It was morning, and Ras was still trying to grasp that not only did he have an Organoid, but so did the boy in the room across from him. Two Organoids in one building, when they were just supposed to be mythological beings.
Ras didn't believe in fate, but neither did he believe in such a blatant case of coincidence. He had toyed with the idea that Kain had been tracking him down, and it had fit with what was going on. But something about that didn't click well in his head, and Ras had tried to come up with other solutions throughout the night. In the end his thoughts had gone nowhere, and he had given up so that he could sleep before battling Kain.
Now that it was morning, and that his battle with Kain was drawing closer, Ras couldn't help but feel anxious and excited. He had given up on trying to figure out what was going on, and instead concentrated on how he was going to beat the kid. Ras had decided last night that if Kain proved to be a decent adversary that he'd ask him to join the team he would be creating. Having one Organoid would make the team difficult to beat, but with two the team might as well be invincible. Even the famous Blitz Team only had one Organoid, and that one was fused with the Liger Zero.
Shaking his head, Ras walked about his room, gathering his things together. He hadn't brought much in, even though he'd been staying at the inn for the past two days. Ras had figured he'd only be staying for a short time anyway, and the fact that the Shadow Fox was right outside made it unnecessary to bring in most of his belongings. Not to mention that the room was cramped with just himself in it, much less with Chaoc.
"Which reminds me," muttered Ras, looking about. "Where are you this time? Chaoc? Damn it fox, turn off your optical stealth!" Ras had learned about that the first morning he'd woken up with Chaoc. When he'd gotten up the Organoid had been gone, and Ras had gone into a panic. After a few minutes of frantically searching for the Organoid, Chaoc had dropped his optical stealth in front of him, startling Ras so much that he'd fall over. Chaoc had found that hilarious, and he now loved nothing more than to make Ras search for him. At least that's how Ras saw it.
Ras looked about the room, squinting his eyes. Chaoc had one of the best stealth systems that Ras had ever seen. The dark man had asked Chaoc why he hadn't used his optical stealth to get away from the Heldigunners, and Chaoc had answered that he'd forgotten about it. All Ras could do was snort at the Organoid and at its childishness.
"All right Chaoc, come out now," called Ras, packing the last bit of his things. "It's time we head down and get some breakfast. Chaoc?" Ras looked about, his eyes narrowed. Usually the Organoid would stop with his game after a couple of minutes.
Suddenly a yell from the next room and a loud roar made Ras start. He heard crashing sounds, and the whining barks of Chaoc. Ras stood straight, giving the closed door a puzzled look. How had Chaoc gotten out with the door closed?
"Damn you fox! How'd you get over there!?" Ras threw down his pack, and opened his door, stomping over to the other room where Kain was. For a moment he stood in front of the kids door, listening to the sounds of Mythe's angry growls, and Kain's frantic shouts of trying to get Mythe to calm down. All the while Ras could hear Chaoc, who was barking happily. "Stupid Organoid," he muttered and opened the door without bothering to knock.
When he opened the door and looked in, he found himself greeted by both a growling Mythe and a huge mess. Ras took a step back from the growling Mythe, his hands raised in front him, showing he meant no harm. "Hey Mythe. I take it Chaoc is in here." Ras gave a weak laugh, but Mythe just kept staring at him, his yellow eyes glowing fiercely. "Look, I didn't send him over here. He's an Organoid too, so he thinks for himself. I am curious as to how he did get over here though. May I come in at least?" He gave Mythe a smile, his dark face crinkling. The Organoid may only have been three fourths of Chaoc's size, but he was sure that Mythe could easily take him down if he wanted to. "Please?" Mythe growled, and stepped aside, and Ras gave a sigh of relief. He wasn't too sure about this Organoid, but then again he wasn't completely sure about Chaoc.
As he walked inside, he ignored the mess and concentrated on finding Chaoc. It only took him a minute before he found the offending Organoid. He had Kain pinned against the wall, his hands waving frantically, trying to get the small Zoid to move away. Abruptly he looked up, and gave a weak smile.
"Hi," he said, still trying to push away Chaoc. "It seems your Organoid took it upon himself to come visit me. Uhm, no offense, but could you maybe get him? He scared the shit out of me this morning by jumping at me while I was packing. Not only that, but I think Mythe on the point of changing in here, which would have been bad. Luckily I talked him out of it. Still, both of them had a nice fight, if you could call it that. I think Chaoc was playing, but Mythe isn't really the playful type." Kain smiled again, and Ras walked over and pulled Chaoc away.
