Disclaimer: I don't own Zoids or any of the characters or any material that you may recognise from movies, books etc, they belong to their respective owners.
Words in between these " " are talking.
Words written in italics are thought. Thoughts will also have these around them' '.
* Emperor's Palace *
The security around the palace had been boosted up to the maximum due to an anonymous tip to the Imperial Army and palace guards telling them that someone was planning an assassination attempt on Emperor Rudolph sometime during the day or late afternoon. Emperor Rudolph had been notified and asked to stay inside the secured building but his Highness had refused and had insisted on attending the mourning ceremony held on this day every year to commemorate the memory of his grandfather, the late Emperor, who had died during the Republican and Imperial war that had finished just over two years ago.
Colonel Karl Shuboltz was dressed in full military uniform as it was required of him to do so today. He briskly marched down a long sunlit hallway towards the Emperor's private garden. The Colonel occasionally nodded to a passing guard or barked orders at other. Karl soon reached the garden and looked around. He ignored the rose and flower bushes that he had seen many times before and counted the soldiers patrolling the area.
'Twenty-five armed soldiers, ten body guards and the adviser. I hope they will be able to protect his Highness if the need arises' Karl walked swiftly over to where the twelve year old emperor sat on a bench in the shade. The body guards took a quick look at the Colonel and nodded. Shuboltz returned the gesture before coming to stand before his Highness. The emperor raised his head and look at the Colonel.
"Colonel Shuboltz, is everything ready for the ceremony to begin?" the boy asked. He ran his fingers over the necklace that had the Imperial stamp ring connected to it." Yes, the preparations for the ceremony are complete and everyone is waiting for your arrival, sir" Karl replied bowing in respect to the young man. "Good," the emperor stood up and smoothed the creases out of the black and royal purple outfit, then rearranged his crown. "Then let us get going, Colonel" the boy answered walking towards the garden exit, which was also the entrance. "Yes sir" Karl replied and followed suit. "Majesty, do you really think it is wise for you to attend this ceremony?" the adviser walking next to the Emperor asked. "My friend, I will explain for the last time. I must attend this ceremony the honour the memory of the last emperor, my grandfather. Besides, I am not afraid of anyone, especially an assassin" the boy replied firmly.
'If anything, the time that Emperor Rudolph spent with Van and his companions taught him to look after himself and not rely on others' the Colonel realised in his head. 'And for heavens sake, that boy has had enough assassination attempts on his life that he is probably immune to them like I am to alcohol' a small smile curved on his lips.
* City Square *
A strange woman watched the guards and Imperial army soldiers lining up from her advantage viewing point high above the bustle of Guygolos. Madam President, the Guardian Force and a few members of high- ranking soldiers from the Republican army where also attending the grievous occasion. The woman's short silver- white hair blew across her calm face but she ignored it as her electric blue eyes surveyed the crowds below.
The leaders of each battalion sent their front- ranking soldiers to search and keep an eye out for the assassin. The leaders then checked their soldiers lines before taking their position on the left side, halfway down the line. Karl's First Panzer division was the first battalion to start their way through the clear path flanked by the crowds of civilians. They marched briskly towards a grassy hill outside the borders of the city.
The woman's eyes once again swept along the crowds and she spotted the soldiers that had been dispatched to look for the assassin. Van Flyheight, Fiona, Zeke and Lieutenant Thomas Shuboltz had obviously joined the soldiers in their mission because they were walking in a small group muttering to each other.
There was an enormous BANG in the distance and the woman's head whipped around but it was only the memorial cannon firing. The woman ignored the other cannons that were fired in the distance and concentrated on finding the assassin. Suddenly there was yelling coming from somewhere over to her left and she took off towards it.
She saw Van and co running down an ally chasing after a man carrying a gun. The woman knew who he was because of his wild blonde hair and emerald green eyes. His name was Michael and was defiantly a person you didn't to meet in a dark place. He was also one of the assassins sent today. The woman saw that Michael and his chasers were heading towards an intersection. She jumped and ran way ahead of them and climbed down into one of the adjoining alleys before she innocently walked out in front of them.
She acted surprised when the barrel of Michael's gun pressed hard against her throat. The members of the Guardian Force that were in front of them, stopped running several metres away.
"Put your weapons down or I'll kill her!" Michael demanded as he pulled harder on the barrel of the gun. The soldiers in front of us slowly lowered their weapons and put them on the ground at their feet.
"Good. Now I think this beautiful woman and I are going to leave. Together". The man had no idea about who the woman was or that he was in immediate danger from her.
