Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Chap. 3
"You...you're the Hands of God team?!"
Elijah was simply dumbstruck by this news. The Hands of God were one of the fiercest, most powerful Raven teams he's ever heard of. In the arena, they had no equal, defeating their opponents with precision while leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. They became so good that over time, their exploits became somewhat of a legend among the lower ranked Ravens. Few knew who they were and even fewer could call them rivals.
"Are...you serious?"
Cain nodded, "Yes. Glaive and Darkhand were the Hands of God."
Elijah quickly sat down before he fell. He couldn't believe that his mentor was one of these deadly Ravens. If that was so, then his battle skills are far deadlier than he thought. 'If that's the case, then why doesn't he fight anymore?'
"What happened to you guys?"
Koemai was about to answer when Cain cut him off, "Time and unforeseen occurrences."
Elijah gave him a strange look while Koemai gave a sad one. But he wiped it away quickly and grinned, "Anyway, we're putting that behind us. In fact, that's why I'm here."
Cain turned to his partner, "What do you mean?"
Koemai answered, "I got an offer a while back and..." He stopped briefly and turned to Elijah, who was listening in.
"Hey kid, butt out. This is between me and him."
Elijah frowned, "I'm not a kid. I'm a grown@$$ man!"
Koemai turned fully to face him, "Oh is that right? Well how would you like a grown@$$...?"
"Stop it." Cain barked in slight irritation. The two turned back to him as he rubbed his head slightly.
"Koemai, say what it is you have to say. It's alright. He is my student after all."
Elijah snickered while Koemai grumbled, "Fine, fine. I was contacted a few days ago by a guy named Charles. He says he's forming a clan and wants us to join."
Cain blinked a bit. Raven clans were the newest groups uprising from the Cortex. They were Ravens who group together to form a single powerful unit. Usually they had a specific purpose or an agenda in mind, but most clans were often just a few Raven that worked together simply for the fun of it. However, one or two of them were highly dangerous. Because of this, and others like them, clans were often left alone. In fact, there were only six clans in existence. Majestic Force, Metal Gear, The Way, Death Dealers, Blood Omen, and The Animalz.
"What clan is he a part of?" Cain asked.
Koemai smiled, "That's the best part. It's an entirely new clan. It's to be called Clan Nightwatch. It's a basic clan unit, but he's got some good talent."
Elijah was now very interested, "Like who?"
"Well, let's see. He already has AC's White Wolf and Phantom and he said he had another one coming in. So what do you say? Shall the Hands of God come into force with them? Just imagine it. We would be unstoppable!"
Cain shook his head humorously at his friend's enthusiasm, but inwardly worried. What was the purpose of this clan? And how did this guy get Phantom on his side? Phantom was one of the finest Ravens around, called that because he had a habit of disappearing and reappearing on and off of enemy scopes. And White Wolf was another new Raven who was rapidly rising in the ranks. But even still, was he even ready to become fully active again? By nature, he was a loner. Whenever he fights, he prefers to do it alone. Even with Elijah and Koemai, Cain sometimes felt that there were some things a guy has to do alone. And then there was...
"Let's go for it!"
Both Cain and Koemai looked over at Elijah, who had an excited look on his face.
"What are you talking about?" Koemai growled. "He asked for us, not you, shrimp boy."
Elijah snarled back, "Oh really? Well, when you ask for the teacher, you get the student as well. And don't call me shrimp!"
"Drop dead, kid."
"Why you...!"
"Stop, stop it already." Cain lowered his head again in irritation. "Okay, look. I'll have to think about it. Clans aren't exactly safe and we don't know what this guy really wants. If you two want to join, that's fine. Be careful and let me know what his objectives are. If they're okay, then I'll consider membership, deal?"
Koemai jumped and placed his arm on his friend's shoulder (again), "You won't regret it."
Cain muttered to himself. "Too late."
********
The next session Cain put Elijah through was timing. Cain had set up a arena stage with five battle MTs. Elijah was to destroy them all within the time given limit. No problem. Havoc stumbled into the testing area and faced the five MTs. They were no different than all the others he's destroyed.
"No sweat. I'll be done in five seconds flat."
