Disclaimer 1: I do NOT own Zoids.

Disclaimer 2: The characters Vega and Dia belong to me! Please do not use them without my permission!

Disclaimer 3: The Gorgon DiFang belongs to ShadowRebirth37 as well as any concepts for the M.O.S.A. experiments. Do not use them without her permission!

Author's Note: Hey Everyone! I'm SO sorry about the late updates as of late! Things have been rather hectic and work has been more than stressful. Coupled with feeling like it's been draining the life and energy out of me, I haven't been in the mood to get these fics updated, and for that, I'm sorry that my readers had to wait so long for me to get in gear again. I can't make any promises, but I hope to get back into the swing of things soon and get back into updated every week or two! ANYwho, last chapter poor Raven and Vega were captured by the Guardian Force and are waiting for their trial with the Madam President and Emperor Rudolf. It seems that they've been given a chance for now, but, as always, things won't be easy for them. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Thanks to those of you that Reviewed!

O'Connell and Herman were standing nearby the Imperial pilots, just to reassure the officials that they wouldn't 'escape'. "Questioning may begin. We're going to start with the Private, Vega, first," Herman addressed, even though he knew everyone wanted to interrogate Raven. Best start things slow.

Thomas was the first to ask a question, standing up. "...just who are you? None of us have heard of you before," he asked, looking at the blond pilot suspiciously.

"I'm a new recruit that Minister Prozen...found. I do not know much about my past or why I ended up at the Imperial Palace. I just 'woke' up there a few days ago and Prozen enlisted me. He assigned me to be Raven's partner," the blond replied as truthfully as he could for the moment.

Thomas just sighed loudly. "Why in the world would he stick you with Raven? You have a death wish or something?" he replied, looking over at Raven with disdain.

Vega blinked. "I didn't choose anything. He had someone hand me a uniform and lead to his office five minutes after I 'woke' up. And Raven's not so bad once you get to know him," he defended.

Thomas blinked, before he started snickering. "The doctor must have given you one too many painkillers! You've gotta be kidding me!" he laughed.

"I'm not," the blond replied, not at all phased by Thomas laughing at his statement. "Major Schubaltz doesn't have a problem with him, so I don't know why you would" the A.I. said.

That shut Thomas up. "What do you mean by that? My brother doesn't interact with terrorists!" he snapped.

"Major Schubaltz helped the both of us escape after Prozen had tried to have us both killed by throwing us into the incinerator. He interacted with Raven on more than one occasion while we were at base before this incident. Even Shadow likes the Major," the blond replied, as a matter of fact.

Thomas blinked, before he sat down and huffed loudly, muttering to himself. The next person to stand up was Colonel Kruger. "So... you're saying Prozen just suddenly tried to do away with the both of you? Without any sort of motive?" he asked.

"I never said that he had didn't have a motive. As always with the Regent, when something better comes along...or if something becomes useless he replaces it or finds something better, which he has," Vega replied.

Kruger blinked. "...he has? Raven is the best pilot the Empire has, frankly I can't see anyone, besides Van, coming close to him in skill," he replied.

Vega shook his head slightly before sending Raven an apologetic look. They had to know something about Prozen's reasoning. "...Prozen found someone better than Raven... He 'found' me..." he replied. "But...I'm not the only thing that he found."

Everyone in the room turned to look at Vega. Thomas stood up. "You? Better than Raven?" he said sarcastically, "I don't believe that! You're younger than he is and you just said you've been a recruit for hardly two weeks! So how can you, a new recruit, be better than him?"

Vega shrugged slightly. "I don't know, but that's what Prozen seems to think. He wouldn't have given me the Dark Spiner unless he thought so," the blond reasoned, not wanting to go too deep into that discussion just yet.

Before Thomas could snap back, Kruger stopped him. "Now Vega, what else did Prozen find?" he asked before they got off-topic.

Vega sighed. "...He's found the location of the Ultimate Death Saurer... Not the copy that he tried to make the last time... He's also looking for something called the 'Death Stinger'," he replied.

Everyone in the room stopped. Kruger walked up to the both of them, a serious expression on his face. "You mean to tell us that Prozen has managed to uncover another Death Saurer?"

Vega shook his head slightly. "Not find 'another'. He was given some D cells and used that to create the copy Death Saurer that you all fought before. This one is the real Death Saurer and won't be as easy to defeat. But for now, he can't get to it or pilot it, but it's only a matter of time before he realizes his mistake."

Kruger blinked. That didn't bode well in his mind. "…do you think he'll be able to get access to it, Private?" he asked.

Vega nodded. "Maybe not now...but eventually he will..." he replied.

Kruger sighed loudly. "... well... then we'll just figure out a way to stop him like last time. Now... what is this Death Stinger?" he asked, but before Vega answered Raven spoke up.

