Rebel Love
Chapter 17-Annual Remembrance
By Kitten Starr
Leena had been with the Backdraft Group for one year now. Her training over the past twelve months had increased dramatically. She had earned an honest rank with the Group, which stood one below that of Sarah's. She had earned much respect from the members belonging to the Backdraft Group. She had fought countless Zoid battles and was known for her winning streak. Leena and Vega were a team to be reckoned with. No one questioned their battle capabilities.
Though Leena had been with the Backdraft Group for only a year, it seemed more like five. She may have shimmied her way up the rank ladder, but not much had changed emotionally for Leena. She still had the same nightmare, but she was learning to cope with it. She had often talked to Vega about it every time she might've had second thoughts.
Her Veg was always there for her when she needed comfort. Even so, after she considered her friends, her awesome Zoid, and her earnest ranking, she still felt alone. She felt as though someone, possibly herself, had dug a grave and had tossed her in. What more could a seventeen-year-old be lacking? Sarah and Vega loved her. Her Saix adored her under his ferocity. Where was the other kind of love?
She had thought long and hard about her next decision. She would go to the nearest city and have a girl's only shopping spree to get her mind off things, to loosen up some. Leena gathered a pair of denim Capri and a red halter-top that tied around the neck. White strapless sandals finished the ensemble. She gathered her pouch, slung it over her neck, and fixed it on her shoulder. Just as she reached the door to leave, Leena caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Something was missing.
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed the redhead. Leena went over to her nightstand and pulled a bottle of clear gloss out. She opened it and put a thin layer on. She tossed the gloss in her pouch while she smacked her lips together. She took one final glance in the mirror and left.
Leena had to make one pitstop before she left. She walked out of the inhabitants building and to the hangar. She wasn't going to check her Zoid like she so often did either. She was going to get the key to the Hover- Cyc 2550.
She walked jauntily through the halls until she reached Sarah's office. She knocked and then let herself in to find Sarah in deep disagreements with the stack of documents accompanying her already cluttered desk. Sarah looked up only to meet Leena with a meek smile.
Leena grinned and walked over to the desk. "Sarah, may I have the keys to the Hover-Cyc?"
Sarah left her work long enough to open the desk drawer and fish for the keys. She took them in her hand and gave them to Leena. "Where are you going?"
Leena shrugged. "I'm going to the city to do some major shopping."
"That's nice. Have fun, Alena."
Leena smiled. "You know I will!" She scurried down the hall and entered the hangar where the metallic blue hover cycle sat. Leena loved the freedom it gave her when she needed time alone. It was a beautiful piece of machinery and had a place in her heart close to her Saix. It was fast too!
Leena hopped on the cycle and inserted the key in the ignition. She cranked it and revved the engine. It was music to her ears. She pressed the gas on the solar vehicle and felt her stomach get butterflies as she began to float on the invisible air current the boosters repelled. With one last rev of the engine, Leena was clean out of sight.
-~*~-
Bit walked into the kitchen with a lopsided grin on his face. He went to the refrigerator and took out the carton of orange juice. He opened it and guzzled the morning citrus treat. He had been in brighter spirits over the last few months. It seemed that he coped with the idea that Leena wasn't coming back anytime soon.
Brad looked up from the latest Zoid magazine. "Bit, you know other people do like orange juice that hasn't been slobbered in."
Bit turned the carton upside down. "It wouldn't matter anyways. It's all gone."
Brad continued reading his magazine. Unlike the others, Brad had noticed Bit's usual self slowly creeping back. It was good to know, but he didn't want Bit to lose hope in Leena either. He knew how much someone could mean so much. He was sure Leena meant a lot to Bit even if he didn't show it at times. "Then you should go get more."
Bit mumbled under his breath. "Okay, okay. I'm going."
Jamie chose that moment to walk in. He looked at Bit. "You're going where?"
Bit grinned at the now fifteen-year-old. "Just to the market to get more orange juice."
Jamie grinned back and walked over to the fridge where he plucked off a long list of items. "Good. You can do this month's grocery shopping."
