Hello, this is where it starts to pick up, for those of you who wanted some action it tryed my best to deliver it in this chapter, R&R please, and as always enjoy.

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Nathaniel was roused from his sleep by the forceful impact of the red EB Bass directly on his forehead. A scream echoed throughout the house as he flailed on his makeshift bed. The scream was followed by various curses and colorful metaphors. Pressing his fingers against his head he could swear there was already a lump forming where he was hit. Finally, still groaning in agony he sat up. He was greeted by Haruko's wide smile and her hands still clutching the bass like it was a baseball bat. His teeth grinded together as he struggled not to lose his cool and pull the bass from her hands to return the favor.

Her cheery voice only served to make him more angry, "Morning sunshine! Its time for school!" She pranced around him like nothing had happened. He wondered if she even realized how furious he was.

"What...was that about??" He attempted to stand but a pulse of pain erupted in his head and he was forced to sit again.

"Just thought I would wake you up, you slept through your alarm clock." She pointed to the clock by his bed. It read 7:40.

"There was no other way to wake me?? Nudge me, shake me, hell even scream at me? You had to break my skull with that bass?" He forced himself to stand despite the pain that still blossomed through his forehead and gradually to his entire skull.

"Nope, no other way! Now come on, get ready for school." She immediately began to rummage through her few suitcases to pick out what clothes to wear. She pulled out a logo-less black hoodie as well as blue jeans and her brown leather gloves.

Nathaniel looked through his drawers and got out fresh socks and a black Judas Priest shirt. He decided to wear the same black shorts he had worn to bed since they weren't dirty. By then it was 7:45 and he knew there would be no way he could get to school on time.

He entered his bathroom and changed, combed his hair and brushed his teeth. He headed downstairs to find Haruko with his messenger bag with all his school materials as well as her own luggage, including her guitars. She gave him the pack with a smile. Nathaniel was still angry about the bass and there was definitely a huge bump starting to form on his forehead but the pain had lessened. Still he couldn't find it in him to remain spiteful at Haruko.

His mother was also downstairs and was eating breakfast. He yelled in to her, "I'm going to skip breakfast, I'm already late, I will see you when I get home."

She stood and peaked around the corner of the kitchen as he stepped towards the door, "Have a good day, and it was nice to meet you Haruko."

Haruko waved and said, "It was nice to meet you too!" Then with her luggage in tow she headed out to her vespa.

Nathaniel followed and stood by as she packed and strapped her things down. He put his pack in amongst her stuff and hopped on the back of the vehicle. "You are giving me a ride to school, since you totaled my bike. Take your time, I'm going to be late as it is." It had been 7:55 by the time they left so he assumed there was no way he was going to make it. Not that he cared but he hated to be greeted by those "friendly" hall monitors in the morning.

Haruko strapped on her goggles and slid on her gloves. "You want to bet? I will get you there on time. I know where it is." Nathaniel looked at her nervously. Even if there were no stoplights or traffic he doubted she could make it in five minutes.

She hopped on and started the vespa. Gunning the engine a few times she yelled back to him, "Hang on!" Nathaniel locked his arms around her waist as she burned rubber and rocketed away from his home.

The wind generated by their velocity was enough to make tears roll across the sides of his face. She slowed only temporarily for turns and didn't even bother to stop at stop signs. By some miracle each light they happened upon was green and she was able to weave around the slower motorists. Nathaniel closed his eyes and buried his head in her back. Good to her word Haruko arrived before Nathaniel even realized it. He looked up to see she had stopped right by the entrance to his school.

He scrambled off the vespa and retrieved his pack from her things. They stared at each other, and for once Nathaniel noticed Haruko wasn't smiling. Her eyes were fixed upon his and only the small hint of a smirk was on her lips. Nathaniel didn't want her to go, even though she had almost gotten him killed and had used his head for batting practice with that bass. He didn't know what it was that made it impossible for him to remain mad at her. In fact he knew deep down he liked her, a lot. He couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking, feeling the same thing he was. The school bell rung, signaling the students to get to their homerooms. Nathaniel and Haruko couldn't stop staring at each other.

Nathaniel broke the silence, asking nervously, "Haruko, would you meet me at the baseball diamond behind the school when I get out? It would probably be about 3:00 or so."

Haruko nodded and said, "I would be glad to, I shall see you then."