"It was the Zoid that stopped the Death Saurer. It's at least twice as powerful, infinitely more powerful and much more mobile," he said seriously, lacking his normal sarcastic tone.

Kruger looked over to Raven. "And just how do you know this?" he asked, his tone still serious, but not accusing.

"I've seen the Ancient Zoidian texts on the Death Stinger," Raven answered, moving his right hand a bit nervously. The handcuffs were putting pressure on the damaged nerves and making his hand hurt, but he hid it. "And trust me, if you thought Prozen's sad excuse for a Death Saurer was terrifying, than the Death Stinger is worse than your darkest nightmares."

This time before Kruger could speak up, did Fiona. "You've seen Ancient Zoidian texts about it?" she asked.

Raven turned to look at her and nodded. "Yes, several, none of them explained an easily exploitable weakness, though," he answered.

"But how were you able to read them? I only know of myself and Dr. D that are able to decipher such things."

"I was taught to read Ancient Zoidian texts when I was very young. As far as I know, I'm the only person on Zi that can still read and understand the Zoidian dialect of 'Serrin'; a rare form of Zoidian language used only by Zoidian clerics in the ancient Capital City," Raven replied quietly.

Every one looked stunned by this, Fiona and Dr. D the most. Maybe admitting that wasn't such a bad thing, especially if they were more than likely going to go to him for opinions or ask for translations. After the awkward silence passed did Kruger speak up again. "But why is Prozen after the Death Stinger as well? It can't surely be piloted by any normal person..."

Raven sighed quietly and lowered his gaze slightly. "...you're right, Colonel, it can only be piloted by a Zoidian..." he replied, "... or someone with an Organoid..." he added quietly.

Kruger was quick to put the pieces together. "But Prozen doesn't know that. Does he?"

"... he doesn't... for now..." Raven answered, "... his scientists mistranslated the Zoidian texts while I did not; I knew what he was planning and kept the knowledge to myself, since I knew I would end up stuck in that monstrosity," he replied.

"Then why didn't you tell someone like Major Schubaltz? Or the Emperor?" he asked.

"I didn't want to get Major Schubaltz in bad spirits with Prozen, and Colonel, do you honestly think the Emperor would have believed me? Prozen would have shot me down saying I was lying about his secret projects, and who do you think he would have believed? Me or his Regent?" he questioned.

"You have a point..." Kruger sighed. "I can take it that he has yet to find the location of the Death Stinger? And just why is he trying to find it?" the Colonel asked.

This time Vega spoke up. "He plans to use the Death Stinger to cause mayhem until he can get to the Death Saurer. He's also planning on using the Stinger's core to revive it. ...Unfortunately...he's already found the other legendary core that's needed to revive the Death Saurer. I do not know where he has that hidden..."

Kruger sighed loudly. "Well, then we'll have to inform Emperor Rudolf of this immediately." he said, "... and, if and when Prozen discovers the Death Stinger will require an Organoid, I'm fairly certain that will mean he will try to capture either you and Shadow, or Zeke. If your trial with the Emperor and Madam President goes well, then we'll be sure to keep Prozen from getting close to you. The last thing Zi needs is another nightmare Zoid hell-bent on destroying the world," he said, looking at the both of them. Raven only heard part of it, too preoccupied with his right wrist and hand. The cuffs were really paining him now and he couldn't help but try to pull free a few times.

Kruger sighed before pulling out spare keys and taking the cuffs off of Raven. The two hadn't done anything to warrant the need for them. They certainly seemed willing to help. After Kruger had done that did Vega speak up again. "Sir...you're forgetting about the fact that Prozen knows that a Zoidian can pilot the Death Stinger... That means that he might go after Fiona or try to find another Zoidian…"

Kruger blinked when he heard that. "...that is a possibility, but I have the distinct feeling he'll go after a more adept pilot with a more powerful Organoid..." he answered, before turning around when he heard Van whine, "Sorry Van, but it's the truth."

Vega nodded slightly before he spoke up again. He figured that now would be as good as ever to tell them about Prozen's private and secret lab that was within the Palace. "I have...one more piece of information that might help."

Kruger turned back to look at him. "And that would be?" he asked, not demandingly, but simply curiously. Raven knew where this was going, but was too preoccupied lightly rubbing his throbbing wrist to interject himself into the conversation.

"...Prozen has a private, secret lab within the Palace itself. It's where his 'top' experiments are done..." he replied.

Everyone in the lab got quiet. Thomas got to his feet and walked over next to Kruger. "Just what kind of experiments?" he questioned, "It can't be anything new, since I was one of his top researchers and mechanical engineers," he said somewhat haughtily.

"...the lab that you worked at was for Zoids and Organoids research... It's the same one that Raven was associated with... This lab...is Prozen's own private one...where he works on things himself with his head scientist, Dr. Vect."

