Ch. 10
A month went by and no one heard anything at all out of the Judges, and no major threats or attacks had the people of Red River, and all the other bases along the border, bored stiff. Daniel, Michael, and Nichalo had gone back to their poker game with a few other men on base. Natalia made it a point to give the rest of the girls the poker nights off so they could have their girl's night in. During duty hours Michael got used to his Lightning Siax, Joyce granted him full access to the testing grounds as so that he could really train, Daniel helped with on the fly adjustments and minor repairs, and Nichalo did the bigger repairs. Melody joined them when she could after helping Natalia run the base.
"You know boys, always trying to beat each other," Natalia said as the Psycho Genosaurer, bright blue Great Zaber, and Lightning Siax flew around the test courses.
"Yeah, and somehow they still don't seem fast enough to get passed the Konig Wolf's times from when my father set them," Melody said with a chuckle as Joyce and Natalia burst out in laughter.
Out of nowhere a black blur shot past all three Zoids, moving faster than the recorders could move.
"Guess that means dad came for a visit," the blue eyed woman said seeing the three other Zoids stop cold in their tracks as they tried to stay on their feet.
They were not at all surprised by the fact it was the Supersonic Wolf standing on the finish line of the testing circuit, what they were shocked at was that Wolf had a passenger in the cockpit.
"Mom, what are you two doing here," Melody asked hugging her father after they got to the hanger.
"We need to talk to Herman and Emperor Rudolph about a few things, they should be here any minute now," Clare said staring at her daughter and her fiancé, and the rest of the kids who called them aunt and uncle.
"Well I'm the base commander here and I'm Captain Natalia Herman, what is it you want with me?" the blonde haired woman asked as they walked to a briefing room.
"Oh, are you taking advantage of your father's position or are you doing it his way?" Clare asked before noticing Daniel and Wolf both trying to stop her.
"Ma'am, I only use my father's position to get new Zoids for my pilots, nothing else," Natalia said with a slightly impatient tone.
"Captain, President Herman and his escort have arrived," an officer said through the radio.
"Let them in, and send them to hanger four, the others are full right now," Natalia said before ducking out to see her father and mother.
"Lieutenant Flyheight, Emperor Rudolph has signaled in and would like your presence as well as Lieutenant Novis at the landing site," the officer finished through the radio.
A few minutes later Melody and Daniel were standing in the area where the Imperial Whale King would be landing at any moment.
"Do you have any idea what this whole thing is all about Daniel?" Melody asked as the Whale King came into view.
"Nope, and you wouldn't be asking if you did, so let's go find out," Daniel said as the Whale King landed about two hundred feet away from them. They walked aboard the Whale King and found the Emperor and Marian about to disembark from the vessel.
"What is this all about Your Highness?" Melody asked as they all walked down the ramp of the Whale King.
"I'm here for a promotions ceremony, though I'm not sure of who's," Rudolph said with a chuckle, Marian gave him a dirty look that said 'not another word'.
"I think we've been had Daniel," Melody said noticing the look Marian was giving Rudolph.
"Yup, me too," Daniel said with a chuckle as they continued on to the new Emperor's suite.
After leaving the Emperor and his wife Daniel and Melody discussed just who would be getting promoted among them.
"Daniel, I don't know about you but I honestly think Michael is up for promotion, you and I probably are too," Melody said as they walked the halls of the base.
"Lieutenants Michael, Melody Novis, Daniel and Joyce Flyheight report to briefing room two on the double," Natalia's voice came through the intercom system.
Melody and Daniel leaped into a dead run and met up with Nichalo, Michael and Joyce on the way. They all ran the halls as fast as their feet would carry them, and got to the briefing room within two minutes of being called.
"We have bad news for all of you," Rob Herman said looking to Michael longer than anyone else.
"Michael, your sister Sarah and Moonbay were kidnapped two days ago, Reese and Raven are on their way, but they couldn't keep up with my Wolf so I came on ahead," Wolf said as he stood with his guard up.
None of them had any idea what Michael would do, act on impulse like his father or think things through like his mother.
Melody broke down and cried into his chest, while Nichalo and Joyce held each other. Daniel stood in a shocked state of mind, while Wolf and Clare seemed to hold each other at a distance, watching for any reaction at all out of Michael.
