Episode 4 – Something Not Quite Right Here

"Shattered Dream!" A voice echoed quietly.

"Shattered Dream!" It was steadily getting louder. "Shattered Dream, wake up!"

"Wha…? " Milo said, barley able to remember his name. The memories floated, lost inside his head, blurry and deformed. His thoughts were scattered and jumbled up, he could barely think. There was a throbbing pain, similar to a head ache, but somewhere in his neck. He couldn't quite pinpoint where, but then again, his brain was barely capable of doing anything at the moment.

"Shattered dream, you have to wake up!" The voice repeated. Milo's mind was beginning to piece itself back together again, but just barely. But, he now could tell that it was a female voice. Milo tried to open his eyes, only to shut them again instantly, due to the harsh, bright sunlight.

"Open your eyes, Shattered Dream" The voice said a little softer. Milo didn't know who Shattered Dream was, unless she was actually referring to him. But, that certainly wasn't his name.

Finally, he opened his eyes, letting the sting of the harsh sunlight dissipate until he got used to it. What he saw was unexpected, and strange. He recognized what it was, and yet he couldn't figure out what it was called. It was purple, with a rather boxy looking head. Long front teeth that were glittering silver in color matched its claws. Most of it's body was pink, with spots of purple and silver details. Light reflected off of orange glass placed on its head.

" What's the matter with you?" It asked. Milo didn't reply. He racked his brain for the answer as to what this thing was, and why it was ever so familiar. Why did a sense of what he knew was sadness, set in when he looked at it?

"Well? Are you going to say something" It prodded.

Milo tried to find the words to reply to her, but he once again found his mind blank. Then, in a rush, things came back to him. It was a Zoid. Of course it is a Zoid. A Shield Liger, to be exact. It's armor was purple, while its body was pink with silver details. The claws and teeth were silver, while the Canopy was orange. It looked expectantly at him.

"Did something happen during shipment or are you just defective, Shattered Dream?" The Shield Liger insulted.

"Shattered Dream?" Milo repeated, confused.

He hauled himself to his feet, but something felt very wrong. It was new. The very movement was unfamiliar, like it was the first time he had moved in this way, or as if the body did not belong to him. But he knew that this wasn't the first time, and how could it not belong to him? His brain worked furiously for the answer, but nothing came. Milo wanted to ignore it, but he knew that it was to important and serious to ignore.

"Hmmmm….." Obviously in deep thought, she moved closer. "They did say that you were used, so you probably were called something different"

"Huh?" Milo was now even more confused.

It just then occurred to him to take a look at what he was. He couldn't remember what form he took, but he was near the size of the Shield Liger, which meant he could only be one thing. Milo craned his neck to take a look at his back. Boosters, two of them. He examined his paws. Nice, beautiful golden colored claws. He looked at the leg armor. Black, with red outlines. Then, he studied the large glass window wall beside him. The reflection was blurry and hard to focus on, but the shape he recognized. It was a Liger Zero. No, he was a Liger Zero, with gold claws and teeth, green eyes, and black armor with red outlines.

Funny, this doesn't seem right. There is definitely something odd going on. Well, no matter, I'm sure it will come back to me some time.Milo thought to himself.

"So, Shattered Dream is my name" Milo, now named Shattered Dream, confirmed to himself.

"That's right. Welcome to your new home. My name is Princess, the Shield Liger" Princess said proudly, standing up a bit straighter, puffing out her chest.

With that, she turned around, and started trotted away gracefully, but then stopped. "Be careful not to move around the humans too much. They are just so oblivious to things, you know? Just thought I'd tell you that, since you seem a little…confused. For now though, rest. I think you really need it"

Shattered Dream watched her go, wondering what to do next. He was in a repair room, judging from all the welding arms and other repair units. Princess had gone next door, to the Hangar. But, Shattered Dream couldn't see any other Zoids from the glimpse he could get. Is she the only one?

Finally, after becoming familiar with his surroundings, Shattered Dream decided that he would take Princess's advice, and rest for a while. He would find out who his new owner or owners were later. He closed his eyes, and drifted off into stand-by mode.