Chapter 3:  “Unorthodox, but effective.” (written by Dan Smith/ Planeswalker)  

Two shadows moved in the moonlight, stalking away from the Maxwell household, 
one metallic and trying to hide its shining torso under a sack, the other 
dressed in black clothing, trying not to be seen.  
They moved stealthily away, sticking to the back streets, moving as silently as 
mice, until the black figure stumbled over some trash cans, loudly clattering 
all over the alley, the heavy pack on his back falling and spilling it’s 
contents.  

“Your actions are not logical Master Nate.  Surely making this noise is not 
beneficial to leaving town silently...”  
Nate untangled himself from the mess of garbage, and hissed back at Rapid, 
“You’re right Rapid, it’s just that some of us can’t see too well in the dark... 
and I really wished that I hadn’t polished you up this well.  Your sheen’ll 
attract attention.”  
“It was necessary for a ‘complete repair’ as you phrased it.  I believe I am 
obliged to express my praise for your efforts in repairing me...  Thank you.”  
“You’re welcome, but if anyone asks, we were never at my grandpa’s lab...  Now 
lets get going!”  

After the destruction of Dr Zenon’s lab, any proof that lied in the secret lab 
was lost to the police, Nate hadn’t seen his mother since before the lab 
incident and Nate had chosen to hide away during the day so that he didn’t have 
to answer to the police before sneaking away.  
In the hours that had passed, Nate had decided that while his grandfather was no 
longer about, Rapid was proof that he had wanted Nate to be a GenoMaster, so he 
should do what he could to make his grandpa proud.  
His mother, as a policewoman, would most certainly not like the idea, and that’s 
another reason Nate was sneaking away, she and the Device Town police force had 
too much to do here, and so, probably wouldn’t be able to help him wherever he 
was going, or even find him until he returned.  
After the encounter with the two guys in the lab, it seemed certain that they 
were part of the group that kidnapped Nate’s grandfather, and that more would 
have GenoGears to fight back.  
Rapid needed to develop through the local tournaments, and to win new weapon 
parts if she was going to face everything that came their way.  

“You are fantasising about the world championships again, aren’t you Nate? In 
all likelihood, it is unlikely we would progress past the local championships.” 
stated Rapid as the pair waited in an alley for a group of people heading 
towards a bar to get by without noticing them.  
“I suppose you’re right Rapid, but there’s no harm in dreaming...” Nate replied.  

The pair reached the edge of the town just before midnight, deciding to spend 
the night at the motel just outside of town.  
“Good evening Sah, Can I help you?” asked the clerk, dressed in a suit.  
“Ummm, yeah.  I’d like a room for the night.  And a wake up call for six 
tomorrow morning.  I need to be up early.”  
“Of course, Sah.  Will there be anything else?”  
“No thanks.”  
“One moment, Sah, while we prepare you a room.”  
With that, the ‘butler’ scooted off silently, leaving Nate and Rapid alone.  
“Listen Rapid, no one can know we’re here.  No one can know we’re going to the 
championships.  We have to move stealthily, like shadows, leaving no lasting 
memory of who we are, and...”  
“Hey! NATE! What’re you doing here?” bellowed Leon from the motel doorway, 
lugging a large hiking backpack into the foyer.  
“LEON?” Nate spat in confusion, “What are YOU doing here?! Are You Following 
Me?!”  
“Who, me? Naah.  Me an’ Kaiser are heading out to the local championships in 
Kallen City...  What are you doing here anyways?”  
“Alright, I guess there’s no harm seeing as we’re going the same way...  Me an 
Rapid are heading to the championships too...  At least I’ll know someone 
there.”  
Leon was paying no attention, kneeling down and examining Rapid, muttering the 
occasional “Cool!” or “Wow!”  
“Excuse me.  Please refrain from smudging my optical screen.  You are reducing 
my visibility by 13%.  I also believe Master Nate was addressing you.”  
“Sorry...” Leon said sheepishly, getting back up, “You were saying?”  
“I said we should probably head to the tournament together.  You know...  Safety 
in numbers.” repeated Nate.  
“Sure.  Sounds like a blast.” grinned Leon.  
“Hey...  It’s too quiet.  Where exactly IS Kaiser anyway? You didn’t deactivate 
him and put him in that bag, did you?” asked Nate, a little shocked as he 
suggested this.  
Leon looked around at the ceiling for a few seconds, before sheepishly 
answering, “Ummm, I kinda lost him...”  
“WHAT?”  
“Well, he left.  Said he was too good to be stuck with an idiot like me, and 
took off.  I was looking for him until I found this place, I figured I’d look 
for him again in the morning.  At this rate...” he said, holding up a ruined 
arm, “... I’ll just have to look for the trail of scrap.  The way he’s going, 
he’ll get more experience tonight than he would have in a week of battling with 
me...”  
“Can’t you just use your GenoComm to locate him?” suggested Nate.  
“I could, had Kaiser not taken it, he kinda learned that you need those to 
activate a Battle Cube, so we’ll have to go with my method.” sighed Leon.  

