Chapter 8: Fall of the Lightning
Ryke sat back against the small outcropping of cold stone, raising the heavy welder's mask above his forehead to appraise his work. Sharp, hazel eyes swelled with pride at the clean, red-glowing edges of the panel secured to the bottom of the zoid. The wiring was complete. Though messy and disorganized beyond belief, the ratty tangle of incandescent strands sat in a messy bundle, barely contained by the weak steel plating of under-armor he had applied, the fresh-welded, still-glowing edges of the metal gradually fading in the night. He had done it. By golly, he thought to himself, that Khalsin had given him a wallop. The powerful dual-barreled photon cannon stood erect and ready, finally repaired and re-fastened to the fierce tiger's golden fuselage after being forcefully removed in his bout with Khalsin.
Ryke chuckled a little to himself as he glanced up at the stars, letting the soft sound of the waves embrace his ears. The cool breeze emanating from the ocean was a reassuring caress, a salty, familiar scent that always seemed to draw him back to his childhood. The waves were the most comforting sound he had ever heard. Even having encountered it his entire life, he could not bring himself to tire of it; it was always like returning to the welcoming arms of a dear friend. The sea had a soul of its own. He let his mind wander a moment, thinking back to the day he had defeated Khalsin, watching him simply saunter down the beach as if nothing had happened. Was the boy really so unphased? So disciplined? How was he getting along? That same feeling of guilt hung heavy in his chest, causing Ryke to shift his weight on the rock, uneasily clearing his throat. No one was there, he knew, but somehow he just felt so vulnerable, so exposed. A frightened feeling climbed up into his throat, settling there and making him tremble with anxiety.
The gruff man suddenly stood, his chest heaving as he looked around, his mouth hanging open as he nervously scratched the stubble on his chin. Something wasn't right. He couldn't tell what, but something had abruptly become horribly wrong. Ryke stood quietly, his muscled arms at his sides, scowling out at the ocean, his stare searching its many blue swells. His hazel raptor gaze hovered over the waves as he took in their soft undulations, the quiet, soothing rush of water. He combed frantically for any imperfection, his eyes and ears like that of a hawk. Then he heard it.
A thick, heavy yet muffled thud. A rush of sand. Another. They were coming fast, a rapid pummeling of enormous feet on the ground. A galloping stride, so quick and agile. The sand seemed to hiss in protest as it was torn from the earth, being scattered into the soft night wind. Ryke's eyes widened as he wheeled to look down the beach, his jaw dropping as he let out a loud curse. Two diamond-shaped ruby eyes bounced slowly in the darkness, constantly closing in at a steady, rapid pace; the glowing red lanterns carried a malicious and horrifying flame within them, one that seemed to lash out at his soul.
Ryke quickly tore the welder's mask from his head, heaving it hastily aside with a husky grunt. The man scrambled up the short ladder towards the hatch of his zoid, panting heavily as the dark form of the stealth zoid bore down upon him. His combat boots struck the thin rungs heavily as he clambered upwards, swiftly forcing his muscled frame to ascend the ladder. Ryke could hear the mask noisily clang its way down the rocks, before settling in the sand with a quiet, muffled thud.
The man burst through the rectangular hatch in the side of the Saber Tiger, quickly yanking its door shut and heaving a rusted lever downwards to secure it. Ryke felt his fingers trembling in horror as he scrambled towards the cockpit, hearing the loud, unsettling clank of the hatch locking home against the side of his zoid. The sound stopped instantly, its deep, bellowing ring ending with a surprising finality. He was safe now. He was in his world.
Ryke quickly moved into the ragged gray chair, looking out the dual green eyes of his fearsome tiger. Gripping the joysticks and moving them to the side, Ryke quickly persuaded the graceful tiger to leap down onto the beach, rearing around to face its target. The zoid's powerful claws dug into the sand as it tensed, suddenly rearing its head and letting out a fearsome roar that was not unlike the sound of grating metal; a deep, rumbling bellow. It hoisted its upper body in the air, thrashing its heavy paws in fury before settling on the rocks again.