In a viewing room, Cain simply shook his head while Koemai watched from beside him. The test began and Havoc thrust into battle. Without a second wasted, he unloaded on the first MT. The bullets riddled through it, but the MT suddenly boosted to the side. At the same time, two others sidestepped and fired at him. Havoc reversed its boosters and shot away. Inside, Elijah was a bit surprised, but the surprise grew as the MT flew around him and continued to fire.
'What the heck? They're way too strong and fast to be just regular MTs. What are these guys?'
His com suddenly came up, "As you may have realized, these are no ordinary MTs. They are AI controlled, all using my battle data."
Elijah blinked in surprise, "You're telling me this now?"
The conversation was cut short when the MTs fired again. Havoc boosted back further and found himself against the wall. As the MTs closed on him, Elijah suddenly realized something.
'Wait a second. Even if they have his data, they're still nothing, but MTs!'
With a cry, Havoc boosted forward again and the MTs fired. But Havoc suddenly airlifted over them and slid behind them. Still boosting, Havoc half-circled around and unloaded on them. The MTs were too slow to turn and three of them were immediately gunned down. The remaining to began to boost to the side, but they were still to slow as Havoc came right at them.
"I am a Raven! No MT will ever defeat a Raven!"
Unloading his rage into his fire, Havoc completely wasted the two MTs and they exploded as such. Havoc lowered his smoking guns and the head turned to look toward the viewing room.
"Ha! How was that? Not too bad, huh?"
Cain simply folded his arms, "You're off by two seconds."
"What?"
Cain explained, "You hesitated before and when I told you that the MTs had my data, you panicked and backed away. Therefore, you lost two seconds."
Elijah was exasperated, "You can't be serious."
"I'm always serious." was the stoic reply.
********
Later...
Elijah was busily working on his AC Havoc. After the training session, he had some repairs to make. Luckily, Cain decided to end early today. Elijah smiled to himself. 'Me, in a Raven clan. I'll become one of the best Raven's alive.'
"Hey kid." Elijah looked down from his machine to see Koemai coming up the railing. Eligah frowned a bit, but Koemai held his hands up briefly.
"Hey, hey. I'm not here to fight. I just wanted to say that you got some talent."
Elijah blinked. He didn't expect such a compliment from him.
"You have a good handle on the weapons and maneuverability, but you have to work on aim. No offense, but it sucks."
Elijah would have gotten angry except that he found it funny. It was true too. Elijah chuckled a bit.
"Yeah, that's what Cain keeps telling me. That my aim his a little off."
"Well, don't worry about it. He's just afraid of being shot by his own partner." He nervously scratched the back of his head, "I...uhh, did that sometimes."
Both Ravens exchanged a glance and then suddenly burst out laughing. When they managed to calm it down a bit...
"He can be a stiff, but he knows what he's talking about." Koemai said after breaths.
Elijah took a deep breath, "Can you tell me something?"
"What?"
"Why doesn't he fight anymore? I've only seen him in one or two arena battles and they're always too short for me to see anything. Why?"
Koemai looked away, but Elijah saw the hint of sadness that had crossed his eyes.
"If he hasn't told you, then neither will I."
Elijah stood up from his machine, "Was it really that bad?"
Koemai simply nodded. "You should have seen him in the old days. Before the surface opened up. He was good. He knew his machine and the machine knew him. He became one of the best mostly because he defeated many of his opponents without having to resort to killing. Sometimes, I wonder what he would be like if he broke loose."
"It's like that?"
"Yeah. He still has the skill, but his soul just isn't the same." He moved away from the railing, "Anyway, I've got to be going. I've got a clan to join." He walked down the railing and toward the hanger doors, but stopped and turned.
"Oh, and Elijah?"
"Yeah."
Koemai smiled briefly, "It'd be cool if you joined too. Even if you are a scrawny piece of meat."
"Thanks...Hey!"
"Just kidding." Then a thought occurred, "Hey, how about we get a drink? I feel like clubbing tonight."
"You...clubbing?"
The spiky-haired Raven frowned, "Yeah. What, you got a
problem with that?"
Elijah shook his head as he came down, "No. It's just that...Cain never does stuff like that. Or anything else fun for that matter."
Koemai laughed, "I told you. He's a stiff. Come on. With that face, you could bring the honeys to me."
