*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Xena fumbled with the controls stupidly with no avail; the blades on the Blade Liger still refused to cooperate. She had begged Tiamat to give her a hand, but the organiod couldn't help her cause. It was new to the zoid so it's abilities were limited. Damn.
"Grrrr!!! You stupid piece of shit, work damnit work!!! How the hell am I supposed to beat them if all I can use is the missiles?!" the silver haired Ancient Zoidian fumed. "Tiamat, how many missiles do you have left?"
The Blade Liger growled and the number five blinked on the screen. She had five missiles left, she had about ten to begin with.
"Five, huh? I suppose we'll make due with those in the meantime we'll have Shadow give us a hand."
Tiamat roared angrily and bucked the blade liger's hind legs. Xena screeched and rubbed her sore butt.
"What the hell? You don't like Shadow?!?! You choose NOW to tell me??"
Meanwhile..
Van frowned thoughtfully as he struggled to think up a plan to defeat the Blade Liger. This was harder than he had expected. Never in a million years had he'd ever imagined he'd be up against his own zoid. At the same time he was worried about Fiona, she was acting so strangely. Maybe he should heed her advice.
"Irvine! You okay?!" Van asked.
An image of Irvine appeared on his com link, he was scowling his face red with anger. Van gulped, he was in for it when they got back to the base.
"Van," Irvine began in a dangerously low voice that made Van a little skittish.
"Yes. Irvine?"
"You are a walking dead man," he narrowed his brown eyes.
Van sunk in his seat. If there was one thing that scared him beside dogs was a VERY very angry Irvine. He laughed nervously and said, "Your funny Irvine, god you could be a great stand up comedian with jokes like that!"
"Too bad it's not a joke."
"Eep!" Van quickly turned off the com link and glanced a the Lightening Saix which was glaring at him, it's eyes blaring red. He let out a sigh of relief; with damage like that to the zoid Irvine couldn't launch a head on attack, in fact he couldn't even move! But he could still fire at him.
"VAN FLYHEIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE DEAD!!!!!!!!" The Lightening Saix threw it's head back and roared. Too bad it couldn't do anything except fire it's cannon, it's mobility capabilities totally gone.
"Hmm, that Irwin guy is pissed," Xena said mildly. "Ha, ohz wellz that's Van the Major Hottie Flyhieght's problem not mine."
Raven opened one eye and saw the Lightening Saix laying defenselessly on the ground, the Blade Liger twisting it's back in an attempt to work those damned blades and the Shield Liger sweat dropping. He and Shadow chuckled.
"Quite an interesting battle indeed."
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
It was quiet, too quiet. The darkness seemed to be endless array of hopelessness. The old temple had lost its tranquil charm, she noted unhappily, the outsides of its majestic walls covered with vines. It's insides covered with dust and vines, but fortunately it was an place that the Imperial search army didn't find and destroy in the process.
Why was she here? She wondered, what purpose did she have in coming here? Her faithful organiod had had never let her down before, she had reasoned with herself, why should she doubt it now?
"Specula, tell me why exactly are we here?" Reese turned to her blue metallic organiod but it was not by her side. "Specula?"
She whirled around to Specula standing perfectly still behind her. Reese frowned she had a sinking feeling that something was not right, one she could not push away. Something wasn't right here, Reese had never been to this temple before maybe that was it. Or it could be all the despair floating in the air around her. The moment she walked through the large dented in door she felt oddly mellow. Something very bad happened in this place, Reese was almost positive.
"What is it?" she hissed.
Specula made no reply but just continued to stare ahead with an empty look. Reese narrowed her eyes and now she was determined to figure out what had happened. The organiod rumbled deep in it's throat.
Reese saw a figure from the corner of her eye. "It appears we have company."
She whirled around in the blink of an eye to nothing, nada, zepo, zero. Reese glanced around the musty library; the ancient books in their dusty oak bookcases took on an eerie look. Wait a second.since when did temples have libraries in them???
"How strange, what kind of place is this? It starts off like a temple and now it's some sort of olden day mansion?" she turned to Specula who just shrugged.
"What do you mean you don't know?! You're the one who took us on this wild goose chase and you don't know?!?!" Reese shouted.
Specula shrugged and growled dully. He knew it was no use trying to explain everything in a way that Reese would understand anyways. If she knew why they were here she would have never agreed to come. And right now Specula had to keep her in the dark. for the moment being.
Reese pouted and folded her arms across her chest. She was dressed in a pair of Paris Blues blue jeans and a dark blue shirt that the sleeves went to her elbows. This was one of the many outfits that little girl Xena had gotten her, why Reese even let her give her a closet makeover was a mystery to even her.
They explored the old temple/mansion further, now they were in what appeared to be a little girl's bedroom. There was a princess style bed, the silk curtains gray from dust. The oak bedpost had been rotted away by time. There was an oak drawer against the wall with a sculpture of a white fox with a long bushy tail, another of a wolf, and the last one of a once gold kitten laying on it's back playing with some string. The bed stand stood on only three legs, upon further inspection Reese noticed a black and white picture of a little girl with long blonde hair holding a golden retriever puppy in her arms. She looked so happy, so carefree, and so innocent. Did this room belong to that little girl?
