Hey there, Vegeta here again. You guys have been really helping me with this fic. It's reviews from people like you that encourage me to keep going. This chapter is a sort of interlude, because with Rhodry injured and Shifter weakened, I can't put much action in here. But don't skip over this chapter, because a lot of important stuff happens.

BTW, Rhodry's Diloforce is modified. Normally a Diloforce's cockpit is on its back, between the arms and legs. This makes for very dangerous combat as the cockpit is open and exposed. Rhodry's Diloforce, however, has the cockpit in the head like most other ZOIDs.

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Last time on "ZOIDs: Futile Ambition"

"Shifter was weaker than a normal Genobreaker... but he still almost defeated us. Is our skill level that low? And what will happen if Raven or Hilz decide to cause trouble for us again? We can't have another super-powerful, super-evil ZOID to deal with." The Dark Spiner said as it ran, "With the help of the other ZOIDs we'll find, we'll be stronger. But if another evil power appears, we don't stand a chance."

Thinking about this, the Dark Spiner continued its journey towards its pilot and partner, praying that she was okay. Because if they lost her, they lost the war.

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Chapter VI - Search and Rescue

When the Lightning Saix and Blade Liger arrived at the capital of the Guylos Empire, two Storm Sworders and a Severe Tiger were standing outside the city, ready to be deployed.

"What happened? Rudolf's been worried about you!" Viola said from the cockpit of her Storm Sworder, "We recently received orders to go get you."

Viola leaped from her cockpit. Rosso did the same, looking relieved that they didn't have to go rescue anyone.

"Where's Thomas?" Colonel Schwarz said, his Severe Tiger taking a step forward, "He's not with you..."

Van and Sieg exited the Blade Liger, eyes downcast, "I'm sorry, Colonel... we ran into Shifter on the way. He created a wall of fire behind us. The Dibison just wasn't fast enough, even with Rhodry's Organoid helping it."

Karl leaped from his cockpit and grabbed Van, shaking him violently, "You should've gone after him! Damnit, that's my little brother you're talking about! He's not just a casuality of war!"

"Colonel Schwarz!" A familiar, childish voice spoke from behind him. Karl turned to see Emperor Rudolf standing there, looking a little angry, "Let him go!"

Karl released Van, his hands shaking as he fought back tears. Walking back to his Severe Tiger, the Colonel sent his ZOID dashing off.

"Give him some time to himself..." Rudolf said quietly, smiling at Van.

Irvine climbed out of his Lightning Saix, carrying Rhodry with him. The injured pilot whimpered in pain, her right leg and the lower right part of her torso was covered in blood.

"She got hit with a blast from Shifter... he was in the form of a Gunbluster. Those shells are meant for taking down ZOIDs, not humans." Irvine reported, "We need to get her to a doctor. By the way, Van... where are her ZOIDs?"

"I don't know, Irvine..." Van said, looking back the way they had come.

"I'm sure Colonel Schwarz is headed out to the Zero Temple to find Thomas... he might run across them. But in case he doesn't..." Rudolf turned to Rosso and Viola, "I want you two to go find her ZOIDs. Van, what ZOIDs are they looking for?"

"Um... let's see. A Dark Spiner, Diloforce, and Konig Wolf." Van said.

"Right, leave it to us. We'll find them." Rosso declared, lifting off in his Storm Sworder. Viola did the same.

The two ZOIDs streaked through the sky, dipping a wing as a sort of wave to the people on the ground.

Rudolf smiled at the two Storm Sworders, then turned back to Van and Irvine, "Let's get Rhodry to a doctor right away."

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Karl stared straight ahead, pushing his Severe Tiger to its limits and beyond, trying to lose his thoughts in pure speed. His little brother... gone? He shuddered at the thought of just how close he had come to decking his own Emperor in his blind rage. Why hadn't Van tried to save him?

But Rhodry... yes... she had tried to help Thomas, by giving him her Organoid. But even that wasn't enough.

"Damn you, Thomas!" Karl sobbed, allowing his tears to fall freely, "I told you before that you should go for power over technology... if I would've known this would happen, I'd have given you my Tiger..."

