Zoids Neo Slash Zero: Believe
Chapter 6: Rise
Author Notes: Oh my frickin' God, sorry about the long ass wait. I just started first year university, so it's been hectic! Rise, rise, rise! I know I left you all with a cliff hanger, but I promise it will be resolved! Wow! A lot of reviewers! I like that! If you're waiting to see if Brad will get out of his predicament, and what Bit will do next, well this is the place! The mystery is revealed in Chapter Six: Rise.
Zero Stalker - Hehe, is this quick enough for ya? Keep in mind this is PG-13, so maybe not too gory okay? Thanks for dropping the review!
Silver1 - Hey! A new face reviewing! That's great! I'm glad you like the way I wrote about the character's mindset. I agree about Brad, I'm trying to tone him down a bit (he was drunk before!). By the way, you're writing is some of the best I've seen! Thanks for reviewing!
Mercenary Pen - What do you mean you predicted the super weapon? I haven't had any weapon appear yet? Oh well, get ready for a big rumble! Thanks for reviewing! Oh, by the way, you inspired my CAS system, so thanks!
BladesDeath - Well, being that the CAS simply adds armour, no, the Ligers can't perform the Strike Laser Claw. To do that, they would have to be modified. The CAS is just to change mission profiles. Heh, yeah, even I forgot about Naomi, and I really hope I make your list! Thanks for reviewing!
Bluefly7 - Lol, oh the evil cliff hanger! Sorry about that, but it had to be done! Yeah, the CAS system for the Ligers is neat, but I think I would pilot a Shield Panzer because of the big guns! Thanks for the review!
Disclaimer: Don't own Zoids nor Disturbed, and listen to Rammstein's new single, Amerika! I can't wait for the new CD, Reise Reise!
Now! On to the story!
Bit and Krys ran back out of the caves over to where the rest of their squadron was resting.
"What are you going to do?" Krys questioned, opening up his cockpit canopy to get some fresh air.
Dusk was approaching fast, the twin suns of Zi settling slowly behind the mountains in the distance. Long shadows were beginning to cover the land, sets of clouds moving across the sky at quick speeds, almost as if an storm was imminent.
"Well Two, you heard the passage," Bit said, "And if this one comes true like the other one, well, then we may be in for a rude surprise."
"But how do we get there?" Krys wondered.
"I'm going to contact General Winters at the base. If he gets a Whale King transport out here we should make it as night falls."
Krys grabbed his forehead, "We're actually gonna go through with this?"
Bit reached down to his comm gear, dialing up the frequency of the nearest Republic base so that he could be patched through to General Winters.
"We can't just sit on it," he said.
The Liger grumbled as the long range communicator connected to General Winters, via satellite courtesy of the Draccon area base. General Trexen Winters' grizzled face appeared on the screen, his red hair and gray eyes as intimidating as ever.
"Lieutenant Cloud, all went well I presume?" he asked.
"Almost sir," Bit began.
"Almost?" said Winters, "I don't like the sound of that."
"Well, sir, we found another inscription like the Lake Eve plaque."
Winters eyes widened visibly, "Well, that is news! What did it say?"
"Sir, I can't elaborate now, but if we don't get to Mount Iselina by nightfall something bad might happen. Something big." Bit said ominously.
General Winters narrowed his steely eyes, "What do you propose then soldier?"
"Mount Iselina is not as far from here as it is from the Draccon or Zerros bases. But if you reroute a Whale King already in transit, then we can reload and refuel while aboard and be at Iselina by night fall," Bit listed his plan.
"You're in luck," said Winters, "There are a few Whale Kings in transit between the two bases." he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I trust your judgment on this matter Lieutenant Cloud, let's just hope that something bad doesn't happen and that this is just a mistake."
"We all hope that sir," said Bit before signing off, "We all do."
The General gave him a salute before breaking the connection, leaving Bit alone for the moment with his thoughts.
Rise
Throw away
The charade of your life
The champion will rise. What does it all mean?
The Liger grumbled to him.
"What is it Liger?"
The Liger Zero growled and stamped its foot impatiently.
"Heh," Bit chuckled, "I want to go too, it looks like it's gonna be dangerous."
I'm worried about this champion.
