Welcome back, and thanks for comming. This one introduces a new member to our band of heroes along with some good action and yet another twist as well as just a little humor. It also has some new stuff for you vets so please keep reading. Speaking of reading, I bet you want to do some of that, so I'll be quiet and let you do that. See ya when your done.


Chapter 29

Unexpected Rescue.

His limbs felt like they had been detached from his body as their muscles screamed for oxygen and sweat covered his body in a thick glossy layer, but there was no stopping as he turned firing pointblank into another of the iron soldiers. Josh had been fighting non stop for hours without so much as an instant of rest, but now things were starting to settle down as he noticed that the enemy's forces had dwindled down considerably more than their own. Slowly he became aware for his surroundings to find they had been pushed deeper into the city that now lay in ruins. In a seemingly apocalyptic vision, he saw concrete dust, smoke, and dirt still hanging in the air that looked like fire as the light of countless fires bounced off the airborne particles that represented what had once been New York.

Through the haze, Josh could see what few small buildings stood amongst the twisted metal beams that lay like the skeletons of giants as Zoids and invaders alike moved like phantoms through the polluted air. Suddenly he spotted Jake far to his right as his unmistakable red and black Sinker took to the air above the billowing debris and then shot back into the fiery clouds with guns blazing and boosters roaring. Slamming his own boosters to full power, Josh rocketed towards his comrade, letting go with another weasel unit attack to help clear the area around his friend as he went.

"Thanks mate!" Jake told him. "Good to see you're around and nice to have a little break."

"Have you seen Pepper?" Josh asked as they started to fight again after the five second reprieve.

"Sorry Josh, I haven't seen him for a while. Although I haven't had time to look much ether."

"If we get pushed back much farther we will have our backs to the ocean and be trapped."

"What do we do?" Came Peppers voice.

"Pepper!" Jake exclaimed.

"Maybe we could rotate to the south." Josh suggested.

"That might work." Pepper said. "But what about the others here?"

"We can try and contact as many as possible and hope the others catch on. There are only about six hundred of us now so it should be a little easier."

"How do we do that?" Jake asked as he dodged incoming fire before returning fire of his own.

"By opening our signal to another frequency." Josh instructed them. "If we each take a different signal we will have a better chance."

"Roger." Pepper said. "Switching signals now."

In a matter of minutes the news was spread to a little over half of the remaining forces to rotate to the south, and slowly but surely the army of Zoids began to move in an orderly fashion for the first time since the war had started.

Josh had noticed a weakness in their enemy during the battle that he found rather interesting. They seemed to be un piloted and shot at anything that appeared to pose a threat meaning that they were incapable of forming any strategy. They are each fighting independently, and not as a unit.

"Gunner you mind if we conduct a little test?"

Gunner growled.

"Ok, here is the plan. If these robots will fire at us no matter what, then if we jump in the middle they should shoot each other trying to hit us."

Gunner gave another louder roar.

"I know it is risky, but it could work."

Another growl was emitted.

"I'm sure you can do it boy. You have never let me down before."

Gunner roared as he leaped into the air and put the boosters on full power, flying through the air until gravity brought them down. Gunner used a strike laser claw to clear the landing, then turned on the left booster and spun while firing all guns further clearing the area. Josh saw the lasers charge from every direction and waited for the last instant to leap once more into the air with boosters blazing followed by the flames of a massive explosion from the many iron men who had been caught in the crossfire as Josh quickly rejoined the retreating forces who were still rotating farther south.

As they reached the suburbs, cover became scarce and the retreat pace was quickened then increased to a full out run. Jets came hurtling towards the ground in flames and then exploded as the once urban metropolis had been turned into a chaotic battlefield for the giant machines.

The Zoids moved in a fighting retreat with the Iron men steadily advancing like an unstoppable tide which constantly replaced fallen troops with those in the rear as its ranks surged forward to be shot and replaced. Pepper turned, firing two shots which struck home on their targets before tuning again to join the skirmishing retreat when he saw something that seemed strange to his thinking as a Zabit, considered one of the weaker flying Zoids, could be seen flying toward the invaders. He watched it fly overhead, engines screaming as it sped into the enemies front lines.

"Is he insane?" Pepper asked over the unicom.

"Maybe he wants to die." Jake replied coldly. "I would imagine a lot of people are losing their minds right about now."

They watched as the pilot cheated death by inches over and over again while at the same time every shot the Zabit fired was a direct hit and kill. Some of the huge Iron men turned back to the retreating Zoids while most of them stayed to fight the Zabit.

The retreat was much slower, but still they moved backward. Josh did not know what, but something caught his eye on the ground and he glanced down, then looked again. Someone is down there!

