Neo Slash Zero: Believe

Chapter 3: Believe

Author Notes: Damn that was a long gap between chapters...sorry? Wow! I got a lot of reviews last chapter! Well, at least a lot for me! Thanks to all who reviewed, and I hope you enjoy the new chapter! And I'm glad none hated the way the last chapter ended! Now to the reviewers.

Mercenary Pen - Rock on man! I suppose Gen. Winters could've been more of a hardass, but this is my story, so he has to be nice lol. You've got some funny notions as to what's gonna happen next, but keep guessing! I believe that some Lightning Saix's Lightning Cannons are mounted on a swivel, so they could theoretically blast the Raynos out of their rear scopes, but then they loose the boosters...so, I dunno? Anyhoo, thanks for the review!

DiscipleofFuzzy - Wow! It's nice to know I made a favourite stories list! I'm glad you're addicted, and thanks for the review!

BlackHole Army CO - Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you didn't get mad at what I did to Leon. I look forward to the next chapter of the Tournament fic!

Bluefly7 - Long time no see huh? Heh, I'm not gonna stop writing, and I'm glad you really like the story! I'm just between two fics still! Thanks for the review!

BladesDeath - Well, Leon is out of the picture, but I don't know who will be "lead" just yet. I'm glad you liked the end to the verbal fight, you seem to be pretty knowledgeable in BitxLeena matters lol. Thanks for the review!

Zero Stalker - Yeah, Leon's a posterboy soldier, ever courageous even in death. Hey, if you can tell others about my fic, that would be awesome! Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Zoids, nor do I own Disturbed. Just bought a CD though: Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts. If you like beatboxing give it a listen.

Now! On to the story!


"What are the final numbers on the battle?" asked a weary General Trexen Winters.

An even wearier looking Jamie Hermeros leafed through a stack of papers slowly, taking into account all of the costs and damages incurred throughout what had become known as the Rarehertz Fiasco. During the pitch battle in which the Republic had begun to gain the upper hand something strange happened. An rumbling began to shake the scarred landscape, temporarily throwing off the aim of many of the soldiers and making it all but impossible to gain a target lock during battle. General Winters had ordered a final push for the cave, stabbing deep into what remained of the heart of the Guylos formation. That was when something no one had seen coming happened. First, a black shape had been seen bolting from the cave, followed a few minutes after by the white streak of a madly accelerating Liger Zero. The third, and final step in the Rarehertz Fiasco happened to be a Rarehertz blast itself, a blue shockwave of destruction emanating from the cave entrance and quickly blowing through both Helic and Guylos ranks, battle system freezing some Zoids, command system freezing others, and some Zoids, such as the many Guylos Zoids that happened to be closest to the cave, had their systems go haywire, either discharging weapons randomly, firing off ejector seats with cockpit canopies still closed, or simply exploding all together.

The end result had been grisly. Much of the damage incurred during the fight happened in those few minutes, leaving both sides stunned and trying to figure out what had hit them. Fortunately, the Guylos commanding officers had requested a full out retreat of what little of their numbers remained active. General Winters had all but allowed their exit, himself trying to reign in his own troops and gain a count on the damages.

Jamie rubbed his eyes blearily before giving his final account, "Well, sir, in total losses, the Guylos Empire lost over one hundred and fifty units, many destroyed by the Rarehertz blast."

The General narrowed his hazel eyes, "And our numbers?"

Jamie's gaze fell to his page before meeting the General's stone gaze, "We were lucky to be further away from the blast zone," Jamie began, "Before the Rarehertz pulse we had received one sixth losses, however after the pulse that number rose to almost one third of our forces."

General Winters rubbed his forehead, "And what of the team we sent into the valley cave?"

"The Fierce Lion Squadron met up with a group of Zaber Tigers before entering the objective," said Jamie, "They had nearly finished fighting when they saw the Liger Zero retreating from the cave. They broke off and followed."

"And what are their final numbers?"

"Four members dead, and one M.I.A." Jamie replied.

"And how is Private Cloud?" asked the General.

"He escaped unharmed, however-"

"Wait," the General interrupted, "You said one M.I.A.?"

"Yes sir," a sorrowful look crossed Jamie's eyes before he continued, "No one has seen Lieutenant Toros since the battle."

Believe, when you lie
You will never need to recognize yourself
To deceive

The General's eyes narrowed, "Where was he last seen?"

"In the Valley cave."

"With whom?"

"Private Bit Cloud sir," Jamie informed.

The General paced back and forwards for a moment before replying.

Toros was a good man, he stayed with his orders to the end. Bit Cloud is still alive, that is very important.

"I wish to meet with Private Cloud, to ask him what happened," said the General.