He had always reprimanded Thomas for his constant lapses in military protocol, calling him by his name rather than his rank or failing to salute a senior officer. It had been years since he'd hugged his little brother or even called him by name.

Blinded by the tears in his eyes, Karl didn't see the Dark Spiner until he rammed head-first into it. His Severe Tiger flipped head over paws and finally rested on its stomach. Karl wiped his eyes and prepared to reprimand the pilot of the other ZOID for being reckless.

Meanwhile, the Dark Spiner circled the Severe Tiger slowly, snarling. Karl leaped out of his cockpit and surveyed the damage done by the impact.

"You need to be more careful." The Spinosaurus-type ZOID hissed, "I'm not too keen on destroying other ZOIDs, unless they ask for it."

Karl cried out in shock as his ZOID rose to its feet and replied to the Dark Spiner, "I only go where my pilot takes me. You could've watched where *you* were going, Dark Spiner."

Not accustomed to having his ZOID speak, Karl closed his eyes and whispered, "Soldiers in the Imperial army aren't supposed to faint. This isn't real... my Severe Tiger is not holding a conversation with a Dark Spiner. I am not insane. I fell asleep in the cockpit... or maybe the collision with the Spiner knocked me out."

Noticing that the conversation had stopped, Karl opened his eyes to see the two ZOIDs staring at him.

"Right, wrong, wrong, right, wrong, wrong." The Severe Tiger said in amused tones, "You got two out of six... one would think a Colonel could do better than that."

The Dark Spiner sweatdropped as the Severe Tiger's pilot fainted, "Not the conversationalist, eh Tiger?"

The Severe Tiger sighed, "And that's why. Imagine what would happen if I tried to talk to him on the battlefield."

"All humor aside, I noticed that you're sporting some rather attractive military markings. You wouldn't happen to know how far we are from Guygalos, would you?" The Dark Spiner asked, tilting its head.

The Imperial ZOID nodded, "We just came from there. It's about 50 kilometers in that direction." The Severe Tiger motioned with a paw the way they had come.

The Dark Spiner nodded and dashed off in the direction the Tiger had mentioned. Lying down, the Severe Tiger waited for its pilot to awaken.

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"So that's how it goes..." The Diloforce finished explaining to the white Gordos.

The Gordos looked at the foliage-covered forest that had served as his home for many years. The young Shield Liger pilot had told him he didn't have to protect this place anymore.

"If I have been abandoned... the least I could do is save the world." The Gordos said sadly, turning back to the Diloforce, "I'll join you."

The Diloforce nodded briskly, surveying the large group of Sleepers they'd found. There was enough Guysacks for five armies, about fifteen Rev Raptors, a few Stealth Vipers, and now the Gordos. And those were just the Sleepers...

ZOID pilots from across Zi had heard of the danger facing the planet and had started to join the group the Diloforce had made. Several Godos, primarily used for construction, had been equipped with weaponry and joined up with the Diloforce's group. Sinkers used mainly for races left in the middle of the race and sought out the Diloforce. Already pilots of ZOIDs that had joined the cause set to work repairing the white Gordos' damaged leg.

"Even with this team..." The Diloforce said quietly, looking at the huge gathering of ZOIDs, "Even with this team... I wonder if we really have a chance. This is probably the largest assembly of ZOIDs ever, but they're mostly Guysacks, Rev Raptors, and Godos... I hope the Konig Wolf does better with the Republican army. Some highly trained soldier ZOIDs would really help our cause... so far we've got racers, construction workers, and Sleepers that haven't seen combat since the days of the Deathsaurer. But then again, that battle with Shifter-Genobreaker was the first fight I'd seen since LITERALLY the days of the Deathsaurer."

"I can hold my own in a fight... especially now with my leg fixed." The Gordos said coolly, "And Guysacks are excellent in large groups."

The Diloforce turned to the group, acknowledging the Gordos with a nod, "Listen up everyone! We're headed to Guygalos!"