Nathaniel stepped away as she once again gunned the engine and sped off. She looked back to wave at him. He returned the wave and entered the school. The teacher had just started taking attendance as he entered his homeroom. He slouched into his seat and looked at the clock. It read 8:03. He already was missing Haruko and he sighed, realizing it was going to be a long, long day. His hand strayed to his throbbing forehead. The pain had dulled but it was still sensitive and he winched. It was going to be a very long day...

...

"That will be all for today class!" the teacher yelled attempting to be heard as students exited the classroom. Nathaniel took no note of him just as he hadn't taken note of anything the entire day. He just wanted to see Haruko. Pushing through the crowds of people he made his way to the entrance. He couldn't contain his excitement and he found himself jogging just to get there. Sure enough as he rounded the side of the school he saw Haruko, sitting with her arms folded across her knees at one of the bleachers.

His school only had a few sports, baseball being one and soccer and field hockey the others. The soccer field doubled as the field hockey games which made little sense to him. Like the school, the fields were in sore need of attention. The grass had been left to grow far too long and had to be trimmed. The boundaries and lines had faded to the point that even the refs were confused at times during the games. The only seating was small bleachers set up along the sides of the fields where Haruko was waiting.

Nathaniel walked over waving as he approached. Haruko waved back gleefully and smiled one of her usual cheery grins. He sat beside her and set his pack down. They made little conversation due to the fact Haruko was absorbed by the baseball team which was in the middle of practicing. Noticing her interest Nathaniel asked, "You like baseball?"

She turned swiftly towards him and said, "Hell yeah, I'm only the best player in the entire world." Nathaniel chuckled at her comment. Haruko stood and looked down at him. Her voice was cool and confident, "Watch this...I will be right back."

He watched as she rushed from the bleachers and shouted to the team, "Hey, mind of I try a few swings?" Nathaniel was distracted as a sharp pain ran through his head. This had been going on since his first class. Stabbing sensations would rack his skull for a few moments and then pass. Naturally it was where he had been hit with the instrument that morning but it felt deeper somehow like it was in his brain. Then it would suddenly cease. He didn't know what was going on and it had begun to worry him.

When his head cleared he could see the negative emotions on Haruko's face as the team's pitcher shouted back, "You're just a girl, you can't play!" She then marched up to the home plate and pulled the bat from the batters hands. Stunned, he backed away from the plate and the pink haired female who took up a batting stance like it was second nature.

The pitcher laughed and sneered, "This could be fun, you ready for this?" Haruko remained silent as he prepared up for the throw.

It happened all in a split second as the ball sped with wicked speed towards the catcher. Haruko swung with all her might and the following clap of the ball meeting the wooden bat gave evidence she had connected. It took a moment for everyone to locate the ball which had become a pinprick of white in the sky as it flew out of the field and was lost to sight. Nathaniel stared with awe. He couldn't help but wonder if that was a fluke or if she was that good.

The pitcher shrugged, his ego still at work and he refused to believe she had hit that by anything other than chance. "Lucky shot...." Haruko shifted her feet, preparing for his next throw. This ball followed suit as the last one as Haruko connected, sending it sky high.

Everyone on the team was shocked and looked wide eyed at Haruko. She had a sinister grin on her face and yelled, "Bring it! One more time!"

The pitcher looked angry now and shouted in return, "You won't hit this one, I guarantee it!" He unsuccessfully tried to stare Haruko down before winding up and releasing the ball. As fast as it had reached her bat it rocketed back right into the pitchers face. Nathaniel swore he could hear something break in that guy's face as he flew back like he had been hit by a professional boxer. The rest of his team rushed towards him as he lay holding his cheek where he was hit and spitting out ......

Haruko threw the bat to the ground and started to prance around taunting, "Yeah! I rule the diamond! I rule you all! Haha!" She then returned to the stands where Nathaniel sat. She had a devious smirk on her face and said, "Let's get out of here."

Both of them left the field and headed to where Haruko had parked her vespa. Nathaniel followed along side her, still amazed. He said, "That was awesome, that guy flew! How did you get so good?"

She answered simply, "Lots of practice."

Nathaniel came to a disturbing realization and added, "Wait, did you hit that guy on purpose? You are that good?"