Thomas and Kruger just looked at Vega. "... Dr. Vect? I thought he was dismissed from the military a decade ago for that mishap with the MOSA project?" Thomas said, looking at Vega oddly.

Vega shook his head 'no'. "Dr. Vect has been working under Prozen ever since then in the private labs. I...I know where they are...but I'm also the only one that knows the code to get into them... So even if I give them to you so you and the Major could go and inspect them, you would still need me to disable some of the locks he has on them. There's a particularly nasty one that will self-detonate not only the lab but a part of the Palace as well..."

Kruger's eyes widened. "Just what on Zi was so important that he'd go to such extreme lengths?" he asked.

Raven didn't like this. He didn't think they were ready to know. Not this soon. He reached over and lightly grabbed Vega's good arm. "Not now. We'll tell them later." he said quietly.

Vega nodded slightly. "He had several experiments going on at the same time. But I can't tell you more than that at the moment... I'd rather wait until after the trials..."

Kruger sighed loudly. "Well, we aren't about to force you to talk, so fair enough," he said, before turning to the rest of the officials. "Any more questions for Vega? No? Then Raven is next."

The first to speak up was Dr. D., standing before most people had pulled their chairs back. "Just where did you learn Zoidian? It's not an easy thing to learn by one's self."

Raven looked over at Dr. D. "... I didn't learn on my own... my... parents taught me it..." he replied quietly, gaze lowering a bit at the mention of his parents.

Dr. D blinked. "Your parents? Why would they teach you? Were they Zoidian? Or part?"

Raven sighed loudly. "My... my mother... Kathryn Chen... was an Ancient Zoidian cleric from Eveopolis..." he admitted quietly, having never told anyone of his half-blooded heritage.

Everyone stared at him, not having expected this in the slightest! "So...you're an Ancient Zoidian too?" Dr. D asked.

Raven nodded slightly. "... yes... and if I'm not mistaken... I'm the last of the Eveopolis clerics..." he answered, looking up at them slightly.

Everyone was still too stunned to move. Only Vega wasn't staring at him, knowing that it would make his partner even more nervous. "I can say that it's safe to assume that Prozen didn't know about this?"

Raven shook his head no. "Of course he doesn't know. He'd known something was different about me since the first 'medical tests', but since my blood wasn't 'pure' he could never determine just what the cause was," he replied.

"Wasn't 'pure'? You mean like mixed blood?" the Doctor asked.

Raven nodded. "Yeah... and the fact that I didn't inherit any Zoidian power, at least not to my knowledge, means my blood is harder to recognize as Zoidian."

Dr. D nodded slightly before sitting down and letting someone else ask questions. Kruger was back to questioning now. "Just why exactly did you follow Prozen's orders like you did?"

Raven sighed. "... simple... if I disobeyed... I was beaten or locked in the dungeon..." he answered.

Kruger blinked, not having expected an answer like that before his eyes narrowed in thought. "I see... ...you did what you were told to avoid as much punishment as possible..." he mused.

Raven nodded. "...he made it clear to me not to fail after my first defeat to Van..." he muttered.

"What did he do or say exactly?" the Colonel asked.

Raven sighed loudly. "... have a few soldiers beat me until I couldn't stand, breathe or resist, throw me in the dungeon for a few days without medical treatment, food or water and put me under heavy sedation while his scientists did Eve knows what to me..."

Kruger was very disturbed by this news, but he knew that the dark pilot wasn't lying. How no one else at the Imperial base didn't notice this was beyond him. But when he thought about it, it was probably for the same reasons that the Republican soldiers would over look something like that.

Raven sighed loudly. "...how else do you think I got so bitter and cold? I used to hate the very thought of violence and hurting others, at least until they got a hold of me..."

Kruger nodded slightly. Even if the others couldn't see that, he certainly could. He may not have liked Raven, but no one deserved to be tortured, especially by their own side whenever they did something wrong.

Raven was quiet for a few minutes. "...do you... want to ask me anything else...?" he asked quietly.

Before Kruger could ask if there were any more questions, Fiona stood up again. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to ask you more about your Zoidian heritage."

Raven looked over at the Zoidian and nodded. "...alright..." he asked, glad they weren't asking about his war crimes and 'terrorism'. That was a bit of a good sign.

"Did your mother have any powers?" she asked first.

Raven thought for a long minute. "... yeah... she had healing abilities... and a way with Zoids and Organoids... ironically..."

Fiona blinked. "Then she had an Organoid of her own?"

Raven nodded. "Yeah... a black and cream female Organoid, named Luna..." he answered, "... but... she died from a rare virus when I was very young..."

Fiona nodded slightly. "...Do you have any other siblings? Or were you an only child?"

Raven nodded slightly. "... I... I had an older sister named Silvia and... And a... a twin brother named Donnie..." he answered quietly.

At this most of the gathered officials were starting at him. "...'had' an older sister and twin brother? What happened to them?"

