Marcus is told by Prozen that the route to a Republican fortress has been cleared by the Saber Fang. A cloaked boy and his black Organoid are standing in the desert. Meanwhile, Van and the others head to a town to fill up on supplies. When they get there, they notice that the soldiers are preparing for a battle. Later, Irvine and Moonbay tell Van that they think they should get going soon so they don't get caught up in a battle. Then they get surrounded by soldiers, but Van and Fiona manage to escape. A boy is resting on a haystack when he hears shouting and sees Van and Fiona running from soldiers. Van and Fiona hide in some crops and they think the soldiers have found them when someone comes and knocks out all the soldiers. Van and Fiona emerge from the crops to find the boy who was resting on the haystack standing among the knocked out soldiers.

Some more soldiers are running towards them and the boy is ready to fight again, but Fiona drags him off with her and Van. The hurt soldiers tell the other soldiers that they were attacked by a black Zoid (Organoid). Moonbay and Irvine are called to a soldier's office and told a story about a ton of Republican sleeper Zoids being taken out by one Zoid and a black Organoid. The guy tells them that their letter from Hermann proves that they're on the same side. He then gets a phone call and is told that three kids have been spotted. The guy tells Moonbay and Irvine that Van and Fiona are traveling with the boy who has the black Organoid.

Van and Fiona follow the boy to a spring and they drink some water. Van finds out that the boy's name is Raven, who then walks off. Van and Fiona follow him through the desert. Van tells Raven about Zeke and how easy it would be to rescue Irvine and Moonbay if he was there, and Raven says that that means Van is only strong if his Organoid helps him. Meanwhile, Godos units leave a Republican base and Irvine gets into his Command Wolf and runs off. Van, Fiona, and Raven climb up a rock formation where Van and Fiona spot Irvine. When Irvine gets there, he tells them that Raven is the one who's been destroying all the sleeper Zoids. Raven admits that he has and calls his black Organoid, Shadow. Raven jumps off the rock formation and onto the head of his Saber Fang to go fight the Godos units which have just arrived.

Raven destroys the Godos units easily while Van, Fiona, and Irvine watch horrified. Moonbay arrives with the Shield Liger and Van gets in it while Zeke fuses with it. Raven is about to slash a Godos when Van shoots him. Raven and Van fight and Raven easily beats Van, without the help of Shadow. Irvine tries to help by shooting at Raven, but Raven blocks his shot with fire from his weapon. Then Raven gets a call from someone and leaves with Shadow. Van wants to fight Raven again, but Moonbay's just thankful that he let them live.

Quotes:

"As soon as we stop I'm gunna' go and get as many papayas as I can and then totally stuff my face." -Van Freiheit
"Flying papayas or the regular type?" -Fiona
"So you're completely powerless unless you've got an Organoid to do the work for you." -Raven
"So in other words we should be thanking that kid for letting us get away this time." -Moonbay