Book of the Phoenix
A Zoids Fanfic
Written by Ice Phoenix
Chapter eight; specially for R-chan ^^ Yes, it's been a while since this fic's been updated.... *shrugs* I was feeling fairly bored; and hence, this came from my mind. The chapter probably sucks, but that can't be helped... Blame it on the lack of plot-setting, if anything. ^^
~*~RC~*~
"There it is!" Matt announced to his teammates.
"Mountains, lagoons, hot-springs, what more could you want?" Sean grinned, swinging around in his chair.
"Rhu- what 'bout you? Whatcha think?" they both looked back at Phoenix.
Rhuidea was staring out the Gustav's window, leaning on the sill, hand propped under chin in a classic position.
A touch too eagerly, Sean bounded over, waving a hand in front of her face "Yo, Rhu."
"Nyeh? Wha?" Phoenix looked up, train of thought broken.
"We're there."
"Where's there?" she asked, confused.
"Here." Matt pointed at the close mountains, and the even closer resort. "Perfect place to get away from the Backdraft, at least for a while." Griffin grinned to his teammates, stopping the transportational Zoid.
Rhu smiled "Nice..."
"Glad to have your approval." snorted Falcon, running a hand over her hair, ruffling it.
"Hey!" she waved his hands away, retying her bandana. "Couldn't resist, could you?" she muttered, half-glaring at him in fun.
"Nope. This is me we're talking about; I do things solely to annoy ye."
Phoenix rolled her eyes "How could I forget?"
"Never mind that; c'mon, I wanna take a look around." Matt interrupted, opening the canopy. "Let's go."
Rhuidea nodded, and punched Falcon on the arm playfully, ducking his own attack, and stepping out of the cockpit.
Sean sighed, rubbed his arm and followed, the trio looking around in curiosity.
"Well, I dunno about you two; but I'm off to the private springs..." Rhu announced, walking towards the wing of the resort where they would be staying.
Sean and Griffin exchanged glances. Matt opened his mouth to say something, but Phoenix beat him to it, turning around to face them. "I'll be fine."
Falcon snorted "You said that last time."
Rhu shrugged "I know. I've decided though; this time, I don't care."
Matt quirked a brow "What exactly are you saying?"
"I know you guys do; but frankly, I no longer care if they get me or not." Phoenix answered with a casual shrug.
Matt took swift strides towards her, hands clapped on her shoulders. "You gone insane or somethin'?!" he demanded "You don't care if you die?!"
Rhu looked back at him levelly "Nope."
Falcon joined them, genuine concern in Griffin's eyes mirroring the other youth. "If someone aimed a gun at you; you'd say 'shoot me'?" Sean asked, brow furrowed as he tried to absorb this apparent suicidal streak within his teammate.
Rhu shook her head "Not exactly. It's- difficult to explain. Later. I'm in dire need of a bath here." she broke away from them, turning and walking towards the lobby and rooms.
Matt and Sean sighed in usion. "She's lost it..."
Griffin shook his head "This worries me. She acts like it doesn't affect her... But if Rhu's reached the stage of just plain not caring..."
"Then it's serious." Sean finished. "We have to do something... But what is there to do?"
"Nothing." came the answer. "That's the worst part."
~*~
Rhuidea worked her way across the bridges, paths and arcades, not noticing where she was going. Did I really say that? she wondered, eyes blank Do I really not care what happens to me anymore? Phoenix shivered That's scary... As much as I hate to admit it, there's only two choices. Kill them, or let them kill me. She sighed. I hate having to decide... A flash of inspiration came to her, and that was when Rhu decided. She knew exactly what to do...
~*~
When the trio regrouped at dusk, Rhu had had her bath, Sean had spent the day jet-skiing, and Matt being Matt, he had spent a large portion of the day asleep in a hammock.
Each felt at least partly refreshed, though their meal passed in silence. Falcon and Matt tried to get Phoenix talking, but she remained enclosed, silently thinking.
The week they stayed was peaceful; Griffin, Sean and Rhu enjoying the Backdraft free zone. It was hard to go back to the city.
~*~
"Nice to be home again..." Rhu announced, entering the hangar happily. Matt and Falcon followed, lugging a couple of bags. Phoenix dumped her own luggage close to her Raynos, swinging up into it eagerly. "When's our next battle?" she called down to them, lodged between the wing and body.
"Uh..." Sean checked the notices "Two days."
Rhu grinned "Great. I could use a chance to spread my wings."
Matt nodded sceptically. "Sure- just don't get cocky. We still need you around here; keeps us in line." he grinned
She jumped down, landing with practised ease. It had taken months to get used to that when Rhu first met them; it was now a bit of a trademark, a symbol of her tendency for unpredictable things, from battle to everyday living to arguements; Phoenix was a complete mystery to most, and the few who knew her were still repeatedly stumped by the strange woman.
"No worries there ol' buddy." Rhu grinned.
Sean stifled a yawn "I'm gonna go crash... Tiredness overwhelming..." he muttered blearily, shuffling off to his bedroom.
Griffin shrugged, and followed, steering Falcon away from the wall and through the door frame properly.
Rhu laughed, then looked up at the Firebird. Once she was sure they were both out of earshot, and down the other end of the building, she reclimbed the Raynos, opening a hatch along one side of the body.
Phoenix worked quickly, inserting a small set of plastic explosives, attaching a trigger into the cockpit. She placed the materials strategically; this particular joint was weaker than the rest of the zoid; the most vulnerable spot. Two hits to that spot, and boom, she'd go down fast- and that was in a normal battle. But now; with the extras, so much more could happen... and Rhu knew it would.
Jumping back down, Phoenix sighed. I wish it didn't have to come to this; but there's no other way... I'm sorry Griffin, Falcon. It's the only choice...
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the hangar, as Rhu walked away, flipping the light at the doorway before retiring to her room...
Two days and counting...
XP Happy R-chan? No. 8, all typed up and pretty like, lol. ^^ This chapter is actually very different from how it was originally gonna be; but I like this more... ~.~ 9 - coming soon...-er than ye'd think... ^^ And; what's more, Chapter 10 willl be the end of BOTP...¬¬ bet ye didn't see that comin'... Mehbeh I'll do a sequel or somethin', basically all the RPs we've done, lol... *has something planned for Ch. 10* ^^
~*~RC~*~