Raven cringed slightly and looked off to the side. "... my brother was... separated from me soon after we turned three... and... my sister..." he swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut, "... she... along with my m-mother and father... w-were murdered by a red Organoid my parents had been studying..." he said quietly, unable to stop himself from tearing up slightly at the mentioning of his murdered family.

Everyone was stunned by that information, though Fiona was the only one that spoke up. "...I'm sorry Raven..."

Raven shook his head slightly, trying to keep from breaking down in front of the entire Guardian Force. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, keeping his head down so they couldn't see. "... w-wasn't... your fault..." he muttered out.

Kruger dismissed everyone before any more questions could be asked. Tormenting the pilot about his past wasn't something that he wanted to deal with right now. Once everyone but Raven, Vega, Herman, O'Connell and Kruger were gone did the A.I. finally turn to try and get his partner into some semblance before being taken back to their rooms. Though...he had no idea just what to say in this kind of situation...

Raven had pulled his legs up to his chest, hiding his face from view. He didn't want to be seen like this, so weak and vulnerable. But he couldn't help it. He had been extremely close with his family and had to watch them be murdered, before the Organoid turned on him. It wasn't something easily forgotten.

Vega bit his lip slightly, not liking seeing his partner like this. He was glad, however, that Kruger had gotten everyone out of the conference room and were giving them some space. "...Raven...you gonna be okay...?"

"...does it l-look like it...?" Raven muttered back, though it was somewhat muffled due to him hiding his face from view.

"...no... ...but I...I don't know what to do..." the blond replied.

Raven didn't respond immediately, but eventually let his legs slide back down and his face to be exposed. He wiped the tears away from his face, trying to even his breathing. Vega was hesitant, since he wasn't sure just how Raven would act, but he placed his good hand on his shoulder to try and comfort him. Or at least get him to calm down a little. Raven glanced over at him for a moment when he felt that, before looking back down. After a few seconds his breathing evened out and his shaking stopped the dark pilot finally calming down.

"...better...?" the blond asked, removing his hand from Raven's shoulder. He didn't want to push the dark pilot too quickly.

Raven nodded slightly. "... y-yeah..." he answered quietly, before glancing off in front of him. He knew he had never told Moonbay just what had happened to Silvia, and in all honesty he had never told anyone before just what had happened to his family. Let alone his 'enemies', especially Van and Thomas!

"...I know saying 'sorry' won't bring them back...but I am...concerned about you." the blond said.

Raven looked over at him and blinked his slightly-reddened eyes. "...'concerned'...?"

"...err...I mean that...I...feel for you?" the A.I. tried to explain. He didn't want to come off as all mushy and that, but he did want Raven to know that he was here for him if he needed it.

Raven blinked again. Vega certainly seemed to be struggling with this. It was enough to get his mind off of his family's death. He snickered quietly before he could stop himself.

Vega scowled slightly. "...it's not funny..."

"No... But the fact that you sound all 'warm and fuzzy' about it is..." Raven teased slightly, just barely managing a half-hearted smirk.

Vega glared at him slightly. "Don't make me have to hurt you. I'm not afraid to hit you with my crutch," the A.I. 'threatened'.

"Then you'll have to explain to everyone why you're 'beating' me..." Raven mocked, his smirk widening a bit.

"I think I can get away with 'Just because I feel like it'," the blond retorted.

Raven rolled his eyes slightly. "Not here you can't..." he replied cheekily.

"Maybe... But in our hallway then by all means yes."

Raven just looked at him blankly. "I don't think so... in case you've forgotten, I can outrun you." he retorted, his smirked widening a bit, an almost evil look to it.

"Then I'll just ask Shadow to hold you still," the A.I. replied.

Raven rolled his eyes. "Even she wouldn't turn on me like that."

"She might for a belly rub," the blond smirked.

Raven glared at him. "...damn you..." he muttered sarcastically.

Vega just chuckled at him. The other occupants in the room just watched their interactions, even though they couldn't hear them at first. They were amazed by the fact that the younger blond could get the older dark pilot to calm and was now joking with him and even 'threatening' him...with his own Organoid even!

Raven mock glared at him. "If you weren't hurt, I'd kick your ass right now, Vega. Keep that in mind when you get better," he 'threatened', smirking darkly.

Vega rolled his eyes slightly. "What you don't know is that I can hold my own in a fight. Don't say I didn't warn you when you get your ass handed to you," the blond 'threatened' right back.

Raven punched Vega lightly in his good shoulder, making sure not to put barely any effort into it. "I'm petrified..." he teased.

"You better be," the blond replied. "'Cuz if you're not then I'll make you so."

Raven rolled his eyes slightly. "I'm so scared..." he said sarcastically as he got to his feet. They weren't questioning him anymore, so he figured that meant they were free to go.

