ZOIDS

CUSTOMKING

I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO ZOIDS

THIS STORY IS A FANFIC CREATED WITH

NO THOUGHT OF BENEFIT TO MYSELF

ENJOY!

The Dark Spiner moved cautiously through the tunnel, the footing was unstable to say the least, and while not slippery felt as though it could slide at any time, the stomping of a zoid on stones and loose rocks became the crunching of a zoid on gravel, then the floor became solid, like a road, tar or cement. The Dark Spiner looked about, its head sweeping left and right, its snout-light roving over markings and sigils as they moved forwards, something about the place made the Dark Spiner 'feel' at home.

..............................................

Jhese sat on the platform gazing at the Redler, how had it survived the crash? And just as worrisome, what to do with it now? The flight units were so damaged that they couldn't be fixed and to buy the new parts it would need would cost more than a new zoid. Jhese had told Cyrus this and Kat had jumped, offering to take him shopping, Jhese felt sorry for Cyrus, poor guy would wind up carrying Kat's shopping rather than shopping for a new zoid; Kat may be a tomboy, but she was still classed as female.

Giving the zoid a final once over Jhese went to the drawing board, Cyrus wanted to keep the Redler; he had made that much clear. And since it was Cyrus's gattling cannon that had earned them their victory Jhese felt obliged to do his best.

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David was probably one of the quieter pilots that a person could meet, he preferred the quieter pursuits in his spare time; photographing wildlife, watching wild zoids and reading, he lay stretched out on the couch in Cyrus's bunker. When his father had died both Jhese and Cyrus had offered him a place to stay but he had gone with Cyrus, Jhese might be a quieter person, but his home was usually alive with sounds, the Hanger echoed every sound from the workshop, or from outside, but the Bunker muffled it, making it the perfect place to retreat with a good book, just like the one he was immersed in.

The ringing startled David from deep within the pages. Cursing as reality found him David put the book down and got up, twisting his neck to loosen the muscles he walked to the console and answered the call.

"Ah good morning Cy-Dave? David. Well, congratulations on your victory yesterday. As I'm sure you're now aware, class A is a more intense league than class C, I regret to inform you that your next match has been decided already, I am well aware that your team suffered heavily to take the victory, but the Battle Commission has short shifted you and I have to deliver the message" Official Chase sighed "the rest is up to you" Official Chase looked down at his console for a moment then looked back at David "I've just sent you the coordinates, battle structure, your opponents and such. Good luck and fair winds" the screen went blank. Then the data began streaming in, the Panther Team, three Zaber Fang zoids, all of them were painted black, one had a long range rifle and the other had a missile unit, the final zoid seemed standard, although the data called it a Zaber Fang Mk III. David considered their options; Jhese was in, that much was certain, he might have Cyrus's Redler able to do something, but David doubted flying would be one of its abilities, and they had five days to install a combat system if he came back with a new zoid today. Kat's Lightning Siax had suffered severe damage from the Red Horn, and Kat was still in the hospital being checked for broken bones, David's zoid was in no better condition, the Command Wolf wouldn't be battling for some time, which left David with two options, spend a great heap of cash and buy a new zoid, install a combat system and have only hours to familiarize, or hope like hell that Thomo, Jhese and Thomo's mechanics could get his 'Wolf ready in three days.

Chances of winning seemed slim.

…………………..

Kat did not belong in a hospital, that much was plain to both staff and fellow patients. She ranted and raved and pointed out that as a former military nurse she knew what she was talking about, the young doctor's response was to send his nurse away to fetch the matron, a dragon of a woman who brooked no arguments and intimidated even Kat, the woman had simply squeezed the girl's wrist in an iron grip, Kat had to wonder if even her zoid could manage such a grip in its jaws. The X-ray scans did not bring good news, a clean break in the upper arm, relatively quick healing, requiring several weeks at most, Kat nearly cried, Cyrus had tricked her.

……………..

Cyrus walked away from the hospital somewhat less than happy.

Making Kat believe that they were going shopping seemed like a good plan before the hospital staff had taken her away, but the murderous look she had shot him had chilled his blood; there would be hell to pay when she got out.

……………….

David called the team meeting and they all gathered at Cyrus's home.

Jhese was the first to arrive and he and Cyrus spent some minutes goofing and playing Zoid battle games on the console.

They just started a second game when Kat burst in; a murderous gleam shone from the grim depths of her dark scowl "YOU!" Cyrus backed away "don't run creep, you're only delaying the inevitable!!!" Cyrus fled and Kat hobbled after him as fast as her leg would allow.

Jhese sighed and slumped back on the couch; this could last some time. He jumped as the door was flung open a second time and David walked in, followed by Thomo and another older person, in his late teens or twenties maybe. Jhese looked at David and then Thomo; pleading both for answers, both shook their heads and mouthed "later".

David waited for Cyrus and Kat to stop charging about before he introduced the stranger "guys, this is Derik 'Stalker' Stiller, he's a-"

"Mercenary" Kat grated "Dave, are you sure about hiring a mercenary? Can we trust him?" Kat glared at Stalker who leered back. Kat shivered, she felt like she was being assessed by a predator.

"I trust Derik" Cyrus stated "I met him before, well, before we began zoids battles. Pilots a… Gun Sniper if my memory serves; black thing, heavily modified and always breaking down"

"Yeah, I know the one" Jhese piped up "I always told you to leave it as I fixed it or it would keep breaking down, you never listened"

"I couldn't help it, I'd see a new component and need it"

"And install it badly and break your zoid. Again"

"There, see? He can't follow orders! He's useless to us!" Kat cried

"That's cool" Cyrus smirked "He's filling in for you"

"Looks like you've been out-voted Kat. Better get used to him" David stated in a neutral tone.

"Yeah kitten, we'll have some good times together, once you get used to me" Stalker cooed. Kat shuddered and stormed off.

"That probably wasn't wise" Thomo stated staring after Kat "you better watch yourself Stalker"

"Huh, you may be right old man" Stalker replied "but I'm not losing any sleep over an angry girl" he walked out the door and the others followed him.

Jhese continued looking at the hallway that Kat had stormed down, the poor girl might not be so quick to forgive as Stalker thought, Jhese waited some time before going to comfort Kat and try to bring some peace between her and the mercenary hell hath no fury like a woman scorned Jhese mulled over this phrase as he headed to the guest room where Kat would be fuming, it was his mothers saying hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.