Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 2

Underground...

The elevator doors opened slowly as the AC Havoc stalked out. Elijah checked all his stats. 'Hmm. Generator at full power. Ammo primed and ready. Now let's go to work.'

As Havoc walked out into the open, he could hear the communications from his targets.

"They brought in a Raven. Take it out!"

Elijah grinned. 'If they think they can beat me with those weak MT's, they must be either desperate or foolish.' He ignited the boosters, 'Either way, they made a big mistake.'

"Main system. Engaging combat mode."

Firing its boosters, Havoc swarmed in as the MTs began firing at him. But their rockets weren't hitting Havoc at all as he raised his machine guns and opened fire. The loud sounds of machine gun fire echoed throughout the underground city as the bullets shredded the first two MTs instantly. The third one moved to the side in order to get a clear shot, but it was far too slow and the black AC focused its gaze on him.

"Don't worry. I didn't forget about you."

The hail of bullets tore through the air and into the MT, utterly destroying it. Havoc lowered its guns and continued to move through the complex. Elijah checked his radar in order to determine where the others were. Locating them, Havoc flew off to the left around the corner of one of the buildings. Right around it, an MT popped up in his face. Surprised, Havoc boosted back slightly, allowing the MT to get a shot in. The rocket hit Havoc in the left hand, damaging the machine gun. Growling inside, Elijah raised the other machine and wasted the MT. Once it was destroyed, he checked his weapon. It was too badly damaged to use now. 'Damn. And I liked this too.' With little choice, Havoc dropped the damaged weapon and continued on. As he did, Elijah berated, 'I let myself in too close and got surprised. I can just imagine what Cain would say if he were here.'

He found another corner and turned to find another MT waiting for him. But he was ready for it and the MT's rocket fire missed him and exploded in the ruined building. Havoc responded with a round of fire which chewed up the MT and blew it up. Elijah checked his ammo. '100 rounds left. No problem.' According to his data, there were three more left. Havoc flew through the deserted streets to find his final targets all together. Without a second breath, Havoc unleashed his fire. Living up to its name, the machine wreaked havoc upon the MTs as they exploded under the sheer fire. Havoc zoomed into the center and found that one was left. Raising the machine, Havoc fired, but only five bullets spewed out.

'What? I'm out of ammo? How did that happen?'

Elijah quickly returned his attention to the last MT as it fired on him. Havoc quickly dodged aside, but had no weapons to fire back with. Elijah couldn't believe that he was out of ammo, but remembered how machine gun ammo tends to exhaust easily. 'Come on. How can I get rid of this guy? Wait a minute?'

'Remember to use all of your AC's abilities.'

Elijah grumbled. 'How can I? I only had those two guns and I can't use...wait a minute.'

Elijah suddenly remembered that his core had an EO function. 'I can't believe I forgot about that.' Quickly, Elijah clicked a switch causing his AC to launch two little orbiters on its back. The orbiters immediately fired streams of energy beam, tearing the MT apart and destroying it.

"All targets eliminated. Switching to normal mode."

Elijah sighed within the machine. 'Piece of cake.'

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

Next morning...

Elijah stopped off at a bar. It was morning and he only gotten little sleep because of his mission. And since he didn't want to miss any of Cain's lessons, he decided to start early. Of course, he needed a small pick-me-up at the tavern. As he gulped down his drink, the bartender questioned, "A little young to be drinking, aren't ya?"

Elijah shrugged, "Yeah well, I started early in life."

The bartender glanced at him more thoroughly, "Hmm. You're a Raven, aren't you? I can see it in your eyes."

The young pilot took another gulp of his drink, "So what of it?"

"Yeah buddy. So what of it?"

The new response came from another man who had entered the tavern and stood beside Elijah. The man was dark-skinned, of medium height. His hair was a bit spiky on his head. The newcomer sat beside Elijah as he ordered his drink.

"So you're a Raven. You look a little young."

Elijah sulked a bit. He didn't like being disturbed while drinking and given his lack of rest, wasn't in the best of moods right now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The stranger raised his hands in slight defense, "Hey, hey. I was just saying that because there are few Ravens in your age category. No reason to get snippy." His gaze lowered to the young man's drink. "Actually, there is. Do you actually drink this stuff?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You must have weak taste." He raised his own glass and gulped down the contents, "Now this is the stuff here."

Elijah took another look at the stranger and something clicked in his head that he didn't consider before. "Are you...a Raven?"

The man grinned as he downed the last of his drink, "Yeah. Just came back from vacation."

"Since when do Ravens take vacations?"

"Since they get the big bucks." He stood up from his seat, "Anyway, I've gotta go. Maybe we'll meet again, uhhh. What's your name?"

"Elijah."

"Okay, Elijah. Oh, I'm Koemai." He turned to the door, but stopped briefly and turned to grin, "Let's just hope we don't meet in the arena."

Elijah gave a smirk of his own. "Heh, fine."

***********

Later...

Elijah walked into the hanger, ready to get starting in his training. "Okay, what's the lesson for...? Koemai?"

Elijah was surprised to see the man he met in the bar standing in the hanger bay. Koemai was just as surprised.

"Elijah? Hey what are you doing here?"

"I work here."

"You do?"

"What are you doing here?" Elijah snipped back.

Koemai didn't appreciate his tone, "Visiting a friend, smart-aleck."

At this point, Cain came out of his room nearby to find the two of them arguing, "Hey, guys. What's the problem?"

"This guy's mouth is the problem." Koemai snarled.

Elijah retorted, "Look who's talking."

Cain decided to stand in between the two before they thought about fighting, "Whoa, whoa, time out. Both of you calm down."

"Calm do...?" Elijah growled at first, but realized, "You know this guy?"

Cain sighed, "Elijah, this is Koemai. My partner." He then turned to Koemai, "Koemai, this is Elijah. My student."

Elijah was taken aback by this. "You have a partner?"

Koemai put his hand on Cain's shoulder, much to his dismay. "Damn straight, kid. We're the legendary Hands of God."

"You...you're the Hands of God team?!"