Ch. 10
Van had disappeared from behind him and was replaced with his fiancé.
"What, I asked that this not be reported," Wolf shouted in a disbelieving tone.
"I told them because they needed to know what kind of advantage they could have with you and those Organoids, if I hadn't told them every simulation they came up with would end with this team losing, we really don't want to do that against a loony like Vailen," Clare said trying to remain calm.
"Clare you should have told me then I wouldn't have looked like an idiot back there," Wolf said with largely faked anger to hide his truly feeling nothing towards the situation.
"If had warned you, you would have backed out of having the Organoids help, we need them and you damn well know it," Clare shouted back.
"Do you honestly think I can't handle this thing on my own skill, with help from just Blaze?" the blue eyed man asked in a quieter tone.
"No, I don't think you can," the blue haired girl said looking to the floor before continuing, "Wolf you can't do this alone, you need a team to help you just like last time and I want to be on that team to help you," she added, flinching when she saw the emptiness in Wolf's eyes.
"Clare I can't have you out there against this thing. Raven is taking Daniel's place in the old team, you and anyone else out there would get in the way, Fiona won't even be going out there, Clare there is a reason for that, us guys can't think straight when you're in the line of fire," the black haired man said trying and failing to hug his future wife who was stepping away from him.
"You don't think I can handle this fight do you?" Clare asked tears forming in her stone grey eyes.
"Clare, I honestly believe that given the opportunity, you could take out the Deathsaurer without help, but this is our fight, we are the people this guy is after, not you and the other girls," Wolf said finally backing Clare against the corridor wall and pinning her there using his arms.
"Wolf, do you still want me to go to the Fire Colony?" the blue haired girl asked on the verge of crying.
"Yes, but you can stay here, as long as you promise me to stay out of your Blade Liger," the blue eyed man said with a half smile he knew would work.
"I promise, I love you to much not to," Clare said burying her face in Wolf's chest.
"I love you to Clare," Wolf said wrapping his arms around her.
"Wolf we just got word from a scouting team that Vailen's Zaber Fang was just spotted heading for a canyon close to the base, at his current speed he'll get to that canyon in three days, what do you want to do?" Van asked ignoring the glare Wolf was giving him.
"We can't get there fast enough in this hulk, we need to find neutral ground, have this thing moved to the closest open desert area, and try to put a minimal amount of villages and towns between us and it as possible," Wolf said not letting go of Clare.
"I know the perfect place," Van said with a smirk as he turned back to the control center.
"Now my darling bride to be, would you mind helping me with some modifications to the Konig Wolf?" Wolf asked as he started down the hall.
"Sure, I've got nothing better to do right now," Clare said back to her cheerful self.
It took the Ultrasaures three days to get to Van's so called perfect spot.
"Here we are folks the Gurreal Plateau," Van said as Moonbay brought the Ultrasaures to a stop.
"It'll only take the Death Tiger a short time, two days at most to get here, let's get ready," Herman ordered sending everyone flying around doing their assigned jobs.
Van, Irvine and Raven ended up in the hanger with their wives helping them with the Zoids. The Konig Wolf started high step trotting around the hanger and not one of them could stop themselves from laughing. Wolf's laughter was heard from outside the Zoid, making everyone stop and watch the Zoid more carefully.
"Wolf, it feels fine you won't need to do anymore," Clare's voice rang out from the speakers. Everyone Raven included hit the floor in disbelief.
"Wolf, you're letting her pilot your Zoid, you never let anyone do that, not even Daniel was…" Van stopped himself when he saw his friend's eyes drop to the floor, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring him up."
"It's not your fault, you're right he wasn't allowed to pilot my Zoid, I knew damn well if he did it would get torn up in a heartbeat," Wolf said with a slight chuckle.
"And your reason for not letting me or Irvine pilot it would be what?" Van asked as the Konig returned to its designated spot.
"I'll let you know," Wolf said laughing at the face Van made.
"Wolf come on man, why her?" Van asked as Wolf walked away noticing the cockpit was open and Clare was waiting for the same answer.
