THE CONVENTION
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, some company in Japan does. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
********************
"Nothing...nada...seen it...I don't think so...Not if it was the last one on earth. Gaahh."
Bit Cloud put down the remote, and yawned. How was it that with 300 some odd channels, nothing was on? He pushed his way through the various wrappers and plates that surrounded him, almost regretting challenging room service to see if they really did have "everything."
"Hey Leena, you think I should order a movie? You know they can ship it right up to the room and all." Bit said to the person in the bed next to him. Leena Toros hadn't removed her bikini yet from her ill-fated beach trip, not that he could tell of course. She had rammed into the room, and suddenly grabbed every pillow and blanket in the room, and built a small fort on her bed, then jumping in, putting a waste basket on her head and holding a small broom like a club. She had been there for the last hour.
"Sure, go right ahead." Came a female voice from the inside of the fort. Bit picked up a small booklet, and flipped through it.
"Let's see "Burning steel: the history of the Helic/Guylos war." Pass. "My Zoid ate your monkey," Already saw it. "Dude, where's my Zoid?" Already saw it twice. "Two lights in Paris."
"Ooh, that one!" Leena said, lifting a pillow in the fort to show her face.
"But it's a chick flick! No way!"
"What do you mean "Chick flick!" Leena was suddenly standing right next to him, in a tanktop and shorts. Bit had idle time to wonder when she had changed, before her arm snaked around his throat. Despite choking him, she was somehow able to look up at the sky with starry eyes.
"It's a beautiful love story about two people who find love and friendship in the ruins of a war-torn country, only to be torn apart by her rich family, and his duty to the armed forces. Only to have both of them run from these people in the night for a treacherous rendezvous in enemy territory." Leena sighed. "I've seen in ten times."
"Leena...My...I can't...breath." Bit managed to choke out.
"Will you order it?"
"Yes...yes...yes."
"Okay." With this she dropped him. Bit grumbled and went to the phone.
********************
Harry Champ had been wondering through these halls ever since he lost Leena during the run through the gift-shop.
"Alright. Sebastian, you take that hall, Benjamin, you take that one, I'll go this way."
"Right boss."
"You got it."
The two robots quickly made off down their designated halls. Harry had searched each hall of each floor, knocking on doors, and yelling out "Leena! Where are you darling?" Needless to say this had caused a good amount of racket, and now Harry had to find Leena, and make sure the security guards didn't find him. He was pretty sure he had lost them two floors down, but it always helped to be careful.
`Now Harry, be calm. Soon you will find Leena, and together you will ride off into the sunset, as king and queen." This brought a smile back to Harry's face. He went off down the hall.
"Leena my love!! Where are you!!"
********************
Brad put down his seventh glass, a heavy flush on his face. For awhile, at least, he was happy the drinking age in Imperial City was his own age, it was a nice way to get over the embarrassment he had suffered at the check in stand.
"Hey, don't you think you've had enough of that stuff." Leon asked, smirking. Brad just raised his hand nonchalantly. Brad managed to bring his head up, despite this incredible urge to just lay it down and go to sleep. He and Leon where sitting in the bar inside the hotel's restaurant, sitting here ever since Brad got "Insulted" by Naomi at the check-out stand. Of course she was just teasing him, not that Leon had told him this yet.
"So you here to see the doc?" He managed to ask.
"Oh yeah! Dad told me all about it. I look forward to seeing his new weapon systems, especially the one he made for Leena."
"You came with the Fluegel Team?"
"Yep, we've been doing a lot better ever since I got my Blade Liger. We may even be getting to S-class soon ourselves, so watch out, eh!" Leon said jokingly.
"Really." Brad said, the alcohol dulling his brain.
"Yep, you should see the modifications Naomi's made to her Gun Sniper, thankfully it's not as...well...I hate to say this about my sister, but not quite as garish as Leena's, but her fire power has received a big improvement. I thought about upgrading my Blade Liger, but decided it didn't need it." Leon said, Brad only partially picking up what he said. A bartender put another drink down in front of him. Brad reached for it, but Leon got there first, snatching it up. This did not seem to bother Brad, as he continued to drink from the apparently illusionary cup in his hands.
"Whoah-hoh! That's enough for you big guy." Leon said. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought you here anyway. " He added under his breath. By this time, Brad had collapsed on the table "Oh yeah, you definitely need to get some rest."
Leon looked around and saw Jamie standing near the fountain. He waved his hand around for a moment before the young strategist noticed. Jamie hurried over to them.
"What happened to Brad?"
"Had a little too much, you might say. Wanna help me get him to his room?"
"Sure."
"Then could you tell me where dad's exhibit is?"
