The thin air was cool and crisp, a heavy and steady breeze made it even cooler then it really was. The sun was blocked out by a sky filled with dark clouds. It had been a few days since Zack had left, and now he stood there staring down at a cross made of wood, stuck into the ground, held together by a piece of string. It was the grave of his young brother Nikolo, but know one really knew about it. To Zack, it seemed like no one gave a damn about his brother, except himself. Zack was wearing a black trench coat, trying to keep the cold off of his body. The right sleeve had no arm going through it, it was resting against his ribs within its sling. Zack smiled and walked away keeping his grief hidden, he knew it never did any good to show it. He walked back to his Sabertiger and jumped in the cockpit, awakening the Zoid and quickly running away from the remote area. It was hard to pilot the Zoid with one hand, but as long as he never ran into any combat it was ok. A few hours later the Sabertiger slowed down drastically, walking through a small rocky canyon. Zack just stared out at the small passage, thinking of what to do now. Paul and Marcus were dead and he didn't know where he could start to pick up his search for the Tiger. It didn't take long for Zack to notice a body lying still on the canyon floor. He lowered his Zoid and got out, slowly walking towards the body, he was wearing a military uniform, which was torn to shreds and as soon as he saw the face he stopped dead, staring at the body. "Oh my God." It was Van, his body fresh and warm as if he had never died. Zack ran up to him, feeling a slight pulse and a heartbeat. He turned and grabbed his canteen of water from his Sabertiger and ran back to the body, slowly pouring water in his mouth and over his face. Zack heard Van start to cough. "Ill be dammed, Raven was right." Zack said quietly to himself, watching Van quickly get up. "How the Hell are you alive?"
Van looked at the man, he was still sitting on the floor. "What do you mean?"
Zack smiled. "You had been dead for more then a month, and as far as I know most people don't come back to life."
Van closed his eyes. "So I was dead."
"Got that right." Zack helped Van up. "But seems like your alive now, least I hope you are. Lets get out of here, get you cleaned up."
Van nodded. "So who are you anyways?"
"Zack Rigor."
Van smiled. "Thanks for helping me out."
Zack took him back to the small village he had come from. He kept his Zoid outside of the city, knowing the townsmen hated Zoids in their city. Zack took Van to a fairly large church, which belonged to a very good friend of his, even though he hadn't seen him in over 10 years.
Zack opened the doors and walked in, it was dark and empty just like he remembered it to be. "Father John, you here." He shouted, the echoes bouncing off of the concrete walls.
"Kind of dark in here." Van said, looking around the church, stained glass windows all around, statues and painting of holy figures all around.
"We'll look who decided to crawl back to me." John said, looking down at them from a flight of stairs.
"Good to see you John." Zack said smiling, walking over to the short, skinny man with a thick white beard. "How you been."
"Rotten, miserable, and bored." John smiled back. "Good to see you to Zack." John looked at the other, younger man who walked in with him. "You know, you look an awful lot like Van Flyheight."
Zack laughed. "He is Van John."
John slowly nodded his head. "You're dead."
"Don't ask John. Just let him get cleaned up and some new clothes."
"Sure, just go upstairs. Take whatever clothes you actually find that fit you."
Van nodded and walked up.
Zack pointed to John, then pointed to the pulpit. "Come here." Zack walked over and took a seat. "You're a religious man. Is it possible for someone to come back from the dead."
John took a seat as well. "Death and time are the only constants in this universe, and I always thought time would be the first to get countered. Maybe he never died."
Zack shook his head. "His body was torn up, he had more blood outside of his body then inside, not to mention that he had been buried for over a month."
"Then maybe God is walking amongst us, and felt Van deserved a second chance." John took a book off of the pulpit, it had a gold cross engraved on the cover.
Zack thought a moment, remembering what Raven told him once again. "Guy I know said a man has the power to bring people back from the dead, what do you think about that."
"A mortal with the power to defy everything." John shook his head. "Doubt it."
"I don't know, he said he watched him do it."
John looked at him. "Come here." John stood up and opened a small wooden door with a key and walked in, lighting a few candles.
"What's all this?" Zack asked, looking over at few stone tablets.
"Everything me and Paul found about the Tiger." John walked over to a shelf and picked up a book and pulled out a photograph. "There it is, the weapon of the devil."