"Let's go, I want every detail on the move," Michael said with an unusually deep voice, while walking out the door. Melody and Nichalo followed him closely, with Daniel and Joyce right behind them.
"What do we do Michael?" Daniel asked as they entered the hanger.
"Call up Tiffany Schubaltz remind her who we are and get them in on the hunt, see if we can't get some of the other bases on the lookout," Michael said jumping into the Lightning Siax's cockpit.
"Okay, Mystic fuse to the Blade Liger," Melody said closing her canopy.
*Can't, I'm already in the Supersonic with the others,* Mystic responded from her place on the core of the one of a kind Konig.
"Everybody mobilize," Michael said as he left the hanger in a dead run.
"Daniel the entire base has orders to mobilize, I'll be on your six in three minutes," Natalia said through the video link.
"Alright, I don't know what's going to happen over at Dragon Head but they are definitely sending five Zoids to help out," Daniel responded.
They spent two days hunting, Joyce and Nichalo hunting on their own, Wolf doing the same in the Konig.
"All teams come in," Wolf said through a military only frequency.
"This is Michael, what's happening sir," Michael responded on the same frequency.
"You and Melody get as many teams as you can together, and get to my location as fast as possible," Wolf said as he sent his location through the private link.
Twenty minutes later Michael, Melody, Joyce, Daniel, and Nichalo arrived with twenty other Zoids from both the Empire and the Republic including Natalia's flame red Shield Liger, Herman's blue Shield Liger and the Royal Zaber Fang. Two other familiar Zoids stood with them, a blue and white Blade Liger as well as a black and red Zaber Fang with a Gatling unit and missile launchers.
"Karl it's good to see you back on the field, when did you arrive?" Wolf asked as ten more Zoids showed up.
"Sorry Wolf, this isn't the time for pleasantries we have work to do," Karl L. Schubaltz replied as he walked his Zoid next to the Konig.
"Who is in the Blade Liger over there?" Daniel asked noticing just how much it looked like his father's.
"No need to worry about that now, we have bigger problems, we have thirty plus Zoids here, there are nearly twice that down there, what's the plan?" Natalia asked not knowing who was commanding the troops anymore.
"We send the best we have, Karl, Wolf, Clare, and Captain Herman, sorry Mr. President but your safety comes over your fighting skills this time," Michael said as he walked his Lighting Siax to the front line.
"Okay, what do you want us to do exactly," Karl asked as he and the others opened the canopy on their Zoids.
For ten minutes they discussed his plan, dash and run with the two Blade Ligers taking as many as they could, using the sonic waves from the Konig and Lightning Siax to knock a few out, Karl would take out as many as he could from a distance. When they all got back into their cockpits Melody climbed into a Zaber Fang that had been remote piloted to their location.
"Alright so…" Melody stopped when she saw four very familiar Zoids, three of which she knew were destroyed. Two white Great Zabers and two black Konig Wolves.
"Who are those four?" someone who sounded awfully familiar to all of them asked.
"They lead that squad of Zoids there," Melody responded without caring who had asked.
"Time to act, all Zoids move out," Michael said before powering the Lightning Siax down the cliff closely followed by those who were requested to follow him.
In less than five minutes they had all sixty Zoids wiped out, Blades and sonic booms being the main weapons of the fall. The only Zoids left standing were the four leading Zoids, and they were standing ready for a fight.
"You need to let my sister and my mother go before I slice you all to bits," Michael said through the speakers.
"We let them go when you're all dead," The Judges voice rang out.
"The black and blue Blade Liger and the dark blue Zaber Fang, that's who we want to fight," the voice of a new man rang out.
"And just who the hell are you?" Melody asked as she joined her fiancé on the newly formed Zoid grave yard.
"I am the new Jury, the other white Zaber is the new Boss, that leaves the Konig for the new Executioner," Jury said through the speakers of his Great Zaber.
"You swear to meet us in the dessert in one week and we will let them both go here and now," the Judge said as his Zoid motioned to someone. Two men walking behind a pair of hand tied women; Moonbay and Sarah were in perfect health and walking on their own.
"I'll meet you," Melody said as she stepped up in the Zaber Fang she currently piloted. The Novis Special Zaber Fang took two steps forward and joined the other.
"I'll meet you there, now let my friend's mother and sister leave as promised," Joyce said pointing the Gatling unit towards the two men behind Moonbay and Sarah.
