"What is it that you wanted Colonel?" asked Van with a salute. "We have
gotten some information on the location of some of the rebels who have been
attacking the bases and I want you and someone of your choice to go and I
want you to keep tabs on them to find out what they are up to," said
Crougar. "Why don't we just go and arrest them?" asked Van slightly
confused. "It is because they are in a town that doesn't allow any type of
military actions to take place because they are not of either the Republic,
or the Empire. We wish to respect their wishes and are going to avoid any
confrontations there," said Crougar. "So who should I take?" asked Van
thinking it over. "Try not to make it look too suspicious. Maybe a girl to
make it look like you are on a date," suggested Crougar. "I will go with
you Van," said Rachael popping up out of nowhere. "Lieutenant you are
needed here," said Crougar not even looking at her. "Then who should I
take?" asked Van thinking it over again but only Fiona popped up in his
head. "Why don't you take Fiona with you?" asked Crougar? "I was just
thinking that," said Van. "Well then. You had better get going before they
leave or you will lose them," said Crougar. "Yes sir," said Van with a
salute as he left the room. "Why couldn't I go?" asked Rachael with a pout.
"If they discover Van they might attack this base to keep him from
releasing information to us so we need as many pilots as we can get, and
with the speed of the blade liger he could get here with enough time to
help but your zoid isn't ready at this moment but it should be if they
attack. Plus I don't think that Zeke will be happy with you in the
cockpit," said Crougar. "Zeke?" asked Rachael. "Yes he is the organoid that
Van uses. Van is bound to bring his Zeke with him and he only listens to
Van and Fiona, and if something happens to Van you won't be able to get
back here since Zeke won't follow your orders," said Crougar. "Ok sir,"
said a saddened Rachael as she walked off. As she was walking out Fiona was
walking in and Rachael whispered, "Don't you dare try anything." "Huh?"
asked a confused Fiona. "Fiona I was just about to come looking for you.
You and Van are to do something. Van has all the details. So just ask him
about it once you see him," said Crougar nicely. "Ok," was all that Fiona
said before she left the room.
"Hey Van isn't that the place?" asked Fiona asked Fiona as she pointed towards a small town. "I think that it is lets go and check," said Van as he pulled up a map. "Yeah that is the place," said Van as the screen shut off. "We'll leave the blade liger here and go the rest of the way on foot," said Van as he hopped out of the cockpit. Fiona followed shortly behind him. "Zeke. Just stay here and look after the blade liger," said Van . Zeke made a sad growl. "Sorry buddy but you will draw far too much attention," said Van as he walked off with Fiona. "Van do you know who these people are?" asked Fiona as they walked through the sandy desert to the town. "I have seen pictures of them so we shouldn't have too hard of time to find them," said Van as he walked right beside Fiona. "Ok," said Fiona. "My question is how we are going to do this without making it look suspicious," said Van. "I don't know," said Fiona with a shrug. "Crougar had an idea that we could make it look like we are on a date," said Van. Fiona was quiet for a bit when he said this. "Is there something wrong Fiona?" asked Van looking at her quiet form. "It is nothing," said Fiona. It was quiet for a while after that before a question popped into Fiona's head. What she was really thinking about was what Rachael said to her. "Van can I ask you a question?" asked Fiona. "You just did," said Van with a small laugh. "That's not what I mean," said Fiona slightly annoyed by his small joke. "What is it then?" asked Van a bit more seriously. "What do you think of that girl Rachael?" asked Fiona. she then immediately looked at the ground. "I don't know she seems nice, but I really don't know her well enough to judge her," said Van after a short time of thinking about it. "Why?" asked Van curious as to why Fiona had asked that question. "No reason," said Fiona shaking her head. "Well then come on we should get going," said Van as he started to walk faster towards the town. "Wait up," yelled Fiona as she ran after him.