Bit's grin faded as he glared at Brad. He took the offered list and left the kitchen mumbling something about chore abuse.
Jamie sat down across from Brad. "What's with him?"
Brad didn't even bother to peer over his magazine. "Just his usual self."
Jamie's expression softened. "Oh."
-~*~-
Leena parked her cycle and shoved her keys into her pouch. The streets were bustling with people. She hadn't been to the city in weeks. She missed it a lot. Leena examined the stores closest to her and decided to go into Starks Jewelers.
She hustled her way through the crowd and reached the entrance door. She opened it and exceeded in. It was surprisingly quiet compared to the noise outside. Leena walked over to the display furthest from the door. The small aquamarine earrings she saw were eerily familiar. They were the perfect shade of blue that matched that of the sky. The diamond cut jewels were in a cute heart shape. She had to have them.
She walked over to the service counter where the owner stood. Leena read his nametag. "Mr. Starks? I would like to purchase those heart cut earrings over there." She pointed to the counter.
Mr. Starks smiled. "Lovely choice, my dear."
Leena smiled back. "They are beautiful." She followed the old man as he went over to the counter where her beloved jewels were. Mr. Starks took the key out of his pocket and opened the glass confinement. He gingerly picked up the desired earrings and handed them to their owner. Leena fished out her wallet and gave the man the exact amount he was asking for them.
Leena put the earrings on and admired them in the mirror that was on the counter. She smiled. "Thank you."
Mr. Starks smiled again. "No, thank you."
She put her wallet back in her pouch and left the jewelry store. Where would she go next? That's when she spotted the ice cream parlor just down the block. She'd have herself a treat.
-~*~-
Bit had parked the Jeep and was roaming around town not yet looking forward to another round of the burdened grocery shopping. He decided to have himself an icy cold treat before he did the ever dreaded. He finally entered the doors of The Ice Cream Parlor and grinned as he saw the menu mounted on the wall. A double chocolate banana split with wet nuts sounded tempting.
He placed his order and waited until his number was called. He happily took his banana split and took a seat next to the window. He watched the people bustle about their daily shopping and marketing chores as he ate. He was too busy in his disgusted thoughts about his present ordeal of shopping to notice the redhead that walked in.
-~*~-
Leena walked into the parlor and had in mind what she wanted exactly. She smiled at the girl working behind the counter. "I'll have a German fudge peppermint parfait."
"That'll be $1.75, ma'am."
Leena rambled in her pouch and handed the girl a dollar and three quarters. She took her ice cream and took a seat on the bar stool that stood in front of the windows. She ate her ice cream in small nibbles as she contemplated where she would go next. The city was so big and she didn't have enough time visit every single shop.
She decided that she'd head for the nearest mall. Malls were always the best place to shop when you didn't know what you were shopping for. Not to mention they came equipped with restaurants if you got hungry. She finished her last bite of her treat and got up to leave. She passed by the table that the blonde boy occupied. If she weren't in such a hurry, she would have noticed its unusual spikiness.
-~*~-
Bit was still eating his half melted split when he noticed a head of blazing read hair out the window. He dropped his spoon and jumped up. It couldn't be? Could it? He only knew of one girl that had red hair like that. It was Leena.
Bit rushed out of the ice cream parlor and into the street. "Leena! Leena! It's me, Bit!"
He called out to her desperately, but the redheaded girl kept on walking without a care in the world. Bit tried to push through the crowd, but every time he thought he had made it, more seepage of mobs would block his view.
Bit hung his head in defeat. He then remembered that today was the exact day of Leena's disappearance over a year ago. He drug himself to the grocery and completed his shopping. He knew in his heart that the girl was Leena. Why didn't she answer him? Maybe she couldn't hear his screams to her.
A new spark of hope seared Bit's soul as he drove home to the Hover Cargo. He wouldn't tell anyone about this. At least not yet. He new Leena was alive and well and that was what mattered right now. All that was left was to keep on hoping that someday soon she would walk into his awaiting embrace.