"But what about Leon?" Jamie added.

The General paused in front of the window, gazing outwards onto the courtyard in front of the Zarros base. His eyes seemed distant and unfocused.

To remove all chance of doubt and be received
With your lie
The deception is complete when you concede

He was silent a moment longer before continuing, "Lieutenant Leon Toros was an upstanding officer, and even though he and I butted heads on certain issues, he remained a brilliant soldier and was well respected by his men."

Jamie's jaw dropped, "What are you saying sir?"

"As much as I regret to admit it, we lost a great asset yesterday, but saved a greater one."

Jamie's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"

The General elaborated, "Bit Cloud is still safe, which was the task I gave Toros before the mission; to keep him safe."

"But what about Leon? He still may be trapped in that cave!"

Winters turned to face Jamie, "Ensign Hermeros, all that remains of the Valley of the Rarehertz is a pile of rubble and a strange barrier that no one can break through!"

"What are you saying?" Jamie's astonished voice almost wavered with emotion.

And decide
To reject your lives, sacrificed to me

Winters closed his eyes and sighed, "I'm saying there will be no rescue operation. As of this moment, Lieutenant Leon Toros is to be considered Killed In Action." The General crossed the room and placed his hand on Jamie's shoulder, "I'm sorry, I know that you were friends. Send my condolences to his family."

With that the General Winters left the room, leaving Jamie alone and stunned. He stumbled backwards a few steps until he felt his back hit the wall. Upon contact he let it brace him as he slid down until he was sitting against the wall. The man who had been like an older brother to him was gone.

Leon can't be gone.

He put his head on top of his knees and began to cry.


A hand slammed downwards on the cockpit armrest for the umpteenth time that morning, the padded bars of the seat taking the blow and easily conforming to the shape of the fist as it attempted to put a hole in the upholstery. The hand, itself bruised and battered from repeated smashings against the chair, paused in the air for a moment, as if contemplating another assault on the cockpit furniture.

Why did it have to happen to him of all people?

Bit hadn't left his cockpit since the end of the previous mission, refusing to leave the comforting confines of the Liger's familiar surroundings. Whenever a technician or officer had neared to see if he was alright or needed anything, the Liger Zero growled loudly at the visitors, shaking his head whenever any tried to move up a service ladder to enter the cockpit.

He was one of the least violent men I knew.

Bit had beaten himself up over that fact all throughout the night, gaining little sleep despite the Liger's comforting presence all around him. Three thoughts had been bouncing around his head: the previous mission, what had gone wrong, and why he had listened to Leon.

WHY!! Why did I listen to you?

The fist smashed against the chair again, a dull thud resounding throughout the enclosed cockpit space. The Liger growled again, concerned for the well being of its pilot and friend. Bit placed his head in his hands, the gravity of the previous mission beginning to hit him fully. Bit had killed a man in that battle, something that he had vowed never to do in his lifetime. The carefree junk dealer that everyone saw him as had done one of the most heinous acts imaginable; he had killed a man.

I'm sorry.

Penance can't absolve your sin, into me

His eyes clenched shut, straining in vain to stop the tears that threatened to fall once more from his watery eyes. The worst of facts still remained on his conscience: Leon Toros, proud member of the Helic Military, ace Zoid pilot, and kind brother and friend to all, was dead. Leon would never smile upon his friends again.

I'm sorry.

Leon would never ride into battle alongside his comrades again.

I'm sorry.

Leon would never fight Bit again in battle.

I'm sorry.

There would be no joy at the Toros home as Leon dropped by for the holidays, no silent love between him and his father as they played games of chance or worked on parts together.

I'm sorry.

No mentor for Jamie, no adopted big brother to help him with the problems of growing up. No big brother for Leena to aid her through the strains of moving away, or to help remember the good old days.

I'm so sorry.

Penance can't absolve your sin

A bright future was extinguished on that day, the day of the Rarehertz battle. Throughout the valley, parts of Zoids lay strewn about, discarded in the flight after the enormous Rarehertz pulse. Bit's mind wandered back to the cave where one of the finest warriors fell. A friend who he didn't even know he cared for that much gave his own life up for that of Bit, but not only that, for Bit and Leena's future. Bit hoped, he believed, that Leon was happy with his sacrifice.

At least I want to believe.

All your belief cannot absolve your sin


His steps echoed down the long hallway, sounding out a mournful dirge as he made his way, painfully slow, towards his destination. Black boots met polished white marble in a clash of opposites, mirroring his state of mind, roiling in a state between emotional turmoil and intellectual readiness. If he could have, he would have smoked a cigarette, however that action was forbidden by the rules that bound the ground he tread upon. His hands found the lighter in his blue vest pocket, fingering the silver casing and playing with the mechanized housing for the flame. He heard steps approaching from behind.

