Princess of the Zoids: Could it Be Me
Notes: I'm gonna try to get this finished pretty soon. Then I'm gonna try to finish "Something Worth Leaving Behind," and then I'll work a little more on "Learning to Live" and "Might and Magik" (X-Men: Evolution). I've also got a Saiyuki fic and a Xenosaga fic I'm working on. So I've put out an announcement on all my fics as I update them: After I update everything, whatever has the most reviews by one week after everything is updated, will be the one I focus the most on.
Also, as I've said before, I'm not the greatest at writing fighting, so much of this battle is being left out.
Chapter 10: The Second Battle
"Ready to go, Jiemi?" Arasu asked her brother from the cockpit of her Reinosu. Jiemi didn't reply, but a communication window opened, and she saw him nod at her. She nodded in reply, then opened the communication window to the bridge of the Whaleking. "Dr. Raon, we're ready to go."
"Acknowledged," a bridge crewmember responded.
"Arasu, Jiemi." Dr. Raon was speaking to them. "Your mission for this battle is to capture the Raigaru. But above that, do not allow the Blitz Team to learn your identities. Do you understand?" Both Jiemi and Arasu nodded. "Then good luck." He shut off the communications device.
The last member of their maintenance crew ran away from the starting Zoids, and Arasu chuckled. It was the same man who almost dropped her claws while they were being installed, and it served him right not to get a warning that she would start her Zoid's engines.
"That was mean, Arasu," Jiemi told her.
"He deserved it, Ototo-chan. Trust me." Arasu didn't know why, but she felt nervous about this battle. True, she'd already practically defeated the Blitz Team before, and with her brother by her side instead of attacking her, this time, the battle should end differently, but something still felt wrong.
"There's two Reinosu on the team, from all accounts," Leon told the three Blitz pilots. He and Naomi had met up with them that morning at their base, and rode out the short distance to the battle site with the Blitz Team. Currently, they were in the control center with Dr. Torosu, assisting in the coordination of the battle.
"But be careful," Naomi cautioned, "because they are with Backdraft, so they could send out more." The three pilots acknowledged the advice, and launched their Zoids.
"Jiemi," Arasu called to her brother. "Whatever you do, don't send out anything on the open channel. They'll recognize your voice." Jiemi acknowledged her, then they prepared for battle.
You know that feeling of excitement that comes from a sporting event between two highly skilled individuals or teams? Nothing else could describe this battle. Jiemi and Arasu might not have the fighting skills that Bit, Ballade, and Rinon have, but their speed and maneuverability made up for that difference.
"You notice that?" Leon commented to Naomi and his father.
"Notice what?" Naomi asked.
"The way those two move out there." He pointed to the screen, at the intricate attack formations that the two Reinosu were performing. "They've got to be related. Probably siblings." Torosu and Naomi didn't reply, wondering where the Raon had found two skilled Reinosu pilot siblings.
"You ready?" Arasu asked her brother.
"As ready as I'll be, aneki," Jiemi replied.
"Alright. Our biggest threat is the Shadow Fox. The Gun Sniper can't hit you when you move fast enough. Distract them, and I'll go for the Raigaru."
"Got it." The two Reinosu broke formation, and implemented their plan.
"Bit!" Torosu yelled from the base. "The Reinosu is coming up behind you. They could be trying what they did last time. Watch out."
"Got it, Doc!" Bit switched channels on his com, to speak directly with the pilot chasing him. "You wanna fight me? Then fight me. One on one, no tricks.
Arasu couldn't believe what she was hearing. Bit Cloud, pilot of the Raigaru Zero, was challenging her to a battle. Turning on her private channel to Jiemi, she asked him "Change of plans. I'll distract the Raigaru, you try to take over the Shadow Fox. Can you handle it?"
Jiemi didn't reply right away. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"The Raigaru knows what I'm trying. We can't ignore both of the other Zoids, and there's no way I can get control of him when he's onto me. We have to try."
"Alright, but be careful."
Arasu switched her com to the line that Bit had opened. "Bit Cloud, I accept your challenge."
"You asked for it!" he shouted back at her, as he turned to face her Zoid.
