The Healing Power Of Music
Chapter 5: Click Click Boom
Author Note: I am very sorry everybody! That was a terribly long wait, but as Godsmack says, "I'm alive, and still kickin'!" So, now that I've gotten all the details of my first few weeks of university out of the way (bills, work, notes, parties, etc) I'm ready to add a new chapter to this particular story! Thanks to all those who reviewed!
RaiKinoshin - Headstrong kicks ass my man. It's one of my favourites to listen to before playing hockey. Thanks for reviewing!
Merceneary Pen - You'll have to read on to see what Zoid Bit's gonna have, or even if he'll still fight. Uranium-tipped slugs? That's some serious stuff!
BladesDeath - It really is a great song, and thank you for the compliment on the Bit/Leena parts...it means a lot coming from an avid reader of Bit/Leena fiction. Thanks for reviewing!
ShadowLiger - Hey! Thanks for the info! It will help, I assure you! Lol, Skittles rock don't they? Reviewing is cool and so are you! Thanks!
Doctor Kiba - Trapt are a pretty good band aren't they? You're going to their concert? Lucky! Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for the review as well. It means a lot to me.
Disclaimer: Don't own Zoids! Me being a poor university student and all...damn I sure wish I did! I spent all my money on Kendo.
Now! On to the story.
It was early morning at the Toros base, the sun just beginning to rise over the steppes to the east of the base, casting a vermilion glow over the squat form of the hanger complex left over from the wars between the Guylos/Neo Zenevas Empires and Helic Republic. The base was, for the most part, quiet on this sleepy morning, having had a strange night the previous evening, culminating in an ambush by a group of gambling Zoid battle enthusiasts, and that was putting it lightly, known as the Backdraft Group. But what furthered the evening's oddities was the appearance of a white Command Wolf Juggernaut that had helped the Blitz Team escape from the clutches of the nefarious organization.
Still, for all the exhaustion of the previous day's events, one person was still up and about at the early hour of the morning, rummaging around for various things, a clipboard, a pen, and a list. He donned his white lab coat and walked down the corridor where all of the rooms for guests and team members alike were located. Dr. Steven Toros approached the door marked "Leena's Room, stay out or die" gleefully, pulling his hand back and rapping on the door loudly before barging through the door.
The dim room was immediately brightened by the harsh hallway lights, causing a startled but sleepy Leena to wince and squint, shielding her eyes with her hand.
"Wake up!" the Dr. Toros said happily, "It's time to wake up!"
"Dad," Leena groaned tiredly, pulling a pillow over her head, "It's six in the morning!"
"Exactly!" exclaimed Toros, "It's time to start a new day!"
The sound of slow footsteps approached the doorway, and a haggard looking Leon Toros appeared in the door frame, propping his head against the side, rubbing his eyes blearily.
"What's with all the noise?" he got out around a large yawn.
"Yeah Dad, what gives?" came Leena's muffled voice from under her pillow.
Toros turned to Leon, "Today's the day we interview for a new pilot for the Blitz Team!"
Leena shot upright in bed, "You mean you finally put posters out?"
Toros nodded sagely, "Yes, yes, I dropped an advertisement wherever I could," he stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I think some warriors must have seen you guys fight those Blackdaft guys."
Leon grabbed his forehead, "Dad, they were Backdraft, and no laughing matter."
But Dr. Toros was already off in his own world, "I can't wait! Maybe the new pilot will have a cool new Zoid for me to look at!"
He walked off, stars in his eyes and Zoids in his head towards the kitchen. Leon sighed and looked to Leena, who had fallen back asleep.
Why do I feel this is only the beginning of the madness?
Guygalos...damn.
The blonde stood atop a tall precipice of rock outside of the largest city this side of the Guylos Empire's lands, Guygalos. Urban sprawl stretched below and made quite the ways away towards the horizon, a testament to the size of the Imperial Capital. He checked watch for the umpteenth time that day.
I better get moving.
Bit walked over to his trusty jeep, which he bought when he was a junk dealer. A guy needs transportation other than some dusty old truck after all. He made his way through the canyon roads that lead into one of the only paths into the city, which is what made them so defensible and made Guygalos such a stable stronghold for power. Even now, he noticed the twisted wrecks of gun ports manning the long forgotten checkpoints of a military outpost long forgotten. He turned onto the main freeway, traffic decidedly light for the time of day.
He reached down into his glove box, searching past various knick knacks and other items one accumulates in their car over the length of their ownership. He shuffled around until he found what he was looking for: a copy of the first song he had ever recorded. Sometimes it felt good for him to just pop in one of his old CDs and rock along, and it also helped him see places he could improve upon in his music. He nodded along as the rock beats filled the open air around his jeep, beginning to sing along with his younger self on the CD.
C'mon, c'mon! C'mon, c'mon!
