Authors Notes: Damn typos, all right I want to get someone to proofread my work so I don't keep reading about my typo probs. If you want to proofread my work then email me at jaguar959@hotmail.com or talk with me on AIM, name in Jaguar3959. Thanks and enjoy.
Van felt his heart drop out of his chest as he heard the sounds of Fiona's gasp and tears. Rudolph, his friend for years was dead, murdered by an unknown assassin in a cruel and heartless method. "Rudolph." Van paused after the soft words haunted even his own ears and mind. "Dead." Van felt a tear run down his eyes, the first time he had cried since, since Raven stood above him, delivering the final blow.
"I'm sorry Van." President Camford said, her eyes teary as well. "We are all sorry."
Van didn't pay attention; he just felt sorrow and torment. Rudolph dead, he gave a chuckle of disbelief not understanding how, or why anyone would even dare kill him. He was a hero; he had stopped a war and saved millions. Van would be nowhere near where he was now if it hadn't been for Rudolph. "How long ago?"
"A few hours. Marianne and a technician were also murdered."
"Maybe it was the tech." Van said trying to sooth what little spirit he had left.
Camford shook her head. "He. He had a knife wound. Through his eye."
Van couldn't believe the horror of that thought, the way they were murdered all of them.
"Van. Kruger and Homaleff are dead to."
"What!" Van shouted with rage, not believing more of his friends, more of the people he cared and respected were, dead.
"It was brutal, just as it was with Emperor Rudolph." Camford lowered her, closing her eyes as she tried to hide her tears from Van.
"Who is? Who's doing this?" Van looked back at Fiona, her hands covering her eyes. Much was happening over the last few days.
"We don't know." President Camford rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry for my behavior Van. It's." She shook her head and him goodbye, ending the transmission.
"This. This is just impossible." Van looked down, stopping the Blade Liger.
"Why do people kill like this Van?" Fiona said, her voice fairly straight and clam considering she had been crying for the past few minutes.
"Because there monsters with no heart. They have no remorse or feelings towards anyone. They don't give a damn about a persons life." Van once again felt a tear run down his cheek. "I can't take this!" He shouted, furious about what was happening around him. All of this death and killing happening to people he loved, people who loved him.
"But why do you kill Van?" Fiona asked as she cleared her eyes, wiping away the tears she had drawn.
"I kill." Van stopped because he honestly could give no solid answer. "I kill to keep people from killing. Killing friends like Rudolph and Kruger." Van closed his eyes, gripping the throttles tightly as he felt the anger and rage swelling through his body, burning in his soul and heart.
"But don't people who kill Rudolph and Kruger do it to protect their families?" Fiona replied back, for some reason curious about a man like the one who had brutally killed her friends.
"Fiona will you snap out of it!" Van shouted as he tried to bring her back to her senses. But suddenly the words she spoke rang a tone of truth in his mind. He shook it off quickly though. "I fight to protect, that's why you and I are in the Guardian Force. We do it to save the innocent and protect those who can't defend themselves. I don't kill for any other reason, and you don't help me for any other reason." Van looked up and began slowly moving his Zoid forward again. "I hate people like Prozen and Hilz. Nothing but evil, cold hearted evil."
They were silent the rest of the way to New Helic, arriving a few hours later and noticed people mourning in the streets after the news of the brutal murders reached the citizens.
"I wish none of this had to happen." Fiona finally spoke, her voice cracking from her long silence.
Van nodded. "So do I." They walked through the streets together, Zeke following closely behind. Finally they arrived at the Presidents house. It had been completely rebuilt just like the rest of the city. President Camford and the newly promoted General Hermann stood there waiting for them in the main room.
"Captain Flyheight." Hermann said saluting.
"Captain." Van said surprised but thrilled to hear that. "Yes sir." Van stood up straight and returned the salute, doing his best to hold of a smile.
"We promoted you, I think you deserved it." Hermann threw his hand down to the side. "You know about Emperor Rudolph's tragic passing."
Van nodded and what happiness he had went away. "Yes sir."
