Chapter Three
The East base wasn't that far away. Only about seventy miles, and with the speed West was traveling at, it wouldn't be long before he would arrive. Many thoughts were traveling through his mind. What would he see when he arrived? A fierce battle? A destroyed base? He had no clue. The East base was powerful, and if they were under attack then the New Order Forces must be massive. West figured they had to have at least three hundred zoids.
He figured that the East base would be able to hold off the enemy till he got there. So his hands slowly reached forward to his two accelerators and pulled back on them. That bright blue flame from his boosters becoming a little smaller as his speed slowed to 275 km/h. He hated to do this, but he had to save his energy. He didn't want to arrive at the battle then find himself over heating. He would be a sitting duck.
His eyes slowly slid closed and he leaned back into his cockpit chair. His breath was hard and deep. He was a bit nervous and his mind kept on wanting to wonder. He saw the East base in his thoughts. A fierce battle was going on around it. His comrades were dying. Drops of sweat started to form on his forehead then slid down his cheeks as his eyes shot opened. His breath was a harder and his shoulders were raising and falling rapidly. He had to get there.
His eyes shifted down to his scanners. Nothing? But how could that be possible? He was so close to the base, he should be picking up something at least. "Liger.. Are you detecting anything?"
The Liger let out a roar and West blinked his eyes. He understood it! The Liger was just as clueless as West himself. The scanners were showing nothing. No, zoids whatsoever. Not ever a signal freedom fighter. He started to think the worst. His had quickly shook the thought away as he sat back up in his seat. His two hands once again grabbing those two control sticks tightly. The base was just over the next hill.
The Liger came to a full stop on top of that hill. It's claws digging into the ground as it came to that sliding stop. That blue flame from it's booster shutting down. The booster then folded back down into it's small compartment upon the Liger's back then being covered up by a small piece of black armor.
West gazed over the battlefield, his eyes wide with horror. His hands started to shake over those two control sticks. There wasn't a living thing as far as his eyes could see. Everything was dead.
There were destroyed zoids everywhere. Pieces of a Blade Liger were to his left and pieces of a Command Wolf laid to his right. And between them and stretching for miles were pieces of several other zoids. Some were so burnt up that West couldn't recognize them. A sickened feeling rose up in the pit of West's stomach and he felt like he was going to throw up. What on Zi happened here?
The battle looked like it's been over for a while, at least a good hour. The destroyed zoids were laying motionless down on the ground, burning. No one could have survived this. His eyes slowly closed before his shifted his gaze over to the base. He was almost afraid to look, but his did. Those blue eyes opening slowly. A small gasps left his lips and his eyes were wide.
The base was completely destroyed. Not a wall was left standing. It was just a pile of flaming junk. West's breath was hard again, his shoulders were rising and falling quickly. He knew several people stationed here. Now they were all dead. His head bowed slowly and his eyes once again came to a close.
He felt something small and wet run down his right cheek. His eyes shot back open and his head lifted back up. He brought his right hand up slowly and slid once finger against his cheek, wiping that tear away. His eyes narrowed then closed as his right hand formed into a fist. His breath was hard and fast again, now out of anger.
"I will make them pay. I swear it! Did you hear that! I swear it!" He yelled to himself as his fist came down and hit his console. His Liger let at a loud roar as it quickly turned around, facing the direction of his base.
"What is it Liger?" He said angrily.
His attention was then brought down to his speakers, something was trying to come over the comm system. " H... W..t .. under ... ack.. --" The comm went completely dead then.
West tilted his head slowly as he looked questionably down at the comm system. "What the hell was that?" He couldn't quite put it. "Wait a second! That was Amber!" He placed that voice as hers. It had to be hers, he would recognized that voice anywhere.
"Liger! We need to get back and fast!" The Liger let out another loud roar as it crouched down then leaped forward. Those four powerful legs pushing off from the ground as it entered into a sprint, taking off at it's fastest speed without using it's boosters.
West was forced back against the chair within the cockpit from the quick acceleration of speed. His hands then moved forward, taking those two control sticks within them once again. His eyes were narrowed forward, showing no emotion whatsoever. He was beyond just being angry. He was now severally pissed off. The East base was wiped out and this sector was now opened for a full invasion. And now, his base was under attack.
