Chapter 1
The Trial of Zoot
A thug looking teenage boy flew out into the streets from the Saloon.
In the entrance, Ruby tossed the Paradise VR helmet at him.
"And take this with you!"
The thug quickly grabbed his helmet and took off.
"Paradise users." Ruby said disgustingly to herself.
Inside the Saloon, Slade and Ram applauded the scene of their boss showing she was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
"No, you'll still have to pay during work hours." she told them with a teasing smile.
"Oh come on!" Slade pouted. "I was going to help you! But, you seemed to be doing OK by yourself so I thought, why bother? I'll only end up getting punched by you sooner or later."
"Mm-hmm." Ruby shook her head. "Yeah."
The Saloon owner turned from her two friends and started cleaning up the mess on the bar left behind by the thug.
"If anyone can't read that sign…" she began.
"I think they can read it, Ruby. I just think they really don't care about a girl and her authority." Ram admitted. "Back in my old days, I wouldn't have."
"Glad to see I could become a great influence on you, Ram." Ruby smiled at him.
"Hey, you two saved my butt back there in the city. You guys brought me back to health. I got to start being appreciative somewhere down the road. For now." he added.
The music in the Saloon had stopped. Ruby groaned when she realized the jukebox was broken again.
"Not again." she sighed.
Ram raised an eyebrow. Slade could tell from his look, he was going to ask if the jukebox needed big time repairing.
3...2...1...
"Does that need big time repairing?" Ram nodded his head to the jukebox. "Because if it does, Ram the Man is for the job." he tried to sound cool.
Slade tried not to choke on his drink from laughing, while Ruby gave Ram an appreciative look.
"Could you do that for me, Ram? Thanks, I would love you forever if you did."
"Consider it done." Ram saluted her and wheeled himself in his new wheelchair over to the jukebox, grabbing some tools.
He paused suddenly and looked back up at Ruby. "Uh, when you said you…"
"Ram." Ruby gave him a look.
"Didn't think so." Ram said as he shook his head and started repairing on the jukebox.
Slade chuckled again.
When he looked up, he noticed Ruby rubbing her temples.
"You OK?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she looked to him, then flushed. "Oh yeah. I just…didn't get that much sleep last night."
And I know why, Slade thought.
"The dream?" he asked, but he knew the answer. He just had to make sure.
It had been a month since Slade had brought Ram to Ruby's Saloon in the town Liberty, and brought the ex-Techno leader back to health. At first, neither Ram or Slade could get along with each other. They even had a fight that made Ruby nearly kick them out for good. But they had settled their differences and all three became friends, working at the Saloon.
But in the past time Slade had known Ruby, she had been having a strange dream for the last couple of days.
Women, strong women, dressed up like Zoot, invading the city with some strange new weapon. And leading them was none other that the thought-to-have-been-dead warrior prophet, or warrior tyrant, Zoot. In her dream as well was a dark figure riding a beast-like horse with a long sword in hand. Then she would see a sign saying "Pandorax" and then hear a hideous laugh, and the dream would end.
She had told him the dream before. And today, unlike the other days where they all just shrugged it off, it seemed today would be an exception.
"Jeez! A fine piece of work, and it looks like you don't even clean it!" Ram huffed from the side as he repaired the jukebox. "You probably never even bothered taking care of this, you…virts!"
This time, Slade didn't hold in his laughter as Ruby rolled her eyes.
"He really has to get over that word." Ruby sighed.
Jay and Pride returned from their searching of Ebony and Java.
"Anything?" Trudy asked.
Jay just walked pass her and into his and Ebony's room. Or at least, his room now.
Trudy watched him head into the room with a sympathetic expression. She could relate to him.
At one point, she still had loved Bray. Not as much as before, but he was a part of her no matter what.
Bray was gone, probably for good this time but Amber had a feeling that wasn't true.
And then Hawk had come, and had gone. Returned with the Gaians back home. There was only a small attraction there. Nothing more or less.