"Yeah right. Finders keepers."
"Oh, it's like that?"
Elijah grinned "Oh yeah. It's definitely like that."
*******
Next day...
Koemai awoke to the semi-bright light of the rising sun. He began to rise from his bed, but suddenly stopped short as a massive headache stormed in.
"You two have fun?"
Koemai blinked and looked beside him to see his friend. Cain was currently standing over by a nearby stove preparing a hot drink.
"Wha...uggghhh? Cain? How did we get here?
Cain took a cup and began to pour in the hot water, "You two practically slobbered your way here last night. I probably should have left you both on the streets, but fortunately for you, I'm a nice guy."
On the bed cot next to his was Elijah, still asleep. Koemai arose from the bed again, but this time more slowly and grumbled, "Ow, my head..."
"Drink up."
Cain handed him a hot mug and placed it before him. Tentatively, Koemai picked up the mug and looked into it.
"Ugghh, coffee.
"Complaining as always." Cain retorted. "Just like in the old days. You get all drunk and I'd be left to pick up the pieces."
Koemai took a sip and felt his already throbbing head simmer down a bit, "Stop saying, 'like in the old days.' We're not that old. Well, maybe you are." Another sip, "So what have you been doing?"
Cain moved to prepare another cup, "Not much. Just working, as usual."
"Oh really?" Koemai took a slightly bigger gulp of the coffee and looked up at his friend. "Cain, I think you should join up with me and the clan. It'll do you some good."
"I said I'll think about it."
Koemai continued, "You can't let what happened to her stop you."
An aggravated tone arose, "Don't start..."
"Cain, listen, ow." He sat up from the bed, "It happens. You were both Ravens. You knew what something like this would have happened and you were aware of the risks. You have to let it go and move on."
"No."
Koemai sighed, "I'm saying this because of him." He pointed to Elijah, "He's your student, but he's not going to learn anything from you if you're always holding back."
Cain stopped what he was doing and looked at his student briefly as Koemai continued speaking.
"Come on. I know that deep within you beats the heart of a warrior. You dip into it each time you enter that machine and fight. All I'm asking is for you not to suffer slowly like her."
"......."
With great effort, Koemai stood up from the bed as he doused down the last of the coffee, "Just think about it."
With that, Koemai left the room, leaving Cain to his thoughts as he stood over the stove. But unaware to both of them, Elijah was already awake and had (through the massive headaches) listened in on the conversation.
'Her?'
***********
Later that day...
"So this is yours?"
Elijah and Koemai arrived at Koemai's hanger where before them stood Koemai's signature AC. It was colored much like Havoc except that it was blacker and that one of its arms was a complete crimson color. It was equipped with a machine gun on the right and on the left was a thick looking laser-blade. Seated on the back was a chain gun and a grenade launcher. Finally, its shoulders had extra shielding. The dark AC seemed to glare menacingly at the two.
"Yeah. It used to be Darkhand, but I've altered it and changed it into Bloodhand. Pretty cool, huh?"
Elijah examined it over, "Highly armored and variable ammo. Isn't this...a little overkill?"
Koemai grinned, "Yeah. Ain't it kewl?"
Elijah shrugged, "Good point. So, what's the verdict with the clan?"
"Oh that. Well, I told them that you wanted to join as well and they said they'd consider it. You've apparently set up a good record in the arena and in your missions."
"Alright. Do...do you think Cain will join?"
Now Koemai shrugged, "I'm not sure. He has his own things to deal with so I don't know."
"I'm in."
Turning around, the two of them looked to see Koemai enter the hanger. His black trench coat swayed as he walked in with them and stared at Koemai.
"You were only right about one thing. I am a warrior. And for a warrior, the battle must join."
Koemai nearly jumped for joy, "Alright, the Hands of God are back! Vengeance..."
Cain smiled at their usual call and responded, "And justice."
The two looked over a Elijah and Koemai put a hand on his chin, "Well, I suppose he'll need one as well. How about destruction? Or annihilation? Or..."
"Salvation."
Koemai looked over at Cain once again, but Cain's focus was solely on Koemai. "That must suit you now, understand?"
Seeing that this was a serious matter, Elijah nodded, "Right. Vengeance, justice and salvation."
"The Hands of God."