"Cover me!" He shouted as he opened Gunners cockpit and started climbing out.

"What are you doing?!" Pepper screamed, but Josh was out of the cockpit and unable to respond. "Jake! Do something!" Pepper ordered.

"On it mate!" Jake shouted back as he rocketed towards the iron men.

Josh did not know what he was thinking himself as he charged the enemy that was less than a mile out and quickly advancing. Lasers and bullets landed around him sending chunks of dirt and asphalt into the air as Josh asked himself why he was doing this. He looked up and watched with a smile as Jake went streaking into the invader's front lines knocking them over like bowling pins, and then finally he reached the crater where he had seen someone move.

"Come on!" He shouted throwing himself on the ground, extending his arms into the pit like hole where girl lay curled up in a ball at the bottom, and when she looked up Josh could see her face and shirt were stained with tears. "Come on!" He repeated. "Grab on!"

The girl slowly got to her feet, tentatively reaching out her hands as if not comprehending what was going on and then Josh took hold, jerking her up where she tumbled limply over the rim.

"Hurry! Follow me." Josh told her, lifting her off the ground and back on her feet as he took out running.

Something seemed to light up inside her as she realized she might live and she took out running after him covering her head from the explosions that went off around them. She was a slender girl of seventeen and ran faster as her hopes of survival increased, but when they reached Gunner she froze as if scared.

"What are you waiting for?" Josh yelled at her as he started to climb.

"You're Josh?" She shouted questioningly, and then covered her mouth.

Now Josh was confused. Who is this girl? Why does it matter if I am me? As she started to reach for Gunner he took a step back growling at her closeness and making the girl flinch back in fear.

"None of that boy!" Josh shouted angrily. "You can not be picky this time. She is coming aboard whether you like it or not!"

Gunner moved his foot back towards the girl and she started to climb hesitantly after Josh. As Josh reached the top he looked back at the invading force to see the Zabit plummet towards the ground in the middle of the mob of iron men. His heart sunk as an explosion erupted on the ground and he looked down to see the girl staring pale faced at the scene.

"Do not stop!" Josh ordered, his words shaking her back to reality.

Finally she reached the top and Josh jerked her in before closing the Cockpit.

"Get us out of here boy!" He yelled.

Gunner let out a tremendous roar firing all his weapons at the army that was nearly on top of them, and then boosted back to where the others had retreated as Pepper provided cover fire.

"Look!" The girl said speaking through tears.

Josh looked up to see the Zabit still flying.

"But He...? How? I thought he died."

"Evidently not." The girl said, becoming more talkative at the small glimmer of hope provided by the Zabit's survival. "I don't understand what happened?"

"He must have dropped a bomb or something." Josh replied, more thinking aloud than actually responding to her question.

But the Zabit pilot did something else besides just a daring stunt; he had reminded them what the capabilities of their Zoids were. Instead of retreating, the remaining Zoids charged forward using every ounce of skill to dodge fire and then claw, blast, drill, and crush the iron men that stood twice as high as any of the Zoids. Entering this close combat again also meant that many of the iron men were caught in their own fire as a new hope surged through the defenders. Can we actually survive this? Can we actually win? Josh wondered and then felt a new strength surge through him as determination se in. We have to!

By seven O'clock that night, cheers filled the air as the survivors proclaimed their victory, but this was to be followed with tears and crying when the full damage was recognized making the victory a hollow one. Josh and the others rushed back to his house to find it leveled. All the cattle were gone from a stampede, and only a few posts stood up right where the barn once stood. Josh staggered out of Gunner and fell to his knees in hopeless despair.

Tears filled his eyes as he slouched on the ground with Jake and Pepper standing beside him not able to say a word. The girl climbed slowly out of Gunner and walked with her hands folded in front of her to where the others were. A tear came down her face as she remembered her own losses.

"Man Josh." Pepper said softly, finally speaking up and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." Josh answered, standing to his feet clinching his fists and trembling with his face turned to the ground trying to hide his tears. "Let's go." He ordered in a tone so cold, it sent shivers up all their spines.

"Go where?" Jake asked trying to make a point, but Josh didn't get it.

"You do not have to come if you do not want to." Josh told them. "But I have to find the people responsible."

"That's insane!" Pepper shouted.

"Look!" Josh yelled back, waving an arm at the house. "Look at this! You think this is just here?! This is everywhere! It is not just us! Look at the city! What about other states? What about other countries? They got hit too. Some of them are probably still fighting! If you do not understand then you do not have to come, but there is work to be done and standing here crying won't help anything! Yes it hurt! Yes I feel like curling up and dying, but I can't do that because if I do it only means more pain so are you with me or not?"

