\Smilys:Lazy me heh.I've been very bored lately and I think it affects my
thinking.Or maybe its because I think all of you are dead cuz you aren't
reviewing!*cries*
Apollo:Its not like it's the end of the world if you don't get a review…
Smilys:How would you know?The next time I check to see if I got a review,the world COULD blow up!
Apollo:Rrriiiggghhhtttt….
Disclaimer:Don't own zoids.Why do we even do Disclaimers??
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"Leena,in my office,now."Leena walked in the Head of Chief's office for the Snipers."Yes sir?"The 'boss' sat at his desk."We just received an urgent message from Captain Bit Cloud,"Leena froze slightly at this."He said that he was under heavy fire and that he needed back up.I need you to take a few Snipers,a stealth truck and get over there!"Leena saluted him."Yes Sir!"She was out the door and getting everything ready in a heartbeat.
Every one was quite.Only the cracking of burning wreckage could be heard.Bit surveyed everything.Jamie was sitting down.Maria sat next to him,obviously thinking hard.Bit looked to the east.He thought he heard something."Did anybody hear that?"Jamie looked at him,Maria did to,noone spoke.A low rumbling was getting louder and louder.There,coming over the hill,where at lest ten Gunsnippers coming there way.Maria gripped the empty gun in her hand.Bit squinted his eyes.He could see the mark representing the Zoids Commision!"Hey!That's the back up!"Jamie and Maria stood up and walked over to him as the Gunsnippers got closer to them.
Leena jumped out of the stealth truck as it pulled up to them.She surveyed the wreckage,the bodies,she was a little surprised to see some cut in half,then to the three of them."I see that you didn't need the back up."Bit shook his head slightly."Just barely."Leena motioned to the truck."Well,get in,we'll take care of you at the base."They climbed in to the back of the truck,all three silent.
The ride to the base that Leena mentioned,was very rough.Ever once in a while they would hit a pot hole and any one in the back would have a nice sore butt when they arrived there.The searching party managed to fine some survivors in the wreckage.Three men in their twenties sat in the truck with Jamie,Bit and Maria,all were very dirty.Bit and Leena chatted about what had happened,Jamie seemed very interested in his shoes,while Maria stared at the floor,her eyes clearly had that far away look,meaning that she was thinking.The other men in the truck seemed to be avoiding Maria,they had seen her handy work as they walked to the truck.
"So…underestimated the enemy?Am I right?"Bit shurged."I guess so."Leena couldn't help but snicker.She looked over at Maria who was in the very back,she looked a little pale to Leena."So,anyway,I guess you guys will stay at the base until we can contact yours."Bit nodded."Sounds good to me,what about you guys?"Bit said to the crew in the back.The men had no objection.Jamie didn't either.Maria stayed queit.Bit frowned at her."Maria?What about you?"She didn't answer at first.She looked up at him,like she snapped out of her thinking."Huh?Uh…Yeah…whatever.."Maria started to think again as they pulled into the base.
As they piled out of the truck,Bit whispered something to Leena."Wonder whats the matter with her."Leena could tell what was wrong,but she just shrugged as they walked through the gates.Leena showed the three men,who had some minor injuries, to the hospital wing.As those men where being attended to,Leena noticed for the first time the bruises on Jamie.She pointed at them."What happen to you?"Jamie,just remembering the bruises,looked at them dumbfounded."Uh…Long story?"Leena motioned for a nurse to come and clean him up.
Once they where being attended to,Leena showed Bit and Maria to where they would be staying.She stopped at a door and opened it."Maria,you'll stay in here. Naomi should be back any minute."Maria looked at her,muttered an 'ok' then went inside,Leena closing the door.
Bit shook his head."Whoa…she seems a little out doesn't she?"Leena nodded."Yeah…we get it aaalll the time here too."Bit frowned."Huh?"Both Leena and Bit turned a corner."Well…when ever we send out a group into a battle,some are new and are only experienced in practices,fight,come back and are totally mindless.Afterwards,they start to babble about how they have blood on their hands.Dosen't make any sense to me,but now their very talented pilots."Bit didn't really understand."Ooookkkk…"
Naomi walked into the room that both she and Leena shared.She wasn't expecting to see Raynos Pilot Maria Cloud sitting mindlessly at the foot of Leena's bed,Naomi thought she looked pretty pale."Oh…Hey Maria what are you doing here?"Maria didn't look at her,she said,quite simply,"I have blood on my hands."Naomi said very quietly to herself."Oh no…not her too…"Maria looked up slightly,her eyes where so far away.She showed Naomi her hands."See?See how red it is Naomi?"Naomi didn't see anything wrong with her hands,they looked fine to her.
