Shadowwolf: THANK YOU!
Maelgwyn~ Hope you got my e-mail. ^_^ Thanks so much for reviewing!
Colonel Karl L Shubaltz~ Yeah, I sure like cliffhangers, whether it's on purpose or not. Okay! Exactly! She could /at least/ change the song. That alone wouldn't end her terror though. THANKS!
Zinou~ Thanks. I understand. ^_^ Two pilots is kinda weird huh? Thanks again!
Naomi Hunter~ Thanks Nao! Have fun snoozing. (Can you do that?! I think so…)
Sakura Courage Solo~ Thanks pal! Yeah…OKAY!
Shadowwolf: You guys are so nice to me! ^_^ I feel loved. I'm also a little high off blueberry muffins, so…
Leena: This story needs more of me and Bit.
Bit: Yeah.
Shadowwolf: Well, only if you're nice, and Bit doesn't win so much.
Leena: Never.
Bit: NEVER!
Shadowwolf: Too bad. *snickers* Please enjoy, and have fun doing things that you like to do! @_@
SHADOWY SNIPER CH 4,
A NEW CHALLENGER
"Naomi?" Brad asked as he sat on the side of her bed. She had been cleared from the doctor two days ago, with a broken arm, but hadn't actually been awake enough to remember meals and visits.
"Brad?"
"Yeah. How're
ya?"
"I had the strangest
dream. It was a new Zoid, the Sniper
Fox."
"Naomi?"
"Mm?"
"That wasn't a dream. In fact, it's why you were in the hospital."
"Oh." She sighed.
"We got Leon's Zoid back, and ours is in your hangar."
"Great." She reached up to rub her forehead, only to be reminded of her broken right arm. "UGH! SON OF A--"
"Sssssssssh!" Brad covered her mouth. "Do you want to wake up the whole team?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Blitz Team and Leon are
here. It's four in the morning."
"Oh. Sorry." She closed her eyes, then quickly opened them. "Wait, four in the morning?"
"Yeah."
"What are you doing up?"
"I was worried about you. I couldn't sleep."
"How many coffees have you had in the last 24 hours?"
"Seven, but that has nothing to do with it."
"Uh, huh."
"Really."
"Well, thanks for being concerned, but it's just my arm, so I'll be fine soon." Brad gave her a questioning look. "Really."
"Can I talk to you about joining your team?"
"Sure."
"You aren't really sleepy are you?"
"No, I guess I've been sleeping for days so…"
"Well, would I be…could I join your team? We need to team up anyway, and I'd rather join yours then stay with the Blitz Team."
"Yeah, besides, we made that deal at the last Royal Cup."
"Yeah. Would Leon mind?"
"He shouldn't"
"Okay. Well, thanks, I just…I guess I just…I'm ready to leave the Blitz Team." Brad scolded himself for chickening out on what he was going to say.
"I understand."
"I'll let you get some sleep."
"No, I think you need the sleep."
"You're right. G'night Naomi."
"G'night. And Brad, you can call me Nao. It's my nickname. For teammates only." She smiled.
"Heh, thanks Nao."
"Anytime." As he left, Naomi turned on her right side and realized that it hurt, so she decided to sleep on her back. {Huh, I've never had so much trouble finding a good way…to…sleep…}
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After a week of taking it easy and getting pampered, (^_-) Naomi's arm felt better. She decided it was time to get back in her, or their Zoid.
"Are you sure you want to?" Brad asked.
"Yeah, let's go." They walked up to the Sniper Fox who greeted them with a happy yip and knelt down. They climbed in without trouble, then headed out to Naomi's favorite sniping range.
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"So, how'd it go?" Leon asked his teammate.
"Great. Uh, Leon, I need to talk to you. See, Brad wants to join the team, now that our Zoids are kind of, you know."
"Yeah."
"So, how do you feel about
that?"
"Well, let me test my skills against your new Zoid."
"And?"
"If I win, I'll stay on the
team. If I lose, I want to go and
improve my skills as a freelancer."
"Great. When do you want to do this battle?"
"As soon as possible."
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~*~*~
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"Alright. The rules are simple. Your Zoid against mine. No dirty fighting." Leon said the last part sarcastically.