Ras shook his head at his Organoid, and gave him a rap on the head. "Chaoc, how'd you get over here? The door was closed, and I'm sure his was as well. Not to mention getting past Mythe. And what you did was wrong Chaoc." Ras sighed, and gave an apologetic smile to Kain. "Sorry kid. He just doesn't seem to understand." The dark man turned back to Chaoc. "Now I want you to apologize to both of them, and mean it. And I don't want you to ever do anything like this again. Stuff like this could get both of us in some serious trouble. Now, say you're sorry."
"'Chaoc sorry,'" began the writing. "'Chaoc only meant to have fun. Chaoc sorry. Friends?'" Chaoc looked at Kain and Mythe, his blue eyes dimming in unhappiness. He sat down, hanging his head, his shoulders hunched over.
Ras rolled his eyes, and chuckled. Kain bought the act, and walked over to the fox Organoid and rubbed his head. "It's fine Chaoc. Just don't do it again okay? Mythe doesn't take surprises very well." He gave the huge Organoid a huge. "Don't worry about it. Mythe I'm sure will get over it. He's just a bit grumpy." He stood up and gave the Organoid another pat. "So Chaoc, I am curious. How did you get in here?"
Chaoc gave a happy whine, and stood back up. "'Chaoc open door and disappeared. Chaoc then come over to Kain and Mythe to play. Chaoc have fun playing with Kain and Mythe.'" The fox Organoid wagged his tail back and forth, making happy barks. "'Chaoc open door like this.'" Chaoc barked and withdrew his hologram projector, and instead brought out a four-fingered appendage that he opened and closed, all while wagging his tail. "'Chaoc escape from bad people that way.'" The Organoid barked happily, and sat down.
Ras smiled, and began picking up the room. It was truly a mess, with things thrown about and the table with the mirror smashed. The dark man was surprised that the innkeeper hadn't come up to check on them, but then he figured that the man was probably too afraid to. Ras really couldn't blame the innkeeper, as he himself was slightly frightened by the Organoids. Without trying they could seriously injure somebody.
"It figures," said Ras, after cleaning up what he could. Kain had sat down on the bed, and was looking at Chaoc quizzically. "I really should have suspected that he'd have something like that. He's full of surprises, and not all of them good. I am sorry about the scare. Chaoc just doesn't seem to understand that not all people are happy to have him around. Why, when we entered the town, he pounced on the poor innkeeper, scaring him to death. I think the guy nearly had heart failure." Ras gave a small chuckle and sat down next to Kain.
"What did he mean by escaping from bad people?" asked Kain quietly, looking at Mythe. The Organoid was lying on the ground, watching Chaoc intently. A small growl escaped from the cat Organoid, and Kain shook his head at him.
"Well, when I got him two days ago he was running from two Heldigunners that were after him." Ras shrugged. "He told me that he'd escaped from 'bad Zoids' who wanted him for 'bad things'. Besides that, and saying that we need to 'help Zoids' I know nothing. Either his memory is erased or he has some sort of programming that doesn't allow him to speak of it. It doesn't really matter anyway." Ras smiled, and stood up. "So kid, you ready for our battle later? Are you still up to it? I can understand if you want to bow out. I wouldn't hold it against you."
Kain snorted, and shook his head. Silently he stood up and picked up his trench coat and put it on. "I'm still gonna battle you mercenary. I'll win too, so don't worry about me. I'd worry more about yourself. Now, can we go downstairs and get some breakfast? I never ate last night, and I feel as if I've a hole growing in my stomach."
The tall man laughed, and motioned Chaoc out the door. "Yeah, sure. I'm a little hungry too, although don't hope for too much from this guy. The cooking is poor, and the guy is poorer. This town will be empty within the month I say. Too bad the technology of the cities hasn't reached all the outlaying towns." Ras shrugged, and walked out of the room, Chaoc following behind him. "Just a sec, I've gotta grab my stuff. Stay here Chaoc, I'll be right back." Ras walked into his room and grabbed his pack. A scanned everything to make sure that he hadn't forgotten anything, then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Alright, lets head down."
Ras groaned when Chaoc gave a loud bark, and bounded down the stairs, landing at the bottom with a loud thump. This wasn't the first time he'd done it, and every time Ras thought he'd break through the rickety wood floor. So far they'd been lucky and the Organoid hadn't.
"Acts like a little kid doesn't he?" said Kain behind him. The short guy was laughing softly, and shaking his head, making his brown hair swing back and forth. "Chaoc seems to get joy out of the simplest things."
