Disclaimer: The usual.

Chap. 5

Clan Nightwatch- Professional, White Wolf, Bloodhand, Glaive, Phantom, Cloak, Havoc

A new Raven clan recently formed, it is made up of a diverse group of pilots. With each one possessing incredible skill and potential, this clan may rise through the ranks quickly. However, only time can show if they possess the teamwork needed to compete with the other clans.

"We see things no one else can see. We do things no one else can do."

----------------------------------

It has been a week since the Ravens had formed the new Nightwatch clan and so far, they were working well. They engaged in group and single battles with each other in order to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. With that part of the uniting now complete, the next phase can begin; whatever that is.

"Well another day, another day." Koemai commented as he and the others grouped together outside.

"You said it." Elijah agreed. "But the truth is I'm getting tired of fighting you losers. I want some real action."

"Look who's talking. You were the one who got blown up the first four times." Baron countered.

Elijah glared at his partner, "Hey! That was a fluke. Besides, my equipment didn't work well."

"Aw, that such a shame." Diana whispered near his ear. "And I was hoping I could give it a try."

Elijah's face flushed while Koemai growled angrily. "You are such a whore."

Diana moved away and called out in the air, "Did I just hear the sound of a @$$(#^ talking? It couldn't be. The only one around is..."

"Why don't you shut you mouth, *%^@&" Koemai roared.

The others watched as the two argued, again. This had become a common occurrence with them as the two of them argued constantly.

Elijah shook his previous dazed away and muttered, "Why does this keep happening? I think I need a drink."

At that, Koemai and Diana instantly stopped arguing. Koemai grinned, "A drink? Well why didn't you say so? Let's get going." Looking at the others, "You guys want to come?"

Baron smiled, "You know me. It's not a day without a cold one."

Ellie nodded in agreement, "Same here. What about..."

She was about to mention Cain, but when she turned, the stoic Raven was a good walk away. However, he was able to hear her and respond, "No thanks. I've got work to do."

Cain disappeared away and Ellie gave a strange look, "Is he always like that?"

"Moody and utterly depressing? Yep." Koemai answered.

"Charles is like that as well."

Koemai shook his head, "No, Charles has a sense of humor." He then shot out, "Hey, what are we talking about here? Let's get drinking. Elijah's paying."

"WHAT?! OH, HELL NO!!!!!"

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

Later on…

Cain was out in the darkness of the night heading back to the hanger. The moon was in its crescent stage and thus not giving off a lot of light, but Cain didn't mind. He was finished with what he was doing and now was going to call it a night. But as he did, a dark figure suddenly appeared before him. The figure was shrouded in the dark, wearing a black trench coat much like Cain's. His eyes were barely visible, revealing only a thin scar over the right eye.

"You're in my way again" said a gruff voice.

"How so?"

"I know what you and the others are up to. Complete domination of the clans and Silent Line."

"Isn't that the goal of all the clans?" Cain said softly, purposely leaving out Silent Line. "To be number one?"

The figure moved closer, "Like I said. You're in my way again."

"On the contrary. It is you who is in my way." Cain countered.

"So that's it then."

The figure suddenly swooped forward, his coat flying open and a flash of metal slicing through the air. Cain narrowly ducked the attack, rolled on the ground and reached into his own coat. The shadowy figure turned slowly, revealing a katana sword in his hand. Cain pulled his arm out, showing his own blade. The two didn't move for a second before attacking each other. The blades clashed in the air repeatedly at a rapid pace. In one move, Cain managed to deflect a strike again him and counter with a sweep. But the dark stranger swiftly leaped over the sweep and landed away. He then moved in with a downward slash, but Cain raised his blade above and stopped the slice. He then pushed the blade away, rolled on the floor and stood on his feet again. The stranger stopped his assault and held the sword forward. Cain did the same, mirroring his opponent. Then without notice, he sheathed his sword in his coat. Again, Cain mirrored him and the two dark swordsmen faced each other.

"You've learned a trick or two." the stranger said, without a hint of fatigue.

"Same goes to you."

He snorted, "Just remember. If we meet on the battlefield, I'll kill you."

Cain gave a very brief ghost-of-a-grin, "As you keep saying, death is but a means to truth."

The figure turned away, "I'm glad you understand that. I may just shed a tear over your corpse."