Bit didn't know where they were going.He followed Leena to a room that looked like a command center for the base.People where scurrying around every where,papers fluttered in the air,some shouted things to one another.Leena led Bit over to the main controls,there,the Cornel for the base shook his hand."You must be Captain Bit Cloud. Congratulations on the victorious attack."Bit nodded."Thank you sir."The Cornel looked over at the controls. "Unfortunately…we are unable to make any type of contact with the last base you visited."Leena glanced at Bit,who also glanced back.The Colonel continued."We are currently trying to get through to the base you are stationed at."Bit was suspicious." Have you made any contact yet Sir?"The Colonel shook his head."None yet."
"Its so red Naomi…"Maria said in wonder as she stared at her hands.Naomi said nothing,she let Maria babble,she was use to it."It oozes all over my hands….the floor is getting messy…."Maria stared blankly at her hands.Naomi didn't know what to do other then to be quiet.
Leena led Bit to where he would stay."I feel like a chaperon." She muttered while they climbed a flight of stairs.Bit laughed Slight."You really did have to escort me."Leena laughed."No way!You would get lost in here!"They soon stopped at a door.Leena opened it and Bit went in.Right when she was about to follow,the radio on her belt cracked.Leena picked it up and spoke into it."Leena Toros here."Crack."Leena….Maria's acting weirder…..you better come talk to her…"Leena glanced back at Bit."Ok…I'll be right there Naomi."She turned the radio off.Leena faced Bit."I'm sure you can find every thing in here,I have to go do some,uh,things….I'll be back later."Leena quickly left before he could say anything.
"I killed them…I killed them all…."Maria silently sobbed on the bed."The blood…the blood!Its every where!!"Naomi had to restrain herself from giving her a good slap.
Leena skidded to a halt and opene the door.She saw Naomi leaning against the opposite wal,Maria,sitting on the bed staring around,tear streaks down her face.Naomi muttered to Leena."She's been saying the same thing over and over for at lets five minutes."Leena slowly walked over to Maria."Maria?Are you ok?"Naomi slightly rolled her eyes at such a dumb question.Maria sniffled and looked up at Leena."Leena….the blood….its everywhere….all over everything….."Leena looked around."No no,no it isn't!Look,theres no blood anywhere!Your imagining it!"Maria shook her head."No!I see it!It's everywhere!"She pause.Then gasped."Its seeping through the walls Leena!!"Leena gently shook Maria."No!Listen to me…there is no blood…."She said it clearly."Now..say that to your self….There…is..no…blood…"Maria nodded,her eyes shifting a little."There is no blood….there is no blood…there is no blood…."Maria muttered this over and over.Ten minutes passed by.Maria blinked.She looked at Leena and stood up."That was weird….do you have anything to eat here Leena?"Leena and Naomi Laughed."Yeah…but it isn't dinner yet."Maria slumped."Aw man."
At dinner
Maria sat with Leena,Naomi and Bit.Jamie was still being treated in the hospital wing.Maria diged her fork into whatever it was that they called food.Maria coughed while trying to swallow at the same time.Leena diged her fork into the food. "Terrible isn't it?"Maria coughed trying to clear her throat."Aw no *cough cough *It ain't *cough cough * That *cough *Bad! *cough cough cough* "Bit shook his head."If Jamie was down here he would scold you for your engish!"Leena and Naomi laughed.Maria just grinned at the old joke."So,anyway.Maria,do you know why Jamie has those cuts and brusies?"Maria turned her fork absent-mindlessly in her food."I don't really want to talk about it…"Leena glanced at Bit,who was sitting next to her."Are you sure?"Naomi asked cautiously. Maria nodded."Uh huh."She picked up her fork and ate her food without coughing this time.Everybody else ate without bring up the subject again.