Zack took the photograph and stared at it. A man and a boy stood in front of it. "Paul told me he didn't know if it existed!" Zack yelled.
"Then he lied, we know it exists and we know the Organoid that brought it to life also exists."
"What Organoid?"
"That one right there." He pointed in the photograph to a gray Organoid that stood under the Tiger. "Most powerful one ever to exist."
"Didn't know Organoids had a difference in strength."
John smiled. "Oh they do. Here, let me give you a demonstration. Try to break this chair with." He looked around. "This right here." He handed Zack a thin piece of wood.
Zack didn't know what this had to do with anything but he did as he was told, driving the piece of wood into the chair. "Alright, the stick broke."
"Exactly, that's a Zoid with a Organoid like Specula. Now use this." John took a sword that was resting on the wall and handed it to Zack.
Zack raised it and drove it through the chair easily.
"That's with that Organoid in a Zoid."
Zack rested the sword onto the table and sat back down. "Know who these people are?" Zack pointed to the two people in the photo.
"The creator and his son. Don't know their names." John picked up a stone tablet and gently set it on the table. "We found this, in the ruins of the Dead City."
"That's the one that comes up when the moons align, right."
John nodded. "We didn't actually find it there, this was found in the Salda Ruins near the Red River. But it came from the Dead City." John scrolled down the carved words. "Read this right here."
Zack looked at the ancient text. "Kreaturet av Genesis stiger fra kroppen av det demoniske barnet og bruker hånden av Satan til torment alt det livet. De som styrer har universet, de som frykter det overlever, de som frykter det lider, de som bekjemper det dør. Creature of Genesis, there it is again."
"You do know what Genesis means?" Paul asked.
"Life from death, creating life in ways not natural. Basically its playing God."
"Exactly. This talks about the creature rising from a demon child and using the hand of Satan to torment and destroy life. The Tiger is the hand of Satan, we figured that out fairly fast."
"Where the Hell did this thing come from."
"Its about 8,000 years old Zack. Long, long before the Tiger or Death Sauer was created. Thousands of tablets can be found on this planet, all carved by the same man."
"So everything they found about the Death Sauer, Stinger, and Tiger is."
"From that one man. History is controlled by those living it. The Zodians never wanted anyone to find either of those Zoids so they destroyed every bit of evidence that they existed. They had no idea that these tablets existed."
"Meaning you have basically the entire history of Zi in this one room."
"Exactly." John said joyful.
"What about Zoid Eve?" Zack asked, still looking at the photo.
"Simple, Eve is the mother of all life so Zoid Eve is the mother of all Zoids. Except one."
"The Tiger."
"Right."
"What about all these stories that she wiped the Zodians."
"Basically there true, they began to take advantage of her and turned the power cores she created into beasts of war. As an act of revenge she created the Death Sauer. And because of that, that man right there created the Tiger."
"Meaning something happened that never should have. Paul had a book that talked about her escaping Evepolis by merging with a mortal."
"Possible, and that might explain how Van is alive."
"Wouldn't he be a enemy to Zoid Eve?"
"Yes he would, makes you wonder doesn't it."
Zack lowered his head and began to think. "Were in trouble John, you know that."
"Yes we are. But we are still far from solving this thing even with all of the information we have."
"Alright, keep finding anything out. Ill get Van and Fiona back." He stopped as soon as that thought crossed his mind. "That might not work to well."
"Why not?"
"Well, not sure you will want to know."
"Do whatever you need, Ill stay here and figure this thing out."
"Alright."
Zack got up and stretched, walking out of the room and started going up the stairs. He found Van, sitting on John's bed, staring at a statue. "You ready to get out of here?"
"You said you knew Fiona right?"
Zack looked at him and nodded.
"I want to get back to her."
"Don't think you want to."
"What do you mean, of course I want to!" Van yelled back.
"Alright relax, whatever you want." Zack shook his head and walked out of the church.
Ryss stood there in the crypt of the ancient city, Jason breathing down her neck. She was afraid, afraid of what he would do to her.
"Don't know why you decided to turn on me Ryss?" Jason was slowly walking in a circle around her, he had brought her back a few hours ago. "Disappointing."
"Have you ever thought a moment on what you want to do?" Ryss said, still staring straight ahead.