"Yeah, he does," said Ras, walking down the stairs. Chaoc was sitting at the bottom, wagging his tail back and forth excitedly. When Ras reached the bottom Chaoc stood up and barked, and pranced over to the counter where the innkeeper was staring at them, his eyes wide. "Innkeeper, we'd like our breakfast. After that we'll trouble you no more."
The innkeeper gave a start at his voice, then nodded his head emphatically. "Yes good sir. In fact, uhm, no offense please, but would you be willing for me to pack it for you so you can get an early start? No offense intended good sir." The man looked nervously at the two Organoids. Abruptly he jumped back when Chaoc walked over and put his head over the counter, trying to get closer the innkeeper. The Organoid's blue eyes glowed brightly, and he wagged his tail back and forth slowly.
Ras shrugged his shoulders and looked over his shoulder at Kain, who also shrugged. "I don't really care as long as I get to eat." Ras nodded his head and turned back to the innkeeper.
"Okay, we'll do it. Make sure it's decent fodder though. We'll wait here for it." Ras smiled, his dark face crinkling. Silently he hefted the pack over his shoulder and walked over to one of the few chairs in the room and sat down. "So Kain," Ras said, looking at the kid who was still standing. He was looking at Mythe, who had curled himself up at the bottom of the stairs, evidently uncaring about what was going on in the room. "How are you going to keep up with me? Will you have Mythe change right outside the city? I know you probably don't like the idea, but I'd recommend it. If we walk we won't get very far."
Kain looked up, and turned to Ras. "I'd already figured as much. Anyway, both of us need to get use to doing this. We have to get our strength up so that he can be changed for a longer period of time. We'll probably be trying to change every day now, so as to get him used to it. We've already had a talk over it, and Mythe agrees." Kain smiled, and raised an eyebrow. "So you see, we're all set and ready."
"So you are," muttered Ras. "Chaoc, come here." The Organoid was wandering about the room, knocking over tables that he didn't even seem to notice were there. Chaoc brought his head up, gave a happy whining bark, and trotted over to Ras and plopped his butt on the ground, all the time wagging his tail. The dark man smiled and patted the Organoid's white head. "What am I going to do with you?"
Just as Kain seemed about to speak, the innkeeper walked back into the main room carrying a package of wrapped food in each hand. For a moment he stopped and stared at the two, then shook his head, muttering softly to himself. Then he looked up at the two, and set the packages on the counter. "Here you two go. Now please leave." He gave the two Organoids another nervous look, and then left, not waiting to see if the two would leave.
"Such hospitality," murmured Kain, walking over to the counter and picking up the packages. "Well I suppose we should go. Mythe." The young man motioned for the Organoid to follow him as he walked out the door, his trench coat flaring open slightly in a breeze.
Ras watched the kid leave the inn, shaking his head. Was something wrong with the kid? Well it was no concern of his, Ras decided as he stood up and walked to the counter. "Come on Chaoc, let's go," he said as he followed Kain out the door. He surely wasn't going to miss that inn and its dilapidated state, and he surely wasn't going to miss the nervous innkeeper. Ras would, on the other hand, miss the ability to sleep in a bed. "Yep Chaoc," Ras said as he walked into the hot air outside. The wind blowing hard enough to blow sand around but not enough to cause any trouble. "Yep, I'll surely miss that bed. Anyway bud, we'd best get to the Shadow Fox. You didn't forget how to merge did you?"
"'Chaoc did not forget. Shadow Fox likes when Chaoc merges with him. Chaoc likes when he merges with Shadow Fox. Chaoc and Shadow Fox and Ras get to fight today?'" Chaoc was looking at Ras intently, his blue eyes glinting in the light. If Ras hadn't known better he would have thought that Organoid looked anxious and excited.
"That's good Chaoc, and yes, we will be battling today. We are going to battle Kain to see if his Organoid is as good as you are okay? I'm sure we'll beat him, so don't you worry." Ras grinned as he walked around the corner of the building to his Shadow Fox. The huge Zoid was lying there, almost like a black and gold blot on the land. Ras smiled, walked up to the Fox, and patted its pointy muzzle. "It's been a couple days buddy. I'm sure your ready for a run aren't you Fox?" The Shadow Fox gave a high-pitched whine, and opened the cockpit visor.
