This is a particulary short chapter because where I originally wanted to split it got sort of shifted around into one huge scene (I'm talking like two-point-five pages). Legal crap:
Disclaimer: No Zoids for me. I still don't own it.
Warnings: Um…someone says damned at the end? Man, this chapter is tame…
Oh yeah, and I actually found out that I've been spelling Moonbei's name wrong; it should read 'Moonbay' (which looks really wierd) but I'll keep my way anyway. Does anyone have any idea what Irvine's last name is by any chance?
Broken ~ Part four
R + R
Van's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "Sir, I…! B-but you can't…!" he said not too gently.
"My decision is final, Lieutenant Fleihight…" General Harlan said evenly. "Don't make me rethink your sentence." He watched as Van sighed, regaining his composure, however little of it there was left. "Your Blade Liger will be repaired within that time and your Organoid will continue to be monitored."
"Yes, sir…" the black haired youth saluted the man and walked quietly from the room. He slipped silently out the door in a daze; so much so that he didn't even notice Irvine waiting for him there as he began to walk off.
"Van, hey!" Irvine called and snagged his arm. Van snapped his eyes up to meet Irvine's, the hard jerk on his arm jolting him back to reality.
"Oh…hey Irvine…" Van whispered as they began to walk together. The bounty hunter watched Van from the corner of his eye, waiting until they got to the infirmary and had Van fully patched up before speaking.
"So what's the damage?" Irvine asked quietly as they left for the Blade Liger's hanger,
The young pilot shook his head slowly. "The blade's snapped off completely and-"
"I mean to you; what's your punishment," Irvine corrected. "Whatever it is, it was enough to stun you into being all anti-Van."
Van gazed up at him quickly before casting his eyes back to the damaged Liger. "Oh…you mean that…" he whispered. He narrowed his eyes sadly and turned back to the bounty hunter. "Irvine, do you have the rest of the day free?" A nod. "Where's the nearest town?"
Irvine gave him a questioning look. "About five clicks east. Why's that Van?"
Van sighed and closed his eyes. "Because I need someone to share a strong drink with…" he mumbled and turned back to the Liger. Irvine winced. "That good, huh?" The black haired boy grimaced. "You could say that…"
"Van!" A sweet voice rang in their ears and the two turned to see Fiona and Moonbei jogging up to them. "Well, what happened Van? Was the general easy on you?"
"Yeah Van, spill already," Moonbei said with a smirk. The young pilot grimaced and turned away from them. *Right now…I just want the floor to swallow me, right now…* he silently begged.
"Because of my direct disobedience, I'm being banned from piloting any Zoid within the next two weeks, whether it be on militaristic or recreational grounds. If I do…" he paused to take a short breath, "I'll no longer be in the Guardian Force."
Fiona's eyes went wide. "He can't do that! You're their best pilot! What if Raven attacks within that time?"
"Fiona's right, Van!" Moonbei shot. "Besides, you're a Zoid pilot; what are you going to do for the next two weeks? You can't just sit around here!"
Van gave them a weak smile. "Want to go get something to eat from the village?" he could almost have laughed at their sudden blank expressions. "Come on, it'll be my shout."
***
"I still don't think it's fair…" Irvine whispered to Van in the back seat of the Gustav. Moonbei had offered to take them all since she could easily fit everyone in and now Irvine had struck up a private conversation with the teen.
Van shook his head. "You don't think it's fair? How do you think I feel?" he breathed, incredulous. The shock of the situation had worn off for Van and was being quickly replaced with anger.
Irvine glanced quickly at the two girls who were concentrating on the road ahead of them. He snaked his hand across and clutched Van's tightly. The black haired teen shot him a look of pure shock; his eyes conveying the warning, "If we get caught…"
"Van, it's only two weeks, just relax and enjoy all the extra time off; think of it as a holiday. And besides, now you'll have more time to watch over Zeek," he gave the teen a lopsided smirk that was unbearably cute. "For me, Van?"
Van couldn't help but smile back. "I suppose…only if it's for you though." He whispered back to him. His smile grew warmer as he gave Irvine's hand a gentle squeeze. *Only for you…*
"Hey you two!" Moonbei shrieked as the two men instantly whipped apart. Van's eye twitched as his heartbeat pounded in tune with the Gustav's engines. "You two aren't planning anything back there, are you? Like trying to sneak out with a Zoid or anything, Van?"
Van was about to speak when Irvine leant between the two girls with a wicked smirk on his face. "Now Moonbei, would we try anything like that?" he crooned. "Come on, it's us you're talking about here!"
Moonbei winced in disgust as she focused on the road again. "That's what I'm afraid of…" she mumbled.
Fiona giggled and turned to Van, who, by this time, was bright red as he stared outside. "Van? Are you feeling okay?" she asked.
He whipped his head around and forced his voice not to squeak. "Fine, why do you ask?" He blurted quickly with an enormously nervous grin. Fiona smiled softly at his expression, a wisp of sadness about her. "Because we're all worried about you, Van," she said with a smile.
He smiled back at her. "Yeah I know, and thanks for that," he paused for a moment, sighing suddenly. "Running off to the town… How am I going to explain this one to General Harlan?" He mumbled.
Moonbei smiled while still watching the road. "Don't worry about that, Van. Why do you think it took me half an hour to get to the Gustav?" She grinned to herself. "I was squaring things away with the good General; you're free for the next seventy-two hours."
Van stared wide-eyed at her, lips parted in shock. "You did what?" he asked, incredulous.
The female transporter giggled. "I explained it to General Harlan that you were going through a pretty bad patch at this time, what with Zeek and all, and told him to take it into consideration that you are one of the best pilots this side has ever seen and deserve some extra credit every now and again." She turned to briefly flash a grin at Van. "He agreed with me, so you've got the next three days off to recuperate or whatever."