As he turned to face his opponent, Ryke's eyes widened. A Shadowfox. The armored zoid stood coated in pitch-black paint, its jagged plates of spiked armor gleaming in the soft moonlight. A zoid like this was not often encountered. Triangular ears stood atop its head, seeming to draw ones attention down towards the zoid's smoldering red eyes. It was a light zoid, quite small but heavily armed. Squinting into the darkness at the ominous machine, he could barely make out a multi-barreled Vulcan, and a shocknet cannon. These were expensive and rare weapons, if anything banned from some zoid battles. Ryke's heavy russet brow furrowed as it suddenly came to him. The Shadowfox itself was known as a zoid only used by the highest ranks of the Backdraft. So that's what it was.
The burly man tensed at the controls, feeling his zoid's anger at being suddenly ambushed. He hunched his heavy shoulders as they quaked with his heavy breaths, then stared out the eyes of his own zoid into those of his adversary.
The two zoids stood quietly across from one another, glowing red eyes smoldering against the intense jade of the other. Ryke twitched his fingers against the joysticks, feeling their smooth heavy plastic along his skin, the familiar and comforting presence of his zoid. An unsanctioned battle. No vidscreens. No judges. This was for keeps. He began quietly trying to calm himself, to slow his breathing to reach a more effective fighting mindset. Let your opponent strike first. Relax.
The demon eyes continued to stare in the darkness, sending a shiver down his spine. The man grit his teeth, his arms trembling as he tried to face the haunting stare. The hatred, the fierce desire to kill was too apparent in those eyes, such evil, such power. What did this adversary seek? Was it money? His zoid? He could lose none of these. It was not the time to think. It was the time to fight.
Ryke set his jaw as he glared through the two eyes of his Saber Tiger, suddenly lunging forward and shifting the joysticks accordingly. The tiger burned for battle, gnashing its teeth in agitation as it shifted into action, diving towards the Shadowfox and letting out a volley of loud photon bolts in its direction. The dark form shifted in the black abyss, easily twisting its form to evade the heavy shots, the fiery projectiles illuminating the beach as they flew, before promptly being extinguished in the sand. Ryke watched in surprise as the agile, armored fox quickly shifted to the side, a small Vulcan pivoting towards him. The roar of his own bolts shrieked through the silent nighttime air, before being drowned in the sand with a chorus of deep, earthy thuds, a disappointing sound that confirmed the failure of his assault.
The Shadowfox shot off through the night with incredible speed, moving around to flank the tiger as its powerful armored legs pumped beneath it, suddenly letting out a vicious stream of smaller photon shells from its Vulcan. A blazing aura around the many barrels of the gun swept through the onyx oblivion like a skilled paintbrush stroke, painting hot fire though the night. The dark beach suddenly exploded into violent light as the smaller full auto weapon let loose a ruthless bombardment upon its larger foe. The seemingly endless stream of bullets impacted the side of the tiger mercilessly, raking its searing path in a long line down its flank before ending as the fox continued to move. A long, black streak was left in the path of the merciless firing, like a long gash down the mechanical warriors side.
Ryke growled as he wheeled the tiger around again, feeling its thickly built legs pumping beneath it, carrying the sprinting war machine about an agile turn. His opponent had drawn first blood. He growled as a sudden rage seemed to build within him, a furious sprawl of emotional fire that licked and slashed at his insides, tearing for release. He would not resist it.
The golden tiger suddenly broke out into a fearsome charge, the dual blasters on its undersides firing rapidly, their alternating and fearsome strikes each casting forth a glowing bolt at long range across the beach. Every heavy thud signaled a launch; the balls of light like tiny lanterns carrying an aura of blazing luminescence along their path. The Shadowfox continued it's sprinting, an intimidating scarlet gaze bobbing rapidly as it moved, the shots from its pursuer blasting away the earth beneath it. It leapt swiftly up the column of rocks upon which Ryke had previously stood, scaling them with remarkable agility, seeming to float over the hundreds of obstacles.
