The Healing Power Of Music
Chapter 4: Headstrong
Author Notes: Well, I was gonna update my other story first (next chapter is one fifth written), but since I got so many reviews I think you guys deserve another update! Wow! A lot of people of reviewed! It makes me feel awesome to see that review alert in my hotmail account. On to the reviewers!
Mercenary Pen - I can't have mood setting chaps all the time lol! Or can I? I know how you feel, but I need that chapter to set up this one! I hope you enjoy it and thanks for the review!
Princess Paine of Darkness - We'll have to see, I mean, the Blitz Team only has two Zoids! Thanks for the review!
ShadowLiger - Wow! I have no clue what battle mode means what, except for 0999, so if you could help me out on that end or something, that would be great! Just give me a list in a review or something! Thanks! And thanks for reviewing my fic!
SulliMike23 - Hey, I'm glad you like it so far! I don't think this angle has ever been done, though it was almost a fluke because it started out as a one-shot! Thanks for the review!
Kitai Matsuru - I know what you mean about busy life! I gotta go away to university in a week! Wow, I'm glad you think my writing is good, and I'm also happy you like the songs! This chapter will not disappoint, I assure you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Zoids! Oh well.
Now! On to the story!
The room buzzed with excitement, as if something big were about to happen. Many of the various important looking people were gathered near television screens, and a number of them had taken up station beside the large wall on the east side of the room.
"What are they waiting for?" Bit whispered to Brad.
Brad shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, but we better get started playing. That's what they pay us for after all."
"Ready guys?" Jamie asked, readying his drum sticks against his snare drum.
"Yeah, let's go," said Bit. He approached the microphone to announce his first song, but was halted by the large man with gray hair that he had seen earlier.
"May I make an announcement first?" the man asked.
"I guess so," Bit said uncertainly, "The microphone's all yours."
"Thank you young man," the man said. "Attention everyone! If you take a look to our monitors we will begin tonight's festivities!"
Bit looked on in wonder as every single monitor flashed, bringing to life the image of a battlefield with one team of Zoids facing off against another.
"Now the battle will commence in one minute, so please remember to place your bets!" the man concluded, handing Bit the microphone. "You may begin now," he informed Bit.
"Sure thing," Bit mumbled.
So these people just bet on Zoid battles huh? I bet there are some pretty rich bets judging by how these people throw money around.
He stepped back up to the microphone to call out his first song as the battle on the television got underway.
"This song is called Headstrong."
"Leon! Are you okay?" Leena shouted as Leon's Shield Liger was batted from the air by the tail of a jumping War Shark. The blue Liger hit the ground hard, rolling until it came to a crashing halt against a large boulder, which promptly shattered under the kinetic impact of the Liger.
"Yeah," Leon groaned, "I'm okay, just get running for harder ground okay?"
"Why?" she wondered if a few screws had been knocked loose from his head.
"Because," he continued, "Those War Sharks can't travel underground if it's too hard packed." He fired a trio of impact cannon shots at Major Polta's War Shark, which dodged by heading back under the sand.
"Then what?" she wondered, "I just can't leave you!"
"Leena, your Zoid can easily take them if they're above ground." Leon pleaded, "Now go!" He took off after two of the sharks which were circling nearer and nearer to Leena's Zoid.
"Okay, but make sure you get out okay, alright Leon?" she pleaded.
Another explosion rocked Leon's Zoid, "I'll be fine," he grimaced, "Get going!"
She wheeled her Zoid around, bringing her Dibison into a run that quickly turned into a gallop at its top speed. Fortunately for her, the War Sharks hadn't noticed her departure just yet, and she managed to get quite a ways away before they noticed she had gone missing. She chanced a look at her rear scopes, noticing Leon in a dance with two of the War Sharks. She cheered silently as Leon managed to catch one with a shield charge and shots from his impact cannon, only to wince as he was caught with a barrage of torpedoes from another War Shark. Leon's Zoid hit the ground and didn't get up, nor did it move.
I hope he's okay, she prayed silently.
However, it was at this moment that the remaining three War Sharks realized their quarry had escaped, and they quickly turned and followed her underground, making up the distance at a frightening rate. She looked at her forward scopes and saw a large building in the distance. As she got a closer sensor scan, it appeared to be some sort of old Zoid arena.
That has to have a concrete base! I have to get near it!
She urged her Zoid to a faster speed, but it wasn't enough. She began to notice the crests of the War Sharks breaking the sands. She screamed as they leapt out of the ground and opened their jaws, energy glowing brightly inside.
The guitar broke out into a fast tune, being accompanied by an equally frantic drum beat and bass support.
Circling your, circling your, circling your head,
Contemplating everything you ever said
Bit watched the monitors as a Zoid battle got underway. A trio of red Iron Kongs were situated in some sort of strange arena, where there were thousands of spectator seats, but no fans. They approached out of a set of doors and Bit wondered just what they were doing there.
Now I see the truth, I got doubt
A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out
He looked closer and noticed another Zoid approaching at the other side of the arena. It was one of the largest Zoids Bit had ever seen. The assembled guests gasped in wonder as it plodded slowly out of its hanger and into the arena. It was elephant-like in shape, complete with a set of ears and a large, but dangerous looking trunk.