(A/N:It kinda goes into a dream thingy in this one)
*~*
It was sunny outside.The zoids where nicely polished and ready to be sold to the people who had ordered them.The date was May 10,1993.Mrs.Cloud sat at her desk going through paper work while her kids,Bit and Maria played on the floor with their new zoid modles.Bit was an 8 year old handful while his sister,Maria at age 7,was pretty much the same.Bit was teaching Maria about all the different kinds of zoids.Mrs.Cloud glanced at them and smiled,her husband wasn't home today and wasn't expected to come home until next week with a new shipment of zoid parts.The door to the small garage opened,with the little bell at the top dinging.Mrs.Cloud turned in her chair to see five men,around their early thirties she was guess,walked up to her desk."Hello.Can I-"Mrs.Cloud didn't get to finish with the usual greeting as one of the men interrupted her."Yes you can.Give us all the zoids in this garage."Mrs.Cloud frowned slightly."You do have the money to pay for all that don't you?"One of the men rolled his eyes slightly."Nnnoooo.Why do you think we're robbing you if we didn't have the money!?"Mrs.Cloud gasped slightly as one of the other men pulled out a shinning gun and pointed straight at her.Prefect timeing.Her son came running over about to cry."Mommy!Mommy!Maria broke the rev raptor!"The zoids left blade was completely broken off.Mrs.Cloud was worried that then men might shoot her only kids."Its ok sweetie.Wait until daddy gets home and he'll fix it ok?"Another prefect timing.Maria came over with her head down."I sorry mommy."Mrs.Cloud glanced nervously at the men.
BAM!
It was like changing into somebody else in a flash.Maria looked at her mommy laying on the ground,a puddle of blood started to run around her.Both Bit and Maria huddled together staring at the men.One still had the gun pointing to where their mom was.One man push the guy with the gun."Now look what you did!Right in front of them too you idiot!"Everything else went by so fast,and being a 7 year old,Maria didn't understand what was going on.One minute Bit was next o her then her was being pulled away from her.Each held each other not letting go.One man can up behind Maria and hit her with the back of the gun.She fell to the ground unconscious.
Another flash.Now Maria could see everything.The men where spilling what she guessed was gasoline,every where.Her 7 year old self was laying on the ground,so was her mom,dead with a pool of blood surrounding her.Bit was yelling while he was being carried away.
Another flash.Now the whole garage was on fire!Her seven year old self wasn't moving.Suddenly,someone rushed in,carefully picked her up,and ran out of the building.This is where Maria woke up.
*~*
Maria sat up in bed.Once again she was tangled in the sheets,covered with sweat.Maria noticed that she was also shaking slightly.She told herself to calm down.Is that what really happened?Maria got slowly out of bed,borrowed an extra robe and quietly made her way out of Leena and Naomi's room.
Maria slowly made her way to the hospital wing."I'm gonna get in trouble for this…"She muttered to herself."Gonna isn't a word."Someone whispered in her ear.She quickly turned around to see Jamie.Maria sighed in relief."Don't do that!Man I coulda punch you!"She whispered back.Jamie looked thoughtful."Coulda isn't a word either."Maria had to keep her voice down."Look.I didn't come out here for you to correct my einglish…hey…what are you doing up?"Jamie shurged."Couldn't sleep.What are you doing up."Maria blushed slightly."It'll sound stupid…had a bad dream…nightmare…whatever."Jamie frowned."Oh…do you want to talk about it?"Maria smiled."Yeah!But not here."Jamie nodded."Ok."They walked into an empty room a few doors down.
Jamie closed the door."What was it about?"Maria was a little nervous."M-my M-m-mom…"Jamie looked at her."Are you really sure you want to talk about this?"Maria nodded."Yeah!It was scary….it was like a memory or something."Maria went on telling almost every detail she could remember."I guess I just blocked the whole thing out of my memory."Jamie had some questions,but he asked them carefully."Where these people reported."Maria shrugged."I dunno.After the fire,I had to go through foster homes.They told me it was accidental when I got older."Jamie frowned."But you where a witness!You cloud have told them what happened!"Maria glared for only a second."I know that!But I was seven then!"Jamie put his finger to his lip.Foot steps where heard right outside their door.A shadow appeared in the door crack.Both remain still and silent.A few minutes passed by before the person left.Jamie and Maria waited until they couldn't hear the heavy boots anymore before peeking out the door."That was close."Jamie whispered.Maria nodded."Lets get back to bed."Maria suggested.Jamie nodded heading up to Bits room."Night'"They said to one another before turning different corners.
At breakfast time.