Vega got up as well, though with a little difficulty. He managed it without any help though. He got himself situated before following Raven over to where the other occupants were waiting for them. O'Connell approached the both of them. "...the hearing is over, so I'll lead you back to your quarters. Doctor Anders is still working on your blood work, so if she finishes she might bring it to your quarters later on."

The two Imperials nodded and followed the Captain back to their quarters. Not very many of the soldiers jeered at them, but they eventually made it to their quarters. Raven originally went to his room, but soon after O'Connell left he went to Vega's room. He didn't want to be alone after that. Vega let him in, knowing that the dark pilot didn't want to be alone at the moment. He was still a little shaken as well with the questioning that they had done. He just thought of it as practice for the Madam President.

Shadow followed him in, not making any noise. Raven lied down on the second bed, and Shadow immediately jumped up after him and curled around him; an act she commonly did when she sensed 'her' Raven was distressed.

Vega let him be for the moment being. He knew that he needed some time to himself. But after a few moments did he speak up. "...hey Raven... ...what'd they do with our belongings?"

Raven didn't move or even roll over to face him. "...they'll bring them by soon..." he said, having heard Moonbay talk about that earlier.

"...oh...okay... ...even my laptop?" he asked, since it was basically his only possession.

Raven nodded. "... yeah... they won't touch it, if that's what you're wondering..."

"...didn't you hide it though?" the A.I. asked suddenly.

Raven blinked. "... oh... yeah, I did..." he admitted, "... then we'll get it later..."

Vega nodded. "Alright… ...do you think they'll question me as to why I don't have any possessions when they bring yours by?"

"... maybe... but I doubt it..." Raven answered after a minute.

The A.I. remained quiet after that, going off on his own thoughts. He was still worried about the trial with the Madam President and the results of the blood tests... Raven didn't notice that Vega was worried, having dozed off into a light sleep. The emotional stress of the day had just been too much on his system.

Vega let him sleep and about an hour later there was a quiet knock on his door. He hesitated before getting up to ask who it was. "Yes? Who is it?" he asked, not opening the door incase it was some vengeful solider.

Raven woke up and sat up. He got up and walked over to Vega. "It's me, Doctor Anders and Fiona. We have the results of your blood work," came the response. Vega blinked, not expecting for Fiona to come as well. But...he supposed that she wanted to talk with Raven more. He unlocked the door and opened it for them, stepping back so then they could enter.

Raven did the same and stepped back, and a moment later Fiona and doctor Anders entered. Raven immediately noticed that Fiona looked a bit ashen-faced, which concerned him. Before he could question it, Doctor Anders poked his chest. "You have a lot of explaining to do," she said seriously.

Raven blinked. "... I-I do?" he answered in confusion.

Dr. Anders nodded before speaking again. "Would you be so kind as to tell me just why Vega has half of your DNA and half of Fiona's?" she asked.

All the color left Raven's face, staring at the doctor in absolute shock. "W-what?" he shouted, looking over at Vega in confusion and a slight bit of horror. He turned back to Doctor Anders, pale as a ghost. "H-how on Zi can that be possible? Are you sure there isn't some sort of mistake?"

"None, I ran the test three times and his matches both yours and Fiona's," Dr. Anders replied.

While this was going on Vega, too, was as pale as a sheet. He had to sit down, though no one noticed until he said quietly, a far off look on his face. "...oh Eve no..."

Raven was almost in a panic. He was about to go off saying there must have been a mistake when he noticed Vega. "... Vega? You alright?" he asked, all the panic immediately leaving his voice upon seeing his expression.

Vega slowly turned his distant, pale pink eyes over to them before answering quietly. Only Raven knew what he was really talking about. "...Prozen..."

Raven blinked, immediately understanding what the A.I. meant. He pulled his sleeve up somewhat violently, exposing the dozens of deep, ugly scars. "...damn that man to hell..." he growled under his breath.

The two women in the room were watching this with interest, until Dr. Anders patience wore thin about just what was going on. "Well? Care to explain?" she asked again.

Raven looked up at her. "... Vega would... do a better job at explaining..." he said quietly, knowing he wouldn't do a good job.

Doctor Anders looked over at the blonde pilot. "Well? Care to enlighten us, Vega?" she asked, tapping her foot slightly and putting her hand on her hip.

Vega was hesitant at first before speaking up. "...before I tell you...you have to promise not to say anything just yet... I was going to tell everyone after we had met with the Madam President and Emperor Rudolf..." Vega started off.

Doctor Anders blinked, but nodded slightly. Fiona did the same, wanting to know just as much as the doctor did. Raven sighed quietly, having already pieced everything together, and worried about how they would react.

Vega sighed quietly, wondering just how he was going to tell them. It had been easier with Raven, since he had seen V-003, Dia. "...I...I'm one of Prozen's experiments... An A.I. project that he's been working on for a little over ten years now..." the blond said, not knowing of any other way to start explaining himself. He figured it would be best to tell them that much and then answer their questions.