Chapter 17-Annual Remembrance
By Kitten Starr
Leena had been with the Backdraft Group for one year now. Her training over the past twelve months had increased dramatically. She had earned an honest rank with the Group, which stood one below that of Sarah's. She had earned much respect from the members belonging to the Backdraft Group. She had fought countless Zoid battles and was known for her winning streak. Leena and Vega were a team to be reckoned with. No one questioned their battle capabilities.
Though Leena had been with the Backdraft Group for only a year, it seemed more like five. She may have shimmied her way up the rank ladder, but not much had changed emotionally for Leena. She still had the same nightmare, but she was learning to cope with it. She had often talked to Vega about it every time she might've had second thoughts.
Her Veg was always there for her when she needed comfort. Even so, after she considered her friends, her awesome Zoid, and her earnest ranking, she still felt alone. She felt as though someone, possibly herself, had dug a grave and had tossed her in. What more could a seventeen-year-old be lacking? Sarah and Vega loved her. Her Saix adored her under his ferocity. Where was the other kind of love?
She had thought long and hard about her next decision. She would go to the nearest city and have a girl's only shopping spree to get her mind off things, to loosen up some. Leena gathered a pair of denim Capri and a red halter-top that tied around the neck. White strapless sandals finished the ensemble. She gathered her pouch, slung it over her neck, and fixed it on her shoulder. Just as she reached the door to leave, Leena caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Something was missing.
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed the redhead. Leena went over to her nightstand and pulled a bottle of clear gloss out. She opened it and put a thin layer on. She tossed the gloss in her pouch while she smacked her lips together. She took one final glance in the mirror and left.
Leena had to make one pitstop before she left. She walked out of the inhabitants building and to the hangar. She wasn't going to check her Zoid like she so often did either. She was going to get the key to the Hover- Cyc 2550.
She walked jauntily through the halls until she reached Sarah's office. She knocked and then let herself in to find Sarah in deep disagreements with the stack of documents accompanying her already cluttered desk. Sarah looked up only to meet Leena with a meek smile.
Leena grinned and walked over to the desk. "Sarah, may I have the keys to the Hover-Cyc?"
Sarah left her work long enough to open the desk drawer and fish for the keys. She took them in her hand and gave them to Leena. "Where are you going?"
Leena shrugged. "I'm going to the city to do some major shopping."
"That's nice. Have fun, Alena."
Leena smiled. "You know I will!" She scurried down the hall and entered the hangar where the metallic blue hover cycle sat. Leena loved the freedom it gave her when she needed time alone. It was a beautiful piece of machinery and had a place in her heart close to her Saix. It was fast too!
Leena hopped on the cycle and inserted the key in the ignition. She cranked it and revved the engine. It was music to her ears. She pressed the gas on the solar vehicle and felt her stomach get butterflies as she began to float on the invisible air current the boosters repelled. With one last rev of the engine, Leena was clean out of sight.
-~*~-
Bit walked into the kitchen with a lopsided grin on his face. He went to the refrigerator and took out the carton of orange juice. He opened it and guzzled the morning citrus treat. He had been in brighter spirits over the last few months. It seemed that he coped with the idea that Leena wasn't coming back anytime soon.
Brad looked up from the latest Zoid magazine. "Bit, you know other people do like orange juice that hasn't been slobbered in."
Bit turned the carton upside down. "It wouldn't matter anyways. It's all gone."
Brad continued reading his magazine. Unlike the others, Brad had noticed Bit's usual self slowly creeping back. It was good to know, but he didn't want Bit to lose hope in Leena either. He knew how much someone could mean so much. He was sure Leena meant a lot to Bit even if he didn't show it at times. "Then you should go get more."
Bit mumbled under his breath. "Okay, okay. I'm going."
Jamie chose that moment to walk in. He looked at Bit. "You're going where?"
Bit grinned at the now fifteen-year-old. "Just to the market to get more orange juice."
Jamie grinned back and walked over to the fridge where he plucked off a long list of items. "Good. You can do this month's grocery shopping."
