Author's note: If it wasn't for Randomcat23 this first chapter would have took me a lot longer to put together but here it is.
Disclaimer: I don't own Zoids just Jesse Herman.
Chapter 1
The dark haired mercenary waited for the two kids to fall asleep before he got up, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed for his Command Wolf. He climbed into the cockpit quickly closing it because of the ragging sandstorm outside. He checked the clock on the console before he typed in a set of numbers on his comlink. It beeped twice before a image came up of a dark blonde haired girl about his age. "How's the shift going tonight?" he asked her.
"Same as alway's but Rob's been on my ass lately and I wonder why?" she asked cocking a eyebrow at him.
"Mad at your dad that ain't good what did he do this time?" He asked her as the sandstorm continued outside.
"Mad at you and me both. You having any luck on the ruins?" she asked pulling out a thermos of coffee and took a drink.
"Naw there's one nearby that I'm going to check out tommorrow." he said watching her check the radar then turned her eyes back on him.
"Need any help because I need a vacation," Jesse said causing him to chuckle.
"Naw you got your job there girl." he said taking a sip of his coffee.
"I really need to get away from this base and O'Connell," she said leaning back in her cockpit seat her crossed over her army uniform.
"He's still following you around?" Irvine asked arching a eyebrow a smirk on his face.
"If you count me finding another set of flowers in my room," she said leaning back to pop her back.
"Hey they might be from me," he said grinning as he removed his eye patch.
"I know you and it's not your style." she said smiling now that she could see both of his chocolate colored eyes. "I hate having a conversation with you when you have that thing on." she said referring to the mini telescopic eyepiece that he just took off.
"That thing has saved my ass plenty of times and besides your the one that gave it to me," he said meeting her remark, causing her to laugh.
"True true but I didn't think you'd wear the damn thing all the time." she said half chuckling.
"Hey it reminds me of you, it's a piece of you that I take with me into battle," he said causing a slight blush to come across her face.
"You know dad's wanting me to go out on a date with O'Connell. He's trying to bribe me with a new gun." she said causing him to scowl. "Don't worry it's not going to work. My heart belongs to one person and that's you," she said and he smirked. "That's the reason he's mad at the both of us." she said.
"How about the next time I see O'Connell I blow up his damn Command Wolf to get the point across." he suggested.
"Yeah make dad even madder at you," she said laughing. "I've considered blowing it up myself to tell him to leave me alone." she said and he laughed.
"Good girl. I dare you to. I hate the guy and if he doesn't stop with the flowers and the stalking, I'm going to come and pound his ass into the ground." he stated.
"Yeah and cause yourself to get arrested for assaulting an army officer," she said as a beeping came from in her cockpit. "Speak of the devil it's the asshole himself and I'm not answering it," she said hitting a button to silence the beeping.
"He getting to be that annoying?" he asked her and she sighed and nodded her head. "I feel sorry for you baby. I'm not there to threaten him to leave you alone." he said causing her to smile.
"Wish you were here, I miss you," she said checking her watch. "And just because dad got a hint that the base at Dragon head might be planning a attack, I get stuck with watch in this damn sandstorm," she said looking to the side out of her cockpit.
"I'm in the same damn shit where I am, but I got some kids, a boy and girl, at the camp with me," he said. " I found them out in the storm while I was searching for shelter. They claim that they got separated from their zoid, a Shield Liger. The kid doesn't look like he's old enough to pilot a zoid," he said taking another sip of his coffee.
"A kid with a Shield Liger that's unusual." she said thinking. "What do are they like?" she asked him a smile on her face.
"He looks about fifteen and the girl with him doesn't look any older than him. She's a little strange though. Plus he claims his zoid was brought back to life by his buddy Zeke, which I think might be an organoid." he said.
"An organoid?" she asked. "But you've been searching for one since you left. It was the reason you left and this kid finds one that's a little odd." she said thinking. "So when do you think we'll be able to meet up again it's been a year nearly." she said.
"It was six months ago not a year," he said rolling his eyes. Suddenly the red lights started flashing in her cockpit.
"I need to go check this out. I'll talk to you later." she said activating the zoids movements.
"Okay be careful. Love you girl," he said draining the last of his coffee.
"Aren't I always. Love you too cowboy," she said winking before she shut off her link. He shook his head as he quickly climbed out of the cockpit and walked back over to the fire. He stared into the fire as a smile came to his face.
(Flashback)
"Are you okay," a twelve year old girl with dark blonde hair asked him as he leaned against the wall to keep standing. "You're hurt. Let me help you." she said getting under his arm.
"Leave me alone," the young boy said the bandanna on his forehead was nearly black with dirt.
"Are you hungry? Where's your mom and dad at?" she asked him pulling out a water canteen and held it up to his lips to let him drink.
"My parents are gone I have no one," he said his eye halflidded with exhaustion.
"Don't worry I don't have a mom either but I do have a dad and a grandma, I'll share them with you," she said using the sleeve of her shirt and wiped dirt of his face. "By the way my name's Jessica Herman what's yours?" she asked the boy.
