Several weeks had passed without anymore sudden accidents occurring.
Blayze continued to ride Fluffy through each state. When he needed to stop he would think about needing to go off to the side a bit before doing so. Caltan appreciated this as he took the cues. He still was trying to figure out how Blayze was doing this but it would leave his mind just as quick.
Michael was trying to perfect his new mask and was getting closer and closer each time.
Eugene was getting his fill from the color television in the rec room.
Dell and Rein worked day after day trying to build, test, fix, rework and finalize new inventions that would help them on this earth. Sometimes solo but most of the time they worked together, each throwing ideas out to the other. Several new sentries were built, each one different than the others. New mediguns and needle guns now filled the work room. Each needle gun made for the different dangers that was described to them that roamed this earth.
The four men inside the massive APC looked up simultaneously even though most were not near each other, and started heading down to the first level. Once the 'Dune King' came to a full stop, Dell reached up to hit the button to lower the ramp.
"You might want to wait for me on this one guys." Caltan said as he was coming down the stairs.
The guys took a step back waiting for Caltan to lead the way, then following him down the ramp.
Eugene's eyes grew huge in size when he saw a pale skinned female run, open armed towards the Fury Beetle.
"FLUFFY!" She screamed out happily.
He watched in surprise as the creature's arms wrapped around the woman as if it was actually hugging her.
"I missed you so much!" She said, hugging the massive creature then looked up. "Umm... Hello..." She looked back down to the many eyes of the Fury Beetle before saying to it, "You have a friend... Of course... You've been around Caltan too long, haven't you? Now you're picking up strangers from the side of the road."
Blayze slowly dismounted, taking off his mask to get a better look at the girl before him. White pale skin, long black hair, pale green eyes and sharp fangs. She wore black jeans, a green and black poncho and black sandals. "Hi..." He said softly, smiling at the fondness she showed towards Fluffy.
She finally pulled away from Fluffy, turning fully towards the man. "Hi... Umm... Thanks for helping to bring back my baby. Don't know how you did it but thanks."
"You're welcome... He likes me so it was pretty easy." He said, his smile growing bigger before holding out his hand. "Name's Blayze."
She couldn't help but smile back, shaking the hand presented. "Zoe... Zoe Nocturn." For some reason she already liked this newcomer. She turned back to Fluffy, putting on her mad face. "Never, Ever, Ever run away again... That was bad. Bad Fluffy." She scolded him, waving her finger at the creature with her other hand on her hip as if she was getting onto a small child. "Momma was very worried about you."
Fluffy lowered his head, emitting noises that sounded like whimpering then reaching out for her but not touching her.
Zoe sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Aww... I can't stay mad at you... I know... I know you're sorry." She stepped closer once again hugging Fluffy one more time, feeling the arms wrap around her again. "You missed Momma too..." After a few moments she stepped away, smiling towards Blayze then looked over at the ever familiar APC. She saw Caltan standing in front of four more strangers. "Brother!" She hollered then ran to embrace him in a quick hug then stepped back. "Hope he didn't give you too much trouble."
"Trouble? When has he not been trouble?"
She moved her hand as if waving off the question. "Well... He's a growing boy and loves to play but anyway... Thank you... Look like you're doin' your usual... New faces... Pick 'em up on the side of the road?"
"Actually, almost ran over them in the Changing Lands... What the hell have you been doing?" He asked, looking around the town.
She laughed as she looked around. "Black paint... The base is green." pointing it out to him.
"Ahh... Still having a pissing contest with them? What are you gonna do now? Have a paintball war?"
Her eyes grew wide, shining as the light bulb went on in her head. "Ohh! Great idea! The kids could use sling shots!" She cried out happily. "Be right back!" She ran over, standing not even a foot away from the border of the base and hollered out, "General Winters!"
A man started walking through the base adorned in the familiar black armor of the General, stopping on his side of the border. "What do you want Nocturn?" he asked, his expression showing he was not amused of her calling him out.
"I have a great idea!" She exclaimed happily. "A paintball battle! The kids can use sling shots... I'd prefer them not handling guns anytime soon... or ever if I could help it."
"So... Wait... You're wanting us to engage in a non lethal battle against you and your town?" The General asked, confusion riddled his features.
"Well... Yeah..." She answered back with a shrug of her shoulders.
General Winters thought about the idea for a moment then threw his own shoulders into a similar shrug. "Well, it would give my guys some target practice... What the hell... Sure, why not..."
Zoe hopped up and down, squealing with delight. She was about to run off before a thought popped into her head. "Oh! What time? When?"
Thinking about it for a moment the General answered. "Tomorrow at noon."
Scrunching her nose, she then sighed, "You would have to pick the hottest time of the day... When the sun is it's highest, huh?"
"Would you rather we wait till dark?" He asked sarcastically.
She laughed aloud. "There would be more targets for the both of us."
"And more dangerous..."
"Yeah... True... Oh what colors are we using?"
The General shook his head at her hyperness, never growing use to how she could always be so pleasant towards him when he knew for a fact that she hated the Coalition then looked around. "We'll use green..."