Republican and Imperial Zoid alike arrived back at Red River base thirty minutes after picking up Moonbay and Sarah.
"It's good to see you big brother, thank you for rescuing us," Sarah shouted as she ran to her brother after jumping out of the cockpit of an Imperial Zoid.
"Great to see you in one piece sis," Michael said laughing as she jumped into his arms.
Moonbay, Wolf, Clare, Rob Herman, Karl Schubaltz, and one person who everyone was shocked to see except for Daniel, Van Flyheight watched on.
"Okay, we have everyone here, let's find out just how the heck my father is standing over there," Daniel said trying and failing to sound surprised.
"My boy, your father was undercover as the Executioner of the Judges for almost ten years," Rob Herman said as he walked towards Van, who was currently wrapped in a hug by Joyce.
"What about the body we put in the ground," Clare asked as they walked out of the hanger.
"A mannequin, dressed and weighted to look and feel like me," Van replied two steps behind them.
They spent the first day of the week talking about a plan of action, and just which of the pilots would actually be in the Zoids.
"You aren't putting anyone but me in that cockpit," Melody screamed as they sat around the briefing room table.
"Same goes for me, we have fought these guys before and we know most of their abilities, and nearly all of their weak points as well," Joyce followed up.
"That's enough you two, be quiet and listen, we can't afford to lose both of you in a senseless fight with four idiots who by the way I learned a few tricks from," Van said placing a hand on Joyce's shoulder.
"Van is right, and I understand that you two want this fight but you will have back up, Captain Schubaltz at Dragon Head has approved the Iron Kong unit they sent to help in the search as back up for you," Rudolph said crossing his arms across his chest.
"The Judges are only four Zoids strong and they have a sense of fair play, it'll be one on one to the end of the fight, and I have a feeling that none of those new pilots are as good as the old ones," Daniel said as he leaned back in his chair.
"Daniel, you and Michael will be the main back up, right there on the field with them," Natalia said from her place behind her father.
"No, I want to be the main back up, I know Joyce is Daniel's sister but I have the bigger gun and I love her," Nichalo finally spoke up, "And since Michael will be backing his fiancé it seems appropriate that I should back mine."
No one in the room was surprised except for Reese who had heard nothing of the engagement.
"Alright, the black and blue Blade Liger and the Novis Special Zaber Fang will go to the front line with Melody and Joyce and the controls, and the Psycho Genosaurer and the Lightning Siax following behind them," Natalia said before anyone could stop her.
"The rest of the main troops will spread out and surround the area at a distance of one mile," Rob said getting a yes sir from all of them in return.
The next four days moved like molasses for the team, they finished all the repairs and modifications they could in two days, and were enjoying a little time off before the big show down.
"Michael, if we come out of this in one piece let's get married by the end of this month," Melody said quietly lying on Michael's chest.
"Why wait till after, we have that promotions board tomorrow and the Emperor will be here and the president too so why not let them do the ceremony so we're hitched in both nations?" Michael said chuckling at Melody's face lighting up.
"Look I know you really don't want to wait, but Daniel and Natalia are planning to do the same thing though," Melody said as she propped herself on her elbow avoiding Michael's still broken arm.
"Daniel and Natalia are doing it because they won't be seeing each other for a month after this thing since Daniel is going on guard duty for the Emperor while Rosso and Viola deal with the birth of their child," Michael argued.
"You know I'm superstitious about the past repeating itself and all that, I'm just not willing to lose you that way okay," Melody said rolling her body to face away from him.
"Okay, WHEN we come back we'll plan your dream wedding and hold it whenever you want," Michael whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.
The next day, Michael, Melody and Daniel were promoted to captain with Nichalo and Joyce. The wedding part of the ceremony went without the slightest hiccup and Natalia Herman Captain of Red River base became Natalia Flyheight Captain of Red River base. Just after the celebrations ended Michael, Melody, Nichalo and Joyce flew out of the hanger as 50 Imperial and Republican Zoids and pilots were being loaded on to a Whale King. When the four arrived at the specified locations there was nothing but sand waiting for them.
"We aren't early are we?" Joyce asked with confusion evident in her voice.
"Maybe they didn't remember to show up," Michael smirked.