Bit's grin faded as he glared at Brad. He took the offered list and left the kitchen mumbling something about chore abuse.
Jamie sat down across from Brad. "What's with him?"
Brad didn't even bother to peer over his magazine. "Just his usual self."
Jamie's expression softened. "Oh."
-~*~-
Leena parked her cycle and shoved her keys into her pouch. The streets were bustling with people. She hadn't been to the city in weeks. She missed it a lot. Leena examined the stores closest to her and decided to go into Starks Jewelers.
She hustled her way through the crowd and reached the entrance door. She opened it and exceeded in. It was surprisingly quiet compared to the noise outside. Leena walked over to the display furthest from the door. The small aquamarine earrings she saw were eerily familiar. They were the perfect shade of blue that matched that of the sky. The diamond cut jewels were in a cute heart shape. She had to have them.
She walked over to the service counter where the owner stood. Leena read his nametag. "Mr. Starks? I would like to purchase those heart cut earrings over there." She pointed to the counter.
Mr. Starks smiled. "Lovely choice, my dear."
Leena smiled back. "They are beautiful." She followed the old man as he went over to the counter where her beloved jewels were. Mr. Starks took the key out of his pocket and opened the glass confinement. He gingerly picked up the desired earrings and handed them to their owner. Leena fished out her wallet and gave the man the exact amount he was asking for them.
Leena put the earrings on and admired them in the mirror that was on the counter. She smiled. "Thank you."
Mr. Starks smiled again. "No, thank you."
She put her wallet back in her pouch and left the jewelry store. Where would she go next? That's when she spotted the ice cream parlor just down the block. She'd have herself a treat.
-~*~-
Bit had parked the Jeep and was roaming around town not yet looking forward to another round of the burdened grocery shopping. He decided to have himself an icy cold treat before he did the ever dreaded. He finally entered the doors of The Ice Cream Parlor and grinned as he saw the menu mounted on the wall. A double chocolate banana split with wet nuts sounded tempting.
He placed his order and waited until his number was called. He happily took his banana split and took a seat next to the window. He watched the people bustle about their daily shopping and marketing chores as he ate. He was too busy in his disgusted thoughts about his present ordeal of shopping to notice the redhead that walked in.
-~*~-
Leena walked into the parlor and had in mind what she wanted exactly. She smiled at the girl working behind the counter. "I'll have a German fudge peppermint parfait."
"That'll be $1.75, ma'am."
Leena rambled in her pouch and handed the girl a dollar and three quarters. She took her ice cream and took a seat on the bar stool that stood in front of the windows. She ate her ice cream in small nibbles as she contemplated where she would go next. The city was so big and she didn't have enough time visit every single shop.
She decided that she'd head for the nearest mall. Malls were always the best place to shop when you didn't know what you were shopping for. Not to mention they came equipped with restaurants if you got hungry. She finished her last bite of her treat and got up to leave. She passed by the table that the blonde boy occupied. If she weren't in such a hurry, she would have noticed its unusual spikiness.
-~*~-
Bit was still eating his half melted split when he noticed a head of blazing read hair out the window. He dropped his spoon and jumped up. It couldn't be? Could it? He only knew of one girl that had red hair like that. It was Leena.
Bit rushed out of the ice cream parlor and into the street. "Leena! Leena! It's me, Bit!"
He called out to her desperately, but the redheaded girl kept on walking without a care in the world. Bit tried to push through the crowd, but every time he thought he had made it, more seepage of mobs would block his view.
Bit hung his head in defeat. He then remembered that today was the exact day of Leena's disappearance over a year ago. He drug himself to the grocery and completed his shopping. He knew in his heart that the girl was Leena. Why didn't she answer him? Maybe she couldn't hear his screams to her.
A new spark of hope seared Bit's soul as he drove home to the Hover Cargo. He wouldn't tell anyone about this. At least not yet. He new Leena was alive and well and that was what mattered right now. All that was left was to keep on hoping that someday soon she would walk into his awaiting embrace.