Chapter 4

When The Assassins Come Out To Play

'What do you mean split it fifty-fifty?!' Bit yelped, Kiano staring at him as if he were an alien.

Sitting in the hangar of the Toros Base, Brad, Bit and Kiano are talking about the previous battle. Bit rocks backwards and forwards on top of the box in anger, and Brad is quietly shaking his head.

'It's fair if we divide the money four ways' He told him, and Bit jumped down from the one-meter high pile of crates.

'But I'M the one who contributed most in the battle!!'

'What about Jamie?' Kiano asked, and Bit gawked at her,

'What about him!? I ended up winning the battle!'

'Well he did knock out two of those Lightning Stormsorters' Brad continued,

'That wasn't even Jamie! You may as well give his half to Wild Eagle instead!'

'Calm down Bit. I'm sure that we can work this out' Kiano explained, and Bit growled,

'Work it out? Ok, I'll work it out! How about I get half of the money and then you can split it three ways…there! Perfect!'

'Bit, you have to learn to be less greedy' Jamie demanded, walking up to them bearing some chocolate cake on a plate.

'Mmm, cake' Brad said, and Jamie sat down next to them,

'Have we got a deal?' Bit asked, as Kiano shoved a piece of the cake that Jamie just gave her into her mouth. Jamie shook his head.

'Bit, no matter what you say, we're still going to split it evenly'

With that, Bit snatched the cake out of Jamie's hand and shoved it in his own mouth. He glanced to Kiano, then Brad who were both staring at him. He growled and began walking away.

'Alright….! But I get the bigger half!' He mumbled,

'Bit……, there is no bigger half when you split it evenly' Jamie explained, and Bit stopped,

'Yeah, whatever'

'It's just like cake,' Brad said, holding his piece out, 'You always want the bigger piece'

Kiano laughed slightly and Brad looked at her, smiling.

'Are you going to stay here?' Kiano asked Bit, as he began to walk away again,

'Nope, I'm having a bath. I'll see you later'

Bit left the room, and they all shook their heads. Brad was watching as Kiano took a sip of her drink, and put in back on the crate.

'I don't think I like battling' She told them,

'You just had a poor start. It's really not that bad once you get used to it' Brad defined,

She smiled and looked to Jamie.

'So, I'll split it evenly. Brad, Bit, Me and Kiano'

'I don't know why you bother giving me any. I didn't help you at all. I only got you all into trouble even more'

'It was probably a good thing' Jamie smiled,

There was a short silence and Brad gazed up from his food,

'Jamie, I want you to give my share to Kiano'

'What? Why?' He asked, and Brad looked at her,

'You keep it. It's yours after all' She told him,

'I want you to have it. For your baby'

Kiano blushed and smiled, as Brad glanced to Jamie.

'Are you sure?'

Brad nodded, and Jamie quickly glanced to Kiano then him. He shrugged, and stared over at the Gunsniper that was in a pile just outside the base hangar door.

'We're really gonna have to do something about Leena's Gunsniper though'

'Don't worry Jamie, we'll repair it later. Meanwhile we have to focus on restoring Kiano's ship'

Jamie nodded, and smiled.

'Right'

In the background, there was a faint singing that could be heard. They all kept quiet and listened.

'You, doin that thing you do,

breakin' my heart in to a million pieces,

like you always do,

And you, don't mean to be… cruel,

your never even knew about the heartache I've been goin' through,'

It's Bit. Jamie and Brad get up and creep closer to the voice through the wall.

'…Well I try and try to forget you girl but it's just so hard to do, every time you do that thing you do,'

Brad motions to Kiano, and she gets up to follow them inside. They sneak down the corridor towards the bathroom, still following the singing coming from Bit. Brad looks at Kiano and grins cheekily, just as they reach the door of the bathroom, and they hear music playing.