"General Kruger, Prime Minister Homaleff, the Emperors Fiancé, and many others were murdered as well." Hermann said offering Van a drink.
Van shook his head, not in the mood for anything right now. "A tragedy." Van said doing his best to hold a tear back in his eye.
Hermann handed Van a manila envelope.
Van opened and looked at a few photographs that were sealed with in it. "What's this?"
Fiona stared at them as well, looking at what seemed to be funnels of smoke and fire rising from the ground.
"Two military bases and four colonies have been destroyed since this morning. We believe it's done by the same people who killed General Kruger and Minister Homaleff."
"Why do you think that?" Fiona asked looking down at a Zoid that seemed to be staring straight up as the picture was taken.
"Because they had found a Zoid, one they say had incredible power, even greater then the Death Sauer."
"No way!" Van shouted as he looked down. "What is it?"
"Something we had never seen before, might be one of the ancient Zoids like the one Raven piloted." Hermann took the pictures and sorted through them, handing him one that gave a clear image of the Zoid. "That's it."
Van stared at it, weapons covering the Zoids orange chassis and a set of red eyes sat at the end of the head. "It's got the firepower, but there's no way it can move very fast."
"That's what we thought, but from its path of destruction it has traveled over 500 kilometers in under 6 hours."
Van looked at him. "That's not to fast, plus I doubt it has much maneuverability. It's probably similar to the Death Sauer or Death Stinger."
Hermann nodded and allowed his mother to take over.
"Either way we decided it would be the best course of action if you, Thomas, and Irvine attempted to take it out. Grant it we have little to no information on this Zoid but you three are some of the best pilots on the planet and if anyone could take it out I believe it's you three."
Hermann stepped back in. "Just as well, the Ultra Sauer is ready to move out and we have created a dozen more shots for the Gravity Cannon. So if it's to difficult for you three."
Van smiled. "We can handle it, right Fiona." He waited for her reply but nothing came about. "Fiona?"
"I have seen this Zoid before." Fiona said softly staring at it, looking down at it. "It's. Familiar. Something about it."
Van looked at her. "You mean your still missing some of your memory."
Fiona nodded briefly as she took another look at the massive Zoid.
Jason stared out from the cockpit of the Tiger, doing exactly what he had done 400 years ago. Killing and exterminating every living soul he came in contact with. He took a deep breath and fired another charged particle blast at a few buildings, incinerating them all in a massive inferno. "Tiger, Tiger burning bright." He smiled at the old saying, the Zoid tearing down any building or life that it saw. Jason felt the impact of a cannon shot, looking over at two Guysacks taking aim and firing at the Tiger. "Don't they understand just what I can do?" The shots had no effect on the extreme armor carried on the shoulders of the Tiger. Shaking his head, Jason targeted the Guysack on the left, shooting it with the Tiger's massive rail gun and watched as it began to shred into thousands of tiny pieces as the bullets ripped through the enemy. He turned his attention to the second Guysack, which was now running away. Jason gave a slight smirk and fired the Hybrid Cannon at it, ripping through the hull and tearing it into two. He looked back at the burning city and smiled. "A galaxy with no chance, and a life with no hope." Jason closed his eyes, slowly taking deep breaths. "Except for five."
"Will you look at that sunset." Moonbay said to Irvine with a smile. "So peaceful."
Irvine smiled back. "Yea."
Moonbay looked around the gorge they were traveling through. There was no particular destination they wanted to go to, they were just going were the road led them hoping it was some place nice.
"Decided we can get married in a few months, that ok with you?" Irvine said not looking at her, he was a little embarrassed to say that.
"Of course its good, I just don't want you backing down from this. You seem like enjoy crawling your way out of your promises."
Irvine shook his head, giving her a small but loving scorn. "You know this is something I wont back out of."
Moonbay felt him kiss her forehead softly, and it made her smile. "Irvine." She said softly. "I need to tell you something."
"Sure, what is it?" Irvine didn't wait for her to speak before pointing out to a massive cloud of smoke and fire a few miles away. "Head over there!" He shouted, pointing at it.
Moonbay nodded as she turned the Gustav around, deciding to wait to tell Irvine what she needed to say.
