Author's Note: Before I begin chapter 3, there's a few things I need to clear up. First off is the spelling of some of the characters. I'm going by the japanese version, so some of the names are different. Van and Fiona are probably the only names that have a different japanese spelling, but I'll stay with their english ones. The only thing changed with Van's name is the spelling of his last name. The changes are as follows:
The People:
Shubaltz - Schwarz
Reise - Liese
The Organoids:
Zeke - Sieg
Specula - Specular
The ZOIDs:
Zabrefang - Severe Tiger (called a Zaberfang in New Century/0)
Berserk Fury - Berserk Fuhrer (actually the real name, the english version messed it up)
Genosaurus - Genosaurer (same thing here)
All ZOIDs and ZOIDs statistics, unles otherwise stated, are factual. If you have questions, e-mail me at SnakeVnm8@aol.com. If you want to see a picture of a ZOID or character in this fic, e-mail me at that address as well. That's about it for the author's note. Onward to the story!
-----------------------------
Last time on "ZOIDs: Futile Ambition"
"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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Chapter III - God Speed
Rhodry looked over at the three ZOIDs following her. A Blade Liger, Lightning Saix, Dibison, and her own Diloforce wouldn't be near enough to fight Shifter, so Rhodry prayed they wouldn't run into him.
Rhodry flipped a switch in the cockpit, turning an external camera to make sure the white Organoid, Vista, was still perched atop the white Diloforce. Seeing the angel-winged dragon made Rhodry feel invincible... most of the time. This time, it just served to reassure her that with the Diloforce powered up by Vista, she could run faster than usual and hopefully get away from Shifter should they encounter each other.
"Hey Thomas, do you think you could pick up the pace a bit? At this rate I've calculated we won't make it by sundown. I want to be out of the Temple by sundown... I really don't want to be caught in the dark with the Shifter threat... especially because he can become a black ZOID, while I'm using a white one. See the disadvantage?" Rhodry called to Thomas.
"Hey, give me a break! I'm pushing the Dibison to its limits just keeping up with you three. The Dibison can only reach a speed of up to 130k/h. Your Diloforce can go over twice that, and the Lightning Saix less than three times that." Thomas snarled in reply, "Maybe you should've taken that into your calculations when we started this little journey."
Rhodry cursed herself silently. At this rate, Shifter could destroy the planet before they reached the Zero Temple.
"Vista..." Rhodry spoke quietly. The white Organoid standing atop the Diloforce heard Rhodry's call in its mind and waited patiently for instructions, "Fuse with the Dibison. Amplify its top speed and see if you can't match the speed of the Diloforce."
Vista nodded and roared his typical Organoid battle cry, glowing with a brilliant white light as the metallic dragon dove into the heart of the Dibison.
Light poured from every part of the Dibison as the Organoid wrapped itself around the ZOID Core. In the cockpit, Beek whistled in protest.
"It's for the best, Beek." Thomas replied, "It's nothing more than a helping hand."
Sure enough, the power that the seasoned Organoid gave the Dibison was enough for it to match the speed of the Diloforce as they continued their run.
/TRYING TO REACH THE ZERO TEMPLE?/ A thundering voice laughed in their minds, /YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT AT THAT PACE./
A wall of flames shot up behind the four ZOIDs.
"He's here!!!" Rhodry screamed to the others.
"I've got him! SIEG!!" Van screamed for his Organoid, whirling the Blade Liger around to face the wall of fire.
The silver Organoid at the Blade Liger's side fused quickly, and instantly the Liger dashed for the fire wall.
"Van, in case you haven't noticed, that's a WALL OF FIRE!!" Irvine shouted to his friend, "You can't defeat that! TURN AROUND AND RUN THE OTHER WAY, MORON!"
Rhodry spun the Diloforce to the left in time to grab the Blade Liger's tail in its jaws.
"Run now, fight later." Rhodry hissed into the communication channel, "That goes for all of you."
The Dibison halted the charge-up of its Megalo Max. The Lightning Saix turned around and readied to run again.
/RUNNING, MY LITTLE PRETTIES? YOU'D BETTER GET GOING, UNLESS YOU LIKE BATHING IN FLAME./ Shifter laughed maniacally.
The wall of flame began to advance, causing the four ZOIDs to turn and run. The Blade Liger opened its attack boosters and fired them up, running as fast as possible. The Dibison mooed in distress as Vista strained to keep it ahead of the flames. The Diloforce was pushed to its limits, running with its body low to the ground for extra speed.
Shifter's mocking laughter echoed in their minds as the ZOIDs ran desperately. Still the wall of fire continually advanced.
Then, they saw it. The Zero Temple loomed in front of them, the stone building holding with it a promise of sanctuary.
"We'll never make it!" Van cried out in terror as the wall continued to advance, licking at the tail of the Dibison.
"We must!" The Diloforce responded, pushing everything it had into running. The Diloforce's viewscreen went black, all power rerouting to the legs, "I must protect my pilot."
Rhodry squeezed her eyes shut, listening to the roar of the flames behind her. She was unable to hear the terrified screams of her comrades as they ran. She was thankful for that power cut, at least. Still, she trusted the Diloforce with all of her heart.
Finally, Rhodry could feel the white ZOID slowing down. The roar of the flames receded and the cockpit opened with a hiss of pressurized air. The other ZOIDs did likewise.
"We escaped." Irvine sounded incredulous, fondly patting his Lightning Saix.
"We did..." Van replied mournfully, "Thomas didn't..."