'…I know all the games you play,

and I'm gonna find a way to let you know that you'll be mine some day,

cause we, could be happy can't you see,

if you'd only let me be the one to hold you and keep you here with me,

Cause I try and try to forget you girl but it's just so hard to do, every time you do that thing you do!'

Jamie slowly opens the bathroom door, and creeps inside, helping Brad and Kiano in as well. They close the door quietly behind them, and they turn to watch Bit in the bathtub, topped to the brim with bubbles. His eyes are closed, and he is strumming an imaginary guitar. Brad, Jamie and Kiano look at each other, grins on their faces. They just stand and stare quietly.

'…I don't ask allot girl, but I know one thing's for sure,

it's the love I haven't got girl, and I just can't take it any more,'

He stops singing and begins strumming to the music on the radio.

'…Cause we, could be happy can't you see,

if you'd only let me be the one to hold you and keep you here with me,

cause it hurts me so just to see you go, around with someone new, and if I know you you're doin that thing,

every day just doin that thing,

I can't take you doin that thing you do......'

Bit gets up out of the bath and finishes in a triumphant pose. He opens his eyes and starts to bow.

'Thank you!'

Brad, Jamie and Kiano begin to clap and laugh as Bit turns to see them. He screams and covers himself up.

'WHAT THE HECK!?' He screamed, sitting back down in the bath, Kiano now laughing hysterically,

'Nice singing Bit!' Jamie told him, still clapping,

'GET OUT!' Bit demanded, and Kiano turned to walk away, still laughing uncontrollably.

Jamie also turned to walk away and, Brad stopped them,

'We just wished to know whether or not you wanted to give Kiano your half of the money'

'NO! NOW GO AWAY!'

'Oh well, I tried' He said, walking away and pulling Kiano and Jamie with him.

The door shut behind them and they waked back towards the hangar now in complete hysterics.

TWO MONTHS LATER….

'Hurry up Bit! We don't have time for an encore!' Jamie cried, as Kiano laughed in the background,

'Why are you not over that yet?'

Jamie laughed, standing in the doorway of the hangar, the Liger Zero, the Shadowfox and the Raynos sitting in it.

'You have no idea how entertaining it was' Brad told him, as Bit reached them and climbed up into his Liger.

Brad helped Kiano into the Shadowfox, and Jamie climbed into the Raynos.

'Ok, Jamie,' Brad started, now sitting in the cockpit, Kiano sitting behind him, and a screen flicked up beside him, 'We're going on a journey to Romeo City to have fun. Not to display how you can vary from being nice to plain egotistical, ok?'

Jamie smiled and nodded,

'Don't worry, I won't'

The Liger ran out ahead of them, as the Shadowfox followed.

'Hey Bit! Don't go so quick! I can't risk it with Kiano!'

'Whoops…… Alright!' Bit replied, slowing down to a walk.

The Raynos shot out into the air, following the two Zoids overhead. The Shadowfox and Liger walking side by side.

'So what are we going to do there anyway?' Bit asked,

'Have fun!' Kiano replied happily, and Bit looked at her oddly,

'Like what exactly?'

'Like video games, sports…'

'Perhaps shopping' Brad cut in,

'Yeah, just plain fun'

'Ok…I bet I can beat you at any of the games!!' Bit cried at Kiano, and she leant in on the screen,

'Oh yeah! We'll see about that encore boy!!'

The Shadowfox, Liger and Raynos headed off towards the city.

Later on in the centre of Romeo City, in a small shopping mall, Brad and Jamie are leading Kiano around, as Bit is dragging behind them.

'Guys! You said we were gonna have fun! And I'm bored!'

'Come on Bit! You just don't understand what it's like to spoil someone' Brad replied, smiling at Kiano.

'With what?'

'None of your business!'

They all stopped in the middle of the centre, and Bit ran into them.

'Hey! Why'd you stop?'

Kiano was grinning in the direction of a video game arcade. She looked at Brad and ran in ahead of them. Bit glanced around too and ran after her.

