Rebel Love
Chapter 16-Expectational Dreams
"Alena, what do you suppose had Sarah riled up these past few weeks?" asked the ever-curious Vega.
Leena lifted herself up from the lush green grass beneath her. She was thankful for the greenhouse that accommodated the compound. The architect that designed it had even gone as far as making a solar generated waterfall within the confined glass walls. There were so many plants that one could easily think the greenhouse were a botanic menagerie. Leena peered at Vega.
"I really don't know, Veg. That night when she confronted me, her eyes were so pleading. If I weren't mistaken, I'd say she would have begged if I hadn't forgiven her right on the spot."
Vega mocked Leena's former actions. He sat up and looked at her. "I don't know what got into her. She has never snapped at me like that. I just don't see why she would hound you like she did."
Leena nodded. "I see your point. Sarah said she has been under a great deal of pressure. I just don't think that's all it was about."
"Personally, I'm glad she got over it," remarked Vega.
"Me too, Veg. Me too."
Both friends stood up and left the small paradise. It was good for their puzzled minds. When both of the pilots first met, their lives started a roller coaster ride. So far, everything had been up hill. The slow ascent was treacherous at times, but somewhere buried in their thinking brains slept the dormant subconscious knowing that everything would start downhill one day. That day would be long to come, but it definitely wasn't out of reach.
-~*~-
Sarah felt content with herself. After apologizing to her newest recruit, she had slept all her cares away. She felt good about herself again, the first in weeks.
She sipped her herbal tea and looked at the noon sky. There were clouds of all varieties floating by painfully slow. Something big was coming around and Sarah had a feeling she wasn't going to like it but had to accept it no matter what.
Sarah set her cup down as the two teens walked in. She glanced at her watch. It was past lunchtime already. The day had slipped by without her knowing. It was just one of those days.
"Hi, Sarah," chided the teens in unison.
Sarah smiled. "Hello, Alena. Vega."
Sarah motioned them to take a seat. They obeyed her gesture and seated themselves across from her. Sarah looked from Vega to Leena and smiled again. How she envied their free spirits!
Leena was the first to speak. "Sarah? The other night when you said you were under a lot of pressure, what kind of pressure were you talking about?"
Sarah raised her eyebrows and was stunned for a moment, but after the natural shock had ceased, a small smile spread upon her lips. "Well, we're one of the few teams within the Backdraft Group who were selected and chosen carefully to compete against the other teams in the Royal Cup that will take place in three years from now."
Leena nodded. "So, you're all worked up about the Tournament?"
Sarah shook her head. "I know three years seems like a long time, but it takes years to perfect a pilot's capabilities while handling a Zoid. I'm not sure you are ready, or will be ready."
Leena wanted to burst out, but she held her tongue. Instead, Vega spoke up. "Sarah, I don't think you should doubt, Alena. You have seen the way she handles the Saix Ultima practically like a pro. I think she'll be ready."
"You sure about that, Veg?" asked an almost speechless Leena.
"Trust me."
Leena looked to Sarah. "I guess we trust him, Alena."
Leena sunk in her chair. Over the course of the next three years, every Zoid battle fought would be training simulations set in real time and with regulated rules. She would do her very best. She was no longer Alena, the teen warrior. She was Alena, the Saix pilot. She wouldn't curve any expectations. Leena slid up into her seat. She felt more confident and it showed.
Sarah smiled at Leena. "You'll do fine, my dear."
Leena returned the smile. "Let's hope so."
Vega put his hand on Leena's shoulder. "I know you'll work great wonders. Now let's eat. I'm starving."
Leena knuckled Vega and all three of them were sent into a fit of hysterics. Today a new Saix pilot was born to win the battles of tomorrow.
-~*~-
"Liger! No! Leena!"
Bit grabbed the covers in his sleep. His knuckles were bone white. He tossed and turned furiously as his nightmare overwhelmed his thoughts. Bit shot up and gasped for air. Once he caught his breath, it was like he couldn't get enough.
Bit shook uncontrollably as his mind did a complete recap of his horrid dream. He was piloting his Liger and the control system had frozen. Leena was just ahead of him in her Sniper. Liger took on a mind of his own as he hurdled toward the unsuspecting Zoid. Leena didn't have time to react. The Liger slammed into her Sniper head on. She was forced to stumble backwards and was horror stricken as she plummeted off the steep cliff. Bit had called out to her and hadn't received any reply. Her com connection had been lost. Bit watched sadly and helplessly as the blue Sniper, with Leena in its carry hold, hit the ground. There was an explosion so great it put a raging volcano to shame. Bit was confused. Why had Liger done that? Why didn't he force his Liger to listen to him? Why did he feel no remorse? That question haunted him. He didn't try to do anything and he felt nothing at the time.
