A/N: CHAPTER FOUR! Cue actual fighting! [And I would also like to thank Jay and Pointytilly for your reviews! :) ]
Chapter Four
Shots echoed through the canyons as Irvine blasted the Gordos to the ground. Now, he was just left with three Hell Cats. Irvine skillfully ran up to one and jumped over it, shooting it as the Saix sailed through the air. As the Hell Cat went down, Irvine landed his zoid on the ground and sharply turned to allow the Saix to shoot at the other two Hell Cats. Both zoids got hit, one in the leg, the other in the side, and they instantly turned away as if to run.
"You're not getting away that easily, my little kitties," Irvine smirked as he aimed and fired again. This time, his blast took out the Hell Cat's other good leg, and the one that had been shot in the side when sliding towards the edge of the cliff.
"Irvine!" Moonbay shouted, and Irvine aimed at the edge of the cliff. His firing forced the zoid to be hit again, but at least it didn't go over the edge. Irvine let out a sigh of relief as he checked the stats of the Saix. It had been injured from when Irvine had temporarily lost control, but that was the only damage it had received. Irvine turned to Moonbay.
"Do you think you can fix up the Lightning Saix's damage?"
Moonbay tossed her hair over her shoulder and winked.
"Piece of cake."
Irvine opened up the cockpit, and Moonbay swung herself over the side to the ground below. Walking to the side of the Saix, she opened up the control center and started playing with the wires. Irvine watched her for a bit before coming up beside her. They stood there in silence while Moonbay tampered with the controls, rewiring some of the circuits. Finally she finished and closed up the electrical compartment. Turning to face Irvine, she grinned.
"There, it's all fi-"
She was cut off as Irvine pushed her against the leg of the zoid and kissed her on the lips. They were practically on the verge of making out when Irvine pulled apart and gazed into her eyes.
"I…I like you. I guess a part of me always had, but I never realized it until now. I really like you Moonbay, and I don't want to lose you to anyone or anything again. I…I know that you deserve better than me. You deserve someone like McMann who can provide you with all the wealth and love your heart desires. I can't offer you much except for myself. I know it's not enough and that you deserve better but I hope that maybe…one day…if you would want to, that is…w-we could –"
Irvine was cut off as Moonbay kissed him, sending a surge of heat through his body. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her back and held her close to him as he gingerly licked her lips asking for entrance. As Moonbay French-kissed him, the zoid seemed to roll its would-be eyes as it turned, and began to head for Dragon Head without them.
When they finally broke apart, Moonbay suddenly slapped Irvine leaving a bright red mark on his face.
"Now if you ever go that sappy that it's almost depressing on me again, I'll kill you," Moonbay laughed. "You know I'm not one for the sappy romance, and you are wrong about one thing, Irvine. You do deserve me…there isn't a single man on this planet that I would rather be with than you. I like you a lot too, Irvine."
Irvine gazed into her eyes and immediately felt guilty. "B-but I don't have money or wealth or power or anything to offer you like McMann did."
"Dumbass," Moonbay grinned as she kissed him. "I don't want any of that stuff. All I want is you."
Irvine and Moonbay arrived back at the base in time to see a Pterras land on the base.
"Who's that? It has a Republican insignia on it," Irvine noted.
"Perhaps reinforcements?" Moonbay suggested.
After they had expressed their feelings for one another by Dragon Head, Moonbay had explained to Irvine about how Dragon Head was just a decoy. He hadn't been as mad as she thought he would be, instead he had proceeded to kiss her further, which caused the Lightning Saix to speed up faster than it usually ran. After a few control malfunctions, they had finally arrived back at the Red River Base.
"Nah, it's definitely not reinforcements. They wouldn't be called in unless Herman had definite evidence that we were under attack, which the base clearly is not. It must be somebody new."
"Somebody new?" Moonbay asked as she wondered what that meant.
As they entered the base, they parked the Lightning Saix in a hanger, and began making their way to the main rooms when a voice called out, "Trespassers! State your name and rank if you have any!"
They both turned around and saw a man wearing the Republican major uniform. He had black hair with grey highlights and deep brown eyes. He was a little taller than Irvine with a strong built to him, which gave off an aura of intimidation.