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Don't you just hate me? Well, what happens to Thomas depends on the number of reviews I get. Tell me what you think, and remember... if you have a question or want a picture of any ZOID or character mentioned in this fic, e-mail SnakeVnm8@aol.com.
The People:
Shubaltz - Schwarz
Reise - Liese
The Organoids:
Zeke - Sieg
Specula - Specular
The ZOIDs:
Zabrefang - Severe Tiger (called a Zaberfang in New Century/0)
Berserk Fury - Berserk Fuhrer (actually the real name, the english version messed it up)
Genosaurus - Genosaurer (same thing here)
All ZOIDs and ZOIDs statistics, unles otherwise stated, are factual. If you have questions, e-mail me at SnakeVnm8@aol.com. If you want to see a picture of a ZOID or character in this fic, e-mail me at that address as well. That's about it for the author's note. Onward to the story!
-----------------------------
Last time on "ZOIDs: Futile Ambition"
"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."
------------------------
Chapter III - God Speed
Rhodry looked over at the three ZOIDs following her. A Blade Liger, Lightning Saix, Dibison, and her own Diloforce wouldn't be near enough to fight Shifter, so Rhodry prayed they wouldn't run into him.
Rhodry flipped a switch in the cockpit, turning an external camera to make sure the white Organoid, Vista, was still perched atop the white Diloforce. Seeing the angel-winged dragon made Rhodry feel invincible... most of the time. This time, it just served to reassure her that with the Diloforce powered up by Vista, she could run faster than usual and hopefully get away from Shifter should they encounter each other.
"Hey Thomas, do you think you could pick up the pace a bit? At this rate I've calculated we won't make it by sundown. I want to be out of the Temple by sundown... I really don't want to be caught in the dark with the Shifter threat... especially because he can become a black ZOID, while I'm using a white one. See the disadvantage?" Rhodry called to Thomas.
"Hey, give me a break! I'm pushing the Dibison to its limits just keeping up with you three. The Dibison can only reach a speed of up to 130k/h. Your Diloforce can go over twice that, and the Lightning Saix less than three times that." Thomas snarled in reply, "Maybe you should've taken that into your calculations when we started this little journey."
Rhodry cursed herself silently. At this rate, Shifter could destroy the planet before they reached the Zero Temple.
"Vista..." Rhodry spoke quietly. The white Organoid standing atop the Diloforce heard Rhodry's call in its mind and waited patiently for instructions, "Fuse with the Dibison. Amplify its top speed and see if you can't match the speed of the Diloforce."
Vista nodded and roared his typical Organoid battle cry, glowing with a brilliant white light as the metallic dragon dove into the heart of the Dibison.
Light poured from every part of the Dibison as the Organoid wrapped itself around the ZOID Core. In the cockpit, Beek whistled in protest.
"It's for the best, Beek." Thomas replied, "It's nothing more than a helping hand."
Sure enough, the power that the seasoned Organoid gave the Dibison was enough for it to match the speed of the Diloforce as they continued their run.
/TRYING TO REACH THE ZERO TEMPLE?/ A thundering voice laughed in their minds, /YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT AT THAT PACE./
A wall of flames shot up behind the four ZOIDs.
"He's here!!!" Rhodry screamed to the others.
"I've got him! SIEG!!" Van screamed for his Organoid, whirling the Blade Liger around to face the wall of fire.
The silver Organoid at the Blade Liger's side fused quickly, and instantly the Liger dashed for the fire wall.
"Van, in case you haven't noticed, that's a WALL OF FIRE!!" Irvine shouted to his friend, "You can't defeat that! TURN AROUND AND RUN THE OTHER WAY, MORON!"
Rhodry spun the Diloforce to the left in time to grab the Blade Liger's tail in its jaws.
"Run now, fight later." Rhodry hissed into the communication channel, "That goes for all of you."
The Dibison halted the charge-up of its Megalo Max. The Lightning Saix turned around and readied to run again.
/RUNNING, MY LITTLE PRETTIES? YOU'D BETTER GET GOING, UNLESS YOU LIKE BATHING IN FLAME./ Shifter laughed maniacally.
The wall of flame began to advance, causing the four ZOIDs to turn and run. The Blade Liger opened its attack boosters and fired them up, running as fast as possible. The Dibison mooed in distress as Vista strained to keep it ahead of the flames. The Diloforce was pushed to its limits, running with its body low to the ground for extra speed.
Shifter's mocking laughter echoed in their minds as the ZOIDs ran desperately. Still the wall of fire continually advanced.
Then, they saw it. The Zero Temple loomed in front of them, the stone building holding with it a promise of sanctuary.
"We'll never make it!" Van cried out in terror as the wall continued to advance, licking at the tail of the Dibison.
"We must!" The Diloforce responded, pushing everything it had into running. The Diloforce's viewscreen went black, all power rerouting to the legs, "I must protect my pilot."
Rhodry squeezed her eyes shut, listening to the roar of the flames behind her. She was unable to hear the terrified screams of her comrades as they ran. She was thankful for that power cut, at least. Still, she trusted the Diloforce with all of her heart.
Finally, Rhodry could feel the white ZOID slowing down. The roar of the flames receded and the cockpit opened with a hiss of pressurized air. The other ZOIDs did likewise.
"We escaped." Irvine sounded incredulous, fondly patting his Lightning Saix.
"We did..." Van replied mournfully, "Thomas didn't..."
------------------------------
Don't you just hate me? Well, what happens to Thomas depends on the number of reviews I get. Tell me what you think, and remember... if you have a question or want a picture of any ZOID or character mentioned in this fic, e-mail SnakeVnm8@aol.com.