Reese shuddered as a draft of icy cold air brushed against her. She heard laughter coming from the next room, like the sound of a child laughing. But Reese could have sworn this place had been deserted for at least a couple centuries but then how there be a kid in here?
She raced out of the eerie room and into the next, Specula trotted right behind her. A shimmer of white light followed by the image of a smiling little girl with long blonde hair appeared before her. Reese stopped dead in her track. Specula knocked into her back.
"Specula! Watch yourself!" Reese hissed in a high whisper.
"Hey you, little girl. What are you doing here?" she called out.
The little girl turned around and faced Reese and Specula, her body surrounded by the white light. "What are you doing here, lady?"
Reese frowned. "I asked you first, little one so why don't you answer my question and then I'll answer yours."
The little girl didn't move but her sweet smile faded, and Reese became aware of a scratch on her cheek that wasn't there before.
"I live here silly, now it's your turn blue lady."
"I'm exploring this ABANONED place," Reese replied fiercely, making her point clear.
The little blonde smiled softly and walked up to Specula and place her little hand in front of the organiod's nose. Specula blinked and turned to Reese, who just shrugged.
"What a funny looking dog you have here lady," the girl smiled, and stroked Specula's chin.
"It's not a dog, this is Specula my organiod. Don't you know that dogs and all them died a long time ago?"
Specula shot Reese a 'Why did you go and say that?!' look as the blonde's lower lip trembled. A red light turned on in Reese's head that was not the smartest thing she could have said. That was something Raven would say! And Reese couldn't believe she just pulled a Raven.
"Wait! I didn't.." Reese started to say something just as the little girl raced past her and flew down the hall, her gray eyes bright with tears. ".mean it that way.."
Reese stood in the hallway in wonder, what had just happened here? Something told her to be weary but she shook her head like coming out of a trance. Specula hissed fiercely at something behind of her.
She heard a bloodcurdling scream coming from down the dark hall. Like that of a child. Reese turned to say something to Specula; she felt something poke her shoulder. She felt suddenly dizzy then she collapsed onto the hard cold oak floor.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
"RAVEN!!! You're not helping!!!" Xena shrieked from inside the cockpit of the Blade Liger.
Raven grinned and said, "Good. You gotta figure this out on your own kiddo."
"Kiddo?! What the fuck is 'kiddo'?? Who the hell are you calling a 'kiddo'?!?!"
"You, c'mon you're a youngin' compared to me. So in that technically I have the right to call you whatever I want."
Fiona frowned at the scene. "Van, please I told you that using Zeke would be your downfall in this battle. This is one fight you have to fight alone unless you want someone else to get hurt."
"Fiona you're overreacting. You heard what Raven said, she's younger than he is-"
Fiona interrupted him. "No! Raven's wrong! She's older than I am! But she isn't anymore-does that make any sense?"
Van shook his head and mobilized the Shield Liger. "No not really, but if what you're saying is true. This girl was older than you way back when, but you came out of the organiod capsule sooner than she did. and that means that in this time she's the same age she was back in the day?"
"But she never went into an organiod capsule, or at least I don't think so. The only person who would know is Raven, but he'll never tell the likes of us."
"I got it!" Van exclaimed as he dodged a shot fired by none other than Irvine. "You ask her if she remembers that is. It's worth a shot, what do ya say?"
Fiona frowned thoughtfully, it was an idea but they would be risking everything if it was in fact Xena. She knew that Xena would always find some reason to be mad at her and it wouldn't matter if she liked Van or not she'd get Fiona back.
"I dunno Van."
Meanwhile..
"Raven!" Xena whined helplessly.
Raven rolled his eyes and said, "Oh for God sake's Xena, will you stop it?! I'm not going to help you. If I could I still wouldn't help you, what do I look like? You're personal slave?"
"Yes!" The Blade Liger chirped cheerfully. "But of course!"
He groaned and stretched his arms out.
Xena pressed different buttons on the controls but nothing happen. Then she pressed a button in shape of an 'E' and speakers popped up beside her. 'It's My Life' blared from the speakers. She gasped in delight.
Just then a com link popped in the screen in front of her revealing Van and the blonde girl, who was staring at her with uncertainty. Just as they heard the music,
".Well I ain't gonna be just face in the crowd, your gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud. It's my life! It's now or never, and I ain't gonna live forever. I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life! My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said I did it my way. I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life."
Xena was busy bobbing her head to the rock beat; she didn't even notice the com link. She had to admit the music of this day and age was pretty kick ass, but it was nothing like the music she used to listen to in the privacy of her room. Van and Fiona sweat dropped; this was going to be a long day.
"It's my life!! And it's now or never cause I ain't gonna live FOREVER!! I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life my heart is like an open highway! Like Frankie said I did it my way!!!" Xena sang at the top of her lungs, which didn't sound too good.
"Uh.Xena? Um.. XENA!!! Hello!! Turn down the stereo, you're in the middle of a battle here!" Fiona growled unhappily.
Xena blinked, and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Van and Fiona staring at her from the com link. "Whoa!! Rewind!"
She put her hand behind her head and laughed nervously, her cheeks turning red. "Ah, what's up?"
"Xena, what are you doing? Not to mention how did you get here in the first place?" Fiona asked quickly.
"Who are you? You look awfully familiar and how the hell do know my name? Irwin told you?"