'Oh no you don't! That Zoid simulation is mine!'

Jamie and Brad followed them in, found a table and shoved all of their junk down. Brad slid into the seat, as Jamie rummaged through one of the bags.

'What did you get her anyway?'

'Just a good luck trinket'

'You actually believe in that stuff' Jamie mumbled back, and Brad glanced over to Bit and Kiano, fighting each other for the seat on a horseracing game.

'She does. I gave it to her so it'll remind her of me'

'Oh, well that was inventive…' Jamie responded, pulling out a small ball filled with water, hanging on a chain. Inside was a tiny Shadowfox, and it was riddled with glitter so when you shook it, it looked as if it was surrounded in a wild explosion, '..Very inventive…And why will it remind her of you?' He continued sarcastically, and Brad frowned back.

'Alright! Alright! You've had your turn!!' Bit yelled at Kiano, trying to pull her off the plastic horse.

'Go play somewhere else! This is my game!'

As they were pulling each other, another person climbed onto the horse next to them and started off a game. Bit and Kiano didn't notice him.

'You really do play tough don't you, Bit Cloud?' The guy said, and Bit turned around angrily,

'This has nothing to do with you!…Leon?'

The guy was around the same age as Brad, short brown hair, blue eyes, and a warm smile on his face.

'Hey! Leon!' Brad called over the arcade,

'Hey Brad!' Leon waved back,

'What are you doing here?' Bit asked, and Leon looked at him,

'The same thing you are of course! Having fun!'

'You betcha!' Kiano cried, and Leon spotted her,

He got off the horse and walked around the other side,

'I don't believe we've met. You are?'

'Kiano Maxwell'

Leon lent down and kissed her on the hand,

'A friend of Bit?'

'Yeah, if friends hog video games all the time!' Bit yelped, and Kiano hit him in the arm,

She got off the horse as well, and looked over to Brad and Jamie. At the instant she left the horse, Bit shoved his way onto it, beaming with pride.

'Leon, over here!' Jamie cried, and they headed over. Leon was smiling at Kiano,

'Who are you?' Kiano asked politely, grabbing Bit by the ear and dragging him with them,

'The name's Leon Toros'

'Are you Leena's brother?'

Leon nodded, as they stopped at the table, Kiano shoving Bit into a chair.

'You don't have to be so rough…' He said, rubbing his ear,

'Well she is a Gundam girl Bit!' Jamie smiled, and Kiano shoosed him quickly,

'Shut up! If there is a Commission spy here, I might be hunted down' She whispered to him and he nodded nervously.

'Do you really believe a Commission soldier would be coming into here?' Brad asked, and Kiano smiled,

'No, never mind'

Leon stared at Kiano,

'Why I thought the stuff about the Gundam Pilots was just a rumour?!'

Kiano glared at Leon, and he gazed around at the rest of them,

'Well, you happen to be looking at the girl who was educated by the Gundam pilots themselves' Brad explained,

'Really?? What kind of imposters are they??' Leon smirked,

Kiano growled,

'Oh really? If they are imposters, then how is it possible that I'm going to have one of their children!?'

'You're pregnant? What kind of a guy would make up such a stupid thing like that just to get to you?'

Kiano growled again and put her fist out,

'They exist!'

'I know, I know! I was just playing with you' He grinned, waving his hand for her to calm down,

She reached into her shirt pocket straight away and pulled out a photograph, now handing it to him.

'So they're the famous Gundam pilots?'

'Yeah, and they were my best friends…that is until Duo made that mistake,' She said, pointing out Duo in

the photo,

'They blamed me as well, and banished me from being their friend'

'That's heartless of them' Brad insisted, and Kiano snatched the photo back,

'I wish there was some way that I could contact them. Unfortunately, they told me that they were going to find somewhere to go so that I couldn't find them'

Leon shook his head,

'They sound pretty serious'

Kiano sat down next to Jamie and lowered her head,

'I wish Duo hadn't been killed……This would have never happened'

Brad felt sorry for her, so he leant over the table and placed the tiny snoball in front of her, so that she could see it. She saw it, looked up and smiled at Brad.