See you later
I see your fantasy, You want to make it a reality paved in gold
Bit almost chuckled to himself. The people at the party were just placing bets on Zoid battles, nothing more, nothing less. No wonder it had to be done in secret; monetary bets on Zoids outside of sanctioned betting casinos was certainly forbidden. But so what? These people just wanted to make their boring business lives a little more exciting. What was the harm in that?
See inside, Inside of our heads yeah
Well now that's over
Almost in contradiction to his thoughts, large vents opened up around the arena each aiming downwards towards the floor. Simultaneously, large flames gushed out of the ports, turning the surrounding area into a ring of fire. Bit's eyes opened wide in wonder, and Jamie almost hitched in his tempo. Brad, however, remained cool as usual and didn't miss a beat in his song.
I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
Bit couldn't help but feel that something was strange about these battles, aside from the betting and the wall of flames around the arena. Something unsettling about this type of battle bothered him.
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
The lead Iron Kong broke into a loping run towards the elephant's position, arms swinging in the Kong's parody of a man sprinting. It wound up with a fist cocked back in the intention of delivering a crushing blow to the other Zoid's cockpit.
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong we're Headstrong
It was met with a swinging trunk and claw attachment that caught it in the face. The Kong's neck snapped back, clotheslined by its own momentum. The elephant pulled back with the trunk and hurled the Kong, an impressive feat considering the immense weight of the other Zoid, and it landed at the feet of its comrades, frozen and out of the battle. The crowd ooohed and ahhed as the other two Kongs looked at each other before opening up with their arsenals.
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
Bit continued to play, even through the impressive explosions from the Kongs' shoulder mounted missile launchers as they impacted against the elephant in a growing fireball. When the smoke cleared however, the black Zoid was still standing, completely without a scratch as it disengaged an enormous energy shield.
I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong
I can't give everything away
The elephant trumpeted a battle cry and charged towards the two stunned Kongs. One was so surprised it barely managed to move before the black Zoid hammered into it with its tusks, sending it to the ground with its command system frozen. The other Kong caught a full blast from the elephant's cannons, causing it to stumble into the wall of flames before also falling. Bit watched in horror as the pilot jumped out of the cockpit, on fire, much to the delight of the crowd watching.
I won't give everything away
These people, Bit thought to himself, were certainly sick. What kind of people cheered such battles? He frowned as the side wall that many of the guests were standing next to lowered into the floor, revealing a large pane of glass and another arena down below.
The large man got on his microphone, so Bit halted his singing and they played an instrumental section while he was talking.
"Place your bets quickly, our next bout is unexpectedly coming to us!"
Bit watched as a Dibison stumbled into the arena, followed closely by three War Sharks that had to jump onto land as the reached the arena. The bison type Zoid promptly turned around and blasted the Sharks, putting them each out of commission. The assembled crowd groaned as the Bison's cockpit opened, revealing a girl with pink hair who was yelling at the downed Sharks.
That's Leena! Bit realized.
"Don't worry folks," said the large, gray haired man got on the mic again, "I, Alteil, personally assure this fight is not over!"
Bit watched in horror as the flame vents came down again and blasted their flames, causing Leena to wince and jump back inside of her cockpit. In the corner of the arena a hatch opened, allowing another combatant to enter.
It's the elephant Zoid again!
Bit looked around frantically, but no one seemed to notice anything amiss.
Bit turned away from his microphone, him and Brad still playing instrumental. "I have to go, cover for me," he said.
"What!" Brad hissed, "What are you doing!"
"Uhh...," Bit thought of an excuse, "I have to go to washroom," he said lamely. He thrust his guitar into Brad's hands, "Keep playing, I'll be right back!"
Before Brad could argue any further, Bit ran off through the back curtains, intent on finding a way to help Leena out of that dangerous battle. Brad coolly ran a hand through his hair and continued playing Headstrong the best he could.
Bit ran frantically down the hall, looking for something, anything that he could use to help Leena.
This place must have a Zoid hanger of some sort!
He stumbled around a corner, seeing a pair of guards stationed in front of a pair of doors. He barely made it back around to the other hallway before they saw him. He stood there, panting, trying to think of a plan to get past the guards. He didn't have to.
"Hey," said one of the guards, "You wanna go get some coffee?"
"Sure," said the other, "There's no point in guarding, everyone's watching the battles."
Bit couldn't believe his luck as he watched the two guards walk down the hall, presumably to go get their coffee. Not one to waste an opportunity, Bit ran back to the double doors and pushed against them. Luckily they weren't locked and he soon found himself in a small Zoids hanger that had a long tunnel at the end of it.
I know, I know all about
Bit's eyes widened. This place was a secret organization to have so many Zoids! How else could they have been able to put on those sorts of unsanctioned fights? That meant that the danger for the pilots was certainly greater, and there may not even be rules.