"This is a nice place," said Van as he took a good look around the town. "I know. To think that it is neither a part of the Empire or the Republic," said Fiona. "At least it means that they aren't forced to be dragged into any wars that might start up between one of the sides," said Van as he looked at all the peaceful people. "That won't matter though if these people decide to start a war against all of planet Zi," said Fiona sadly. "That is one of the reason that we are here, to make sure that they don't try anything. The other reason is to find out what exactly they are after," said Van. "First thing is first though. we need to find these people before they start anything. The question though is where they could possibly be," said Van as he looked around for any sign of the people they were looking for. "We won't find them by just standing here," said Fiona as the two started to walk through the crowded streets. It didn't really take to long though because Van and Fiona found them in a restaurant eating. "It is a good thing that they are inside of a restaurant this will make it easy because we can make it look like we are merely getting something to eat," said Van. "I am sure you are also happy because you can get something to eat for real," said Fiona giggling a little. "You got me there," said Van laughing a little at her response. "Are we just going to stand here or are we going to go inside? I am hungry as well so we might as well grab a bite to eat," said Fiona as her stomach growled. "Sure thing," said Van as he opened the door for Fiona. "Thank you," said Fiona nicely. "No problem," said Van with a grin.
"Hello can I take your order?" asked a waiter to Van and Fiona as they finished looking over the menus? "Yes I will take a steak and if possible could you put a papaya with it?" asked Van. "Yes sir," said the waiter as he took Van's menu. "You and your papayas," said Fiona with a slight giggle. "What will you be having?" the waiter asked Fiona. "I will just have a salad," said Fiona politely as she handed him her menu. "Ok then," said the waiter as he walked off. "Even if we are spying doesn't mean we can't eat," said Van with a smile. "It is hard to hear what they are saying," said Fiona as she strained her eyes to pick up on whatever it was that they were saying. "This is as close as we can get," said Van as he looked at their table, which was a few tables away and with all the talking of the other customers it made it very difficult to pick up on anything that they were saying. "Is there any easier way to hear them?" asked Fiona. "Well I have an idea," said Van as he brightened up a little. "What is it?" asked Fiona getting interested. Van then whispered something in her ear. "Do you get what you have to do Fiona?" asked Van. "I think so," said Fiona in an unsure voice. "Just make sure to make it look like an accident," said Van as he handed Fiona something. Fiona got up from the table to go to the restroom but when she past the table with the other group she pretended to trip and she slid a device onto the bottom of the table. "I am sorry," said Fiona when she got up. They pretty much just ignored her so she got back up and went to the restroom.
"So how did it go Fiona?" asked Van when Fiona got back? "I did what you said I just hope that they didn't notice," said Fiona said Fiona nervously. "I don't think that they did because they haven't changed what they have been doing since you left," said Van as he took a quick look at the other tables. Van took out an earpiece and put it in his ear and also gave one to Fiona. "So what do you think of the base we destroyed," said one of them. "I hear that one of the soldiers of that base actually survived," said another and he sounded slightly amused. "Do you think we should go after her?" asked another more seriously. "It won't be easy to go after her because I hear that she is at the base that Van Flyheight is stationed at," said another not amused at all. "Curse him, it is because of him that we are forced to live like this," said one as he slammed his hand onto the table. "You are right John," said a man named Zack. "Why don't we see how great he actually is," said the third man named Peter. "Well if we are we will have to send our entire force there and not just a few of us," said a man named James. "Good idea. It is at a military base so he won't be the only one fighting in it," said Zack. "It is really the entire Guardian Force that we need to watch out for. Not the military," said Peter. "You are right they are the best fighters and if we can get rid of them and then destroy the rest of the military it will be easy pickings for us to take charge," said James with a laugh. "The real threat is that Blade liger how will we be able to take it down when it has taken down even the death saurer?" asked a frightened John "What, are you scared?" asked Peter. "Of course not. I am just saying that that is a power we should look out for," said John. "We will think about that later," said Peter. The group then got up and walked out of the restaurant. "We should follow them," said Van as they quickly finished up the food he ordered. Fiona did the same just as fast. Van left the money for the bill on the table and they ran after the men.
