Rebel Love
Chapter 7-A Girl and Her Zoid
By Kitten Starr
Leena was excited. She had hardly slept a wink that night. Today she was going to be introduced to her new Zoid, the first of its kind. Sarah had told her it wasn't officially set because they'd have to see if she could handle the Zoid's unique capabilities. Leena doubted any setbacks. She knew she could handle it. Intuition maybe?
Leena showered and dressed quickly. She pulled her hair in a ponytail and left her room for breakfast. She'd be eating alone this morning due to the commissioning of her Zoid's final adjustments that Sarah and Vega were occupied with. She had a full meal of scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, and jellied toast topped off with a glass of orange juice. You couldn't train on an empty stomach.
She was ready to meet her mysterious Zoid. She had gone far too long without piloting those addictive vessels. Her hands were itching to get a hold on the controls. She felt like a fish out of water, only she was a girl out of a Zoid. She hummed while she half-walked half-ran out of the dining room. Her heart raced as her mind pictured images of all the different Zoids it could be. Every Zoid she thought about brought a rush of anticipation she couldn't hold back. She was ready to live on the edge and she had a feeling this new Zoid was going to get her there. This new life of hers was going to the next level.
She walked across the lot past the rows of Zoids to the building Sarah had described to her. She climbed the steps and finally reached the double- glassed doors. Without any hesitation, Leena entered through the automatic doors. Just beyond the small hallway that led to the lobby of the building stood Vega; he was waiting for her. There was a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Hi, Veg!" greeted Leena.
With a cheerful good morning, Vega took Leena by the hand and began to pull her towards the back of the building. Anticipation had gotten the best of him too, though for a different reason. He led her through several corridors until they finally reached another electronic door. Vega punched in the code and continued to pull her through them as they opened. Leena thought he was going to pull her arm off. However, she remained silent as a smile plastered itself right on her face. The moment had finally come! She'd be encountering her Zoid.
You could read the disappointment written on her face when Sarah told her there was one thing she had to do before seeing her Zoid.
"I don't need to do anything to pilot the Zoid," protested Leena.
Sarah smiled and just nodded understanding. "Just follow me."
Leena was about to let out another sigh of protest but decided to follow Sarah. Sarah had brought her onto the team without any previous recognition of her skills. Who was she to argue? Sarah led her to a room. From observation, Leena could see that the room was simple enough. It had a few pictures on the wall that showed Sarah and Vega in various places. Leena couldn't help but see how happy both looked when they were together, the true mother-son relationship. Too bad Sarah was only his guardian. Leena figured this might be her office. It looked like one.
Almost as if Sarah had read her thoughts, "This is my office. I know it looks small, but it's enough to get the job done." She walked over behind her desk where she held something black up.
Leena was curious. "What is that?"
Sarah looked at her while bringing a black helmet up as well. "This is your battle uniform. I hope you like it."
Leena was thrilled. "Thank you!" She hugged Sarah and took the sleek catsuit and helmet out of the woman's hands.
"Where can I put this on?"
Sarah smiled. "You can put it on in here. I'll wait outside for you."
"Okay."
Sarah walked out of the room and closed the door.
Leena speedily undressed and slid into her uniform. She admired the embroidered lettering on the front of it. It read "Alena." She had also noticed the name of her team on the back. She belonged to something again, that is if she had ever belonged to anything. She slid the helmet on and exited the room.
Leena spun around. "How do I look?"
Sarah laughed. "Like you belong in a Zoid."
Smiling, "That's what I feel like. It's been way too long!"
The women went back out to see Vega waiting. "You look nice, Alena."
"Thanks, Veg."
Sarah led both of them through another automatic door. Leena and Vega followed her through. That's when she saw it. Leena couldn't believe her eyes. What stood before her was a Zoid she had never seen the likes of. Sure, she had seen a Lightning Saix before, but never one of this kind. Vega read the look on her face and his grin broadened.
"It's the Lightning Saix Ultima. Its speed is double the rate of your normal Zoid. This one's ranging around Mach 5. It's maneuvering is more rounded and controlled. It's not your average Zoid."
Leena nodded in agreement. It definitely wasn't your average Zoid. Not any she had seen before. She was awed by the appearance of the cheetah- like Zoid. It was fantastic! From where she stood, she could tell it had the usual twin laser canons you found on a Lightning Saix. She also noticed the silver alloy claws on the beast. Her judgment told her those claws would be able to slice through anything.
