Ch. 11
Two months went by and no one, anywhere on Zi had heard from or anything about the Judges, the leader was revealed to be a convict who escaped from prison, as were all the rest of the human members of the group. It was also revealed that most of the Zoids were sleepers stolen from the armies of Zi and reprogrammed to fight for them on order instead of sensor.
The Guysaks were modified after being found to look but not act or move like Stinger's Zoid. The remaining living members of the Judges were jailed for escape and many other charges that depended on the person's past. The four leaders were buried in pine boxes in unmarked graves outside Red River base's cemetery, which was only occupied by two marked graves, Major O'Connell and Captain Daniel Mark Novis.
Melody's dream wedding was planned and the dress and tuxes bought, Natalia was currently aiding the women into the dress while Joyce and Sarah did her hair and makeup, Melody was nervous and they all knew to keep their mouth shut. Michael was walking around the groom's room with his tux on and ready for anything.
"You nervous little brother?" Daniel asked using the nickname he had given Michael when they were younger.
"Not in the least, but how can I be, I'm getting married to the most beautiful and sweetest girl I know," Michael said with a smile.
"Okay, that means you can go through your vows with me, right?" Daniel asked watching the man's face turn white as snow.
"Oh hell, I knew I forgot something," Michael said as he went into a full panic mode, looking around the room.
"Don't worry little brother, you were always the better one at thinking on your feet," Daniel said chuckling before placing a hand on Michael's shoulder, "Look, when you get up there just pour your heart out, with all that mushy stuff you've been spouting the past couple days and you'll be fine," he said laughing.
After all the preparations were made, Michael left with Daniel who would be acting as best man, and Nichalo as a groomsman. They stood tall at the altar wearing black tuxedos laced with blue accents on the lapels and jacket buttons, and ties.
Moonbay was sitting in the audience crying 'my little boy is getting married' with Van and Fiona trying to comfort her, Clare was sitting alone on the pew of the church waiting for her husband and daughter to walk down the aisle, she hadn't even been allowed to see the dress that Melody picked out. The music started and Natalia walked out first and took her place at the top step in the Maid of Honor's spot. Joyce came in after and stood next to her, with Sarah standing on the lower step.
"She looks beautiful," Natalia mouthed to Daniel as they stood across from one another.
The wedding march began playing and the doors at the back of the church opened to reveal Melody with her long black hair flowing down to her shoulder blades, and wearing a white silk, strapless Princess silhouette that had simple and elegant design covering the entire dress and bodice. Michael's jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw her. Daniel simply smiled as his so called little brother collected himself. Melody smiled as her father Wolf gave her away, and kissed her on the cheek before heading to his seat next to Clare who had tears in her eyes.
"We are gathered here today to join Michael and Melody together in the bonds of holy matrimony, the couple has chosen to write their own vows, Melody will you start," the minister said politely.
"Michael, you and I have pretty much known each other our whole lives, though it took us nearly 23 years to realize what we meant to each other, but today I stand before you to become your wife because I love you and always will," Melody said keeping her vows short because she was choking on a knot forming in her throat.
"Melody, I'm going to be honest, I did forget to write my vows down, but they're up here," Michael said pointing at his head. "Melody, I knew that when we were kids I liked you more than the others, and in fact I told my mother that I loved you when I was six years old, and that feeling has been held in my heart since then, never going away but growing and filling my heart and mind, every time I look at you the first thing that comes to me was how beautiful you are, and how sweet you have always been," Michael paused to take a breath. "I have loved you since I was six years old, and that will never change," He finished taking both of Melody's hands in his. The minister took over after Michael nodded he was finished.
"Do you Melody Novis take Captain Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, good times and bad?" He asked.
"We've already been through all that and here we stand so yes, I do," Melody said getting a chuckle out of Michael and his wedding party.
"Do you Captain Michael; take Melody Novis to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, good times and bad?" The minister asked again.
"She beat me up after I was injured already, and here we stand so yes, I do," Michael said making Melody turn beet red. They slipped the rings on each other's fingers while the minister waited.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Novis," The minister said before everyone in the chapel burst out laughing. As the couple walked back down the aisle, the Organoids stood on either side of the aisle growling congratulations as they walked between them.
At the reception hall, Daniel and Nichalo put on a sword fight as their wedding gift, Joyce and Natalia got them something useful.
The dances started with the father daughter dance, where Melody and Wolf did a waltz they had been practicing, then Michael and Melody shared their first dance as a married couple doing the foxtrot. Every one joined in on the dancing then, Joyce and Nichalo shared their first dance as a married couple, they got married two weeks before and were just coming back from their honeymoon when Melody and Michael set the date for their wedding. Wolf and Clare seemed to enjoy watching the newly married couples dancing around the floor.
"Wolf let's have a go shall we," Clare said getting up with Wolf following close behind.
The couple danced to their hearts content before noticing that they were being watched by all. Melody noticed that Moonbay was sitting alone watching the different people dance.
"Michael, go dance with your mother, she needs the company," Melody said leaving the floor.
"Alright," Michael said walking towards his mother.
"Mom, care to dance with me?" Michael asked holding out a hand. Moonbay just shook her head and got up and ran out the door. Michael ran right behind her, with Sarah close behind them.
"MOONBAY!" the brown haired grey eyed man screamed as he tried to catch up to her. Moonbay stopped cold, hearing Irvine's voice call her not Michael's.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Michael asked catching up to her, not realizing he was the picture of his father at that moment.
"I still miss him so much," Moonbay said breaking down in his arms.
Sarah caught up to them, before Michael waved her off telling her to let Melody know what was going on. An hour later they were all back in the reception hall and enjoying the party and having fun until the newlyweds had to leave for their honeymoon. They spent two weeks on a resort island in the sun.
When they reported back to base Nichalo and Joyce had gotten their promotions to heads of their departments, Nichalo in Zoid repair and Joyce in testing and research. Nothing had changed at all, and the pair went back on duty with the only change in their uniforms being the wedding bands on their hands.
Ten years passed before Melody and Michael along with Natalia and Daniel retired from the Guardian Force as Majors, Wolf, Clare and the others welcomed them back to the Wind Colony. A year after that Nichalo and Joyce retired as well and rejoined the family at the Wind Colony.
Samantha Novis finally moved away from the Fire Colony to the Wind Colony. Two years after retiring Melody and Michael had identical black hair and grey eyed twins named, Moonbay and Clare after their mothers. Daniel and Natalia had a son named Irvine, a few months later Nichalo and Joyce had a girl they named Fiona after Joyce's mother.