"Josh." Jake said sympathetically. "I wasn't questioning whether we should go or not, but we are done for today. If we keep pushing we won't be good to anyone, mate."

Josh still trembled struggling inside. For the first time he wanted to lash out, to kill and crush, but he knew what Jake said was right and fell again to his knees closing his eyes tight, trying to pinch the tears back from falling.

"We can start in the morning." Josh told them. "But I can not stay here anymore. We will camp somewhere else"

Josh stood back to his feet and headed for Gunner as the others fell in behind. Then Josh noticed the girl following them.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked turning on her.

"Oh, what" She said surprised raising her head then blushing. "Well I thought I would go with you three."

"You can not." He answered.

"But I thought..."

"We do not even know your name..." Josh started.

"Liesa."

"Fine, Liesa, you cannot go with us."

"I don't have a home to go back to, and I want to help."

"Sorry to disappoint you." Pepper said. "But you don't have a Zoid."

"I know," She said blushing again. "But I could ride in one of your Zoids."

"Not going to happen." Josh said with frustrated sarcasm. "Gunner is the only one who seats two, and you're not ridding with me all across the nation."

"But I have to go." Liesa protested agitatedly. "You're not the only one who suffered losses here."

"But you will not be any help." Josh told her. "If you had a Zoid you would be more than welcome, but you don't so you would only be extra baggage."

"But..." She started to protest desperately but Josh cut her off.

"Let's go guys." He told them as they climbed into their Zoids leaving her looking confused and lost on the ground. "Now we find some place warm for the night." Josh said as he pulled the hatch down, and then moved the controls, but nothing happened. "What is going on boy?" He asked.

Gunner growled.

"Oh no, don't you even think about it."

But Gunner lowered his head to the ground ignoring Josh's order and the cockpit opened with a hiss. A smile spread across Liesa's face when she realized what was happening and then she climbed into the back seat again, fastening the harness as Josh sat arms folded in the front seat with a cross look on his face.

"You see…" Liesa started, but was cut off.

"Get out!" Josh suddenly screamed, making her jump.

He did not know what to think of Gunner letting someone else into the cockpit. What is so special about her? Why could Gunner not have just gone? He is my Zoid so she has no right to be here if I don't want her to be. What is wrong with Gunner? Josh thought to himself as he sat sulking. Liesa could almost see the steam rising of Josh as Gunner started to move.

"It wasn't my choice." She said defensibly, leaning forward.

"Do not talk to me right now." Josh answered, making her jump back in her seat shocked at his tone.

"I'm sorry." Liesa said taking a deep breath. "I just want to help."

"But you can not do anything to help at all" Josh said, then started to calm down knowing there was nothing he could do about her since Gunner took her in. "Besides your parents will be worried."

"No." Liesa replied sadly, looking out to the side as a tear formed in her eye. "They aren't doing anything right now."

"I should not have gotten mad at you." Josh said, thinking on her words "I was under a lot of stress, but that did not mean you were not either."

"It's ok. Can we start over?" Liesa asked.

"Fine by me, but just so you know I am leaving you in a safe place as soon as possible."

"I understand why you don't want me to come, but I don't exactly have anywhere to go."

"We will find a place."

"Right here seems safe enough." Liesa persisted.

"For now, what about when I'm fighting."

"You made it through the first attack."

"The subject is not up for debate." Josh said sharply, tired of the argument. "You leave as soon as possible and that is final."

"But..."

"No!" Josh snapped cutting her off. "My friends and me are trying to save lives and putting one unnecessarily in harm's way is not on the agenda."

Liesa slouched back in her chair and sat silently the rest of the ride as tears slipped down her face. I do not want to go back, and there is nothing to go back to. Josh is one of the last people I would expect help from but I feel sheltered somehow. It's a feeling I don't want to lose. She knew now that he and his friends were the farthest thing from what she had thought of them before. I need someone to lean on right now and these three seem trustworthy, but first I will have to convince them to let me stay. She did not know what she was getting into, and yet at the same time anywhere would more than likely be the same if not worse as far as danger goes. What none of them knew was that this invasion would prove to be only the beginning of a hardship that would last a lifetime.


Can Liesa persuade josh and the others to let her stay? Why did Gunner let her back in? Why has our mytster man helped Josh and his friends? What does he have planned for them? How long will it all last? How long can they endure? Find out by clicking the next botton for the last chaptor in this week's posting.

This one was a fun chapter to write. The action coupled with the humor of Josh's frustraition with the crew's newst member allowed me to get imaginative. I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it, but whatever you thought, please let me know by dropping a simple review. Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon.

9TailedFox.