The Princess of the Zoids: Could it Be Me

Chapter 3: Preparing to Fight

The Blitz Team was lounging about the living room of their base when Dr. Torosu came in with news. "Guess what? We have a challenge!" he told them enthusiastically.

Ballade didn't even look up, continuing to sip his coffee, and Jiemi simply looked at Torosu. Bit and Rinon, however, jumped to their feet, eager for another battle.

"Who is it Doc?" Bit asked, while Rinon commented "I hope it's Naomi, so I can prove again how superior my Gun Sniper is to hers," at the same time.

"It's Dr. Raon."

"Ah, Doc!" Jiemi complained. "Why do we have to keep battling him?"

"Because there's five times the normal prize money."

"We'll do it," Ballade cut in, before anyone could object.

Jiemi sighed. "Is money and personal points the only things you think of?" Ballade nodded. Jiemi sighed again. "When is the battle?"

"A week from today. We'd better get ready," Torosu replied, and then left the room.

As she poured over the computer of the Reinosu, Arasu was in her element. She had always loved computers, as far back as she could remember. Thinking up and implementing new Zoid programming was more than her job, it was her hobby. It was also what got her kicked out of the Zoid Academy...

"Arasu Hemerosu! Come down out of that Zoid right now!" a woman yelled at Arasu. Arasu didn't move. The woman signaled to the two men who were with her, and they climbed up to the cockpit of the Reinosu and pulled her out. "It is against regulations to alter the programming of a school Zoid. What do you think you were doing?"

The twelve-year-old girl pulled herself up as high as she could go, and looked the principal in the eyes. "I was not 'altering' its programming. I was just, err, tweaking it a little, so that it'll perform better."

"That does not excuse anything. The rules are clear. You will be expelled..."

Arasu shook her head to clear it. She didn't know why all of these old memories were surfacing, but she couldn't let them get in the way of her work.

"Arasu!" Dr. Raon called. Arasu peered over the side of the cockpit. "I have organized the match. You will be fighting the Blitz team."

"The Blitz team? I take it you want me to try to capture the Raigaru Zero?"

"Very perceptive. I want you to take the lead in this battle, so what will you need?"

Arasu thought for a moment. "They'll probably send out the Ragairu, the Shadow Fox, and the Gun Sniper, like they always do. I'll need at least 4 other Zoids out there with me. Two to keep the Shadow Fox and the Gun Sniper busy, and the other two to distract the Raigaru so that I can test the new system. If that works, I'll take out one of the other two Zoids, and the others can focus on the other." Arasu paused. "I'll also need another aerial Zoid on standby, incase they send out their Reinosu. We need to either take it out or occupy it before it can start attacking me."

"I'll organize everything. Is your Reinosu ready?"

Arasu looked down at the workers implementing her changes to the Zoid "Almost. I'm just waiting for my new claws." Arasu looked over toward the edge of the hangar bay. "Be careful with those!" she shouted at someone carrying a heavy box.

"I'll get some mechanics over here to install those for you."

"Thank you, sir."