Zoids: Rebirth Century
By Darkened Storm
Summary: One year after Van defeated Hiltz and the Death Saurer, the people of planet Zi have experienced a moment's peace. But when Rudolph is the subject of an assassination attempt, the Guardian Force uncover a deadly plot to destroy both nations.
The Dark Kaiser, formerly known as Prozen, together with the Ancient Zodian, Hiltz, awakened the Zoid Eve and resurrected the Death Saurer.
Van, with the help of his once rival, Raven, attempted to put a stop to Hiltz's evil ambition, but they were no match for the power of the newly evolved Death Saurer.
In a last ditch effort, Van utilised the Gravity Canon to break through the Death Saurer's armour, destroying its Zoid Core.
Peace was restored once more, and the Guardian Force is disbanded. Many days and months pass.
Prologue
The sun had begun to set on a historic day in the Guylos Empire, as its Emperor, sixteen year old Rudolph Gerhard Zeppellin III gazed out of his bedroom window and down into the city below. Though he was young in years, they emperor was a wise and fair ruler. During his reign the Empire had experienced its longest period of peace and prosperity.
Since the defeat of the Deathsaurer, peace had once again been restored to the Empire and its sister state, the Helic Republic. The two nations were beginning to recuperate from a prolonged period of warfare. Across the continent, cities and towns had been rebuilt, farms had replanted crops, roads had been restored and people had gone on with their lives. Life on planet Zi had all but returned to normal.
It was hard to believe that less than a year ago, he entire continent had been in a state of dire emergency and the existence of both humans and zoids alike under threat from the combined power of the Death Stinger and the Deathsaurer.
The zoids had been the key factor in the timely restoration of both nations. Now able to call upon the power of the Zoid Eve, the zoids were once again able to achieve their true potential. All over the continent, amazing discoveries were being made of ancient zoids brought back to life by the power of the Zoid Eve.
It seemed that with the deaths of both Prozen and Hiltz, the zoids and the civilians of planet Zi would finally be free of the wars that had plagued the planet since the time of the Ancient Zoidians. Yet, as he gazed out at his city in the fading light, Rudolph feared that peace was about to come to a premature end.
Trouble was stirring within the Empire, Rudolph knew it was so. Though he was youthful, he was no stranger to the difficulties that faced a ruler. Since inheriting the throne at the tender age of ten, he'd been kidnapped, chased by bandits, held hostage and declared an imposter. Even after the war ended, Rudolph had found himself in numerous dangerous situations. On a planet so accustomed to war it was difficult for the ordinary people to adjust to peace.
Rudolph also knew that despite all he had fought for in the past ten years and all that he had achieved with President Camford of the Helic Republic, there would always be someone who opposed the harmony of the two nations.
Trouble itself had really begun early that morning on the fifth anniversary of the young emperor's coronation when a letter had arrived claiming Rudolph was an imposter and vowing to restore the rightful heir of the Guylos Empire to the throne.
Perhaps in his youthful ignorance, Rudolph would have dismissed the letter as a hoax – again, he wasn't a stranger to assassination attempts, his own regent had once hired a band of thugs to eliminate him. His most trusted advisor, however, wasn't keen on taking chances.
"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Homaleff said. "Perhaps it would be best to forego this year's celebrations, at least until we can ensure your safety."
Rudolph sighed heavily, watching as a eager young child dressed in festive clothing hurried down the street with his mother in tow. They were among the many Guylos citizens that had abandoned the work and rebuilding efforts to attend the celebrations.
"You know I can't do that, Homaleff," he said grimly.
The Prime Minister looked uneasy, but he knew that the Emperor would not be swayed. Rudolph's duties were far too important to him. With a resigned sigh, Homaleff rose from his seat. "I shall inform the palace officials that the celebrations will go ahead as planned, your Majesty," he said.
Rudolph nodded. "Thank you Homaleff." The door closed quietly behind the Prime Minister and Rudolph wondered for a moment whether he'd made the right decision. Being the ruler of a nation meant there was very little room for error and Rudolph could not afford to be too uncertain in any of his decisions. This time though, Rudolph was afraid.
He continued to stare out the window, hoping to find solace among the stars. The sky was very dark now, and the sun disappeared below the horizon. In the sky above him, Rudolph saw Zi's two moons. Almost everyone on the planet knew the story of Zi's moons, Rudolph's grandfather, the late Emperor, had told him the story when he was only a little boy.
Long ago, Zi had three moons. After the planet had been at war for many generations, the battle between the two nations came to a final showdown. In the midst of the battle however, the unthinkable occurred. A comet struck Zi's third moon and the many pieces of the shattered moon rained down on the planet, decimating the many armies and leaving the planet in a state of disarray.
The civilians of planet Zi had believed it to be a disaster caused by the Gods of Zi, who were displeased with the wars that raged throughout the planet. Whether or not such gods did exist, Rudolph could not be sure, but in his opinion the message was as clear as crystal – a prolonged war would do nothing for the people, but would bring about the destruction of both nations.
Rudolph sighed gravely once again and turned to face the officers gathered in his study. Two were his personal guards, Rosso and Viola. The third was Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz, the Chief of the First Panzer Division. All were trusted officers who had made many sacrifices for their Empire.
"Do you think there is any danger?" Rudolph asked quietly.
