Ch. 11: The Return of Zeta
It's been 4 weeks since the U.S. IS base was attacked. The base has been fully repaired, Zero and the gang returned to the academy.
IS Academy Class 2-1: 3:30 p.m.
Class is over and Zero is staring out the window and looking at the clouds. "He's been like that since we've been back." Ichika said. "You're his former teammate, any ideas?" Laura asks Alkaid. "Not a clue." Alkaid says. Rin walks over to Zero. "Is it about the others that were in Zeta?" Rin asks. "Yeah." Zero says without looking at her.
"We'll get them back." Ichika said. Zero looks over and sees the gang around him. "They're friends of yours so they're friends of ours too." Houki said. "We'll help anyway we can." Cecilia said. "Yeah." Charlotte said. "I'll be happy to assist." Laura said.
"It would be great to have Zeta back." Shana said. "They're old friends of ours and I can't stand it that Omega is going to use them against us." Alkaid said. "And I'll be here to help you with anything." Rin says with confidence. Zero looks at everyone. "Everyone, thank you." Zero said. Everyone smiles. "Now let's go and get some training in." Ichika said. "Yeah." Zero said and the gang leaves.
IS Academy Arena 3 – 4:20 p.m.
Zero and the gang are training, Brittany showed up after her classes were done and are training with them. After 40 minutes of training, Zero calls it. "Alright everyone, let's call it." Zero says as he flies down to the floor. The others join him.
"Why are you calling it early?" Alkaid asks. "We should save our strength in case if there's another attack." Zero says. "Good point." Laura says as she retreats her unit. Everyone else does too. As they start to walk back to the locker room, a blast hits the arena floor and sends out a shockwave. Ichika and the others are blown away while Zero, Alkaid and Shana are still standing.
"Zero…. must kill….. Zero." A male voice said as a black figure appears in the dust cloud. Zero and Alkaid eyes widen. "That's voice is." Alkaid said. "Edge's voice." Zero said and Edge appears as the cloud disappears. Ichika and the others see a brown haired guy in a IS that looks just like Ichika's. "Who's that?" Houki asks. "It's Edge!" Brittany says with shock.
Edge's unit has the same look as Ichika's Byakushiki but with the shoulder guards down and longer and the wings are similar to a Raphael-Revives its color is all dark brown. Zero notices a visor over Edge's eyes. "Alkaid, you see the visor?" Zero asks as he keeps his eyes on Edge. "Yeah, do you think that's?" Alkaid asks. "How Omega is controlling him?" Shana asks.
"Bingo." Zero says. Zero deploys Zedept. Edge charges Zero with his Chikyu no Tsume (Earth Claws). Zero intercepts with his Blade Tonfas. Zero and Edge are fist fighting. Alkaid went to help Zero but a blast hits the floor in front of her. Alkaid looks up and sees Talon in her unit.
"Alkaid…. must kill….. Alkaid." Talon says as she prepares to fire again. Alkaid deploys Futago Hono and flies up to Talon. "Is that?" Cecilia asks. "Talon? Yes it is." Shana said as she walks over to the gang. "Shouldn't we help?" Charlotte asks.
"No, they need to do this." Laura says with her arms crossed. Everyone just looks on as Zero is fighting Edge and Alkaid is fighting Talon. Zero and Edge exchange fists and kicks while Alkaid and Talon exchange slashes and blasts. "Edge! Snap out of it!" Zero says as he blocks Edge's punch. "It's no use, with those visors on them, they can't hear us!" Alkaid says to Zero through the communication channel.
"There is a way." Edge's voice said in Zero's head. "Edge?" Zero says in his head as he keeps fighting. "Yeah and I'm not alone." Edge's voice said. "It's as you suspect." Alkaid's voice said. "They only have our memories and not our souls." Talon's voice said. "How do I free them?" Zero asks in his head.
"Our souls are in the Zeta Overdrive." Edge's voice said. "If you release the Overdrive's power to them." Talon's voice said. "It might put your souls back into your bodies?" Zero asks as he continues to fight off Edge. "It's a gamble but if it works, you'll lose your Zeta Overdrive for good." Alkaid's voice said.
"I can live without that Overdrive but I can't live without you guys since your bodies are back." Zero says as he blocks Edge's attack. "All you have to do is to send our powers to our units and that will allow our souls to enter are bodies and break Omega's control over them." Edge's voice says. "Think you can get all of our bodies to stay still long enough to do it?" Talon's voice asks. "Just who the hell go you think he is?" Alkaid's voice asks. "Alright, here I go." Zero said in his head and shifts to Zeta Overdrive.
Zero deploys his Mythos Whip and hooks Edge's leg and swings him to hit Talon. "Good job." Alkaid says. Zero wraps up Alkaid with Talon and Edge. "What are you doing?" Alkaid asks. "Do you trust me?" Zero asks. Alkaid nods. Zero pulls them in.
"What's he doing?" Rin asks. "I don't know but why would he trap Alkaid as well?" Shana asks. Zero's wing get bigger and engulfs them. "Releasing Zeta Overdrive's power to Edge, Talon and Alkaid." Zero says.