The Republican ZOIDs raised their voices in protest,

"We don't want to go Guygalos!"
"That's enemy territory!"
"He's handing us over to the enemy!"
"We should've known we couldn't trust a Diloforce!"
"I bet there is no danger to Zi!"
"Yeah there is... from the Empire!"

The Diloforce roared loudly, silencing the other ZOIDs, "Listen to me! The war is over, and has been over for years! The Guylos Empire is not your enemy! We must join forces if we are to defeat Shifter! As I speak, a friend and partner of mine, a Konig Wolf, is headed to New Helic City to gather the Republican army and bring them to Guygalos as well! The Imperial army is already at Guygalos, we're rallying all the ZOIDs, Republican and Imperial!"

The ZOIDs seemed to consider this for a moment, then finally one of the Stealth Vipers spoke up, "We will go with you, but only becausssse we believe the Empire hassss nothing to gain by luring the entire Republican army into the Empire'ssss own capital ssssity. But conssssider yoursssself warned, Diloforsssse... we will dessstroy you upon the firsssst ssssign of betrayal."

"It's all I can ask..." The Diloforce nodded regally, leading the way to Guygalos.

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The Konig Wolf was dashing through Republican territory, his gaze and path set firmly to New Helic City. Suddenly, the ground around him began to swirl and sink. Skidding to a stop and taking a few steps backwards from the sinkhole, the Konig Wolf fixed his gaze on the swirling vortex of sand.

A Stealth Viper rose from the depths like a cobra from a snake charmer's jar. It released a dangerous hiss, staring down the Konig Wolf as if daring it to attack first.

"Look alive there, Sleeper," The Konig Wolf said in his most authoritive voice, putting his feet together and puffing out his chest. With his voice and appearance, he looked like a general addressing an underling, "Move aside. I have business to attend to at New Helic City."

The Viper was not convinced by the Konig Wolf's bravado, as it merely lowered slightly into a striking position, "I ssssugesssssst you turn around and go about your bussssinessss, Konig Wolf. Thissss area is off limitssss."

Adopting a new strategy, the Konig Wolf shifted into a lazy-yet-confident pose, "One Stealth Viper versus a Konig Wolf... your only weapon is the ability to hide yourself. You work best with the element of surprise... which you do not have. Go ahead and release your smoke and conceal yourself. I have infrared vision... standard issue for a Konig Wolf."

Examining his claws, flexing them a couple of times, the Konig Wolf eyed the Stealth Viper out of the corner of his eye. The other ZOID's sibilant voice responded, but sounded less sure of itself, "I can dig underground... I can be ssssafe from your clawsss."

With a lightning-quick motion, the Konig Wolf pounced like a cat, pinning the Stealth Viper on its back, one giant Wolf paw planted firmly on the Viper's throat, his hind legs pinning the Viper's lower body.

"You know, I don't like Sleepers. They sleep until needed and then they think they're the only reason Zi's still intact. You Sleepers are punks... never met one that wasn't. I've been sleeping longer than you have, and I know my limitations. That's what happens when you're a smart ZOID, instead of a stupid Stealth Viper." The Konig Wolf snarled at the squirming Viper, "I'd destroy you right now if I didn't have use for you. My partner, a Diloforce, is gathering Sleepers to help fight a battle for the survival of planet Zi. You keep thinking you're the reason Zi's still intact... well here's your chance to be right for once. Go."

Releasing the Stealth Viper, the Konig Wolf resisted the urge to laugh as the ZOID slithered away as fast as if the Deathsaurer, Deathstinger, and Shifter were behind him.

Resuming his journey, the Konig Wolf noted that the Stealth Viper was probably part of perimeter guard for New Helic City... the fool probably 'slept in' when his compatriots left to answer the Diloforce's call. Slowing to a cautious walk, the Konig Wolf crested a hill and was met with an unexpected sight.

New Helic City lay in ruins. Buildings that had once stood proud and tall now rested as blackened, smoldering skeletons, some still aflame. The giant city looked very much as if a fleet of dragons had besieged it.

The Konig Wolf took off, speeding down the hill towards the gates of the city, howling in distress. Perhaps he was still in time to save the day. The condition of some of the buildings, however, suggested otherwise. He was forced to pause before entering through the gates as a wave of intense heat threatened a system malfunction. Engaging the cooling systems installed in his headgear, the Konig Wolf stepped forward and into the fiery inferno.