Van arched a dark eyebrow and sighed. "Girls.I'll never understand them."
"It's me, Xena, Fiona Alicia Annette. You saved my life remember?"
Fiona searched Xena's face for any sign of recognition but saw none, it was almost like she knew already but didn't say anything. Or she just didn't get her memory back all the way.
Xena frowned and said, "I know who you are. I didn't think that crazy idea of his would work, ah well. At least there's someone here who can fill me in on what happened the past couple centuries or so."
"Alright, I will. But first you gotta give us back the Blade Liger with or without Raven, we won't turn him in this time." "Jigga what?!?!" Van cried incredulously, turning to Fiona shock written on his tan features.
She closed her sunset eyes and nodded slowly. "You heard me, Van. We're not getting the bounty for Raven's head this time. It's the least we can do, but the next time we enounter him we'll get him and stop his reign of terror once and for all."
"What he said!" Xena exclaimed just as confused as Van. "Jigga what! There's a bounty for Raven's head???!?!"
Fiona nodded again, her eyes still closed. "Yes that is correct. Raven is a dangerous man, mind you."
What Xena said next shocked everyone.
"Cool!!! How much?!!?" Xena asked excitedly.
Raven's jaw fell, she was going to turn him in! He was positive she was going to get the bounty for him. Hmph, some friends he has. Van's jaw fell as well, that was defiantly NOT what he had expected.
"Are you insane?!?! Who's side are you on?!!?" Raven shouted angrily, waving his fist at the Blade Liger.
Xena grinned ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. "I'm on Shadow's side, dummy. I'm just curious that's all, stupid. Is that some big crime against humanity?"
"Yes it is dammit! You're gonna turn me in! I can't believe it..er, maybe I can but still! There's bounties for Reese and Hiltz too don't you know, though they're not as high as mine. That's because I'm better than they are!" Raven returned to his normal self and acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
The Genobreaker looked down at him and shook it's head. "What do you mean I'm pathetic? Am not you stupid piece of crap! Leave me alone until I have use for you."
"Right.sure.that is pretty funny that you might turn Raven in though," Van smiled warmly at her.
Fiona frowned, jealously was beginning to attack her. Why was Van being so nice to her? He didn't even know her! Maybe it was because she said she liked him and thought he was good looking, which he is. She knew that if thoughts like these were to continue running wild in her brain she was bound to lose it. She and Van weren't officially dating, actually they fell under the category of Friends With Benefits (FWB) which meant they were nothing more than really good friends. Then why was she suddenly, oh should I dare type it? Why was she suddenly jealous? "Van please stop," she requested quietly.
Van blinked and titled his head curiously in her direction. "Stop what?"
"Just stop it, please. Don't ask any questions, just stop it."
Van didn't understand what she was talking about, what was he doing that was wrong? Okay maybe flirting with the enemy's girlfriend wasn't the brightest thing he could do since he considered himself taken, but still she was the one who flirted with him first. And dammit, that had to count for something! That is.assuming she was the enemies girlfriend.
"Uh, okay whatever you say."
Xena inside of the cockpit of the Blade Liger discreetly pressed the button that controlled the radio, and the music blared once again.
"IT'S MY LIFE!! AND IT'S NOW OR NEVER CAUSE I AIN'T GONNA LIVE FOREVER!!!"
"That's it." Fiona unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped onto Van's lap, grabbed the controls and rammed the Shield Liger into the dancing Blade Liger.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
"SHADOW!!" Raven shouted and the cockpit of the Genobreaker opened. He climbed inside.
He frowned deeply. God boredom really was a killer; his boredom was driving him mad. He had to do something before he officially went crazy. The Lightening Saix was the perfect target, it was basically defenseless and beating on it wouldn't make a difference to Xena's "fight." No one would miss the zoid anyways, so it was all-good.
"I'm bored, now where's that annoying Irwin." Raven scanned the area for the down zoid.
"The name's Irvine Raven! Get it right!!" The Lightening Saix's eyes glowed. Raven just smirked.
This was going to be easier than he thought. "Whatever. You're name makes no difference to me, I'm still going to kill you. But before I do I'm gonna have a lil' fun with you first."
The Genobreaker fired missiles at the down zoid, paralyzing it completely so it couldn't even fire at it. The two Ligers and their pilots were oblivious to what was going on around them, which worked to Raven's benefit. Good luck was with him today. "Ah! This isn't fair! I swear to God Raven, once I kill Van I'm going after you. For my Lightening Saix AND my Command Wolf! Mark my words! Raven! Mark my words!" Irvine threatened.
"Ha ha, yeah right like THAT'S ever gonna happen. Only in you're dreams, Irwin."
"IRVINE!!"
Raven shrugged. "Same thing."
Irvine growled but knew he was in no position to make threats and demands, Raven had the upper hand and worst of all they both knew it. Maybe he could somehow convince Van to look his way without getting Raven's attention.
He turned on the com link to the Shield Liger and said, "Van.Van.VAN!! LOOK OVER HERE DAMMIT!!"
When no one replied, he got worried since he was basically in darkness he couldn't see a thing. The only way in his situation he could see Van was if Van responded.
"Irvine?" It wasn't Van who replied but Fiona, who was on top of Van. Van popped his head the side of her. His hands on her waist, it was quite a sight. And Irvine wasn't going to even ask.