But Jay was suffering the worst. He had already lost a friend who became sick and twisted, he lost his first love, his brother, and now he might have lost the most precious part of him.
"I'll go talk to him." Trudy told Pride. Pride nodded, and watched her head in his room and sit with him on the edge of his bed, putting a comforting arm around his shoulders. And soon, Jay let out all the anguish and pain through tears as Trudy held him in her arms.
Amber had come up beside Pride, watching the scene. A little jealous though, but more caring than anything else.
"Still no sign of Ebony." It was a statement.
"I feel sorry for him." Pride looked to Amber. "I thought once we beat the Technos, everything would become right again. Yes, it would take time. But peace could be restored. But now," Pride looked back into Jay's room where Trudy continued to comfort him, "It's like the Technos were a sign, a bad omen of something to come."
"I feel it too." Amber told him.
Pride fell silent for a moment.
It was a troubling silence.
"There's something else." Pride admitted. "Lex and Patch have been snooping around for clues. They've been bumping in to kids all over the city who claim they have seen Zoot during the rebellion."
Amber's eyes went wide in horror. "Z-Zoot? But, he's…he's dead. I saw it with my own eyes that night!"
"I hope it's true. I just hope that the Paradise Ram created is just affecting their minds." Pride let out a heavy sigh.
"…No." Amber suddenly whispered. "Ebony started acting strange right after we won the battle. She kept saying something about a prophecy and…" Amber looked up in realization, "Trudy told me that Ebony saw Zoot, and that he was talking to her."
"Some of the kids said the same thing." came Lex as he and Patch walked up the stairs to the café.
Both their looks were full of distress.
"What's wrong?" Amber asked.
Lex and Patch looked at each other, then back at Amber and Pride. "It's Jack. He's downstairs…"
"Is he OK?!" Amber asked.
"No. He's pretty shaken up. He claims that…Zoot attacked him."
Amber and Pride shared a look, then hurried downstairs with Lex and Patch to find their friend.
"It's so strange, isn't it Java? That you and your sisters served me not too long ago."
Java's eyes became as wide as they could be, clouded by fear.
She felt like she was that little girl again. Weak, scared, crying all the time.
And for that moment, she was that little girl again.
She was that little girl, because she saw him seated at a hand-made thrown.
"N-no. You're dead." she cried.
"As I told your sister, Java. Anything is possible."
With a wicked chuckle, Zoot stood up from his thrown and up at Java. He held his hand out.
She only could coward away.
"You've become weak. Just like Siva. I brought you here for a purpose. To regain your strength, your fire as a warrior. A warrior who lives by…power and chaos."
His hand was still out to her.
Reluctantly, she took his hand. He brought her up to her feet.
"Look at you," he cooed, "So beautiful."
He started circling her slowly, while all she could do was look up and tremble.
"Yet, so fragile. Not the Java I trained so well like your sisters. Especially Ebony."
No words could come out from her lips, only small whimpers.
"But I'm going to change all that. I'm going to turn you into a warrior, greater than you were before. Greater than any here!"
Zoot waved his hand, and Java realized that she and Zoot were not alone in the room.
Circling them were women, all women, dressed up like Zoot.
The only one not dressed up like him was standing right in front of her. A girl who nearly mirrored her features.
"I need a queen, and I need a lieutenant. One of you," he motioned to Java and Ebony, "Will be my queen, and one of you will be my lieutenant."
He brought his face close to her cheek. "Remember the pain she caused you and your family. Bring out the anger towards your sister. Unleash the fires of hell and show that you are worthy to be my queen. To be…my woman."
Two Zoot-dressed girls came into the center of the circle, handing both Ebony and Java staffs.
At that moment, all the pain and suffering she could muster had changed her feelings quickly.
There were no feelings, no emotions. There was only revenge.
Both wanted it.
At that moment, Java and Ebony became the warriors they were known to be by Zoot a long time ago.
"And do hurry. We have much to discuss."
Zoot ran his fingers along the folder that was labeled "Ragnarok."
"And I mean, A LOT to discuss."