'Thank you'

She picked it up and held it in her hand as if she were making a wish. At that moment, two men walked past, staring straight at Kiano, and passing to the other side of the room.

'Hey, take a picture!!' Bit barked, and the men rolled their eyes, sitting at the table across the room.

'They're creepy' Jamie stated, leaning back in the chair,

Kiano gazed over to them as they started talking,

'They look familiar' She said, letting out a small gasp.

'What's wrong?' Bit asked, as Kiano got up and sat next to Brad instead,

'They're soldiers of the Commission' She whispered, and Brad frowned,

'What do they want?' Leon asked silently, now sliding into the chair next to Jamie,

Kiano leaned in a bit and whispered,

'They know I have the device, and they'll try and kill me for it. They look like assassins'

'The device?' Bit replied, and Kiano ignored him,

Brad desperately looked around, as the two men stared constantly at Kiano.

'Well, We can't linger here. We need to get you away from here now'

'But how? If we leave then so will they' Bit stated, and Leon nodded,

'Do you have your Shadowfox?' He motioned to Brad,

'We have them all'

'Good, I've got an idea. They won't suspect her coming with me, so Kiano, you come with me in my Blade Liger, and the three of you follow behind somehow, without making it too obvious'

'Ok, but what do you think is going to happen then?' Bit asked, and Leon got up, as the two men got up also and left.

'I bet they're going to wait to ambush us outside' Jamie demanded, and they all looked at each other.

'Jamie's right. Still Kiano, come with me' Leon insisted, as Kiano stuck close to him, slowly walking out of the arcade. Brad, Bit and Jamie followed immediately behind, but Brad raced up next to Kiano.

'Listen, be cautious! Tell Leon everything! Leon, go gentle with the speed, keep in mind she's pregnant'

Leon nodded,

'Don't worry, I'll take good care of her'

Brad patted Kiano on the shoulder, and dropped behind with the other two.

The Blade Liger bounded out into the street, slowing down to a walk.

'Ok Kiano, keep an eye out' Leon said, gazing around as they headed out of the city. Behind them from a distance, the Liger Zero, and Shadowfox could be seen, walking carefully behind them. The Raynos twisted back towards the Blade Liger overhead, and they stopped.

'Leon! What are you doing? It's not safe to stay here! Get moving!' Brad yelled on the video screen beside him,

'Calm down Brad' Jamie insisted, 'I'll keep an eye on them'

Brad sighed, and the Shadowfox disappeared off to the right as the Liger Zero veered off to the left. Kiano was becoming slight anxious. She leant over and tapped Leon on his shoulder.

'Can we go…please…now'

Leon nodded but said nothing, as the Liger continued on. The radar in front of him began beeping,

'What?'

It indicated two red dots on either side of the buildings next to them.

'JAMIE!' Leon cried, as the Blade Liger set off in pursuit,

'I see em'!!' He replied, twisting down lower towards the two targets.

'Where are they? I don't see them?!' Bit shouted, searching around frantically.

Just at that moment, straight in front of them, two objects zoomed past, almost knocking the Shadowfox off its feet.

'What the heck was that?'

The Raynos came flying in after it, and darted away,

'Are they Hell Cats?' Bit asked, now sweating,

'No! They're Lighting Saixes!' Jamie protested, as two missiles dropped from the belly of the Raynos and hit a building, causing it to explode and revealing one of the Lighting Saixes.

'They're swift! Leon, get out of here!' Brad shrieked, bounding after the second Saix.

'Oh Kiano! Kiano!' A voice over the system in the Blade Liger sounded, 'We know it's you! We know it's you who stole the device!!'

'NO!' Kiano screamed, as the Saix leaped at the cockpit of the Liger. Leon tried desperately to shake it off, until the second followed.