"Okay! We can use... umm... I would say red but we don't have any... Not enough anyway... Can't use black because of your armor... So... White... White will work!"
"Okay... Tomorrow at noon. White and green." He listed back, still shaking his head in wonder.
"It's a date!" Zoe exclaimed excitedly before turning to run back.
"Zoe!" The General hollered out, getting her attention quickly.
She ran back, still smiling. "Yeah?"
"What's going on over there?" He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
She turned around to where the man was looking then turned back. "Oh! My brother just showed up!"
"Which one?" He asked, his voice taking on a serious, gravely tone. "It's not the older one, is it?"
"Oh no... My youngest brother. He brought back Fluffy for me." She told him cheerfully.
About that time, they heard an explosion within town. A yellow plume cloud rising into the air.
"What the hell?"
"Umm... I'll see you tomorrow!" She called out as she ran towards the center of Crusado Haven. She stopped right in front of Caltan, looking around. Everything was covered in yellow. "Yellow?" She asked, her nose twitching. "What the hell, Calt-" She looked up, seeing his eyes then groaned. "Cal... What did you do?"
"It's paint! And mustard and -"
"No! No Cal! My town, remember?"
"But..."
"NO!"
"Ahh Merde!"
Zoe quickly turned around seeing the five newcomers also covered in yellow.
"You might want to move." She heard Cal say and quickly listened, planting herself in front of the mercenaries. A wet sound hitting the ground where she had just moved from. "Who said that?" She asked the men, her hands on her hips.
Four out of the five turned to look at Michael, his eyebrow raised in slight confusion.
"Do you see these kids around here?"
He looked around, smirking. "Oui... I see all ze yellow brats."
Zoe's pale eyes narrowed dangerously, her lips pulling back to expose her fangs. "Don't ever say that again around these kids." She practically growled.
Eugene quickly moved to hide behind the other three men, shaking like a leaf.
"What? You can understand me?" Michael asked, mouth slightly hanging open in surprise.
"The F-word in any language is bad... Don't let me hear it again... Got it? You can zut alors or Mon Dieu all you want... And I better not ever hear you call me or anyone else around here a chienne or a chatte."
Michael nodded quickly, his eyes huge. "My apologies, Madame." He offered with a bow once he got his bearings back.
"Merci Monsieur... Vous êtes pardonné." She responded, granting him with a slight bow of her head.
Spy couldn't help but smile. "Merci beaucoup."
Rein chuckled softly, shaking his head at Michael. "Schweinehund."
Zoe's head turned towards Medic, causing the man to tense up slightly when he saw the grin form on her lips. She moved away from Spy towards Medic until she was standing before him. "Er sieht nicht aus wie ein Schweinehund, Dummkopf."
Rein's mouth fell open then quickly closed it back. "Tut mir Leid." He said softly, lowering his head.
Zoe smiled, placing a sharp nail under his chin to lift it back up. "It's alright... Now... Who's gonna give the introductions?" She asked as she lowered her hand, looking around at everyone. "How about... You..." She said, pointing at Eugene. "Come here young man."
"Uh uh... You're gonna bite me!"
"What? Why would I want to bite you?" She asked, scrunching up her nose in disgust. "You most likely taste awful."
"Cause... You're a va-vampire..."
Zoe laughed, shaking her head. "Oh no, no, no... I'm no vampire... I kill them, yes but I'm not one myself... I only look like one... Now, come out from behind your friends and please introduce yourself and them."
Eugene suddenly felt calm and collected, an almost warm fuzziness inside. He stepped around the other men to come stand beside her. "My name is Eugene... My Dad, Michael and then there's Dell, Rein and Blayze." He said, pointing to each member of the team.
"Very nice to meet you all. My name is Zoe Nocturn and I'd like to welcome you to Crusado Haven."
"Haven? Is zhis a protected town?" Rein asked curiously.
"Actually, yes. I protect this town from vampire attacks and the Coalition when they start acting up but it's become more of a game with them." She shrugged then smiled. "Speaking of..." She turned around to stand up on a platform. "Attention Everyone!"
All heads turned her way, some of the townspeople moving in closer.
"Tomorrow at noon we are to battle the Coalition!" She happily announced.
Cheers rang through the small town, men raising their guns in the air as the newcomers looked at each other in confusion. Cal himself was cheering with them.
Zoe looked at the guns as different emotions came barreling at her. Her eyes widened. "No, no, no... Not that kind of battle. We will be having a paintball battle. Kids, you can use your slingshots, men and ladies, paint ball guns, slingshots or catapults... We need all the white paint you can find!"
Disappointed groans from the men were heard as relief poured off the others. Zoe smiled as she then turned back to Cal and the newcomers. "Will you help us?"
Eugene and Blayze were quick to agree and Cal nodded once then ran into the APC. She stepped down from the platform and made her way to the other men. "How about you three?"
Dell smiled, tipping his hard hat. "Sure thing, Ma'am."
Rein looked at Blayze, who seemed overly excited, then turned back towards her. "You can count on me."
"Excellent!" She cheered then asked Michael, "Voulez-vous aider?"
Smiling, he nodded. "But of course... You can count on my assistance as well."