Episode 6

Episode 6

The stadium was packed with fans finding their seats, getting food, or arguing over the outcome of the race. The noise was everywhere. Even deep into the nearby buildings.

Takashi was putting his gloves on in the changing room when the door opened. He turned to see Andre walk in.

"Hey. You ready?"

Takashi nodded as he finished snapping on the gloves.

"Listen, I know you've gotten better with Keashin, and I'm not going to ask you to not use it, but try to take it easy out there today."

"Thanks," was all Takashi said as he walked out.

Andre let out a sigh and brushed his hair back.

"GOOD MORNING, RACE FANS! It's a beautiful day and we've got an awesome face-off for you: the famous team Satomi vs. team Sledgemama. Both teams are coming here from perfect records. Sledgemama's forward Yamma seems determined to win after being let go and then rehired over the off-season. His coach promises no return this time if they can't bring home a championship. On the other side of the field, Satomi seems to be lying back this year, even though they are pressing hard. Takashi Jin is coming back from an injury, but he has no doubt been practicing the famous Keashin that he used in his last race. Will he use it to more effect today? Stay tuned to find out."

Satomi was standing in front of the group. "OK, guys. If you can bring us home a win today, we've guaranteed ourselves a place in the finals. So don't let us down." They did their team cheer and headed out.

Takashi climbed the stairs to his mech's chest where his pilot seat was. Mark was waiting for him with his helmet. As he handed it to him, he said, "We made some adjustments to you propulsion. You won't get as high a top speed, but you should be able to move faster and stay in Keashin longer."

"Good," was all Takashi said as he took the helmet and sat down.

Mark walked down the stairs as the chest cavity closed. He ran back up to the control room to do final checks.

Yamma was doing final checks on his own mech. "I'm not gonna lose," he kept telling himself. "Not to these punks again. I'm here to stay."

The mechs purred to life and slowly lumbered out to the starting grid.

Mark finally arrived in the room were everyone was waiting and watching. Andre was giving them the game plan one more time. "Their strategies haven't changed much, so hit them fast and keep 'em off balance." Everyone gave back a "Roger." Andre didn't show it, but he had a bad feeling way down in his gut.

The countdown started and everyone held their breaths.

3

2

1

GO!

The mechs fired off. Team Satomi slithered ahead to take the lead and everything grew still for the first lap. Takashi could feel the changes Mark had made. The mech was more sensitive to his control. It would be fun to take apart his target. "I'm going to take on River," he told the others. "Amy, you go for Yamma."

"Ok."

The mechs continued on down the track. Yamma tried to steady his head.

"I warned you. You failed to bring us a winning season, so you're off the team." That had been several months ago.

But then, "I can't lose all of my pilots over this, so I'm bringing you back on. But this is your last chance. No championship, you leave. And this time your friends won't be able to save you."

"Don't worry," Yamma said to himself. "We'll get that championship."

"You know it," River put in. "We're gonna crush these guys."

"You want to go after Takashi?"

"Absolutely."

Yamma nodded. "We'll take him together. No doubt he's gotten a bit better with the Keashin since their bout with Fire Fox, so it may take both of us."

"And I'll take the two girls," Dimma said.

The race continued in silence for several minutes. Andre, wanting to break the silence, asked, "What's wrong, hot shot. Nervous?"

"No," Takashi replied. "Just getting ready."

"Hmm." He could hear it. It may have only been his imagination, but the kid's voice sounded a bit different. There was much less emotion in the voice. Andre switched off his mic. "Hey Mark. Watch Takashi's endrophin levels when we get into the fights."

"Why? Something wrong?"

Andre narrowed his eyes in thought. "I pray to God there isn't."

The mechs continued down the track, the stadium finally coming into view. Takashi was completely focused. "Alright. Here we go."

They blasted through and into the battle round. Satomi hit their breaks, letting Sledgemama fly past. Then they reaccelerated up behind them. Dimma turned first. Liz pulled up and grabbed him by the shoulders while Takashi and Amy moved around him.

Yamma came back next. He went straight for Amy with a punch. Amy ducked under, but Yamma spun back and hit her with a powerful backhand. She fell back.

Dimma suddenly threw Liz off and grabbed Amy, pulling her back to a place where he could guard her.

Takashi turned to find Yamma and River boxing him in. "So this is how you want to do it. Don't worry girls. You take out Dimma. I'll handle these two."

