Hey people, Vegeta here... sorry about the situation with this chapter earlier. I don't know how that happened -_-(). Hope I fixed it.

/ = Shifter's telepathic voice

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Last time on "ZOIDs: Futile Ambition"

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"My name is Rhodry Ricardi. I've come from far to the east, through harsh weather, fighting starvation, dehydration, and pain to deliver a message." Rhodry stood before the ruler of the Guylos Empire.

"What sort of a message?" Rudolf inquired kindly.

Rhodry's eyes focused on Rudolf with a look of pure menace, "Doom, of course. A message of doom for the entire planet."

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Chapter II - White Roses, Black Future

Rudolf looked at Rhodry, shock registering on his youthful features. Rhodry shook herself out of her reverie, her gaze turning to one of sorrowful acceptance.

"A ZOID has been created with the power to destroy the planet. It takes on whatever form it wishes and can be identified only by its soulless eyes. It obliterated my village in the form of the Berserk Fuhrer, as if mocking me. I fear my friends and family thought the pilot of the monster as me... they must've died with such sorrow, thinking that I had betrayed them so." A single tear fell, unheeded, from Rhodry's eye.

Rudolf made a move to comfort her, but was stopped by Van's hand on his shoulder.

"Why would it take on the form of the Fuhrer? Why would it choose your ZOID instead of someone else's?" Van asked, confused.

Rhodry's sorrow-filled eyes locked with Van's, "Because I released it. Three months ago, I ran into a Guysack while trying to enter some ruins. It was a Sleeper, its mission to guard the ruins from intruders. I managed to take shelter inside the ruins, where I noticed a strange hieroglyph on the wall. When I touched it, I found myself surrounded by light. From the light came a voice. It said that I was in the Zero Temple, where the great Liger Zero rested after its many long years of battle. It was here where many ancient Zoidians shed their tears and blood protecting the world's ZOIDs from the rage of the Deathsaurer. In a last-ditch effort to save the ZOIDs, the ancient Zoidians sealed them in a chamber beneath the temple, where the Deathsaurer would not find them. The chamber could only be reopened by one with a pure heart. I had such a heart, and because of that the chamber was opened.

"I found the ZOIDs below, just as the voice had said. They were happy to see a human, but devastated when I told them of the fall of the Zoidian race. They allowed me the honor of being their pilot, and I created the Instant Battle Aid Teleportation Unit, or IBATU... which allows me to call my ZOIDs from across the planet, where they will teleport to my location. It also allows me to command several ZOIDs at once just by telling them what to do. But I'm straying from the point.

"When I entered the chamber, I released the creature known as Shifter. He identified himself as the creator of the Deathsaurer and Deathstinger. He had gone into hibernation, to be awoken only when the chamber was opened. He was weakened by his long sleep, and needed the fear and hatred of humans to become strong again. His sole wish was to purge the world of all living things, and move on to the next inhabited world. He attacked my village, but I was able to drive him back with the Berserk Fuhrer. I stayed with the ZOIDs all the next day, fearing he would come after them. The next morning I returned to see my village destroyed. Not a soul was left alive. I identified the footprints as belonging to the Berserk Fuhrer. It was then that I vowed to take my revenge. I couldn't defeat him alone, so I decided to warn the world of his arrival. That's when I set off for here, to warn you. It was closer than New Helic City, and I'm sure you could contact the President from here."

No one spoke for a while after Rhodry had finished her tale. Finally, Rudolf spoke up. His voice was shaky and his eyes looked haunted, "I will contact the President of the Republic. She must be notified of this terror. And I am deeply sorry for the loss of your friends and family."

"We will destroy this monster." Thomas clenched his fist, "... we have to."

/FOOLISH HUMANS./ A voice thundered in the minds of all present. Everyone dropped to the ground, clutching their heads in agony, /SHIFTER CANNOT BE DESTROYED. SHIFTER IS ETERNAL, AND WILL LIVE TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION OF ZI. IT IS MOST DISAPPOINTING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE HONOR OF SEEING EVERYTHING YOU KNOW AND CARE ABOUT COME PLUMMETING TO HELL. AS FOR YOU, RICARDI-HUMAN. YOU SURVIVED SHIFTER'S WRATH ONCE, BUT YOU WILL NOT BE SO FORTUNATE TWICE. YOU MAY HAVE DRIVEN SHIFTER BACK ONCE, BUT SHIFTER IS NOT SO WEAK NOW. BEWARE... YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF DESTROYED BY THE VERY WORLD YOU SEEK TO PROTECT./

The voice ceased. Rhodry and the others cautiously stood up, looking around as if the source of the deafening disembodied voice would somehow appear. Had this not've been the proclamation of imminent Armageddon, Rhodry would've made some wisecrack about Shifter talking in the third person.

"What did he mean by 'destroyed by the very world you seek to protect'?" Van asked to no one in particular.

No one answered him, anyway. For several minutes they all stood there, too shocked to move or speak. Finally, Rudolf spoke up.

"I want the Guardian Force deployer to the Zero Temple where this creature was released. Try to find anything that might help us figure out how to defeat Shifter. Rhodry, you go with them... but don't use the Fuhrer. I don't want Shifter recognizing you if he's still in the vicinity." Rudolf said sternly, "I don't know why this Shifter means to destroy Zi, nor do I know how he will go about it. All I know is we're already running out of time, and the future looks bleak. Good luck, and God speed."

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Yahoo! Chapter 2 is done! Thanks to all you people who reviewed! Remember, any questions about ZOIDs go to SnakeVnm8@aol.com. Now, review review review! Flames will be laughed at, constructive criticism and compliments welcome! Also, Schwarz is the spelling of Thomas and Karl's last name in the japanese version... I should've mentioned that.