Nate slept soundly that night, tired at getting out of bed at six in the 
morning, but by seven, he was on the road with Rapid, making good time, 
following Leon and his ‘trail of scrap’.  
“So do you really think you’ll find Kaiser any time soon?” questioned Nate to 
Leon.  
“Prmmly!” he mumbled through a mouthful of toast, hastily grabbed at the motel.  
“What?”  
“Probably.” he repeated, swallowing, “In fact, he’s right there.” he said 
pointing across the road to a Battle Cube, where Kaiser was inside, shooting a 
weedy little human-type Junk Class GenoGear of a trucker’s to pieces.  
“Well, that was fast,” mused Nate.  

“KAISER!” Leon bellowed, “I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY FOR SAYING YOU WERE A GLORY 
HUNTER! YOU’RE THE BOSS OF THE TEAM, AND I’D LIKE TO SERVE YOU AGAIN!”  
“What?!” Nate stuttered, shocked at how low Leon’s self esteem had to sink to 
get his GenoGear to fight with him.  
Leon turned back and whispered, “His ego...  I’ll bet that if he thinks he’s in 
charge, he’ll be okay.”  
“No problem, Losers!” Kaiser yelled back, “If you wanna be on the winning team, 
fine by me, jus’ so long as you don’t cramp my style!” he said, ceasing firing 
and decapitating his rival with a single swing of his sword.  
The battle finished, and as the trucker went to retrieve his GenoGear, Kaiser 
swung his sword across his back, secured it there, and strutted across to the 
group.  
“HEY! It’s you!” he said to Nate, “Thanks pal.  If you never showed up, I’d 
probably be called Strawberry Wardrobe, or some other lame thing by now...  Hey! 
Who’s the cutie?” he asked, noticing Rapid, he was by her side in seconds.  
“Hey Babe, I’m Kaiser, strongest GenoGear alive...  What’s your name, Sugar?”  
“I am not called Sugar, my designation is Rapid.” she answered calmly.  
“You’re what? Did someone put your M Chip in backwards, or are you trying ta 
sound like Robbie the Robot on purpose?” moaned Kaiser.  
“I do not understand the question.  I am merely operating as I was programmed.” 
Rapid replied.  
“Come on Babe! Lighten up! Else you’ll start ta sound like a calculator.  You 
stick with me Babe an’ I’ll show you how ta live it up.”  
“Kaiser!” Leon stuttered in embarrassment, “I’m So Sorry Nate, I didn’t know 
GenoGears tried to... hit on each other.  I’m so so sorry!”  
Nate went to open his mouth, but once again, Kaiser interrupted, “It’s not my 
fault! I’m only a guy, an’ let’s face it, she’s hot!”  
Everyone looked at Kaiser, who just stood there, his happy closed eyes 
expressing a cheerful grin, if Kaiser had a mouth instead of silver stripes 
covering the majority of his face.  

