A note from CC: Thanks to my reviewer for the tip on separating the conversations and such. I hope this format is easier to read. I may go back and edit the other chapters to follow this format if people like it.
"I want to see her now!" Raven practically yelled and slammed his fist on the table of the conference room he and Hass had been led to in order to meet with Shubaltz. They had come to the base in practically the middle of the night and the army had set out some zoids to intercept them given that they didn't know whether or not their nightly visitors were friends or enemies. Raven was already irritated enough that he had to deal with all that mess and now he was being told that he couldn't see Raine. It was almost unthinkable to him because despite the fact that he rarely let his emotions show he was sure that the colonel knew how he felt. Though right now the older man just kept shaking his head. Hass had taken to sitting quietly because he didn't want to be involved in the argument, but even he was starting to wish that Shubaltz would just give Raven what he wanted. In fact, Hass was afraid Raven would start tearing the place apart.
"Look Raven, I understand that you're upset, but she is resting and she needs to rest. Why don't you just go take a walk and calm down?" Karl said before adding, "Do you think it's best for her to see you this upset after only just coming back, just calm down."
Raven's fist trembled a little as he gripped them before he folded his arms angrily, "Fine," he spat before stalking out of the room. Maybe he could just figure out where Raine was on his own if the colonel wouldn't tell him where he was.
Karl sighed as the door slid shut behind Raven, he did feel bad for the young male, but he was more concerned for his daughter's well being. "I'm sorry about that, I didn't catch your name?" the officer said finally having a chance to address Hass now that he wasn't being bombarded with questions and demands from Raven.
"Oh, uh, I'm Hass," the other male in the room said as he was finally addressed by someone, "It's alright, within a few minutes of meeting the kid I knew he would be a handful in just about any situation. I'm just glad he didn't start throwing punches or something."
"So I'm guessing that you aren't one of Raven's friends?" Karl asked.
"That kid, have friends? No, we only met a few hours ago. I'm actually the person who has been taking care of Raine for the past few years. I ran into Raven in the town and he told me she took off last night when he tried to talk to her or something and we ended up here because he was certain that this was the first place she would come," Hass explained.
"I'm surprised he even let you follow him. Raven isn't the best at showing his gratitude, but I'm sure once he calms down I'm sure he'll realize that you deserve a thank you for taking care of her. We of course thought she was dead after we saw the wreckage," Shubaltz said sadly looking down at his hands for a second.
Hass nodded and similarly glanced down, "She wasn't in good shape when I found her. She managed to drag herself away from the zoid that had been destroyed. She was barely conscious and I was almost afraid to move her, but I knew if I didn't she'd die there."
"You have my deepest gratitude for saving her life," Karl said looking back up at Hass, "There really aren't enough words. If there is anything I can do for you just say the word."
"Oh it's fine I don't need anything. I'm just glad that she's okay now," Hass said with a little bit of a sad smile on his features. He was concerned that the colonel would ask why he went out of his way to take care of her for the past few years, but instead the other male came back with, "Well at least stay here as long as you like, I'm not sure how far the journey is, but I'm sure you can use a rest after following Raven here. I will find an officer to show you to a room."
Hass could tell that the other man wanted to do much more for him even if he was being a little restrained about it. The truth was that Hass himself had lost his daughter, but to a terrible disease and at the time he couldn't afford the medicine to save her. He had saved Raine because he knew how much it hurt to lose a child and he hoped that one day Raine would be well enough to return to her family. He was glad that she was back with the people who cared about her now. He figured he would stay long enough to say goodbye to her.
Raven was still irritated that he had been told to take a walk instead of being led to wherever Raine was resting. Somewhere inside of him he knew that she probably needed rest after riding this far on her organoid, but Raven was impatient and part of him was hurt after she had the nerve to run away from him, not to mention cause him to think she had died. Somewhere Raven was just happy she was alive, but a larger part of him wanted answers. It was somewhat rare that Raven ever trusted someone enough to get as close as he and Raine had been, so naturally part of him was angry that she hadn't contacted him.
The dark-haired male's steps seemed to slow though the longer he walked and even if he wouldn't admit it he was calmer now than when being confronted by Raine's father. He still had his arms folded across his chest and set a slight glare at anyone he passed. Though the sound of a certain someone's voice put him on edge all over again.
"Raven!" Vann called out a little loudly and walked over to meet his once biggest rival, "I didn't know you got in tonight! Raine—"
"—What about Raine?" Raven interrupted Vann. Despite the fact that the pair had come to terms, Raven didn't always like Vann and right now he was too wound up inside to want to deal with stupid shit, "Shubaltz won't tell me where she is, do you know where she is?"
