Authors Note: Had to rewrite the chapters with HTML Tags, so please wait while I get it all loaded up. Im real sorry for all of you reading it but it will all be up within 2 days including new chapters.
Chapter 2: End Of A Chaotic Century
Van stood there on the balcony staring down at a crowd of at least 1,500 people, waiting to be honored by the top people of the Helic Republic and Guylos Empire. He was being honored for killing Raven and destroying his dreaded Geno Sauer. While the President spoke to the crowd about how brave he was and how he saved them all, he began to think about his past, and his future. "We owe this man are very lives and souls." The President said, Van was basically ignoring her speech. He took a quick look around him, to his right where the President and his good friend Prince Rudolph, down below was the crowd, some listening, some talking, some cheering, and some crying. And to his left, his friends who helped him through the times he thought he would never live though. Irvin, Moonbay, Thomas, and the girl he was falling in love with. "It is with great honor," the President said, "that the Empire and Republic award Van Flyheight with the highest award." Van stared at straight, waiting for the ceremony to end. The President then took out a small black box and gave it to Rudolph, "The Medal of Valor". When she said that the crowd gave a huge cheer and the young prince walked over to Van, handed him the medal and gave his friend a small hug. "Thanks Van," he said, "we owe you everything." Van was a hero to the Planet Zi, and he could easily be considered a hero. In his short life he had done more then any man could ever do if he had 3 lifetimes. Van was proud of himself, he wasn't going to deny that. But he still felt as if something was missing, Fiona took the box, opened it and put the medal around Vans neck. They smiled at each other.
As the cheers continued, two men just stood there, staring at Van and his friends. "Do you think he's the one who could help us". The first man said, he was wearing a jacket and jeans along with a pair of sunglasses.
The second man turned his head and looked at his friend, then he turned his head back at the balcony. "Maybe, he is a damn good pilot, I wont deny that. But we need more then a damn good pilot." The man then looked at Fiona. "That girl next to him is a Zodian."
The first man quickly turned his head at the girl. "There's no way she's a Zodian, only a couple were put in suspended animation and they were all killed in the process. There is no way she's a Zodian".
"Maybe your right, hopefully your not." The man started thinking, trying to figure out what she was. "We have to take a chance. Even if he cant help us its better then what we have, were running out of time fast, and when time runs out, so will all the people on this planet."
The first man nodded in agreement. "So what do we do now, do we wait a little or talk to them now."
"When we meet them, well talk. As for now, well have to wait." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red gem. "As long as we have this, we can get a few extra days before we have to move in." He put the gem back in his pocket and turned around. "Lets go." The first man began to follow him down the road.
The ceremony was over. Van, Irvin, Moonbay, Thomas, and Fiona all walked through the capital city. There was still some destruction from his battle with Raven here, but it was a lot worse. When they were walking on the streets, people would walk up to them, usually saying things like "good work" and "thanks for helping us out", one woman even walked up to Van and gave him a polite kiss on the lips, making Fiona a little jealous. "Never thought I would become one of the most popular people on Zi." Irvin said.
Moonbay looked at him and smiled. "Neither did I." Irvin looked at her with a stiff face but then gave a little smile back at her.
Van looked at them. "You two are letting this get to your head, you should know this wont last any longer then a month." They all looked at him like he was crazy.
Thomas ended up speaking first. "Your crazy Van, you just killed Raven and the Geno Breaker, they'll be all over you for a very long time." Thomas looked over at Fiona, who was just walking quietly. "Are you ok Fiona." He asked.
Fiona looked at Thomas, "Yes, I'm ok. I was just thinking." She was thinking, she had felt something around her for a long time, something that felt evil. She didn't know what it was, and she hoped she never had to find out.
"Well snap out of it." Moonbay said sharply. "There all here thanking us for saving them and the two people who had the most to do with it don't even care."
"She's right for once Van, you've been real quiet since we got here. If I didn't know any better I think you were kind of angry." As he finished Moonbay hit him across the back of his head for that smart comment.
"Just kind of sad that Raven is dead, he was a great pilot and a tough opponent. Though I guess he deserves it, he did kill a lot of people just to get to me." Van lowered his head and closed his eyes. As hard as it was to believe, he did miss Raven.
They didn't say much more that night, they walked around, accepting peoples hand shakes and congratulations. Young kids that reminded Van of himself when he was young would come up to him and thank him. He looked at Fiona, trying to figure out what she was thinking about, but then he decided he could never really understand Fiona. She was always full of surprises and never knew them herself. Walking along he say two men following them. When Van turned around to see what they where following them for he heard a loud noise, he turned around and saw Thomas laying on the ground, blood coming out of his chest screaming in pain.