'I'll allow this guy to hold me against my will like this for a little while but I am not going anywhere with him. Besides, he's going to be unconscious in a minute for calling me 'beautiful' without my permission' the woman thought to herself. A small smile curved on her lips.
"Hey, what are you smiling about?" Michael asked when he saw her face. "I'm going to abduct you, then I might use your body as a play toy for a while and then I'll probably kill you. SO WHY ARE YOU STILL SMILING?". He was loosing his temper.
"Your not going to have the chance to do any of the things you said, Michael and I'm smiling because,". The woman suddenly grabbed the gun, stepped back and flung the man right over her shoulder. She then punched him hard in the stomach, winding him. "I got to do that. It's only payback for using me like a punching bag back home" the woman stepped over him as the boys in the Guardian Force grabbed Michael and cuffed him.
"Thanks for your help" Fiona said and Zeke growled in agreement. Van and Thomas half pushed and dragged Michael up to the rest of the group.
"Bitch!" Michael said looking directly at the woman. Thomas was about to tell him off but the woman's hand rose and she struck him at the back of the neck, knocking him out instantly. Thomas and Van then struggled to lift the fully grown man so the woman grabbed Michael's collar and lifted him slightly.
"You can let go of him. I've got a hold of him and besides he won't come out of nightie- night land for awhile" the woman said to the two men holding Michael up. They cautiously let him go and let the unknown woman hold him.
"So, what is your name anyway?" Van asked as the group began to walk towards the group of soldiers on the hill." My name is Sorcha. I'm not sure what my last name is because where I come from, it doesn't really matter" she replied casually as they past people that were staring at them." That's a really nice name. I'm Fiona, this is Van, Zeke and Thomas" Fiona said introducing the others.
Sorcha looked at Thomas for a few seconds before she spoke to him. "Are you a lieutenant Thomas?" she asked. His name faintly reminded her of someone." Yes I am. Lieutantent Thomas Richard Shuboltz is my name. I'm a member of the Guardian Force" Thomas replied proudly.
"Shuboltz. Shuboltz. Are you related to Colonel Karl Lichen Shuboltz, chief of the Imperial armies' First Panzer Division? Sorcha asked when she finally remembered the name.
"Yes, he's my famous brother. Why does everyone have to know about him?" Thomas face faulted and looked extremely sad. Sorcha smiled and patted him on the man's shoulder.
"Hey don't feel so bad Thomas. I know that you created a mobile A.I. system that you installed into your zoid".
"You know about Beak!" Thomas said astounded and Sorcha nodded. "Great, at least there is someone who knows about me". A big grin appeared on Thomas's face.
"I think you just boosted his ego too much Sorcha" Van said bitterly and Fiona smiled. Thomas stopped grinning and pouted angrily.
* Monument Hill *
When the group reached top of the hill, they noticed that the procession had disbanded and the soldiers, as well as the emperor, were paying their own respects in their memory as they stood. A few soldiers, including Colonel Shuboltz, noticed them but only he came over to them.
"Now what do we have here, Lt?" Karl asked his younger brother as his eyes met with Sorcha's then he looked at Michael, who was covered in dirt, mud, grass marks and an assortment of abrasions.
"This is Sorcha Col and this is our assassin" Thomas replied respectfully as he motioned to each one of the new people. Sorcha realised that Michael had awoke so she dropped him heavily on the ground and he groaned in pain. Col Shuboltz waved a few of his soldiers over and gave them orders to take him to the nearest base and lock him up until he got there to interrogate him.
"Thank you for your help Guardian Force and you too, Sorcha" the Col said to Van and co before he dipped his hat to Sorcha, who smiled in return.
'God he's hot!' Sorcha thought to herself as she smiled. The group's attention was diverted from their pleasant talk when they heard Michael's yells. The soldiers escorting him were having trouble because he was kicking and screaming as he yelled a whole heap of profaned curses at the group of soldiers that had captured him. He was mainly throwing insults at Sorcha, calling her manly foul- mouthed names. Many soldiers surrounding the disruptive man jumped in to give their fellow comrades some help with Michael. The group standing. around Sorcha were all looking at her to see how she would take the verbal abuse.
"Would you please excuse me of a moment" Sorcha said and walked off before anyone could stop her. She approached Michael with her hands folded in front of her. The soldiers behind him gripped his arms tighter.
"So the whore finally comes to talk with me. Maybe we'll be able to settle a deal so you can do me a little favour. It's your job, isn't it". He puckered up his lips before making a few kissy noises. Sorcha's hands moved to her hips as she leant over so she was an inch from his face. Her eyes blazed like lightning.
