

Raven had gone into the guestroom and decided to try and get some sleep. He knew he wouldn't be able too sleep well knowing that those G.O.Z. people were going out there; but Moonbay told him he wouldn't very good protection if he kept nodding off in his Storm Sworder.

Normally he would just disregard any order someone gave him; but this was Moonbay. She was special. She was the only person that could tell him what to do and get away with it. He loved her dearly, but he was still a little afraid of her. She defeated Hiltz and Reese like they were nothing. And he didn't want to see anymore of that 'happy yellow couch' than he absolutely had too.

So for her sake he just lie next to her and listen to the sound of the wind and the nocturnal animals outside. If he couldn't sleep then he could just listen in to the owls and the raccoons feeding on whatever they could find.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Raven's ears pricked at the sound just outside his window. That sounded like distant thunder. Like a bunch of earthquakes shaking the ground. Just like the sound in Jubilation City when Ambient attacked Moonbay and himself in that Dibison…  Raven's eyes widened." It can't be…" He leaped from the bed and dashed over to the window. Moonbay fell out of the bed from his sudden movement and was sprawled onto the floor in a mess of limbs and legs. " Raven…?" She rubbed her head dazedly and looked questioningly at him. But Raven didn't hear her. He was focusing his sharp eyes into the dark of the night searching for something he prayed he wouldn't find. He hoped that he was just being jumpy and he was just being overly protective and that this wasn't happening again. THUMP-THUMP. THUMP-THUMP. THUMP-THUMP. His eyes locked on to the movement in the distance. It was still a good few meters off, but he could see it clearly. His throat went dry and he backed away from the window quickly; knocking things over as he ran. " Kuso." Moonbay started to ask what he was doing when she heard the sound too. Her eyes widened as the memories came back of the exact same situation that had occurred years before." That sounds like a Gun Sniper…" Rat-ta-ta! Rat-ta-ta! Rat-ta-ta! Rat-ta-ta!

" Down!!" Raven pushed Moonbay down and pushed the mattress up to cover them. It wouldn't do much better than the walls of the house itself, but it was better than nothing they had.

Bullet holes riddled their room and shot up all the furniture. Cotton and pillow stuffing fluttering around the room as the assault continued. Sparks few off the sides of the bed frame and the metal balcony as bullets ricocheted away from the two occupants and into the walls.

******************

" Moonbay! Raven!!"

Van and Fiona were flying down in the doorway in an instant. Seifer, Taylor and the two organoids were right behind them. They had all heard the gunshots and the screaming coming from the guestroom and prayed that Moonbay and Raven were okay.

" Moonbay! Raven!!"

Van scanned over the room for any sign of movement in the room. He was about to give up and have Zeke and Shadow usher Taylor and Seifer out of the room when he heard coughing from under the bed.

" Hey! They're okay!" He rushed over and helped Raven lift the heavy mattress away. But Raven shoved him away and stalked over to the window and threw open the doors.

" Shadow! Get him!!" He pointed to the offending ZOID in the distance. His black organoid opened his wings and burst out of the roof in a black light without another word. In a matter of seconds, their oppressor was disposed of.

*****************

 Van had never seen Raven get that angry. The look in his eyes when he told Shadow to get the attacker was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. He was dead serious and he didn't even flinch when the ZOID blew up in a flash of red and yellow light.

Fiona and Moonbay were holding their children to their chests protectively while Zeke was standing by Raven and himself; making sure there were no other oppressors.

" Raven…? " Moonbay started; but he put his hand up to stop her.

" Go stay in the garage. I'll handle this. Stay there until one of us comes." He didn't even turn around when he spoke. He was just eerily calm about the whole thing.

" But-"

" Just do it!"

Moonbay heaved a sigh and turned to nod Fiona in the direction of the underground garage. She nodded in agreement and led the way. It would be best if Raven and Van handled this on their own.

*********************

" UGH!!!"

Raven crushed his boot into the face of their midnight attacker. He was a male in the same G.O.Z. uniform that the last assassin had used. Shadow had caught him before he could make a run for it and brought him back to their house. He was bruised and beaten from the attack Raven had given him when he first caught sight of him.

" Who sent you?!"

" I am a Guardian of Zi. It is my mission to end your evil reign and free the planet of your eternal darkness you cause of death!!"

" Cause of death?! I'll cause your death alright you pompous prat!!" Van had to grab his hands to keep him from furthering injuring the man more than he had already.

" Raven! Calm down! We can't get any answers if you break the man's jaw!" Raven growled angrily, but he backed off and slumped in a chair with his arms crossed.

" Now you're already in a lot of trouble for attempting to murder an Air Guardian Force member, you'd do well to tell us what you know and maybe you'll live through the night!" Van grabbed the man by his collar and yanked him roughly in his face.

" I am a Guardian of Zi. It is my mission to end his evil reign and free the planet of the eternal darkness of Raven." 

" This is getting us no where!! Let's just take him out back and use him for target practice!!" Raven was sick and tired of waiting and doing this Van's way. This was two times he was attacked. He'd at least expect them to wait a few days before their next ambush, but that was not a mistake he was going to make again. Someone was going to compensate for this.

" Yeah, you'd like to kill me wouldn't you you slayer?! You're a murderer and you don't deserve to live!!"

" Ochiro!!"

This time Zeke and Van had to keep him from killing the man. He was straining and struggling to get at the man's throat desperately. He wanted this man to pay. He attacked his family! He could have killed Moonbay or Seifer! He could have blown up the whole house!!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. How dare someone make an attempt on his life and the lives of his friends?! Who did these 'holier than thou' people think they were demanding him off this planet?!

" Listen to me Raven! We're going to take him back to base! He'll talk more there and we can send some scouts out as soon as we get there, but you have got to calm down! He's no good to us dead! You swore to Moonbay you wouldn't kill anymore, remember? Don't make them right." Van pinned Raven down on the ground with Zeke on his back. He knew he was angry. He was mad too. Moonbay was like his sister and he wanted retribution as well. But this wasn't helping.

Raven stopped thrashing and sat still. He sighed and relaxed in Van's hold. He did make a promise not to kill anymore. Moonbay made him swear he wouldn't kill unless he had absolutely no choice whatsoever. He knew he couldn't break that promise to her. That would make these people right, and he didn't have to kill anymore.

" Fine. We'll take him back to the base. But I swear I will crack him straight in the jaw if he opens his mouth to me again!"

" Fair enough Raven."