Some Experience Necessary

1.16

When the explosions started, they started slow.

Raven practically crawled into the safety of one of the squat buildings, dropping his head and then slumping to the cool sand. He managed to roll over, fill his lungs with precious, sweet, cool air, ignoring the hysterics behind him as Harmony well and truly lost it.

He hurt all over. His piloting gear was ruined – he could smell the singed cloth, and throughout his body he could feel every muscle screaming in pain. But he couldn't rest, not quite yet. Raven struggled to open his eyes, focus on the world around him and pull himself deeper into safety.

He heard the Fang before he saw it, the katcha-katcha of the motor systems oddly soothing, even as it leaped over the building and tumbled into the ruins behind them. Harmony was saying something – something about someone coming to save them, but what that meant Raven didn't know. His breathing eased, the youth wiped the sweat-soaked hair from his eyes and tried to stand as his brain pointed out useful bits of information.

The zoid had been tugging a trailer.

Said trailer was now being tugged into position over the snapping pit of sleepers, which were still chewing up the remains of the KonigWolf. Bits of EnergyLiger were everywhere – the armour was proving hard to get through, but the delicate undercarriage had been gutted. Core fluid everywhere. Raven stared. He felt nothing for the zoids that lay down there – his concerns were how a pack of seemingly placid sleepers had been turned into ravenous monsters. Unless someone had tampered with them…he wasn't sure. He'd never experienced this before.

Movement to the left. He twisted around and watched the Fang leap about and cavort at the top of the dig, kicking and snarling and attracting a lot of attention. The Orudius was quickly left behind as they gathered at the wall, some trying to climb up it and a few of the more advanced sleepers making for the ramps to the upper levels. Raven watched all of this in amazement, then understanding as the Fang tipped the trailer over. Ignoring Harmony's joyous cry of Major Shubaltz! (Ohhhh, that's what she meant) he ducked behind the wall as the first whump happened, dragging the hapless girl with him. He didn't get to see the chain reaction, but knew what to expect – Republican claymores were dirty things full of shrapnel. Harmony opened her mouth to say something, but Raven shook his head, sinking to his knees and covering her as best he could as their shelter began to shake and crack with each new explosion.

He stopped covering her when she started to nuzzle into him and tried to kiss his neck.

Raven rudely pushed her away, shocked. Harmony had the decency to look hurt for a moment before turning to sneer, reaching for him again. She said something but her voice was lost in the crackling behind the stout walls. When a piece of the roof was dislodged and he had to scoot aside, he only ended up almost in her lap, so when she went to kiss him again she didn't not get the 'reply' she wanted. Far from it – he sat up, grabbed her by her messy hair and pulled her close, a leather glove placed over her mouth to stop her trying to kiss him again.

"This isn't camp. Stop being an idiot." He hissed in her ear, and felt her stiffen in response, every romantic daydream she'd had in her head dying a fiery death in that awful moment of embarrassment. He pulled her hair a little tighter to show he meant business. "Wait for the explosions to stop…"

She squirmed against him, but Raven's concentration was now held entirely by the space between explosions – the claymores had gone off as they hit the ground, and if they managed to land in such a way their sensors were not triggered, when a zoid blundered into the path of said sensor they would go up. It sounded vaguely like fireworks except being right beneath them, and the whistling snaps of zoids being blown up were also weird to say the least. Several times something came across the entry-way to the little building – thank the gods they had a stone roof, the stuff smoked like hell and turned shiny. Core fluid. Raven gagged.

He was also annoyed that he could see the Republican soldiers making their way towards them, cautiously as well – so this might get…interesting.

It wasn't the first time Raven wished he was old enough for a gun permit. He was allowed to shoot one, allowed to own one, but not to bring them out on anything but official missions and only with adult supervision.

And look what this pretend game of soldiers has turned into. He thought, glumly. When would he turn thirteen? Ugh! He hoped the other girls were alright – the last thing they needed were human casualties other than the injuries, although injuries would be the least of people's worries if the soldiers caught up with them. Raven felt heavy and tired, but he could summon the energy when the time came – and it would come soon.

As the last of the crackling faded, Raven reached around in the rubble to find a piece of metal bar, commonly sunk into concrete to help make it sturdier. He was struck then at how used this little place was, looking around at his temporary safe zone – the graffiti, the meager (and now useless) supplies and a few desks. A remote class-room, nestled on the of an ancient ruin. Raven hadn't realized…

Hefting the bar, enjoying it's weight, he looked down on the disgraced cadet that was hugging her knees to her chest in embarrassment, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"We have some hunting to do. If you want to come with me, swing first and ask questions later. If you want to stay here, that's fine. Just keep down and stay quiet. Just make up your mind, now. I…" He took a breath. "I have cadets to save."

/to be continued.