"Sure."
*******************
"Oh Brad, I love you, but we're part of different teams."
"That doesn't matter to me Naomi, I love you." Brad and Naomi were standing in a what seemed to be a Zoid hanger. Brad could see his own Shadow Fox, in the background, but the walls seemed blurring and unreal, and somewhere in the distance, Brad could swear he heard a roaring, and the approach of a Zoid.
"I...I've never felt this way about someone before. I used to live for money but...I...I don't know how to say it." The roaring was getting closer.
"Would you leave the Blitz Team for me?" Brad was taken a back by that question.
"Leave?...But...I."
"You are a mercenary."
"But..." Brad found himself unable to respond.
"You know that as a mercenary you decide to never get tied to one team."
Brad still was unable to speak."
"I see." With this, a large red Blade Liger slammed through the wall of the Hanger, kicking up dust in its wake. Naomi turned around, and walked towards the dust.
"See you around...Brad." She said.
"Naomi! Wait, please! Wait."
*******************
"Wait!!!" Brad Hunter literally leapt up from his bed. He looked around for a few minutes, unfamiliar with where he was, before recognizing his room. Brad put his hand to his forehead, hoping to still the throbbing headache. He walked slowly over to his duffle bag, and found some Tylenol. He chugged a pair down, the action sending a fresh surge of pain through his head.
Brad walked back to his bed, and lay down slowly. He knew what a hangover felt like, and this was definitely one of them. The images from his dream came back to him, and he cursed at himself. He was a mercenary, and the first rule of a mercenaries life was to never get tied down to someone, even a team with a unheard of winning streak. Which was something the Blitz team had. What Naomi had said in his dream was true.
He had been planning to leave the Blitz Team before Bit joined. Then they had been a second rate team, slowing being blown out of the ratings by everyone that came their way. Then Bit had showed up, and the "useless" Liger 0 had begun working. Everything changed after that.
It hadn't been just Bit who had turned their fortunes around. His coming had wakened a strange will to fight in himself and Leena, even in Leon. Suddenly they where winning fights left and right, and he found himself staying with the Blitz Team longer and longer.
Then he had met Naomi, and the changes in him only got stronger. He had never met a woman like her. She was strong and skilled, and she refused to be pushed around. All qualities he had respected in himself, now found in a woman.
Love was one of the most foreign concepts that Brad Hunter had ever tried to wrap his mind around. All mercenaries worked for money, not for any team, really, nor for any purpose. But he saw images of this beautiful GS pilot, and felt no problem with giving away any and all money he had ever earned just to be near her.
Brad put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, hoping that no dreams would come to this sleep.
The Tylenol was kicking in, and he could feel his headache lessen a bit. Brad had planned on going to dinner with the rest of the team that night, but somehow he didn't feel like eating.
********************
"Oh it's so beautiful!" Leena blew her nose on a handkerchief, and then used it to stifle tears. "The pure elegance and beauty of this film never fades, even after ten viewings."
Bit stopped for a moment in checking his pulse to see if the movie was over. He saw the ending credits, and felt like crying himself, crying in joy that is.
"I think we should order it again." Leena said, reaching for the phone. Bit freaked for a moment, before putting his hand over hers.
"No way Leena!"
"And why may I ask?" She said, with a look on her face that Bit knew all too well.
"B...because it's almost time for supper, and we need to get going." Leena looked over at the clock, and saw he was right.
"Oh well. Leena leaped off the bed, and put on her shoes, just as a knocking sounded at the door.
"Hello." Said Bit as he opened the door.
"Hey Bit."
"Leon! Naomi!" Said Bit as he shook Leon's hand. Leena came up behind him, saw her brother and instantly threw her arms around him.
"Oh It's so good to see you guys."
"Hey Leena."
"Have you guys seen dad?"
"Just left him, he sent us up to get you guys and Brad."
"Let's go then." Leena went running down the hall towards the elevator.
"Heh, she hasn't changed a bit." Said Leon. "Come on, let's go get Brad, and hopes he's feeling okay."
"What do you mean?" Asked Naomi.
"Well, after your little teasing at the check-in counter, I took him away for a drink."
"Leon!"
"Hey, he looked devastated." Naomi rubbed her forehead.
"Come on." Naomi wondered just what was wrong with men sometimes.
********************
Brad slept an uncomfortable sleep. It had been this way ever since he laid down. He had hoped a good nights sleep would get rid of this headache, though the Tylenol had dulled it a good bit. Brad rolled around on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position, but none would do. Finally he sat up.
"Hey." Brad turned in shock, and saw a very familiar form sitting on the bed next to him.
"Naomi!?"