"You called, Irvine?"
Irvine smacked his forehead, why couldn't those two just get a room and get it over with? They were in love with each other; EVERYONE knew it except for them!
"Will you guys get off of each other and defeat that girl already? Raven is ruining my beautiful Lightening Saix just for the hell of it. And I would like to keep this zoid for at least a year before it gets totaled! C'mon you guys!"
The Genobreaker was now behind Irvine, busying itself by stomping on the tail of the Lightening Saix. Then it fired at the hind legs. Basically forcing the zoid to suffer a slow and painful death, but oddly enough it steered clear of the zoid core.
"Goodness you're right Irvine!" Fiona exclaimed.
"No shit! In this century please," he hissed.
Van nodded and blinked, he was in an awkward position. The cockpit wasn't made for stuff like this. Not that he didn't enjoy being close to Fiona, no he loved being this close to her, but not now. Oh no, not this time maybe later though.
"Fiona.do you mind?" Van indicated to controls, which he could not reach due to the fact Fiona was sitting on him.
She blushed. "I don't know what came over me, Xena was getting on my nerves with her obnoxious singing!"
"I guesso. But uh, how are we supposed to save Irvine if we can't move our zoid?"
"Simple," Xena replied as the Blade Liger reared up, "Like this!!" And charged them. Ramming into them head on sending the Shield Liger flying backwards.
She laughed out loud. "That'll teach you to mess with me. And you can't help Irwin, he's tied up at the moment. Zeke! Aim for this Irwin dude and fire at will! And don't worry about Raven the Retard!"
Zeke roared onto his feet, on his own. He nodded and fired four missiles, two for the Lightening Saix and two for the Genobreaker. Van watched in horror as the cannon took aim and he was helpless to stop it.
Shadow inside of the Genobreaker sweat dropped. "Gah! Xena!!! I'm going to turn you in to the police for this!" Raven hissed.
Xena laughed again as the two zoids shook by the sheer force of the missiles. While Fiona gasped and Van gulped, once this day was through he WAS going to be a walking dead man.
"VAN!!!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!"
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Draco cursed under his breath as Moonbay walked by him while he was walking down the hall leading to the Control Center for the fifth time. She was watching him, making sure he didn't do any damage. How the heck was he supposed to get his organiod with her watching him like a vulture? It was bad enough that the silver haired demon was resurrected but she had his organiod, Tiamat, under her complete and total control. The same way she had Van's and Raven's organiods wrapped around her little finger.
Everyone in the base knew about the big stand off between Raven with Xena on his side and Van, Fiona and Irvine. It wasn't a pretty sight. Raven was having a ball destroying the already command system frozen Lightening Saix, and Xena and Van were knocking into each other instead of close range combat or mirages.
There had to be a way for him to lure Xena into a trap so he could get Tiamat back and break her power of him, at least for the time being. But with Moonbay stalking him it would be nearly impossible without him exposing himself in the process. He would have to wait until after the troops came home to strike, he knew where their hideout was so that made it a little easier. That is, assuming Raven and Xena took the Blade Liger back with them just for the hell of it. But if they didn't it would make Draco's life a hell of a lot easier.
"Soldier what do you think you're doing here? This hall is restricted," Colonel Karl Shubaltz said with an aura of authority.
Draco quickly saluted. "Colonel Shubaltz sir, I was not aware of that, sir."
Ah, it made him sick to his stomach to call someone 'sir'. But a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do even if it meant sacrificing his dignity and pride.
Shubaltz nodded and a frown appeared on his lips from nowhere. "At ease man, I understand. But what are you doing here anyways?"
Draco cursed his bad fortune. This was soo not his day! He hesitated. "I was going to check on the stats of the Blade Liger and see if there was any weak points the Lt. Flyheight could use to his advantage, sir." And he didn't even like Van Flyheight! Draco found him too cocky and too sure of himself all the time.
"Ah, I see. I'm coming with you then."
"Okay then, sir, if that is what you want. Permission to ask a question, sir?" Draco asked in such a tone that made him sick to his stomach. The sooner he got Tiamat back the better.
"Yes soldier shoot."
"Is it true that Miss Fiona of the Guardian Force knows this mysterious girl from her life as an Ancient Zoidian? Sir?"
Colonel Shubaltz didn't reply right away. His jaw muscles flexed. "I suppose it is, the only person who would know for certain is Miss Fiona herself, you have my consent to ask her when she returns. And then once you find out you tell me."
"Yes sir," Draco saluted and mentally slapped himself across the face for being such a fake! God posing as a soldier was bad for his health. Thank goodness he didn't have to be here for much longer.or so he hoped.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Author's Note: Well? That's Chapter Eight! It's My Life is by Bon Jovi. Gosh dang Yankees it always takes me so long to put these chapters up but like only two days to write them! Lol, I wonder how that works. AT that kind of pace I should be working on the next chapter.shesh its SO long. But if people still review they get another chapter. If it's one person I don't care I'll still write for that one single person. Though I would like more than one person (HINT HINT hehe) But y'know it's not up to me. It's up to you all * indicates to the readers *. I only live to write for you all. Well BLAH BALH!! I'm shutting up now, these things aren't supposed to be THAT long hot dog. Lol. Review ya'll! Peace out!