It was much worse than he had imagined. Over the roar of the flames, the Konig Wolf could hear the screams of the dying, of the wounded, of the people trapped in burning buildings, of people crying for their families, crying for help. Standing in the middle of the city, the Konig Wolf could do nothing, helplessness welling up inside of him. Of those that were screaming, he knew he could save a scant few. Perhaps some of them were beyond rescue... it was just like that fateful day, thousands of years ago.

**FLASHBACK**

There was fire everywhere, the smoke from the fire turning day into night. Looming high above him though it was far away was the Deathsaurer, its deadly Charged Particle Beam sweeping from side to side, obliterating life and leaving death in its wake. The screams were terrible to hear. Paralyzed by fear, the ZOID was unable to attack the deadly behemoth before him.

Trapped by the fire, people in their houses screamed for help... screamed for their protector. He was their protector... he, the Konig Wolf, known to the people as Kyuusaisha. His duty was to protect the village and its inhabitants.

"Konig Wolf! ATTACK IT! THIS IS OUR ONLY CHANCE!" His pilot screamed from the cockpit, "We won't get another shot at this!"

The Konig Wolf shook his head violently, backing away slowly. With a snarl of frustration, the pilot ejected, landing beside the Konig Wolf.

"If you won't fight him, I'll take the Pteras!" His pilot snarled angrily, "You're a coward, Wolf."

Lacking the courage to advance and the cowardice to retreat, the Konig Wolf watched as his beloved pilot sent her sky-blue Pteras out to do battle with the Deathsaurer. He watched as she shrieked her battle cry, her Organoid merging with the Pteras. He watched as she fired at the Deathsaurer, thinking... knowing... she had won as the missiles connected. He watched as the attack failed to scratch the Deathsaurer's armor. He watched as his pilot surrendered, realizing at last that any attempt at battle was futile. He watched as the Deathsaurer released its beam. He watched as the Pteras careened into a burning building... and he watched as the building collapsed, sending his beloved pilot to a dark and fiery grave.

"You are a coward, Wolf..." The last words his pilot had ever said to him. And she was right. He was a coward.

Turning around, the Konig Wolf began to run, noting the Pteras and Organoid flying above him, retreating as well. As he ran, he heard a voice in his mind.

/Come to me, white one./ The voice commanded, /There is yet time for retribution of a different sort./

He journeyed through destroyed villages, hardly knowing that as he walked, the Deathsaurer continued its rampage, destroying ZOID and human alike.

When he reached the Zero Temple, he saw his summoner... a white Organoid, similar to his pilot's black one. The Organoid told him what he must do... told him that he must hide and wait for another chance... another life.

The Konig Wolf slept... unaware of the changes Zi made, and unaware of the evil presence lurking outside his hiding place. The only thing he was aware of was the final attack his pilot made against the Deathsaurer and the five words that haunted his sleep for thousands of years...

"You're a coward, Wolf."

**END FLASHBACK**

"Rhodry... I let you die... I failed in my duties to protect you and to protect the city. I was a coward... perhaps I still am. I still remember vividly what it was like to lose you... to lose the Pteras... to lose Shadow... to lose the Ookami Village. I want to be rid of this label you gave me in your final moments at my side. I will not allow these people to perish... I will be your Kyuusaisha once more. I will never run away again..." The Konig Wolf raised its snout to the smoke-filled sky and howled in rage and anguish, screaming a single word...

"ICHIGOICHIE!!!"

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Poor Wolfie... and poor readers too ;). I had to leave a bit of a cliffhanger here. But don't worry, Kyuusaisha will rise again. Yes, Rhodry was the Konig Wolf's pilot in a past life, and Shadow (Raven's Organoid) was her Organoid. Now for a little lesson in Japanese:

Kyuusaisha - Savior
Ookami - Wolf
Ichigoichie - Never Again

Review, and I'll consider putting Thomas in the next chapter, maybe even reunite him with Karl.