Let the flame of my heart
Burn away
Your complacence tonight
"Well?" Krys' voice broke into his thoughts, "What did he say?
"Who? The Liger?"
"No," Krys said, confusion evident in his voice, "The General."
"Oh," said Bit, laughing, "There is a Whale King en route to our position to take us towards Mount Iselina."
"Sounds good to me," Krys agreed, "I'll let the rest of the squad know."
"Good. Thanks."
"No problem lead," said Krys, "Just being a good executive officer."
"Yeah," Bit added, "But you're an X-O who fights too."
"Be that as it may, it is my job," Krys chuckled, "What do you think we'll find up there?" he asked.
"I don't know," said Bit, "But I hope it isn't anything we can't handle."
Step, step, step.
He made his way slowly up the forest path, sounds of battle raging in the distance as he breached the depths of the fog enshrouded trees on his way up the side of the mount.
Step, step, step.
His slow methodical pace belied the gravity behind his passage, as the urgent sounds of gunfire drew nearer to his position. His feet crunched on the ground stone path beneath him, and he glanced upwards towards his destination some ways away up the mountain.
Step, step, step.
Treed forest gave way to the rough hewn facade of the mountain, its grizzled visage hidden from the world by the enveloping fog that was characteristic of the Iselina region. An errant rocket hit the forest edge to his left casting debris and shrapnel his way. A shard of wood lodged in his cheek just below his left eye.
Step, step, step.
Absently, he plucked the foreign object from his cheek, not noticing the decided lack of blood that would have been leaking from the face of any normal man. His trek continued onwards, unshaken. Undeterred.
Step, step, step.
A deep looking cave loomed ahead in the distance, unimpressed by the battle raging onwards beneath its watchful eye. His hard gaze fell across the entrance, to the blackened shadows hidden within. Still, he proceeded further.
Step, step, step.
Enveloped in the loving embrace of the darkened cave, his journey soon found him in a long, shadowy corridor. A soft glow could be seen up in the distance, its dim colour somehow bringing some semblance of warmth to the cave.
Step, step, step.
The light grew in brilliance the further down the corridor he got, and near its end he could make out the vaulted arches of what appeared to be an archaic antechamber; a portal to a much larger, prestigious chamber. His feet carried him closer to his goal.
Step, step, step.
He approached a large stone door, etched with various sigils and runic signs, ancient in origin. His hand reached forward, hovering over what appeared to be a picture of a man embroiled in a battle with a large winged beast. The door shook, glowing bright in response and soon opened upwards into the ceiling. He entered the chamber.
Step, step, step.
Three large statues sat in the middle of the antiquated chamber. Twin statues flanked the center sentinel, looming like guards over their charge, saurian teeth and claws glistening dully in the light provided.
Step, step, step.
He reached the center statue, finally halting his arduous trek. He took in its scope, leonine fangs bared in a defiant roar, long appendages springing from its back. He reached out his hand, longing to touch the beast's cold skin. Light sprang forth from his fingers, causing the stone to begin to crack. For the first time since he came to see that he was the One, the messenger, a smile crept onto his face. Now was the time for the awakening.
Now is the time to rise!
Gattling fire hissed and spat throughout the forest, intermingled with the cry of outraged warriors and Zoids alike. Shapes criss-crossed the battlefield in a twisted game of red rover, one where winning at all costs was mandatory for survival. Brad cursed as one of his Scout Foxes blew apart under the sustained barrage of the many white Stealth Vipers that had sprung up out of nowhere from within the dense forest.
This is insane...where did they come from?
I command you to rise
Wash away
The decay of your life
He dodged to the right as a barrage of rockets barely missed the Fox's vitals, passing under his Zoid and detonating in the small lake next to the mountain. He step pivoted the Fox's left paw, pulling a low U-turn while training his omni-directional laser vulcan on the trio of Vipers that had fired upon him. A gentle tap of the trigger sent beams of deadly energy probing out, tagging each of the Vipers in the head, putting each to the ground, out of the battle.
Feel the light of your eyes
Find the way
Through the darkness tonight
Fearing no one
"I need some help here," came the calm voice of one of his more skilled pilots, who was currently fending off a group of six Vipers with his gattling gun in sustained fire mode, foot locks down. He set off his smoke dischargers to spoil their aim and opened fire from within the cloud. Smiling at his ingenuity, Brad bounded over to help.
