Here we are at Chapter 24. Time to see if the Geno Ritter can be brought back to life, or if he is gone forever. I do not own Zoids. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 24. Enjoy.
Chapter 24: Blade Storm
"How is Geno's operation coming along?" Sarah asks Sarah.
The two women are walking through the compound, seeing as that the area was closed off to Sarah and her team for the time being until the repairs are completed.
"The repairs on the body, along with the upgrades, are coming along. Once the body has been completed, we can then insert the memory chip of the Geno Ritter into the new body and download his memories. After that, the rest will have to be left up to fate. I can't say for certain that your partner's body will wake up, or that it'll be the Geno Ritter inside it. There is no precedent for something like this. I want you to be aware of that," Sarah explains.
"I understand, but if there's even a small chance of bringing Geno back, then I have to take it," Sarah replies.
"As long as you're aware. The operation should be finished by tomorrow. I'll then install the memory chip myself... No offense to the battle commission, but when it comes to handling delicate work like this, their people still have a lot to learn," Sarah says, making the younger Sarah laugh a bit.
"Well, thanks again. I'd better go check on my team. Make sure Colt and Rickie haven't broken anything yet," Sarah says and heads off to another part of the compound.
"As long as you keep that idiot Colt away from my work, I'll be grateful," Sarah calls out before heading back to work on the Geno Saurer.
Sarah walks around, looking for any of her teammates. After a few minutes of searching, the first one she finds is Sky outside the building, staring off into the distance with his arms crossed.
"Hey, Sky," she calls out, getting his attention as she walks up to stand next to him. "What are you looking at?" she asks.
"Desert," Sky replies dryly.
Sarah stares flatly at him, "Yeah, I can see that, genius. You could try and be a little more of a conversationalist like your brother, you know," she notes.
"No point," Sky replies.
If Sarah ever gets him to speak a complete sentence, it'll be a miracle.
Sarah sighs, "If you don't mind me asking, why did you become a zoid warrior? You don't strike me as the type who would do it for the money. I'm curious," she asks. For what felt like hours, Sky says nothing, only staring out into the empty expanse past the steel fence in front of them. Soon enough, Sarah feels like she won't get an answer, and turns around to leave. "Fine, sorry I asked," she says and starts walking away.
But, surprisingly, Sky speaks again to stop her, "To settle a score," he says cryptically.
"A score? With who?" Sarah asks.
"Someone who hasn't earned his wings," Sky replies.
Sarah wants to ask more, but she gets a feeling from Sky that tells her that he's done talking. What's more, their conversation ends short when sudden explosions ring out beyond the fence.
"What the Hell?!" Sarah mutters.
Sirens go off as a large number of black Command Wolves, followed by several gray Red Horns break through the smoke, charging straight at the base.
"The NBG," Sky notes.
"Crap, how'd they find us?! I got to get to Geno. Sky, get to your zoid and tear them up from the skies," Sarah says and runs back into the compound, while Sky runs to the hanger.
The attack takes everyone by surprise as the NBG forces attack the base, firing off their weapons as they get closer. There are a few battle commission Command Wolves already out, blasting away with their laser cannons, but they are overwhelmed by the numbers of the enemy and are quickly taken out. However, the NBG forces make a sudden stop when the Berserk Fury suddenly lands in between them and the base.
"It's about time. I was getting bored here. Let's see what they're made of, Berserk Fury," Vega says, and his partner roars with him.
The black Command Wolves fire off their guns, but the Berserk Fury activates its shields to block their attack. It lowers the shield and engages its thrusters, flying forth while firing off the laser guns in its sub-arms. The lasers take out a few Command Wolves easily, and then the Berserk Fury drills through two of them with the blades on its sub-arms. The Berserk Fury roars as more of the enemy's forces move to fight against it. Back inside the base, Grace and Colt run towards the hanger to get to their zoids. They meet up with Sarah along the way.
"Sarah, what's going on?" Grace asks.
"It's the NBG. They're attacking the base!" Sarah replies.
"What? How did they know we were here?" Colt asks.
"I don't know, but I got to get to Geno," Sarah says and makes a move before Colt grabs her arm. "What are you doing?"
"Look, you can't do anything to protect Geno by yourself. I know that the reconstruction process isn't finished. What we need to do is buy Sarah time so she can finish and get Geno back into action. Come with us to the hanger and grab whatever zoid you can find. Take that and guard Geno until Sarah is finished. We'll head out and buy you guys as much time as we can," Colt explains.