'Leon! What are you doing get outta here!!' Brad cried, dashing towards them, shooting the Saix that was attacking the cockpit.

'Thanks Brad' Leon said, the Blade Liger bolting off towards the perimeter of the city,

'Ooh! I don't think so! I thought your precious boyfriend told you to never turn your back on an enemy!'

Kiano looked up,

'Huh?'

'What? Don't you remember? Remember when we met in that fight, you were at least ten inches from my grasp of death. You were afraid. You didn't want to fight, but Duo told you to never turn your back on an enemy! Do you remember! And because of you, I'll never see the light of day!!'

'YOU!'

The man laughed, and launched missiles at the Liger, as it flashed into the side street beside them. The Liger stopped, as everything shook violently.

'What is he talking about?' Leon asked,

'I was stuck in a battle with him six years ago. I blinded him. I used Duo's solarflare! BRAD!'

'I hear ya!' He yelled back, the Shadowfox leaped into the alleyway,

'It's too fast!' Bit cried, glancing around, as the second Saix was attacking him from all directions,

The Shadowfox leaped out of the way of vehicles and walls, still on pursuit of the leader Saix.

'You have no chance!' The man screamed, as smoke billowed from the rear of the Zoid, causing the Shadowfox to halt immediately.

'Nice try' Brad frowned, flicking on the infrared scanner, as the Lighting Saix shot at him. He bounded out of the way, and ran towards it.

'Brad, wait I have an idea' Jamie swooped down from the sky, skimming the Saix in the middle of the road. The Raynos' mouth opened and out came a long horrifying screech. The leader of the Saix screamed and covered his ears. Brad leaped forward,

'Good one Jamie! Ready, STRIKE LASER CLAW!!'

The front claws of the Shadowfox started glowing, and it passed the Saix swiftly, hitting the ground as the long screech prevailed. The Saix attempted to turn and run away, but as soon as it did, the entire body of the Zoid collapsed to pieces. The Blade Liger looked back,

'Good call Brad and Jamie!' Leon said, the Liger Zero bounding out from the next street in a wrestle with the second Saix.

'Hey…..what about me!!??' Bit cried,

'Bit, hold still!' Leon yelled, as the Blade Liger aimed on the Saix.

'That's a little……difficult!' He replied, now pinned to the ground, the Saix looking down at him,

'Ha, so this is the famous Liger Zero?' The pilot said, the cannon on it's back rotating to point at the Liger's neck,

'HEY! IT'S ME YOU WANT!' Kiano cried, now angry,

'No Kiano!' Leon demanded, as the Saix looked up at the second Liger.

'There you are!' The pilot yelled, standing on the neck of the Zero as it got up to face the Liger.

'BIT!' Kiano screamed, wriggling in her seat,

'Uh oh! Brad!' Leon yelped, looking around for some means of escape.

'Nowhere to run, pretty girl!' The pilot cackled, as the Shadowfox leaped out of the smoke behind them,

'Aren't you forgetting someone?' Brad grinned, the cannon of the Shadowfox aimed at the Saix. The pilot looked around, as the Liger Zero and the Raynos joined the circle.

'Uh, hey…you didn't take anything ok?' The pilot trembled, holding his hands up.

All of a sudden out of nowhere, a huge blade struck the Saix, causing it to explode violently. The three ground Zoids where thrown from the site, and lay on the ground.

The smoke settled, and Kiano opened her eyes, heaving herself out of the Zoid. Brad managed to get out of his Shadowfox and Bit climbed out of the Zero.

Kiano looked up in the air.

'Huh? Who's that?'

'What the heck is that?' Brad mumbled, covering his face with his hand,

'………Sandrock??' Kiano gasped.

Hovering in the air was a human shape Zoid. Larger than any other Zoid. It was black, white, yellow and red, with two rounded scythe blades in each hand. The Raynos shot out of the cloud of smoke and saw it. Jamie screamed.