He was hoping that it was the same force that attacked the East base. He wanted some payback. There were over two thousand freedom fighters stationed at that base and West wanted to deliver a blow to the enemy for each and every one of them. Once he arrived at the battlefield, he would surely make the enemy paid.
He was starting to feel invincible, he was in the cockpit of the most powerful zoid within the Freedom Fighter's army. He had it's ultimate power at his fingertips and he wanted to bring it to full force. His mind was wandering, he was living the battle within his thoughts. He kept picturing himself destroying zoid after zoid and striking a deadly blow to the New Order's forces.
His scanners came to life, the base was still there, or at least part of it. His was brought out of his thoughts. His blue eyes were glaring down at his scanners.. Hmm, the base is still alive. That was a good sign. There was only one green dot on the screen, which was the base.
West blinked once, where was the enemy? "They must have detected me." He growled softly as his hands gently grabbed his two control sticks. He wanted to fight, he was ready to fight. "Damn cowards."
His Liger leaped over the small cliff and came landing on the ground. It's claws dug into the ground, bringing it to a sliding stop. West slowly gazed over the battlefield. There was no sign of the enemy, but he did see something. A destroyed Blade Liger.
"Jones.." West said softly as his eyes lowered slowly. "My God.. You were slaughter my friend." A soft sigh escaped his lips as he slowly lifted his head. His hands slowly moving those two control sticks forwards. His Liger responded to the commands and moved forward slowly, moving closer to the Blade Liger.
He pulled up along side of it and gazed down at it. The cockpit was destroyed and West could see the remains of a body within it. He growled softly, that was his second in command. "Damnit. I'm sorry Jones. I shouldn't have left."
He heard a beeping and his eyes shot down to his scanners. There was life within the base. His head quickly shot up and his gaze looked towards the halfway destroyed base. Who could still be alive? He had to find out.
With a gentle thrust of both his control sticks forward and to the right, his Liger came around and proceeded over to the base. West then quickly pulled back on the two control sticks and brought his Liger to a stop just outside of it. Then, with the flick of his wrist, his left hand was moving over his console. Within seconds that cockpit opened up then the safety gear rose over his head.
His hands reached up as he grabbed a hold of the two handles above his head and he pulled himself up. He then leaped down from the cockpit, his feet landing down against the ground. He could feel the heat coming from the flames. He took one look around slowly before quickly running into the base.
"Hello?" He called out as he made his way through the base. He was unable to get a clear signal on the exact location of the survivors. So he had to check the entire base. He slowly made his way into the engineering hangar.
His eyes scanned the area, looking at all the fallen pieces of machinery. There were bodies all over he place. All his engineers were gone. He bowed his head slowly and closed his eyes. He was trying to control his rage, so much death was surrounding him.
"Help me.."
West's eyes shot opened as he turned around. It was a soft plea, a woman's voice. Misty! It had to be her, she was the only female in the engineering bay. He looked around before calling out her name. "Misty! Where are you?"
He looked around then spotted a small hand reaching up from under some debris. He quickly ran over to her and dropped down to his knees grabbing her hand. "Misty! You're alive, thank God."
She groaned softly as she looked up to him, smiling softly. "It doesn't feel that way."
He nodded his head slowly as he looked her over slowly, noting the piece of debris over her waist and legs. "I think I can lift that." She slowly let go of her hand and got back onto his feet, moving closer to the piece. He crouched down and took it within his hands. He took a deep breath and lifted the piece. His eyes closed tightly as he brought all his strength to bare on it. He lifted it off of her body and she slowly slid out from under it before he dropped it down again.
"Thank you, sir." She said softly as she slowly pushed herself back up onto her feet. She stumbled forward slowly but caught herself. She took a deep breath before looking around slowly. "Am I the only survivor?"
West shrugged his shoulder as he walked over to her. "I'm not sure yet. I surely hope not though."
"Yeah, me too." She glanced around slowly then back to him.
"Come, lets get to the control room." He slowly moved past her and she slowly started to follow him. "What happened here?"
"We were attacked. I don't know how many there were. Jones went out to battle them." She sighed softly and shook her head. "Last I heard, his Blade Liger was destroyed."
West slowly nodded his head. "Aye, it was, and he's dead. I pasted it on my way here."
"Damnit." She closed her eyes for a split second. She kept following him slowly. A few moments past before she started to speak again. "After that. The base shook forcefully and all the power was lost. Things started to fall and thats when I was trapped."
