An attack on Triet. What will they do? What will they do? Please read on!

Don't own anything except the concept of the story.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: ASUKA STRIKES

The alert sounded all over the base (just like last time). Everyone scrambled into their rheairds and headed over to Triet. In town, Asuka was blowing off steam because she never finished her fight with Raine. She looked at a helpless villager who was cringing with fear. She raised her right hand and started to cast a fireball spell.

"Humph…this is what I would do if Raine was here." She looked at him some more and stopped casting. "I'll take you prisoner and Irving will do something funny to you. Maybe he'll make you into his slave…"

"Back off, villain!" yelled a voice from above. Wilder landed in front of her. "Irving will not twist this innocent to his dark designs. I will not allow it!"

"Ha!" Asuka scoffed. "You will be to busy burning to prevent it!" The villager made a break for it. "Aw, look what you made me do! Take this! Eruption!"
Wilder flew out of the way and in front of the others. "She has gotten out of control. We must contain her somehow."

"Without harming her," added Genis quickly.

"That's right, we have to convince her that what she is doing is wrong," replied Colette.

"Wilder, why don't you go and talk to her?" asked Lloyd.

"Why me?" asked Wilder.

"One, you have a certain charm with women," said Regal.

"And she may become infatuated with you," added Presea.

"Or he'll get burned like he always does," Sheena said, "Both metaphorically and literally."

"Just be careful," replied Professor Raine.

"We'll be here if any trouble arises," added Professor Genis.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," replied Zelos. He coolly walked over to Asuka who was burning a house to the ground. "Excuse me…"

"Spiral Flare!" she yelled. Wilder dodged, rolling out of the way. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I only wish to talk. I know you're a good person. I want you to return with me…on the side of good."

"Get a clue you canine cretin! I'm evil! I'll shoot you."

"No, my heart tells me that you will not."

"Oh yeah?" Asuka threw a fireball and shot at Wilder who fell to the ground.

"You…shot me!"

"No duh, I'm evil! Now do you believe me?"

"And yet…you ensured the wound would not be mortal…your inner goodness…prevent you--"

"Shut up! Shut-up!"

"Just admit there is a heart of goodness deep inside you. And then…"
Asuka unleashed a wave of fireballs into the air. The other ducked for cover while Wilder hid behind a rock.

"Are we done with the negotiations yet?" hollered Wilder.

The fireballs ceased.

"Let me talk to her," said Raine.

"And what makes you think you'll make any headway?" asked Professor Genis.

"Believe me, I can be very persuasive."
She walked up to Asuka who was standing rather boastfully and said, "Tell you what. We'll have a fight, picking up where we left off. If you win, you get to torch this town, along with the rest of us. If I win, you'll have to leave this town alone and join us."

Asuka thought about this for a long while. "Let's see…do I accept…or do I decline? If I win, I get to torch this town to cinders along with that brat. If I lose…I have to join their group. I've always hated Irving so this would be a great excuse for me to quit. But Master Ganondorf created me, so he wouldn't like me defecting and stuff. But it's not like I have that much to lose…it's just me joining another group. And besides, if I win, I get to burn this place. So it's win-win for me!"

"Are you gonna be any longer?" asked Raine.

"Fine, I'll accept your stupid challenge," replied Asuka, "Along with its stupid stipulations."

"Give your word that you'll never betray the group once you join."

"It's not like I'm going to lose to you."

Mexican standoff (meaning there is no clear winner…yet). Raine took out her kendama while Asuka took out her sword. The fires were still burning but no one really cared. Everyone was standing, eyeing one or both of the girls. A tumbleweed rolls through (this is starting to sound like a western movie). The sun climbed high into the sky and when it reached its high point, it begun.

"Fireball!" shouted Asuka.

"Aqua Edge!" shouted Raine back.

The attacks made a direct hit.

Asuka yelled, "Flame Lance!"

Raine dodged the attack and yelled, "Aqua Laser!"

Asuka was hit by the laser.

Asuka yelled, "Eruption!"

Raine was caught in the molten flame. After cooling down and using first aid…

"Freeze lancer!"

The bullets of ice were blocked by Asuka. "That won't work! Take this! Spiral Flare!"

Raine yelled, "Tidal Wave!"

The two took a quick break (about a second or so) before launching another attack.

"Explosion!" yelled Asuka.