~* Mi ChElLe *~
Xena fumbled with the controls stupidly with no avail; the blades on the Blade Liger still refused to cooperate. She had begged Tiamat to give her a hand, but the organiod couldn't help her cause. It was new to the zoid so it's abilities were limited. Damn.
"Grrrr!!! You stupid piece of shit, work damnit work!!! How the hell am I supposed to beat them if all I can use is the missiles?!" the silver haired Ancient Zoidian fumed. "Tiamat, how many missiles do you have left?"
The Blade Liger growled and the number five blinked on the screen. She had five missiles left, she had about ten to begin with.
"Five, huh? I suppose we'll make due with those in the meantime we'll have Shadow give us a hand."
Tiamat roared angrily and bucked the blade liger's hind legs. Xena screeched and rubbed her sore butt.
"What the hell? You don't like Shadow?!?! You choose NOW to tell me??"
Meanwhile..
Van frowned thoughtfully as he struggled to think up a plan to defeat the Blade Liger. This was harder than he had expected. Never in a million years had he'd ever imagined he'd be up against his own zoid. At the same time he was worried about Fiona, she was acting so strangely. Maybe he should heed her advice.
"Irvine! You okay?!" Van asked.
An image of Irvine appeared on his com link, he was scowling his face red with anger. Van gulped, he was in for it when they got back to the base.
"Van," Irvine began in a dangerously low voice that made Van a little skittish.
"Yes. Irvine?"
"You are a walking dead man," he narrowed his brown eyes.
Van sunk in his seat. If there was one thing that scared him beside dogs was a VERY very angry Irvine. He laughed nervously and said, "Your funny Irvine, god you could be a great stand up comedian with jokes like that!"
"Too bad it's not a joke."
"Eep!" Van quickly turned off the com link and glanced a the Lightening Saix which was glaring at him, it's eyes blaring red. He let out a sigh of relief; with damage like that to the zoid Irvine couldn't launch a head on attack, in fact he couldn't even move! But he could still fire at him.
"VAN FLYHEIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE DEAD!!!!!!!!" The Lightening Saix threw it's head back and roared. Too bad it couldn't do anything except fire it's cannon, it's mobility capabilities totally gone.
"Hmm, that Irwin guy is pissed," Xena said mildly. "Ha, ohz wellz that's Van the Major Hottie Flyhieght's problem not mine."
Raven opened one eye and saw the Lightening Saix laying defenselessly on the ground, the Blade Liger twisting it's back in an attempt to work those damned blades and the Shield Liger sweat dropping. He and Shadow chuckled.
"Quite an interesting battle indeed."
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
It was quiet, too quiet. The darkness seemed to be endless array of hopelessness. The old temple had lost its tranquil charm, she noted unhappily, the outsides of its majestic walls covered with vines. It's insides covered with dust and vines, but fortunately it was an place that the Imperial search army didn't find and destroy in the process.
Why was she here? She wondered, what purpose did she have in coming here? Her faithful organiod had had never let her down before, she had reasoned with herself, why should she doubt it now?
"Specula, tell me why exactly are we here?" Reese turned to her blue metallic organiod but it was not by her side. "Specula?"
She whirled around to Specula standing perfectly still behind her. Reese frowned she had a sinking feeling that something was not right, one she could not push away. Something wasn't right here, Reese had never been to this temple before maybe that was it. Or it could be all the despair floating in the air around her. The moment she walked through the large dented in door she felt oddly mellow. Something very bad happened in this place, Reese was almost positive.
"What is it?" she hissed.
Specula made no reply but just continued to stare ahead with an empty look. Reese narrowed her eyes and now she was determined to figure out what had happened. The organiod rumbled deep in it's throat.
Reese saw a figure from the corner of her eye. "It appears we have company."
She whirled around in the blink of an eye to nothing, nada, zepo, zero. Reese glanced around the musty library; the ancient books in their dusty oak bookcases took on an eerie look. Wait a second.since when did temples have libraries in them???
"How strange, what kind of place is this? It starts off like a temple and now it's some sort of olden day mansion?" she turned to Specula who just shrugged.
"What do you mean you don't know?! You're the one who took us on this wild goose chase and you don't know?!?!" Reese shouted.
Specula shrugged and growled dully. He knew it was no use trying to explain everything in a way that Reese would understand anyways. If she knew why they were here she would have never agreed to come. And right now Specula had to keep her in the dark. for the moment being.
Reese pouted and folded her arms across her chest. She was dressed in a pair of Paris Blues blue jeans and a dark blue shirt that the sleeves went to her elbows. This was one of the many outfits that little girl Xena had gotten her, why Reese even let her give her a closet makeover was a mystery to even her.
They explored the old temple/mansion further, now they were in what appeared to be a little girl's bedroom. There was a princess style bed, the silk curtains gray from dust. The oak bedpost had been rotted away by time. There was an oak drawer against the wall with a sculpture of a white fox with a long bushy tail, another of a wolf, and the last one of a once gold kitten laying on it's back playing with some string. The bed stand stood on only three legs, upon further inspection Reese noticed a black and white picture of a little girl with long blonde hair holding a golden retriever puppy in her arms. She looked so happy, so carefree, and so innocent. Did this room belong to that little girl?