"On my way," he said, opening fire as he came, the laser enhanced rounds ripping into the segmented sections of two of the Vipers. The other four were forced into submission by way of the myriad bullets being fired from the other Scout Fox's position.
"Lead look out behind you!" someone warned as he noticed another one of the snake-like Zoids approaching from the rear. He hit the button for the net gun installed in the tail of the Shadowfox, the electromagnetic net springing out and ensnaring the would be ambusher. It became entangled and immediately was wracked with spasms from the shocking effect of the net.
Come, take me away
Remove the fear from my eyes
Feel the flame of my heart
"Someone help me!" screamed one of his men as two of the ivory Vipers latched onto his Zoid with their teeth. Brad wheeled around, but it was too late. Strange white tendrils snaked out from the segmented sections of the Vipers' bodies, finding their way into various sections of the hapless Scout Fox. The vulpine Zoid began to shake and writhe, as if it were in agony. Then something strange happened. Sections of the Zoid where the tendrils were implanted began to turn the same white colour as the Vipers.
"What's happening! I'm losing response!" the pilot stammered frantically as his Zoid finished turning white, the last section to change being the cockpit. Now completely white, the Scout Fox shook its head vigourously as the Vipers backed away and re-entered the fray. The possessed Fox promptly ejected its pilot, sending him to crash into a stand of trees. It turned its gaze towards a stunned Brad, its orange eyes glowing with a new sort of sentience.
Burning away
All conversation tonight
Hearing no one
Brad barely moved in time as the now enemy Fox began to open fire on him.
They changed it somehow!
He dodged backwards, skipping and prancing out of the way of gattling fire, the spray of bullets ripping up the forest loam around him. He was so busy dodging he failed to notice the three Stealth Vipers creeping up on his aft sensors. It was only when one began to snake around his ankles that he registered their presence, frantically aiming his laser vulcan over his Zoid's shoulder and pegging one in the head. Unfortunately the others entangled his legs and brought him to the ground. He fought to rise up, but the fangs of the other two Vipers began to reach for his Zoid's neck.
As more and more pieces of the statue cracked and crumbled, light began to appear between the splits, blinding in radiance but also comforting in a way. A series of explosions roused his attention however, as he cast his glance angrily towards the mouth of the cave.
Now rise
Turn away
From the shame of your life
They do not understand. They must be made to understand.
Pulling his hand from the leonine statue for the moment, he paced over to one of the saurian statues. His gaze fell over the feral face of the monster, its neck arched back in a silent scream. He reached out with his hands, grasping the beast around the foot, light escaping his finger tips as it had before, except the process was much faster this time. Pieces of stone flaked away, and the light faded to reveal a blue metallic surface beneath. Soon enough, the creature was revealed in its entirety, and its eyes promptly flared to life, amethyst colour glowing coldly. It threw its head back and let out a booming roar, shaking the very foundations of the cave. He approached the other statue and repeated the same process, freeing the twin beast from its granite prison. Soon he was left with the remaining statue and the two hissing and snapping saurians.
Feel the light from my eyes
Offering
Consolation tonight
Fearing no one
He turned to the twin cobalt sentinels, "Go. Go now and show the intruders our message."
The beasts regarded him for a moment before turning and stalking out of the cave, intent on the battle down below.
This is it! thought Brad.
He saw a flash of gold and the severed head of one of the Vipers fell to the ground with a loud crash, rolling several meters away to rest at the feet of a new Zoid. This one was blue and had several large boosters strapped to its back. Another Zoid skidded to a stop, orange armour gleaming as the glow from its claws faded
Is that who I think it is?
"Bit?" came Brad's astonished voice.
"Brad?" said the voice of the lead pilot in the Fierce Lion Squadron. Only now had he noticed the downed Shadowfox, which had freed itself from the grasp of the remaining Stealth Viper.
"What are you doing here?" came his suspicious reply. "You're with the Republic, we should open fire on you."
Bit sounded surprised, "Are you kidding? You barely have a force to speak of!"
