Chapter 1: The End Of The Beginning

The figure of a bald gentleman in a Zoid Battle Commission blue uniform appeared on Doctor Steve Toros' desktop monitor."Good morning, Doctor Toros."

"Good morning to you as well, Admiral Braimen." Toros strained a smile, and adjusted his desk chair on the command bridge of the Blitz Team Hover Cargo Transport. "How may the Blitz Team serve the Zoid Battle Commission today?" His eyes felt heavy, and he stifled a yawn amidst the early morning video conference. No one had made coffee yet.

The older man smirked on Toros' monitor. "Relax, Doctor, there are no more public events scheduled for the Blitz Team." Braimen folded his arms on his desktop. "In fact, we at the ZBC would like to inform you that we will be expecting your arrival at the Commission Headquarters this coming June. The sixth to be exact. In the meantime, we would like to extend our thanks for your appearances on our behalf and wish you a restful time until then." The Admiral unfolded his arms, reached for a mug of coffee, and took a long sip.

Toros raised an eyebrow. "But that's six month's from now?"

Braimen set the cup down, and nodded in the monitor video conference application window on Toros' desktop. "Normally, the Zoid Battle Commission gives the Royal Cup winning team three months off, before starting Class S." The man turned sideways on the monitor screen, and accepted some paperwork from a woman. "However, everyone here at the ZBC is aware of the unsanctioned battles the Blitz Team has fought against the Backdraft Group." Braimen huffed through the video conference monitor. "Nearly twice as many battles as a normal Class A season. As a result of this unusual situation, we have elected to extend your report date for Class S."

Toros leaned back in his chair. He nodded. "Thank you, Admiral, we could really enjoy extra time off."

Braimen raised his hand in acknowledgment. "This extended reporting date will have no effect on your standings as the Rookie Class S Team. Enjoy your time Dr. Toros." Braimen leaned forward. "Your team has most certainly earned it."

"We appreciate it."

"And, Doctor Toros?"

"Yes, Admiral?"

Braimen leaned closer on Toros' monitor. "I've been wondering when you were going to finally get back to Class S."

Toros looked down from the camera projecting his image. His face went blank. "It's been a tough road, Paul."

"I most certainly understand." The monitor showed Braimen as he leaned back, and had another sip of coffee. "How's Leena?"

Toros looked straight into the camera. "It's like looking at her mother." He shook his head. "And behind her eyes, every ounce of her grandfather's fury."

Braimen turned the chair sideways on Toros' monitor, his eyes looked off camera. "It's funny how DNA works. Dad was undoubtedly a hothead, but my sister and I were exactly the opposite. More like our mother. And, yet, there is Leena. A nearly perfect copy of my sister, but with every ounce of her grandfather's rage." He shook his head, and returned a smile as he looked back through Toros' monitor.

"I have often wondered if the two of them would be furious friends, or loving enemies." Toros folded his arms and set his elbows on the desk. "She fights with the same intensity as he did."

Braimen laughed on monitor screen. "Between her, and Dad, I'd wager they could spend eight thousand dollars worth of ammunition in fifteen seconds."

Toros laughed in unison with Braimen.

Braimen straightened himself up, and faced forward on Dr. Toros' monitor. "Doctor, I would be delighted if you would stop by, and see me when the Blitz Team reports. It's been too long."

"I am certain I can find the time, Paul."

The two men nodded, and the video conference application window on Toros' desktop went blank.

Toros sat back in his chair. His eyes scanned his desktop, which displayed a few Zoid models from his vast collection. He realized that it had been over a year since he had spoken with Braimen.

From his desk on the Bridge of the Hover Cargo, Doctor Toros looked across the open area of the command deck, and his mind drifted back in time. A time that was nearly twenty years ago. He remembered Leena's grandparents as they smiled, and congratulated his team for winning The Royal Cup. The vision continued to play out. Next, came the memory of Leena's mother basking in joy. And then Toros remembered Leena's grandfather handing him the keycard to the Hover Cargo. A reward for the Class A victory of his Zoid Team.

Toros came back to reality, and glanced at the time-sheets control system monitor. The date was digitally compressed in the screen's upper right hand corner. He mumbled. "Twenty years ago next week. The week Oscar's Raynos would crash, and slam into Layon's Great Saber, destroying it. We were just practicing maneuvers on the desert plains."

Toros remembered the accident from his past. Layon had been rushed to the hospital. The spinal damage from the accident would disqualify Toros' friend as a pilot in the ZBC. Toros sighed. "Oscar wouldn't go near a Raynos after that. And Layon couldn't pilot a Zoid no matter what." Toros arranged a Zoids model group of a Blue Cannon Fort, a Dark Red Saber Tiger and a Blue Raynos in the center of his desktop. "Twenty years ago, and it all fell apart."

Behind the Zoids models on Toros' desk sat a photo taken a month ago. Toros looked at the image of his Blitz Team at the Royal Cup Award Ceremony. Their faces smiled and showed an excitement he remembered all too well. Toros stood, and looked down at his desk. "We're back, again. This time, we'll make it to the end of the beginning." Toros smirked, and then realized that it was nine o'clock in the morning. He cocked an eyebrow. "Hey, wait a minute?" He folded his arms across his chest and scanned the entire command deck of the Hover Cargo. "Where the heck is everyone?"