Disclaimer: To avoid confusion I want to make it clear that this story is not Star Slayers and takes place in a completely different universe. I'm sure some similarities made it in here from my other stories, but for the most part this story is its own monster.
Astral Machine
Chapter One: A Day Like Yesterday
Trudging through the damp and overgrown vegetation, two unimportant soldiers slowly sludge down the path on a forgettable planet. Many a weary mech-soldier would count himself lucky to be stationed on such a miserably dreary world during a war, reveling in the small freedoms the musty rock grants them despite the dank smell. But the two soldiers trapped here are not of this kind.
"So why do they have us out here again?" Gourry asks his partner while fiddling with his comm. unit as it fizzles and cracks. He and his long time friend have the honor and privilege of manning the two oldest mech models still functioning in the entire Alliance Quadrant. The H5-Soldier models. They are large, grey, and clunky. The last thing any want-a-be hero would dream of driving.
"Because they wanted us out of the way," Zelgadis sighs from the unit beside his forgetful comrade. They are out in the middle of nowhere doing guard duty for a place that doesn't need it. The planet is known for its dense forests, military training centers, and mysterious elves.
This exile is just a momentary set back though, a simple cooling off period before they are called to their duty again.
"Oh . . . why?" Gourry asks.
Zelgadis turns to the tiny flickering screen showing Gourry's stupid, but lovable face. "You honestly don't remember?" Normally, he would grunt, call the man an idiot and be done with it, but he actually envies the blond man's forgetfulness. Besides, it is his fault this time for their demotion. "I was tinkering again, remember."
There will be better times in their future when he is recognized for his talents, but for now he simply has to bide his time till that day arrives. A day he can make a difference in this war.
"Ahhh, that's right and I was testing the unit out for ya!" Gourry pumps his fist into his open palm remembering it all clearly now. "To be completely honest though, I mostly remember all those officers yelling at us."
Zelgadis frowns. Yes, he remembers that part vividly as well, but he can't say he particularly cared. No doubt his apathetic reaction at the time made the officers even more frustrated with him.
"Except your Grandfather," Gourry continues." He was really nice, I have a feeling he's okay with it."
"He is, but his connections can only help his weak grandson and idiot best friend so much," Zelgadis scans the area once more verifying that nothing is in the area except wild animals. Last thing they need is to get the elves on their case.
Before they left the compound a day ago Zelgadis modified a few things on their ancient mecha machines, including the scanners. Since they are riding the oldest models still in operation, no one really cares what he does to them. Yet, being forced to pilot this crammed ancient atrocity makes him long for a more sophisticated machine. He would give almost anything to be working on an E-M3-Sorcerer unit.
"And that model was a real beaut'," Gourry leans back lazily ushering his mecha forward with a gentle push of the pedal. "I really thought you had it that time. I'm sorry I couldn't control her."
"It isn't your fault Gourry, I rushed her," Zelgadis assures him, slumping in the uncomfortable chair as he pushes the heavy pedal. These models are so old they don't even have a functioning cruise control. He should have fixed that first while they were at the base. He isn't strong like Gourry and his stubborn determination is the only thing keeping him from complaining about his sore hip. "Why did I even agree to become a protector of mankind . . .?" 'And insist on tinkering with things.'
Zelgadis had the worst sort of luck.
"Now come on Zel, don't be like that. You're really smart and can assess a battle as quick as I can. In fact if it weren't for your smarts we would have died several times over," Gourry laughs and Zelgadis smiles with him. While he doesn't show his delight in receiving praise, he still very much enjoys hearing it.
"Thanks Gourry, but it's your strength that makes my strategies even possible," Zelgadis chuckles. They've had this exact conversation before, but even so it helps going through the motions. "At any rate, after this silly mission what's the worse they can do to us?"
"Oh oh remember that one time we had to storm the secret spy people's base with the others. That was amazing. Too bad you never got credit for it," Gourry mopes.
It fascinates Zelgadis what Gourry seems to remember and what he forgets. "That mission with our MS team? You remember?" Zelgadis asks, impressed and not hiding it.
"How could I forget?! Zangulas and I led the charge while you snuck in with those S-4 units and took out their communication. Then you had Rodimus and Zolf cover our tracks and their escape leaving them completely defenseless. Those jerks didn't stand a chance."
"Sadly I covered it up too well since even after procuring the data they didn't believe us and thought I merely forged the information myself for an easy promotion," Zelgadis grunts.
"A week later the enemy hacked our base and they blamed you for withholding information," Gourry shakes his head. "Those guys can be real idiots sometimes."
And this is coming from Gourry. It makes Zelgadis want to laugh. "Why are you bringing this story up anyway?" he asks. "Are you trying to make me feel better?"