Haruko faced him and only smiled. He knew it was true and mentally reminded himself never to get on her bad side. "He is probably missing a few teeth you know."

She laughed and said, "I know, he was asking to face my wrath though." She gritted her teeth and snarled at Nathaniel. He backed away cautiously and she laughed grabbing his arm, pulling him back beside her as they walked to the vespa. Another pulse of pain caused Nathaniel to grab his head in agony. He stopped and bent over as it pounded over and over in his brain. Haruko just stood there watching, not asking what was wrong. It seemed to him like she knew what was going on. As soon as the pain had started it stopped. He could still feel the strain it had put on him by the throbbing in the middle of his forehead and temples.

Haruko still looked at him with little care about what had just happened and beckoned him to hurry. He followed her to the vespa and got on while she pulled her goggles over her eyes and commented, "We are going to take a little detour today, you know that giant building on the outskirts of the town? We are going to visit it." Nathaniel didn't question her. He had always been curious about that building himself but never had a chance get near it. He figured that a visit might answer some of his questions.

They sped out of the school parking lot and down the many streets towards the edge of the town. The building steadily got larger and larger as they approached. Nathaniel was surprised, having never suspected it to be that big. His head had started to hurt continuously, increasing as they neared their destination. Now he was really worried, he felt like he would pass out and fall off the vespa.

Due to Haruko's lead foot they reached the building in no time. Nathaniel staggered off the vespa and used it to steady himself and his ever increasing migraine. Haruko removed her goggles and stared at its monstrous size. It was surrounded by only a few houses and the only street leading to it was the one they had taken.

Facing away from Nathaniel, she seemed to be talking to no one in particular, "Ahhh, Medical Mechanica, never thought I would be back did you? Thought you still had it in for this planet...well guess what? You got me to deal with again. Atomsk's power will be mine."

Nathaniel was about to ask her what she was talking about but he fell to his knee's in horrible pain. He groaned and grinded is teeth in agony. Everything was starting to go blurry; he was barely able to make out Haruko turning to face his collapsed form. She was still wearing one of her mischievous grins. "Does she know what is going on?" was all he could think before he blacked out completely.

...

Vision finally returned to Nathaniel's eyes. He managed to focus on a blurry image in front of him. It was Haruko with her hands on his head. He couldn't figure out what she was doing. It seemed like she was pulling on his head but each time she tugged it felt like his brain was being forced from his skull. As his eyes finally recovered from his blackout he could see her hands weren't on his head, they were IN his head. With each tug he yelled and screamed.

She mutters, "Come on! Whatever you are, come out!" She places her foot on his chest and uses him for leverage, only adding to the traumatizing experience. "Gotcha!" she says in triumph and gives a last mighty pull. She falls back in surprise as a giant black, steel leg with a fixed sword like point is freed. Yet another giant leg squeezes from Nathaniel's head. Using the sharpened edges the legs stab themselves into the ground and start to pull the rest of its body from his head.

As the machine emerges Nathaniel is thrown back to the ground. He skids a few feet and remains there, stunned. He managed only to look up to see what had exited his head. It was a huge machine with four spider like legs, each articulated for flexibility. They ended in sharpened edges like the blade of a sword. It had tank treads under its frame that hovered above the ground which it could also use for motion. Its metallic body rose upward ending with a round stalk like robotic head with a single glowing red eye. On each of its shoulders were giant missile pods and the barrels of two chain guns were flush with its chest. Its arms ended in hands that were made of a trio of grasping serrated claws.

It turned its attention immediately to Haruko. The barrels of the chain guns whirred to life and hundreds of rounds were sent in her direction. Haruko dove behind her vespa and to Nathaniels surprise the bullets ricocheted off. The guns stopped and Haruko took that moment to grab the red bass guitar she had hit Nathaniel over the head with that morning. She reappeared from behind the vespa holding the bass in a fighting stance.

Nathaniel had found the strength to stand once again and was completely perplexed. Everything had gotten so weird so fast. Haruko's attacker launched two missiles from the pods on its shoulders which screamed towards her. At the precise moment, Haruko swung the bass into their paths. Instead of exploding they deflected off the guitars body and high into the air. They arced back towards the giant structure and exploded against its surface. As the smoke and fire cleared it could be seen no damage was done to it. Haruko swung the bass onto her back and started up the vespa.

