Chapter 12: Fearless Nights
Thomas stood up and walked over to the closed window. He pulled back a curtain slightly to get a view of the main bay and part of the entrance. There were guards and night shift mechanics working on the area. He sighed and turned to Naomi.
"Naomi, we took an oath to help these persons. Why all of a sudden would you want to abandon them? I just don't understand your motive."
Thomas had a robe that was partially unbuttoned and revealed his chest. Naomi walked over to him and ran her hand through his aqua colored hair while placing the other on his chest.
"Thomas, I love you and I can't stand the possibility of losing you." Without letting another second slip, she brought him down towards her face and placed her lips on his. The moment was paradise for both and led to an unforgettable night.
Enzo was outside the storage hangar contemplating the Zoids. He took out a device that looked like a piece of thin glass and tapped it to bring up information. Upon a couple of continuous taps he raised the device towards his head where it almost magically transformed and attached itself on his ear. A couple of seconds went by and he began speaking.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Enzo looked away from the bay and walked towards a wall. "I just called to tell you that it's not too late yet, you can still join us." Enzo listened some more.
"You know I won't beg or force you to come, I just don't want something bad to happen. If you change your mind, you know where to reach me."
Enzo placed his hand on his ear and the device detached and transformed back in the thin glass which he then placed in his blazer's pocket.
"Was that who I think it was, Enzo, err, I mean colonel Cloud?" Rio asked as she walked up to the man who was now in charge.
Enzo smiled and placed his hand on Rio's shoulder. "Rio, you don't have to think of me any different. I am still your cousin and your friend. If it's just us or we're amongst friends, just act as usual." He let go and took a sigh. "To answer your question; yes, it was her who I just called. I didn't reveal any info, just asked her to renounce her choice of a career."
Rio patted Enzo on the chest where the heart is. "It's this that makes you the person you are, your heart is always looking out for everyone else except its host."
Enzo walked away and leaner on the rail guard. Below him numerous personnel worked on retrieving Zoids from their individual storage unit. If they were ready they would be placed on the ground rail and sent over to the main bay. If they weren't, they would be sent to the service bay.
"Rio, you know me more than I know myself. I still feel something for her and I know it will take more than time to forget."
Rio shook her head and walked to his side. "Well, now is not the time, Enzo. You must lead the charge tomorrow and you haven't gotten any rest."
Enzo nodded and both left towards their individual chambers. As Rio walked inside the small, confined room and closed the door, she immediately jumped on the twin size bed with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Why can't I tell you the truth, Enzo? I am tired of hiding behind this character that only seems to bury me deeper and deeper into my torment." She stood up and wiped her tears. As the young beauty made her way towards the small bathroom, she passed a family portrait that hanged on the wall with a smaller picture on the corner. The main portrait had Leon and Naomi Toros with a very young Rio. The smaller one had Jack Sisco on it.
Base 4s, Houston, Texas Outskirts
A knock on the door stole Rusa's attention and she quickly hid something in her pocket. The door opened and Jade came in.
"Sorry, I know it's late but I don't feel like going to sleep yet. I have a gut feeling something will happen." The younger Sisco said. Polta motioned for her to sit next to her.
"You know, just being here always gives me a bad feeling. Overall, you two are here for the pay, nothing wrong with that. I'm here on a personal vendetta against the ZBC." The girl's eyes were filled with determination and anger.
"I understand your cause Polta; I just don't see how Altail will succeed. Resources back on Zi are depleted. We're only surviving thanks to BDG allies."
Rusa stood up and walked across the small room towards a mirror where she began styling her hair. She could see Jade reflected on the mirror.
"You want to go out with me tonight, Jade?" She asked the gloomier girl.
"I don't know, Polta. What if Jake finds out?"
Polta finished her hair and turned around. "He's already ahead of us, Jade. Sometimes I feel your brother is too overprotective of his sister. I know your father and mother want him to protect you, but at the same time, you're almost twenty-three. I think you should think for yourself and not let Jake think for you."
Rusa walked towards her dresser and began taking clothes out. "So what's it going to be, Jade?"
An hour later, both girls were driving a small vehicle out of the warehouse in which the base was located. This base was also buried underground and thus the warehouse was just a secret entrance. The city was big and had a lot of places to go at night. Within forty-five minutes, they were already at the downtown area.
Jade's black hair glistened with a purple hue as the street lights gleamed down on it, but it was Rusa's aqua hair that attracted more attention. Yet, she didn't mind. She had seen other girls, other local girls, with red and blue hair even if wasn't natural. They found a parking space and got out. Jade was nervous.
"What if someone discovers us?" She whispered to Rusa as the other joined her side.
"What, that we pilot giant machines capable of destroying their city in less than ten minutes? I doubt they would believe us."
Rusa made a good point, sarcastic, but a good point overall. Jade took a deep breath and both girls began their night tour.
Dawn, 0600hrs Moon Valley ZBC Facility
An alarm went off and captains began ordering men to their Zoids.