Sarah didn't exactly like the idea of piloting another zoid other than Geno, but Colt has a point. What can she do all by herself right now? A little reluctantly, Sarah nods, and the three move to the hanger.
"Again, how did they know we were here, or what we could possibly be doing?" Grace asks.
Colt just looks ahead, "I have a few ideas..." he mutters.
They reach the hanger, just in time to see Sky's Pteramander take off into the sky for air support. Colt and Grace race to their zoids, while Sarah spots a Command Wolf in the back and goes with that one. With everyone at the base going all over the place, no one notices her get into the cockpit and start the zoid up. Colt and Grace's zoids start to move, followed by a few more Command Wolves on their side. Sarah gets her zoid up and moving, and heads in the opposite direction in order to protect her partner. Outside, the Bravejaguar and the Spinosapper quickly get into the thick of it, with the Spinosapper firing off its missile launchers at the approaching enemies, taking out a couple of them while the rest manage to evade the attack. Two Command Wolves get in close and fire their cannons, but the Spinosapper uses its chainsaws to block the incoming fire. One zoid uses the chance to jump at Grace's zoid, hoping to clamp its jaws down on the cockpit, but Grace sees it coming and maneuvers around to bite down on the enemy zoid's neck, crushing it and biting the head off. Meanwhile, the Bravejaguar jumps into the air with its claws glowing, striking through the left limbs of another Command Wolf. However, it jumps back to avoid getting hit by an attack from one of the Red Horns.
"These guys are everywhere," Colt mutters.
However, the Red Horn suddenly gets knocked to the side by a flying Command Wolf. Colt looks over to see the Berserk Fury, surrounded by scores of destroyed zoids around it, while it doesn't have a scratch on it.
"Come on, at least try and make this more fun," Vega says, while his partner roars at the enemy.
"Guess they don't need any help," Colt flatly notes.
Up in the sky, the Pteramander flies high, firing off its long-range laser cannons at the incoming enemies, taking out a few Red Horns. Sky looks above when a shadow flies over him and sees a squad of Zabats flying in, firing off their guns at him.
"How annoying," Sky mutters.
The Pteramander quickly spins and flies down to evade the attack, with the Zabats hot on its tail. Sky pulls back the controls, causing the Pteramander to stop in mid-air and swing back as the Zabats fly in, grabbing on in its legs' claws, and then lighting it up with the flamethrower before dropping it to the ground below. The Zabats fly around and get a few shots off, dealing a few hitting its unprotected back. The Pteramander roars and starts moving again, with the Zabats in pursuit. Back on the ground, Sarah pilots her Command Wolf to the area where the Geno is located, still behind the large curtains and crates blocking entrance. Sarah looks around, seeing no signs of damage to the immediate area, nor any signs of the enemy.
Sarah sighs, "Good, it looks like they haven't made it this far," she notes.
Just then, an explosion rings out, leaving a large hole in one nearby wall. A few seconds later, Sarah's worst hope shows up in the form of the Geno Scissors.
"It's him," Sarah mutters.
The Geno Scissors walks in and roars at its only obstacle to its objective. Off to the side, Sarah sees the two zoids about to clash.
"Damn it, I'm not finished yet. I need to hurry," Sarah says and double times it on finishing up the new Geno Ritter.
"I knew it was you... You won't escape this time..." the pilot of the Geno Scissors darkly.
"I wasn't planning on it," Sarah replies.
"Then die," the pilot says.
The Geno Scissors fires off its laser cannons. Sarah has her Command Wolf grab a nearby empty crate in its jaws and throws it into the path of the attack, blocking it in a fiery explosion. Her Command Wolf races towards the Geno Scissors, firing off its cannons. The Geno Scissors blocks with its shields, and then swings its tail around at her. The Command Wold jumps over the swing and lands to the side.
"Tell me, are you Hunter Krato?" Sarah calls out. It was only for a short moment, but Sarah saw him hesitate. "If you are, then why are you helping the NBG?" she asks.
"You talk too much," the pilots says.
The Geno Scissors lashes out with its blades. The Command Wolf uses its greater mobility to evade them, but the Geno Scissors starts using its blades along with its laser cannons, eventually forcing it into a corner. It makes another swing of its blades, and the Command Wolf ducks low, dodging it but losing its laser cannons in the process, leaving it without any real weapons on it.
"This isn't looking good," Sarah mutters.
Back outside, Sky fires off his missiles, taking out the rest of the of the Zabats and securing the skies above the battlefield.
"Report your status," Sky communicates with his teammates.
"Oh, I'm just peachy!" Colt yells as he races across the battlefield, evading the incoming fire of a few Command Wolves.