"Because I love her, I don't even like you and Irvine," Wolf said with a chuckle as Clare literally fell out of the cockpit laughing, straight into Wolf's arms.
"A gift from above," Raven yelled from across the hanger causing everyone to laugh.
"A well appreciated one," Wolf yelled back before Clare kissed him.
Two days later the group had assembled on the edge of the plateau facing the direction the new Death Tiger would be coming from. They had been in their Zoids for nearly two hours.
"Think he'll ever get here?" Van asked from the Blade Liger's cockpit.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon, until then quit complaining," Irvine said, reclined in the seat of the Lightning Siax.
"Both of you shut up, I can't even think of why I'm out here," Thomas said from his Dibison.
"You're here because you were a part of the original team, now all of you shut up I can see him, he's at the edge of my range," Wolf said firing two shots at the approaching Death Tiger. His shots missed but only by an inch or two.
"My, my, someone can't wait to die," Vailen said as he stopped the Death Tiger hearing the shots hit the ground near his Zoids feet.
"No just trying to stop you, it's our job you know," Van said sarcastically.
"FIRE!" Herman screamed through the radio, as the Gravity Cannon let loose its shell.
"Oh you've brought an old toy to the party," Vailen said as he prepared to move.
"Keep him pinned," Van shouted as everyone opened fire with anything they had. The shell activated and created a gravity well over everything stopping just short of the Konig Wolf's snout.
"Let's hope that works," Wolf said aloud while mentally calling the four Organoids. 'I have a feeling this isn't gonna work, Mystic, Aurora, Blaze, and Tyrant fuse as soon as possible,' Wolf thought.
He felt the power increase and the controls tighten in his grip again, but he also saw the sights sharpen and all kinds of reading he had never seen before. The seat leaned back a bit and two sight scopes moved in front of his eyes that had the same readings as the main screen as well as an outside view of the Zoid.
"What is all this, and where the devil did it come from?" Wolf asked with wonder clear in his voice.
*Its all part of this Zoid. This Konig Wolf is one of a kind, it was purpose built to hold four Organoids at once, and all of this equipment has been here all along, but only Mystic can access the read outs, Aurora the physical changes, Tyrant and I control speed and strength,* Blaze said as the gravity well dissipated.
"Everyone clear out for a minute, I wanna see this thing in action," Wolf said as he braced himself.
Wolf had no idea of the full physical changes on the exterior of the Zoid and he didn't care, but Van still told him about it.
"Wolf that thing looks pretty sweet; the goggles seem to form fit the head, the shoulders are more rounded and seem longer across the top, the rifles seemed to drop into the body but the barrels are still showing just above the head, what is that thing called?" Van asked as he practically bounced in his seat like a kid in a candy store.
*It is still called a Konig Wolf, the nickname it earned was the Supersonic Wolf,* Blaze responded using the radio.
"Oh goody something new to play with," Vailen said feigning joy.
"We'll see who plays with who Vailen," Wolf said as he pushed the controls forward and was pinned to his seat harder then he expected his eyes shining red once again as his anger gave him the focus he needed. His body got used to the speed rather quickly and was able to pilot the new version of his Konig with ease.
"Alright let's go teach this fool a lesson," Wolf muttered as they charged forward.
"Oh it's a fast new toy, but all the more fun for me," the blonde man said genuinely surprised.
Van and the others stayed where they were and fired when they were sure they could hit the new Death Tiger and not Wolf.
"Wolf where are you? We can't see you anymore," Van said as he searched the field.
"I'm under him, watch out he's charging the CPC," Wolf said rather calmly.
He fired two shots at the neck of the Zoid hoping to see some result. The head of the Zoid jerked upwards forcing it to fire at a slight elevation just long enough for the others to move out of the way.
"Alright, you get out from under there," Vailen yelled as the Death Tiger kicked the Konig out from under it.
"Come now Vailen, you should know better then to kick a wolf when it's down," Van said flashing by taking out the same leg that had kicked Wolf out from under it.