"You of all people should know not to call me such names, Michael or make those baby noises. You do remember what I did to you last time, don't you?" she hissed. The man in front of her grinned in malevolence.
"Hell yeah. You kicked me in the groin, how many times?" he asked her questionably. The soldiers behind Michael looked at her in surprise. As she had been talking, Van, Fiona, Zeke, Thomas and Karl had walked up behind her and had heard his response.
Sorcha shrugged. "I think I kicked you so many times I forgot. But I remember it made you pass out".
Michael laughed sourly. "Rando was right, you are stupid. Can't even remember who many times you kicked a guy in the balls. Blain taught you everything but how to count. Typical, I doubt you'd remember any...." His sentence was cut off when Sorcha's fist connected with his face. She had clearly had enough of the man's bullshit stories.
"Good hit lady" one of the soldiers supporting the motionless body said to her before he and his comrades carried Michael off.
"I agree, that was a really good hit" Van said when she turned around. Fiona and Thomas nodded while Zeke growled. The crowds around them thinned out as the people went on their way.
"I'll second that," Col Shuboltz agreed. "Don't take this the wrong way but I wish the female soldiers were trained the same way as you". Karl smiled jokingly and Sorcha returned the gesture.
A voice came through on the Col's CV radio. He answered it and the little group listened to the conversation.
"Col Shuboltz, sir. We have captured a suspicious looking man carrying a long- range sniper equipped with silencer and lock-on devices" the soldier at the other end of the communicator reported.
"But we have already apprehended the assassin. Bring him in anyway soldier" Karl ordered the soldier.
"Another assassin. Weren't we informed that there would only be one, sir?" Fiona asked the elder Shuboltz brother.
Sorcha took a big breath before she spoke. "The first message I intercepted told me that they would only be one assassin coming and I forwarded the information to the Imperial army. Not long after the first message, I intercepted a second piece of information that ordered the use of another four assassins. I tried to inform the Imperial Army once again but they had closed all communication access. I didn't have a clearance code so I had to come here to tell you and I hoped to catch one of these assassins while I was in the vicinity" Sorcha confessed.
"Are you the one who sent the warning to us, ma'am". A young man asked politely. The group turned around and came face to face with the emperor himself. His face was full of interest.
Sorcha bowed her head in respect before she answered. "Yes I am Highness". 'I'm in for it now. They're going to want to know how I knew Michael and I don't think I'm up to telling that story yet'.
"Then I must thank you. I owe you my life and I must repay you for your help" the emperor replied kindly.
"You being safe is enough payment, your Highness and for you to be safe, we must locate the other four assassins" Sorcha said strongly. The emperor was not surprised by the news of more assassins.
"There is no need for that Sorcha, for the final assassins have been spotted, seized and have been taken to the nearest base" Col Shubaltz cut in. While they had been talking, he had received confirmation of their arrests. "Sorcha because you seem to know how at least one of the assassins thinks, with the emperor's permission, could you accompany me in the interrogation of those people?" he asked.
"You have my permission Col Shubaltz to interrogate the people captured in any way and to let Sorcha assist you with the procedure" the emperor replied when he saw the unsure look on the woman's face.
"In that case Col Shubaltz, I would be glad to help you" Sorcha answered confidently.
"I feel sorry for the men now. The way you treated that Michael character was harsh but necessary and to tell the truth, I saw him sweat under the strain" the emperor laughed. The others surrounding him caught onto the joke and laughed as well.
'Well at least I haven't had to tell them how I know Michael and at least I get to something worth while with my time'. Sorcha thought to herself as she laughed.
Luineraugwen: I don't know if that was I very good start to my story. Oh well, tell me weather it was or wasn't. Remember to review and try to be nice as this is my first Zoid fanfiction but I don't mind getting bad reviews, I can't write. Also I apologise for my misuse of military words. Karl is the chief of a unit not a battalion.
Karl: Yes you can write, can't she Sorcha"
Sorcha: "Yeah"
Luineraugwen: "Shut up you two. I know that I can't write anime stories that well"
Karl & Sorcha" Yes you can"
Karl:" You've done a good job with this chapter and I bet the next will be even better"
Luineraugwen:" Karl, if you be quiet, I might let you sleep with Sorcha in the story"
Karl grins." In that case, got any duck tape
Luineraugwen points to cabinet." Bottom draw"
Karl grabs the tape and wraps five layers around his mouth.
Luineraugwen & Sorcha crack up laughing. "Till next time"
C'ya