He nodded his head slowly and ducked his head under a couple pieces of fallen debris as he entered into the control room. "Well, the New Order's forces have left. There was no sign of them anywhere." He closed his eyes tightly, he still wanted to make them pay.
"Good." She said as she slowly followed him into the control room and looked around.
His eyes opened as he glanced back at her, his head nodding slowly. "Let's check around here." She slowly nodded her head and went off on her own. He watched her slowly before turning around and scanning the room with his eyes.
"Major West? Is that you?" It was Commander Blair. He moved slowly out from one of the observational rooms along the side of the control center. His left arm was broken and up in a sling. Behind him was Amber. She had a small cut to her temple but nothing too bad.
West quickly turned and smiled slightly when he saw the two. "Commander Blair! Lieutenant Amber!" He moved closer to them. "Its great to see you two alive."
"Aye, its the same to see you alive too, sir." Amber said softly as she moved to Blair's side. "Is.. Is anyone else alive?"
"Misty.. Everyone one else is dead.."
She lowered her head as tears slowly started to roll down her cheeks.
West sighed softly and glanced back at Misty when she walked up to his side, her head shaking slowly. "This base is a goner.."
"What about the East base, sir?" Blair asked.
"Gone as well. I don't think they knew what hit them. It was gone well before I got there." He shook his head slowly and lowered his head once again.
"Damnit.." Misty said softly.
"Any survivors?" Amber asked softly, tears still running down her cheeks.
"None. Out of over two thousand people, none were lucky to survive. The new Order forces must have been overwhelming."
Blair shook his head slowly before speaking up. "I don't know about you three, but I don't think it would be wise to stay here."
"Agreed," West replied, "Let's move to the mountains. We'll be safe there for a while, and those caves up there should have enough supplies to last us a while."
"Caves sir?" Misty looked over to the Major.
"Yes, two months ago I had a shipment of supplies sent to some secret caves to the North. Just incase something like this happen. There is food, shelter, water, tools, and ever a Blade Liger up there."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"I don't know. You three get to one of the hover jeeps and I'll follow you two up with the Black Liger."
They all gave a nod of their heads before moving out.
The East base wasn't that far away. Only about seventy miles, and with the speed West was traveling at, it wouldn't be long before he would arrive. Many thoughts were traveling through his mind. What would he see when he arrived? A fierce battle? A destroyed base? He had no clue. The East base was powerful, and if they were under attack then the New Order Forces must be massive. West figured they had to have at least three hundred zoids.
He figured that the East base would be able to hold off the enemy till he got there. So his hands slowly reached forward to his two accelerators and pulled back on them. That bright blue flame from his boosters becoming a little smaller as his speed slowed to 275 km/h. He hated to do this, but he had to save his energy. He didn't want to arrive at the battle then find himself over heating. He would be a sitting duck.
His eyes slowly slid closed and he leaned back into his cockpit chair. His breath was hard and deep. He was a bit nervous and his mind kept on wanting to wonder. He saw the East base in his thoughts. A fierce battle was going on around it. His comrades were dying. Drops of sweat started to form on his forehead then slid down his cheeks as his eyes shot opened. His breath was a harder and his shoulders were raising and falling rapidly. He had to get there.
His eyes shifted down to his scanners. Nothing? But how could that be possible? He was so close to the base, he should be picking up something at least. "Liger.. Are you detecting anything?"
The Liger let out a roar and West blinked his eyes. He understood it! The Liger was just as clueless as West himself. The scanners were showing nothing. No, zoids whatsoever. Not ever a signal freedom fighter. He started to think the worst. His had quickly shook the thought away as he sat back up in his seat. His two hands once again grabbing those two control sticks tightly. The base was just over the next hill.
The Liger came to a full stop on top of that hill. It's claws digging into the ground as it came to that sliding stop. That blue flame from it's booster shutting down. The booster then folded back down into it's small compartment upon the Liger's back then being covered up by a small piece of black armor.
West gazed over the battlefield, his eyes wide with horror. His hands started to shake over those two control sticks. There wasn't a living thing as far as his eyes could see. Everything was dead.
There were destroyed zoids everywhere. Pieces of a Blade Liger were to his left and pieces of a Command Wolf laid to his right. And between them and stretching for miles were pieces of several other zoids. Some were so burnt up that West couldn't recognize them. A sickened feeling rose up in the pit of West's stomach and he felt like he was going to throw up. What on Zi happened here?
