“Its show time!” Zane’s laughter could be heard over the battle net. “Time to kick some ass!” He was about to leap his Zoid into the fray when he saw a curious sight before him.

“What the …hell?!”

The Lightning Saix were running in a single file line, one behind the other in a counterclockwise motion. Zane was dumbfounded by their strange course of action.

“What the heck is this?! Follow the leader?!”

The team leader’s holoscreen image appeared in Zane’s cockpit. “Why are you surprised? We talked about this at the briefing last night!”

“I know that!” Zane shot back. “But still, seeing them in action…”

Orixas made an irritated sound. “Stay focus and stop BSing around! Like I said earlier, you were already briefed on this so you shouldn’t be surprised.” He turned his attention to his sister. “Orisha, I need new data inform, confirming the battle plan of the Lightning Team from the old data we used.”

She nodded in confirmation. “Right.” She worked the touch pad console and in a matter of seconds, she managed to draw up the needed information. Data ran across a holoscreen while she studied the readings. “The new schematics match up with our previously used data, they are indeed using the same tactics when they defeated the Blitz Team.”

“Good. I wouldn’t call it great but at least we know what to expect from them. Alright, stick to the battle plan so we can increase our chances of winning.”

“Right!” Orisha and Zane nodded.

“Time to rock and roll!” Uttering a battle cry, he leaped his zoid into battle, firing his semi-automatic laser guns. Orixas did the same as his brother, their zoids running side by side.

“Watch it, Zane.” Warned Orixas. “They are using a technique to increase their speed, their exact acceleration can’t be calculated in the battle computer. Orisha, are you still in position?”

A holoscreen of his sister appeared. “What do you think?” came her smart mouthed reply. “I’m not going anywhere, if that’s what you mean.”

Orixas chuckled. “Just checking, sis. Just stay put and cover for us with your shock cannon.” Which is what she was afraid of. She couldn’t tell which Lightning Saix her friend Jack Sisco was in; they all looked the same to her. Her worse fear was firing on the one Jack was in, seriously injuring him.

“How will I know when to use it?” she asked.

“You’ll know.” Orixas reassured her. “Just go by your instincts and you’ll be okay.”

“Yeah!” Zane laughed. “All you have to do is sit back, relax and leave most of the fighting to us. Great plan, huh?”

“If you say so.” Orisha replied, clearly not impressed. “To be honest, I’m getting kinda lonely sitting up here by myself.”

Orisha’s zoid was positioned at a high vantage point, a short distance away from the action. To make better use of her strengths, they had her as the team’s marksman. Her scores at the trials, overall were not the greatest, were pretty good for a new comer. If she didn’t lose control of her zoid those two times while rounding the corners of the maze, she would have scored higher. She watched through long-range sensors at the battle happening before her.

“Yo, Sisco!” Zane hollered over the battle net. “We’ll come after your punk ass!”

As expected, Jack responded to his taunt. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you. Don’t be so cocky!”

Zane smirked in response. “Hmf. I’ll show you cocky…WITH THIS!!” He fired his weapons in short even bursts, using enough ammunition that would make Leena jealous. The Saix changed positions in precision formation, dodging his shoots with no problem. Zane was flabbergasted by what was happening. “Damn! They’re too fast!”

“Is that the best you can do, little man?” Jack taunted back. He smirked and narrowed his eyes, giving off a cool predatory air. “After him!!” He told his teammates.

Orixas knew what their next course of action would be. “Zane, look out! They’re heading your way!”

“Say what?!” Zane saw them getting ready to over take him. “Oh, no, you don’t!” Right before they reached him, he activated the cloaking device.

“What the hell?”

“Where did he go?”

They soon got their answer. Zane uncloaked behind them. “Gotcha!” He fired at Jack’s zoid and missed. “What the…how could I miss him?! I had him dead in my sights!”

Jack snickered. “You’re much too slow. Who’s the punk ass, now?”

“Shut up!” Zane shouted back at him, enraged. “You little punk! I don’t need any of your smart ass remarks!”

Jack was unfazed by his threats. He could tell Zane was frustrated and plan to use it to his advantage.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You let your emotions rule over you, kid. Real pros don’t lose their cool on the battlefield, rushing out all excited. I know your father is observating your behavior, on how you conduct yourself in battle. How disappointed he must feel, knowing he doesn’t have just one son who’s stupidity got him in trouble but another son who’s following in his older brother’s footsteps with his erratic behavior. It must hurt like hell, knowing how much I crushed your little world, and made you look like a fool when you missed that shot.”

Zane grinded his teeth in frustration as Jack continued to mock him, the young mercenary enjoying every minute of it. “Why don’t you do yourself a favor, and stop pretending to be a zoid warrior. That would save yourself a lot of embarrassment in the future.”

Zane snarled at him, his body shaking with anger. “I’ll get you for this, Sisco! You’ll pay for that!”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Come and get me, if you can.” Jack taunted him.

“With pleasure!” Zane charged at Jack’s Lightning Saix at full speed, not realizing he was being set up.