"Leon told me you had a little problem?" She said smiling. Brad forced down any flustering, and spoke.
"Uh...Look Naomi, about what I said at the terminal." Naomi began chuckling.
"Jeez! You men take everything so seriously." She said through her laughter. "I was just kidding around with you, Brad."
"Oh...really?" He said.
"Yeah! I swear." She said. "but seriously, I'm sorry if it upset you."
"It's okay with me, I'm just happy you aren't upset." He said, sighing in relief, and feeling a bit like an idiot.
"Of course not, it was my joke." She said, moving behind him, and rubbing his shoulders. "I wouldn't have done it if I knew you were going to take it this seriously."
"Hhmm." Brad said, the feeling in her hands on his shoulders felt wonderful.
"Hey, the Dr. Toros is taking everyone to dinner. You feel like coming?" She asked.
"Well..."
"But you do look a little roughed up. What say I order some room service, and we watch a movie?"
"It sounds...great."
********************
"Man I love this!" Bit put another forkful of Pasta in his mouth.
"So dad, how's your speech going?" Leon asked his father. Leon had left Naomi up at Brad's room. Working with her for so long, he had found he could guess just what her decisions where going to be, and figured she and Brad wouldn't be joining them.
"Oh, well, I'm still stuck on the opening, I've worked out most of the main body, though. I hope it shows a proper respect to the men who've come before me, but showing the great hope we all feel for the future generation of scientists..." Dr. Toros droned off.
Jamie turned away from his own plate. He had been lost in thought ever since he had gotten that card. Even now it was in his jean pockets. Jamie had been looking around the large dining room, ignoring his other teammates. It seemed like more and more people wanted to see him fly lately, the Doc has signed him up for the Raynos race, and this strange man, Darren Solar challenging him, and what was with this Wild Eagle thing anyway!?
Jamie shook his head to clear it of these thoughts, and his eyes fell on Darren Solar.
He and a group of several others where leaving the dining room, one was a tall man dressed in a scientists uniform, a white coat, tie, shirt and slacks. The other was a large muscular man, with his blonde hair slicked back, Jamie only caught a brief glance of the last one, and when he did, he felt a jolt go through his body and his heart. But before he could decipher who it was, they where gone. Leaving Jamie alone with his memory of that brief flash of a female with dark emerald hair.
TO BE CONTINUED.
********************
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, some company in Japan does. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
********************
"Nothing...nada...seen it...I don't think so...Not if it was the last one on earth. Gaahh."
Bit Cloud put down the remote, and yawned. How was it that with 300 some odd channels, nothing was on? He pushed his way through the various wrappers and plates that surrounded him, almost regretting challenging room service to see if they really did have "everything."
"Hey Leena, you think I should order a movie? You know they can ship it right up to the room and all." Bit said to the person in the bed next to him. Leena Toros hadn't removed her bikini yet from her ill-fated beach trip, not that he could tell of course. She had rammed into the room, and suddenly grabbed every pillow and blanket in the room, and built a small fort on her bed, then jumping in, putting a waste basket on her head and holding a small broom like a club. She had been there for the last hour.
"Sure, go right ahead." Came a female voice from the inside of the fort. Bit picked up a small booklet, and flipped through it.
"Let's see "Burning steel: the history of the Helic/Guylos war." Pass. "My Zoid ate your monkey," Already saw it. "Dude, where's my Zoid?" Already saw it twice. "Two lights in Paris."
"Ooh, that one!" Leena said, lifting a pillow in the fort to show her face.
"But it's a chick flick! No way!"
"What do you mean "Chick flick!" Leena was suddenly standing right next to him, in a tanktop and shorts. Bit had idle time to wonder when she had changed, before her arm snaked around his throat. Despite choking him, she was somehow able to look up at the sky with starry eyes.
"It's a beautiful love story about two people who find love and friendship in the ruins of a war-torn country, only to be torn apart by her rich family, and his duty to the armed forces. Only to have both of them run from these people in the night for a treacherous rendezvous in enemy territory." Leena sighed. "I've seen in ten times."
"Leena...My...I can't...breath." Bit managed to choke out.
"Will you order it?"
"Yes...yes...yes."
"Okay." With this she dropped him. Bit grumbled and went to the phone.
********************
Harry Champ had been wondering through these halls ever since he lost Leena during the run through the gift-shop.
"Alright. Sebastian, you take that hall, Benjamin, you take that one, I'll go this way."
"Right boss."
"You got it."
The two robots quickly made off down their designated halls. Harry had searched each hall of each floor, knocking on doors, and yelling out "Leena! Where are you darling?" Needless to say this had caused a good amount of racket, and now Harry had to find Leena, and make sure the security guards didn't find him. He was pretty sure he had lost them two floors down, but it always helped to be careful.