Bit and Arasu's battle had quickly become a stalemate. He couldn't catch her speed to hit her, and her projectiles were easily dodged by the land-based Zoid. However, Jiemi wasn't having as easy a time. Every time he tried to attack the Shadow Fox, the Gun Sniper countered him, making him dodge.
"Aneki," he called to his sister. "I'm changing plans. I'll lure the Shadow Fox to the edge of the battlefield, then double back and get the Gun Sniper."
"Just be careful," Arasu sent back. "Remember that it's hard to control two Zoids at once. If you can't take the Shadow Fox out quickly with the Gun Sniper, you'll have to dodge it and keep control of the Sniper at the same time."
"I'll handle it!" was the reply much too confident-sounding for her brother, normally. "The Wild Eagle can handle anything."
From his seat in the Hover Cargo, Dr. Torosu watched the second Reinosu's burst of speed toward the edge of the battlefield. That flying style... he thought. But it couldn't be...
"Arasu, what's going on?" Raon asked his pilot.
"The Raigaru's pilot caught onto our plan, and to keep me from being able to control his Zoid, he challenged me to a private duel. I'm using this time to allow Jiemi to take out the other two. He was having problems getting control of the Shadow Fox, so he's luring him out to the edge of the battlefield, so he can use his speed to get control of the Gun Sniper." Arasu dodged a shot from the Raigaru. "But I'm worried. He referred to himself as the 'Wild Eagle' just now. Do you know what that's about?"
"Not entirely, but keep an eye on him. If it looks like the battle will change to favor the Blitz team, get out of there."
"Yes, sir."
Though the conversation took only a moment, it did distract her enough for the Raigaru to get one shot at her that connected.
"Frack!" she yelled, and turned to charge the offending Zoid
On the other side of the battlefield, the Wild Eagle was fighting a losing battle against the Gun Sniper. One last shot, he thought. I can make it this time. Coming in low so that she wouldn't see him, he was about to launch the claws, when he was rammed into from the side.
"The Shadow Fox!" he exclaimed. "I'm hit!"
Arasu switched back to their private channel. "Ototo-chan! Retreat! I'll cover you!"
"The Wild Eagle does not retreat!"
"Well, the Wild Eagle had better do what his commanding officer says, and that's an order directly from Dr. Raon. You can't fight with that damage. Get out of there, now!"
Fearing the wrath of his sister, the Wild Eagle turned to return to the Whaleking, but found himself the target of the Gun Sniper.
Breaking off her battle with Bit, Arasu flew to block the shots, but couldn't take them all out, and got hit by one. "Argh!"
"Arasu!"
"Go! I'll be fine" But as she looked to make sure that her brother was following her orders, she got hit with a full barrage from the Gun Sniper. The Shadow Fox hit her with another shot as she was going down, which froze her computer.
Arasu was going down, and fast, and without her computer, she couldn't counter the descent rate. "Raon! Sir! Get out of here with the Whaleking. I'll find a way to get back on my own. I have to eject!"
"Arasu, will you be alright?"
"I'll be find. Just protect my brother!" Arasu hit the eject, and was launched out of the battered Reinosu. However, she had waited too long to eject, and didn't have the height to hit the parachute, and hit the ground hard, knocking her out.
"Bit! Rinon! Ballade!" Torosu shouted at his warriors. "Let the other Reinosu get away. You need to get to that pilot, and make sure she's alright!"
The three warriors ignored the Dark Judge's announcement of the Blitz Team's win and departure, getting their Zoids as close to the crash site as they dared, then climbing out and searching for Arasu.
Bit got to her first, and, unstrapping her from the seat, recognized her. "Guys, it's Su!"
An angry Wild Eagle stormed to the bridge, where Dr. Raon was directing the crew to take them out of the area.
"You're not going to just leave her there, are you?"
Raon looked at the boy, who seemed so different from the calm Jiemi he was used to.
"'Wild Eagle', was it? Your sister knew what she was doing. She can handle herself. Besides, the Blitz Team won't harm her."
The Wild Eagle looked like he was about to hit Raon, but decided against it. "I'm going to see to the repair of my Zoid," he announced, and stormed out of the room.
Raon walked over to a console and hit the communicator button. "Doctor, I need to see you in my office. We may have a problem."
Okay, I'm sorry for the long update, but here it is!