'IT'S A GUNDAM WING!!'

'WHAT! NO WAY!! A GUNDAM!!??' Brad yelled, gazing up at the giant mysterious Zoid.

Leon crawled out of the Blade Liger and also looked up.

'But…but…it's just a rumour!'

Kiano ran towards it,

'QUATRE!!!! QUATRE!!!!'

'Kiano!' A voice replied over the videocom, 'Are you alright Kiano?'

Bit leant into the cockpit of the Liger and looked at the boy on the screen.

He was at least seventeen, short blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and looking a little worried. Kiano raced over and pushed Bit out of the way,

'QUATRE! I'm fine! But, you! You came back!'

'Who is that?' Bit asked, rubbing his head,

'Quatre. He's one of the Gundam pilots……Quatre I missed you!'

'You don't say!' Leon cried, staring up at the rare humanshape Zoid.

'I missed you too Kiano, but I just found out what happened'

'Where's Heero, Trowa, or Wufei?'

Quatre lowered his head,

'They refused to come'

'What?' Kiano asked, a little upset,

'Heero is blaming you for the Earth being in danger'

'But…'

The Gundam landed and a door in it's chest slid open, Quatre jumping to the ground. Kiano ran to him, and hugged him. She looked at him.

'What are you talking about? Why is it my fault?'

'Heero says that because you cared for Duo so much, you were part of him at the time, so you were part of the problem and the reason why'

Brad, Leon, Bit and Jamie who hopped out of the now grounded Raynos, ran to listen.

'But…Why did you come back?'

Quatre pushed Kiano away from him, as Brad watched on.

'Because I knew that we still care for you. I know I do'

Tears began to run down her face, and she tried to hug him again, but Quatre pushed her back.

'Kiano, I can't stay. I've disobeyed Heero's wish'

She shook her head,

'……Please don't leave me…..Please!'

Quatre turned away and looked up at his Gundam. He shut his eyes hard, and the Gundam leant over.

'I…..can't stay….you know I can't'

'But….but….Duo'

'What about him? He's gone. It was his weakness,' He continued, turning back to Kiano, a faint tear in his eye, 'Kiano, if he never dragged you, if you hadn't have let him leave, he'd still be with us. Heero, Wufei and Trowa would still accept you, and you wouldn't be hunted down. But now, there's nothing that can be done. He's gone. It was his mistake that's failed us all, and you know that. Now as long as you live, you are forced to run. Forced to hide. To keep yourself from being revealed from the earth, and the sky. No one trusts you any more. You are in mutual connection with Duo, so it is now passed onto you, as your responsibility. You have to do something, for doing nothing would only eliminate your reason for existing. Please Kiano. Do something. Do anything'

Quatre jumped up into the cockpit, and the Gundam stood back up. It turned to leave, and Kiano started screaming,

'QUATRE!! NO PLEASE!! DON'T LEAVE ME!! NO!! NOT LIKE DUO!!'

'Sorry Kiano, but you have to know…..we still love you'

The Gundam flew up, then shot out and into the atmosphere, completely disappearing.

Kiano ran in the same direction, but Brad grabbed her.

'QUATRE!!!!!! NO!!!!! WAIT!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!'

She collapsed to the ground as Brad let her go. He knelt down and collected her up in his arms.

'Kiano, it's ok'

She didn't say a word as she continued crying.

'QUATRE!!!!!!!!' She screamed, as they turned to walk away.

They all saw Bit sitting on the ground, crying. He looked at them and waved his hand.

'That…….*sniff*……is so sad…..*sniff* ……..It's not fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!' He blubbered along with Kiano, as Brad and Jamie rolled their eyes.

Leon placed his hand on Brad's shoulder.

'Take good care of her. She's going to need it now'

Brad smiled back, and carried her back towards the Shadowfox, Jamie seizing Bit's ear and dragging him along with them.