"I could use a little help here!" Grace shouts out.
Her Spinosapper shows signs of damage across its body, and has a few sparks showing. Around her are several destroyed black Command Wolves and a Red Horn to boot. However, her zoid is reaching its limits, and now two more Red Horns join the fray. Grace curses herself for being in this situation, but luck comes her way when a few shots ring out, taking out both enemy zoids. Grace looks over, finding the Berserk Fury nearby.
"Ha-ha, looks like I showed up just in the nick of time," she hears Vega over the comms.
"Thanks for the save, but what about-," Grace begins, but then sees the trail of destroyed zoids behind Vega's. "Never mind. I owe you one," she thanks him.
The Berserk Fury turns its attention to the Command Wolves firing at the Bravejaguar and gets ready to fire its charged particle cannon. Soon enough, it fires, taking out the Command Wolves, leaving nothing behind in its wake.
"Whew, thanks for the help!" Colt calls out.
The Bravejaguar has suffered some damage, but is still moving. The Berserk Fury then turns around to see enemy reinforcements coming in, comprised mainly of several black Zaber Fangs.
"Looks like dessert has arrived, Fury," Vega notes, and his partner roars in agreement.
Back inside, Sarah waits for the Geno Scissors to make its next move. The Geno Scissors makes its next move soon enough as it lunges at her Command Wolf. Sarah has her zoid jump to the side to escape the lunge, but the Geno Scissors fires off one its claws, grabbing one of her zoid's rear legs and releasing an electric shock through the zoid and her. Sarah screams in pain as her zoid gets blasted by the Geno's laser cannons, causing the Command Wolf to fall and its cockpit glass to shatter. Sarah falls out of the cockpit, injured from the exchange. Off near where Geno is, Sarah frantically hurries to finish her work.
"Come on, come on!" she mutters, typing away on the console.
Sarah manages to get onto one knee while the Geno Scissors looms over her.
"You've lost... The hunt is over..." the pilot says.
"Answer my question: are you Hunter Krato?" Sarah calls out. Sarah then notices that the zoid doesn't move, only having its eyes glow and dim several times in an uncommon pattern. "Well, who are you?" Sarah yells.
"It does matter. You won't live long enough to know," the pilot says.
The Geno Scissors turns its attention to where Geno is supposed to be, and activates its charged particle cannon, aiming it right at Sarah's partner.
Sarah turns around and runs towards him, "Geno!" she shouts, reaching out towards him.
The Geno Scissors fires its charged particle cannon, leaving everything before it in flames. The explosion knocks Sarah to the ground, and she looks on in horror at the thought that she just lost her partner again, for good... However, suddenly, several energy shots fly out of the flames and nail the Geno Scissors, making it stagger back. Sarah looks between them, and then sees a large mass slowly walk through the flames. Sarah's horror and fear turns into shock, relief, and awe at what stands before her. The Geno Saurer she found has gleaming white armor, with blue painting the once purple section of the inner body. The head no longer has the small laser gun on it, but instead has a short, curved red blade on its nose, similar to the one the Geno Ritter had, and four small horns curved around its eyes (like Shadow's head from Chaotic Century). On its back is a large thruster unit (like the Geno Breaker's), along with four sub-arms, each equipped with a white blade with a blue edge. On the back on each blade is a small laser cannon for ranged combat. The armor around the arms and legs is a little more stream-lined and aerodynamic. Also, on the sides of the legs are a pair of additional thrusters. Its red eyes glow bright and the zoid roars to the skies. It turns its attention to the Geno Scissors and then to Sarah.
"Is that you... Geno?" Sarah mutters, stunned.
The Geno Scissors fires its guns at Sarah, who covers her head from the attack. However, the attack never hits and Sarah opens her eyes to see that the attacks were blocked by the new zoid with an energy shield.
"Impossible," the pilot mutters.
The new zoid looks down to Sarah, leaning its head close to her.
"Geno... Is that you?" Sarah mutters, hopeful. The zoid gets close enough and she pets its nose, hearing a very familiar purr-like growl from the zoid. That answers her question. "Geno... you're back," Sarah cries as tears of joy fall down her cheeks.
The Geno Scissors attacks again, but the energy shield blocks its attacks. This gets Sarah's focus back into the game.
"Alright, Geno, let's finish this," Sarah says.
The new Geno opens up its cockpit, and Sarah hops inside, strapping in and taking the controls. The screen lights up, showing schematics of the new zoid. The new Geno roars as it gets ready to fight its nemesis.