Ryke cursed aloud and grit his teeth in fury, raising the cannons with a flick of his wrist, opening fire at the rocks above his adversary. His sleek zoid stopped its charge with a skidding halt, standing with its firm supports beneath it, powerful claws sinking into the sand. The fox was fast, yes, but it could not take a direct hit. He would use its weakness. The heavy blasts impacted the rocks above the Shadowfox with an air-splitting crack, blasting them to pieces as huge chunks of fragmented boulder were scattered in the air, coming down like a deadly rain of brimstone. The Shadowfox was suddenly immersed in a furious downfall of heavy boulders, their massive, grayish bulks plummeting down atop it with their crushing weight. Thrown from its climbing position, the fox crumpled onto the ground, the heavy rubble from the precisely-placed photon shots consuming its sharply armored form.
Ryke panted softly, the yellow tiger poised and ready as it watched the huge pile of shattered boulders, a massive mound of smashed stone forming a pyramid around its unfortunate victim. The devastating shower of rock had ended, leaving a great mountain of heavy granite chunks atop its intended target, completely burying it beneath the stone. The skilled pilot shook his head slowly, still panting as his mouth hung open, his messy brown hair shifting slightly in its stiff, tall spikes. Gazing through smoldering emerald eyes of his Saber Tiger, he could barely make out movement beneath the massive rocks. His opponent could not be stopped. It was incredible. This was not yet over.
Ryke's eyes grew wide as his hands tighten on the joysticks, making them creak softly in protest. The raging, triumphant fury was abruptly smothered by chilling fear. Who –was- this pilot? No light zoid could survive a shock like that. How was this possible? It couldn't be...
The man growled as the rocks continued to shift, the paw of the pitch black Shadowfox suddenly bursting upwards through the pile, reaching skyward and clawing at the air, its glistening black armor unscathed. Shifting the controls forward, he let out a loud cry of rage, his deep voice echoing at a deafening tone through the dark cockpit of his zoid. The Saber Tiger responded instantly, its own fury melding with his into a malicious rage, the berserker machine suddenly launching itself towards the pile of rocks. It was time to finish this. "Hyaaaaaahhh!!!" he screamed, slamming one joystick forward, feeling the zoid's immense velocity carry it through a powerful forward leap.
The tiger twisted in the air as it soared forward, immersed in its fearsome rage. Bringing back one paw, its huge steel claws suddenly flared and burst into smoldering luminescence, causing a loud crackling of photon energy to explode through the night. The claw swung downwards in a sharp, deadly arc, leaving behind it golden ribbons of yellow light.
The Shadowfox suddenly burst fourth from the colossal heap of rubble, surrounded by a scintillating hemispherical shield of bright pink semitransparent light, flying through the air and smashing head-on into its attacker. The tiger was struck in the chest by the glowing particle shield, being repulsed instantly and flung through the air, hurtling backwards with a painful recoil. The swift reversal had completely switched the tide of battle, easily ruining its opponent's assault. Ryke grunted as he was slammed forward against his own controls, feeling the wind forced from his lungs in one dramatic, painful breath.
The raging predator was flung forcefully through the air, its powerful paws swinging with hysterical wrath, tearing desperately at the air with vibrantly glowing photon claws. The android landed heavily in the sand, the concussion of the blow launching sand into the air in a gigantic shockwave. The Saber Tiger rolled onto its side and grew still, its claws slowly fading from their previously blinding conflagration of super-heated photon energy.