`Now Harry, be calm. Soon you will find Leena, and together you will ride off into the sunset, as king and queen." This brought a smile back to Harry's face. He went off down the hall.
"Leena my love!! Where are you!!"
********************
Brad put down his seventh glass, a heavy flush on his face. For awhile, at least, he was happy the drinking age in Imperial City was his own age, it was a nice way to get over the embarrassment he had suffered at the check in stand.
"Hey, don't you think you've had enough of that stuff." Leon asked, smirking. Brad just raised his hand nonchalantly. Brad managed to bring his head up, despite this incredible urge to just lay it down and go to sleep. He and Leon where sitting in the bar inside the hotel's restaurant, sitting here ever since Brad got "Insulted" by Naomi at the check-out stand. Of course she was just teasing him, not that Leon had told him this yet.
"So you here to see the doc?" He managed to ask.
"Oh yeah! Dad told me all about it. I look forward to seeing his new weapon systems, especially the one he made for Leena."
"You came with the Fluegel Team?"
"Yep, we've been doing a lot better ever since I got my Blade Liger. We may even be getting to S-class soon ourselves, so watch out, eh!" Leon said jokingly.
"Really." Brad said, the alcohol dulling his brain.
"Yep, you should see the modifications Naomi's made to her Gun Sniper, thankfully it's not as...well...I hate to say this about my sister, but not quite as garish as Leena's, but her fire power has received a big improvement. I thought about upgrading my Blade Liger, but decided it didn't need it." Leon said, Brad only partially picking up what he said. A bartender put another drink down in front of him. Brad reached for it, but Leon got there first, snatching it up. This did not seem to bother Brad, as he continued to drink from the apparently illusionary cup in his hands.
"Whoah-hoh! That's enough for you big guy." Leon said. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought you here anyway. " He added under his breath. By this time, Brad had collapsed on the table "Oh yeah, you definitely need to get some rest."
Leon looked around and saw Jamie standing near the fountain. He waved his hand around for a moment before the young strategist noticed. Jamie hurried over to them.
"What happened to Brad?"
"Had a little too much, you might say. Wanna help me get him to his room?"
"Sure."
"Then could you tell me where dad's exhibit is?"
"Sure."
*******************
"Oh Brad, I love you, but we're part of different teams."
"That doesn't matter to me Naomi, I love you." Brad and Naomi were standing in a what seemed to be a Zoid hanger. Brad could see his own Shadow Fox, in the background, but the walls seemed blurring and unreal, and somewhere in the distance, Brad could swear he heard a roaring, and the approach of a Zoid.
"I...I've never felt this way about someone before. I used to live for money but...I...I don't know how to say it." The roaring was getting closer.
"Would you leave the Blitz Team for me?" Brad was taken a back by that question.
"Leave?...But...I."
"You are a mercenary."
"But..." Brad found himself unable to respond.
"You know that as a mercenary you decide to never get tied to one team."
Brad still was unable to speak."
"I see." With this, a large red Blade Liger slammed through the wall of the Hanger, kicking up dust in its wake. Naomi turned around, and walked towards the dust.
"See you around...Brad." She said.
"Naomi! Wait, please! Wait."
*******************
"Wait!!!" Brad Hunter literally leapt up from his bed. He looked around for a few minutes, unfamiliar with where he was, before recognizing his room. Brad put his hand to his forehead, hoping to still the throbbing headache. He walked slowly over to his duffle bag, and found some Tylenol. He chugged a pair down, the action sending a fresh surge of pain through his head.
Brad walked back to his bed, and lay down slowly. He knew what a hangover felt like, and this was definitely one of them. The images from his dream came back to him, and he cursed at himself. He was a mercenary, and the first rule of a mercenaries life was to never get tied down to someone, even a team with a unheard of winning streak. Which was something the Blitz team had. What Naomi had said in his dream was true.
He had been planning to leave the Blitz Team before Bit joined. Then they had been a second rate team, slowing being blown out of the ratings by everyone that came their way. Then Bit had showed up, and the "useless" Liger 0 had begun working. Everything changed after that.
It hadn't been just Bit who had turned their fortunes around. His coming had wakened a strange will to fight in himself and Leena, even in Leon. Suddenly they where winning fights left and right, and he found himself staying with the Blitz Team longer and longer.
Then he had met Naomi, and the changes in him only got stronger. He had never met a woman like her. She was strong and skilled, and she refused to be pushed around. All qualities he had respected in himself, now found in a woman.