Leena and Naomi walked in front of a very sleepy Maria.They chatted about who knows what,while Maria had to reminded herself a few times to remember to walk and not sleep.As they sat at the same table as Bit and Jamie,Maria yawned,her eyes threaten to close,she rubbed her eyes trying to stay awake.Jamie leaned in."Didn't sleep well I'm guessing?"Maria yawned."Nope…so…sleepy…"Her head dropped to her shoulder,she stayed like that,asleep.Jamie shook his head as he began to eat his food.Bit and Leena chatted(A/N:Is that all they EVER do when they eat!?!?!Lol)Naomi read a resent letter she had received.Maria did wake up and ate slowly.It would have been nice if someone would quit throwing food at Maria!Maria glanced around,not wanting this so early in the morining.She saw some men at a near by table snickering at her.When she was about to get up,Jamie stopped her."Don't bother with them.Thery're not worth the trouble."Maria nodded."Fine."She ate her food again.Thunk!Maria was getting fed up,but she continued to eat her food.Thunk!Maria gritted her teeth.She glanced at Jamie."One punch?Plleeeaassseee."Jamie sighed."Just one."Maria smiled."Thank you!"She got up slowly and made her way to the table.A man glanced at her and smiled.He nudged a guy next to him."I TOLD you she'd come over here Al!"Maria stopped slightly.Al?No…it couldn't the Al she knew.The guy looked up and smiled.How she hated that smile!It was Al alright.He gave Maria all the more reason to get violent,fast.Maria clenched her fists at her side."What a surprise!Nice seeing you here sweets!"Al said to her.'I'm gonna murder him…'Maria thought to herself."Don't call me 'sweets'"She said through a fake smile.Al smiled at her."Aw…why not baby?"Maria eyes where blazing,he was asking for it,big time.
Jamie thought it was odd.Maria hadn't thrown a punch yet as he watched her.Bit noticed that Maria wasn't at the table."Hey.Whats Maria doing?"Leena looked over at the table Maria was at."Uh oh…"Naomi shurged while looking over."Flirting?"Everybody looked at her."Naomi!!"
POW!Yep…there it was…
Every head turned to see Al Johnson on the floor,Maria Cloud in a position that clearly said that she was the one that had hit him.Al reached up and wiped the blood that was forming on his lip."Now why'd ya do that baby girl?"Maria glared at him."For calling me that!"Al stood up and walked around the table,he now faced Maria."For calling you what??"He shoved her back,hard.Maria almost hit another table.A low 'oooo' went through the mess- hall."Oh that was dumb…"Leena quietly comented.Naomi scribbled something down."Quick!Who you guys betting on!?"Everybody glared at her."Naomi!!"
Al approached Maria again."Baby…no someones gonna get hurt here…I don't want to beat you up."Maria snickered and rolled her eyes."Oh pplleeaasseee Al…you can't even beat up a stick!"Al aimed to punch her,she rolled over.The punch missed her and hit somebody else.Some people laughed.Maria came around Al just as he turned around.She punched him hard in the face.Al fell over,slightly crashing into another table,also spilling food on him.Al got up and ran at Maria,he knocked them both over.They rolled on the floor,both trying to either hurt each other or get the other off.
People where cheering and yelling,rooting for whoever they betted on.Maria landed a punch at Al while he did the same.Both where now bleeding.Once someone yelled that the Colonel was coming.Al's friends ran over to him as Bit,Jamie,Naomi and Leena ran over to pull the two apart.Maria wiped the blood off of her cut lip."I'll get you later Johnson!"She shouted at him as they pulled her away."You wanna a piece of me Cloud!?Its all here sweets!!"He hollered back.Maria lurched forward,but Jamie and Bit held her back."Come on Maria."Jamie said to her as they made their way to the hospital wing.
"Gggrr….I'm gonna kill that little jerk!"Maria yelled angrily fifteen minutes later."Gonna isn't-"Jamie started."DON'T say it!"Maria snapped."Don't forget to save some for me Maria."Bit said while leaning on a wall."I will I will…FIRST…I'll break his little arms…THEN I'll break his little neck…."Maria went on and on."Violent isn't she…"Naomi muttered to Leena."Yep…very…"
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Smilys: *yawns* sleepy…..so…sleepy….
Apollo: heh…..there..supper long chapter for a super long wait!