"Yeah, is it working?!" Gourry's excitement is not contagious.
"Thanks for the thought but no it isn't helping," Zelgadis lies. He is humored by the story despite how depressing it is, but doesn't want to admit this to his partner. "It does help pass the time. War stories always do." Once again the moody man stops his unit and starts a scan. It will take five minutes for it to be complete. Slow hunk of metal. The only benefit is being given the chance to rest his foot off the petal.
"Actually it is getting kinda late," Gourry comments checking the time. "If the area is secure we should camp here for the night." The perceptive man is noticing the fatigue of his companion despite Zelgadis's efforts to hide it.
"You're right," Zelgadis yawns picturing the glamorous life of sleeping inside the same cockpit for the next week. One day of riding in the confined box and he is already sick of it. This is just like how it was during training, only that was over six years ago and he should be higher in the ranks by now.
No such luck. The only thing Zelgadis and Gourry have gained is good friends and good stories, other than that they are seen as the misfits of the Alliance forces.
When the scan is complete Zelgadis is expecting nothing, but instead an intense red blurb appears at the corner of his screen. A blotchy red energy reading. Sitting up straighter the keen man studies it closely. "I'm not seeing things am I?" he asks Gourry.
"If you're talking about that red thing that isn't supposed to be there than no you aren't seeing things," Gourry replies accurately.
"But this region isn't anywhere near the border and that area is suppose to be wilderness, there is no listing of an official base for this territory or elf settlement," Zelgadis turns a dial and pushes his scanner to its fullest, focusing it on their strange find. "Normal scanners wouldn't be able to detect it, but since I took the liberty of modifying ours it shows up rather blatantly." After waiting a short while, the facility comes into clearer focus and he analyzes the energy detected. "It's a factory, a factory for Mecha construction and repair." Definitely doesn't belong to the elves.
"Then maybe it's one of ours?" Gourry says.
"Then why isn't it on any of our maps?" Zelgadis asks. "I know our units are outdated, but the A.G. network operates fine. Even if it is slow I made sure it could function before we left the Tillmar Headquarters."
"Maybe they didn't want anyone to know about it?" Gourry offers becoming nervous. Zelgadis is asking really good questions and when that happens it's usually because something is seriously wrong.
Bad luck is about to find them once again.
"What are they trying to hide? If they are hiding something my grandfather has a right to know since he's the head of the mecha development team. Couldn't just satisfy himself with being a renowned doctor," he grunts this last part finding it easy to complain about his old man when something is bothering him. "If they're using this factory to construct Mecha's behind his back he needs to know."
After a pause, Gourry nods in understanding. He knows exactly what Zelgadis wants to do. "Well, we're wasting time now aren't we?"
Looking at Gourry through his screen, Zelgadis smiles. "Right."
The pace is slow in their ancient mecha partners but the two eventually reach the outskirts of the mysterious facility. Leaving their mecha units behind the two soldiers use a special cloak that Zelgadis invented himself to gain a better vantage point. Despite not existing on any map, the place is fortified with numerous cameras, a thick wall, and other forms of surveillance.
"Is it the enemy's or one of ours?" Gourry whispers beside Zelgadis.
"The heightened security and lack of heavy artillery suggests that it is one of ours. Whoever made this facility is more concerned with spies, than enemy attack," he replies just as quietly.
"Should we try to get in?" Gourry asks.
Evaluating all of his options Zelgadis thinks long and hard before answering. "No," he says clasping his chin with one hand. "The smartest thing to do is report this to Rezo and have him deal with it."
"Well, that's the smart thing to do," Gourry grins. "But what's your plan."
"If I can get close enough to the main building I may be able to hack into whatever system they're running and get a better idea of what's inside. If we want anyone to believe us we'll need to impress them."
"What do you need me to do?" Gourry asks with growing excitement.
"I need you to divert their attention to the main gate. I should be able to cloak myself long enough," Zelgadis points to the one and only gate the facility has. "Use some of the wild animals to trigger those sensors, if you attach metal shavings to their fur it should be enough to set off those sensitive scanners. Make sure you don't get caught."
"No problem, you can count on me!" with a brief nod they set out.
A half hour later the duo of misfits makes the numerous people manning the facility look like fools. Their sensors are not suppose to go off when animals come scurrying about, but technology means nothing when you blindly rely on it without utilizing common sense. The animals are brought in and inspected, but the only thing they find are metal shaving. It isn't uncommon for the elements of mankind to find their way into the wilds.
Or for the elves to play a harmless prank.