Van and Thomas watched as the crew quickly worked on their Zoids, adding new weapons and shielding to the already impressive Blade Liger and Dibision.
"Could be tough." Thomas said smiling as he walked over to his Zoid.
"Same people who killed General Kruger, Minister Homaleff." Van paused a moment. "Probably killed Rudolph and Marianne to."
Thomas nodded. "Id bet all my money they killed Karl as well." He made a tight fist, remembering how he had to watch his brother murdered by the Organoid.
"You healed enough?" Van asked as he looked at Zeke, the Organoid walking besides him.
"Sure, how about you?"
"Ill be fine."
"Lets see if these upgrades will be worth it." Thomas turned and walked out of the hanger.
Van shook his head and looked up at the Blade Liger. "Well Zeke, it's going to be more powerful then ever before. Think you can handle." He listened to the enthusiastic growl of Zeke and laughed. "If you can handle it, so can I." Van looked at Fiona, she was dazed and lost in her thoughts. He was surprised to find that even now Fiona was still missing a piece of her memory, and he hoped it wasn't important or dangerous. His confidence was high, he had helped stop the Death Stinger and had personally destroyed the Death Sauer twice, he was certain he could stop this as well.
Ryss looked at the dying child in her arms, watching her small and fragile body begin to go cold. Her skin was red from her blood, cuts and gashes all over her body. The young girl was no older then 6, yet Ryss watched as her eyes rolled back and her last breath was drawn from this world. Ryss felt a tear run down her eye as she gently lied the body on the cold, hard ground and watched as the Tiger prowled the area, making sure every bit of life was gone. "Monster." She said softly as she stood up. "Specula, we need to leave." The blue Organoid walked up to her master. "Wait!" Ryss said as she watched a green and orange Gustav pull into the remains of the city. "Oh no."
"Oh my God." Moonbay gasped as she looked around at the destruction all around her. "Who could have done this?"
Irvine gritted his teeth and got out of the Gustav. "That Zoid over there!" He shouted as he walked back to the Lighting Saiex being towed by the Gustav.
"Irvine wait, if it could do this." Moonbay didn't even finish because she knew it was useless.
Irvine got into the Saiex and quickly took off, heading at the Zoid hidden in the flames it had created.
Jason looked at the Lighting Saiex and smiled. "Right on time."
The Lighting Saiex jumped in to the air, extending its claw and ready to slash the Tiger. The Tiger though easily countered as it ducked out of the way, kicking up its hind legs and driving them into the chest of the Saiex and sent the small Zoid crashing into the ground. Irvine rose up quickly and opened fire at the Tiger.
Jason smiled as he brought up the shield, watching the bullets crush themselves against the impenetrable force.
"Big Zoid, doubt it has much movement." Irvine ran off to the side and came around to the Tiger's tail.
Jason laughed as he rotated the rail gun around, shooting the powerful weapon towards the rear while he faced forward.
Irvine got out of the way, though barley, and took a look at the orange and black Zoid. "Powerful Zoid." He looked at it, trying to discover a weakness in it and thought he had found one.
Jason watched as the cannon shots aimed and shot the heel of the Tiger. He knew what Irvine was trying to accomplish and just laughed at it. Pushing the throttles forward the Zoid took off with a lighting quick acceleration and made a sharp turn towards the Saiex.
"How the Hell can that Zoid move like that." Irvine said under his voice, dodging the charging Zoid. Turning around he quickly caught up with it, though he had to bring it up to its maximum speed even with the boosters. "Still not as fast at the Saiex though."
Jason smiled at the little race and shook his head. He pushed a button on the console, jettisoning the Hybrid Cannons and the Rail Gun, hearing the large bang as they crashed onto the ground. The lost of the heavy weight allowed it to quickly and easily outrun the Lighting Saiex despite its use of the boosters.
Irvine shot his cannon at the Tiger and watched as it had no effect on it.
Jason smiled and turned around, making a quick pounce at the Saiex.
