Chapter 6 – The Race for Alisee Lanet
"Good After noon, Mark, Locke." Greeted Ryss. "I need you two boys to do something very important for me. As you might have already known, we are on the brink of war. Humans from Earth have come back to Zi to claim it for whatever proposes, luckily, we foresaw this. However, we were ignorant enough to forget one person out in the foreign lands. Alisee Lanet, I need you two to go and retrieve her for me. She will be rather reluctant, but do what you can to have her come with you, even if it means force. She will be thanking you soon enough. Oh, and you'll use your usual zoids, Zaber Fang and Shield Liger of course." She explained in one go. It was rather sudden for Mark and Locke, usually, they had small chats, and then they would get to the real reason they had been called. Plus, the instructions were a bit confusing to follow, not to difficult, but they weren't able to catch everything at once because they were so surprised.
"...Um.... could you run that by us again?" Asked Locke rather politely.
"Look," she said, "She is just another zoidian out there, she is one of us, if we just left her out there in the middle of a war...I shudder to think about it really. She is completely defenseless, and also..."
"Also?" Asked Mark
"For some reason, I think that...well..." She paused again. Mark and Locke were getting rather impatient. It was irritating to have to listen to someone who wasn't even sure if they wanted to tell you or just weren't prepared enough to be able to explain it.
Finally she spoke. "She is a zoidian of great power. It may not be a destructive power, but it is power nonetheless. I feel that it will be very important for us to rescue her soon, and you too need experience out in foreign lands. To keep a low profile, trying to get directions from towns people who aren't sure sometimes if they can trust you." Ryss continued. "Anyway, she looks like this."
A screen popped up behind her. She looked like she was smiling at something, but you couldn't tell what. It was an overhead shot looking down at her so you could only see sand. Mark found her to be rather beautiful, but kept his opinion to himself. Locke just saw her as another ordinary woman out in the world.
"When will we be leaving?" Asked Locke.
"Right now." Replied Ryss.
"I see, how shall we get to the other continent, and where are our zoids for the mission?" Asked Locke, he was one who went straight to the point.
"In hanger level A3 you will find your zoids, and you will be using a Gustave adapt at water transportation." She informed them. "Any other questions?"
"No," responded Mark. "You've informed us quite enough, or at least me anyway." He looked at Locke.
"I agree," Said Locke, "Except, how urgent is this? Will the enemy be close to getting her first? Besides, as long as the Earth Army confuses humanity on Zi for other Zoidians it's not like they will hunt her down right away."
"It's not so much the Earthlings as it is for the Humans on Zi.. When they find out the real objective of this invasion, many might go for her and hand her over to the earthlings, even if she is protected by Van Flyheight." She stopped what she was saying for a minute. She had forgotten all about Van. The two boys wouldn't be able to match his strength, despite the fact they were Zoidians, he could still defeat them single handedly, they were good but not quite a legend like Van was. There was one thing, however, that she could be thankful for: his Zoid.
The Blade Liger was an evolved Zoid. There were three ways to evolve a Zoid. One was to wait a long period of time, like a normal human being, it would grow. However, this wasn't the course over a year, it was actually over a period of time for about 250 years or so, but the problem was, Zoids had only been in function for about 400 years, and for 250 years was how long the zoid needed to function. So there weren't many zoids like that: very few if any.
The second way was through an organoid. The organoid however, had to use the same Zoid the entire time. Each time an organoid fused with a Zoid, it would copy its genetic code of the Zoid, located in the Zoid core, into it's memory bank and try to find a way manipulate the zoid core in just the right places so as to not damage the core in anyway. When the organoid fused and spent time in the zoid core, it would collect the information little by little. The pilot could not rush this process. Organoids were capable of failure when they lacked the genetic info they needed and could completely shut the zoid down. Also when an organoid resurrected a zoid, it would need to take a lot of the genetic code to duplicate it and put it back. This allowed it to learn much more of the zoid.
The Third and final way was the bond between the Zoid and it's pilot, But this method had it's own problems; this bond didn't make the evolution happen over night. It would take the pilot at the very least 30 years to bond with the same zoid, and then the evolution would take about another 2 years to complete. This wasn't a circle of light or a crystal like the evolutions of Van and Raven. The pilot would be able to feel the evolution about to happen, unlike the clueless pilot with an organoid who's Zoid could begin to evolve at the wrong time.
The Blade Liger was a rare Zoid indeed. Only if Van used a different Zoid would they be force to fight him. But the chances were rather nil, and even if he did, he would be much weaker using a different Zoid against Mark and Locke.
"Just beware of the Blade Liger. Engaging it in combat is not an option, run whenever possible, do you hear me!" She said sounding a little frustrated. They both knew that this was her way of making sure that they understood the urgency of the order.
"You got it." Said Locke. "We'll have this girl back before she is harmed."
"Good, just make sure you get back here soon."
It was early morning. The President of the Republic would soon begin another busy day, unknowing of the emergency about to come to in. As soon as he sat down, he got a signal that someone wanted to talk to him over the screen. It was from the Capital of the empire, Gyloss. He acknowledged the signal and the screen showed Rudolph before him.
"Ah Rudolph, what has made you contact me?" Asked the president kindly.
"I have some bad news for you. Today at about 5 o'clock this morning, one of our bases that is on our border was attacked and destroyed. The attack force was quite large, we estimate it was about 200 Zoids consisting of Rev Raptors and Dark Horns. There were about 50 dark horns in the group to be specific. After the base was destroyed, the group seemed to have split itself in two, one heading west, toward Gyloss, one heading east, toward New Helic City." Explained Rudolph.
"Hmm, I see, but I think that if they split their resources, whoever they are, we should have an easier time dealing with them." Said the President.