Sarah could see the delight playing on the features of Leena's face. "Several have tried to pilot this Zoid, including Vega. No one can seem to bring out its full potential. I think you might be the pilot who can do it. You have a love for Zoids that surpasses the rest of us. Ready to give it a test run?"
Leena was more than obliged. "Heck yeah!"
She scrambled up the side of the Zoid and into the cockpit. It felt so good to be back! Leena ran her fingers along the controls. She had definitely made a new friend. She pulled down the visor on her helmet and buckled herself in. This was going to be fun!
-~*~-
Doc sat gloomily in the living room of the Hover Cargo. He missed Leena and worried why she hadn't been in touch with them. He looked down at his Zoid models. He had lost interest in them today and didn't feel like playing with them. He wished there was some way he could get in touch with Leon. Maybe he had heard from his sister.
-~*~-
Jamie wasn't really worried about Leena; he just missed her. With her around there was never a dull moment. At least there wasn't a lack of entertainment. She was always after Bit for something. Stealing her cookies, walking in on her bath time, or saying something really stupid. Now he wished she was here. He'd happily give her a mallet and let her pound Bit's head. He laughed at that thought.
-~*~-
Bit worked on his Zoid lazily. It had been one week since they had battled anyone. They had won, but battling wasn't any fun without Leena's explosive actions. They had even won them a few Zoid battles. Where was his trigger-happy redhead?
"What do you think, Liger? You think she'll come back and give me a chance?"
Liger let out a roar of approval.
"Thanks buddy."
-~*~-
Brad was at a bar by himself. He was supposed to be meeting Naomi for a drink. He felt sorry for the blonde ditz. He could truly see that Bit cared deeply for Leena. He wished she would return. Somehow, he knew she would one day. They had survived this long without her, he was just wondering how long they would last. Everyone had seemed to lose their oomph of battling. They desperately needed Leena!
Brad saw Naomi enter the bar and waved a hand to get her attention. Once she to him, he motioned for her to take a seat next to him on a barstool.
"What's up, Brad?" asked Naomi.
"There still isn't any sign of Leena around. She's been out of touch for so many weeks now that I've lost count," Brad explained.
"I haven't heard anything either. She's probably fine though. She's young and almost certainly needs to find her freedom."
"I just hope you're right."
Chapter 7-A Girl and Her Zoid
By Kitten Starr
Leena was excited. She had hardly slept a wink that night. Today she was going to be introduced to her new Zoid, the first of its kind. Sarah had told her it wasn't officially set because they'd have to see if she could handle the Zoid's unique capabilities. Leena doubted any setbacks. She knew she could handle it. Intuition maybe?
Leena showered and dressed quickly. She pulled her hair in a ponytail and left her room for breakfast. She'd be eating alone this morning due to the commissioning of her Zoid's final adjustments that Sarah and Vega were occupied with. She had a full meal of scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, and jellied toast topped off with a glass of orange juice. You couldn't train on an empty stomach.
She was ready to meet her mysterious Zoid. She had gone far too long without piloting those addictive vessels. Her hands were itching to get a hold on the controls. She felt like a fish out of water, only she was a girl out of a Zoid. She hummed while she half-walked half-ran out of the dining room. Her heart raced as her mind pictured images of all the different Zoids it could be. Every Zoid she thought about brought a rush of anticipation she couldn't hold back. She was ready to live on the edge and she had a feeling this new Zoid was going to get her there. This new life of hers was going to the next level.
She walked across the lot past the rows of Zoids to the building Sarah had described to her. She climbed the steps and finally reached the double- glassed doors. Without any hesitation, Leena entered through the automatic doors. Just beyond the small hallway that led to the lobby of the building stood Vega; he was waiting for her. There was a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Hi, Veg!" greeted Leena.
With a cheerful good morning, Vega took Leena by the hand and began to pull her towards the back of the building. Anticipation had gotten the best of him too, though for a different reason. He led her through several corridors until they finally reached another electronic door. Vega punched in the code and continued to pull her through them as they opened. Leena thought he was going to pull her arm off. However, she remained silent as a smile plastered itself right on her face. The moment had finally come! She'd be encountering her Zoid.
You could read the disappointment written on her face when Sarah told her there was one thing she had to do before seeing her Zoid.
"I don't need to do anything to pilot the Zoid," protested Leena.
Sarah smiled and just nodded understanding. "Just follow me."