"Every day since I got out of that capsule. I can't wait to begin, neither can Phantom." Jason smiled. "And neither can the Tiger."
Ryss looked over at Hilz who was smiling. "Why did you bring me back to life if you were disappointed?"
"Because you will be one of the people I choose to give life one last chance at survival. You will be the one who knows exactly what is happening."
"And who are the rest?"
"The people who I have molded into the greatest people on Zi." He paused. "No, the people who I have molded into the greatest people in this galaxy."
Ryss didn't say anything, all she felt was her heart racing from fear.
"For now though, you will wait and watch as I pick up exactly where I left off." Jason looked over at Hilz. "You know exactly what to do Hilz." Jason turned and walked out of the crypt as Hilz slowly walked to Ryss.
"I told you exactly how useless you would be to us, shame you didn't listen." Hilz made a fist and hit her in her jaw, then walked out.
Raven sat there, trying to understand what had been happening the last few days. Trying to figure out why he was going soft. He looked up at Shadow. "Jason is playing with us Shadow." Raven looked up at the night sky, the stars and moons were out. What clouds floated in the sky earlier were now gone. He thought about his parents again, how he wished they were still alive. He knew if they were none of this would be happening, and he wouldn't have an empty life full of chaos. Raven looked over at Fiona who was sitting down next to him. He wasn't sure how he felt about her, part of him loved her and part of him wanted to kill her. But Raven knew she could help sooth him, help fill that emptiness and calm the chaos and that was why he did love her, and the more he thought about that, the less he wanted to kill her. But Raven also knew she loved Van, and know matter what happened he would never accept Van for the simple reason that Van had everything, and Raven had nothing. He hoped Van wouldn't come back, and he had two reasons why not. The most obvious, he hated Van as much as he hated Zoids. But the newer reason was that he simply didn't want to lose Fiona to him. But in the end he wondered why she began to love him in the first place. Fiona had said she didn't know, and for some reason he believed her.
"Do you love me?" Fiona asked, she was staring up in the sky speaking with her sweet soft voice.
Raven hadn't expected that question and didn't know what to say. He knew he loved her but he didn't know how to say it or even show it. "I guess." He mumbled.
Fiona just stared up at the stars. "You can't guess Raven, it has to be a yes or no."
Fiona's soft voice drove Raven crazy, but it wasn't the kind of crazy he had been for the last 9 years. "I can't give you a yes or no."
Fiona finally turned her head towards him, her eyes wide and her face seeming dazed.
Raven turned away and looked back at Shadow who was giving a low moaning sound. "Alright, I love you." He said, his voice fairly loud and angry.
Fiona didn't say anything, she just turned her head back up staring at the stars once again.
"What is it?" Raven asked, surprised that she didn't say anything back to him.
"Something bad is about to happen, something that shouldn't happen."
"What shouldn't happen?"
"I don't know, but its evil. Its more evil then anything else anyone has ever seen."
Raven didn't know what she was talking about, and cared only slightly. "I told you that I love you, now tell me you love me."
Fiona closed her eyes, but kept her head up towards the sky. "I don't think this is a good time Raven, something might happen."
"Will you tell me!" Raven shouted at her.
Fiona opened her eyes and nodded. "I love you." She said softly, not even sure if she meant it.
Raven put his hands on her cheeks and moved his head towards hers, kissing her gently and waiting to see if Fiona pushed him back, but she didn't. So Raven continued to kiss her, feeling Fiona put her arms around his back and pressing him tightly against her.
Fiona for the first time in her life had forgotten about Van, forgotten about what she had just felt, forgetting about everything, except Raven.
Jason looked over at Ryss. "Feeling slightly jealous Ryss, want to kill Fiona don't you. Take Raven back." He smiled.
Ryss didn't say anything back, she just sat there next to Specula.
"You know, at one time he did love you. Though I guess I really screwed that up for you. How about you, do you still love him cause it looks like he has just forgotten completely about you."
Again Russ didn't answer, and she turned her head so she didn't have to look at him.
"Yea you do, you still love that insane Raven. Shame to, cant let go of someone you love. But what can I say, imagine poor Fiona when Van comes running towards her, only to find that she has forgotten all about him and has decided to fall in love with his mortal enemy, Raven." Jason smiled again. "Maybe you and Van could get together, I could see you together." Jason looked down at the Tiger. "What do you say Ryss, shall we bring him back, bring back Satan's weapon. No I guess we should wait, but not much longer." Jason turned back to Ryss. "Cheer up Ryss, maybe you and Raven could die together. I'm sure Van would enjoy that."