"I thought that too. That attack had come from the south, near the sea. Unfortunately, we have also spotted another strike force, with the same amount of Zoids, coming north from the sea. They also seem to be heading toward one of your bases, I thought that you might like to know."
"I see, I must thank you for your warning. However, do you know who is behind this?" Asked the president."
"No, I have no idea. We are trying to get a hold of any authority they might have, but whatever kind of communications link we give them, they just ignore it, I think that they are out for blood, and lots of it." Rudolph replied, grimly.
"I'm guessing that the situation is very serious. Still, those Zoids won't hold a candle to some of the other Zoids we have. Do you think they pose that much of a threat?"
"I don't know, we are already sending scouts out over the sea and all over the empire to see if we can find any more suspicious activity." Said Rudolph.
"Alright then, thank you for the advice, I shall use it well."
Rudolph nodded and the transmition was cut. He then opened a link to Captain Herman. It was answered immediately.
"Ah! Mister President, how can I help you?"
The President explained everything that had been told to him, and then added, "I want you to send scouts through out the land and ready the Guardian Force."
"Yes sir!" Responded Rob. He saluted and the transmition ended.
Back at the Wind Colony, Van Fliheight the great hero continued to pull out the weeds in the garden next to his house.
"OW! That's go to be the 17th thorn!!!" He shouted in minimal yet what seemed extreme pain."
Maria just continued to hang the laundry while Zeek ran around in circles attempting to either maul or eat his newly found butterfly.
"There has got to be a faster way to do this!" He wasn't sure why he looked in the direction he did when he said that, but he had just found his next brilliant idea. He said it aloud as if he thought the whole world needed to know of his greatest discovery.
"I'll bet the blade liger could-
"NOT funny Van." Shouted Maria.
"...Oh alright." Said Van reluctantly. "I should be piloting Zoids not pulling up weeds. I'll bet dad never had to do this." He thought to himself.
They both worked in silence for about another 15 minutes. Though it was rather bothersome to do a simple task he wasn't used to, Van had to admit that being home was really what he wanted. Being away from all the action was good, or at least it would be good for a while. He wasn't quitting Zoid piloting however, not by a long shot.
It was only about 3 years ago that the Guardian Force had been disbanded, it would quickly rise up again and fight for the planet Zi whenever necessary, unknown to Van, the peaceful days he had spent in the Wind Colony would abruptly end, and he would soon find himself in the fray of battle.
The village priest came up behind Van and watched him pick at weeds that would only come up and then break before it would get to the root, then he would have to dig after it again. The priest bent down beside him, kind of startling Van, and took a weed and pulled up the entire root.
"How does he do that?!?" Van thought to himself.
"Not to much of a green thumb I see, I don't think it would hurt you to have a few lessons in gardening." He smiled at Van, and Van smiled back.
"Ha ha, so what are you doing here, I know it wasn't me."
"Ah yes, but it is about you."
"Really? Go on."
"There have been attacks lately of rather big forces of Zoids against bases on both Republican and Imperial territory. The sizes of these armies are about 100 Zoids each. They are beginning to put Guardian Force members back on duty, this problem is rather serious."
"You must be joking, only 100 Zoids? How many of these armies are there?"
"I don't know, but the numbers keep growing. The main reason they want the Guardian Force on full alert right now is probably because these armies have also been annihilating entire villages. Whether there is resistance or not, either way, it gets completely destroyed."
"That can't be." Said Van to himself.
"I know it is pretty disappointing to have lived peacefully for a few years and then go right back into battle, but this is pretty urgent."
"Should I leave immediately? Asked Van.
"A long enough time to say your good-byes."
"I see, thank you for your trouble. I'll go get ready." Said Van.
"My troubles?" Thought the Priest, "My troubles don't seem to match yours on any scale my friend, unless you count me having to tell you this bad news myself, that still doesn't hold a candle to your troubles." He smiled. "He really has changed, his father would be really proud."
Van entered his house for the last time in a long time. It was really sudden, but he really didn't have much time. He knew that he should have considered himself lucky to be home for that long of a time, but it still seemed rather irritating that he would all of a sudden have to leave it behind him. Maria came into his room as he started packing.
"I saw you talking with the priest just now." She said. Only silence gave her a response. "Your leaving, aren't you?" She asked uneasily.
Van sighed, "I am." He said.
"I see," she said, "Even after all this time you need to go." She smiled, "But you enjoy your work, don't you?"
"Yeah," He said, "I guess I do. I asked for it after all. Still, I don't think a moment has gone by that I regret asking to be a Zoid pilot."
"That's good," Said his sister, "It will make me happier knowing that you yourself will be content with what you are doing."
He smiled, "Thanks, it will help to know that I have family supporting me."
They went outside and started walking to the Blade Liger. When they got near the giant machine, Van turned to Maria. They smiled at each other, and it wasn't long until they were hugging each other and weeping.
"I'll come back alive, you can count on that."
"I know you will do your best, but be careful of promises like that, whether you make them or they are made to you, just remember you have no assurances of tomorrow."
Van knew she meant her best wishes. "You mean to say you doubt me?" He asked sarcastically to lighten the mood. She smiled; he was still himself even during this hurtful goodbye.
"No, not at all." Said Maria. She watched him walk of into the distance and thought about the first time he had left the wind colony to become a better Zoid pilot. "He'll be just fine." She said to herself, "He has changed so much." She added.
Well, how did you like it? I do hope you enjoyed yourself this chapter. Just so everyone knows, the battle scene I have been talking about since a couple chapters back was the practice match between Locke and Mark, just wanted to make sure everyone understood that. I know that I have been jumping around in the timetable these chapters; I hope I haven't confused anyone yet. Thanks again for reading!
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