Reese shuddered as a draft of icy cold air brushed against her. She heard laughter coming from the next room, like the sound of a child laughing. But Reese could have sworn this place had been deserted for at least a couple centuries but then how there be a kid in here?
She raced out of the eerie room and into the next, Specula trotted right behind her. A shimmer of white light followed by the image of a smiling little girl with long blonde hair appeared before her. Reese stopped dead in her track. Specula knocked into her back.
"Specula! Watch yourself!" Reese hissed in a high whisper.
"Hey you, little girl. What are you doing here?" she called out.
The little girl turned around and faced Reese and Specula, her body surrounded by the white light. "What are you doing here, lady?"
Reese frowned. "I asked you first, little one so why don't you answer my question and then I'll answer yours."
The little girl didn't move but her sweet smile faded, and Reese became aware of a scratch on her cheek that wasn't there before.
"I live here silly, now it's your turn blue lady."
"I'm exploring this ABANONED place," Reese replied fiercely, making her point clear.
The little blonde smiled softly and walked up to Specula and place her little hand in front of the organiod's nose. Specula blinked and turned to Reese, who just shrugged.
"What a funny looking dog you have here lady," the girl smiled, and stroked Specula's chin.
"It's not a dog, this is Specula my organiod. Don't you know that dogs and all them died a long time ago?"
Specula shot Reese a 'Why did you go and say that?!' look as the blonde's lower lip trembled. A red light turned on in Reese's head that was not the smartest thing she could have said. That was something Raven would say! And Reese couldn't believe she just pulled a Raven.
"Wait! I didn't.." Reese started to say something just as the little girl raced past her and flew down the hall, her gray eyes bright with tears. ".mean it that way.."
Reese stood in the hallway in wonder, what had just happened here? Something told her to be weary but she shook her head like coming out of a trance. Specula hissed fiercely at something behind of her.
She heard a bloodcurdling scream coming from down the dark hall. Like that of a child. Reese turned to say something to Specula; she felt something poke her shoulder. She felt suddenly dizzy then she collapsed onto the hard cold oak floor.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
"RAVEN!!! You're not helping!!!" Xena shrieked from inside the cockpit of the Blade Liger.
Raven grinned and said, "Good. You gotta figure this out on your own kiddo."
"Kiddo?! What the fuck is 'kiddo'?? Who the hell are you calling a 'kiddo'?!?!"
"You, c'mon you're a youngin' compared to me. So in that technically I have the right to call you whatever I want."
Fiona frowned at the scene. "Van, please I told you that using Zeke would be your downfall in this battle. This is one fight you have to fight alone unless you want someone else to get hurt."
"Fiona you're overreacting. You heard what Raven said, she's younger than he is-"
Fiona interrupted him. "No! Raven's wrong! She's older than I am! But she isn't anymore-does that make any sense?"
Van shook his head and mobilized the Shield Liger. "No not really, but if what you're saying is true. This girl was older than you way back when, but you came out of the organiod capsule sooner than she did. and that means that in this time she's the same age she was back in the day?"
"But she never went into an organiod capsule, or at least I don't think so. The only person who would know is Raven, but he'll never tell the likes of us."
"I got it!" Van exclaimed as he dodged a shot fired by none other than Irvine. "You ask her if she remembers that is. It's worth a shot, what do ya say?"
Fiona frowned thoughtfully, it was an idea but they would be risking everything if it was in fact Xena. She knew that Xena would always find some reason to be mad at her and it wouldn't matter if she liked Van or not she'd get Fiona back.
"I dunno Van."
Meanwhile..
"Raven!" Xena whined helplessly.
Raven rolled his eyes and said, "Oh for God sake's Xena, will you stop it?! I'm not going to help you. If I could I still wouldn't help you, what do I look like? You're personal slave?"
"Yes!" The Blade Liger chirped cheerfully. "But of course!"
He groaned and stretched his arms out.
Xena pressed different buttons on the controls but nothing happen. Then she pressed a button in shape of an 'E' and speakers popped up beside her. 'It's My Life' blared from the speakers. She gasped in delight.
Just then a com link popped in the screen in front of her revealing Van and the blonde girl, who was staring at her with uncertainty. Just as they heard the music,
".Well I ain't gonna be just face in the crowd, your gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud. It's my life! It's now or never, and I ain't gonna live forever. I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life! My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said I did it my way. I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life."
Xena was busy bobbing her head to the rock beat; she didn't even notice the com link. She had to admit the music of this day and age was pretty kick ass, but it was nothing like the music she used to listen to in the privacy of her room. Van and Fiona sweat dropped; this was going to be a long day.
"It's my life!! And it's now or never cause I ain't gonna live FOREVER!! I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life my heart is like an open highway! Like Frankie said I did it my way!!!" Xena sang at the top of her lungs, which didn't sound too good.
"Uh.Xena? Um.. XENA!!! Hello!! Turn down the stereo, you're in the middle of a battle here!" Fiona growled unhappily.
Xena blinked, and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Van and Fiona staring at her from the com link. "Whoa!! Rewind!"
She put her hand behind her head and laughed nervously, her cheeks turning red. "Ah, what's up?"
"Xena, what are you doing? Not to mention how did you get here in the first place?" Fiona asked quickly.
"Who are you? You look awfully familiar and how the hell do know my name? Irwin told you?"