The Trial of Zoot
A thug looking teenage boy flew out into the streets from the Saloon.
In the entrance, Ruby tossed the Paradise VR helmet at him.
"And take this with you!"
The thug quickly grabbed his helmet and took off.
"Paradise users." Ruby said disgustingly to herself.
Inside the Saloon, Slade and Ram applauded the scene of their boss showing she was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
"No, you'll still have to pay during work hours." she told them with a teasing smile.
"Oh come on!" Slade pouted. "I was going to help you! But, you seemed to be doing OK by yourself so I thought, why bother? I'll only end up getting punched by you sooner or later."
"Mm-hmm." Ruby shook her head. "Yeah."
The Saloon owner turned from her two friends and started cleaning up the mess on the bar left behind by the thug.
"If anyone can't read that sign…" she began.
"I think they can read it, Ruby. I just think they really don't care about a girl and her authority." Ram admitted. "Back in my old days, I wouldn't have."
"Glad to see I could become a great influence on you, Ram." Ruby smiled at him.
"Hey, you two saved my butt back there in the city. You guys brought me back to health. I got to start being appreciative somewhere down the road. For now." he added.
The music in the Saloon had stopped. Ruby groaned when she realized the jukebox was broken again.
"Not again." she sighed.
Ram raised an eyebrow. Slade could tell from his look, he was going to ask if the jukebox needed big time repairing.
3...2...1...
"Does that need big time repairing?" Ram nodded his head to the jukebox. "Because if it does, Ram the Man is for the job." he tried to sound cool.
Slade tried not to choke on his drink from laughing, while Ruby gave Ram an appreciative look.
"Could you do that for me, Ram? Thanks, I would love you forever if you did."
"Consider it done." Ram saluted her and wheeled himself in his new wheelchair over to the jukebox, grabbing some tools.
He paused suddenly and looked back up at Ruby. "Uh, when you said you…"
"Ram." Ruby gave him a look.
"Didn't think so." Ram said as he shook his head and started repairing on the jukebox.
Slade chuckled again.
When he looked up, he noticed Ruby rubbing her temples.
"You OK?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she looked to him, then flushed. "Oh yeah. I just…didn't get that much sleep last night."
And I know why, Slade thought.
"The dream?" he asked, but he knew the answer. He just had to make sure.
It had been a month since Slade had brought Ram to Ruby's Saloon in the town Liberty, and brought the ex-Techno leader back to health. At first, neither Ram or Slade could get along with each other. They even had a fight that made Ruby nearly kick them out for good. But they had settled their differences and all three became friends, working at the Saloon.
But in the past time Slade had known Ruby, she had been having a strange dream for the last couple of days.
Women, strong women, dressed up like Zoot, invading the city with some strange new weapon. And leading them was none other that the thought-to-have-been-dead warrior prophet, or warrior tyrant, Zoot. In her dream as well was a dark figure riding a beast-like horse with a long sword in hand. Then she would see a sign saying "Pandorax" and then hear a hideous laugh, and the dream would end.
She had told him the dream before. And today, unlike the other days where they all just shrugged it off, it seemed today would be an exception.
"Jeez! A fine piece of work, and it looks like you don't even clean it!" Ram huffed from the side as he repaired the jukebox. "You probably never even bothered taking care of this, you…virts!"
This time, Slade didn't hold in his laughter as Ruby rolled her eyes.
"He really has to get over that word." Ruby sighed.
Jay and Pride returned from their searching of Ebony and Java.
"Anything?" Trudy asked.
Jay just walked pass her and into his and Ebony's room. Or at least, his room now.
Trudy watched him head into the room with a sympathetic expression. She could relate to him.
At one point, she still had loved Bray. Not as much as before, but he was a part of her no matter what.
Bray was gone, probably for good this time but Amber had a feeling that wasn't true.
And then Hawk had come, and had gone. Returned with the Gaians back home. There was only a small attraction there. Nothing more or less.