They then followed the men to a small park where the men continued to chat about their plans. "Van I am starting to worry that they might spot us," said Fiona voicing her concerns. "Don't worry, and if they do I will protect you," said Van in a protective voice. "Thanks Van," said Fiona happily. "The thing is though, that if they do spot us I am afraid that they might hurt you," said Fiona as her worried came back. "Thanks for your concern but I will be fine,' said Van in a reassuring voice. Van couldn't help but like the concern that Fiona had for him at times. Fiona just stared at Van and Van looked into her eyes. At that time they started to move a little closer to each other. They got closer and closer until their lips were a mere few inched apart. Just as they were about to kiss Van suddenly realized that the guys they were following had disappeared. "No they're gone," said Van as they separated before they were able to kiss. "I am sorry Fiona that really shouldn't have almost happened. We shouldn't have let down our watch," said Van in an apologetic voice. Fiona was very disappointed that they didn't manage to complete the kiss. She merely said, "That is ok, Van." "We had better get back and tell them what we heard," said Van. "Alright," said a sad Fiona.
After arriving back at the base Van immediately headed towards the control room where he planned to speak to Crougar. Walking in her immediately found him. "Sir I have some news," said Van with a salute. "What is it?" asked Crougar. "After listening in on their conversation we have learned that they might be planning on attacking this base at some point," said Van "So you are saying that they are actually considering attacking this base?" asked Crougar in disbelief? "Yes we heard them while they were talking and that is what they said," said Van. "Are you sure that you weren't seen?" asked Crougar hoping that he wasn't. "I am pretty sure about that," said Van. "Then we should probably start preparing," said Crougar.
"You had better not have tried anything Fiona," said Rachael in a cruel voice. "I can do what I want you are not in charge of me," said Fiona. "You love Van don't you?" asked Rachael in a voice that made Fiona sick to her stomach. "Maybe," said Fiona a bit reluctantly. "What do you think that he wants? A person who can stand up for themselves like me, or someone that always needs to be saved every time that they are in trouble?" asked Rachael in a calm voice. Fiona didn't answer the question. All she did was stare at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Just as I thought. Now I said this once and I will say this again, I will have Van and you are merely in the way. So you had better stay out of my way. What makes you think that he even likes you anyways?" asked Rachael. "Van is my friend so I know he at least likes me like that," said Fiona trying to stand up for herself. "Whatever. It not like it matters what you think," said Rachael as she walked off. Fiona was alone after that until a voice from behind her said, "Don't listen to her Fiona," said Moonbay. She just so happened to be walking by and overheard the conversation. "Why would she say something like that?" asked Fiona in an angry voice. "She is probably jealous of the amount of time you spend with Van," said Moonbay saying the first thing that came to her mind. "But she is probably right Van would probably want someone who can stand up for himself. It proves it by what happened while we were in the town," said Fiona and she tried to walk off without hearing a reply from Moonbay. Moonbay managed to stop her though. "Hey Fiona did something happen between you and Van?" asked Moonbay staring at her friend with a look that said that she demanded an answer. This made Fiona stop and she answered, "We almost kissed but I don't think he really wanted it though," said Fiona sadly. "Why do you think that?" asked Moonbay nicely. "Van said that he was sorry and that it shouldn't have almost happened because after it almost happened the people we were following got away without us knowing it," said Fiona as she looked at the ground. "But he did almost kiss you, so that should at least mean something?" asked Moonbay sympathetically. "I doubt it, he has that girl Rachael with him and if she is with him he won't have to save her as much as he does for me," said Fiona. "But what if he does want you?" asked Moonbay trying to get Fiona to stop doubting everything. "I doubt Van would ever want someone like me," said Fiona as she walked away in tears in her eyes.
