Ronin looked up at the Mech and patted Nya on the back 'Samurai X, reborn'

'It's not really 'X' anymore though is it Ronin? I mean, I won't be hiding my identity now, so no need for the mystery, right?'

Ronin shrugged 'it's a good name though. With your modifications and the general beaten up appearance, it looks a bit more badass than the first. Somehow it still works'

Nya couldn't help smile. She knew it looked awesome, some of her best work. She gave Ronin a sly look 'who needs a slick ride, when you're just gonna work it hard... right?'

He gave her a dirty look back 'Amen to that... So you've integrated water cannons?'

'Damn straight. How could I not?'

'Well of course! What about other water manipulation?'

'That's not too much of a problem, I can manipulate water externally from the mech, I just really wanted cannons!'

'A girls gotta have what a girls gotta have...' Ronin mused and turned to Nya 'time for a test run?'

'Well it'd be rude not to...' Nya leapt up onto the foothold, grabbed over the thigh rim, hopped up the body and into the cockpit. The gyroscopic cockpit slid over her as she stood on the self-levelling balance board. She had been designing this new control system for a while and hadn't been sure when she'd get a chance to work on it, but here in the cave she was motivated to push it further. She had a new body suit with sensors imbedded throughout its skin; Run, jump, kick, and spin; they allowed the Mech to emulate her every move. She fired it up, a simple flick of a switch released the docking arms and the mech stepped free of the scaffold. Nya punched through her arms and followed with a spinning kick, the mech following her every move 'Unh, Samurai SEX, this feels so good'

Ronin burst out laughing 'Don't hold back Nya, just let me ride her after, ok?'

'Oops, shit. Sorry, didn't realise I had the open comms on... New name though?' She said with a wink. Ronin gave her a thumbs up and nodded his amused appreciation at the suggestion.

Crick entered the Cave and saw the Mech free from its perch. He held up his hands, clasped in a champions shake to Nya. She waved back forgetting that the Mech would too and clumped the crane arm, making her jump. Crick laughed at the great machine that was now clumsily trying to right its mistake, mirroring the small figure inside it. He enjoyed the new experiences he was having with his charge and her odd friend the thief. He found them an unlikely pairing, both hiding something dark inside yet simultaneously joyous. They made life interesting and... fun.

Nya stomped out of the Cave 'I'll see you guys later' she shouted back and broke into a run to test the mechs' joints and suspension. She found the mixed terrain perfect for this; from the bone shaking impact of hard rock, through to soft, slipping sand, the mech reacted well. She skidded to a stop, picked up some large boulders and threw them as far as she could. Rotating her wrists she stretched out her arms, back and legs and the Mech copied her every move. The gyroscopic bubble made her truly one with the heavy metal and she felt great. It had been so long and taking a deep satisfied breath, smiled wide. She was beyond excited.

She activated the booster pack and the Mech shot into the air at a blistering speed. In her bubble she was impervious to the elements and watched the clouds as the Mech shot past them. Looking ahead she saw something coming up fast and just managed to pull the Mech to a hover, yards out from the majestic form of Lloyds Dragon. It stared into the cockpit and beat its impressive wings to hold itself in the air. Adrenalin coursed through her as she looked into the dragons eyes and something awakened deep inside her.

The formation of her dragon was painful as it clawed and dragged itself from its realm to her. Flickering shards of light sliced outwards from her soft heart and she fell limp. Passing out from the pain of the unexpected summoning, the Mech fell straight out of the sky. As she came around Nya saw the earth rushing to greet her and she desperately tried to stand, but the smooth sphere was unforgiving and she knew she would not be able to regain control. Suddenly a great jolt rocked the Mech and Nya looked up to see it had been caught in the talons of her Dragon which brought them down gently to the ground. Nya sat, slumped on her platform and looked up at her beast which looked back; they were one but apart, its silent eyes telling all before it shot into the air. Nya watched, her heart soaring with it as it flew into Lloyds dragon at speed. The two creatures tumbled and fell, twisting and rolling, their great wings tangled together before splitting apart and rocketing up again. Their long necks joined and weaved together as they turned in the air, gravity taking them once more as they slowed to tumble together again. Nya's eyes widened at the sight and her body shivered as she felt their subliminal connection. It felt... beautiful... she swayed from the heady experience and let her body collapse to the floor of the pod. Lost to the moment the blur of green and grey faded far into the distance above, but the new sensations continued to wash through her body as if she was one with them.

Nya blinked slowly as the sky and soft clouds blurred in her vision, unable to focus on anything apart from the strange new feelings. A green haze swept over the outside of the pod. She reached out her hand to try and touch the swirling mist  beyond the glass, pressing her hand to it. The green particles danced and formed a ghostly hand to touch the glass between them 'Lloyd' she whispered. She could not blink or look away for fear she would lose him again and fumbled to find the pods release button. As it opened, the mist fell into the space and draped itself around her, gliding its ghostly fingers up her neck and drawing her into it. She gasped as Lloyds face formed above hers. Somewhere else the dragons touched, holding themselves to soar together. She could feel everything. The overpowering sensations from the Dragons made her react involuntarily to Lloyd's spectral form and she arched her body into the swirling energy as it pressed onto her. Lloyd looked back at her longingly, unable to physically connect. He too felt the connection of his dragon with Nya's and his energy particles flexed and vibrated around her. Lloyds shifting features fractured and reformed as the experience heightened and they both experienced the connection of their bodies to their beasts.

The sound of a craft overhead disturbed their rapture. '...Rex' Nya managed to whisper.

Lloyd slowly pulled away from her as the sensations from their dragons continued to consume them. Nya's expression changed from ecstasy to regret, knowing that Lloyd could not stay. Tendrils of energy held fast, not wanting to let her go and gently caressed her face before finally releasing. She stretched her hand out to him, watching his corporeal haze drift and disperse until he was gone.