"What a Zoid!" He yelled as he jumped out of the way. "Pilots not half bad either." Irvine made a jump for the Tiger and was able to nick the Zoid, doing only minor damage at best.
Jason turned sharply and drove the Tiger's shoulder into the Saiex's, the impact was so hard it forced the front left leg of the Saiex to push back a few inches, ruining its stabilizers.
Moonbay watched as the Lighting Saiex began to slowly lose to the strange Zoid. "Irvine!" She screamed. Moonbay jumped in the air as she felt two hands clamp down on her shoulder, turning around to find Ryss.
"You have to leave immediately." Ryss said loud and quickly. "Hurry."
"But Irvine."
Ryss didn't let her finish. "He's dead, that Zoid and its pilot will kill him easily. If you stay then you'll die to."
Moonbay threw Ryss's hands off of her shoulder and looked back at the battle.
Irvine screamed as he felt the Tiger drive its paws into his Saiex, either on the side or neck.
"Over." Jason said jumping out of the cockpit, Phantom coming out of the Zoid as well.
Moonbay ran over, getting about 5 feet from the downed Saiex before Specula tripped her. Ryss ran over and held her, making sure she didn't do anything to get killed.
Jason looked over at the two young women and smiled. "Well Ryss, I figured you would have had enough brains to get away from here."
Moonbay's face turned into one of horror, she recognized the voice, the face, and the Organoid as the man who she met when Raven was with her. "You!"
Jason ignored her and watched as Irvine crawled away from the downed Saiex, blood trickling down slowly from his forehead and neck.
Irvine stopped his crawl as Phantom jumped in front of him. He turned around, lying on his back with his hands supporting his body up slightly. "Not a bad Zoid."
Jason didn't smile, he made no motion or gesture. He picked up a piece of metal torn from the Saiex during the battle and pointed it at Irvine's neck, watching his fear rise and as sweat came out of his pores. "The Creature of Genesis."
"Don't you dare hurt him!" Moonbay shouted, trying to escape but Ryss had to tight a grip on her.
Jason pulled the blade from his neck, but only slightly and looked at Moonbay. "Love him, do you." He looked at the ring resting on her finger, though it was dirty from her hand resting in the dirt. "And you're engaged to him." He closed his eyes, reading Moonbay's mind, smiling as his eyes reopened.
"Show some damn remorse once in your life Jason!" Ryss shouted furiously at him, still holding Moonbay down with all of her might.
"Your pregnant with his child as well." Jason smiled, ignoring Ryss's comment.
Moonbay gasped, trying to figure out how he knew, but it was the least of her worries.
Irvine looked at her, giving her a smile, at least doing his best to give her one.
If the situation were better, Moonbay would have smiled back. That is what she had wanted to tell Irvine earlier, and now she wished she had.
Jason turned back to Irvine, lowering his weapon. "Well, you're going to be a father." He tried to sound happy for him. "It's a shame for a child to grow up without ever meeting his father, never knowing what he was like or what kind of a man he was." Jason nodded. "Iv had a personal experience with that."
"Yea I could tell you got abused as a child." Irvine said, breathing hard as Jason's smile grew wider, eventually becoming a laugh.
"Yes, I was abused as a child. And now I'm paying all of it back. But still, for a child to never meet his father. More tragic then something I could ever conjure up." His laugh died, but his smile remained. "Tell me Ryss, am I so devilish that I would do that to a father and child."
Ryss didn't answer, afraid of the consequences if she did.
"Wise move Ryss, very wise." Jason looked back at Irvine. "I will not kill you at this point in time, you shall live." Jason turned around, moving slowly forward.
Ryss couldn't believe it and watched as Moonbay gave a smile and cry of happiness.
Irvine released a deep breath and stood up smiling at Moonbay who smiled back.
Phantom drove his tail into the back of Irvine's head, knocking him to the ground.
"The point in time is over, now you die."
"Jason, don't!" Ryss screamed.
Jason looked at her as he took the piece of metal and drove it through Irvine's back, straight through his heart.