Fiona was on the way to her room while trying to hold back some tears. She had managed to be able to stop them for a while but she was on the verge of once again starting to let the tears take action. She was very upset of the events that had happened throughout the entire day. She was so upset that she didn't even notice Van as she walked by in her daze. 'I wonder what is wrong with Fiona,' thought Van seeing the state that she was in. "Hey Fiona is something wrong? You seem very upset," said Van in as nice of a tone as he could. "It is nothing Van," said Fiona as she put on a fake smile. "Are you sure? I can help you know. All you have to do is ask me," said Van. "Yes everything is fine," said Fiona holding the fake smile on her face. "Hey Fiona there is something I need to tell you," said Van working up his bravery. "What is it?" asked Fiona not even looking at him. "You can at least look at me," said Van as he turned her to look him in the face. "There. That is much better," said Van with a smile. He decided to just say it. "I just wanted to tell you that," said Van but he was cut by Rachael. "Hey Van, are you ready to go?" asked Rachael interrupting the little moment. "Yeah, I guess," said Van in an unsure voice. 'Darn it,' was all that Van thought. Rachael came up to them and without Van knowing she was looking at Fiona nastily. "Come on I know this place we can go," said Rachael as she grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Fiona. "Ok," said Van upset that he couldn't say what he wanted to. "I will see you later Fiona," said Van as he left. 'probably wanted to tell me that he was going out with Rachael,' thought Fiona sadly.
"Hey Van isn't that the place?" asked Fiona asked Fiona as she pointed towards a small town. "I think that it is lets go and check," said Van as he pulled up a map. "Yeah that is the place," said Van as the screen shut off. "We'll leave the blade liger here and go the rest of the way on foot," said Van as he hopped out of the cockpit. Fiona followed shortly behind him. "Zeke. Just stay here and look after the blade liger," said Van . Zeke made a sad growl. "Sorry buddy but you will draw far too much attention," said Van as he walked off with Fiona. "Van do you know who these people are?" asked Fiona as they walked through the sandy desert to the town. "I have seen pictures of them so we shouldn't have too hard of time to find them," said Van as he walked right beside Fiona. "Ok," said Fiona. "My question is how we are going to do this without making it look suspicious," said Van. "I don't know," said Fiona with a shrug. "Crougar had an idea that we could make it look like we are on a date," said Van. Fiona was quiet for a bit when he said this. "Is there something wrong Fiona?" asked Van looking at her quiet form. "It is nothing," said Fiona. It was quiet for a while after that before a question popped into Fiona's head. What she was really thinking about was what Rachael said to her. "Van can I ask you a question?" asked Fiona. "You just did," said Van with a small laugh. "That's not what I mean," said Fiona slightly annoyed by his small joke. "What is it then?" asked Van a bit more seriously. "What do you think of that girl Rachael?" asked Fiona. she then immediately looked at the ground. "I don't know she seems nice, but I really don't know her well enough to judge her," said Van after a short time of thinking about it. "Why?" asked Van curious as to why Fiona had asked that question. "No reason," said Fiona shaking her head. "Well then come on we should get going," said Van as he started to walk faster towards the town. "Wait up," yelled Fiona as she ran after him.
"This is a nice place," said Van as he took a good look around the town. "I know. To think that it is neither a part of the Empire or the Republic," said Fiona. "At least it means that they aren't forced to be dragged into any wars that might start up between one of the sides," said Van as he looked at all the peaceful people. "That won't matter though if these people decide to start a war against all of planet Zi," said Fiona sadly. "That is one of the reason that we are here, to make sure that they don't try anything. The other reason is to find out what exactly they are after," said Van. "First thing is first though. we need to find these people before they start anything. The question though is where they could possibly be," said Van as he looked around for any sign of the people they were looking for. "We won't find them by just standing here," said Fiona as the two started to walk through the crowded streets. It didn't really take to long though because Van and Fiona found them in a restaurant eating. "It is a good thing that they are inside of a restaurant this will make it easy because we can make it look like we are merely getting something to eat," said Van. "I am sure you are also happy because you can get something to eat for real," said Fiona giggling a little. "You got me there," said Van laughing a little at her response. "Are we just going to stand here or are we going to go inside? I am hungry as well so we might as well grab a bite to eat," said Fiona as her stomach growled. "Sure thing," said Van as he opened the door for Fiona. "Thank you," said Fiona nicely. "No problem," said Van with a grin.