Ras jumped into the cockpit and buckled himself in. Before he closed the canopy he called down to Chaoc to follow him to the outskirts of the small village. Then, closing the canopy, and taking the controls into his hands, he guided the Shadow Fox through the buildings to the bare desert outside the town. After a brief shake of his head at the sad village, he began to scan about for Kain and Mythe. It took him only a moment to find them both. They were standing a few hundred feet in front of him and to the right. Even from that distance, Ras could tell that Kain was smiling.
"So," the dark man said on the Shadow Fox's loudspeaker, "you ready to fight? You can still back out if you feel you can't take it." Ras grinned, knowing that the kid wouldn't bow out. Anyway, the mercenary wanted to see what his Organoid looked like when it was a Zoid.
"You know I'm not going to back out! You ready to see Mythe's Zoid form?" called Kain, his trench coat flaring in the wind, and his hair blowing back.
"Go for it," called Ras, sitting back in his seat. This ought to be an interesting thing to see, he thought grinning. He looked down at Chaoc, who was sitting on the ground, intently watching Mythe and Kain.
"All right Mythe," said Kain. Swiftly he moved away from the Organoid, then turned to watch him change into his Zoid form.
As Ras watched, the Organoid began to grow. The change was rapid in places, and slow in others. As the Organoid grew, his color began to change from a light blue to a storm cloud grey. His gold teeth grew longer, especially the two saber fangs. The ears disappeared, and his head changed to hold a cockpit. Ras noticed that the legs stayed basically the same, except for growing. Mythe's chest armor changed, and on his chest a double-barreled cannon emerged. His head changed, growing what looked like a shield generator on both the underside of the head and on top of it, although it looked different from that of a Blade or Shield Liger. Mythe's neck changed, becoming almost completely black, and jointed in such a way that the head could move in just about any direction. Spines stood up from the neck, four of them for each of the odd joints in his neck. On the Zoid's back were three long spines. Ras guess that the two on the sides were free moving and worked much like the blades of a Blade Liger. They were probably equipped with Pulse Laser Guns, and could also most likely be used as a blade in close combat. A third spine on the back looked to be mobile, and able to move up and down. Ras had no idea what that was for. Mythe's tail grew, and ended up looking much like his tail when he'd been an Organoid, except there was something about it that made Ras wonder what its use was.
Then, almost as quickly as the change had begun, it was done, and Mythe was no longer an Organoid, but a Zoid. Ras couldn't help but stare at, and at the intense beauty. The mercenary had to admit it was one of the most beautiful Zoids he had ever seen. Mythe had changed completely. He was grey now, instead of light blue, although his claws, teeth, and eyes were still golden.
"Well what do you think?" called Kain, who was laughing. "Isn't he beautiful?" The kid walked over to the Zoid, and laid his hand on the claw. The Zoid was small compared to other cat Zoids, but it was certainly large enough, and Ras didn't doubt Kain that Mythe was fast and agile. Mythe suddenly roared loudly, clearly enjoying being a Zoid. The roar reminded him of a Blade Liger's. After a moment Mythe laid down and opened his cockpit to let Kain jump inside. Ras watched as the cockpit closed, and almost immediately Kain showed up on the screen in front of him.
"Well that is quite a change," said Ras, shaking his head chuckling. "I have to admit I'm impressed. He is quite a beauty, no doubting that. Still, you won't be able to beat me and my Shadow Fox, no to mention Chaoc." Kain laughed, and shook his head. "So, you wanna see Chaoc merge? It's not quite impressive as watching Mythe change into a Zoid, but it is fun."
"Sure," said Kain. Ras watched as he maneuvered the Zoid around so that he could clearly see Chaoc and the Shadow Fox. Even that small amount of movement showed fluidity that not even he Shadow Fox had.
"Alright Chaoc! Go for it! Time to merge!" Chaoc gave a happy growling bark, and took a few steps back, and ran straight towards the Shadow Fox. Suddenly he jumped into the air, and as he hit the middle of the Zoid, he seemed to go right through. As soon as he was all the way in, the Shadow Fox gave his unique call, and began jumping around happily. "Chaoc, stop it! I know you're happy! Let me have control! Stop it!" The Zoid stopped jumping about, and Ras shook his head. "Don't do that anymore Chaoc. I know your happy, but don't show your happiness by bounding around in the Shadow Fox okay?"
"'Okay,'" appeared on the screen to his side. "'Chaoc be good. We fight now? Chaoc want to see if he can fight! Want to play with Kain and Mythe!'"
Ras laughed, and shook his head. "Yes, we're going to fight them soon. First we have to get away from the village though. You ready to go Kain?" The dark man looked at Kain who was still on the screen in front of him.