Ryke panted heavily at the sudden, unexpected blow, glaring out the eyes of his zoid toward the Shadowfox. It landed quietly on its feet, crouching as its crimson stare locked onto its prey. The fox was unharmed. Ryke's fingertips went cold with terror, a sinking feeling of nausea quickly flashing across his abdomen. It couldn't be real. His enemy was invincible. He fought against a demon. A ghost, he thought, a zoid poltergeist. How could anything survive a blow like that? It was horrifying.
The Shadowfox sauntered slowly over towards his zoid, its unblinking, horrifying look fixed on his own. It couldn't end here. Not with so little of a fight. He had to continue. The sharp pain in his temple pounded through his skull, jarring his thoughts and contemplations. He gritted his teeth through the agony, wiping the blood from the side of his head with the back of one hand. The impact of his skull against the control panel had been brutal; but he could easily guess his zoid felt worse. They couldn't give up. Shifting his hands back to the joysticks, Ryke quietly moved them to one side, urging his zoid on.
The heavy titanium alloy structure creaked its displeasure at being moved, loudly groaning with the heavy wail of metal being pushed to its very limit. The Tiger slowly trembled, its powerful legs working to slowly hoist it to its feet, a low, rumbling growl of determination rumbling through the zoid's hull. Ryke nodded his agreement with the zoid, the older man narrowing his eyes as his fingers twitched at the controls. He wouldn't give up. As long as his zoid was willing, so was he. They would battle to the end.
The tiger slowly rose to its feet, its malachite stare intensifying in its wrath. His opponent would make the first move now. Ryke dared his foe to attack, his lips pulled back in an indomitable snarl. He and his zoid had become one. They would be victorious. Nothing else mattered. Ryke paused, watching his adversary with incredible concentration, his face determined as he leaned forward, tensed over the controls.
The legs of the Shadowfox shifted slightly beneath it, the prelude to sudden motion. Its pointed plates of armor smoothly changed position as the fox altered its poise almost imperceptibly. Ryke panted with effort, ignoring the thin stream of blood running down the side of his head. Nothing else mattered. It was he and the ghost.
Time seemed to slow as the Shadowfox tensed, its legs instantly forming what was in fact a blurr of motion, seeming to be little more than a crawling movement across the smooth beach. "Now, Lightning!" he cried out suddenly, his thumbs jamming down in tandem on a pair of bright red buttons attached to the tops of the joysticks. The huge machine lurched forward in a vicious pounce, opening fire with its photon launchers, the blazing guns alternating powerful shots as they let loose at close range, completing the counter-attack. The set of five long bolts speared the air, burning away at all in their path, before striking the empty patch of sand with the same anticlimactic and muffled thuds.
Ryke grunted in surprise as the Shadowfox moved sideways rather than charging, utilizing his "counter-attack" to unexpectedly move around its opponent, a loud, deep-echoing woosh suddenly rushing in Ryke's ears. Pitch black smoke suddenly seemed to unfold from the rear of the fox, billowing out in huge amounts and coating the already dark world in a cold, inky blackness. The man gritted his teeth as he squinted into the smoke, watching the fox move about behind him. The agile zoid performed a perfect lap around his zoid with incredible speed, surrounding it in an aura of thick, greasy smoke, moving with such speed that it forced him to simply sit in awe as it wrapped him in abysmal blackness. The horrible gas blinded him completely, wiping his vision to a dark oblivion. His enemy lurked within. Nowhere to run. It loomed everywhere. He was visible, yet his opponent was not. A helpless, sinking feeling seemed to overrun his gut, as Ryke soon felt himself panting with frantic need for escape. He worked desperately to calm himself, his shoulders shifting with each heavy breath, his raptor gaze constantly scanning the black nothingness around him, the unending world of darkness. He was frozen with fear. He couldn't move. Blind. Blind and helpless.