Raine dodged and cast, "Earth Bite!"

Asuka expanded her wings, flew up and evaded the attack. She yelled, "Judgement!"

The beams of light hit Raine who fell on the ground. She got up, gasping.

"Looks like this it's nearly over," said Asuka.

"You won't…defeat me…" panted Raine.

"Just look at you. I thought you'd put up a better fight…but I guess I overestimated you. Guess it's your time to die."

"I don't want to die," Raine whispered. "I don't want to die…"

"What did you say?"

"I don't want to die… I don't want to die…"

"Just stand there…I'll be over soon." Asuka started to run towards her, sword in hand.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Raine screamed. The gauntlet's exsphere shone an ominous red. Brunel popped out and bolted to the sky. Asuka stopped in her tracks and asked, "What the--"

Before she could finish that sentence, Brunel took out her twin blades, swooped down and made everything pitch black. All that was heard was an ear-piercing scream (to anyone who played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Do you remember after you defeated the Water Temple, you had to go to the Kakariko Village to defeat the Shadow Temple? When you enter the village, a dark spirit called Bongo-bongo came up from the well, bolted at Link, everything went pitch black and all you heard was Link's cry? Just replace Link with Asuka and Bongo-Bongo with Brunel. Yeah, this scene is just like that).

Asuka woke up in the Renegade Base in a hospital bed. There were a lot of machines hooked up to her. The curtains were drawn closed. She had a really bad headache. After decupling the machines attached to her, she found Raine sitting beside her.

"How long was I out?" asked Asuka.

"About a day," replied Raine.

"What…what was that thing?"

"I don't think you want to know."

"………"

"So…I guess you lost the battle, then."

"Yeah…I guess so."

"And you're with us?"

Asuka sighed and replied, "Yeah, yeah. I always keep my word. Don't worry; I won't betray you or your friends. I was getting tired of Irving telling me what to do anyways."

"And we're cool, right?"

"I respect you as a person…and a close friend."

"Wow…that sounded kinda…corny…"

"Well, don't expect a repeat. Tell someone and I'll kill you."

"Don't worry…I won't tell a soul."

The two continued talking, while the others were in another room, talking about what transpired a day ago.

"That thing looked exactly like Colette," said Lloyd anxiously. "I know it was her."

"Since when did Colette become a swordsman?" asked Zelos.

"You mean swordsperson, right?" asked Sheena.

"Is that what was inside that gauntlet?" asked Professor Raine. "I felt some sort of evil aura resonating from it."

"Not evil," said Presea, "No, it the lust for vengeance…and a feeling of despair."

"Do you think it is on our side?" asked Regal.

"I think we should ask Raine," replied Genis. "She seems to control that thing."

Yuan glanced over to the Great Sea members. "You seem awfully quiet. Care to share with the class?"

"Yeah, Kratos," said Lloyd. "Do you know why Colette's in a gauntlet that Raine has?"

"Uh…well…" Kratos didn't know what to say. "You see…there is…um…something you should know about--"

"Can it, Kratos," said Professor Genis. "We can't tell you anything."

"And why not?" asked Lloyd. "Tell Raine to summon her. I want to meet her."

"No!" exclaimed Aryll. "You can't. She's too dangerous."

"What would make Colette a threat?" asked Professor Raine.

"Could we just wait until the time is right? Tell we'll tell you everything."

"And when is the right time?" asked Yuan.

"Whenever Raine decides to tell you," replied Professor Genis.

This conversation couldn't continue. The professor was right. They had to wait until Raine could tell them everything; about what happened between Colette and Lloyd. Meanwhile, outside the base, Irving was conversing with Ganondorf (in his head) again.

"It looks like Asuka has betrayed us," said Irving.

"It matters not," replied Ganondorf. "We still have four more angels at our disposal."

"What should I do about Asuka, sir?"

"The next time you see her…have her killed."

"Yes sir."

"Now Lloyd, return to me."

"Sir."

Irving started to spread his wings. He called out to Rei who was listening nearby. "Rei! We're leaving."

"Coming, sir."

Irving flew up into the sky. Rei continued to look onto the Renegade Base.

"Asuka…Genis…" she whispered. "I'm sorry."

She left the base, and flew behind Lord Irving.

That was cool. Will all the other angels defect just like Asuka? Please R&R and no flames.