"Never thought I'd see you here Hunter."

Believe, when you lie
You will never need to recognize the source
Of deceit

"Well Harry, you learn something new everyday now don't you?" came Brad's irritated reply. He turned to come face-to-face with the half grinning visage of one of the richest men on Zi, who at the moment was wearing something a little more conservative than his usual attire of garish jackets and platform shoes. Harry had on the uniform of an Imperial Major, still proudly wearing the rank his father's money 'bought' him. Brad of course, being the mercenary's mercenary that he was, was still wearing his trademark blue vest, tan pants and black boots.

"Didn't think you a religious man Brad, you come here to pray?" asked Harry.

Brad rolled his eyes, raising his arms to take in all of the surrounding church courtyard, "Is that what this place is? I thought it was some fancy mercenary bar," he said sarcastically.

Harry rubbed his hand through hair coolly, "Funny Hunter, funny. I'll leave you to whatever it is you want to do here, but the Colonel wants to speak with you." With that, 'Major' Harry Champ stalked off, probably to go intimidate some new recruit with his rank.

"Idiot," Brad muttered.

A hand fell on his shoulder. He tensed and whirled, ready to deal with whoever it was who had gotten the drop on him. He came face to face with the smiling face of a gentle looking priest.

"We mustn't pass judgment on others so quickly," the man said kindly.

"Father, you almost had a meeting with a right fist," Brad said, letting his guard down.

"Easy my son, what makes you so restless?" the priest asked.

Brad paused a minute before continuing, "Well Father, it's been quite a while since I last had confession, and I was wondering-"

The priest cut him off gently, "Of course my son, if you will just follow me." With that, the holy man turned and began to walk off towards the main chapel towers, cutting a path through the gardens of the courtyard. As he walked past them, Brad took a moment to marvel at their beauty, colours intermingling in patterns that he almost couldn't comprehend.

It figures, he smirked, God's flowers have to look the best.

They walked up the main steps together, both silent, nothing but the echoes of their feet to feed conversation. Brad followed the priest into a smaller room where a set of many cubicle-like compartments were situated. The priest moved into the one while Brad moved another directly beside, drawing the curtain shut around him as he knelt down on the bench provided.

To renew your faith in God
You must believe, in your lie
The redemption is complete when you conceive

A wooden panel slid open next to his head, through the screen of which only the silhouette of the holy man could be seen.

"Now my son, please, tell me what is troubling you," he said gently.

Brad hesitated a moment before speaking, "Well Father, I'm a mercenary, a soldier for hire who fights for money, plain and simple."

The priest's voice reassured him, "Having a job is no sin my son, so long as it is honest."

That's the trouble, Brad thought sardonically.

"Well, I fight for the Guylos Empire, and I was recently in a battle," he elaborated.

"Wars can be forgiven if they are for a just cause my son," the priest said, "Now, tell me, what is it that troubles you so?"

"Well, I-" he began to say before stopping.

I may have caused the death of two former teammates.

And decline
To release your lives
Sacrificed to me

"I can't do this right now," he finished, standing up to leave the booth.

The priest's voice echoed after him, "You must have strength my son!"

Brad however, had already rounded a corner, the kindly priest's words falling on deaf ears as he reached the courtyard, troubled thoughts already assailing him. True, he had betrayed his friends. Former friends.

Were they ever my friends?

But the crux of the matter was that he may have killed them both because of his orders. He had seen the end of the battle. The collapsing valley had left little hope for any survivors, which due to the Rarehertz pulse and ensuing force field could not be searched for. He had made his orders due to the fact that Bit and Leon were in danger of stealing his glory away from him.

But the priest doesn't understand.

To make a confession you have to feel regret for what you have done.

I don't think I regret it.


A lamp lit the darkness of the upper administration levels of the Helic Republic's Zerros base, casting strange shadows throughout the various cubicles and desks scattered across the room's near the main office. Small shuffling noises could be heard coming through an open doorway, the portal which admitted the lamp light to the rest of the floor. Papers could be heard shuffling, pens could be heard clicking, and a weary sigh made itself evident to the still nighttime air of the office.

Reap your life, like you want to recognize, all you've come to

General Winters leafed through a stack of letters that he still had to write to families of the dead troops, insisting that he write them personally as some small measure of regret to the losses during the Rarehertz battle. His superiors had deemed the losses unacceptable, which he concurred with, however due to the fact that they resulted from forces beyond his control, he had not been reprimanded by his superiors, and President Gartland, who he was currently waiting for a phonecall from.