The black haired boy blinked at her for a moment before smiling in complete surprise. He chuckled and leant back in his seat, relaxed again. "Wow Moonbei, thanks… I mean… Thanks!" She laughed at him and waved her hand dismissively at him. "Don't worry about it. Just consider it repayment for getting me out of that jam after the Grand Prix." Van nodded and cast a hopeful glance at Irvine.
Irvine caught the look immediately, turning his head to return the glance. Van's eyes had a dark mischievousness to them, he noted, giving him an overall wicked look as he sat calmly there with a minute smirk plastered on his face.
The bounty hunter just smiled and shook his head, leaning over to Van. His warm breath sent a shiver down Van's spine as he whispered, "Now, now, Van. Not until we find somewhere a little more discreet." Van swallowed hard as Irvine pulled back. That drink was beginning to sound better and better…
***
"Keron Colony," Moonbei said as she stepped out of the Gustav. "Just as dusty and hot as the last time I saw it, even at night." Fiona stared at her as she stood with the others. "You've been here before Moonbei?" she asked. The transporter smiled and nodded at her.
"A while back, before I knew you and Van," Moonbei explained. "This was a pretty big place for desert transporters to meet up and swap goods, so this was my temporary home for a bit."
Fiona giggled at her and turned to Van as he threw the rest of his bandages into the Gustav. He'd replaced his usual red uniform shirt with a loose-fitting blue one before climbing out of the Gustav; he didn't want to be seen as a soldier while in his time off. The Zoidian smiled softly to herself; her friend had developed a handsome build since joining the Guardian Force.
"Hey Van, hurry up with yourself already!" Moonbei chirped. "Geez, any slower and-"
"Alright Moonbei, alright!" Van laughed as he jogged over to them. "Man, anyone would think you're eager to get away from the base or something."
She shrugged and shook her head at him. "Military forces just aren't my thing, unless they're on our side of course." Van gave her an amused smirk.
"What? Had a bad run-in with the Republican army?" he asked coyly. She scowled and punched him playfully in the arm. He laughed and glanced back at Irvine. "Hey Irvine, you coming or what? I don't want to have to deal with these two alone!"
Irvine smirked at him. "You three go on ahead, I need to find us somewhere to stay." Moonbei paused for a moment. "Try the Orange Holiday; they'll give you a good deal if you tell them Moonbei sent you." She winked at him as he rolled his eyes. Fiona giggled at them.
"Why don't we all go together?" She suggested. "That way Moonbei can show us some of the sights as well." The blonde girl latched both her arms around Van's shoulders and he squeaked embarrassingly at the sudden motion. Van stared down at Fiona with a look caught between shock and aversion.
"Um…how about we find that inn first, huh?" he suggested gently. "This town is pretty big and we don't want to get separated. And besides…" he stifled a fake yawn. "I am kinda tired… And a nice sleep sounds really good at the moment." He glanced up at the large clock atop the town hall, the glowing hands showing well past ten at night.
Fiona smiled and nodded, releasing him. "I guess so. You're still feeling the effects of the battle, aren't you?" A nod. "Okay then… Let's turn in for the night; we can sight-see tomorrow…"
Van inwardly thanked whatever god was out there and smiled back at her. "Sure thing." He yawned for real and felt himself waver on the spot slightly. *I must be tired…*
***
"That prick had to hit the main turbines, didn't he?" the grey haired boy mumbled, voice dripping with venom. "I'd be out of here tonight if it wasn't for that Van Fleihight. How dare he nearly destroy the Geno-Breaker; now I'm stuck in this pathetic excuse for a hole until I can steal the parts…" he smirked to himself. "Still, at least I finally got him off my back…"
The grey haired boy sneered in disgust as he walked past another fruit stall, pulling his hood closer. His eyes were unfocused and they stayed on the road ahead of him as if he were drowsy which was far from the truth. Raven took in everything around him as he walked; from the flowers that lined the stalls to the conversations he heard, from the three ladies laughing outside the café to the two girls walking towards him.
He bit back a snarl and slipped silently from the open street, ducking into a shadowed alley. He held his temper in check as the two girls walked past him, the taller of the two pointing out various things to the younger blonde haired girl.
*The transporter and that ancient Zoidian…* Raven mused silently as they walked by, oblivious to his presence. He stared venom into the dark at their happy expressions. *Which means that Van is still alive…* Raven snarled softly. *I should have finished him off when I had the chance.*
Fiona and Moonbei had almost disappeared from sight when Raven stepped out into the street again, steely eyes watching them like a hawk watches a wounded mouse. He adjusted his hood again to make sure it was secure before slipping after them as silently as he had came, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.
"I'll have to watch over them then… We can't have two young girls wandering the streets alone at night, now can we?" he mused to himself. *And then maybe I can find out where that damned Van Fleihight is and finish the job once and for all…*
TBC
Van: Raven's going to kill me…big surprise there…
Chan: Oh you! *laughs* He's always trying to kill you, give the driven guy a break!
Irvine: *from couch* Careful... If you tick her off, she might make him succeed this time...
Van: I know, and that's what scares me.
Chan: *misty eyed* Oooh Vaaan...I didn't mean to hit you so hard over the head. Where does it hurt?
Van: Well, it does a bit he- Hey, no way!! I'm not falling for that again! Stay away from me, you psycho!!
Chan: *rises above Van with the whole vampiric snarl + flames-from-hell background* WHAT!? I am NOT psycho!!
*Van screams and promptly faints. Irvine blinks at him*
Irvine: Wow, you got him good that time...
Chan: *back to normal* Ha! Then I win, pay up Irvine! In the meantime, the next chapter will be up in a bit! Ja ne, readers!! *waves like a madman*