"Hey the shield is down and the Gravity Cannon is loaded, get out of there now," Herman screamed through their radios.
"Alright we're moving out," Van and Irvine said as Thomas and Raven covered their escape.
"Wolf, come on man, that thing can't survive a gravity cannon blast." Irvine yelled as he got to safety.
"Your right, but it can out run it pretty easy, the Organoids will warn me when to go till then I'm just keeping him from moving," Wolf said jumping on the Death Tiger's back and taking out the Charged Particle Converter out with the electron strike claws.
"FIRE!" Herman screamed again as Schubaltz once again pulled the trigger to the Gravity Cannon.
*Wolf get out now, the shell will hit in ten seconds,* Mystic said.
"Gone baby," Wolf said as he punched the controls to wide open, pinning him to his seat again.
*You'll need the boosters* Aurora said.
"Activate them Blaze," Wolf said as he got used to the speed again.
The boosters activated sending the Zoid well beyond the speed of sound once again earning the nickname Supersonic Wolf. The four Organoids wrapped around the core seemed to be having absolutely no trouble with keeping this amount of power coursing through the Konig Wolf for such a long time. 'These four really were meant to be a team, this thing is almost perfect,' Wolf thought as they flew towards their friends.
*What is wrong with this Zoid?* Aurora asked almost offended at Wolf's thoughts.
"Just seems to want to pull left is all," Wolf said, two seconds later the pull he felt was no longer there. "Perfect," he muttered with a smirk as they arrived back at the cliffs. The gravity well once again formed and stopped just short of the Zoids.
"We've got him this time," Van said as they regrouped.
"I don't think so man, this would almost be too easy compared to the last time," Irvine said hands planted firmly around the controls of his Lightning Siax.
"We're about to find out so be on your guard, I took out the converter on its back so all he's got is missiles," Wolf said as he readied to continue the fight, his anger fading but the focus it gave him remaining as his eyes turned back to blue.
'What the hell, no not now! It's too soon!' Wolf thought as he felt the anger leave him
"That's twice you've shot that thing at me, I think that's enough," Vailen said firing a volley of missiles at the gravity cannon hitting it dead on and damaging the generator.
"Wolf he's all yours, the Gravity Cannon is dead, the generators gone," Herman said as he ran a hand through his high spiked hair.
"We'll handle him sir," Van and Wolf said at the same time.
"Alright Raven there is a big ass hole in his back, I don't know exactly how far down it goes but I want you to shoot it with all your Breaker can give it, Irvine you and I are going to chase him this way, Van, Thomas give Raven every bit of cover he needs to get a clear shot," Wolf said as the Konig leapt into an full gallop, praying his focus would last longer than his anger did.
"Yes sir," came from every radio making him smirk. The Lightning Siax and the Konig Wolf flew passed the Death Tiger and then turned and pushed the blood red Zoid towards the cliffs where Raven, Thomas and Van were hiding.
"Van, give me a couple of guiding shots," Wolf said he saw two shots go straight up into the air. He fired two shots to turn the Death Tiger towards the shots.
"What are you boys thinking?" Vailen asked as he fired another volley of missiles in the direction of Van and the others, none of which did any harm thanks to the shield upgrades.
"Irvine, get out of here, I'll push him the rest of the way," Wolf said as he watched Irvine turn hard left away from the Death Tiger.
The Konig was starting to literally nip at the heels of the Death Tiger as they ran along the desert ground towards the plateau.
"Raven is locked on charged and ready," Thomas said as he shot off a couple of steering shots.
"Guys this is too easy he's falling into a trap not even Thomas is dumb enough to," Wolf said ignoring Thomas's protests.
*He is not that bright, he knows well how to fight, but strategy isn't something he knows,* Tyrant came through the com link.
"Wolf I've got a lock on him, get out of there," Raven said as he let the Charged Particle Beam loose. Wolf turned the Konig towards the Ultrasaures to get out of the way. The shot hit the hole created by the destruction of the converter, it tore the armor off the back completely, and it also took the back legs off at the joints. But it missed the Zoid Core.