Rosso, was silent for a moment. "An audience might make it all that more appealing to an assassin," he said slowly. "This is a very risky decision you're making Rudolf."
"I know," Rudolph said solemnly, looking once again to the city below. More people had gathered for the celebrations. Briefly, he wondered if the person who'd sent the letter was inside the walls of the palace at this very moment and the thought chilled him to the bone. He knew, without Rosso telling him, that he was taking a very big risk.
"The loyal followers of the Prozen dynasty hereby vow to reclaim his throne." Rosso's companion, Viola, glared down at the letter in her hands, her expression sour. "The letter speaks in plural. This isn't just some sick individual that's out to get Rudolph, we could be dealing with a highly organised group of mercenaries."
"If you don't mind my asking, your Highness," Schubaltz began. "Who sent the letter?"
Viola checked the letter and shrugged her shoulders. "There was no name; it's just signed 'The Prozen Knights'."
Rudolph looked worried. The Prozen Knights had been an elite division of the Imperial Army during the time of the war and loyal only to Lord Prozen. After the defeat of the first Deathsaurer, Rudolph's council had dissolved the unit. If the Prozen Knights had returned, it could be for only one reason; to reclaim the throne of Guylos, even if it meant eliminating the current emperor – permanently.
Schubaltz seemed to sense his train of thought. "You have nothing to be afraid of Your Highness," he assured the young emperor. "My men are station at every entrance to the palace, if this assassin shows himself, we'll stop him, you have my word on that."
"I have complete faith in you and your men, Colonel Schubaltz," Rudolph said boldly. He knew he was in the best capable hands.
"Proud Citizens of the Empire, I now present His Royal Highness, Emperor Rudolph Gerhard Zeppelin III."
The entire city was gathered in the streets on Guygalos for the parade, which began inside the walls of the palace itself.
To be seen by all, Rudolph had to stand on the stairs that led to the upper floors of the palace. Rosso and Viola stood on either side of him, their senses on high alert. Viola held her hand over the gun holstered at her waist. Colonel Schubaltz and his men stood stationed on the lower level of the palace.
Not once throughout the entire ceremony did the Colonel relax. He'd travelled twelve hours from his regular post at the Empire's borders to the capital in his Zaber Fang. His muscles ached, and his eyes burned from lack of sleep, but he refused to lose focus – the Emperor's life could depend upon it.
Across the large entrance hall, his younger, and far less impressive brother, Lieutenant Thomas Richard Schubaltz was having a heated discussion with one of his other officers. The older Schubaltz sighed. Thomas had always been rather difficult to work with.
Focusing his bright green eyes upon the Emperor once more, Schubaltz turned his attention back to the ceremony. There would be time to address Thomas's inability to cooperate later, after Rudolph's speech, perhaps.
Before Rudolph could begin, however, there was a sudden stir near the doorway. A cloaked man was pushing his way through the crowd, a sleek forty-five calibre pistol in his hand. Two women shrieked, a man shouted and a child cried out as the man raised the gun and fired.
Rudolph had no more than a split second to process what was happening before he was thrown to the ground by Viola, the woman giving a loud cry as they crashed down onto the cold, marble steps of the palace.
Rosso reacted a moment later. The Chief of the Guards drew his gun, ready to fire at the assassin, but the crowd was out of control and in his line of fire. Confusion and fear served the assassin well and he disappeared into the crowd, re-emerging seconds later at the exit. Only a single child stood in his way.
"Thomas!" Schubaltz called out. Thomas was quick to act, racing across the entrance hall towards the child. The Colonel held his breath as the gun fired once more and his brother dived, knocking the child to the ground with a heavy grunt. The assassin raced past them and out into the palace grounds.
A fleeting glance in his brother's direction assured the older Schubaltz that Thomas was unharmed and he turned to command his men. "After him!" His men were quick to follow, dispersing themselves across the grounds. Only one remained with Schubaltz as he searched the grounds.
The many people, civilians and palace staff alike, made it difficult for Schubaltz to conduct his search and at first he feared the assassin had eluded them. Then a sudden movement caught his attention. "Hold it right there!" he commanded.
The assassin had no intention of being caught. With one final cry, he leaped from the high wall surrounding the palace and fell to his death. "Long live the Prozen Dynasty!"
The Colonel gritted his teeth and bowed his head. So much for that, he thought, dismayed. "Captain, recover the body," he ordered his subordinate. The blonde haired and sapphire eyed second in command nodded and hurried off. Schubaltz watched him go, and then turned to his men. "The rest of you, fan out and search the palace. This man was not working alone."
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Rudolph knew nothing of his assassin's death, or the mad search for his accomplices. In his mind, his only concern was the woman who'd thrown herself in the line of fire to save his life.
"Viola! Speak to me!" The woman's body was a dead weight upon him as he shook her, desperately trying to rouse her. Blood had begun to seep through her clothes from the wound and she breathed shallow breaths.
"Rudolph," she whispered, the effort required to speak evident through the strain on her face. "The old man was right after all," she chuckled. "It was too dangerous. I'm sorry." Regret was evident in her warm brown eyes for a brief moment before her eyelids fluttered shut and she lay still.
A single tear rolled down the Emperor's cheek as he cried out her name once more. "Viola!"
This is a redraft - I've changed the story line a little. Reviews would be nice