On those Saturdays, when kids go out and play,
Yo I was up in my room I let the stereo play
He smiled. He remembered when he wrote this song, shortly after he had been called to do his first show at The Club. He wanted to come up with some new material and, well, his life certainly provided some good stuff to write about.
Wasn't faded, not jaded,
Just a kid with a pad and pen and a big imagination
A chuckle escaped his mouth. The children that had gone to his school had thought he was anti-social, and so did his parents, for he used to stay in his room and write or strum his guitar. But that was fun to him, certainly more fun than hanging out with the other kids who's concerns were to play video games and whatnot. No, he was more at home writing songs, and playing while watching Zoid battles on television.
All this, I seek, I find I push the envelope to the line,
Make it, break it, take it, until I'm overrated.
Certainly, music was his goal in life, well at least one of them. He had tried and sacrificed quite a bit just to get to where he was with his band. He still had to push them further until they succeeded in the harsh world surrounded with nothing but corporate head games and cookie cutter bands.
Click click boom.
I'm coming down on the stereo, hear me on the radio
He was already playing in local venues, it wouldn't be long until he could get his song play time on the radio stations around Romeo City and elsewhere.
Click, click boom.
I'm coming down with the new style and you know it's buck wild.
His band was already making legions of fans, with their new style that was a refreshing change from the many vocal sing/dance groups that had flooded the sound waves over the past few years.
Click, click boom
I'm on the radio station touring round the nation,
Leaving the scene in devastation.
It wouldn't take long for him, Brad, and Jamie to make enough money to begin touring all across the Central Continent, and even over on the Eastern and hopefully up into the Dark Continent as well.
I can see it in my mind, I can see it in their eyes.
It's close enough to touch it now, but far away enough to die.
He had another dream as well, which was cut short after he and his father had their falling out. To be a Zoid warrior. To become glorious on the tournament field and become widely known that way. If he became famous that way, he could then easily get his band exposure and make huge amounts of prize money to pay for it as well. That was why he was headed to the ZBC's central Guygalos office. He had to speak with his father.
What the hell is wrong with me?
My mom and dad weren't perfect
He pulled into the central parking lot, wondering how his first meeting with his father in two years would go. Sure, his parents had caused him trouble, and he them, but he had come to realize that they had only the best intentions in mind for him, and he was sure that he would have listened to them if it would trade the horrible years spent junk dealing.
But still you don't hear no cryin ass bitchin from me
Like there seems to be on everybody's CD
Still, the years he had spent on the brink of poverty had served him well, and he wasn't complaining. If he hadn't done what he had done, he would never have met his band mates and met with so much success. He hit the off button on the CD player before turning the car off. He stepped out, heading to the main lobby. He reached the reception desk, asking the receptionist which way he had to go to find his father, or as the secretary knew him, the Zoids Battle Commissioner.
"Which way is the ZBC Commissioner's office?"
The receptionist didn't turn away from her screen, "Do you have an appointment?"
Bit scratched his head, "Uh, no?"
The receptionist shook her head, "The Commissioner is a busy man, you need to have an appointment."
Bit thought for a moment, trying to figure a way around the appointment problem. "Tell him that his son is here to see him."
The receptionist nearly fell out of her chair, "Bit Cloud? Is that you?"
Bit smiled broadly, "Of course it's me."
"I haven't seen you in over seven years!" she exclaimed.
"Well, is it okay if I see my father now?" he asked.
"Sure thing hun, go right ahead," she allowed, pointing down the hall to where his father was. He nodded, thanking her, before heading down the long corridor to the large set of doors at its end. He rapped on the door, a voice from inside answering.
"Come in," it commanded.
Swallowing, Bit turned the door knob and stepped inside. The office was fairly Spartan in nature, with only a few scattered items here and there and one large plaque on the wall behind the desk, which stated "Royal Cup Champion". He turned his eyes to the man behind the desk who was now standing in astonishment.
"Bit?" his father's startled voice managed.
Ward Cloud looked much like an older version of his sun, his blonde hair becoming shot through with streaks of silver. However, his green eyes were still fierce and held plenty of vitality.
"Yeah Dad, it's me," Bit said a little sheepishly, now shy in the presence of his father.
"How long has it been?" Ward asked quietly.
"Two years," Bit began, "Look Dad, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for two years ago and-"
His father cut him off, "Don't even start apologizing. As far as I'm concerned, the past is best forgotten."
"Huh?" Bit sounded confused.
"Look son, I'm sorry too, sorry I didn't listen to you more, and sorry I let my work take over my life."
"Dad, I-"
"Ah," he interjected again, "No, it was really my fault. I would do anything to get those two years back."
Bit cast his glance towards the floor, "So would I Dad, so would I."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Ward smiled, "Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to give your father a hug?"
