Authors Note: Not many reviews so I'm going to guess my story are kind of boring. I'll keep working on it though and keep the people who do like happy and maybe add some new people.

Chapter 5:  Horrors of Sacrifice

     He sat there in his Zoid, trying to pull out the pieces of glass stuck in his arm and shoulder. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever done." He thought to himself. His arm was red from blood, but he did what he had to do. If he had let the guards take him he would have been slowed down to a point where it would be to late.

     "You ok there." Marcus asked.

     "I'll live. At least were making decent time." At least he hoped that was the case.

     "Maybe, you know about Raven escaping right." Marcus said into the comm.

     "Yea, what about him." The man said.

     "You think he's working with Drake, or it's just a coincidence."

     He thought about that question. "Yea, I would think so. He needs two more pilots, and Raven is good, but what the hell is Drake up to, he should know Van and Raven wont fight on the same side. And those two are the best there is."

      "Maybe he isn't after Van, but then who would he be after. He's going to kill both of us when he finds us, so it's neither of us." Marcus never understood Drake, no one really could. He killed and killed and would never stop. He didn't want the planet or the galaxy. He wanted to see people suffer and die. That is what separated him from every other insane madman.

     "Let's keep moving, if we fall behind again we wont get another shot at this."

      Marcus agreed and got his Zoid going at top speed.

      Drake waited, knowing Van Flyheight would be coming. He had a very good sense of what people would do. Raven would finish the Prince, Drake would finish Van, and his plan would have no flaws, even though it was going on for nearly 20 years. "Soon Flyheight, you will meet your greatest challenge, and you will meet the fate all people have when they cross me." Drake laughed a bit. He had patience, he had waited 20 years to get the Black Zoids, and he would have them in just 3 short days. All he needed was one more pilot. Van was a choice, but there was also another, and if Van gave Drake a challenge he would use Van, but if not, well such is the game he plays to win.

     Gunshots were coming from all around, but Raven moved to fast to get hit. "Pathetic, I was hoping Rudolph's personal guards would be better then this." He said this as his blade sliced through two Iron Kong's. "Well that's all, time to finish the job." As he moved the Zoid he saw a Reno's scream across the sky. It was Fiola taking Rudolph with her. "So the chase goes on, I'll enjoy this." The Blade Liger gave chase to the Reno's, knowing it would only be a matter of time.

     Van splashed some water on his face. He had to take a break, he had been traveling for half a day and had no sleep at all last night. "Come on Raven, I know your around, show your self." Van heard a noise on the other side of some trees, and saw what looked like a Liger of some sort. "Hmm, wonder who that is." Right after he said that the other Blade Liger fired 2 shots at him. "Oh man, he isn't friendly that's for sure. Lets go Zeek." Van jumped into the cockpit as Zeek jumped into the Blade Liger. "Well Zeek here we go."

    Drake smiled, he was right again. "Well, I finally get to meet the legendary Van Flyheight. Hopefully this will brighten up my day."

     The two Ligers stared at each other before they began to attack. There claws slashing at each other, trying to rip the other Zoid apart. Van began to use his weapons but this pilot wasn't normal. "Damn, this guy makes Raven look bad." Drakes Zoid turned on a dime, he was just playing with Van, knowing he couldn't lose. The two Zoids charged each other and ended up ramming in a massive impact that knocked both Zoids to the ground.

     "You ok Zeek." Van asked. Zeek gave the O.K. to keep fighting. "Well then, lets show him what we can really do."

      Drake stared at the other Blade Liger, impressed by his skills. But Van couldn't win, Drake was too good. The Zoids began charging each other, Drake saw Van pull out the Blades. "Fool" Drake said, he pushed his thrusters but to his shock, Van kept his height. "How the hell did he do that."? The Blades nicked his ligers side. "Damn kid is better then I thought." He started his Zoid, bringing it to top speed.

       "Gotch ya." Van said when he nicked the other Blade Liger. Van saw the other Zoids making a charge, so he charged right at him. "Ok Zeek, lets finish this." Van was smiling till he saw the other Liger juke sharply and turned right on him.

       Drake smiled, he had Van. His Blade Liger began to fire at Van hitting him on the side, just like he knew he would. "Over" Drake said.

       "How is he so good." Van thought, getting his Liger up. "Alright Zeek, its time to quit being so easy on this guy. He's at least as good as Raven, maybe better." Van charged and made a quick jump, catching the other Zoid off guard and his Ligers claws ran right through his opponents back, but then, then enemy Liger did something he didn't think was possible.