"Are we under attack?!" Naomi sat up on the medical bed and began getting dressed as so did Thomas. In the hallway, doctors and nurses ran. The two pilots came out casually and headed to the main desk. To their misfortune it was empty. They then walked out the center and watched in awe as Zoid after Zoid marched through the main bay.
"I see you're feeling better Thomas." Both turned and saw Enzo dressed in military uniform as well as Rio.
"I don't understand what's going on?" Thomas asked returning his attention to the Zoids. Ligers, Lightning Saixs, Gun Snipers, Red Horns, Elephanders, gojulas, the list went on and on.
"Your Zoids are waiting for you." Thomas and Naomi again were in surprise. "Right this way."
They walked down the catwalk in silence, only the sound of the rail or metal clashing sounded. They reached a storage unit on the side of the wall where engineers were finishing final status checks on two Zoids.
"The König Wolf is yours. You and I will head the attack against the biggest base the BDG has. Let us move out, a Great Whale King awaits us to board."
Thomas didn't have time to say anything to Naomi for she herself was led by Rio to another place on the base.
"Naomi, you and I will attack another base." Said the major as their Zoids came around. Both blue and red Ligers came around and both girls climbed in.
"Once we board the transport, I will brief you on our mission. Do not worry, you may not have completed your training completely yet but you are not alone. Remember, this is for everyone not just us or the ZBC."
Naomi sighed and did her best to summon courage.
"Stoller, you will be my apprentice from now on and will only take orders from me unless I say otherwise. On the battlefield, you will attack when told and retreat when told. I don't want any of that heroism you showed last time, am I clear?"
"Crystal, sir!" Thomas was excited but Naomi still lingered in his mind.
The König wolf was a completely different experience starting from the controls. For the most part the driving controls were the same, but a few extra handles and switches were new to Thomas. He didn't feel lost, but he knew he had more power now with this Zoid and more responsibility.
He noticed a pair of Vulcan Cannons mounted on the back similar to those his old Saix had as well as Smoke Dischargers and a smaller Electromagnetic Net Cannon on its tail. The legs were equipped with leg anchors and the armor had been reinforced and a Heavy Duty Cooling System was also used that included several Heat Release Vents as well as Liquid Cooling for the Zoid. A Dual Impact Cannon had also been added on the undercarriage of the Zoid. However, the main attraction for the offense was the pair of Alloy Scythes that along with a powerful Ion Charger mounted behind the Vulcan Cannons were designed to cut through thick armor when fully energized. To maximize speed, the two Gar Dischargers on the back were upgraded to boosters capable of short second burst enabling advance evasion and maneuverability.
"The König Wolf is a type of Zoid that can be customized to your liking. I had everything from cooling systems to the alloy scythes installed." Enzo turned to face Thomas with a straight face. "No more second chances, Stoller. This will be your last opportunity to show me that you really have your father's bloodline. I don't expect wonders of either of you just yet, but I do expect the use of logic and battle strategy as well as courage and team work. I will ask you this before anything else. Are you willing to carry on with this mission?"
Houston, Texas. 0500hrs
"Well, it's time to head home. I think we had a blast tonight, don't you agree Jade?" Polta said as they walked out of the club. She took a sip of water and turned to her friend.
"Polta, I just got a message from Jake." She handed over her communicator to Polta who read it while taking another sip of water.
"Don't worry, you're with me. Jake is probably just worried as expected. Come on, it's late, or actually early, and we need to head back to the base. Altail said he would have a very nice surprise this afternoon for us." She said without reading the message.
They got into the car and left without noticing another car behind them. As they reached the hangar, which to anyone appeared like an abandoned warehouse, Polta noticed the headlights behind them.
"Stay here, Jade." She said as she climbed out the car.
"Hey precious," Said the driver as he exit the car. "I thought you weren't from around this part of town. My friend and I noticed you and your cute friend and wanted to show you two ladies around." A bearded man that wore a black cowboy hat with matching shirt and jeans began nearing her as another came out from the passenger door. His boots making a loud tapping sound as he walked.
Rusa leaned on the trunk and crossed her arms with a wide grin spread across her face.
"I see you're smiling, missy. I'm going to show you what a real man can do."
Just as the man launched towards her, a loud growl came from inside the warehouse making the man freeze in his attempt.
The doors slid open and out walked The Shadow Fox.
"I'll tell you what, if you can beat my Zoid, which is that amazing machine standing there, we'll go with you, deal?"
The man looked at Rusa and then back at the Fox. He relaxed a little bit and smiled.
"Well, nice little holographic display or whatever it is, at the end of the day it's fake."
Rusa smiled and placed her hand in her pockets. "If you say so, come get me then." Again the man launched at her but this time a loud blast forced him to jump for cover.
As he struggled up, he saw his car blown to bits and his friend running away. Rusa grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him up to her.
"I'm actually glad someone saw my Shadow Fox; now run back and cry to your petty government. Tell them to prepare because the Backdraft Group is here."