I know, I know all about your motives inside, and your decision to hide
That was why they were so far out in the desert, hiding in a secret complex. They knew what they were doing was illegal and they didn't want themselves nor their clients and backers to be found out. Bit ran from Zoid to Zoid, hoping to find one with an open cockpit so that he could help Leena. To his disbelief, he found the cockpit left open on a Command Wolf Juggernaut unit, its white surface gleaming under the lights of the hanger. Bit climbed up the side and jumped in, hoping his Zoid skills hadn't gotten rusty since he stopped battling.
Leena winced as she crashed into the ground once more, victimized again by the trunk of the elephant-like Zoid. She had quickly dispatched the War Sharks once they had come on land, but then this large beast of a Zoid had attacked her. Now she was barely struggling to keep her Zoid conscious. She looked up in time to see the trunk swinging down again at her Zoid's head. She barely managed to dodge the trunk grazing the Dibison's skull. The blow still rattled her and he felt her vision blur from the blow. That was when the black Zoid was blown back several steps by a pair of blasts. She couldn't quite tell because her head was spinning but she thought she saw a white wolf Zoid before she passed out momentarily.
Bit charged the elephant Zoid, letting loose with the Command Wolf Juggernaut's quad mortar launchers just as it was about to finish off the Dibison.
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong, to take on anyone
The black Zoid didn't stay down long as it rose and turned menacingly toward Bit, opening fire with its myriad cannons. Bit dodged the Juggernaut to the side before returning fire with his mortar launchers, causing heavy damage to the stands behind elephant.
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're Headstrong
Bit pressed the advantage given by the mortars on his Zoid, moving in closer in a bold move meant to blast the thick hide of the other Zoid. He fired, however the black Zoid dodged, swinging its grappling trunk and seizing the Command Wolf by the shoulder, pulling it in slowly into range of the short range guns. Bit smiled to himself, as he thought of an escape plan.
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
Twin panels on the Wolf's face flipped down, letting loose with a barrage of eight dumb-fire rockets each, peppering the elephant's face and causing it to stumble backwards towards the flames.
"Now it's my turn," said an angry female voice. Leena had rejoined the fray.
I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong
"Megalomax, fire!" she yelled, laughing as the multiple beams hammered the elephant further, causing it to fall into the flames ringing the arena. The fire from Leena's Zoid also did considerable damage to the arena wall, causing it to crack and crumble. She was about to finish the Zoid off further when Bit halted her.
"No! Let's go now!" he ordered, turning his mortars on the already damaged wall, blowing a hole to the outside.
"Bit?" Leena's voice sounded astonished.
"Just go!" he yelled. Leena remained silent, too stunned to reply as her Zoid galloped out of the hole and into the night. Bit weighed his options, noticing the black elephant beginning to get up. He set his Zoid on auto-run and ran out the hole, opening his cockpit as he did. He climbed down the leg as far as he could, no small feat on a running Zoid, and jumped the rest of the way to the ground, rolling and bouncing for a bit. He turned to watch the Wolf go, followed shortly out of the arena by the slower elephant.
Now to get back to the band.
He snuck back through the hole, climbing into the stands where the fire dischargers had been knocked out. He crept slowly around the seats until he was near the far end of the window. He spotted a door and slowly made his way to it, opening and closing it as quietly as he could. Fortunately for him everyone was watching the chase of the elephant and the rogue Juggernaut.
Brad spotted him and waved him over. "Where have you been!?" he hissed.
"I'll tell you later," Bit shushed him as the gray haired man known as Alteil approached, "Just act natural!"
"Well, gentlemen, I'm sorry to say that we will have to cut tonight's performance short," said Alteil.
Brad opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a cross look from Bit.
"But," Alteil continued, "You will receive full payment nonetheless."
He handed Brad a computer disk, "This is a numbered account with your payment, you may leave the way you came. Thanks you," with that, Alteil moved off to deal with some of the guests, who seemed to be irate over the outcome of the battle.
Brad and Jamie broke down their equipment in silence, giving Bit strange glances the whole time. They walked down the long hall back to where their van was parked, loaded their equipment and headed back towards Romeo City.
Wow. I didn't know Leena was a Zoid warrior!
"Hey Bit what gives?" Jamie asked, "Where were you?"
Bit struggled for an answer, "Well...you know that white Command Wolf?"
Brad nodded, "It was kind of hard not to notice. It put all of those big wigs into a bad mood."
"Well...that was kinda sorta me piloting it," Bit said sheepishly.
"What!" Jamie nearly had a heart attack. "Just what were you doing down there!?"
"Oh come on Jamie," Bit replied, "Didn't you see the way they battled? It was dangerous and completely illegal!"
"You know," added Brad, "He's right. As a former warrior myself I wouldn't want to fight in one of those battles."
"See? Brad agrees with me."
"But," Brad added, "That still doesn't explain why you so abruptly left when the second fight started."
"Well," said Bit, poking his index fingers together, "There's this girl, and-"
"Why am I not surprised," Jamie groaned as they headed into the Romeo City night.
Disclaimer: Don't own Headstrong. That's by Trapt.
Author Notes: Ta dah! Well, it's done. Hope it meets up to all of your expectations! Enjoy, and don't forget to review review REVIEW!
Until next time! Kegger007 out!