Bit grinned, crossing to meet his father in a strong embrace.
"So what have you been doing these past two years?" his father asked.
Bit sat down in the chair offered. "Well, I finally have a band."
Ward's eyebrows shot up, "Oh?"
"Yeah, me and two other guys. We're currently contracted to Club Romeo."
His father sounded impressed, "Wow, that's the best club in all of Romeo City, and quite possibly the rest of the Neutral Zone."
Bit blushed at the compliment, "No big deal Dad, it's just a hobby."
"Sure," Ward smirked, "It was pretty much the only thing you did as a kid."
"Not true!" Bit protested.
"Oh? Name one other hobby."
"Zoid battling," Bit smiled, knowing he had his father pinned on that one.
"Oh that's right, you were into battling for a time," his father remembered.
"Actually," Bit said, "That's what I'm here to see you for."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Bit poked his fingers together, "I kinda, would you mind if, I mean, can I have a Zoid?" he finished lamely.
His father stared at him with a blank look for a few seconds, during which Bit prepared for a verbal blasting. What happened next surprised. His father began to chuckle, which eventually turned into booming laughter.
"And why do you need a Zoid?" he asked between guffaws.
"Well, I wanted to take another go at winning the Royal Cup and making into Class S."
"Oh?" Ward raised his eye brows again, "Want to be like your old man eh?"
"Yeah," Bit conceded.
"Or is there something else?" his father said slyly.
Bit blushed slightly, betraying a hidden fact to his father.
"Hmm...embarrassed are we? Are you trying to impress a girl?"
"No!" he said a little too fast, causing his father to laugh again.
"So it is a girl! Well son, I think I can help you, but first you have to do something."
Bit began to look excited, "What's that?"
Ward reached under his desk and hit a button for his intercom, "Sharon, set up a Command Wolf to run the Gauntlet."
"The Gauntlet?" Bit sounded worried.
"Oh don't worry, it's just a test of your Zoid skills," said Ward, "I can't just give you a Zoid, it's against regulations. So I have the Gauntlet to make my giving you a Zoid look legit."
"Oh okay, when do I start?"
Ward Cloud smiled, "As soon as possible."
"Next!"
A Zoid warrior stepped through the door, his yellow jacket tassels flowing out behind him. That, with the combination of pink pants and platform shoes made anyone who looked upon him shield their eyes. He cockily strutted in, sitting down across from Leena, Leon, and the absentminded Doctor Toros.
"Harry, I thought I told you not to come around here!" Leena hissed.
Harry Champ flashed Leena his best smile, which to her, looked more like a grimace of pain. "Leena, my darling, I have come so that we may fight side by side!"
Leon sighed, "Harry, I don't think it would work out."
"But I have brought over my entire arsenal of Zoids to fight for you!"
This caught Doctor Toros' attention, who got stars in his eyes at the mention of all those Zoids, "Really? How many Zoids?"
Harry coolly ran a hand through his hair, "Over fifty, and those are just the ones at my smallest garage."
If someone could be said to have an adult-like sugar rush, then it was Toros when he thought about Zoids. After he finished running around the room and dancing, which was about ten minutes later, he sat back down and straightened his clothes.
"I think you may be the right fit for our team," he said finally.
Leena, along with Leon, almost fell completely out of her chair.
"What!" she sputtered, "You can't be serious Dad!"
Leon voiced his alarm, "Dad, don't be taken in by the amount Zoids he has, we need a genuinely good pilot to get us up into Class A!"
"Nonsense," Toros retorted, "He'll do just fine."
Suddenly Leena pointed out the window, "Look Dad, a Storm Sworder Stealth unit!"
"Where!" Toros screamed like a little kid, dashing to the window. Leena promptly took the opportunity to pick up Harry bodily and carry him towards the door.
"What's wrong Leena my darling?" Harry crooned.
"You are!" she grunted as she hurled him with all her might, tossing him over the sand dunes that ringed the base.
"Wow," said Leon, "That's a new record."
"Hey!" came the Doc's whiny voice from inside, "There's no Storm Sworder out here!"
Leena sighed.
It's going to be a long day.
Climbing up the offered ladder, Bit swung himself into the cockpit of a navy blue Command Wolf. It was a standard AC unit, mounting two eighty millimeter cannons on its back. It was a sturdy Zoid for its era, but Bit wasn't too sure of its usefulness now.
Can it stand up to this Gauntlet? What is this Gauntlet for that matter?
Why have I clouded up my mind, why's my mother always right,
And will I make it 'till the end
Or will I crawl away and die.
The doors at the end of the small hanger began to open up, and he heard the audible clicks of the magnetic launchers attached to the feet of the Command Wolf.
"Are you ready Bit?" came the secretary's voice over his intercom.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he replied.