The battle looked like it's been over for a while, at least a good hour. The destroyed zoids were laying motionless down on the ground, burning. No one could have survived this. His eyes slowly closed before his shifted his gaze over to the base. He was almost afraid to look, but his did. Those blue eyes opening slowly. A small gasps left his lips and his eyes were wide.
The base was completely destroyed. Not a wall was left standing. It was just a pile of flaming junk. West's breath was hard again, his shoulders were rising and falling quickly. He knew several people stationed here. Now they were all dead. His head bowed slowly and his eyes once again came to a close.
He felt something small and wet run down his right cheek. His eyes shot back open and his head lifted back up. He brought his right hand up slowly and slid once finger against his cheek, wiping that tear away. His eyes narrowed then closed as his right hand formed into a fist. His breath was hard and fast again, now out of anger.
"I will make them pay. I swear it! Did you hear that! I swear it!" He yelled to himself as his fist came down and hit his console. His Liger let at a loud roar as it quickly turned around, facing the direction of his base.
"What is it Liger?" He said angrily.
His attention was then brought down to his speakers, something was trying to come over the comm system. " H... W..t .. under ... ack.. --" The comm went completely dead then.
West tilted his head slowly as he looked questionably down at the comm system. "What the hell was that?" He couldn't quite put it. "Wait a second! That was Amber!" He placed that voice as hers. It had to be hers, he would recognized that voice anywhere.
"Liger! We need to get back and fast!" The Liger let out another loud roar as it crouched down then leaped forward. Those four powerful legs pushing off from the ground as it entered into a sprint, taking off at it's fastest speed without using it's boosters.
West was forced back against the chair within the cockpit from the quick acceleration of speed. His hands then moved forward, taking those two control sticks within them once again. His eyes were narrowed forward, showing no emotion whatsoever. He was beyond just being angry. He was now severally pissed off. The East base was wiped out and this sector was now opened for a full invasion. And now, his base was under attack.
He was hoping that it was the same force that attacked the East base. He wanted some payback. There were over two thousand freedom fighters stationed at that base and West wanted to deliver a blow to the enemy for each and every one of them. Once he arrived at the battlefield, he would surely make the enemy paid.
He was starting to feel invincible, he was in the cockpit of the most powerful zoid within the Freedom Fighter's army. He had it's ultimate power at his fingertips and he wanted to bring it to full force. His mind was wandering, he was living the battle within his thoughts. He kept picturing himself destroying zoid after zoid and striking a deadly blow to the New Order's forces.
His scanners came to life, the base was still there, or at least part of it. His was brought out of his thoughts. His blue eyes were glaring down at his scanners.. Hmm, the base is still alive. That was a good sign. There was only one green dot on the screen, which was the base.
West blinked once, where was the enemy? "They must have detected me." He growled softly as his hands gently grabbed his two control sticks. He wanted to fight, he was ready to fight. "Damn cowards."
His Liger leaped over the small cliff and came landing on the ground. It's claws dug into the ground, bringing it to a sliding stop. West slowly gazed over the battlefield. There was no sign of the enemy, but he did see something. A destroyed Blade Liger.
"Jones.." West said softly as his eyes lowered slowly. "My God.. You were slaughter my friend." A soft sigh escaped his lips as he slowly lifted his head. His hands slowly moving those two control sticks forwards. His Liger responded to the commands and moved forward slowly, moving closer to the Blade Liger.
He pulled up along side of it and gazed down at it. The cockpit was destroyed and West could see the remains of a body within it. He growled softly, that was his second in command. "Damnit. I'm sorry Jones. I shouldn't have left."
He heard a beeping and his eyes shot down to his scanners. There was life within the base. His head quickly shot up and his gaze looked towards the halfway destroyed base. Who could still be alive? He had to find out.
With a gentle thrust of both his control sticks forward and to the right, his Liger came around and proceeded over to the base. West then quickly pulled back on the two control sticks and brought his Liger to a stop just outside of it. Then, with the flick of his wrist, his left hand was moving over his console. Within seconds that cockpit opened up then the safety gear rose over his head.