Smilys:R&R before I hunt all of you down….*falls asleep on keyboard *tfgouwehgtfwueg
Apollo:Its not like it's the end of the world if you don't get a review…
Smilys:How would you know?The next time I check to see if I got a review,the world COULD blow up!
Apollo:Rrriiiggghhhtttt….
Disclaimer:Don't own zoids.Why do we even do Disclaimers??
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"Leena,in my office,now."Leena walked in the Head of Chief's office for the Snipers."Yes sir?"The 'boss' sat at his desk."We just received an urgent message from Captain Bit Cloud,"Leena froze slightly at this."He said that he was under heavy fire and that he needed back up.I need you to take a few Snipers,a stealth truck and get over there!"Leena saluted him."Yes Sir!"She was out the door and getting everything ready in a heartbeat.
Every one was quite.Only the cracking of burning wreckage could be heard.Bit surveyed everything.Jamie was sitting down.Maria sat next to him,obviously thinking hard.Bit looked to the east.He thought he heard something."Did anybody hear that?"Jamie looked at him,Maria did to,noone spoke.A low rumbling was getting louder and louder.There,coming over the hill,where at lest ten Gunsnippers coming there way.Maria gripped the empty gun in her hand.Bit squinted his eyes.He could see the mark representing the Zoids Commision!"Hey!That's the back up!"Jamie and Maria stood up and walked over to him as the Gunsnippers got closer to them.
Leena jumped out of the stealth truck as it pulled up to them.She surveyed the wreckage,the bodies,she was a little surprised to see some cut in half,then to the three of them."I see that you didn't need the back up."Bit shook his head slightly."Just barely."Leena motioned to the truck."Well,get in,we'll take care of you at the base."They climbed in to the back of the truck,all three silent.
The ride to the base that Leena mentioned,was very rough.Ever once in a while they would hit a pot hole and any one in the back would have a nice sore butt when they arrived there.The searching party managed to fine some survivors in the wreckage.Three men in their twenties sat in the truck with Jamie,Bit and Maria,all were very dirty.Bit and Leena chatted about what had happened,Jamie seemed very interested in his shoes,while Maria stared at the floor,her eyes clearly had that far away look,meaning that she was thinking.The other men in the truck seemed to be avoiding Maria,they had seen her handy work as they walked to the truck.
"So…underestimated the enemy?Am I right?"Bit shurged."I guess so."Leena couldn't help but snicker.She looked over at Maria who was in the very back,she looked a little pale to Leena."So,anyway,I guess you guys will stay at the base until we can contact yours."Bit nodded."Sounds good to me,what about you guys?"Bit said to the crew in the back.The men had no objection.Jamie didn't either.Maria stayed queit.Bit frowned at her."Maria?What about you?"She didn't answer at first.She looked up at him,like she snapped out of her thinking."Huh?Uh…Yeah…whatever.."Maria started to think again as they pulled into the base.
As they piled out of the truck,Bit whispered something to Leena."Wonder whats the matter with her."Leena could tell what was wrong,but she just shrugged as they walked through the gates.Leena showed the three men,who had some minor injuries, to the hospital wing.As those men where being attended to,Leena noticed for the first time the bruises on Jamie.She pointed at them."What happen to you?"Jamie,just remembering the bruises,looked at them dumbfounded."Uh…Long story?"Leena motioned for a nurse to come and clean him up.
Once they where being attended to,Leena showed Bit and Maria to where they would be staying.She stopped at a door and opened it."Maria,you'll stay in here. Naomi should be back any minute."Maria looked at her,muttered an 'ok' then went inside,Leena closing the door.
Bit shook his head."Whoa…she seems a little out doesn't she?"Leena nodded."Yeah…we get it aaalll the time here too."Bit frowned."Huh?"Both Leena and Bit turned a corner."Well…when ever we send out a group into a battle,some are new and are only experienced in practices,fight,come back and are totally mindless.Afterwards,they start to babble about how they have blood on their hands.Dosen't make any sense to me,but now their very talented pilots."Bit didn't really understand."Ooookkkk…"
Naomi walked into the room that both she and Leena shared.She wasn't expecting to see Raynos Pilot Maria Cloud sitting mindlessly at the foot of Leena's bed,Naomi thought she looked pretty pale."Oh…Hey Maria what are you doing here?"Maria didn't look at her,she said,quite simply,"I have blood on my hands."Naomi said very quietly to herself."Oh no…not her too…"Maria looked up slightly,her eyes where so far away.She showed Naomi her hands."See?See how red it is Naomi?"Naomi didn't see anything wrong with her hands,they looked fine to her.