Leena was about to let out another sigh of protest but decided to follow Sarah. Sarah had brought her onto the team without any previous recognition of her skills. Who was she to argue? Sarah led her to a room. From observation, Leena could see that the room was simple enough. It had a few pictures on the wall that showed Sarah and Vega in various places. Leena couldn't help but see how happy both looked when they were together, the true mother-son relationship. Too bad Sarah was only his guardian. Leena figured this might be her office. It looked like one.
Almost as if Sarah had read her thoughts, "This is my office. I know it looks small, but it's enough to get the job done." She walked over behind her desk where she held something black up.
Leena was curious. "What is that?"
Sarah looked at her while bringing a black helmet up as well. "This is your battle uniform. I hope you like it."
Leena was thrilled. "Thank you!" She hugged Sarah and took the sleek catsuit and helmet out of the woman's hands.
"Where can I put this on?"
Sarah smiled. "You can put it on in here. I'll wait outside for you."
"Okay."
Sarah walked out of the room and closed the door.
Leena speedily undressed and slid into her uniform. She admired the embroidered lettering on the front of it. It read "Alena." She had also noticed the name of her team on the back. She belonged to something again, that is if she had ever belonged to anything. She slid the helmet on and exited the room.
Leena spun around. "How do I look?"
Sarah laughed. "Like you belong in a Zoid."
Smiling, "That's what I feel like. It's been way too long!"
The women went back out to see Vega waiting. "You look nice, Alena."
"Thanks, Veg."
Sarah led both of them through another automatic door. Leena and Vega followed her through. That's when she saw it. Leena couldn't believe her eyes. What stood before her was a Zoid she had never seen the likes of. Sure, she had seen a Lightning Saix before, but never one of this kind. Vega read the look on her face and his grin broadened.
"It's the Lightning Saix Ultima. Its speed is double the rate of your normal Zoid. This one's ranging around Mach 5. It's maneuvering is more rounded and controlled. It's not your average Zoid."
Leena nodded in agreement. It definitely wasn't your average Zoid. Not any she had seen before. She was awed by the appearance of the cheetah- like Zoid. It was fantastic! From where she stood, she could tell it had the usual twin laser canons you found on a Lightning Saix. She also noticed the silver alloy claws on the beast. Her judgment told her those claws would be able to slice through anything.
Sarah could see the delight playing on the features of Leena's face. "Several have tried to pilot this Zoid, including Vega. No one can seem to bring out its full potential. I think you might be the pilot who can do it. You have a love for Zoids that surpasses the rest of us. Ready to give it a test run?"
Leena was more than obliged. "Heck yeah!"
She scrambled up the side of the Zoid and into the cockpit. It felt so good to be back! Leena ran her fingers along the controls. She had definitely made a new friend. She pulled down the visor on her helmet and buckled herself in. This was going to be fun!
-~*~-
Doc sat gloomily in the living room of the Hover Cargo. He missed Leena and worried why she hadn't been in touch with them. He looked down at his Zoid models. He had lost interest in them today and didn't feel like playing with them. He wished there was some way he could get in touch with Leon. Maybe he had heard from his sister.
-~*~-
Jamie wasn't really worried about Leena; he just missed her. With her around there was never a dull moment. At least there wasn't a lack of entertainment. She was always after Bit for something. Stealing her cookies, walking in on her bath time, or saying something really stupid. Now he wished she was here. He'd happily give her a mallet and let her pound Bit's head. He laughed at that thought.
-~*~-
Bit worked on his Zoid lazily. It had been one week since they had battled anyone. They had won, but battling wasn't any fun without Leena's explosive actions. They had even won them a few Zoid battles. Where was his trigger-happy redhead?
"What do you think, Liger? You think she'll come back and give me a chance?"
Liger let out a roar of approval.
"Thanks buddy."
-~*~-
Brad was at a bar by himself. He was supposed to be meeting Naomi for a drink. He felt sorry for the blonde ditz. He could truly see that Bit cared deeply for Leena. He wished she would return. Somehow, he knew she would one day. They had survived this long without her, he was just wondering how long they would last. Everyone had seemed to lose their oomph of battling. They desperately needed Leena!
Brad saw Naomi enter the bar and waved a hand to get her attention. Once she to him, he motioned for her to take a seat next to him on a barstool.
"What's up, Brad?" asked Naomi.
"There still isn't any sign of Leena around. She's been out of touch for so many weeks now that I've lost count," Brad explained.
"I haven't heard anything either. She's probably fine though. She's young and almost certainly needs to find her freedom."
"I just hope you're right."