His hands reached up as he grabbed a hold of the two handles above his head and he pulled himself up. He then leaped down from the cockpit, his feet landing down against the ground. He could feel the heat coming from the flames. He took one look around slowly before quickly running into the base.
"Hello?" He called out as he made his way through the base. He was unable to get a clear signal on the exact location of the survivors. So he had to check the entire base. He slowly made his way into the engineering hangar.
His eyes scanned the area, looking at all the fallen pieces of machinery. There were bodies all over he place. All his engineers were gone. He bowed his head slowly and closed his eyes. He was trying to control his rage, so much death was surrounding him.
"Help me.."
West's eyes shot opened as he turned around. It was a soft plea, a woman's voice. Misty! It had to be her, she was the only female in the engineering bay. He looked around before calling out her name. "Misty! Where are you?"
He looked around then spotted a small hand reaching up from under some debris. He quickly ran over to her and dropped down to his knees grabbing her hand. "Misty! You're alive, thank God."
She groaned softly as she looked up to him, smiling softly. "It doesn't feel that way."
He nodded his head slowly as he looked her over slowly, noting the piece of debris over her waist and legs. "I think I can lift that." She slowly let go of her hand and got back onto his feet, moving closer to the piece. He crouched down and took it within his hands. He took a deep breath and lifted the piece. His eyes closed tightly as he brought all his strength to bare on it. He lifted it off of her body and she slowly slid out from under it before he dropped it down again.
"Thank you, sir." She said softly as she slowly pushed herself back up onto her feet. She stumbled forward slowly but caught herself. She took a deep breath before looking around slowly. "Am I the only survivor?"
West shrugged his shoulder as he walked over to her. "I'm not sure yet. I surely hope not though."
"Yeah, me too." She glanced around slowly then back to him.
"Come, lets get to the control room." He slowly moved past her and she slowly started to follow him. "What happened here?"
"We were attacked. I don't know how many there were. Jones went out to battle them." She sighed softly and shook her head. "Last I heard, his Blade Liger was destroyed."
West slowly nodded his head. "Aye, it was, and he's dead. I pasted it on my way here."
"Damnit." She closed her eyes for a split second. She kept following him slowly. A few moments past before she started to speak again. "After that. The base shook forcefully and all the power was lost. Things started to fall and thats when I was trapped."
He nodded his head slowly and ducked his head under a couple pieces of fallen debris as he entered into the control room. "Well, the New Order's forces have left. There was no sign of them anywhere." He closed his eyes tightly, he still wanted to make them pay.
"Good." She said as she slowly followed him into the control room and looked around.
His eyes opened as he glanced back at her, his head nodding slowly. "Let's check around here." She slowly nodded her head and went off on her own. He watched her slowly before turning around and scanning the room with his eyes.
"Major West? Is that you?" It was Commander Blair. He moved slowly out from one of the observational rooms along the side of the control center. His left arm was broken and up in a sling. Behind him was Amber. She had a small cut to her temple but nothing too bad.
West quickly turned and smiled slightly when he saw the two. "Commander Blair! Lieutenant Amber!" He moved closer to them. "Its great to see you two alive."
"Aye, its the same to see you alive too, sir." Amber said softly as she moved to Blair's side. "Is.. Is anyone else alive?"
"Misty.. Everyone one else is dead.."
She lowered her head as tears slowly started to roll down her cheeks.
West sighed softly and glanced back at Misty when she walked up to his side, her head shaking slowly. "This base is a goner.."
"What about the East base, sir?" Blair asked.
"Gone as well. I don't think they knew what hit them. It was gone well before I got there." He shook his head slowly and lowered his head once again.
"Damnit.." Misty said softly.
"Any survivors?" Amber asked softly, tears still running down her cheeks.
"None. Out of over two thousand people, none were lucky to survive. The new Order forces must have been overwhelming."
Blair shook his head slowly before speaking up. "I don't know about you three, but I don't think it would be wise to stay here."
"Agreed," West replied, "Let's move to the mountains. We'll be safe there for a while, and those caves up there should have enough supplies to last us a while."
"Caves sir?" Misty looked over to the Major.
"Yes, two months ago I had a shipment of supplies sent to some secret caves to the North. Just incase something like this happen. There is food, shelter, water, tools, and ever a Blade Liger up there."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"I don't know. You three get to one of the hover jeeps and I'll follow you two up with the Black Liger."
They all gave a nod of their heads before moving out.