"My names Irvine Hunter," he said before his eyes closed and he was out. The next time he woke up he was in a dark room. "Where am I?" he asked looking around he felt a pillow under his head , a bed under him, and a blanket was covering him to his chest.
"Your in my room you have to be quite or we'll get in trouble," she said coming into the room with a tray. "I brought you some food." she said sitting down beside the bed he was in. "You need to eat something to get better." she said tearing off a piece of bread and handed it to him. "Eat it's good Marie my nanny cooked it. She's makes really good bread." she said nibbling on a piece of the bread.
"It's really good," he said after taking the first bite, then he took another bite.
"Don't eat so fast you'll get sick," she said as he started coughing but not from strangling. "Irvine you okay?" she asked as he continued to cough and gasp for breath. "Stay here I'm going to get my dad, stay here," she said before running out of the room. A few minutes later the sound of heavy boots could be heard on the floor as Jessica ran back in her father behind her. "Daddy something's wrong with him he can't breath," she told him.
"Hey kid calm down your going to be okay," her dad said said rubbing his back to ease the coughing fit that Irvine was having, then he felt a cool hand on his forehead. "Jesse go get Marie and tell her to bring some cool water and a clean washcloth." Jessica's dad said as she ran out of the room. "Breath through your nose it will help your throat." he said continuing to rub his back.
Three years later
"Run," Irvine yelled as they ran out of the base.
"I told you not to set off that damn dynamite in the base," she said as they heard the soldiers yelling as they tried to put out the fire from the exploded Guysak.
"Yeah but who's the one that set it in the Guysak?" Irvine asked as they ran around the corner of a building coming face to face with Rob Herman.
"We're so dead," Jesse said looking at the anger on her dad's face.
"I believe that is an understatement," Irvine said backing up with her as Rob Herman came closer.
"You two are so beyond be grounded," Herman said crossing his arms staring at the two teens. "My office you two now, no detours and no stops," He said growling at them.
"Yes sir," they both said hurrying back into the base and to his office.
"What were you two thinking when you pulled this little stunt. This tops every stupid thing that you two have ever done." Herman yelled slamming his fist on his desk. "You know how much it's going to cost to fix the damage your little explosion caused?" he asked glaring at them.
"No sir," they both answered in unison not daring to look up at him so their gaze continued to be on their hands in their laps.
"Alot because we will have to replace a zoid. Your punishment will be cleaning up the mess that you made, and to clean every zoid in this base," he said glaring at them. "Starting now," he said as they climbed to their feet still not looking at him.
"Yes sir," they both said leaving the office, Jesse ahead of Irvine. As soon as the door closed Herman started rubbing his forehead. "Those two are nothing but trouble when they are together." he said looking at the picture on his desk of the two teens taken about a month ago. Marie had walked in on them playing a game of chess and they were so into the game that they didn't relize that she had took the picture.
Three day's later
Rob Herman walked into the base searching for his daughter and Irvine. Since he'd given them their punishment he hadn't seen them at all not even at meals. He spotted Colonel Krueger looking over some freshly cleaned zoids. "Colonel would you happen to have seen my daughter and Mr. Hunter?" Rob asked his superior.
"Follow me Captain," he said leading Rob behind some of the cleaned zoids. "I found them over here a while ago it looks like they just finished cleaning." he said and there in the shadows of a corner was Jesse and Irvine cleaning rags around them and asleep. Irvine was leaned against a crate his shoulder length hair fall across covering his face. Jesse was leaning against him her head rested against his chest as they both slept. "They did a pretty damn good job of the cleaning I've never seen the zoids shine like they are now." Krueger said to him.
"Yeah the zoids do look pretty good," Rob said smiling as Jesse stirred slightly shifting and her arm came around and rested on Irvine's stomach. "Makes you not want to wake them up." Rob said as he watched Irvine wrap his arms around Jesse protectively bringing her closer to him.
"Let them sleep for a little while longer." Krueger said. "They deserve it," he said noticing Rob watching the teens. "You know those two would be a pair in a zoid battle." he hinted to Rob. "Captain have you considered training them for the army?" He asked.
"I might just start maybe it will stop the pranks and mischievousness. It's hell living in the same house as those two." Rob said smiling at some of the remembered pranks. "But also entertaining."he finished. "I'll start it in the morning with them." he said as they left the teens to sleep.
Two years later
"Today's ceremony is to recognize the young men and women who have taken the challenge we gave them and have become great zoid pilots." Colonel Krueger announced to the crowd. "Captain Rob Herman will be helping me pass out the diplomas to the twenty-five men and women, who will be a great addition to our army's ranks." Krueger states.
Irvine sat next to Jesse dressed in his army uniform which was about to drive him up the wall because it was so uncomfortable and making him itch. "Your dad said he wanted us to meet him in the hanger after the ceremony right," he whispered in her ear.
"Yeah he said he had a present for us." she said as they started on the D's to get their diploma's . "Which is got me wondering what the hell did he get us." she said.
"Got me wondering I thought that prank I pulled on him last week would keep me from graduating." he said waiting for them to call the H's.
"At least you don't have to wear a stupid skirt so hush your gripping." she said elbowing him gently. Finally the row they were in stood up and slowly moved towards the front of the stage.