Nathaniel was stiff with confusion and fear. He was pulled from his stupor by Haruko screaming, "Get on! Now!!" It took a second for him to register her command but he ran to her and jumped onto the back. The chain guns on the machines chest opened fire on them again. The engine of the small vehicle roared and sped away from the spray of bullets. She made tight circles around the machine attempting to stay out of its line of fire. She then made a mad dash down the road they had used to get there. Two more rockets sped away from the machines shoulders and were in hot pursuit of them. Nathaniel clung for dear life to Haruko as they accelerated. The missiles were still gaining on them as they neared a three way intersection. She put the vespa into a power slide and was heading towards a brick building. Just as she was about to hit it Haruko stomped on the throttle and pulled them out of the slide mere feet from the structure. The missiles behind them were too slow to follow and detonated against the building. The explosion obliterated the entire side of it and showered Nathaniel and Haruko with debris. The ensuing shockwave almost made them lose control but Haruko managed to steady the vespa and continue on.

Turning to look behind them Nathaniel was horrified to see the machine barrel through the three way. Instead of the legs, it was using the tank treads. It plowed through the ruble and churned up the asphalt beneath it. Spotting them it rumbled forward after them. He tapped Haruko on the shoulder and pointed behind them. She spotted their pursuer and took a sharp turn down another street. Despite the machines size, it kept pace with them and rounded the same turn, flattening cars and street lamps. The chain guns fired upon their target but because of the distance their accuracy was decreased. Hearing the rounds flying past their heads Haruko began to weave in and out of traffic using the other cars as cover. The bullets shredded through the vehicles like confetti but still couldn't hit the maneuverable vespa.

Instead of two, four rockets launched from the missile pods and homed in on Haruko and Nathaniel. At the intersection in front of them a tractor trailer was getting ready to cross their path. Haruko pushed the vespa's engine to its limit in an attempt to get the trailer between them and the missiles. The light changed and the massive vehicle slowly began to cross. Nathaniel heard her shout despite all the noise that assaulted his ears, "....! Faster, faster!!" They zoomed in front of the trailer almost colliding with its bumper. The startled driver put on the brakes and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Haruko let off the gas and looked back screaming, "YEAH!" A second later the missiles struck the trailer broadside and engulfed the entire intersection with fire. The windows of nearby buildings were shattered and soon defaced by the raging flames. Everything else was torched.

Suddenly the wreckage of the trailer was hoisted into the air. The clawed hands of the machine lifted it above its head still driving forward. With disturbing ease its serrated claws sliced the flaming truck to pieces and then threw them aside. Anger was evident in Haruko's voice, "You drive!!"

She got off and shoved Nathaniel forward into the drivers seat. He resisted some stuttering, "But...I've never drove anythi..."

"There isn't any time to discuss it, now drive!" Haruko hopped on behind him with her feet on the seat, facing towards the oncoming machine. Finding the throttle, Nathaniel took off down the street. He was surprised not only at its speed but also that Haruko managed to stay on the bike. He was even more startled when she stood up, somehow maintaining balance and swung the bass off her back. She gripped the neck tightly like it was a bat and grimaced at the machine.

"That is impossible..." he thought, "But then again so it everything else that just happened." Another volley of rockets was launched, six, one after the other. Even with Nathaniel swerving around cars, Haruko stood firmly readying the bass. As each missile approached, she swung back and forth, deflecting them. The missiles reduced buildings, sidewalks, and other cars to fiery scrap. Nathaniel wasn't able to warn Haruko as he made a turn onto another street. The tires squealed against the pavement and she was forced to crouch and hang on or else be thrown off. Coming out of the turn she stood and watched the machine round the same corner and flatten everything that got in its way.

Tapping Nathaniel on the shoulder she shouted, "Stop here! I'm not running from this tin can anymore!" He looked at her like she was insane but obeyed. They slowed steadily to a stop and Haruko jumped off. The machine came to a thunderous stop while unfolding its legs from the sides of the treads. It raised itself off the road but made no move to attack them. Likewise Haruko stood with her bass in hand but did not move. "Nathaniel...stay behind the vespa, I will take care of this. I don't want you to be hurt." Even though he lost some of his trust in her, he still felt he could trust her to protect him.

Concerned he said, "Haruko, be careful...I don't want you hurt either." She turned to stare at him with her gorgeous eyes and nodded.