Brad took that moment to survey his remaining men. Only four had survived the onslaught of Stealth Vipers, who at the moment were being dispatched by the Fierce Lion Squadron.
Brad growled in frustration, "Bit, what do you want from here?"
Bit's eyes narrowed, "Brad I could ask you the same thing...and why are you fighting for the Empire?"
Do you really think I want it like you do?
Brad looked away, "I have my reasons, and as for why I'm here, we heard some rumours."
"What kind of rumours?"
Brad narrowed his eyes, "Why should I tell you Bit?"
Bit sighed, "Oh come on Brad, we were on the same team for the longest time!"
"People change Bit," said Brad, "I've changed."
"That's bullshit, and you know it," Bit said angrily.
If you only knew, thought Brad.
"Well, at least tell me what just happened," he said aloud.
"Fine," Brad grudgingly agreed, "We happened to be patrolling here when we were ambushed by innumerable amounts of these white Stealth Vipers."
"Interesting," said Bit.
"What?"
"We've been following leads on white Zoids all around the continent," Bit elaborated. "Was their any other strange behaviour from these Zoids?"
"Aside from them attacking out of nowhere?" Brad asked sarcastically.
"Obviously," Bit fired back.
"Well, now that you mention it, they seemed to be able to infect our Zoids and turn them against us."
Bit's eyebrows rose, "Really? Did your Zoids eject their pilots?"
"How do you know that they do that?" Brad asked.
"This confirms the rumours then," Bit concluded.
"Indeed," said Brad.
"What do you mean?"
Now, I cannot stop this
"I'm here because of rumours as well," Brad informed Bit, "I head up a section of special forces in the Imperial Army."
Bit chuckled, "That explains it. Of course, Brad and his multi-purpose Shadowfox would be greatly suited for this type of mission profile."
"How did you know we were here?" Brad changed the subject, tone of voice turning wary again.
"Well, there was another plaque, and-"
He was cut off by the sound of two roars. He wheeled the Schneider around in time to make out the forms of two large Zoids pacing over the hill beside the forest. In the waning light of dusk their blue armour glimmered faintly, the silhouettes of two large back mounted gun barrels becoming visible against the dark backdrop of the forest. Violet eyes glared menacingly down at them from the ridge before each let out another ear piercing shriek.
"What are those!" came Private Kaj's astonished voice.
"Cut the chatter," Bit ordered, back in the guise of squad leader.
"Lead, I think those are Crystal Saurers!" Krys Vilnen's alarmed voice chimed in.
"What? I thought they were extinct!"
Indeed, the Crystal Saurer was a Zoid that dated back to the days before the old Guylos Empire. Based off the Genosaurer, the Crystal Saurer was a nasty Zoid to deal with, it's main armament being twin back mounted advanced laser cannons. However the most devastating weapons on the Crystal Saurer included its extendible grappling claws through which electric shocks could be delivered, and its best weapon, the nose mounted twin Light Particle Cannons, which could fire twin beams of particles for devastating damage.
"Look alive Lions," Bit warned, "These two are dangerous and are packing. Avoid those grappling hooks and be sure to send out a warning when you see those particles charging up."
He turned the Schneider towards Brad, "Are you going to help?"
Pure emotion
Falling from my eyes
Brad looked to be fighting an internal battle, but he eventually conceded, "Fine, but don't expect too much of my men, we're not sacrificial lambs for you."
Bit shook his head, "Whatever."
At that moment both Saurers let out twisted shrieks and charged out of the forest towards them, boosters propelling them to insane speeds.
"They're too fast!" screamed one Scout Fox pilot who froze with terror. He paid dearly for his mistake as his Fox was caught in the head with a blast from twin 120 millimeter laser cannons. The Scout Fox hit the ground in a heap, its head a twisted mass of slagged metal.
"Lions, split up by grouping!" Bit ordered, "Twelve! Get to the forest edge and take a shot when you're clear!" Bit said, heeling the Schneider around to charge the leftmost Crystal Saurer. The saurian, seeming to sense their plan, turned its head towards the two Panzer units, pausing a moment before letting loose a twin stream of light charged particles. Caught off guard, Private Kaj's Shield Panzer was caught full in the chest, sending her Zoid hurtling into the forest.
"Twelve!" Bit hollered, "Report!"