As he grew close to them, he commanded, "I gave you an order, soldier, what is your name and rank?"
Realizing he was talking to him, Irvine spoke up, "The name's Irvine, and this here is Moonbay. We aren't part of your precious army, but were asked by Major Rob Herman to come here and help defend this base from any oncoming attacks. Who the hell are you?"
"Watch your mouth, boy. My name is Major Harry Dramen, and you should learn to respect and obey your superiors."
"Hey, who you calling 'boy'?" Irvine shouted as he lunged forward, but Moonbay held him back as Dramen glared.
"You mercenaries have no respect for the law. You are worse than the dirt on which I stand."
"Excuse me, major," Moonbay said sweetly as she stepped forward. "My name is Moonbay. Irvine and I are good friends of the heroes Van and Fiona Flyheight. We helped destroy the Death Saurer. We happen to be personal friends and allies of Major Herman, so how about showing us some respect?"
Dramen's glare turned to her, but he roughly spun on his heels and began walking away before muttering, "Herman's losing his force of command if he chooses to associate with mercenaries and transporters."
When Dramen had vanished, Irvine kicked the ground sharply. "Damn that guy, who does he think he is? He has no right to speak to my girlfriend that way."
Moonbay blushed profusely at this. "You…you want me to be your girlfriend?"
Irvine blushed as his eyes met hers. Rubbing the back of his neck, he stuttered, "I-if you would w-want to be, that is."
Moonbay beamed at him before jumping at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders and giggling like crazy.
"I wouldn't mind being your girlfriend, Irvine. Now, I don't mind that you are poorer than poor, but you have to be able to provide me with lots of love and attention and shit, okay?"
Irvine smirked at his Moonbay before smiling and stroking her face with his hand. They had decided not to be all lovey-dovey in front of others, for their new-found relationship would remain secretive for now…except to the eyes of Dr. Dee who knew everything.
"I'd like to be your boyfriend, and I suppose that won't be a problem."
"Good, now then we should probably go tell Herman about the stray zoids we saw. They didn't have any pilots, but it doesn't mean somebody didn't send them out after us. I wonder why they were so weak, though."
"Maybe they were just a diversion," Irvine shrugged. "Anyway, let's go tell Herman."
O'Connell watched Irvine and Moonbay from atop a ledge in the hanger with a smile. He despised Dramen, and agreed with Herman. That guy was nothing but trouble. It was nice to see though that Moonbay and Irvine seemed to be a lot closer now, for some reason. Maybe their trip to wherever they had gone had made them realize their feelings for one another. O'Connell had always suspected that the two had a thing for one another, but he never knew if anything would actually blossom out of it.
O'Connell sighed. He sometimes wondered what it would be like to be in love. He had never loved anyone before besides his family. He certainly respected many, but when it came to love, O'Connell was blinder than any. He was a soldier, and soldiers were trained to fight and protect, not love and be weak. But wasn't love stronger than any evil?
Suddenly the captain felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see a beaming Dr. Dee looking down at the young couple below them.
"Ah, young love. There isn't a thing I know about better…well except for my knowledge of the ancient Zoidians and how to create snow."
"Dr. Dee? Have you ever been in love?" O'Connell asked.
Dr. Dee took on a faint smile as he sighed and nodded. "Yes lad, I have been before. There was once this woman who was so beautiful I felt my heart melt every time I thought about her or was near her."
Taking an interest, O'Connell turned to fully face the doctor. "Whatever happened with this woman?"
"She was of a different rank than I. She had her destiny to follow, as I had mine. I suppose the hands of fate didn't want to intertwine my life with hers then. She was truly the one who got away." Dr. Dee looked down at Moonbay who had blushed at something Irvine had said to her as she smacked him. Smiling faintly, the doctor remembered what it was like to be in love.
"Is she still among the living, doc?"
"Hey now, captain, I'm not that old. She stands as we speak the head of a brilliant nation in the making, and her son is a brilliant fighter and soldier. A good man he turned out to be."
"What about her husband?" O'Connell inquired.