Both Doctor Anders and Fiona stared at him, their eyes widening and color draining from their face. "...an... A.I...?" Doctor Anders asked quietly, confused. Vega had 'human', or rather Zoidian, blood and bones, so how could he be an A.I.?

Vega nodded. "...I'm V-007, but I named myself Vega, since I remember the researchers calling me something like that. I'm the most advanced of the A.I.s that Prozen has had Dr. Vect commission..." he replied quietly.

Doctor Anders just looked at him. "... but, you have human err... Zoidian blood, bones, everything. How could you have been 'made'?" she asked.

Vega was quiet for a minute before replying. "V.E.G.A. ...That's Prozen's A.I. program; it stands for Vessel Experiment Genetically Altered," he replied, looking at the ground in front of him.

Doctor Anders sighed loudly. "... I always knew that Prozen character was nothing but trouble... but I never thought he'd be brash enough to do something like... this..." Vega just nodded slightly, knowing that they had more questions for him. He couldn't deny them these answers, especially since Fiona deserved to know them before everyone else.

Before Doctor Anders could question further, Fiona spoke up. "But, why would he use my DNA? I can understand why he'd want to make a 'second' Raven, but I don't see why he'd add my DNA to you..."

"...from what Prozen knew of the Death Stinger and the Death Saurer...he needed a Zoidian pilot...that was as good as, if not better than, Raven..." the A.I. replied.

Raven turned away slightly and lowered his gaze when he heard Vega say that. He knew that all too well by now, but it still hurt to feel like he was little more than a pawn to his former 'foster father'. Fiona sighed loudly when she heard that. "... it's a good thing he didn't realize Raven was a Zoidian, let alone a decedent of an Eveopolis cleric..." she said quietly, "... and it's a good thing you're away from him now…"

Vega nodded slightly. "...I still haven't answered one of your questions though... ...about how exactly he 'made' me... But like I said before, he's been working on this project for a little over ten years now, with me being the newest 'version'. What he's been doing was modifying Zoid cores to the point that they'd act like a human heart after some tissue was added to it... From there...the 'heart' was added to a pseudo body for it to develop. As the microbes flow out of the core it starts to form other parts to make them as close to a human as possible..." he tried to explain.

Doctor Anders nodded slightly. "... so... you really aren't 'human' then... are you...?" she sighed.

Vega shook his head 'no' slightly. "...not by your standard I'm not..." he replied quietly.

Doctor Anders sighed again. First Raven 'turning himself in', and now androids? Just what on Zi was going on in the Empire? Fiona looked between Vega and Raven, and now that she knew she could spot a clear resemblance between them. She sighed quietly. "... Van... won't take this well..." she said quietly.

"...I know... ...I just hope that they don't call for me to be...dismantled..." Vega said quietly.

Raven sharply elbowed Vega for that comment, hard enough to get his attention but not enough to hurt him. "Don't say that." he growled.

"...s-sorry..." The A.I. replied, not looking up to the dark pilot he now knew he was...'related' to.

Raven sighed quietly. "...even if they... do order you 'dismantled'... I won't let that happen..."

"...you would give up your 'chance' just to keep them from doing that? I don't think so... ...there's something that I haven't told you yet..."

Raven blinked, cocking his head slightly. "... what is it, Vega...?" he asked, a little worried that Vega hadn't told him everything. He ignored Doctor Anders and Fiona, whom had since sat down on one of the beds.

"...I didn't want you treating me any differently or doing something rash...so I decided to wait a little bit before I told you this... ...Prozen has...one more fail safe on me...one that neither of us can do anything about... ...My...'lifespan'...is only five years..." he replied quietly, still not looking up at any one in the room.

Raven's eyes widened. "W-what? Only five years!" he yelped, never having expected Vega's 'life' to be so short.

Vega nodded slightly. "...I would have been...'outdated'...by then...at least by Prozen's standards..."

Raven sighed quietly. "... maybe... maybe Dr. D can figure out a way to lengthen your lifespan!" he said hopefully, knowing Dr. D was clever with such solutions.

"...he would have to make me a new 'heart' for that to happen... ...one that's better than the one that I have now..."

Raven looked down slightly. He knew Dr. D was skilled only in Zoids and Ancient Zoidians, not in areas such as this. He didn't know what to do at this point.

"...this is why I didn't want to tell you... ...I knew that you'd react like this..." the blond said, glad that Fiona and Dr. Anders were understanding enough to just let them talk.

Raven sighed again softly. "... it doesn't matter... there has to be a way to reverse it..." he said quietly.

"...but if there's not, I don't want you to do anything rash. I won't be happy if you do something like that."

Raven narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yeah? Well I won't be happy just sitting around while they take you apart, Vega," he almost snapped back.