Ryke let out a pained grunt as the scarlet orbs suddenly appeared in the darkness, moving towards him without warning. Lacking any time to react, Ryke saw a smoldering set of claws lash out in the abyss. The huge tiger recoiled harshly as a glowing strike laser claw flew forward in the darkness, catching powerfully across the heavily armored side of the tiger. The zoid stumbled, its powerful legs quickly scrambling to keep it standing as Ryke looked around as the Shadowfox disappeared again, seeming to fade into the darkness it had created. A ghost. It could not be stopped.
Thunder clapped suddenly in an ear-splitting and harshly crackling boom that seemed to tear the smoggy air in half, a huge gust of ocean wind suddenly carrying across the battlefield. The thick, seemingly impermeable layer of darkness that had been wrapped around him was suddenly peeled away by the wind, floating off and uncovering the battlefield around him. Rain plummeted down everywhere, striking the body of his zoid with what started as a chorus of airy pops, before raising itself to the level of a roar, a pelting and seemingly endless torrent of water streaming down over the beach. Thunder clapped again, a harsh and startling blast of lightning illuminating the area with a startling degree of brightness. In that split second burst of light, Ryke suddenly noticed the shadow of his opponent off to his left. He instantly forced his zoid forward, then jerked its controls towards his adversary, moving his arms with short, rough movements, his eyes wide and unblinking in concentration.
He growled, suddenly wheeling the zoid around as it brought one gargantuan paw in a wide, sweeping arc. The heavy paw impacted the Shadowfox in an overwhelmingly violent and savage blow, the entire lighter frame of the armored stealth zoid contorting in mid air, its legs flying forward as it was unexpectedly met by the brutal maul of its opponent. The Shadowfox was savagely thrown to the ground, recoiling as it hit sandy earth and sent up a terrifying spray of the sparkling white sand and rain into the night air. Ryke took no time to watch his unexpected success, instantly bringing the Saber tiger towards the startled frame of his smaller opponent and taking complete advantage of his surprise attack. One huge paw of the tiger slammed down atop its opponent to pin it in place, the saber tiger parting its steel jaws to let out another terrifying roar, a rumbling blast of intense sound so dreadful in its fury that it sent a shiver down its own pilot's spine.
Ryke jammed his thumbs down on the triggers of his controls, the loud, shocking impact of a series of huge photon shells filling the air, soon being drowned out by the deafening clap of thunder. Ryke glared down at his opponent, continuing to feel the sudden, violent shocks of each smoldering photon bolt as it was fired. Staring through the massive sheets of icy rain as they plummeted, he continued his grim task; blasting away at the Shadowfox mercilessly, his teeth gritted in a furious snarl as he constantly fired directly into its armor, a glowing hot welt developing in the area he concentrated upon and sizzling with searing heat against the rain. The ghost had been caught.
A small, triangular cannon atop the zoid slowly transitioned to face him, a bluish light traveling swiftly down its transparent barrel. It seemed small but precisely placed, rotating smoothly and silently on an armored platform on the Fox's back with a quiet whirr, barely audible aside from the heavy thrumming of the rain whish seemed to accost both zoids. A shock cannon. Ryke gasped in terror the instant he recognized the weapon, shifting his cannons towards it in order to destroy the device, a frantic last effort to escape its fire. It was far too late. Too sudden. The gruff man cried out loudly, his eyes closing while his zoid jolted backwards, a heavy shock burst from the small gun, jolting through the predatory machine's form and knocking it back across the beach. Bluish electricity snarled and spat as the heavy rain continued to fall against it, sparks flecking off of the electrified tiger as it shook itself vigorously in a desperate attempt to be rid of the painful shock. The zoid swung its head in furious circles, roaring in agony as it continued to be electrocuted by the deadly cannon, thrashing in the rain as it shook walls of rain from its metallic pelt, desperately struggling in sheer torment. A long, quivering line of white-hot electricity, smoldering with an azure glow seemed to bind the two zoids together, snarling and crackling against the heavy rainfall; it was almost as if a spear of lightning had been thrust into the saber tiger.