Bit looked at his alarm clock. The green neon numbers read 5:53am. He groaned and got up. That wasn't the way he expected to start off his day.
-~*~-
Brad left the bathroom to see Bit waiting. He didn't bother to ask why Bit had such a troubled expression on his face. He'd ask later.
"I hope you don't plan on taking a shower right away. If you do, it'll be a cold one," Brad mentioned trying to strike a conversation.
"Huh? Oh, g'morning, Brad." Bit waited for Brad to move and then entered the bathroom. He shut the door just as Brad turned around to demand an answer as to why he was acting that way. To hell with waiting to find out! Brad stood there dumbfounded. He fought the urge to knock. He left more curious than ever.
Bit leaned against the bathroom door and carelessly slid down it. The sudden realization that it was his fault that Leena left and that she may even be dead hit like he had just jumped into a freezing sea. He just sat there staring at the tiled wall. Never did anything hurt so much than the loss of his Leena. That's right, his Leena. Bit stood up and left the bathroom. His dream had hit him with another reality too. It showed him that there was something he could do, to keep on loving Leena every single ticking second of every single day. That thought remained firm in Bit's mind as he left for the hangar.
-~*~-
Brad looked up as Bit entered the Zoid hangar. He didn't hesitate to ask, "Bit, what was with you this morning?"
Bit lifted his head up. "Just a dream."
"Oh, well I guess that explains the freaky behavior," exclaimed Brad.
"Hey, Brad? Do you believe dreams are a mirror of our souls?"
Brad nodded. "Yeah, I do. I think dreams hold meanings, special meanings."
"Even bad ones?"
Brad quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose. Why do you ask?"
Bit shrugged. "Just curious."
Brad looked dismayed and hung his head in defeat. "Whatever you say, Bit. Whatever you say."
Bit didn't heed Brad's last remark. He was too busy talking to his Liger on a telepathic connection.
"I know buddy. You wouldn't really do that."
Liger let out a soft, but understanding, roar.
Chapter 16-Expectational Dreams
"Alena, what do you suppose had Sarah riled up these past few weeks?" asked the ever-curious Vega.
Leena lifted herself up from the lush green grass beneath her. She was thankful for the greenhouse that accommodated the compound. The architect that designed it had even gone as far as making a solar generated waterfall within the confined glass walls. There were so many plants that one could easily think the greenhouse were a botanic menagerie. Leena peered at Vega.
"I really don't know, Veg. That night when she confronted me, her eyes were so pleading. If I weren't mistaken, I'd say she would have begged if I hadn't forgiven her right on the spot."
Vega mocked Leena's former actions. He sat up and looked at her. "I don't know what got into her. She has never snapped at me like that. I just don't see why she would hound you like she did."
Leena nodded. "I see your point. Sarah said she has been under a great deal of pressure. I just don't think that's all it was about."
"Personally, I'm glad she got over it," remarked Vega.
"Me too, Veg. Me too."
Both friends stood up and left the small paradise. It was good for their puzzled minds. When both of the pilots first met, their lives started a roller coaster ride. So far, everything had been up hill. The slow ascent was treacherous at times, but somewhere buried in their thinking brains slept the dormant subconscious knowing that everything would start downhill one day. That day would be long to come, but it definitely wasn't out of reach.
-~*~-
Sarah felt content with herself. After apologizing to her newest recruit, she had slept all her cares away. She felt good about herself again, the first in weeks.
She sipped her herbal tea and looked at the noon sky. There were clouds of all varieties floating by painfully slow. Something big was coming around and Sarah had a feeling she wasn't going to like it but had to accept it no matter what.
Sarah set her cup down as the two teens walked in. She glanced at her watch. It was past lunchtime already. The day had slipped by without her knowing. It was just one of those days.
"Hi, Sarah," chided the teens in unison.
Sarah smiled. "Hello, Alena. Vega."
Sarah motioned them to take a seat. They obeyed her gesture and seated themselves across from her. Sarah looked from Vega to Leena and smiled again. How she envied their free spirits!
Leena was the first to speak. "Sarah? The other night when you said you were under a lot of pressure, what kind of pressure were you talking about?"