"How is it alive?" the pilot says.
Sarah then gets a call over the comms, "Sarah, you alright in there," it was the other Sarah.
"Sarah, you did it. You brought Geno back!" Sarah cheers.
"I made it just in the nick of time. Now take that bastard out," Sarah says.
"With pleasure. Alright, Geno, let's take this outside," Sarah says.
Geno roars and engages its thrusters, blasting it at the Geno Scissors, crashing into it and taking it through the wall. Geno continues to smash the Geno Scissors through wall after wall until finally they smash through to the outside. The remaining combatants outside turn their attention to the new arrivals.
"Whoa, what the Hell is that?!" Colt yells.
"Is that... Geno?" Grace questions.
Sarah has Geno attack with all four of his new blades, slashing away at the Geno Scissors. The Geno scissors tries to counter with its own blades, but its two blades get blocked by two of Geno's giving its other two blades a chance to slice the Geno Scissors' sub-arms off. Geno then fires off its four laser guns, dealing more damage to the Geno Scissors. It then swings its tail around to knock the Geno Scissors back, almost knocking it to the ground.
"Just give up. You can't beat Geno now that he's stronger," Sarah calls out.
"Can't... give up...," the pilot says.
"Why? Why fight for the NBG. What is it they're after?" Sarah asks.
"...To return to the ways of old... to the ways long ago with zoids..." the pilot says.
Suddenly, more explosions ring out all around the battlefield, forcing the new Geno to use its shield to block them while the others take cover. When the dust settles, they all look up to see a gray Whale King hovering over the base. Cables with hooks come down and grab onto the damaged Geno Scissors, along with the few remaining NBG zoids that survived the battle. Sarah watches as the enemy gets pulled back into the underbelly of the Whale King. However, she zooms in on the opened mouth of the flying zoid, seeing a middle-aged man with a brown beard and short brown hair with a gray streak on the sides standing there, wearing a black trench coat, looking down straight at her.
"Very impressive... Team Lockhart..." she hears over the comms and realizes it's the man in the Whale King.
"Who are you? Are you in charge of the NBG?" Sarah questions him.
"You still think it's that simple. In respect of your achievements, I'll give you a little treat. We are not the Neo Backdraft Group; that was just a ploy that has run its course. We are Nexus," the man replies.
"Why are you doing this? Why attack the ZBC?" Sarah asks.
"The Zoid Battle Commission has taken zoid battles away from their true nature, turning it into a sport, when zoids were created as weapons of war. They disrespect their lineage. The world has gone soft, and needs to be reminded of the order of things. That is Nexus' mission, and you cannot stop it. Next time, we won't be so merciful," the man says.
The Whale King takes off into the sky and quickly leaves the area. The ZBC would pursue, but after suffering heavy damage to the base and their forces, they can't afford to. Any Nexus survivors still at the base quickly kill themselves to prevent intel leaks. After things calm down, the members of Team Lockhart regroup outside the base perimeter.
"I can't believe we managed to survive this fiasco," Grace notes.
"Good thing we had the King and the Berserk Fury here. My guess is that they knew he was here and sent such a large force, not to kill him, but to keep him busy. Though, that didn't work out too well for them," Colt adds, crossing his arms.
"We can talk about all that later. Right now..." Sarah says and looks up to her partner. "I'm just glad Geno's back," she says, smiling.
"He's even stronger now too," they hear and look over to see Sarah and Vega join them. "You gave me the time I needed to finish the setup. It was a gamble, but one that paid off immensely," Sarah says.
"Yeah. He looks way cooler now. So this is the new Geno Ritter, huh," Grace notes.
"Actually, I think it could use a new name. I didn't come up with one though. I believe that honor goes to you, Sarah Lockhart," Sarah says.
Sarah looks back to her partner and starts thinking, "Hmm... how about... Storm-blade. Geno Storm-blade," Sarah suggests.
"Ah, I can see that. The blades and the colors match perfectly with that. I like it," Colt says.
"Yeah, that name sounds cool," Grace agrees.
"Welcome back, Geno Storm-blade," Sarah says, and her partner roars into the skies, ready to get back into the action.
And that's the chapter. Sarah's partner returns, renamed the Geno Storm-blade. I got some ideas for the new design from pictures of the Berserk Fury shadow edge, and used it as a reference. Though the blades are different in design from the original. Anyway, Sarah's partner is back, but the NBG reveal their true name and intentions, although cryptically. What does this mean for Sarah and her friends? And is the pilot of the Geno Scissors truly Hunter Krato? Until then, please Read and Review.