"Jessicca Louise Herman," Colonel Krueger said and she walked forward to accept the diploma and the pin they put on the new soldier uniforms. She shook his hand and accepted a kiss on her cheek from her father before he put the pin on then hugged her. She walked back to her place in line and waited. "Irvine James Hunter," He stepped forward a shit eating grin on his face his shoulder length hair pulled in a low ponytail. He shook the Colonel Kruegers hand as well as Captain Herman's who pinned his pin on his uniform, he then went back into line beside Jesse.
After the ceremony finished they headed into the base were there was two huge covered objects. "I made a deal with myself when you two graduated I would give you each a zoid." Herman said coming into the hanger. "Well here's your gift." he said uncovering the objects to reveal two Command Wolves. One blue and black the other red and black. "The blue one's yours Jesse, and Irvine yours is the red." he said and they quickly examined their zoids.
"This is awesome dad I love it," Jesse said hugging him.
"Pretty cool Captain," Irvine said from the cockpit of his.
"Why don't you to take them for a run their already registered in your names." Rob said a smile coming to his face as he watched his daughter climb into her zoid, and her and Irvine bounded out of the hanger.
That Night
Irvine snuck down the hallway to Jesse's room. He quietly opened the door trying not to wake her up but he failed. "Irvine what are you doing up we got drills in the morning?" she asked rubbing her eyes.
"I'm leaving tonight I wanted to tell you goodbye and do this," he said leaning forward and kissed her on the lips.
"Why?" she asked pushing her hair out of her face as she looked at him.
"Being in the army it's just not me, it's suits you more you grew up around it. I need to explore. I've heard rumor's of organoids in some ruins I want to check them out. I want to find an organoid something of my own." he said rubbing her hand with his thumb.
"But you have a home here you have a job," she said trying to get him to change his mind.
"I know but I need to see what's out there," he said leaning in to kiss her again he started to pull away but she pulled him back into the kiss.
"Promise you'll contact me and if you are anywhere near where I'm at you'll see me. You see you started something you just can't leave." she said before kissing him again.
"You're the only reason I will come back Jesse," he said continuing to kiss her softly. He pulled away suddenly and undid the chain around his neck pulling it out to show her the ring that was on the chain. "This was my mothers I'm giving it to you as a promise that I'm coming back to see you and that I now love you." he said putting it around her neck and fastening it.
He was standing to leave when she remembered something. "Hold on I got something for you," she said pulling out a small box and handed it to him. He opened the box and pulled out what looked like a eyepatch that had three lens on it.
"What is it?" he asked studying it he pushed a button on the side and the lens moved.
"It's a mini-telescopic eyepiece it's like a gun scope you can change different distances and there's a recorder on it as well." she said as he turned it over. He lifted it up and placed it against his left eye tying it in place.
"How do I look?" he asked looking at her a grin on his face.
"You look like a tough guy, maybe a mercenary," she said leaning forward to give him a kiss.
"How do you work the recorder," he said touching the side. "There now it's working." he said as it recorded Jesse she was dress in nothing but a old t-shirt looking straight at him a smile on her face.
"That is as much as your recording cowboy," she said pushing the button that turned the recorder off. "Promise me you'll be careful," she said standing in front of him. Looking up at him.
"I promise," he said leaning down to kiss her again his arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her up against him as he depended the kiss. She moaned and he entered her mouth exploring till the lack of oxygen caused him to pull away. He looked down at her, her lips swollen from their kiss. He leaned down and kissed her gently. "I love you and I'll talk to you tonight. Be in your wolf at eight." he said before disappearing out of the window. She watched him run across the lawn to where his zoid was at beside hers. She watched him climb in the ring held in her hand.
Six months later
Irvine was sitting in the diner of some restaurant that he had planned to meet up with Jesse at when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and looked into a pair of ice blue eye's. Jesse smiled down at him before leaning down to give him a kiss before sitting down beside him."I love the new haircut," she said ruffling the short dark brown hair.
"Yeah I thought I needed a change and plus it's too hot for the long hair I had." he said as a waiter came over to take their order on coffee. "Plus I figured if your dad ever sent out a search on my ass he wouldn't recognize me." he said a smirk on his face.
"I see you are getting use out of your gift I gave you." she said referring to the targeting patch.
"I don't know about you but I need a shower and some alone time with a certain girl that I haven't seen in a while," he said as the waiter brought their coffee in Styrofoam cups with lids.
"Good thing I rented a room," she said holding up a set of keys, and twirled them on her finger.
"Your always one thought ahead of me babe," he said as they stood up and headed outside with their coffee."Lead the way my lady," he said as they headed down the street where she had rented the room at a small motel.
"Yeah but it's worth it plus I have tonight and tomorrow off so we can have plenty of alone time together," she said as they walked into the motel and led him down a hall.
"Ohh I've missed you so much," he said wrapping his arms around her waist as she unlocked the door. When she finally got it open he pulled her in and shut the door but not before putting the do not disturb sign on the handle.
(End Flashback)
Irvine smiled as he pulled the patch out of his pocket and retied it. Then he laid down and went to sleep.
Author's note: what do you think review and tell me.