Van arched a dark eyebrow and sighed. "Girls.I'll never understand them."
"It's me, Xena, Fiona Alicia Annette. You saved my life remember?"
Fiona searched Xena's face for any sign of recognition but saw none, it was almost like she knew already but didn't say anything. Or she just didn't get her memory back all the way.
Xena frowned and said, "I know who you are. I didn't think that crazy idea of his would work, ah well. At least there's someone here who can fill me in on what happened the past couple centuries or so."
"Alright, I will. But first you gotta give us back the Blade Liger with or without Raven, we won't turn him in this time." "Jigga what?!?!" Van cried incredulously, turning to Fiona shock written on his tan features.
She closed her sunset eyes and nodded slowly. "You heard me, Van. We're not getting the bounty for Raven's head this time. It's the least we can do, but the next time we enounter him we'll get him and stop his reign of terror once and for all."
"What he said!" Xena exclaimed just as confused as Van. "Jigga what! There's a bounty for Raven's head???!?!"
Fiona nodded again, her eyes still closed. "Yes that is correct. Raven is a dangerous man, mind you."
What Xena said next shocked everyone.
"Cool!!! How much?!!?" Xena asked excitedly.
Raven's jaw fell, she was going to turn him in! He was positive she was going to get the bounty for him. Hmph, some friends he has. Van's jaw fell as well, that was defiantly NOT what he had expected.
"Are you insane?!?! Who's side are you on?!!?" Raven shouted angrily, waving his fist at the Blade Liger.
Xena grinned ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. "I'm on Shadow's side, dummy. I'm just curious that's all, stupid. Is that some big crime against humanity?"
"Yes it is dammit! You're gonna turn me in! I can't believe it..er, maybe I can but still! There's bounties for Reese and Hiltz too don't you know, though they're not as high as mine. That's because I'm better than they are!" Raven returned to his normal self and acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
The Genobreaker looked down at him and shook it's head. "What do you mean I'm pathetic? Am not you stupid piece of crap! Leave me alone until I have use for you."
"Right.sure.that is pretty funny that you might turn Raven in though," Van smiled warmly at her.
Fiona frowned, jealously was beginning to attack her. Why was Van being so nice to her? He didn't even know her! Maybe it was because she said she liked him and thought he was good looking, which he is. She knew that if thoughts like these were to continue running wild in her brain she was bound to lose it. She and Van weren't officially dating, actually they fell under the category of Friends With Benefits (FWB) which meant they were nothing more than really good friends. Then why was she suddenly, oh should I dare type it? Why was she suddenly jealous? "Van please stop," she requested quietly.
Van blinked and titled his head curiously in her direction. "Stop what?"
"Just stop it, please. Don't ask any questions, just stop it."
Van didn't understand what she was talking about, what was he doing that was wrong? Okay maybe flirting with the enemy's girlfriend wasn't the brightest thing he could do since he considered himself taken, but still she was the one who flirted with him first. And dammit, that had to count for something! That is.assuming she was the enemies girlfriend.
"Uh, okay whatever you say."
Xena inside of the cockpit of the Blade Liger discreetly pressed the button that controlled the radio, and the music blared once again.
"IT'S MY LIFE!! AND IT'S NOW OR NEVER CAUSE I AIN'T GONNA LIVE FOREVER!!!"
"That's it." Fiona unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped onto Van's lap, grabbed the controls and rammed the Shield Liger into the dancing Blade Liger.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
"SHADOW!!" Raven shouted and the cockpit of the Genobreaker opened. He climbed inside.
He frowned deeply. God boredom really was a killer; his boredom was driving him mad. He had to do something before he officially went crazy. The Lightening Saix was the perfect target, it was basically defenseless and beating on it wouldn't make a difference to Xena's "fight." No one would miss the zoid anyways, so it was all-good.
"I'm bored, now where's that annoying Irwin." Raven scanned the area for the down zoid.
"The name's Irvine Raven! Get it right!!" The Lightening Saix's eyes glowed. Raven just smirked.
This was going to be easier than he thought. "Whatever. You're name makes no difference to me, I'm still going to kill you. But before I do I'm gonna have a lil' fun with you first."
The Genobreaker fired missiles at the down zoid, paralyzing it completely so it couldn't even fire at it. The two Ligers and their pilots were oblivious to what was going on around them, which worked to Raven's benefit. Good luck was with him today. "Ah! This isn't fair! I swear to God Raven, once I kill Van I'm going after you. For my Lightening Saix AND my Command Wolf! Mark my words! Raven! Mark my words!" Irvine threatened.
"Ha ha, yeah right like THAT'S ever gonna happen. Only in you're dreams, Irwin."
"IRVINE!!"
Raven shrugged. "Same thing."
Irvine growled but knew he was in no position to make threats and demands, Raven had the upper hand and worst of all they both knew it. Maybe he could somehow convince Van to look his way without getting Raven's attention.
He turned on the com link to the Shield Liger and said, "Van.Van.VAN!! LOOK OVER HERE DAMMIT!!"
When no one replied, he got worried since he was basically in darkness he couldn't see a thing. The only way in his situation he could see Van was if Van responded.
"Irvine?" It wasn't Van who replied but Fiona, who was on top of Van. Van popped his head the side of her. His hands on her waist, it was quite a sight. And Irvine wasn't going to even ask.