Ryss got up and walked out, tired of hearing everything Jason was talking about. She walked into a corridor and sat down, resting her arms on her knees, then started to cry.
"Van's alive!" Rudolph shouted. "How, why!" He didn't care about any of those reasons, he was just glad to know Van alive.
"Don't know how." Zack said. "But he's alive, sleeping in the back here."
Rudolph smiled and laughed. "How many other people know."
"None, you're the first I told. Though a friend of mine knows."
Homaleff rushed in after hearing Rudolph yell. "Are you all right you highness?" He asked, looking at the screen. "Who is this?"
"Van's alive, some how he was revived." Rudolph was still smiling, joyful.
"How is that possible?" Homaleff asked looking toward the man. "Was it you?"
"Name is Zack Rigor if you wanted to know. And no, I didn't bring him back. Don't know who did."
"Where are you taking him?" Rudolph asked.
"Jade River Base." Zack said, sending them the coordinates.
Rudolph looked at Homaleff. "Find a way to get us there quickly."
Homaleff nodded and quickly walked off just as Marianne walked in.
"Van's alive Marianne, get ready were going to see him at the Jade River Base." Rudolph grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room.
Jason smiled as he ended his illusion. "One group down and one to go." He closed his eyes again, finally finding the people he was looking for.
Moonbay woke up as the comm. went off. "Fiona, what is it?" She said drowsy.
"Hurry up and get back here Moonbay, Van's alive."
Moonbay was wide-awake now. "How is he alive!" She shouted, waking Irvine up.
"What are you screaming about?" He yawned.
Moonbay looked back at him. "Van's alive!"
Irvine, just like Moonbay had, was now wide-awake.
Moonbay looked back at Fiona. "Where are you at?"
"The Jade River Base. Hurry up, he wants to see you both again."
Moonbay watched her smile then end the comm. "Lets go Irvine."
"I am ready, take off whenever you want."
It took them a few minutes to clean everything up and when they finished they got in the Gustav and took off, the transport moving as fast as it could.
Jason again smiled, opening his eyes, staring over at Ryss. "That is how powerful I am Ryss, that is why I wont lose."
Ryss looked at him. "Why did you do that?"
"Now everyone will be reunited, to simply watch the reawakening of the Raven, the insanity of Van, and the death of Fiona." He smiled. "That last one should please you well."
Again Ryss didn't say anything, she just turned her head ignoring the madman as best as she could.
"Cant this thing move any faster?" Van yelled, he was growing impatience for seeing Fiona again.
"Not really, I'm doing the best I can but well get there in a hour."
Van took a deep breath and tried to relax, watching Zack pilot the Zoid with the broken wrist, thinking about Fiona.
They arrived much faster then they thought, and Van quickly jumped out but Zack slowed him down. "Hang on Van, let me go in first."
Van didn't want to but decided it was ok. "Alright." He said quietly.
Zack walked in, finding Fiona quickly in the hanger.
"Zack" Fiona said, happy to see him again. "Why did you come back?"
Zack scratched his head, watching as Raven slowly walked up. "Damn." He said to himself, pointing out side the hanger.
Fiona looked out, and saw a man standing near the Sabertiger, and it didn't take her long to know who it was. "Van!" She said, her voice thrilled. "How is he?" Fiona ran towards him, not even finishing her sentence.
Raven watched in horror, not believing what he was watching. His entire body fell in shock and anger as he watched Van. "He's alive again." Raven tightly made a fist with his right hand and punched the side of a Terrace, not even noticing any of the pain he now felt.
Van watched the girl with golden blond hair run towards him, jumping on him. Van wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, he continued to kiss her, listening to Fiona laugh from joy of seeing him once again. He gently put her down, resting his forehead against her, kissing her lips gently. "I told you I wouldn't die."
Fiona smiled, feeling nothing but joy and glee. But that went away, her smile shortly after as she turned looking back in the hanger, Raven staring at them, his eye red with rage. She knew now, something had gone terribly wrong with her mind, soul, and heart.