Bit didn't know where they were going.He followed Leena to a room that looked like a command center for the base.People where scurrying around every where,papers fluttered in the air,some shouted things to one another.Leena led Bit over to the main controls,there,the Cornel for the base shook his hand."You must be Captain Bit Cloud. Congratulations on the victorious attack."Bit nodded."Thank you sir."The Cornel looked over at the controls. "Unfortunately…we are unable to make any type of contact with the last base you visited."Leena glanced at Bit,who also glanced back.The Colonel continued."We are currently trying to get through to the base you are stationed at."Bit was suspicious." Have you made any contact yet Sir?"The Colonel shook his head."None yet."
"Its so red Naomi…"Maria said in wonder as she stared at her hands.Naomi said nothing,she let Maria babble,she was use to it."It oozes all over my hands….the floor is getting messy…."Maria stared blankly at her hands.Naomi didn't know what to do other then to be quiet.
Leena led Bit to where he would stay."I feel like a chaperon." She muttered while they climbed a flight of stairs.Bit laughed Slight."You really did have to escort me."Leena laughed."No way!You would get lost in here!"They soon stopped at a door.Leena opened it and Bit went in.Right when she was about to follow,the radio on her belt cracked.Leena picked it up and spoke into it."Leena Toros here."Crack."Leena….Maria's acting weirder…..you better come talk to her…"Leena glanced back at Bit."Ok…I'll be right there Naomi."She turned the radio off.Leena faced Bit."I'm sure you can find every thing in here,I have to go do some,uh,things….I'll be back later."Leena quickly left before he could say anything.
"I killed them…I killed them all…."Maria silently sobbed on the bed."The blood…the blood!Its every where!!"Naomi had to restrain herself from giving her a good slap.
Leena skidded to a halt and opene the door.She saw Naomi leaning against the opposite wal,Maria,sitting on the bed staring around,tear streaks down her face.Naomi muttered to Leena."She's been saying the same thing over and over for at lets five minutes."Leena slowly walked over to Maria."Maria?Are you ok?"Naomi slightly rolled her eyes at such a dumb question.Maria sniffled and looked up at Leena."Leena….the blood….its everywhere….all over everything….."Leena looked around."No no,no it isn't!Look,theres no blood anywhere!Your imagining it!"Maria shook her head."No!I see it!It's everywhere!"She pause.Then gasped."Its seeping through the walls Leena!!"Leena gently shook Maria."No!Listen to me…there is no blood…."She said it clearly."Now..say that to your self….There…is..no…blood…"Maria nodded,her eyes shifting a little."There is no blood….there is no blood…there is no blood…."Maria muttered this over and over.Ten minutes passed by.Maria blinked.She looked at Leena and stood up."That was weird….do you have anything to eat here Leena?"Leena and Naomi Laughed."Yeah…but it isn't dinner yet."Maria slumped."Aw man."
At dinner
Maria sat with Leena,Naomi and Bit.Jamie was still being treated in the hospital wing.Maria diged her fork into whatever it was that they called food.Maria coughed while trying to swallow at the same time.Leena diged her fork into the food. "Terrible isn't it?"Maria coughed trying to clear her throat."Aw no *cough cough *It ain't *cough cough * That *cough *Bad! *cough cough cough* "Bit shook his head."If Jamie was down here he would scold you for your engish!"Leena and Naomi laughed.Maria just grinned at the old joke."So,anyway.Maria,do you know why Jamie has those cuts and brusies?"Maria turned her fork absent-mindlessly in her food."I don't really want to talk about it…"Leena glanced at Bit,who was sitting next to her."Are you sure?"Naomi asked cautiously. Maria nodded."Uh huh."She picked up her fork and ate her food without coughing this time.Everybody else ate without bring up the subject again.