Suddenly a white light releases from Zero's body. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They all yell as an explosion happens and they fall to the ground, hard. The gang rushes over to them. Zero is the first to get up and is no longer in his Zeta Overdrive: Mythos form. "Ow." Zero says as he grabs his head while being on his knees. "Did it work?" Zero asks himself.
Edge and Talon's visors break and falls off. Zero walks over to them. "Are you guys back to normal?" Zero asks them as they all come to. Edge, Talon and Alkaid all gets up and holds their heads. "Damn Zero, did you have to be so rough with my body?" Edge asks. "At least it worked so quit complaining." Talon said. "True but that landing still hurts." Alkaid says.
"Zero! Alkaid!" The gang yells. Zero, Alkaid, Talon and Edge look up to where the gang is at. "We're fine." Zero said. The gang stops as they see Edge and Talon. "Are they?" Cecilia asks. "Back to normal? Yeah." Edge says. "Thanks to Mr. Reckless over here." Talon says looking at Zero.
"Hey, you guys told me to do that so your souls can return to your bodies and to break Omega's hold on your bodies." Zero said. "So does that mean?" Shana asks. "That Zeta is back together?" Zero asks and looks at Alkaid, Talon and Edge. They nod with smiles on them. Zero looks back at Shana. "Yeah, Zeta is back in active service." Zero says as they all stand up. "Don't forget that by doing that Zero, you've lost your Zeta Overdrive powers." Alkaid said.
"I know." Zero said. "Huh?" The gang asks in unison. "I'll explain later but for now let's eat." Zero says. The gang falls over. "I see that you're still hungry after a tough battle." Edge says as he pats Zero's back. "Something's never change." Talon said. "Ok enough guys, let's go and eat." Zero says. "Yeah." Zeta says as the gang gets up. They all leave and gets something to eat.
Dorm: Roof – 1:35 a.m.
Zeta is standing on the roof, in winter clothes since it is December now. The wind blows. "Man, that's cold." Edge says. "At least it's not as cold as that forest was a year ago." Talon says. "They're here." Zero says as he turns around. Sky, Pyro, Geo and Aqua flies down and lands on the roof.
"So it's true." Pyro says. "Hi Mentor." Alkaid says. "You're back." Geo says. "Hello Mentor." Edge says. "Glad you're back." Aqua says. "It's good to be back Mentor." Talon says. "So does this mean that Zeta is back?" Sky asks. "Yes Mentor, Zeta is back." Zero says. "Have they been notified?" Zero asks. "Yes, their families have been told." Pyro says.
"So when do we go home?" Talon asks. "Tomorrow or should I say later today since it's after midnight?" Geo asks. "Are you going to tell Rin?" Sky asks. "No, this doesn't concern her." Zero said looking down. "Tell her anyways." Alkaid says.
"Tell me what?" Rin asks. Zero turns and sees Rin in her pj's and her winter jacket. "Uh, well." Zero says hesitantly. "Zero." Rin says angrily. "We're going back to the U.S. later today." Alkaid says. Rin is surprised. "Is that true?" Rin asks Zero. "Yeah." Zero says while backing up. Edge and Geo blocks Zero from backing up and pushes him towards Rin. Zero looks back with a "what are you doing" looks.
"Zero." Rin says and Zero looks at her. "I'm sorry about that." Zero says as he places his right hand behind his head. "What is it about this time?" Rin asks while still being angry at him. "Since Zeta is back, we have to have a physical done as well as a medical checkup on them." Zero explained. "And you couldn't tell me why?" Rin asks as she cools down some.
"Well." Zero says. "And don't say that it doesn't concern me." Rin says. Zero remains silent. "So that was it huh?" Rin asks. "Ye..Yeah." Zero says hesitantly. "How long?" Rin asks. "Huh?" Zero asks. "How long are you going to be gone?" Rin asks.
"I don't know." Zero answers. Rin turns around and starts walking away. "Rin." Zero says. Rin turns her head. "Just be back by Christmas, got it?" Rin asks. Zero smiles. "Got it, goodnight." Zero says. "Night." Rin says as she walks off. "Now that wasn't hard." Pyro says. "You don't know the half of it." Zero says.
"Alright Zeta, rest up before we get you in the morning." Sky says. "Yes mam." Zeta says as they salute their mentors as they fly off. "Let's go." Zero said and Zeta leaves and rests for the night.
Omega's Base: Medic Room – 11:08 p.m.
Omega is waking up, still bandaged up from his last battle with Zero. A scientist walks in. "Omega sir." The scientist says. "What is it?" Omega asks. "Zero and Alkaid has freed Edge and Talon sir." The scientist reports. "What?!" Omega asks angrily.
Omega grabs the data pad and reads the data. "Damn you Zero." Omega says angrily. Omega grabs his face bandages with his right hand and tears off the bandages. "I'm going to kill you Zero." Omega says as he walks up to a IS in standby. Omega laughs evilly.