"We showed up, we just wanted to take care of your back up forces first, we got all of them but five it would seem, a Blade Liger, a Konig Wolf, and a few others," The Judge's voice rang out as the two Konigs and two Great Zabers appeared over a dune.
"We asked for just the Blade Liger, and the Zaber Fang," Jury spoke with anger in his tone.
"We are just here to make sure that this fight remains fair, we won't engage if you don't," Michael stated coldly.
One of the Konig Wolves took a step forward, and it pawed at the ground a couple times.
"I want the Blade Liger," The Executioner's voice rang through the speakers of his Zoid.
"Then you shall have me," Melody said quickly bounding towards the Zoid. The blades went down to the Liger's sides and quickly sliced the Konig neatly in half just below the cockpit.
"Never underestimate her when she's angry," Nichalo laughed from the cockpit of the Psycho Genosaurer.
"He never has been overly bright," The Boss said from his cockpit. Next up was the Judge himself, his Konig pawed the ground the same way the Executioner had.
"Now I will finish you," The Judge said.
The same strategy that worked before still worked, every time the Judge was about to move the right front paw moved, Melody used this to fight off every attack he launched against her, including batting a bullet out of the air with the tail blades.
"You've improved your skill young lady, I've never seen a move like that," The Judge said commenting on the shot knocked out of the air.
"Well you're still the same, attack first, ask questions later," Melody said dodging another attack.
The Konig leaped into the air and the Blade Liger ducked under the front paws, but Melody didn't react in time to jump the Blade Liger before the back two paws of the Konig landed square on the booster pack sending it flying forward.
"MELODY!" Michael screamed as he resisted every nerve in his body telling him to run to the downed Blade Liger, his Siax began to tear at the ground under its feet, but never moved from its place.
"Who's next?" The Judge asked before noticing the Blade Liger standing up behind him.
"Now that was just mean," Melody's voice came through the radios. A video link popped up on every single Zoids screen, her face was the same but her eyes had turned to the same stone grey as her mothers. "You finish with me before you go after anyone else," she said as she launched the Blade Liger forward with the blades down, and energized.
"That won't work," The Judge said as he jumped over the blades, Melody swung the tail and caught the left rear leg with the tail blades of her Zoid.
"You thought that might work, oh well," Melody said in a sarcastic tone as the Konig Wolf slowly turned around showing a heavily damaged leg.
No words were spoken from any Zoids as this battle raged on. The two pilots were matching each other blow for blow and dealing very heavy damage to the other.
"Now for my partner, POLARIS!" Melody screamed as a white beam of light entered the Zoid changing it to the white and pale blue paint scheme.
"That Organoid won't…" The Judge started before the Blade Liger simply vanished from in front of him.
The Blade Liger came from above the blade slicing from just behind the cockpit, cutting the Zoid core in half before exiting the body and cutting the back two legs off at the knee joints as it ran away from the Konig.
"Umm, Melody what just happened there," Joyce asked and she watched the Konig simply fell to the ground in pieces.
"The fun part is about to begin," Melody responded in a cold as ice tone as the two Great Zabers approached her. "Stay out of this you three," the black haired woman warned them all.
The two Great Zabers walked around the Blade Liger, its head turning to follow each one of them.
"Melody you need to move now," Michael said calmly as he could muster.
"Not yet babe, not yet," Melody muttered just before throwing the Blade Liger sideways and ramming the blade on the left side through the Great Zaber's core and then giving chase to the other.
The Blade Liger seemed to vanish and reappear right before their eyes. It was now standing in front of the Zaber and took it apart piece by piece with its teeth and claws as Melody laughed like a madwoman from the pilot's seat.
"The Judges are down, be on the lookout for any enemy forces," Nichalo shouted as the four Zoids stood back to back waiting for anything to happen.
"Now," was heard in a weak mutter from the Boss's Zoid, and out of nowhere twenty Rev Raptors and twenty Stinger Special Guysaks were coming out of the ground surrounding them.
"Where do they get these things, I mean come on," Nichalo complained as he charged the main weapon of his Zoid. "Everybody duck," he shouted as he launched the Zoid into the air and wiped out half the forces in a single blast with the Charged Particle Gun.
"Polaris and I will handle the rest," Melody said icily as she powered through every last standing Zoid with her blades. "What do you think of me now ass holes?" Melody asked as she stopped the Blade Liger with no Zoid left standing but her own team.