"Hello can I take your order?" asked a waiter to Van and Fiona as they finished looking over the menus? "Yes I will take a steak and if possible could you put a papaya with it?" asked Van. "Yes sir," said the waiter as he took Van's menu. "You and your papayas," said Fiona with a slight giggle. "What will you be having?" the waiter asked Fiona. "I will just have a salad," said Fiona politely as she handed him her menu. "Ok then," said the waiter as he walked off. "Even if we are spying doesn't mean we can't eat," said Van with a smile. "It is hard to hear what they are saying," said Fiona as she strained her eyes to pick up on whatever it was that they were saying. "This is as close as we can get," said Van as he looked at their table, which was a few tables away and with all the talking of the other customers it made it very difficult to pick up on anything that they were saying. "Is there any easier way to hear them?" asked Fiona. "Well I have an idea," said Van as he brightened up a little. "What is it?" asked Fiona getting interested. Van then whispered something in her ear. "Do you get what you have to do Fiona?" asked Van. "I think so," said Fiona in an unsure voice. "Just make sure to make it look like an accident," said Van as he handed Fiona something. Fiona got up from the table to go to the restroom but when she past the table with the other group she pretended to trip and she slid a device onto the bottom of the table. "I am sorry," said Fiona when she got up. They pretty much just ignored her so she got back up and went to the restroom.
"So how did it go Fiona?" asked Van when Fiona got back? "I did what you said I just hope that they didn't notice," said Fiona said Fiona nervously. "I don't think that they did because they haven't changed what they have been doing since you left," said Van as he took a quick look at the other tables. Van took out an earpiece and put it in his ear and also gave one to Fiona. "So what do you think of the base we destroyed," said one of them. "I hear that one of the soldiers of that base actually survived," said another and he sounded slightly amused. "Do you think we should go after her?" asked another more seriously. "It won't be easy to go after her because I hear that she is at the base that Van Flyheight is stationed at," said another not amused at all. "Curse him, it is because of him that we are forced to live like this," said one as he slammed his hand onto the table. "You are right John," said a man named Zack. "Why don't we see how great he actually is," said the third man named Peter. "Well if we are we will have to send our entire force there and not just a few of us," said a man named James. "Good idea. It is at a military base so he won't be the only one fighting in it," said Zack. "It is really the entire Guardian Force that we need to watch out for. Not the military," said Peter. "You are right they are the best fighters and if we can get rid of them and then destroy the rest of the military it will be easy pickings for us to take charge," said James with a laugh. "The real threat is that Blade liger how will we be able to take it down when it has taken down even the death saurer?" asked a frightened John "What, are you scared?" asked Peter. "Of course not. I am just saying that that is a power we should look out for," said John. "We will think about that later," said Peter. The group then got up and walked out of the restaurant. "We should follow them," said Van as they quickly finished up the food he ordered. Fiona did the same just as fast. Van left the money for the bill on the table and they ran after the men.
They then followed the men to a small park where the men continued to chat about their plans. "Van I am starting to worry that they might spot us," said Fiona voicing her concerns. "Don't worry, and if they do I will protect you," said Van in a protective voice. "Thanks Van," said Fiona happily. "The thing is though, that if they do spot us I am afraid that they might hurt you," said Fiona as her worried came back. "Thanks for your concern but I will be fine,' said Van in a reassuring voice. Van couldn't help but like the concern that Fiona had for him at times. Fiona just stared at Van and Van looked into her eyes. At that time they started to move a little closer to each other. They got closer and closer until their lips were a mere few inched apart. Just as they were about to kiss Van suddenly realized that the guys they were following had disappeared. "No they're gone," said Van as they separated before they were able to kiss. "I am sorry Fiona that really shouldn't have almost happened. We shouldn't have let down our watch," said Van in an apologetic voice. Fiona was very disappointed that they didn't manage to complete the kiss. She merely said, "That is ok, Van." "We had better get back and tell them what we heard," said Van. "Alright," said a sad Fiona.