"Yeah, let's get going. We should probably get at least ten miles away from here. We'll do that pretty quickly though. Let's go!" Kain laughed, and abruptly Mythe whirled around, and began running. The two spines that Ras had suspected to work as both blade and gun, came down, and gave the Zoid extra running power, making it even faster. The Zoid's gait was a lot like that of a Liger Zero's, who Ras had heard ran a lot like a dog did. The run ate up ground quickly and efficiently.
"Come on Fox, let's not let him think he's impressing us!" Ras pushed the control forward and pressed down on both of the foot petals, and immediately the Shadow Fox began it's leaping run. With Chaoc merged with the Zoid Core Ras could feel the Shadow Fox becoming fast and more agile. It only took him a moment to catch up to Kain and Mythe.
"Your Fox doesn't run too bad," said Kain. "Mythe thinks your Fox won't beat him though, even if you can keep up with us. He says that you're nothing compared to him. I have to say that I agree with him." Kain smiled, his grey eyes sparkling.
Ras laughed. "Fast and agile you may be, but you lack experience kid. You and Mythe will lose, although it is to be expected of a kid, even one with an Organoid for a Zoid." Ras grinned, showing that he meant no insult. "But maybe you'll give me a decent fight. Who knows."
The kid laughed, and shook his head, making his hair swing back and forth. "By the way, I believe I forgot to tell you, but when Mythe is in this form I call him the Storm Liger. Just thought I'd let you know. And to be sure, there is a reason for it besides his grey coloring. This will be a battle like you've never had before!"
The two Zoids ran side by side, both eating up ground like it wasn't even there. The landscape around them seemed a blur as they ran. The Shadow Fox, black at night, ran in leaping jumps that made him extremely maneuverable, while the Storm Liger, grey like a storm cloud, ran like a Liger Zero, his side wings giving him lift when he kicked off the ground. Both ran with the ease of being a great Zoid and having a great pilot to command them.
"So do you think we're far enough away?" asked Kain suddenly, slowing his Liger and looking about. The area seemed bare, and there didn't seem to be any signs of life for miles.
Ras also slowed, scanning the area with the Fox's exceptional radar. Nothing was picked up, and Ras squinted his blue eyes, looking himself. "It seems as good as place as any. That village is miles behind us." The mercenary gave one last scan of the area, then nodded his head. "Well, this looks good. You ready kid?"
For an answer Kain turned the Storm Liger about, and ran a few hundred feet away, then whirled around to face Ras. "As ready as I'll ever be. Ready to lose mercenary? I suppose I should say that I'm sorry now in case I forget to say it later. I really don't like beating friends in battle."
Ras snorted. "Chaoc, you ready to go?" The Fox gave a whining bark, and Ras could feel Chaoc wagging the Zoid's tail. "We've gotta beat this punk of kid and show him that brave talk doesn't win the battle. All right kid, let's go! Fight!"
Immediately both Zoids ran at each other, one giving a growling whine, the other roaring. The fight had begun.
Kain laughed as the Storm Liger raced towards the Shadow Fox. He had closed the visual screen of Ras and was focusing only on the joy of the fight and the intense thrill of running in a Zoid. The Storm Liger's run was smooth and easy, making him feel as if he was flying.
Even as the Shadow Fox and Ras ran at them, Kain noticed that the Fox's claws were beginning to glow. "Strike Laser Claw huh? Well we can easily avoid that now can't we?" Just as Kain spoke, the Shadow Fox leapt into the air above him, the front claws glowing an intense golden color. The Strike Laser Claw could do some serious damage if it hit the Storm Liger, but only if it hit. Kain grinned, and pushed in the controls, causing the hidden thrusters on the Liger's back to flare out, and allowing the Zoid to leap forward. The Shadow Fox landed at the exact spot where Kain had been only a moment before. The glowing claws dimmed, and became silver again, and the Shadow Fox turned around.
"Not bad kid, not bad at all. Hidden Ion Booster huh? Didn't figure on that, but I suppose it's to be expected on a Liger type." Ras laughed, and Kain could hear Chaoc barking happily. "Well let's continue!" Even as Ras spoke the Shadow Fox began to race towards the Storm Liger, the Vulcan Gun coming forward.
Kain simply smiled and turned on the free-floating shield. As the Vulcan Gun on the Fox fired, a shield of energy appeared in front of the Liger. The blasts from the gun bounced harmlessly off the shield, and Kain took the chance to race towards the Shadow Fox, hoping to ram him with the shield.