“HEY, YOU!” a burly voice shouted from behind, ignoring Kaiser’s crush on Rapid, 
the group turned around to see a trucker holding the shattered remains of the 
GenoGear that Kaiser had just dismantled, “Which of you two punk kids owns him?” 
he said, pointing a stubby finger at Kaiser.  
“Um...  That would be me Sir.” Leon said nervously.  
“Well you owe me bucks, the little git smashed up Sidney.  It’ll cost me at 
least two hundred to fix ‘im up.”  
Nate interrupted, “But Sir...  Rules of battling say that any damage inflicted 
is the part of the risk of the fight.  Under that rule, you took the risk for... 
Sidney to battle, and Leon doesn’t owe you anything.”  
“Yeah, but the rules also specify ‘when an opponent uses reasonable force’.  
That...” he said, still pointing at Kaiser, “... Went too far! ‘e cut Sidney’s 
‘ead right off! Was it necessary? ‘e’d already won, and just went too far!”  
“Not my problem, Loser.  You really should build a ‘Gear that’d be a challenge 
fer me.  An’ name it somethin’ other than Sidney.  What kinda lame name is that, 
anyway?” Kaiser grunted, before turning to Rapid, winking to try and impress 
her, then turning back to the trucker.  
“You little...  Sidney was just my old friend from when I was a kid, ‘e doesn’t 
‘ave any battle parts and you dragged ‘im into the arena! If you’d fought 
against my battling GenoGear, you wouldn’t stand a chance!”  
Before Kaiser and the trucker could argue any more, Leon stepped in.  
“Sir... I’ll pay you the money, but... well we’re in a hurry to get to Kallen 
City... and I was wondering if you’d be up for a little wager...  How about we 
have a battle, Kaiser against your battling GenoGear? If Kaiser wins, you forget 
what I owe you and we all get a lift to Kallen, but if he loses, I’ll pay up, 
plus you get to keep Kaiser’s body to put Sidney into...”  
“WHAT?” exclaimed Kaiser, “NO WAY AM I GIVING UP THIS BODY! I LIKE THIS FRAME, 
AN’ HOW AM I SUPPOSED TA IMPRESS RAPID IN WHATEVER PIECE O’ CRAP YOU PUT ME IN 
NEXT?”  
“Kaiser.” Leon hissed, “I’m betting you because I believe in you.  There’s no 
way this creep can beat you, and this way, we get a free lift.”  
Kaiser’s eyes lit up, “Oh!” he grinned as ‘Gear and ‘Master turned back to the 
trucker.  

“Alright, you got yourself a deal kid, after all, no one’s ever beat... REIGN!”  
As the trucker said the name, the doors on the back of his truck swung open, and 
a huge GenoGear, built like a humanoid tank, a forest green decorated with black 
paint stomped out, coming to rest next to it’s owner.  
Reign dwarfed everyone present, and was over twice as tall as Kaiser.  

“Ah crap.” he muttered, “You’ll still love me when I’m in an ugly frame, won’t 
you, Babe?” he asked Rapid, without waiting for a reply, he turned back to 
Reign, “Ah crap.” he repeated.  

Ten minutes later, Kaiser and Reign were locked in the Battle Cube, ready to 
start the contest.  
The trucker had managed to get Sidney’s head active again, and the pair were 
cheering Reign on noisily.  
Nate and Rapid were similarly rooting for Kaiser, but were less vocal in their 
encouragement.  

“Commence battle” a computerised voice announced, Kaiser drew his sword, and 
started to approach the hulking frame of Reign when the rival powered up, it’s 
eyes lit up, and it’s hands drew back into his arms.  
“Huh?” Kaiser muttered, still advancing.  
Two gatling guns extended out of Reign’s wrists, and started whirring, building 
up speed, Kaiser’s eyes opened wide with recognition.  
“Get out of its line of fire Kaiser! Those are gatling guns!” shouted Leon.  
“I HAD NOTICED!” bellowed Kaiser, already running around Reign’s back.  
As he sprinted round the larger robot, it turned, bullets chasing Kaiser.  
The farce continued for a few minutes, until the guns ran dry and Reign stopped 
shooting.  
“Oh...” grinned Kaiser, “Not so tough now you’re outta ammo, huh Big Guy?” 
taunted Kaiser, running into Reign, sword lifted high, bringing it down in a 
vicious chop, severing Reign’s left arm.  
The brute just whirred, swung around and batted Kaiser away and into the Battle 
Cube’s side with his right arm.  
“KAISER!” shouted Leon, showing concern.  
Kaiser struggled to his feet, “Man...  That dude’s tough.  I’M OKAY! Well, he’s 
still big an’ slow, so...” he trailed off from mumbling to himself as the 
unmistakable sound of a gatling gun reloading was heard, “Ah crap...” Kaiser 
stated, too far from Reign to run around him, desperately looking around for 
cover.  
“Look out Kaiser!” Leon shouted.  
“Look Kid.” Kaiser shouted back, “I can see things fer myself.  STOP STATING THE 
OBVIOUS ALREADY! If you ain’t got a plan, then jus’ let me get on with it!” 
Kaiser picked his sword up from the ground, plunged the blade into the dirt... 
then cowered behind the sword as Reign opened fire again.  