Sarah raised her eyebrows and was stunned for a moment, but after the natural shock had ceased, a small smile spread upon her lips. "Well, we're one of the few teams within the Backdraft Group who were selected and chosen carefully to compete against the other teams in the Royal Cup that will take place in three years from now."
Leena nodded. "So, you're all worked up about the Tournament?"
Sarah shook her head. "I know three years seems like a long time, but it takes years to perfect a pilot's capabilities while handling a Zoid. I'm not sure you are ready, or will be ready."
Leena wanted to burst out, but she held her tongue. Instead, Vega spoke up. "Sarah, I don't think you should doubt, Alena. You have seen the way she handles the Saix Ultima practically like a pro. I think she'll be ready."
"You sure about that, Veg?" asked an almost speechless Leena.
"Trust me."
Leena looked to Sarah. "I guess we trust him, Alena."
Leena sunk in her chair. Over the course of the next three years, every Zoid battle fought would be training simulations set in real time and with regulated rules. She would do her very best. She was no longer Alena, the teen warrior. She was Alena, the Saix pilot. She wouldn't curve any expectations. Leena slid up into her seat. She felt more confident and it showed.
Sarah smiled at Leena. "You'll do fine, my dear."
Leena returned the smile. "Let's hope so."
Vega put his hand on Leena's shoulder. "I know you'll work great wonders. Now let's eat. I'm starving."
Leena knuckled Vega and all three of them were sent into a fit of hysterics. Today a new Saix pilot was born to win the battles of tomorrow.
-~*~-
"Liger! No! Leena!"
Bit grabbed the covers in his sleep. His knuckles were bone white. He tossed and turned furiously as his nightmare overwhelmed his thoughts. Bit shot up and gasped for air. Once he caught his breath, it was like he couldn't get enough.
Bit shook uncontrollably as his mind did a complete recap of his horrid dream. He was piloting his Liger and the control system had frozen. Leena was just ahead of him in her Sniper. Liger took on a mind of his own as he hurdled toward the unsuspecting Zoid. Leena didn't have time to react. The Liger slammed into her Sniper head on. She was forced to stumble backwards and was horror stricken as she plummeted off the steep cliff. Bit had called out to her and hadn't received any reply. Her com connection had been lost. Bit watched sadly and helplessly as the blue Sniper, with Leena in its carry hold, hit the ground. There was an explosion so great it put a raging volcano to shame. Bit was confused. Why had Liger done that? Why didn't he force his Liger to listen to him? Why did he feel no remorse? That question haunted him. He didn't try to do anything and he felt nothing at the time.
Bit looked at his alarm clock. The green neon numbers read 5:53am. He groaned and got up. That wasn't the way he expected to start off his day.
-~*~-
Brad left the bathroom to see Bit waiting. He didn't bother to ask why Bit had such a troubled expression on his face. He'd ask later.
"I hope you don't plan on taking a shower right away. If you do, it'll be a cold one," Brad mentioned trying to strike a conversation.
"Huh? Oh, g'morning, Brad." Bit waited for Brad to move and then entered the bathroom. He shut the door just as Brad turned around to demand an answer as to why he was acting that way. To hell with waiting to find out! Brad stood there dumbfounded. He fought the urge to knock. He left more curious than ever.
Bit leaned against the bathroom door and carelessly slid down it. The sudden realization that it was his fault that Leena left and that she may even be dead hit like he had just jumped into a freezing sea. He just sat there staring at the tiled wall. Never did anything hurt so much than the loss of his Leena. That's right, his Leena. Bit stood up and left the bathroom. His dream had hit him with another reality too. It showed him that there was something he could do, to keep on loving Leena every single ticking second of every single day. That thought remained firm in Bit's mind as he left for the hangar.
-~*~-
Brad looked up as Bit entered the Zoid hangar. He didn't hesitate to ask, "Bit, what was with you this morning?"
Bit lifted his head up. "Just a dream."
"Oh, well I guess that explains the freaky behavior," exclaimed Brad.
"Hey, Brad? Do you believe dreams are a mirror of our souls?"
Brad nodded. "Yeah, I do. I think dreams hold meanings, special meanings."
"Even bad ones?"
Brad quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose. Why do you ask?"
Bit shrugged. "Just curious."
Brad looked dismayed and hung his head in defeat. "Whatever you say, Bit. Whatever you say."
Bit didn't heed Brad's last remark. He was too busy talking to his Liger on a telepathic connection.
"I know buddy. You wouldn't really do that."
Liger let out a soft, but understanding, roar.