"You called, Irvine?"
Irvine smacked his forehead, why couldn't those two just get a room and get it over with? They were in love with each other; EVERYONE knew it except for them!
"Will you guys get off of each other and defeat that girl already? Raven is ruining my beautiful Lightening Saix just for the hell of it. And I would like to keep this zoid for at least a year before it gets totaled! C'mon you guys!"
The Genobreaker was now behind Irvine, busying itself by stomping on the tail of the Lightening Saix. Then it fired at the hind legs. Basically forcing the zoid to suffer a slow and painful death, but oddly enough it steered clear of the zoid core.
"Goodness you're right Irvine!" Fiona exclaimed.
"No shit! In this century please," he hissed.
Van nodded and blinked, he was in an awkward position. The cockpit wasn't made for stuff like this. Not that he didn't enjoy being close to Fiona, no he loved being this close to her, but not now. Oh no, not this time maybe later though.
"Fiona.do you mind?" Van indicated to controls, which he could not reach due to the fact Fiona was sitting on him.
She blushed. "I don't know what came over me, Xena was getting on my nerves with her obnoxious singing!"
"I guesso. But uh, how are we supposed to save Irvine if we can't move our zoid?"
"Simple," Xena replied as the Blade Liger reared up, "Like this!!" And charged them. Ramming into them head on sending the Shield Liger flying backwards.
She laughed out loud. "That'll teach you to mess with me. And you can't help Irwin, he's tied up at the moment. Zeke! Aim for this Irwin dude and fire at will! And don't worry about Raven the Retard!"
Zeke roared onto his feet, on his own. He nodded and fired four missiles, two for the Lightening Saix and two for the Genobreaker. Van watched in horror as the cannon took aim and he was helpless to stop it.
Shadow inside of the Genobreaker sweat dropped. "Gah! Xena!!! I'm going to turn you in to the police for this!" Raven hissed.
Xena laughed again as the two zoids shook by the sheer force of the missiles. While Fiona gasped and Van gulped, once this day was through he WAS going to be a walking dead man.
"VAN!!!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!"
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Draco cursed under his breath as Moonbay walked by him while he was walking down the hall leading to the Control Center for the fifth time. She was watching him, making sure he didn't do any damage. How the heck was he supposed to get his organiod with her watching him like a vulture? It was bad enough that the silver haired demon was resurrected but she had his organiod, Tiamat, under her complete and total control. The same way she had Van's and Raven's organiods wrapped around her little finger.
Everyone in the base knew about the big stand off between Raven with Xena on his side and Van, Fiona and Irvine. It wasn't a pretty sight. Raven was having a ball destroying the already command system frozen Lightening Saix, and Xena and Van were knocking into each other instead of close range combat or mirages.
There had to be a way for him to lure Xena into a trap so he could get Tiamat back and break her power of him, at least for the time being. But with Moonbay stalking him it would be nearly impossible without him exposing himself in the process. He would have to wait until after the troops came home to strike, he knew where their hideout was so that made it a little easier. That is, assuming Raven and Xena took the Blade Liger back with them just for the hell of it. But if they didn't it would make Draco's life a hell of a lot easier.
"Soldier what do you think you're doing here? This hall is restricted," Colonel Karl Shubaltz said with an aura of authority.
Draco quickly saluted. "Colonel Shubaltz sir, I was not aware of that, sir."
Ah, it made him sick to his stomach to call someone 'sir'. But a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do even if it meant sacrificing his dignity and pride.
Shubaltz nodded and a frown appeared on his lips from nowhere. "At ease man, I understand. But what are you doing here anyways?"
Draco cursed his bad fortune. This was soo not his day! He hesitated. "I was going to check on the stats of the Blade Liger and see if there was any weak points the Lt. Flyheight could use to his advantage, sir." And he didn't even like Van Flyheight! Draco found him too cocky and too sure of himself all the time.
"Ah, I see. I'm coming with you then."
"Okay then, sir, if that is what you want. Permission to ask a question, sir?" Draco asked in such a tone that made him sick to his stomach. The sooner he got Tiamat back the better.
"Yes soldier shoot."
"Is it true that Miss Fiona of the Guardian Force knows this mysterious girl from her life as an Ancient Zoidian? Sir?"
Colonel Shubaltz didn't reply right away. His jaw muscles flexed. "I suppose it is, the only person who would know for certain is Miss Fiona herself, you have my consent to ask her when she returns. And then once you find out you tell me."
"Yes sir," Draco saluted and mentally slapped himself across the face for being such a fake! God posing as a soldier was bad for his health. Thank goodness he didn't have to be here for much longer.or so he hoped.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Author's Note: Well? That's Chapter Eight! It's My Life is by Bon Jovi. Gosh dang Yankees it always takes me so long to put these chapters up but like only two days to write them! Lol, I wonder how that works. AT that kind of pace I should be working on the next chapter.shesh its SO long. But if people still review they get another chapter. If it's one person I don't care I'll still write for that one single person. Though I would like more than one person (HINT HINT hehe) But y'know it's not up to me. It's up to you all * indicates to the readers *. I only live to write for you all. Well BLAH BALH!! I'm shutting up now, these things aren't supposed to be THAT long hot dog. Lol. Review ya'll! Peace out!
~* Mi ChElLe *~