After arriving back at the base Van immediately headed towards the control room where he planned to speak to Crougar. Walking in her immediately found him. "Sir I have some news," said Van with a salute. "What is it?" asked Crougar. "After listening in on their conversation we have learned that they might be planning on attacking this base at some point," said Van "So you are saying that they are actually considering attacking this base?" asked Crougar in disbelief? "Yes we heard them while they were talking and that is what they said," said Van. "Are you sure that you weren't seen?" asked Crougar hoping that he wasn't. "I am pretty sure about that," said Van. "Then we should probably start preparing," said Crougar.
"You had better not have tried anything Fiona," said Rachael in a cruel voice. "I can do what I want you are not in charge of me," said Fiona. "You love Van don't you?" asked Rachael in a voice that made Fiona sick to her stomach. "Maybe," said Fiona a bit reluctantly. "What do you think that he wants? A person who can stand up for themselves like me, or someone that always needs to be saved every time that they are in trouble?" asked Rachael in a calm voice. Fiona didn't answer the question. All she did was stare at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Just as I thought. Now I said this once and I will say this again, I will have Van and you are merely in the way. So you had better stay out of my way. What makes you think that he even likes you anyways?" asked Rachael. "Van is my friend so I know he at least likes me like that," said Fiona trying to stand up for herself. "Whatever. It not like it matters what you think," said Rachael as she walked off. Fiona was alone after that until a voice from behind her said, "Don't listen to her Fiona," said Moonbay. She just so happened to be walking by and overheard the conversation. "Why would she say something like that?" asked Fiona in an angry voice. "She is probably jealous of the amount of time you spend with Van," said Moonbay saying the first thing that came to her mind. "But she is probably right Van would probably want someone who can stand up for himself. It proves it by what happened while we were in the town," said Fiona and she tried to walk off without hearing a reply from Moonbay. Moonbay managed to stop her though. "Hey Fiona did something happen between you and Van?" asked Moonbay staring at her friend with a look that said that she demanded an answer. This made Fiona stop and she answered, "We almost kissed but I don't think he really wanted it though," said Fiona sadly. "Why do you think that?" asked Moonbay nicely. "Van said that he was sorry and that it shouldn't have almost happened because after it almost happened the people we were following got away without us knowing it," said Fiona as she looked at the ground. "But he did almost kiss you, so that should at least mean something?" asked Moonbay sympathetically. "I doubt it, he has that girl Rachael with him and if she is with him he won't have to save her as much as he does for me," said Fiona. "But what if he does want you?" asked Moonbay trying to get Fiona to stop doubting everything. "I doubt Van would ever want someone like me," said Fiona as she walked away in tears in her eyes.
Fiona was on the way to her room while trying to hold back some tears. She had managed to be able to stop them for a while but she was on the verge of once again starting to let the tears take action. She was very upset of the events that had happened throughout the entire day. She was so upset that she didn't even notice Van as she walked by in her daze. 'I wonder what is wrong with Fiona,' thought Van seeing the state that she was in. "Hey Fiona is something wrong? You seem very upset," said Van in as nice of a tone as he could. "It is nothing Van," said Fiona as she put on a fake smile. "Are you sure? I can help you know. All you have to do is ask me," said Van. "Yes everything is fine," said Fiona holding the fake smile on her face. "Hey Fiona there is something I need to tell you," said Van working up his bravery. "What is it?" asked Fiona not even looking at him. "You can at least look at me," said Van as he turned her to look him in the face. "There. That is much better," said Van with a smile. He decided to just say it. "I just wanted to tell you that," said Van but he was cut by Rachael. "Hey Van, are you ready to go?" asked Rachael interrupting the little moment. "Yeah, I guess," said Van in an unsure voice. 'Darn it,' was all that Van thought. Rachael came up to them and without Van knowing she was looking at Fiona nastily. "Come on I know this place we can go," said Rachael as she grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Fiona. "Ok," said Van upset that he couldn't say what he wanted to. "I will see you later Fiona," said Van as he left. 'probably wanted to tell me that he was going out with Rachael,' thought Fiona sadly.