Vega sighed. "We don't even know if they'll do something like that. So don't get yourself all worked up. You have...more important things to focus on rather than what might or might not happen to me."

Raven just looked at him. "Vega, I didn't follow you into and drag you out of that damned incinerator just to sit and watch these Republicans take you apart. So I'll be damned if I do," he growled slightly.

Vega sighed slightly. "I know Raven... ...but I don't want you to do something that you'll regret. Right now, I believe we might still have some questions to answer. When they leave, then you can start raving. Okay?"

Raven sighed but backed off, letting doctor Anders and Fiona get a chance to speak. Fiona got back to her feet and walked over to Vega. "...can we speak, privately, for a few minutes?" she requested.

Vega blinked before looking up to her, a bit confused as to what she wanted. But he nodded anyways. He was pretty sure that the blonde Ancient Zoidian wouldn't hurt him. He grabbed his crutch and got up, willing to follow her.

Fiona and Vega walked into the bathroom, the only other room in the quarters, shutting the door behind them. The Ancient Zoidian turned to Vega and sighed quietly. "... I guess this means that... you and I are related... huh...?" she said quietly, gaze lowered a bit in thought.

Vega nodded slightly. "...I guess it does... ...but I honestly had no idea just who's DNA Prozen used..." the A.I. replied quietly.

Fiona sighed softly, her crimson eyes closed as she thought. Eventually she opened them and looked up at Vega. "... even though you're... not fully 'human' nor 'Zoidian'... I can sense both Raven and myself in you... but you're also your own unique person..." she mused mostly to herself, "... but... I don't think I can consider you as a 'brother' or 'son'..." she added, "... but I will consider you a fellow 'Zoidian'... even though you are not of 'full blood'..."

Vega nodded slightly. "...thank you... ...I was not expecting you to consider me anything more than...just a copy or something like that..." He replied quietly.

"...as I just said... I can sense you possess your own unique 'being' and personality, despite being created from other living people," Fiona answered, before opening the door. She didn't have anything else to add.

Vega nodded slightly. It was more than what he had been expecting from the Zoidian. She was on his side, which would help in the long run. However, before she could open the door too far so then the other two could hear them, did he ask something that had been bothering him. "...you don't blame me...do you?" he asked quietly, knowing that she'd understand more. He was really asking if she blamed him since he was the reason that Prozen had used her DNA in the first place.

Fiona stopped and sighed quietly. "...no... I can't...seeing as it wasn't your fault for Prozen's evil and twisted nature..." she answered quietly.

Vega nodded again before speaking up. "...again...thank you..." he said softly, glad to have that weight off of his chest.

Fiona nodded before walking out and back to Doctor Anders. She spoke to her quietly for a few minutes, before she stood up. Fiona turned back a few moments later. "... we're going to go and do research into the Death Stinger and Death Saurer. If what you said is true, then all of Zi is in grave danger," she said seriously, "... and... don't worry, we won't breathe a word of this; we'll let you two decide when and where to expose this information."

Vega nodded again after he had followed Fiona out. He wished that he could do more research as well, but without his laptop, and then he really couldn't. Actually...what he really wanted to do was 'transfer' what had happened the past few days to his laptop and then just to bed. But...he knew that that wasn't going to happen. There was still one more person he knew he had to talk with. And he was sitting on the spare bed in his room, waiting for the girls to leave.

The doctor and Ancient Zoidian left a few minutes later, shutting the door behind them. Raven sighed and lied back on the spare bed, arms crossed behind his head and gazing up at the ceiling. This... was just a lot to take in. Vega didn't say anything. He quietly, quietly than he should have been able to with his crutch, walked back over to his bed and sat down. He would wait for Raven to speak up first, knowing that this was unexpected for the dark haired pilot. It was unexpected for him too...

Raven sat back up when he heard the blond pilot sit down on his bed, sighing loudly. Now that he knew of his 'relation' with the A.I. he was starting to pick up slight habits and mannerisms similar to himself. He sighed quietly and shook his head slightly. "... I... never expected Prozen to take this so far..." he muttered more to himself than anything. Vega just looked up to him slightly but didn't say anything. He somehow knew that he wasn't speaking to him just yet.

Raven sighed again loudly, before glancing up at the A.I. across the room. "... Vega... you don't have to be so quiet..." he said, "... even though you're, in a sense, 'me', I still can't read your mind..."

Vega looked up to the dark pilot slightly, the little bit of hope that Fiona had given him about not being a copy of either of them dashed when he heard Raven say that. He still didn't say anything though, since before Raven's last statement, all he was waiting for was for Raven to start talking... Raven blinked when he saw Vega's expression. "... Vega...?" he asked quietly, unsure of what was wrong.

It took a moment before the blond spoke up, albeit quietly. "...yeah...?" he questioned back.

"...is something wrong?" Raven asked, more than a little concerned with his sudden change in behavior.