Reap your life
Veiled in shadow
Recognize

The battle had not been entirely a failure however. Whatever had become of the secrets in the cave were out of Guylos hands, and though the Republic could have used whatever advantage available against the Empire, it was simply good for them just to defeat the Empire in such a significant battle.

Just then the vid phone rang, breaking him out of his reverie. He activated the answer function of the private line, and President Gartland's face appeared to greet him.

"President Gartland sir, good to see you," he said cordially.

The President smiled faintly, the lines of age carrying upwards into his dark green eyes, seeming to almost add to his wisdom. His dark gray hair was still in full effect, having not succumbed to baldness like many other men his age.

"Likewise Trexen, likewise," the President replied, "But this is not a social call."

"Of course not sir," Winters agreed, "I assume I have new orders?"

The gray haired man nodded, "Indeed, but those will be delivered over a much more secure line."

"Of course," Winters concurred.

"Trexen, I know the Guylos forces were much more damaged than ours, however, the losses we experienced were quite grave. We can't have word of this battle getting out to public," the President warned.

"That would be a good idea sir," the General agreed once more.

"You are currently writing letters to the families of the pilots lost?" he asked.

Faces of the crucified
I can hear their screams tonight
Ever haunting me

The General's face didn't break for one moment, "Indeed, sir. Every last one of them."

"Well belay that order, we need to censor our outgoing messages in case Guylos taps our lines."

Winters nearly burst out loud, "But sir! These people have a right to know about their loved ones!"

President Gartland narrowed his eyes, "I am not saying to not tell them, I am merely saying not to let all of the messages out at once. We cannot let Guylos know we were hurt almost as much as them."

Winters eyes dropped to his desk, "Yes, sir."

"Good, now you'll receive your orders in the morning, I'll let you get some sleep." The President's face disappeared from the screen, leaving General Winters alone with the silence of his office once more.

Burn your lie into me

He finished the letter he had been working on and sent the transmit button on his telecomm.

"Computer, send this to co-ordinates 67W by 49N. To the address entitled, Toros Base."

I'm sorry Leon, that's the best I can do for you.


The desert heat shimmered in the wavering air of the morning, the sun glaring as it barely hung above the sand dunes. Dr. Steven Toros stretched and yawned as the sunlight pouring through the window awoke him from his resting place, a stabilizer cap that he had been working on the previous night.

This will make the perfect addition for Leon's Blade Liger when I finish, he yawned again, scratching his head as he poured a cup of coffee from the portable unit kept in the hanger for such instances as all night repair sessions. He noticed a pulsing light on the wall vid unit that indicated he had a message. He walked over to the wall and clicked the receive button on the console. A short text message came up on the screen.

"Interesting," he said aloud, "Just text."

He began to read the first few lines out to himself.

"Dear Dr. Steven Toros, I regret to inform you that Leon Toros is dead."

Penance can't absolve your sin, into me

The sound of a shattering coffee cup echoed across the hanger as hot coffee splashed against the Doc's leg. Stunned, he continued to read on silently.

Dear Dr. Steven Toros, I regret to inform you that Leon Toros is dead. Three days ago he fought in his last mission for the Helic Military, fighting valiantly with his squad to protect our line of artillery and then agreeing to undertake a dangerous mission that few others could pull off. Lieutenant Toros' efforts are a shining beacon and an example to others, and without his efforts the lives of his squad, Bit Cloud, and Republic Artillery Unit 239 would be forfeit. Though all the kind words in the world cannot bring him back, his sacrifice is testament to the monumental hope of ending this war soon, so that no further loss of life can be incurred. Your son made a valiant contribution to this endeavour, and will not be forgotten.

Gen. Trexen Winters

Upon finishing, Steven Toros stood there silently, still shocked at the message that had just been displayed to him.

Penance can't absolve your sin

The war had finally hit home. He had been waiting for news from the front lines, some sort of indication to how the war was going, and when he would see his family again. Well he had finally gotten his message, but it had taken the death of his son to get it. Slowly, he turned away from the message, still burning on the screen, and walked towards his work sitting unattended on the bench. He picked up a wrench and began working a bolt on the stabilizer cap.

All your belief cannot absolve your sin


Author notes: Like that ending? hah! I just felt like doing it that way. MY LORD! This chapter was sooo hard to write. Really pissed me off it did. I wish I could smear my brain on a page because then my ideas might actually come off the way I wanted them to. It was shorter than I wanted, but that was hard cuz this was a no action chapter. Once again, I can write Brad easy, but everyone else is hard to work with. And I keep on finding a way to work Harry in there for all you Harry fans! Sorry that took a while, but stay tuned and remember to READ AND REVIEW!!!! REVIEW!!! Later!