He got no response from her downed Zoid, which he had lost sight of after it hurtled into the forest.
Shit.
"Heads up Lions! I want Seven and Eight to protect Eleven, that's our only remaining Panzer unit." Bit ordered. "Two, you take the Shield Jagers and buzz these Saurers at close range so they can't open fire with those long range cannons."
"Gotcha Lead," said Krys' determined voice.
The four Jager units ignited their boosters, blasting off towards the first Saurer and opening fire with their impact cannons.
Bit turned his attention to the Imperial forces who were having trouble with the other Crystal Saurer. The remaining three Scout Foxes and the Shadowfox had been engaged in a dangerous dance with the Saurer's twin cannons, but it had yet to engage its Light Particle Cannons. The Saurer dodged a hail of chain gun fire, slapping one of the Foxes across the face with its segmented tail before spinning back to another and letting loose with one of its leg mounted rocket boxes. The dumb-fire rockets peppered the Scout Fox along its mid-section, leaving it vulnerable long enough to be caught with a blast from the twin laser cannons.
"Scout Nine!" Brad warned, "It's gonna use its grappling claws!"
But his warning came too late as the Fox tried to get a drop on the Saurer only to be caught in mid-leap as the saurian Zoid launched its grappling hook arms, latching on to either side of the Fox's head, yanking it to the ground. The stunned Fox could do little as the Crystal Saurer activated its electro-shock system, sending tendrils of electricity skittering down the cables attached the sides of the Fox's cockpit. The Zoid began to writhe and spark in twitches as thousands of volts of electricity coursed through its cockpit and the systems. The comm-link had been left on and the remaining warriors cringed at the electrified pilot's screams.
"Alright Schneider group," said Bit, "We deploy buster blades and come at it from each side, just like when we took out the Gordos."
Bit turned towards Brad and the remaining Scout Fox, "Can you guys discharge some smoke in the Saurer's direction to distract it?"
You are vindicating
Brad groaned, already angry at having lost most of his pilots, "Fine, but you better get him fast."
The two vulpine Zoids charged the metallic demon, each splitting into an opposite direction while discharging inky black clouds of smoke. The emitters belched out two ever expanding clouds, turning the dim twilight into a pitch black night.
"Now Lions!" Bit ordered, setting at a run into the smoke cloud. The remaining three Shield Schneiders behind him followed suit, charging through the smoke cloud and deploying their blades. The Saurer fired with its cannons into the cloud, doing little damage. It grew frustrated and lowered its head, spewing out twin fingers of destruction from its Light Particle Cannons. The beams cut through the cloud with a small shockwave, clearing the smoke and barely missing Bit.
"Whoah!" Bit exclaimed as he nearly had his rump singed by charged particles. But he had reached his target, and he raked his buster blades along the side of the Saurer, his mates following along either side. Bit pivoted and turned back taking another pass at the stunned Zoid.
Liberating
"Seven Blades Attack!"
With a loud clash, the severed head of the Crystal Saurer fell to the ground, its jaw still working in a feral attempt to bite at Bit's Zoid.
"Two report!" Bit called.
"I'm havin' a little trouble here Lead," came Krys Vilnen's strained voice.
Indeed the first Crystal Saurer had been quite a handful for the Jager units to handle. Three of the units were out of the battle already, each command system frozen by a Light Particle Beam that had passed too close to their position. The remaining Panzer was having a difficult time finding a lock as the Saurer was constantly dodging by using its high speed boosters. The other three Jagers were too busy avoiding fire to try and get a hit in on the enemy Zoid.
"Hold on two, we're coming," Bit was about to ask Brad to help when he noticed he was missing. He turned, noting the blips on his sensors that were heading up the mountain.
Bastard!
"Here I come Two," he said, pushing Brad's betrayal out of his mind. They charged the other Crystal Saurer, catching it off guard long enough to knock it onto its side.
"I'll finish it!" Krys said, moving in.
"No wait, it'll grappl-" but before Bit could finish, twin grappling arms shot out, catching Krys' Zoid around the midsection. The saurian Zoid delivered a quick shock, dropping the Shield Jager limply to the ground before beginning to reel it in. Bit watched in horror as the Saurer began to charge up its particle cannons. He spurred the Schneider onwards as the light built on the Crystal Saurers nose.