"I'm still alive, Wolf that's three times you've failed to kill me," Vailen said as the Death Tiger tried to drag its body back away from the cliffs.
"You may be alive now, but you won't be for very long," Wolf said over a video link showing his eyes had turned back to their ordinary blue. "Goodbye Vailen, say hello to your brother in hell for us," Wolf's icy tone made Vailen flinch. Wolf fired two rounds straight at the cockpit completely destroying the head of the Death Tiger.
"Raven, I think you've got a clear shot at the core, make damn sure this thing never comes back," Van said as Wolf headed back for the Ultrasaures.
"You guys go too, this isn't going to be pretty," Raven said as he moved into position.
"Yeah, Irvine, Thomas, move out," Van said turning the Blade Liger and started off.
"A battle well fought, too bad it was against a loony son of a gun like Vailen," Irvine said as he followed Thomas and Van to the Ultrasaures.
"Raven all friendly Zoids are loaded onto the Ultrasaures, fire at will," Herman said as Van, Irvine and Thomas walked onto the control deck. Wolf was in the hanger admiring the look of his Konig Wolf before he had the Organoids disengage.
"Alright Blaze, Disengage the Organoids," Wolf said with a calm tone, seeing four colored flashes leave his Zoid impressed him. "You've all done well, find somewhere and rest for now, we can talk later," Wolf said with a more commanding tone that left no room for negotiation
Raven fired his CPC at the Zoid Core point blank, putting the shield up just before what was left of the Core and Death Tiger exploded in his face.
"Alright, that ends that for good," Raven said as he jumped out of the cockpit back in the hanger of the Ultrasaures.
"UNCLE WOLF!" screamed an overjoyed Daniel as he ran over Raven's foot. Raven ignored the fact that his foot was sore when he saw Reese running towards him. Clare showed up to see Wolf carrying Daniel with him.
"I'm sorry he got away from us," Fiona said as she took Daniel from him.
"It's all good, he is my nephew after all," Wolf said with a smile that after a long time went all the way to his eyes. Clare jumped into his arms taking the place of little Daniel.
"You can carry me instead," Clare said with a cheeky grin from one ear to the other.
"Nah, I think I'll carry my wife like that," Wolf said setting a pouting Clare back on her feet, "We better get to the command deck," the black haired man added as he and Clare started heading that way.
"I think the Organoids wanna stay here," Van said looking back to see all of them either curled up on the floor asleep or talking to each other.
"That's fine my four were ordered to rest," Wolf said stepping into the elevator, followed by everyone else.
"I think we'll both get promoted for this one Van," Irvine said jokingly in the elevator.
"Why, we didn't do hardly anything Wolf will probably get promoted again though," Van fake complained, sending everyone into a fit of laughter including Van.
"Yeah I join after, and get promoted before you, that would suck for you guys," Wolf said sniggering at the faces Van and Irvine made at that comment. They arrived on the command deck to basically interrupt a celebration.
"Alright folks lets go home," Moonbay said as she took the controls from the person who was sitting there.
"Yeah, I'm tired and could use a bit of rest," Wolf said with a yawn.
"Captain I want you to report to the medical bay for a checking over, you may have messed yourself up with all that speed," Herman ordered.
"Yes Sir," Wolf said with a salute before turning and leaving with Clare practically holding him up.
Twenty minutes and a check up later that turned up negative for anything bad, Wolf and Clare got to their quarters, ones that neither of them had seen in the five days they had been on board the Ultrasaures.
"Wolf, I want you to know Daniel would be proud of you, defeating the same enemy twice and living to tell about it and all," Clare said while getting ready for bed in the small bathroom the quarters came with.
"Well, I'm here I won't say I'm living though," Wolf said as he laid down.
"You better be living we still have to get married," Clare said looking at the engagement ring that had replaced the platinum one Wolf had originally given her, she exited the bathroom still looking at the ring. She looked up and saw a sleeping Wolf lying on the bed.
"Man he really was tired," Clare whispered to no one at all. She climbed into the bed and fell asleep using his chest as a pillow.