If it isn't for their head chief they might have dismissed the occurrence as a fluke, but Zelgadis is up against someone he didn't count on.
Zelgadis and Gourry are on their way back to the Tillmar Headquarters ahead of schedule, when a military vehicle zooms up in front of them. Acting as cool as a cucumber, Zelgadis addresses the men from his mecha while Gourry wisely remains silent. Everything is going well until his grandfather's face fills their screens.
That sight deflates Zelgadis's elevated ego immediately.
After ten minutes of arguing, Rezo, his grandfather, is escorting Zelgadis and Gourry back to the facility they just discovered, feeling rather sheepish. By the time they reach Rezo's factory it is late.
"You see Zelgadis I've been expecting you," Rezo admits candidly. They are walking down a stark metallic hallway that still smells of aluminum shavings. This place definitely hasn't been here long. "I knew you wouldn't very well be satisfied with the unit's you were given and would make improvements, including the scanners. It just so happens that this base is out of a military issue scanners range from the main road, but you, Zelgadis have never been one to follow the rules."
"Honestly Rezo, I don't know what to say," Zelgadis has a dead pan expression on his face. "I'm not sure if I should be delighted by your praise or embarrassed that you still managed to catch me in the act."
"On the contrary, I am merely congratulating you my dear grandson, after all you nearly got away from me while it shames me to admit it," Rezo turns to Gourry and his personal assistants. "Please take Private Gourry to the kitchen and make him the offer, I need to discuss more matters with Private Zelgadis."
"Yes sir," the men say, while Gourry thanks Rezo.
"What is all this about?" Zelgadis continues following Rezo when the other men are out of sight. It may not be obvious to others, but he can tell his grandfather is being cautious. "I know you set me up."
"You caught me. Yes, I did have this little test set up just for you. You see I wanted to know what you were capable of," Rezo says proudly, stopping to look back at him. "How much did you scan?"
Zelgadis glances to the side while gnawing on the inside of his cheek. If he shows Rezo the information he has, either his grandfather will be disappointed or impressed. Neither response would please the moody young man given the circumstances. "Here," he hands the doctor a small computer, his pod, in answer.
Rezo's mechanical eyes are alight as he studies the information the young man has been able to decipher and decode already. Laughing at how easy Zelgadis has accomplished this task it is obvious that the elder is pleased. "You have done well, there is only one other person who can read and unlock code like this, although she is faster at it."
Again Zelgadis isn't sure whether his grandfather is praising him or insulting him. His old man has always had a knack for pointing out the best and worst in those closest to him.
"Zelgadis you have deciphered enough to know about my special project. These new mecha machines are crucial to the war and I want you to be one of the pilots," Rezo looks intensely at his grandson with his strange glowing eyes. It makes the young man uncomfortable if not a little embarrassed.
"I appreciate the thought, but I couldn't," Zelgadis cannot meet the great man's gaze and glances away discretely. "I'm not strong enough to maneuver these machines. I barely qualified to use the outdated F10-Soldier class. It is impossible for me to operate a Sorcerer class machine. I'll do what I can to protect the people I care about with what I have," he takes back his pod gently from Rezo's hand. "Who knows, after this assignment maybe I'll transfer to someplace where my intelligence can be utilized for the war."
The gentle hum of countless machines and recycled air fills the silence that falls between the two similar men. As the silence stretches on Zelgadis is tempted to leave, but he knows Rezo has more to say, it's the kind of man he is.
"I can make you stronger," Rezo finally says. "Follow me."
As the wise elder walks forward in a gentle sweep of poise that contradicts his nearly blind eyes Zelgadis finds himself contemplating the simple choice to follow the receding steps. Zelgadis is also wise for his age and somehow knows that if he follows those large steps that nothing will be the same. Turning his head behind him, he tells himself that he doesn't need to follow after the great man, what can he do to measure up to Rezo's vast accomplishments?
If he follows won't he only fail the man?
And yes if he doesn't follow, he will never know and perhaps be unable to protect the hope the great sage represents for the people in the Alliance. Rezo's experiment's, his research, the technology he's perfected has saved countless lives. He will do all he can to protect that hope, even if shrouded in mystery and a few small evils.
Rezo is part way down the hall when Zelgadis smoothly marches towards his grandfather's shadow. "How will you make me stronger?" he asks.
Author's Note:
Hello and thanks for giving this chapter a read. I wrote this story while working on Star Slayers, in particular while I was stumped for a plot or frustrated with the characters. I wanted to write something purely for enjoyment to keep my creativity alive while remaining in the sci-fi/fantasy genre and so this story was born. I never thought I would complete it but since I did, I figured I might as well post it for others to enjoy . . . even after year of hording it.