(A/N:It kinda goes into a dream thingy in this one)
*~*
It was sunny outside.The zoids where nicely polished and ready to be sold to the people who had ordered them.The date was May 10,1993.Mrs.Cloud sat at her desk going through paper work while her kids,Bit and Maria played on the floor with their new zoid modles.Bit was an 8 year old handful while his sister,Maria at age 7,was pretty much the same.Bit was teaching Maria about all the different kinds of zoids.Mrs.Cloud glanced at them and smiled,her husband wasn't home today and wasn't expected to come home until next week with a new shipment of zoid parts.The door to the small garage opened,with the little bell at the top dinging.Mrs.Cloud turned in her chair to see five men,around their early thirties she was guess,walked up to her desk."Hello.Can I-"Mrs.Cloud didn't get to finish with the usual greeting as one of the men interrupted her."Yes you can.Give us all the zoids in this garage."Mrs.Cloud frowned slightly."You do have the money to pay for all that don't you?"One of the men rolled his eyes slightly."Nnnoooo.Why do you think we're robbing you if we didn't have the money!?"Mrs.Cloud gasped slightly as one of the other men pulled out a shinning gun and pointed straight at her.Prefect timeing.Her son came running over about to cry."Mommy!Mommy!Maria broke the rev raptor!"The zoids left blade was completely broken off.Mrs.Cloud was worried that then men might shoot her only kids."Its ok sweetie.Wait until daddy gets home and he'll fix it ok?"Another prefect timing.Maria came over with her head down."I sorry mommy."Mrs.Cloud glanced nervously at the men.
BAM!
It was like changing into somebody else in a flash.Maria looked at her mommy laying on the ground,a puddle of blood started to run around her.Both Bit and Maria huddled together staring at the men.One still had the gun pointing to where their mom was.One man push the guy with the gun."Now look what you did!Right in front of them too you idiot!"Everything else went by so fast,and being a 7 year old,Maria didn't understand what was going on.One minute Bit was next o her then her was being pulled away from her.Each held each other not letting go.One man can up behind Maria and hit her with the back of the gun.She fell to the ground unconscious.
Another flash.Now Maria could see everything.The men where spilling what she guessed was gasoline,every where.Her 7 year old self was laying on the ground,so was her mom,dead with a pool of blood surrounding her.Bit was yelling while he was being carried away.
Another flash.Now the whole garage was on fire!Her seven year old self wasn't moving.Suddenly,someone rushed in,carefully picked her up,and ran out of the building.This is where Maria woke up.
*~*
Maria sat up in bed.Once again she was tangled in the sheets,covered with sweat.Maria noticed that she was also shaking slightly.She told herself to calm down.Is that what really happened?Maria got slowly out of bed,borrowed an extra robe and quietly made her way out of Leena and Naomi's room.
Maria slowly made her way to the hospital wing."I'm gonna get in trouble for this…"She muttered to herself."Gonna isn't a word."Someone whispered in her ear.She quickly turned around to see Jamie.Maria sighed in relief."Don't do that!Man I coulda punch you!"She whispered back.Jamie looked thoughtful."Coulda isn't a word either."Maria had to keep her voice down."Look.I didn't come out here for you to correct my einglish…hey…what are you doing up?"Jamie shurged."Couldn't sleep.What are you doing up."Maria blushed slightly."It'll sound stupid…had a bad dream…nightmare…whatever."Jamie frowned."Oh…do you want to talk about it?"Maria smiled."Yeah!But not here."Jamie nodded."Ok."They walked into an empty room a few doors down.
Jamie closed the door."What was it about?"Maria was a little nervous."M-my M-m-mom…"Jamie looked at her."Are you really sure you want to talk about this?"Maria nodded."Yeah!It was scary….it was like a memory or something."Maria went on telling almost every detail she could remember."I guess I just blocked the whole thing out of my memory."Jamie had some questions,but he asked them carefully."Where these people reported."Maria shrugged."I dunno.After the fire,I had to go through foster homes.They told me it was accidental when I got older."Jamie frowned."But you where a witness!You cloud have told them what happened!"Maria glared for only a second."I know that!But I was seven then!"Jamie put his finger to his lip.Foot steps where heard right outside their door.A shadow appeared in the door crack.Both remain still and silent.A few minutes passed by before the person left.Jamie and Maria waited until they couldn't hear the heavy boots anymore before peeking out the door."That was close."Jamie whispered.Maria nodded."Lets get back to bed."Maria suggested.Jamie nodded heading up to Bits room."Night'"They said to one another before turning different corners.
At breakfast time.