I'm not going to make it!
Before he could do anything, however, two huge beams lanced out of the forest, catching the Saurer full force in the face, causing a huge blast of charged particles to turn the night forest into a supernova.
Saviors of my soul
After the blinding flash subsided, Bit opened his eyes to see Krys' Zoid still intact, if only slightly scorched, and the body of the Crystal Saurer, much of its upper half melted, fall to the ground in a heap.
"It's just not a party without big guns," came the voice of Private Kaj, her Shield Panzer limping slowly out of the forest, a large hole in its side.
"Twelve, you have no idea how good it is to see that you're alright," Bit said, beaming, "And I'm sure Two agrees."
Krys would have replied if his brain would let him get over the shock of facing a charged particle cannon point at blank and surviving.
"Status report," Bit called.
"Lion Two," said Krys, finally finding his voice, "Systems toasty, but nominal."
"Three, coming back on-line."
"Lion Four, likewise."
"Lion Five, ready to dance."
"Six is go."
"Seven, ready to party."
"Lion Eight, slight damage in the drive system, but ready."
"Nine is up and running again."
"Ten, boosters primed."
"Lion Eleven, full ammo load."
"Lion Twelve, ready to blast something," said Private Kaj, sounding pleased with herself.
It was then that Bit remembered their purpose for being there. The full moon could be seen rising over the mountain, and as of yet, nothing had happened.
Unless you count those two demons.
"Lead I got a bad feeling about this," voiced Krys.
"So do I Two, so do I."
Two Zoids paced along the mountain path, parting the fog on their way towards the higher peaks. Brad Hunter smirked as he trudged along.
The key is to let them do the work, and you take the glory.
"Two, do you see that?" he asked his wingman.
"Yeah, it looks like there's a light up there." replied Two.
Up ahead several hundred meters there appeared to be a cave where flashes of light strobed intermittently through the night, lighting up sections of the forest for brief periods of time.
"That must be what those two Crystal Saurers were protecting," Brad surmised out loud.
"Should we check it out?" the Scout Fox pilot asked.
Brad nodded, urging his Shadowfox towards the cave. He failed to notice the full moon rising higher in the sky.
It was time. The final cracks had fallen away from the statue, revealing a beast that appeared like no other. Its radiant glow all but lit up the cave, the light so intense that it began to melt some of the stone on the ceiling. He smiled, knowing that this beast was now part of him, a messenger as well. The moon reached its highest point in the sky, allowing moonlight to flood into the cave and fight against the growing light from within. Bathed in the ethereal glow, the beasts eyes flared to life.
Now we will rise together, to proclaim the message together.
"We have to move now!" Bit exclaimed, turning to set off up the mountain. He didn't get very far, as the ground below began to shake with tremors.
"What's goin' on!" Krys burst out.
"I think we're about to find out!" was Bit's reply.
A large blast was seen near the top of the mountain and a large glowing beast, which could only have been a Zoid, stepped out onto the platform of rock below the cave. As the glow died down, Bit got his first view of the new adversary. It's glowing white form glistened pristinely in the moonlight, a bloody red cross marking it's chest. A large horn dotted its forehead near the middle of its face, and behind it appeared to be a very thin, but very sharp blade, sharpened almost to the point of being mono-filament. There also appeared to be numerous cannons mounted to each front leg, gun barrels glinting dangerously. It opened its mouth in a roar, silver teeth looking sharper than those on any other Zoid. It then deployed two appendages on its back, energy crackling back and forth between them and shaping into the shape of wings. It flapped them experimentally for a moment and then took to the sky.
"Lead, this does not look good." Krys voice wavered a bit.
"We had better move out of here," Bit cautioned, as the flying Liger-type Zoid flew around the tip of the mountain and shot off at impossible speeds.
Those trapped in the fog will see the great champion rise at Mount Iselina.
Author Notes: Well, that chapter is done! Ooh, pretty lights and a new Liger type...what more could you ask for? I also think the Crystal Saurers kick ass. Yes, I know that took a long while to update, but that's because I've been busy with my new school. In all actuality, it took maybe a few hours to write collectively, so there! Let me know what you thought, so REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