"Well yeah, but she said she wanted to get some rest," Vann stated scratching his cheek a little bit, "I'm not sure it's okay to bother her."
"And what makes you think I would be bothering her?" Raven snipped a little at Vann, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I didn't mean that, I just meant, well, ugh," Vann responded trying to figure out how to say what he meant without insulting Raven, "I'm on my way back to the residential district of the base, why don't you come with me?" He figured changing the subject might work out better.
Raven stared at him, "Residential district?" He considered this for a moment as the fact that Raven only came around randomly he didn't know the layout of the base and if Raine was anywhere, it was likely there or at least that's what would make sense. "Only if you tell me whether or not she's over there," he decided stubbornly.
Vann hesitated for a moment, "Alright, she's there." He knew that Schubaltz would likely be mad at him because Raven was persistent, but Vann just hoped that Raven didn't go around banging on doors.
"Well then, let's go," Raven gave Vann bit of an expectant look, "Why exactly are you wandering around anyway?"
"Oh, well I was hungry and went to the mess hall for a snack," Vann shrugged and in his trademark stance folded his arms behind his head as he led the way through the base, "It's been a while since we've seen you, how have you been?"
Raven wanted to just shrug and not discuss anything, but Vann was helping him get closer to finding Raine, "I've been fine. Reese and I have been travelling together."
Vann froze a bit because he now knew that it was Reese's fault, but he had promised not to tell anyone. "That's good," he said trying not to let on anything funny and Raven seemed to not catch on to anything.
The pair walked quietly in the direction of the residential district for the next few minutes. Raven was trying to figure out how he could get more information out of Vann, "Vann, I get Schubaltz's concern," well he didn't really, "But what if it was Fiona that disappeared for a long time? I'm not going to bother her, I just…want to see her." He didn't like the tone of the conversation that he'd just brought on, but being pissy and yelling wasn't going to get him anywhere it seemed.
Vann glanced at him, his eyebrows furrowing as he though about the situation. It wasn't that Vann didn't want Raven to see Raine, but he didn't want to piss off her father either. Raven had a point though, if Fiona disappeared, Vann would want to see her as soon as possible. Of course, Vann and Fiona had started dating while Raven and Raine tended to keep their relationship a bit of an in the open secret. He eventually sighed, knowing that Raven would win that argument, "Alright, I'll take you to her."
Raven almost smiled a little as Vann gave in to taking him to Raine, but he restrained himself enough. Despite the fact that they had been together, they weren't very open about that fact. It too Raven quite a bit of effort just to come out and compare his feelings towards how Vann would feel about Fiona, but it got him what he wanted at least.
The pair travelled into one of the buildings and it didn't take much longer for Vann's steps to slow down as they rounded another corner, but the moment Raven turned the corner an almost earsplitting scream rang out. Both men frozen and glanced around before Vann spoke up, "That sounded like…" he trailed off before Raven whispered, "…Raine."
At once Vann took off running towards Raine's room, followed quickly by Raven. When he reached the door, Vann pushed the button to open up the door and rushed into the room. Raven pushed past the brunette male as soon as they were in the room and stopped short at the sight before him. Raine was half hanging off the bed, her blonde hair hiding most of her face, but what was more astounding was the glowing that seemed to be coming from her body.
"Raine!" Raven said in a worried tone moving to pull her back onto the bed and into his arms, "Raine are you alright?" He shook her slightly, feeling strange as the glow coming from her enveloped him.
Slowly a pair of green eyes peered up at Raven's purple hues, "R-Raven…" her voice trailed off for a moment, "She's coming…" Raine collapsed gently against Raven and suddenly the ground shook as though there was an earthquake.
"Wh-What did she mean by that?" Vann asked only receiving a shake of the head from Raven as the ground shook again, "I'm going to go check on everyone and try to figure out what's going on."
"She's…" Raine whispered against Raven once more before the sudden rumbling of the ground stopped and the glowing of her body stopped. Raven attempted to shake the female in his arms once more, but the feeling of dead weight in his arms made him certain she had passed out.
In the next moments, Vann, Fiona, Moonbay, Irvine and Schubaltz were in the room with Moonbay nursing a bruise on her face. "What's going on?" Schubaltz asked in a worried tone.
Raven stared down at Raine before looking up at the group, "Someone's coming?"