"He died in battle defending the Republican cause, and from that moment on she vowed against ever loving again. It is very easy to fall in love, captain, but it is harder when you have to see the one you love perish."
There was a moment of silence before O'Connell whispered, "You should try talking to her about it, doc. Let her know how you feel about her and that if she ever needs somebody to talk to, you will be there for her."
"I have, O'Connell, I have. But she's too afraid of falling in love and getting hurt again," the doctor sighed before he looked up into the captain's eyes with a look of determination and pride in his eyes. "But I will not let her escape me again, captain. I will keep trying to win her heart, no matter how many times she turns me away. For that is what true love is, O'Connell. It's when even after you know you have lost the one you love, you still want to win them back, and you keep trying. She could tell me she hates me and never wants to speak to me again, but as much as it would hurt, I would still go after her. I know I can be a good match for her, and I would provide her with love, humor, romance, and friendship. And I intend to keep trying to prove this to her until she realizes that I am right, and agrees to go on a long-awaited date with me."
O'Connell softened as he let that sweet smile of his take over his face. He had never heard the doctor speak so kindly or passionately about anyone or anything that didn't involve ancient ruins or Zoidian history. It was nice knowing that he still had some human sanity left in him.
Suddenly Dr. Dee laughed loudly and turned as he began almost skipping away.
"You'll find love too, O'Connell, just you wait!"
O'Connell looked down at where Moonbay had shyly taken Irvine's hand in hers, but still held that I'm-the-queen-of-the-world smirk on her face as the two left the hanger.
Maybe the doc's right. Maybe I will find love some day.
Major Dramen stormed into Rob's office, not even bothering to knock.
"Hello, Herman."
"Dramen," Rob saluted as he kept his voice level. "What brings you to Red River?"
"It reached my attention that you are expecting an attack on this base, and have therefore called in both Imperial and Republican forces," Dramen began as he traced the edge of the chair sitting across from Herman's desk with a finger. "I find it odd that a man as reputed as yourself for having such strong forces here at Red River should seek the help of the Empire."
"I did not 'seek the Empire's help' as you put it, major. I just feel that whoever attacks this base will be stronger than anyone these men have fought in a long time, so if we had the extra men on hand, then it would be beneficial. Besides, since the Guardian Force was established, there is a treaty between the Republic and the Empire –"
"I am quite aware of the treaty, Major Herman. However, I do not think you called in the Empire's forces because you need the extra manpower, but because you as well as your men have slackened off. This base has grown weak under your command, Major Herman, and I have come here to remove you of your command should you be wrong about this attack."
"Oh really? And what makes you so sure that I would just surrender my command of this base to you if I am wrong, major?"
Dramen smirked as he dropped a file onto the desk. "In those papers, you will find I have received full authority to take command of this base from our superiors."
'No doubt by blackmail or threats,' Rob thought to himself as he looked through the file before looking sharply up at his counterpart. "You don't have the Madame President's signature on here."
"Regrettably, you are correct. I still require her signature."
"Well without her signature, this piece of paper means nothing, Dramen. If you get her signature, then come bother me," Rob said harshly as he stood from his desk and walked over to the door which he pulled open with such force that the hinges nearly snapped.
Dramen glared, but didn't let his annoyance disturb his path to victory. "I will get her signature, Major Herman – not even her son can keep her from signing something that should be able to grant me full authority of this base." When he reached the door, Dramen turned to face the major. "Oh, and one more thing…Captain O'Connell is under your command, is he not?"
Rob stiffened at the name. "Yes he is. O'Connell is one of my best soldiers for whom I have great respect for."
Dramen's lip curled as he looked Rob in the eye.
"I would hate to see such a fine soldier demoted back to 'officer' under my command, should he be proven guilty."
"Guilty of what?" Rob asked.
"Consorting with the enemy, Robert. If you don't fully agree with the goals of the Republic and you should be proven to lack what it takes to continue to lead this base, then your top officers will be taken under my wing and demoted to nothing more than a slave's level. Remember that when an attack to this base does not arrive and you lose all respect, rank, and authority." And with that, Dramen left the office, nose upturned.
A/N: Don't forget to please review!