Leena and Naomi walked in front of a very sleepy Maria.They chatted about who knows what,while Maria had to reminded herself a few times to remember to walk and not sleep.As they sat at the same table as Bit and Jamie,Maria yawned,her eyes threaten to close,she rubbed her eyes trying to stay awake.Jamie leaned in."Didn't sleep well I'm guessing?"Maria yawned."Nope…so…sleepy…"Her head dropped to her shoulder,she stayed like that,asleep.Jamie shook his head as he began to eat his food.Bit and Leena chatted(A/N:Is that all they EVER do when they eat!?!?!Lol)Naomi read a resent letter she had received.Maria did wake up and ate slowly.It would have been nice if someone would quit throwing food at Maria!Maria glanced around,not wanting this so early in the morining.She saw some men at a near by table snickering at her.When she was about to get up,Jamie stopped her."Don't bother with them.Thery're not worth the trouble."Maria nodded."Fine."She ate her food again.Thunk!Maria was getting fed up,but she continued to eat her food.Thunk!Maria gritted her teeth.She glanced at Jamie."One punch?Plleeeaassseee."Jamie sighed."Just one."Maria smiled."Thank you!"She got up slowly and made her way to the table.A man glanced at her and smiled.He nudged a guy next to him."I TOLD you she'd come over here Al!"Maria stopped slightly.Al?No…it couldn't the Al she knew.The guy looked up and smiled.How she hated that smile!It was Al alright.He gave Maria all the more reason to get violent,fast.Maria clenched her fists at her side."What a surprise!Nice seeing you here sweets!"Al said to her.'I'm gonna murder him…'Maria thought to herself."Don't call me 'sweets'"She said through a fake smile.Al smiled at her."Aw…why not baby?"Maria eyes where blazing,he was asking for it,big time.
Jamie thought it was odd.Maria hadn't thrown a punch yet as he watched her.Bit noticed that Maria wasn't at the table."Hey.Whats Maria doing?"Leena looked over at the table Maria was at."Uh oh…"Naomi shurged while looking over."Flirting?"Everybody looked at her."Naomi!!"
POW!Yep…there it was…
Every head turned to see Al Johnson on the floor,Maria Cloud in a position that clearly said that she was the one that had hit him.Al reached up and wiped the blood that was forming on his lip."Now why'd ya do that baby girl?"Maria glared at him."For calling me that!"Al stood up and walked around the table,he now faced Maria."For calling you what??"He shoved her back,hard.Maria almost hit another table.A low 'oooo' went through the mess- hall."Oh that was dumb…"Leena quietly comented.Naomi scribbled something down."Quick!Who you guys betting on!?"Everybody glared at her."Naomi!!"
Al approached Maria again."Baby…no someones gonna get hurt here…I don't want to beat you up."Maria snickered and rolled her eyes."Oh pplleeaasseee Al…you can't even beat up a stick!"Al aimed to punch her,she rolled over.The punch missed her and hit somebody else.Some people laughed.Maria came around Al just as he turned around.She punched him hard in the face.Al fell over,slightly crashing into another table,also spilling food on him.Al got up and ran at Maria,he knocked them both over.They rolled on the floor,both trying to either hurt each other or get the other off.
People where cheering and yelling,rooting for whoever they betted on.Maria landed a punch at Al while he did the same.Both where now bleeding.Once someone yelled that the Colonel was coming.Al's friends ran over to him as Bit,Jamie,Naomi and Leena ran over to pull the two apart.Maria wiped the blood off of her cut lip."I'll get you later Johnson!"She shouted at him as they pulled her away."You wanna a piece of me Cloud!?Its all here sweets!!"He hollered back.Maria lurched forward,but Jamie and Bit held her back."Come on Maria."Jamie said to her as they made their way to the hospital wing.
"Gggrr….I'm gonna kill that little jerk!"Maria yelled angrily fifteen minutes later."Gonna isn't-"Jamie started."DON'T say it!"Maria snapped."Don't forget to save some for me Maria."Bit said while leaning on a wall."I will I will…FIRST…I'll break his little arms…THEN I'll break his little neck…."Maria went on and on."Violent isn't she…"Naomi muttered to Leena."Yep…very…"
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Smilys: *yawns* sleepy…..so…sleepy….
Apollo: heh…..there..supper long chapter for a super long wait!
Smilys:R&R before I hunt all of you down….*falls asleep on keyboard *tfgouwehgtfwueg