The Shadowfox stood in one fluid movement, its smoldering crimson gaze seeming to flare dangerously in the great haze of the downpour. It quietly watched the struggling Saber tiger in an almost sadistic manner, standing as it allowed it's prey to squirm, taking satisfaction in its agony. The raging tiger itself threw its head about in vehemence and roared as loud as it could, thrashing about in the heavy rain. It's frantic, bellowing fury was matched only by the sheer madness of the ocean, the waves crashing ruthlessly against the many dark, ominous rocks on the shore, white foam frothing at each wave crest and bursting outwards in a startling show of the sea's immense and seemingly limitless strength. The tide rose quickly, the waves being mercilessly pelted by raindrops. Thunder rumbled again in a rolling boom, suddenly exploding into a vicious crack that lit up the sky, jagged ribbons of lightning splitting the looming clouds with shocking intensity.
Ryke grit his teeth as the painful shock ran through him, his hands going stiff around the joysticks as he struggled to maintain his grip on them, his limbs trembling violently at the painful ache of the shock that tormented both he and his zoid. After a few minutes the biting shock began to die down, the bluish, glowing bolts of electricity disappearing from the Saber tiger as it heaved frantically from its efforts, finally standing still, its head hanging low. That single shot had been agonizing, a stunning blow that had nearly wiped away all his resolve for victory. Ryke assured himself it wouldn't do so. The sea, that kindred spirit, had saved him. Its fierce winds, its fury, the thunder, the lightning, the torrential rain, all came to his aid. Now that the smoke had cleared, he found himself staring down the great demon again. Lightning cracked in the sky once more, a rumbling tone that tore through the heavy roar of the sea, easily blotting out all other sound.
The two combatants faced one another, the demon and tiger, their eyes seeming to burn into one-another as their destinies met. The Shadowfox remained unscathed, casually watching its prey as the saber tiger struggled to stand, its determined verdant gaze sizzling with passionate rage. Rain pummeled both fighters, surrounding them in a vicious torrent of water, the churning blue sea seeming to come closer with every moment, its fierce waves tearing at the shore. Clouds shifted and rumbled, throwing spears of searing luminescence through the air, the deafening blasts of thunder shaking the very earth itself.
Ryke started out in a charge towards the fox, watching another thread of lightning flit through the darkened sky, disappearing as quickly as it had materialized. The fox charged as well, as both combatants sailed towards one another, blazing claws burning away at the columns of freezing, wind-blown rain as it plummeted down. Huge, steel paws sent up massive sprays of water and sand with each footfall, carrying their bodies with incredible speed towards their respective targets.
No more games, Ryke thought. It was combat from here on. Both sprinting zoids moved together, closing their shared distance with incredible speed, sleek metallic forms undulating with each powerful gallop. The two leapt into the air as they came in range, the sparkling golden form of the Saber tiger heaving its armored feline frame into the air, drawing back one clawed leg in preparation to strike. The rain fell heavily around both combatants, pelting them with a limitless volley of miniscule droplets that exploded onto their powerful armor, shattering into thousands of tiny orbs.
The millions of raindrops sizzled loudly as they met their destination, impacting the shimmering claws of the tiger as it prepared to strike its opponent, tearing its way through the wet air with a furious roar, protesting the heavy torrent of rain. The ghost moved as well, its intimidating gaze smoldering through the dark night, burning its way straight into Ryke's soul. He grit his teeth in determination, moving the right joystick in a circular jerk forward, putting his entire shoulder into the movement, crying out in rage.
Ryke could feel the zoid shift with him, its movements mimicking his own. One great, flaming claw surged forward in a burst of bright light, the conflagration rapidly soaring towards the dark fox before it, its vicious, glowing claws trembling and screaming with the force of their intended blow.
