The Reason: His Past

Today seemed like an uneventful day in one of the Guardian Force bases, after just finishing a meeting with some of the other members. Fiona and Van were found in the meeting room. Being the research analyst Fiona was the last to go and by default Van as well. Zeke had been borrowed by Moonbay earlier that day.

Suddenly Fiona looked up from the screen she was looking at as if she was troubled by something. She turned to Van.

"Hey Van why do you suppose Colonel Schubaltz doesn't smile too often and he takes things way too seriously, I mean I know that they're supposed to take it seriously and all but it isn't like Colonel Herman and the others. Did you notice his behavior recently he seems a bit depressed and well stranger than normal." Fiona asked
"Don't know maybe it would be better if we ask his brother instead I'm sure he would know the reason for his brother's attitude." Van replied. With that they walked out of the room in search of their friend.


They found him a few minutes later working on his AI Beek, the friend in question was Thomas Schubaltz had sandy blonde hair and green eyes. He was a smart man who excelled in his academics and mastered his sciences while his brother had excelled more in the military arts. (Fighting, Piloting zoids and Strategic planning)

"Hey Thomas?" Fiona called out when they found him. 'I hope what I'm about to ask isn't so personal.' She thought while walking up to him.
"Yes Fiona what's up?" Thomas stopped what he was doing and answered looking up extremely delighted to see her even though she was with Van. 'Just as long as she comes to see me willingly I'm happy' He thought.
"We were actually wondering about your brother." Van said taking his place beside Fiona who had reached Thomas first.
"Yeah what about him?" Thomas who had gone back to whatever he was doing looked up and asked suddenly curious at the coming question about his brother.
"Do you know the reason why he rarely smiles? Why he takes things too seriously? And his recent behavior is really odd as if he was sulking no rather grieving. Do you know something about an occasion that could have led to this? I mean if you don't want to answer my question I would understand I mean this isn't really any of our business were just worried." Fiona said her tone suddenly serious.

"I'm happy that you worry about my brother I mean he gets too caught up in everything that he hardly has time to relax. As for your question that has something to do with his past just before he joined the army." Thomas said. He walked to a nearby table with Van and Fiona following him and they sat down. When Van and Fiona looked at him they saw the sincerity and sadness in his eyes.
That had gotten their attention and they couldn't stop themselves from saying "His past?" Thomas just nodded and took a breath before continuing.

"When we were small we had this neighbor her name was Katrina, she and her little cousin were always playing and she was very sweet. Her cousin was like a brother to her. One day while his parents were doing their work not too far away from the house an organoid went completely berserk and killed her and her cousin's parents. Fortunately my parents were able to stop it from hurting anyone further unfortunately it got away. In pity my parents took care of both of them which was something that was almost regular for them since we were always at each others houses, sadly her cousin was kidnapped one day." Thomas replied thinking back to the time he was talking about. He knew that this would make him remember everything that he wanted to forget but he also knew that it was about time to talk about it because it might do him good.

"But that still doesn't explain why he's like that." Van replied very annoyed like a kid who couldn't understand what was going on around him.
"I wasn't finish. Well she grew up with us and she was very pretty, sweet and friendly, she was always playful it was by some miracle that she managed to get her work done in time. I guess what I'm saying is that many of the boys from the village liked her, though I guess its because she's the motherly type I mean she told me that the reason they like her was only because she reminded them of their mothers and about what her mother used to say that men marry their mothers. My brother wasn't an exception to that except I have a feeling he liked her because of her smile. Dad used to say that he fell for my mothers warm smile when he was little and that it might be the reason Karl was in love with her." He paused to catch his breath.

"Growing up they were very close so it wasn't any surprise when she returned his feelings. It all ended sadly. About a few years later some bandits came and our dad being a member of the army fought as best he could and led them away from the village. My mother was out with Katrina trying to make sure that everyone was safe they couldn't get away fast enough and mother and Katrina were caught. Karl couldn't accept it so he went looking for them days past and no one could find our dad and finally after a week we found mother and father's bodies. But there was still no sign of her. I guess he just never really moved on. And this is the very week that they were taken from us. After a year we declared her dead because it was possible that the bandits may have buried it somewhere we couldn't find. Just after declaring her dead Karl and I joined the army. So I hope that explains it. I guess we should probably eat now. By the way don't even mention it to him nor ask him about it. It might just return more painful memories." Thomas said with great displeasure at the thought of the painful memory.
With that they all stood up and went to the dining area.


In Fiona's room after breakfast

"Oh so that's the Colonel's story, that explains a lot about his recent behavior." Moonbay said. She as well was curious and worried about him.

"Well if you ask me I think he should just move on with it. I mean that was years ago!" Irvine exclaimed sounding like a complete jerk but Van knew better. He knew that he was probably sympathizing with him, after all he knew what it was like to think about losing someone that he really loved. After all he lost his sister at a young age.

"Well I think it's sad and romantic." Fiona said, and just as they were about to continue an alarm was heard and it stated that a group of bandits and rebels were attacking a village nearby. She sighed, the guardian force was made to protect the peace of both the Empire and the Republic but she hoped that the peace would be stable soon.

They were all preparing to move out when they found out that it was Colonel Karl and his brother who were going to be the squadron leaders. Fiona rode with Van and Irvine, Moonbay and the brother's each had their own zoids.

They managed to lead the them away from the village but they were outnumbered which wouldn't matter in other days but seeing as they were still close to the village they could still put the civilian's in harm's way.

Just then a petite hooded hooded figure appeared and Irvine who was the first person to notice the stranger had warned the figure to stay away. Moonbay drove for the figure to pick that person up but she jumped away.


A/N: I just felt like rewriting though I didn't change much.