       Drake slammed his Liger on it's side and pulled out the blades, cutting right through Van's Liger as it flew over him. He saw his opponent fall to the ground, and stay there.

       Van lay there, still as a rock, hanging on to dear life. He couldn't move, his Liger couldn't move, and Zeek wasn't answering his call. He had lost, Van was defeated for the first time in years.

        "It ends now kid". Drake said. He lifted his Zoids claw, and was ready to deliver the final blow, but before he could two Zoids rammed him with incredible speed. Drakes Zoid flew across the desert sand and landing hard.

        "How did you like that Drake?" The strange man said. "Bet it hurt."

        "Get Van out of here, ill hold of Drake for you to get enough time to escape." Marcus replied, he had no chance of living against Drake, but it was he or billions.

        "Got it, good luck Marcus."

       "Thanks." Marcus smiled. "Payback time Drake."

        Drake got his Zoid up and saw someone running to Van's Zoid. But before he could do anything, his Zoid was getting blasted. He saw the Sabertiger doing it, and began to move in for the kill.

        The man ran over to Van's torn up Zoid, forcing the cockpit open. He saw Van, he was hurt bad, real bad. He unlatched him from his Zoid and took him to his Liger. "Hang on kid, this is going to get rough." He took a look at Marcus, he knew this was the last time he would see him.

      Drake moved fast, he watched as the Plain Liger moved away from the battle. "Ill get you later." He looked at the Sabertiger. Slowly weaving his way through the gunfire, he finally got up to the Zoid and sliced it in half with his blades.

      Marcus felt the impact of the hit and fell to the ground. He watched as Drake moved his Zoid back getting ready to charge. As the Zoid moved towards him, he made sure Van was out of there, he knew that kid and his girl were the last chance they had. As the Blade Liger raised its paw, the last thing Marcus saw in this world, was the claw of Drakes Blade Liger, rip right through his cockpit glass, slicing him and the head of his Zoid.

      Drake laughed as he cut the Sabertiger's head in half. "All who cross me suffer the same." He said. Looking around, he couldn't see that White Liger anywhere. He knew their plan, and it worked for now. He would find them, he always did. He smiled and his Zoid slowly began to walk away.

      Fiona was sitting behind Irvin when she had a strange feeling. "Something happened."

      Irvin looked back at her, knowing not to question her feelings. "Where at."

      "Straight, a few miles I think." She still felt the evil that stone had within it. It was painful to her. But it also seemed familiar to her, as if she had something to do with it before. She wasn't sure, right now all she wanted to do was find Van.

      Raven kept firing at the Reno's, finally hitting it. Watching it fall from the sky he ran towards what was left of it. Jumping out of his cockpit, he raced towards the Zoid, only to find nothing in it. "Damn it, where is he." Looking around, he didn't have the answer. He was angry, he would find Rudolph and his parents, and when he did. They would die. He got back into the cockpit, "lets go Shadow, we have work to do." The Zoid raced off, fast and angry, just like its pilot.

     Van sat up as fast as he could, but only to find his head bandaged and his arm in a sling. "Bout time you woke up, figured you would have gotten up a few hours ago." Van looked at the man, looking around him. They were in a heavy forest, the two moons full and almost together. "Where am I?" he asked.

        "I don't know, just found a safe place and decided to stay here a bit." The man said.

         Van looked and saw a White Liger, just sitting there. "What happened, and who are you."

          The man looked at him. "You were in a battle with a man named Drake, got whipped, and fell to the ground. As for my name, don't worry about it." He walked over to poke a fire he made.

        Van looked at him, remembering the battle and then something else. "Zeek!" He yelled, "Where's Zeek."

         "Don't know, it was in bad shape when I saw it, didn't have time to save you and the Organoid. My friend held him off as long as he could, course against Drake, you can't last long." The man lowered his head, he was already missing Marcus, but he had lost many people he cared about before, all to the same creature that thinks he's a human.

          "Who is Drake anyways."? Van asked, wondering why this man hated him so much.

          "Same person who shot your friend at the city." Van interrupted him with a loud yell.

         "What! that's the same guy who shot Thomas", Van got up and started walking to the Zoid.

         "And where are you going kid." The man asked.

         "Payback, he try's to kill my friend, then I kill him."