As he reached the Shadow Fox, the super agile Zoid jumped aside and once again fired his Vulcan Gun, this time at the Storm Liger's side. Kain could have put up another shield, but he didn't want Ras to know all his secrets yet, and so he dropped the shield he had in front of him, and quickly put on the thrusters, making him once again sprint forward. Nonetheless a couple of shots grazed the Storm Liger's back leg, causing Kain to growl and the Liger to stumble. Kain quickly regained control, shutting down the thrusters, and turning about.
The kid gasped as he noticed that the Shadow Fox wasn't where he expected it to be. Frantically he looked about, and saw that Ras had taken the opportunity to once again come at him with the Strike Laser Claw. "Shit," he cursed, having no choice to but to show that this shield was different than most. Immediately he brought his tail up, and the set the shield to appear over him, where the Shadow Fox would land. Instantly the shield materialized above him, coming into being by both use of the shield generator in his tail and the one on the back of the Storm Liger's head.
There was a crackling sound as the Shadow Fox landed on the shield. For a moment the Fox seemed to hang there, his claws stuck on the shield, then suddenly the Fox was thrown aside, and landed rolling on the ground. Almost immediately the Shadow Fox rose, but it took him a moment to gain his footing. Slowly the Fox turned towards the Storm Liger, the eyes glowing fiercely.
"Well kid," said Ras, popping up on Kain's screen. "That's interesting. I knew that tail had to have a purpose, but I couldn't figure out what. Now I know." The dark man grinned, and Kain laughed. "Your not too bad, but I'm far from done." The screen winked out, and Kain let the shield disappear. He readied himself for the mercenary's next attack.
Instead of charging the Liger, instead the Fox stood there. Suddenly black smoke started to flow out of the Shadow Fox. Almost instantly the area was covered in a thick screen of black smoke, and Kain looked about, unable to see anything. "Damn," he muttered, nervously glancing about. He knew about the Shadow Fox's ability to hide in the smoke and see. It was one of the Fox's signature moves, and there was little that Kain could do. The Storm Liger was equipped with heat seeking abilities, but nothing was showing up on the screen. Either his system was having a glitch, or Ras had the ability to hide that as well. He doubted there was a problem with the system, so either his Shadow Fox was specially equipped with heat dampening abilities, or Chaoc was able to do it.
Suddenly there was a movement in front of him, and Kain faced the two mobile spines on his back in front of him, and fired the Pulse Laser Gun that was equipped in them. Even as he fired though, Kain knew nothing was there, and he shook his head, muttering to himself. Silently he looked about, swinging the head of the Zoid around, searching for any sign of movement.
Without warning Kain suddenly found himself being thrown about in his seat as the Storm Liger was bombarded with fire from the Shadow Fox. Kain groaned, a shook his head to clear his sense, and turned on the boosters, running to get away from the fire.
"Come on Mythe, we've gotta get out of the smoke. After that we'll show him why I call you the Storm Liger. He'll pay for denting your armor." Kain laughed as they raced out of the smoke. Abruptly he was free of it, and he smiled, glancing around for the Shadow Fox. Even as he turned off the boosters he found himself once again rocked in his seat, and he realized that the Liger was rolling on the ground. Kain waited for the Zoid to stop moving, and he slowly stood the Storm Liger up. Mythe growled, and Kain agreed with him. Not even he could take an attack like that for long.
After a moment to gain his orientation, Kain looked about, and found the Shadow Fox standing calmly to the side of him. The glow was just fading from its claws and Kain frowned. The Fox's tail was wagging slowly back and forth; Chaoc's doing no doubt.
"Like I said kid, your not bad, but you lack experience. I have to admit, I'm kinda surprised your still standing. Most Zoids would have had a system freeze by now. I feel bad for beating you so badly, but I warned you. Chaoc is having a blast though. He says that you guys make good playmates, and that we should do this everyday. So do you want to give up kid?" Ras was smiling, his blue eyes twinkling.
Kain snorted. "Whatever mercenary. I'm not done yet. You don't even know half of what the Storm Liger is capable. I do think I will now show you why I do call him the Storm Liger though. I'm getting tired of fighting you." He didn't say it aloud, but the Storm Liger only had so much energy left, and he'd taken a pretty bad beating. Ras had been right, most other Zoids would have been out of commission, but the Storm Liger wasn't a normal Zoid. "Let's get him Mythe." The Storm Liger roared, and spread its legs, bracing itself.