"What are we gonna use for the judge?" Brad asked, remembering why they couldn't use a real judge.
"This." Leon held up a small judge action figure. "It has 'action' phrases." Brad sighed.
"Alright, alright, let's get started." Naomi grew more impatient with every second. She was ready to test their Zoid's skills in a real battle.
"Oh, and Naomi?"
"Yeah."
"Be careful with your arm." Leon smiled gently.
"Thanks."
Leon got out of the Blade Liger and set the 'judge' on the ground. He pushed a button and got back in his Liger.
"Ready…fight!" The figure announced to start the battle.
Without hesitation, the Sniper Fox took off for the forest. The area was grassy, except for a patch of woods, and a few large boulders. Leon saw them running and started to build up speed for a blade attack. He knew where Naomi was going. She'd hide out in the woods and wipe him out. But that was only if she got to the woods. He put out his blades and charged after the Sniper Fox. Brad put on the boosters to try and outrun Leon, but he did the same. Luckily for the pilots of the Sniper Fox, it still outran him.
"Naomi, we've got a bit of a problem!" Brad shouted to Naomi in the gun compartment. "I can't get far enough ahead of Leon to hide in the woods!"
"Alright…turn it around and do your fighting thing. When we get a chance, turn on the smokescreen and head for the woods again."
"Got it." Brad turned the Fox around to see Leon coming straight at him.
"Strike--"
"Why do you say that?" Naomi asked as she returned to the main cockpit.
"I don't know. It helps. Strike Laser Claw!" The Fox charged and leaped above Leon. It landed after slicing the Liger's leg. Unfortunately, the Fox wasn't completely untouched. Its front leg was somewhat damaged. The Zoids turned and glared at each other, with the Liger growling and the Sniper Fox hissing. They charged again at the same time. Before contact, Brad deployed the smokescreen and ran back towards the woods.
They anchored in and watched for Leon to come out of the cloud of smoke they'd created. Naomi was ready to fire, but nothing was coming out. A sudden warning went off on the screens.
*WARNING!* INCOMING ENEMY FROM THE REAR!
"What?!" Brad shouted. He looked up to see trees being disturbed by a large object, no doubt Leon's Zoid. "Naomi, I'm sorry, but we've got to go now!"
"Wha? Why?"
"Leon's headed--" Leon's Zoid burst through the trees and Brad took off running in the other direction.
Leon was hot on their tail. Naomi fired a few times, with near misses. {If only the Zoid wouldn't bounce around so much!} Another message came up on their screens.
Electromagnetic Net status……*READY*
"Brad…"
"Yeah?" He replied, trying to avoid Leon behind him. He hadn't noticed the message.
"Try the net."
"Oh!" He switched control of the Zoid to Naomi and aimed the net at Leon.
"What's the matter guys? Come fight! I won't--what the?" The net blasted out, covering the Liger. Leon struggled to keep control, but lost it. The Zoid tripped and slammed hard into the ground. The Fox slowed, and came around to face it.
"So…" Leon said, trying to act casual. He had one more trick up his sleeve. He opened the blades in an effort to cut the net. The Sniper Fox's horns came forward and it hissed. Brad fired the Vulcan Cannon. It was over.
"Nice Zoid." Leon said as he crawled out of the cockpit. The Sniper Fox knelt down to let Brad and Naomi out safely.
"Thanks." They both said. They shook Leon's hand one at a time.
"Well, I guess I'll be leaving the team Nao. Thanks for letting me be with you."
"You're welcome." Naomi smiled. "Good luck."
"Thanks." They helped Leon get the Liger operational again, then went to get Brad's belongings.
Shadowwolf: Oh come on, did you really think I would make Leon win? ^_-
Leon: *sniff* Yes.
Shadowwolf: Hm. Well, if you're confused why Leon would leave, I thought it sounded like a crazy Leon thing to do. Y'know, "If I lose, I'm going to leave and improve my skills." And anyway, I wanted him outta the base… *snickers*
Brad: ^__^
Naomi: ^_^
Shadowwolf: ^.^ That was just /bizarre/…hehehehe…THANK YOU! GOOD NIGHT!