Rex had descended and landed a short distance from the crumpled body of the mech 'Nya, Nya, are you ok? Ronin shouted as he and Crick ran towards her 'What's happened?'

Unable to release herself from the Dragons' link, Nya hid her face as the sensations continued within her.

'Uh... are you ok?' Ronin called slowly. She shot up her hand to keep the intruders away but then gave him a thumbs-up and a flick of her hand to shoo them away. Ronin and Crick edged back, confused.

'I think she is... sad?' said Crick.

'Or mentally imbalanced' Ronin said flippantly.

'No. That's not her'

'It was a joke Crick'

'Oh'

They watched Nya slowly lift her unsteady body from the platform. The bliss inside was ebbing away and she felt her dragon dissipate when the pleasure had peaked, but her body still coursed with the memory. At once she felt the wonder of what had just happened and absolute rage at having been disturbed. She wanted Lloyd back. She wanted to hold him, have him for real, feel his body and kiss his lips. She now knew her mind and she would fight to make it happen.

She trudged over to them and as Ronin went to speak she snapped 'don't ask!'

'Okay' Ronin said and he and Crick followed her as she continued past and jumped up into Rex. Nya flicked on the power and looked at the many sensor readout screens 'What's going on Nya?' Ronin asked looking in.

'I said, don't ask...' she snapped again and then sighed, begrudgingly conceding an explanation '...Lloyd was here'

'Oh really?'

'Yes and now he's gone, no thanks to you'

Ronin looked unapologetic 'Sorry sweetheart, but you'd been gone too long, I had to investigate' and Crick turned to him confused, making a disappointed clicking sound 'well' Ronin continued 'Crick wanted to investigate, I wanted to have a doze'

'I can believe it.' Nya scoffed and turned to the warrior 'thanks Crick, you are a sweetheart' and shook her head 'but i kind of wish you had taken a nap too' Crick looked worried, that  maybe he had done something wrong 'Oh, Crick. You know you are a big softy for a warrior?' Nya took his hand and pulled him up into Rex 'C'mon, help me monitor the sensors would you?'

Ronin leant in the opening of Rex and whined 'Hey what about me?'

'Take a nap?' Nya replied sarcastically.

'Hrmph! What are you looking for anyway?'

'Lloyd. Maybe we can pick him up somehow. I just want to know where he is, so I can know if he's alright'

'I don't think anything worse could possibly befall him!'

'Oh shut up Ronin!' He pulled his hat down over his eyes, unaffected by Nya's harsh retort and leant back for a doze.

'Hey, Crick' Nya leant across to point at one of the sensor screens 'What's that?'

'It's just a person I think?'

'It is' Ronin muttered from under his hat 'that sensor is pretty basic. You'd need the spectral readouts on the ceiling, top left for any hope of finding Lloyd'

'Thank you' Nya moved her attention to the spectral readouts that Ronin suggested and played with the frequencies 'nothing' she said and fell back into the chair and sighed 'wanna' go check out that person? Its not every day you go for a walk in the bad-lands alone, they might need help'

'Ugggh, will I ever get a nap?' Ronin grumbled. Crick flicked him with his tail 'getting a bit sassy there Crick, you wanna' watch it' but Ronin smiled at him and Crick understood it to be a joke. Ronin pulled himself up into Rex and shoved Nya from his seat 'Go on, do-gooder, go get back in your Samurai Sex!' Nya snorted at how she had unwittingly given the Mech such an apt name and blushed. Ronin gave her a quizzical look 'Getting coy on me are ya?'

'Maybe' and Nya inwardly smiled at the memory as she hopped out of Rex to run over to her Mech. Closing the pod, it powered up; luckily there had been no damage. If her dragon hadn't caught them, it would've been a different story.

Rex led the way with X following on the ground below 'There' said Crick pointing 'It is a Serpentine, a Venomari. What's he doing out here all alone'

The Venomari looked up at Rex, panicked and then stopped abruptly as X skidded around the cliff face to stop in front of him 'Sorry!' Nya apologised to the snake, which cowered below her. Rex landed and Crick jumped out quickly to calm his fellow serpentine. He saw the robes the snake wore, marked him as a high level assistant to the Council.

When it saw Crick his panic subsided 'you are warrior caste? Why are you here with these bandits? Did you dessert. Are you a traitor?'

'No, no. I am responsible for Nya... I mean the Master of Water, by order of High Shaman Docent'

'Docent? You were part of his envoy-warriors? Where is he? I must find him and speak with him, it is of the utmost importance'

'I left him to find the Master of Water and haven't managed to make it back yet. Why must you find him?'

'I am the Master Scribe. I have escaped the fall of New Ouroboros with the final vision of Kiva... we were over-run'

'Over-run?' Crick asked. How?'

'The traitor Pythor. His army was formidable'

Crick looked to Nya 'we must return. I know you do not wish this Master of Water, but the future of my clan and all who have united is at stake'

Nya nodded to the Warrior 'Its time' she said, knowing she could now face everyone certain of her own mind and would welcome the closure.

'What?' Ronin started to protest 'Going back into the fray is not my idea of a good time'

Nya shook her head 'Oh Ronin... every time you build yourself up, you just rip it all back down, don't you? You know in this brave new world, unless you help your friends, you won't have any'

Ronin rolled his eyes and looked at Nya, all bravado and hands on hips, then at the two snakes; Crick, both strong and soft, standing next to the scribe, small and shaking 'How do I get pulled into these sob stories?' he muttered and turned to go back to Rex 'Well you coming or not?' he shouted back heartlessly.