The three spines on the Liger's back suddenly stood up straight. Kain could only smile. There was no way that the Shadow Fox would be able to get out of this one.
"What are you doing kid? If you stand there much longer I'm gonna have to take you down." Kain was happy to hear a note of uncertainty in the mercenary's voice.
"Just wait a moment, and you'll see. It's been a nice fight mercenary." Kain laughed, and pushed the red button to his side, starting the electric generator.
Slowly the spines on the back of the Storm Liger began to glow, and blue arcs of electricity began to climb between the three spines. The scent of lightning began to fill the air. The electricity began to climb the spines quicker and quicker, the arcs becoming longer and louder. Then, when Kain deemed that enough electricity had built up, and brought down the spine closest to the Shadow Fox, and pointed it at him. Immediately electricity jumped from the spine right towards the Shadow Fox.
"Shit!" Kain heard Ras curse as he suddenly realized what he was up to. He watched as the mercenary tried to get his Zoid to dodge the lightning bolt, but he was too slow. The eighteen year old smiled as the electricity engulfed the Shadow Fox in mid leap. He watched as the lightning whirled around the Fox, sparks of it coming up and jumping along the body of the Zoid. Almost immediately there was a huge crash of thunder, and Kain smiled as the Shadow Fox fell to its side, parts of it smoking.
"And that is why he's called the Storm Liger," said Kain, shutting down the generator. He looked at the Shadow Fox, hoping the attack hadn't harmed the mercenary too badly. Suddenly he blinked as a clawed foot moved, and as the tail twitched. Slowly the Shadow Fox stood back up, and Kain could only take a step back in the Liger, unable to understand how the Fox could possibly be able to function. That attack usually fried all the circuit and often times caused the pilot to lose consciousness. "How?"
"Damn that hurt," said Ras, the screen flickering back on. His blue eyes were narrow, and he looked angry. "I've never seen that sort of attack before. You could kill someone with that kid! As to how I'm still alive and standing, well I've got mostly the Shadow Fox's agility and the fact that Chaoc is merged with it to thank. You forget that I too have an Organoid kid. Still that attack hurt. I personally don't like being shocked that much. Luckily most cockpits are heavily enforced with non-electricity conducting material." Suddenly the mercenary grinned. "Although I have to admit that was a pretty damn cool attack. Wish the Fox could do that. I'd been wondering what that third spine was for. Hey, can those mobile spines be used as blades?"
Kain blinked, still unable to comprehend what was going on. "Uh-uh," he shook his head, clearing his head. "No, actually they can't. At least not right now. We're working on making them like a Blade Liger's, but it's slow going. All they can do right now is conduct the lightning attack and use a Pulse Laser Gun." Kain smiled, and shook his head. "I just can't believe you didn't have a system freeze. We'll I'm not done yet! Let's—"
Suddenly he found himself being once again thrown about in his seat. Angrily he looked at the Shadow Fox, but the Zoid too was being fired at. Kain hastily threw up his shield, blocking out the gunfire. The eighteen year old watched as the Shadow Fox whirled about, and abruptly disappeared, using optical stealth.
"Who the hell is that?" snarled Ras. Kain brought his screen up, and magnified it. Running towards them was a Rev Raptor and two Command Wolves. "Who the hell are they?" he heard the mercenary mutter. Then the mercenary gasped, and Kain watched on his screen as he shook his head. "Are you sure Chaoc?"
"Who are they?" asked Kain. His shield was holding up well, but Mythe's energy was beginning to fall. He didn't know how much longer he could keep fighting.
Ras turned to look at him in the screen. "Chaoc says that they are the people who were trying to hurt him and make him do bad things. He says that they have come to get him and take him back." Ras snorted, anger in his eyes. "I won't let them of course. Will you taken them down with me, or will I have to do it alone?"
Kain looked at the Zoids. A Rev Raptor, and two Command Wolves. Both were highly mobile, and neither would be a simple opponent. The challenge sparked Kain's interest, and the Storm Liger roared. "I guess we will," grinned Kain, looking at the mercenary. Ras smiled, and nodded his head.
"Okay then, let's go!" The screen winked off, and Kain watched as the Shadow Fox reappeared and began its leaping run at the charging Zoids. He heard Ras laughed as he began firing the Vulcan Gun at the Zoids.
Kain shook his head, and pushed down on the foot petals and pushed the controls forward. "Okay Mythe, let's get 'em!" The Storm Liger roared loudly, and followed Ras, easily catching up to him. "So Ras, how are we going to take them down?"