Love was one of the most foreign concepts that Brad Hunter had ever tried to wrap his mind around. All mercenaries worked for money, not for any team, really, nor for any purpose. But he saw images of this beautiful GS pilot, and felt no problem with giving away any and all money he had ever earned just to be near her.
Brad put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, hoping that no dreams would come to this sleep.
The Tylenol was kicking in, and he could feel his headache lessen a bit. Brad had planned on going to dinner with the rest of the team that night, but somehow he didn't feel like eating.
********************
"Oh it's so beautiful!" Leena blew her nose on a handkerchief, and then used it to stifle tears. "The pure elegance and beauty of this film never fades, even after ten viewings."
Bit stopped for a moment in checking his pulse to see if the movie was over. He saw the ending credits, and felt like crying himself, crying in joy that is.
"I think we should order it again." Leena said, reaching for the phone. Bit freaked for a moment, before putting his hand over hers.
"No way Leena!"
"And why may I ask?" She said, with a look on her face that Bit knew all too well.
"B...because it's almost time for supper, and we need to get going." Leena looked over at the clock, and saw he was right.
"Oh well. Leena leaped off the bed, and put on her shoes, just as a knocking sounded at the door.
"Hello." Said Bit as he opened the door.
"Hey Bit."
"Leon! Naomi!" Said Bit as he shook Leon's hand. Leena came up behind him, saw her brother and instantly threw her arms around him.
"Oh It's so good to see you guys."
"Hey Leena."
"Have you guys seen dad?"
"Just left him, he sent us up to get you guys and Brad."
"Let's go then." Leena went running down the hall towards the elevator.
"Heh, she hasn't changed a bit." Said Leon. "Come on, let's go get Brad, and hopes he's feeling okay."
"What do you mean?" Asked Naomi.
"Well, after your little teasing at the check-in counter, I took him away for a drink."
"Leon!"
"Hey, he looked devastated." Naomi rubbed her forehead.
"Come on." Naomi wondered just what was wrong with men sometimes.
********************
Brad slept an uncomfortable sleep. It had been this way ever since he laid down. He had hoped a good nights sleep would get rid of this headache, though the Tylenol had dulled it a good bit. Brad rolled around on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position, but none would do. Finally he sat up.
"Hey." Brad turned in shock, and saw a very familiar form sitting on the bed next to him.
"Naomi!?"
"Leon told me you had a little problem?" She said smiling. Brad forced down any flustering, and spoke.
"Uh...Look Naomi, about what I said at the terminal." Naomi began chuckling.
"Jeez! You men take everything so seriously." She said through her laughter. "I was just kidding around with you, Brad."
"Oh...really?" He said.
"Yeah! I swear." She said. "but seriously, I'm sorry if it upset you."
"It's okay with me, I'm just happy you aren't upset." He said, sighing in relief, and feeling a bit like an idiot.
"Of course not, it was my joke." She said, moving behind him, and rubbing his shoulders. "I wouldn't have done it if I knew you were going to take it this seriously."
"Hhmm." Brad said, the feeling in her hands on his shoulders felt wonderful.
"Hey, the Dr. Toros is taking everyone to dinner. You feel like coming?" She asked.
"Well..."
"But you do look a little roughed up. What say I order some room service, and we watch a movie?"
"It sounds...great."
********************
"Man I love this!" Bit put another forkful of Pasta in his mouth.
"So dad, how's your speech going?" Leon asked his father. Leon had left Naomi up at Brad's room. Working with her for so long, he had found he could guess just what her decisions where going to be, and figured she and Brad wouldn't be joining them.
"Oh, well, I'm still stuck on the opening, I've worked out most of the main body, though. I hope it shows a proper respect to the men who've come before me, but showing the great hope we all feel for the future generation of scientists..." Dr. Toros droned off.
Jamie turned away from his own plate. He had been lost in thought ever since he had gotten that card. Even now it was in his jean pockets. Jamie had been looking around the large dining room, ignoring his other teammates. It seemed like more and more people wanted to see him fly lately, the Doc has signed him up for the Raynos race, and this strange man, Darren Solar challenging him, and what was with this Wild Eagle thing anyway!?
Jamie shook his head to clear it of these thoughts, and his eyes fell on Darren Solar.
He and a group of several others where leaving the dining room, one was a tall man dressed in a scientists uniform, a white coat, tie, shirt and slacks. The other was a large muscular man, with his blonde hair slicked back, Jamie only caught a brief glance of the last one, and when he did, he felt a jolt go through his body and his heart. But before he could decipher who it was, they where gone. Leaving Jamie alone with his memory of that brief flash of a female with dark emerald hair.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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