         "You couldn't beat him before, what makes you think you can beat him now. He's the best there is, he has no remorse, no feelings, no care. He plays a game, and he plays to win. If you go after him now you ruin the last chance this planet will ever have. You, me your friends, the people you love, they will all die if you go after him."
         Van stopped, wanting to find out what he meant by that.

          "Got your attention, didn't I. He's killed people we care about, and doesn't give a damn, he hates it when he people blame somebody's death on another reason then because he killed them. Walk away now, go try to kill him, watch how fast we all die."

        Van lowered his head, tears coming down his cheek, trying to understand all of this. "And how can one man kill us all." Van said that in a sobbing voice.

        The man pulled out the Amulet of Fire in his pocket. "In this gem right here, is all the power of a Zoid that cant be beat. There are 2 more like it, each one going with a different Zoid. Drake found this at my parent's house, he killed my mother and then killed my father a few years later, all to take this amulet. When I found out what is was for, I did all I could to take it back, and I did. He's killed everyone in my family except one. Drake is cold hearted, he takes what he wants and kills all who try to prevent it. He needs one more pilot, I thought it was you but after he tried to kill you I doubt it. Now make your choice, but make it quick so I can plan either way."

        Van stood there, thinking about all this man who saved him said. Staring at the Amulet he could sense something, and it was evil. He thought about Fiona, Irvin, and Moonbay. He was hoping Thomas was still alive. He hated what was happening to his life. His friends always in danger, the planet always threatened. He was tired of it, but knew he couldn't stop. If what this guy were saying turns out to be true, then he wouldn't let any suffer because of him. "Ok, I'm with you. What's first."?

      The man smiled. "We need to salvage your Zoid, after that we'll figure it out. Lets go."

       Van and the stranger walked to the White Liger. As it began to move Van thought about his friends again, he wouldn't let anything happen to them, he felt the pain of losing Thomas, he wouldn't let it happen to all of them, especially Fiona.

        As Irvin and Fiona arrived at the site, they saw two Zoids on the ground, both damaged badly. "There's Vans Liger." Irvin said. "You check that out, ill take a look at the Sabertiger."

      Fiona nodded. As she ran over she saw Zeek lying on ground. "Zeek, are you ok." He gave a slight moan, but got up. As he did she heard Irvin.

      "Oh God." Irvin saw what was left of a man, torn to pieces. "Don't come over here Fiona, its not something you want to see."

      Fiona began to look for Van, ignoring Irvin. But he was nowhere around. "Where is he at Zeek." The Organoid told her a man came and rescued him. Again, she nodded.

      Zeek got up, and looked at the torn up Blade Liger. He knew what he had to do.

      As Irvin looked around some more, a pink light flashed near the Blade Liger, then to his surprise, he saw something he didn't think would happen again.

       The Blade Liger became wrapped in a cocoon, it was undergoing a second Evolution.

       "I'll be damned, just wait till Van sees this." Irvin thought. He walked up and took a seat. He didn't know a Zoid had a third evolution. Fiona always surprised everybody she met. Looking at the shattered Sabertiger, he knew something bad was happening. Thomas was shot, some weird man jumped out a window after showing something to Fiona. They found out Raven was alive. And now two Zoids lay in total ruins, with a pilot ripped apart. It wasn't good, but maybe this new Liger would help things out. But things couldn't get any worse.

       Raven destroyed the last of the Zoids, he saw the prince with his parents. Raven jumped out of the cockpit and walked over to him. "Well you highness, it appears I wasn't dead after all. A shame." Raven pulled out a knife and cut the throat of one of the guard in front of Rudolph. "Now, you get what you deserve."

       Rudolph tried to run, but there was no place to go. As Raven walked towards him, he was hoping Van would come and help him like he has before. But he wasn't as luck this time. Raven walked over, grabbed him by the hair, pulled his head back and cut his throat like he did the guards. Rudolph fell to the floor, blood on the floor, and his life slowly dying away.

       He had already killed Rudolph's parents, they tried to defeat him in combat with Zoids, but they fell quickly.

       Raven, like the man who had freed him, felt no remorse when it came to killing in cold blood, even if it was a child. He walked to his Zoid. And went in the cockpit. He wanted to kill two more people before he was truly happy. Van and Fiona would die just like the prince of the Empire. He saw the young body, he was still alive, but not for long. Raven smiled, and his Zoid ran off.