"However you want kid!" laughed Ras as he suddenly sprinted ahead, his claws beginning to glow. With a whining growl the Shadow Fox leapt into the air, diving at a Command Wolf. The Command Wolf snarled, and jumped to the side, but not quick enough to completely dodge the Strike Laser Claw. The Wolf gave another snarl as long claw marks were left down its side. Immediately it shot its double-barreled gun at the Fox, but Ras had already moved on to the other Command Wolf.
Kain decided that he'd concentrate on the single Rev Raptor. Already the raptor Zoid was charging at the Storm Liger, his twin sickle blades out, and his claw mounted guns ready to fire. Kain laughed, pointed his guns at the Zoid, and fired, hitting the Rev Raptor solidly in the chest. The Zoid gave a roar, and took a couple of steps back, then shook itself, glaring at the Storm Liger. Suddenly it gave another roar, and fired its guns. Kain erected his shield, and charged at the Zoid, ramming him. As soon as the two Zoids collided, the Raptor gave a roar, and flew back, and landed on the ground, twitching. Kain snorted when it tried to rise but couldn't.
"That was way to easy Mythe. Let's go after a Command Wolf." The Storm Liger roared, and turned about, looking for a Command Wolf to attack, but there was no one there.
"Sorry kid, I got them both already. How pathetic! If they're gonna come after Chaoc, you'd think that they'd at least get decent pilots." Ras brought his Shadow Fox around, and stopped next to Kain. "I wonder why they want Chaoc so badly. Maybe I should have a talk with one of those pilots."
Kain shrugged his shoulders and looked about. "Maybe. Something about those Zoids struck me as odd though." Kain couldn't put his finger on what was bothering him about the Zoids. "I guess we might as well. Which one you want to talk to?" The Storm Liger shook his head, making Kain laugh. "I know Mythe, we're almost done. Heh, I guess this kinda cancels our battle doesn't it?"
Ras snorted, then shrugged his shoulders. "We'll call it a tie. Anyway, I think we should talk to the Rev Raptor pilot, as he was probably the leader." Ras walked the Shadow Fox over, opened the canopy, and then leapt out, walking over to the fallen Zoid. "Hey, you in there, I'd like to talk to you." Kain watched as he fingered the manual cockpit opener, and silently the canopy swung open. "Hey, I'd like to talk to…. You." Ras blinked, and turned to the Storm Liger.
Kain saw it too. The Raptor had no pilot. "What about the Command Wolves?" asked Kain, although he already knew the answer. Ras was shaking his head, as he ran towards the other two Zoids. He opened each of the cockpits, but neither of them held a pilot.
Silently the mercenary made his way back to the Shadow Fox, and hopped in. "What do you think this means?" Kain asked him after he buckled himself in. He watched as Ras ran a hand through his hair.
"I have no idea, although it can't be good. Hey, didn't they come from the direction of that village we left this morning?" Kain suddenly looked at the mercenary, a feeling a dread washing over him. Ras simply nodded his head, reading his mind "I agree, let's go check on them."
Without waiting for a reply, the mercenary started for the village they had left that morning. Kain couldn't help but feel dread at what he knew they would probably find. If those Zoids were automated, without pilots, they'd probably destroy anything in their way. But what reason could they have to destroy a helpless village.
"Ras, do you think they were like the ancient Sleepers that the old armies used to have?" Even as Kain said it though, he knew it wasn't that. The Sleepers were ambushers, not hunters, and they could only be set for a single task at a time. Even though technology had advanced remarkably since that ancient era, Sleepers were just that, Sleepers. Anyway, there had been no use for such Zoids for hundreds and hundreds of years.
"Kid, you already know the answer to that, so I'm not even going to bother spelling it out for you. Let's just get to that village, and make sure those people are okay."
The eighteen year old nodded his head silently, and simply watched out for anyone while they raced towards the village. The ground and land outside seemed a blur as they ran, both secretly hoping that the village would be safe and secure. It didn't take them long to reach the village, and what they saw made Kain gasp and Ras curse in anger.
The town had been completely destroyed. Nothing remained by a few burning timbers, and the occasional wall. No one could have survived the total destruction of the village, and both of the Zoid pilots knew this. Neither of them suggested in a hopeless search that would only dampen their spirits more.
Slowly, after spending over an hour just staring at the rubble and destruction, both pilots turned away, and ran off into the desert, hoping to leave their guilt and anger of the days events behind them.