"Get ready, Takashi. Here I come!" River threw his mech's arms off, going for Takashi's legs. Takashi jumped into the air, only to be pounded by a pellet barrage from Yamma above him. He landed and came at River. They started trading punches furiously. After a dodge-counter, River pulled off and Yamma charged from the side. Takashi saw it coming and ducked back. Yamma passed and Takashi charged River again.

Liz and Amy were coming in at Dimma, but he always seemed to find them. Even coming from his blind spot, the girls couldn't get a square hit. Amy called, "Liz, we need to change our strategy."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Go for a 26 pattern."

Liz turned around Dimma and saw it. "Yeah, that'll work."

Takashi continued his attacks, but only at River. Yamma repeatedly tried to come in and get a few punches, but Takashi kept throwing him off. Yamma finally got fed up. "Get out of here, River. I want a piece of his guy."

"Right." River withdrew further down the track and Yamma landed in front of Takashi. Yamma's arm's popped up and the pellets readied. He threw one arm forward and they flew at Takashi. They were on perfect course.

In the blink of an eye, Takashi changed positions and the pellets went harmlessly by. Takashi came right up into Yamma's face and vanished. Yamma looked around, trying to find him.

"You're not worth fighting." Yamma heard it too late. Takashi grabbed both of Yamma's arms and ripped them off from behind. Unbalanced, Yamma collapsed.

Takashi dropped the pieces of metal in his hands and turned to River. His oldest rival. Anger began to swell within him. He primed his engines and began another series of attacks.

Mark checked the monitors. One in particular caught his attention. "Hey Andre. Takashi's endrophin levels haven't changed at all."

Andre made a sour face, but didn't say anything. The two leading racers, Takashi and River, were going into the spiral.

River continued to block, but anyone could see he was losing. There weren't any openings to get back at the guy: Takashi was just moving too fast. Then it happened. A single kick came from right below, up into the chest. River rose into the air. But suddenly, Takashi was there, kicking him higher. Another few meters into the air, another kick. River glanced down and wished he hadn't. They were several hundred feet over the ground, BETWEEN the rings of the spiral. He saw Takashi let off another burst of his jets, sending him higher and bringing another kick to River's back. Suddenly, Takashi was next to River's head, hand's gripping the shoulders. With a burst of jets, Takashi began to spin them around. With a howl, "PRIMARY LOTUS!", Takashi threw River down onto the track.

River tumbled for a few moments before catching himself and standing up. His entire mech was shaking. When had Takashi been able to do that? "I need a pit," he barely said through his heavy breathing. The yellow lights blared on and everything slowed. He radioed his coach while waiting for the skeleton. "What happened to Yamma?"

"Yamma's out. You're on your own against Takashi."

River suddenly became a little frightened. He couldn't fight against that!

Mark replayed the sequence again. "There is no way that the mechs can do something like that. It's not possible."

"There is one way," Andre said. Everyone turned to him. "I was afraid this would happen. I honestly thought that Takashi could handle it, but I guess it was just too much."

"What was, Andre?" Miss Satomi asked desperately.

Andre sighed heavily. "Takashi has been taken over by the Machine Spirit."

Everyone froze. Mark's face grew very cold and still. "You can't mean…"

Jessie was extremely confused. "Uh, just what is this "Machine Spirit" thing?"

"The Machine Spirit resides in all computers. It's heartless, ruthless, and is only focused on accomplishing its goal, nothing else. It's the biggest danger of Keashin. Being in it too long will let the Spirit take over the human, turning him into what you see."

Miss Satomi was shocked. "And you didn't tell us about this? How could you put Takashi into that kind of danger?"

Andre sighed again. "It's tradition. Normally, a pilot is supposed to learn of Keashin on his own. I've broken enough rules there. But even if that is done, the pilot is supposed to overcome the Machine Spirit on his own. But right now, I think we need to worry about River more.

Every stared at him. "Why is that?"

"The attack Takashi just used was the Primary Lotus, a dangerous move developed by John Therman, the first man to perfect Keashin. It can only be done in that state. But it's not the end, just a set-up." Andre sighed again. His voice began to quaver slightly. "The lotus blooms twice."

To Be Continued…

A/N: If you leave now, you're an idiot! Things are just getting interesting!