Vega looked back down before replying. "...you think that I'm...just a copy..." he replied quietly, obviously hurt by that statement.

Raven blinked. "... no, I don't..." he replied, "... not in the slightest, Vega..."

"...but you said...that's I'm basically 'you'..." the A.I. replied.

Raven sighed quietly and shook his head. "...it's a figure of speech, Vega; I meant no disrespect..." he replied, "... I merely meant that even though we act alike and probably think alike, that I still can't tell everything you need or want without being told..."

Vega nodded slightly, feeling better after having Raven explain what he meant. "...other than what we just talked about, I was only waiting for you to start talking to me..." he said before looking down again. "I know that this has to be...a lot to take in..."

Raven sighed quietly and nodded. "... yeah... it is..." he said softly, before lowering his gaze slightly, almost in guilt, "... I... I'm just not sure... what to think of you as now..."

Vega blinked, a little hurt by that statement, but didn't let Raven see. "...I understand..." he replied quietly.

Raven sighed loudly, able to sense he had hurt Vega again. "... not like that, Vega..."

"...then like how?" the blond asked, just wanting a straight answer like he had gotten from Fiona.

Raven sighed again. "... I just... I'm sure whether to view you as a 'brother', or as a 'son' or as... something else... I'm just not sure..."

Vega nodded slightly. "...so long as you don't view me as a copy, that's good enough for me..."

Raven simply nodded, before breathing out slightly heavily. "...but... I need to know what to see you as... or else I won't know how to treat you or even act around you..." he sighed quietly.

"...can't you just see me as a friend...?" the A.I. asked quietly.

Raven glanced up at him. "... that's... how I've been seeing you for a while now, Vega... I'm just confused on whether or not I should change that view with this new... knowledge..."

Vega nodded. "...I can't tell you what you should view me as... It's your DNA...I'm just the one...'borrowing' it..."

Raven sighed again quietly, before falling silent for several minutes, deep in thought. He was looking down at his scarred hand; a habit he had formed when thinking deeply on something. Vega let him be. Even if Raven didn't see him as anything else other than a friend, he would be happy with that. He didn't want to make the dark pilot pick anything.

Raven eventually sighed. "... I know you're my friend... but due to... this... you could also be called my...'son'..." he said quietly.

Vega blinked, not having expecting to hear Raven say that. He looked up to him slightly. "...are you sure...?" the blond asked quietly.

Raven nodded slightly. Technically Vega was his son, even though he looked only a year or so younger than himself.

"...I...I don't know what to say... ...I knew Fiona wouldn't view me like that, and I'm lucky she sees me as a fellow 'Zoidian'... ...I never expected you to view me like this..." the A.I. said quietly.

Raven sighed quietly. "... if... you don't want me to see you like that, then I won't..." he replied after a moment.

"I never said that. ...I just meant that I didn't think that you would," Vega replied.

Raven was quiet for a minute. "...why wouldn't you think I'd consider it?" he asked.

"...because it would mean that you'd have to take responsibility of me... ...for everything that I do."

The dark pilot sighed quietly. "...you forget... I've basically been doing that since the moment Prozen assigned you to me, Vega..."

"...but that was something that you had to do... ...You don't have to do that now; But...I never said...that I didn't want you to view me like that."

Raven sighed again quietly; this being still a little difficult to grasp. "... Vega... if you want me to view you as my 'son'... then I will..."

The blond was silent for a minute before speaking up again. "...I do... ...but it's up to you...on what you tell people."

Raven looked over at Vega and nodded slightly. "...well then, if you want it, then I'll treat you like my 'son'..." he replied, "... and it doesn't matter what other people think or know; they probably just won't understand it anyway."

Vega nodded. "...you're right... ...they wouldn't really understand... ...but I'm glad that you do...and Fiona for the most part too..."

The dark pilot nodded slightly. It would take a little time to get used to the idea of having a 'son', especially one only a year or so younger than himself, but he'd manage it, somehow. After all he'd been through much worse and trying situations. Vega settled down after a while. He leaned his crutch against the night table before lying down for a bit. All the stress and worry was starting to get to him.

Raven stayed sitting up for a while, still deep in thought. He eventually lied down on the bed he was sitting on, crossing his arms behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. He had a lot to sort out in his mind from all this. Eventually the A.I. drifted off to 'sleep' not being able to ignore his need for rest any longer. He knew that Raven had a lot to think about, and he didn't want to disturb him.

Author's Note: I wonder how many of you saw that curve ball coming! ShadowRebirth37 and myself certainly enjoyed scheming it! I had debated about making this chapter a little longer, but I decided against it, since it would have added another 7+ pages to this chapter. I didn't want to over load you guys, especially after this big revelation! Be sure to keep a look out in the next couple of days for one of Shadow Rebirth37's and mine new story: Winter Bells.