"Irvine!" Moonbay said feeling every piece of her body suddenly feel as if it weighed ten tons. "Irvine." She said breaking down crying, falling to the floor looking at him as he raised a hand to her with his mouth wide open and the piece of steel flowing through his chest, and watched as he fell to the ground, dead.
Ryss let Moonbay go, her head in the ground crying out Irvine's name in choppy phrases. "Your worse then a monster."
Jason laughed. "Oh I'm sorry Ryss, did you want him to live." He kicked the dead body a few times. "Sorry, he's dead."
"Then bring him back." Ryss had an evil smile going across her face. "You seem to enjoy that."
Jason countered her with a smile just as evil as hers. "No Ryss, only when it creates tension and pain. This Ryss is what I live to see, the loss she is feeling right now, and the future of her own life flowing through her mind. She is the one suffering the most, though the soul of her lover now walks in the cold, dark valley alone, frightened." Jason smiled and walked to his Zoid, jumping in the cockpit. "I have one more matter of business to attend to before I make my way towards Van and Raven. Then we will see who lives and who dies." He looked at Moonbay, her hands covering her face, hiding her puffy red eyes and the sorrow and horror that flushed her face. "See Ryss, death is hardly the worst thing in life."
Ryss watched as the cockpit closed and Phantom merged with the Tiger, bringing it to life, reviving the ancient demon within it and watched as it sprung off, leaving its massive weapons on the ground though she knew the charged particle cannons remained. Ryss put her arms over Moonbay's back and shoulder's doing anything she could to comfort her. She felt tears run down her face as well, looking at the lifeless body of Irvine.
Raven had his arm wrapped around Alice's shoulder, leading her to the place he had stayed, the place he had hid the mighty Fury, hoping the Zoid had self recovered. Shadow followed close behind, and Raven knew the Organoid was slightly disappointed at how little attention Raven had been paying him, but knew Shadow was glad to see his master in love as well.
"Where are we going?" Alice said giving Raven a laugh, stumbling over and over as she tried her best to keep up with the speeding Raven.
"I told you, just wait and see." Raven replied holding her tightly against his body, racing through the thick forest. The sun was down and they had walked all day, only stopping once to get some water near a lake. The night sky was bright, allowing Raven to find his way easily around the trees and shrubs. "There." He pointed to the opening of a mountain blocked by thick, heavy shrubs. "Whenever Iv needed to hide this is where I stay." He turned his head, scanning the area next to the mountain. "That's where I hid the Fury."
Alice looked at him, losing her smile. "Your not going to fight again are, you?"
Raven released her, folding his arms across his chest and giving that dark smirk. "Only one more time."
"Van?" Alice said starting to get worried.
"No, someone who I hate even more." Raven turned and walked over to the entrance, clearing the plants out of the way.
Alice hesitated to follow him; a little afraid to be alone with Raven again, a little worried about who he wanted to fight one more time. Raven had never told him the mans name, but she supposed it didn't make a difference. Finally though she decided to follow him, walking in and looking around at the small cave. It wasn't much, lit by torches and candles, a wooden chair and small table rested against the wall and a small cot with a thin blanket was in the corner.
"Its not much." Raven said as he turned and walked out.
"Where are you going?" Alice was now afraid of him leaving her.
"Find some food and water, its plentiful here. Ill be back soon." Raven walked out, Shadow following him.
Alice smiled and took a seat, looking down at a picture that rested on the table. Two small boys, maybe around the age of 3 stood besides each other. They seemed similar, though she didn't know who they were. Both had black hair, one was long the other short. Alice guessed that one of them was Raven but she couldn't tell which one he would be. A few more picture rested on the table, she could see one of the small boys from the other picture now in this one, two adults which were probably his parents held him, though didn't smile a bit. A piece of paper was hidden under the pictures and took a look at it, reading it she quickly put it down. It was Raven's, he was jotting down memories, talking about his parents and his thoughts and basically anything he wanted about his past, though she wondered why. Alice went over to the cot; exhausted and sore she lied down and fell asleep, ignoring her hunger and thirst.
Authors Notes: Once again a cold and dark chapter creating more questions and lots of really crazy shit. Hoped you enjoyed, review or flame, your choice.