Chapter 1: What was lost is now found

Self-loathing was something Rhyss Nadisika was no stranger to. In fact, the older she got, the more it seemed to come into play. Seated in a borrowed CommandWolf, Specula's thoughts merged with her own, all she could think about was the fight a few days ago, and the knowledge that came with it. She hadn't slept since then. She couldn't.

What's the matter, Rhyss? Breathed Hiltz' voice. Scared that the world is ending?

"Of course I am."

Funny how the humans thought that 'world ending' meant the DeathSaurer destroying everything. But Rhyss hadn't seen that, no, far from it. And now, deep inside her, she could feel it stirring, the familiar sensation of hate rising, the urge to kill.

At first, she had believed that Raven Prozen – ZoidEVE knew why he kept his foster father's last name – was the same as her. Had the same needs. But his was born of tragedy, while she had willingly accepted the power into her body, sold her soul for the price of the power.

I wonder if any of them know the truth Hiltz breathed into her ears.

"You're dead, shut up."

I'm surprised the Kaiser didn't pick up on it. Oh, but of course not…how could he? You and your people blinded him with the Corruption. Very clever.

"You were a Zoidian. Why did you betray us?"

The spectre said nothing. He wouldn't; of course, this was Rhyss' memory of him. She had known from the day they'd met what would happen to him, just as any other Reaper would. That was one of the Great Gifts. However…as Hiltz had slid back into old habits, it had been a hard fight helping the darkness seize him. He was already angry, it just took a bit of quick thinking to push him over into madness.

She stared down at the people cleaning up the wreckage.

The city of ZoidEve had not been destroyed completely. In fact, while most of its ruins had fallen, been destroyed, there were some that were eagerly being explored by scientists and pilots alike. The DeathSaurer was high on everybody's list, seeing as humanity never really knew when to let sleeping dogs lie.

Or sleeping Hertz.

That thought was hers and hers alone. She strongly suspected that the entity known as Gunther Prozen…and also, in the Reaper records, Winter Drachnia…had probably retreated deep into his corporeal shell when the original DeathSaurer – the one that had caused all that trouble in Guylos – had taken over his mind. Were the humans that naive as to think that Prozen was just like them?

Did they have any idea?

Van Flyheight and the voluptuous Fiona Alisi Lynette were talking excitedly. She watched them through dull eyes, her hate growing. More stirring, the familiar feeling of coldness deep inside her belly, the anger…

Any idea at all? Maybe Rudolph's grandfather knew. The old fart had probably very perceptive of his foster son, which explained how the GenoSaur, Raven's Zoid, was created. Humans were very clever at creating things from old dead things, including abandoned Zoidian technology. Would Irvine feel so safe if he knew his Lightning Saix was also made with the blueprints, and a core specifically created from the man they all hated?

Did they have any idea what power was in their grasp?

"Nadisika."

Her head snapped up. For a moment she felt fear, not knowing what was going on, blinded by the powers that still shifted beneath the sands. But of course, this was outside communications… "I'm here."

"Report. We can't see."

"They're still looking. They're picking apart the city like beachcombers-"

"Sacrilege"

"Yes, Lord. They're looking for answers, Alisi looks…happy. She looks…content. I believe she is safe with Lt. Flyheight. I don't think he has…tried to breed her yet."

"We'd know. As long as she's safe. How far away are they from him?"

"Him, sir?"

"The Rare Hertz."

"Prozen is dead. He's not coming back." Rhyss laughed nervously. "I did everything I could, I drowned them both, there's nothing left-"

"We've found the core, Nadisika. We have found the body of Hiltz Sierra, and it was intact. Explain."

"I…I don't understand…he…"

"He is alive. But barely. We have reason to believe our little Hertz is behind this. How close are they to us? We cannot see, Nadisika. We are blind. You are our eyes. EVE is singing too loudly, and is blinding us…"

Rhyss' head spun. Not EVE. This is Prozen's doing…that bastard, he knew.

"Close. Very close. I suggest you leave now."

"But if there is a chance at recovering the Rare Hertz, and breaking him before his time, we will have success…" There was a smug tone to the man's voice. "And even better, if we can get Hiltz into functioning like a human being, would it not be poetic justice to have him do it?"

Sudden warmth filled Rhyss, and she blushed. "Indeed. That would be a most…wonderful idea." The thoughts of breaking the human's only defence against the Reapers made her feel so…good

"All right then. We will continue our exploration of the-NO!"

The presence retreated quickly from her mind, and she realised that the others were running with their find, leaving the half depleted core open to the world, revealing all it's secrets. She could hear the yells and cries of the people who found it, and sense their growing fear.

But why fear something like that?

It was a depleted core, yes? No chance of danger?

She leant forward in her seat, tugging against the straps to see the people down below as they tore the other half free. Hell, the two groups had been so close…a few stones apart…and while the Reapers had attacked one side of the core, the Guardian Force had the other…

Sudden pain, inside her head…

Visions of flame and blood…

The screams of the damned…

Blood…

And before she blacked out into the spiralling darkness of oblivion, she saw them tug it loose, the womb of the last Rare Hertz, and within it, she could hear it's foul, beating heart, ready to be crushed beneath the palm of the last force on Zi…

And then there was the happy childish laughter of the one person who had made her forget everything about her cruel and unusual past, made her forget her joy at ending the lives of those who were innocent.

And Nicolai watched her, his face gentle.

"I'm sorry, Rhyss. This is the way things must be."

And then Rhyss fell.

~ to be continued.

Sorry the next chapter took so long. I'm working on stuff…feelin' a little down…*sniffle*too much to cope with right now. I'll be ok. Honest.