“Master Nate.” stated Rapid, “Kaiser appears to possess superior speed and 
agility to Reign, but he does not use it, preferring clumsy but powerful sword 
strikes.  Why? I calculate that his present strategy has only a 38% chance of 
winning, whereas one favouring speed would have a 54% chance of victory.”  
“It may be true Rapid, but I doubt he’ll listen to any plan he hadn’t come up 
with himself, but I suppose it’s worth a try.” conferred Nate before calling out 
“Leon! Rapid reckons Kaiser’ll be better off using his speed rather than brute 
force!” 
Leon nodded and turned back to the action, where Kaiser was still cowering, but 
Reign’s ammunition had just run out again, and was starting to shamble forwards 
towards Kaiser’s hiding place.  
“Kaiser, you can’t just sit there! You’re a sitting duck! You’ve got to fight 
back! Your speed’s...”  
“FIGHT BACK!” Kaiser interrupted, “I like the way ya think Kid...” Kaiser stood 
up and stepped around his sword, “Hey Reign, now ya see me...” he taunted, his 
own arm mounted guns unleashing a barrage of energy bullets at Reign’s head, 
smashing his optical screen, “... an’ now ya don’t!” Kaiser finished smugly.  
Reign whirred angrily, randomly pounding the ground, hoping to crush Kaiser, but 
having little success, having to fight without sight.  
Kaiser quietly slipped around Reign’s back holding his sword, leaped towards the 
beast’s back and threw all his weight against it.  
The giant lost it’s footing and, losing balance, fell with a crash to the 
ground.  
Kaiser dashed across to it’s remaining arm, grabbed it’s shoulder, and with a 
grunt of effort, threw down his sword with only one hand to rip the arm off 
Reign’s torso.  
Reign stayed there, unable to right itself without any arms, and just whirred at 
Kaiser, “Awww... what a shame...” he replied smugly, “Hey, Trucker! Your big 
guy’s got heart! He says he won’t give up yet!”  
Kaiser strolled over to Reign’s left leg, gripped it firmly, and bent it 
backwards, away from the joints, at an awkward angle, “How ‘bout now, or do I 
have ta snap you in two?”  
Reign whirred again, this time, a signal of defeat.  
“Battle End.” the computer announced.  
Kaiser held his sword aloft and strutted across to the group, leaving a disabled 
Reign behind him to be tended by one irate trucker.  
“You may all bow down ta me...  Cos I rule!” Kaiser bragged, “How’d I do, Baby?” 
he coolly asked Rapid.  
“Your victory was satisfactory.  Your methods were unorthodox, but effective.” 
she replied.  
“Ummm, thanks... I think...” answered Kaiser a little puzzled.  
“YOU’S KIDS!” bellowed the trucker, “YOU WON FAIR AND SQUARE...  NOW GET IN THE 
TRUCK BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND...” he grumbled, opening up his truck’s trailer, 
and struggling to stow the remains of Reign.  
“We’ll make a good team yet, Kaiser.” said Leon.  
“Whadda ya mean? You didn’t do nothin’ except state the obvious.” bellowed 
Kaiser.  
“I advised you!” Leon shouted back.  
“You said to fight back! Great plan, Sherlock.  I was about to anyway...” Kaiser 
moaned.  
“You were cowering like a girl!” Leon challenged.  
“Was not.”  
“Was too.”  
“Was not!”  
“Was too!”  
“WAS NOT!”  
“WAS TOO!”  
Leon and Kaiser made their way over to the truck, arguing again.  
Nate looked at Rapid and sighed with one hand holding part of his face, “I get 
the feeling that this could take a while to resolve...” he said, heading towards 
the free lift...  

End  

Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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