The dark figure silently walked away and Cain muttered to himself, "Don't make promises you can't keep, Bane."

**********

Bar...

"Oh yeah! Now this is the stuff!"

Koemai, Baron, Elijah, Diana and Ellie were all together at one table in the local bar. Koemai went into his habit of yelling like a maniac at his first drink.

Elijah shook his head, "Do you have to do that every time?"

"Yeah. It's what I do." Koemai took another gulp, "You should try it sometime."

"Why don't you shut up over there?"

The yell came from another table and at that, Koemai turned toward it.

"Excuse me?"

One of the men sitting at the table yelled, "You heard me. Shut the hell up!"

"Or else what? You're going to make me?"

The man stood up from his seat. He was a tall man with no hair on his, and a thick beard and mustache on his face. A serpent tattoo was etched across his head.

"That's right." he snarled.

Koemai stood up as well, "You and what army?"

The man snapped his fingers and the men sitting with him a rose up, five in all. The guy formed behind the first as he folded his arms.

"What now, punk?"

Ellie looked up from her drink and suddenly spoke, "You haven't changed a bit, Darren."

The man named Darren looked over and saw the dark-haired woman, "Ellie?" His gaze then cycled over the others at the table, "Oh I see. So this is the Nightwatch Clan. A bunch of rejects and losers."

At this, Elijah, Baron, and Diana stood up as well. "Watch yourselves, boys." Diana said evenly. "Don't have your mouths write checks your body can't cash."

The men chuckled at her threat, "Is that so missy? What are you going to do? Spank me? Now that I think about it, that's doesn't sound like a bad idea, eh guys?"

The men started laughing some more until Ellie stood up as well. However Darren continued to smirk, "What? You've got a problem with this?"

Ellie glared a bit and then smirked, "You have a lot of mouth for being the lowest ranked clan around."

Elijah blinked, "They're a clan?"

Ellie nodded, "These waste of the human species is the Animalz Raven clan. They rank the lowest because they don't think."

Baron smiled, "Don't or can't?"

At this, one of the men tried to lunge at him, but was held back by the other. Darren frowned, "How about we have a little match to prove it? Your clan verses ours. All out warfare. What do you think?"

Koemai narrowed his eyes, "If that's the case, let's make it interesting. The losers have to put up their money and pay the winners. How does that sound?"

The group looked over at each other. Clearly what Koemai was suggesting was extreme. The combined amount of seven Ravens was high. The winner would walk away with a great deal of credits. A deal like that was too good to ignore.

"Deal. We get to kick you butts and walk away with a fortune."

Koemai smiled, "You might as well fork over the money now, because we are going to kick your @$$%# all over the arena."

Darren smirked as well, "We'll see about that." Looking at his friends, "Come on guys. Let's leave this dump."

The group of men exited to the door, but not before Darren turned around and pointed at Koemai like a gun.

"Boom."

When they were finally gone, the others looked at Koemai.

"Are you insane? I can't afford to lose credits now." Elijah complained.

Don't worry about it. We just have to beat them, that all. How hard can it be?

Apparently, Koemai didn't know that the Animalz clan utilized high armored and heavily equipped ACs. They could move into an enemy stronghold and literally run it over.

"He's right. This is what we need to do, right?" Elijah said suddenly. "We want to be on top. So we might as well start here."

"Still, it's risky." Ellie started. "We've never fought in an actual battle together."

Diana nodded in agreement, but replied, "Well, there no sense in backing out now. We might as well go for it."

"What about Charles and Cain?" Baron suggested.

Koemai merely waved a hand, "Don't worry about Cain. I'll handle him."

**********

Hanger...

"You did what?"

Koemai had just told Cain what had transpired.  Needless to say, Cain wasn't exactly thrilled about this.

"Oh come on. It's an easy win."

Cain shook his head, "You should know by now that there's no such thing as an easy win." Sighing to himself, "What am I going to do with you?"

Koemai gave a weak smile, "Hey come on. Look on the bright side. If we win, we'll be rolling in dough. What the worse that can happen?"

"We could lose."

Koemai frowned at his friend's negative behavior, but then...

"Oh well, might as well go for it. This is what we're supposed to do, right?"

"That's right." Koemai smiled.

"Well, it looks like I have more work to do now."

The smile disappeared again, "Aw, come on!"