No sooner had he finished then the launch ramp sent him hurtling out of the hanger and through the air, sending him to land in the middle of a large, circular walled off coliseum type building.
"Your objective is to set out down the Gauntlet and make it back to this arena in time allotted."
A timer appeared on his heads up display, allowing for five minutes. A hatch at the side of the arena opened up, revealing a long corridor beyond.
"Begin," said the secretary.
He immediately set off into the corridor. The first obstacle was a set of zig zag corners, which normally would require one to reduce speed. Bit, however, simply increased speed, using the stabilizers on the Command Wolf to pull sharp turns around the corners. He cleared the final corner and came face to face with a cannon turret turning to shoot him. He hit the triggers on instinct.
Click, Click, Boom
The cannon exploded in a shower of metal, some of the pieces hitting his cockpit glass. He wiped his brow, sending the Wolf down further through the corridor. Next was a series of hi and low bars, requiring him to either jump or crawl to get through. He barely squeaked the Wolf through the final bar, bounding up and over another wall and into an another large section of corridor. Three targets swung down, each the relative size of a D-Mantis.
Click, Click, Boom
He hit the triggers quickly, nailing each of the targets relatively square in the chest. It was enough to put each down, as they retracted back into places in the walls and floor. He chanced a glance down at his clock.
Only three minutes left!
He urged the Command Wolf to greater speed, zig zagging around corners, ducking obstacles and dispatching with targets.
Click, Click Boom
He passed another set of high and low bars, this time a pair of cannons tried to peg him as maneuvered through them. He dodged the cannons and made it around the next corner. Straight into a dead end.
What? A dead end?
He stood there for a second, pondering this next obstacle. That was when an idea occurred.
On those Saturday when kids go out and play
Yo I was UP in my room I let the stereo play
He reached down to his console, hitting a few buttons on the weapons panel. He allotted as much energy to his cannons as he could, charging them until they almost appeared the crackle with energy.
On Saturdays when kids go out and play
I was UP in my room I let the stereo blaze
He unleashed the blast in a torrent of energy, striking the wall dead center. It held for split second at first, but soon buckled outwards, stone and masonry blown clear in a massive explosion that hurled chunks of concrete over one hundred meters away.
Its all inside of me, its all inside of me, It's coming over me
It's all inside of me, it's all inside my head
He smirked to himself as the smoke cleared. Beyond, he could see the arena. He glanced at his clock.
Still two minutes left.
He bounded out into the arena, expecting to be congratulated on his accomplishment. As he passed through the hole he was met with a rude surprise as he was knocked on his side as another Zoid rammed into him. He managed to shake off the hit fast enough to avoid the downwards swipe of a claw, and he rolled back to his feet, only to come fast to face with his opponent.
The silver Konig Wolf let out an electronic growl, Bit's own Zoid growling back. The Konig Wolf was seen as the Command Wolf's older brother, and it was a very formidable Zoid.
I don't have time for this!
Click, Click Boom
Bit opened fire with his cannons, hitting nothing but open space as the Konig Wolf dodged each one. The Konig Wolf fired back with back mounted twin cannons, much like Bit's own, but met with the same results as Bit managed to avoid the blasts.
I'm coming down on the stereo hear me on the radio.
The enemy Wolf closed the gap, swinging for him with an outstretched paw. He ducked under it and head butted to other Zoid, causing it to stumble backwards into the arena wall. He took the opportunity to open fire again with his cannons.
Click Click Boom
Somehow, once again the Konig Wolf managed to evade his fire, the beams scorching the arena walls. The Wolf ducked under his line of fire and attempted another swipe with its paw, this time connecting with Bit's Zoid. He was sent sprawling for the second time since the fight had started.
I'm comin down with the new style you know it's buck wild.
Bit growled.
So you want to fight tooth and claw eh?
He set his Wolf in motion, managing to avoid the other's shots, getting in to close to attack with his paws as well. That was when he noticed his clock.
Only 45 seconds left!
He dodged another paw swipe and made his way to one end of the arena before turning around and heading back towards the Konig Wolf in a head to head pass.
Everybody, Everybody come on.
The enemy Wolf did the same thing, stopping at one end of the arena and turning to face him. It also wanted to finish the match. They loped across the open space, firing as they came. The clock ticked off the last precious remaining seconds of time. Bit kept one eye on his targeting gear and the other on the clock.
3
He locked the targeting box around the Konig Wolf.
2
His hands tightened on the controls.
1
He squeezed the trigger.
Click, Click, Boom!
Author Notes: Wahahaha, and that is the end of another chapter. Sorry it took so long, but yeah, school blows. When Bit was saying that line about Guygalos I was going to have it like that line from Apocalypse now where he says "Saigon...(insert expletive for dung here)". But then I realized that this story is rated G and that I would have to change it if I swore, so I changed it slightly...oh well. Remember to REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!