But Jay was suffering the worst. He had already lost a friend who became sick and twisted, he lost his first love, his brother, and now he might have lost the most precious part of him.
"I'll go talk to him." Trudy told Pride. Pride nodded, and watched her head in his room and sit with him on the edge of his bed, putting a comforting arm around his shoulders. And soon, Jay let out all the anguish and pain through tears as Trudy held him in her arms.
Amber had come up beside Pride, watching the scene. A little jealous though, but more caring than anything else.
"Still no sign of Ebony." It was a statement.
"I feel sorry for him." Pride looked to Amber. "I thought once we beat the Technos, everything would become right again. Yes, it would take time. But peace could be restored. But now," Pride looked back into Jay's room where Trudy continued to comfort him, "It's like the Technos were a sign, a bad omen of something to come."
"I feel it too." Amber told him.
Pride fell silent for a moment.
It was a troubling silence.
"There's something else." Pride admitted. "Lex and Patch have been snooping around for clues. They've been bumping in to kids all over the city who claim they have seen Zoot during the rebellion."
Amber's eyes went wide in horror. "Z-Zoot? But, he's…he's dead. I saw it with my own eyes that night!"
"I hope it's true. I just hope that the Paradise Ram created is just affecting their minds." Pride let out a heavy sigh.
"…No." Amber suddenly whispered. "Ebony started acting strange right after we won the battle. She kept saying something about a prophecy and…" Amber looked up in realization, "Trudy told me that Ebony saw Zoot, and that he was talking to her."
"Some of the kids said the same thing." came Lex as he and Patch walked up the stairs to the café.
Both their looks were full of distress.
"What's wrong?" Amber asked.
Lex and Patch looked at each other, then back at Amber and Pride. "It's Jack. He's downstairs…"
"Is he OK?!" Amber asked.
"No. He's pretty shaken up. He claims that…Zoot attacked him."
Amber and Pride shared a look, then hurried downstairs with Lex and Patch to find their friend.
"It's so strange, isn't it Java? That you and your sisters served me not too long ago."
Java's eyes became as wide as they could be, clouded by fear.
She felt like she was that little girl again. Weak, scared, crying all the time.
And for that moment, she was that little girl again.
She was that little girl, because she saw him seated at a hand-made thrown.
"N-no. You're dead." she cried.
"As I told your sister, Java. Anything is possible."
With a wicked chuckle, Zoot stood up from his thrown and up at Java. He held his hand out.
She only could coward away.
"You've become weak. Just like Siva. I brought you here for a purpose. To regain your strength, your fire as a warrior. A warrior who lives by…power and chaos."
His hand was still out to her.
Reluctantly, she took his hand. He brought her up to her feet.
"Look at you," he cooed, "So beautiful."
He started circling her slowly, while all she could do was look up and tremble.
"Yet, so fragile. Not the Java I trained so well like your sisters. Especially Ebony."
No words could come out from her lips, only small whimpers.
"But I'm going to change all that. I'm going to turn you into a warrior, greater than you were before. Greater than any here!"
Zoot waved his hand, and Java realized that she and Zoot were not alone in the room.
Circling them were women, all women, dressed up like Zoot.
The only one not dressed up like him was standing right in front of her. A girl who nearly mirrored her features.
"I need a queen, and I need a lieutenant. One of you," he motioned to Java and Ebony, "Will be my queen, and one of you will be my lieutenant."
He brought his face close to her cheek. "Remember the pain she caused you and your family. Bring out the anger towards your sister. Unleash the fires of hell and show that you are worthy to be my queen. To be…my woman."
Two Zoot-dressed girls came into the center of the circle, handing both Ebony and Java staffs.
At that moment, all the pain and suffering she could muster had changed her feelings quickly.
There were no feelings, no emotions. There was only revenge.
Both wanted it.
At that moment, Java and Ebony became the warriors they were known to be by Zoot a long time ago.
"And do hurry. We have much to discuss."
Zoot ran his fingers along the folder that was labeled "Ragnarok."
"And I mean, A LOT to discuss."