The massive, heavy woosh of the air, the solid shriek of the photon-heated blades slicing through water and air filled his ears, a sound so shocking, so unexpected that it caused him to abruptly lose his breath, choking on his own surprise. Tears came to Ryke's eyes as the zoid spun rapidly with the force of its own blow, shifting helplessly in the air, at the mercy of its opponent. The loud wail of the Vulcan cannon could be heard off the side, sending a shiver down his spine. The cry of the fierce weapon sounded more like the furious bellow of some rapid, malignant beast, the cry of a hunter as it slew its prey. The sound haunted him to the depths of his mind, the shuddering impact of the hyper-heated salvo of shells jerking the large zoid and sending it back to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Ryke panted heavily as once again he found himself staring at the rain-soaked sand through the eyes of his zoid, hearing nothing more than his own heavy breathing and the harsh, deafening roar of the constant rainfall. The storm was roaring in with incredible speed. The waves crashed and snarled against the shore, sending up huge spouts of white water into the air, as if surging upwards to counter to plummeting rain. Thunder crashed again, sending another split of lightning to crack the dark night sky, piercing it with a scintillating lance of pure white light.
The heavy gallop of the zoid ghost's paws rapidly approached, barely detectable over the roar of the see, the limitless fury of nature's might. His opponent approached for the coup de gras, each rumbling footstep bringing it closer to its goal, to Ryke's doom. Ryke shook his head in despair, biting his lip as he struggled with the controls of his zoid, trying desperately to make it respond, to move, to stand. Had Lightning given up on him so soon? Come on, he thought. Keep going, get up. We cant give in, we cant let this happen. Its impossible, it cant be defeated, its invincible, his own mind protested at the same time.
Ryke gritted this teeth in thought, his heart jumping with the sound of each heavy footfall, panting in horror at what was to come. He had to keep fighting. With a loud, rushing woosh, an enormous wave crashed into the lightning, shoving it sharply to one side, the zoid sliding forward onto the beach, still on its side, before being pulled back slightly as the great wave receded. The ocean seemed to nudge him with its reassuring caresses, its arms constantly reaching out, pushing him forward. "Go," it said, "Go and fight, this is not your time."
The Shadowfox finally reached its opponent, its legs still rapidly shifting beneath it with incredible precision, carrying it along at a terrifying pace. Leaping into the air, the fox's right "arm" drew backwards, glowing powerfully, the many glowing claw blades singing out into the night. The rain cascaded from its serrated armor constantly, surrounding it in an aura of haunting mist as it flew. The claw snarled furiously at the wet air around it, crackling and hissing like a flame consuming a sprinkle of water. Coming downwards in a brutal arc, the smoldering weapon soared down towards its target, delivering the final blow, the finishing touch, the last step in their incredible dance of death.
Ryke's tiger leapt to one side even too fast for the fox to react, seeming to have been jarred harshly by the waves. The armored predator skidded to a halt after three rapid, consecutive jumps, completely freeing itself from the grips of death. A swift retaliatory barrage of photon fire was quickly dispatched from the gun turret of the zoid, clinging tenuously to the machines brawny chest. Activating its particle shield as it plunged to the ground, the Shadowfox shook as it's own incredible strike blew a hole into the sand, the glowing claw quickly fading from view, impacting the earth with its vicious momentum and seeming to eviscerate the very beach below it. The hexagonal bubble flickered into appearance around the zoid's front, the ethereal pink shape smoothly absorbing the photon shots with a series of loud, energetic chirps.
Ryke cursed as it easily dismissed another of his attacks, shifting the zoid forward again in a furious charge. He would not give his opponent the time to think nor prepare. The tiger unexpectedly dashed forward at its opponent, completely offsetting the "tempo" of their battle, seeming to syncopate what rhythm there had been. Rather than leaping into the air for a dramatic slash, Ryke continued the charge right into his opponents vicinity, lowering the joysticks slowly. The tiger let out a feral snarl, lowering its heavy skull as it charged, suddenly slamming head-fist into its light-weight opponent.
The large man grunted sharply as his zoid struck that of his foe with a vicious headbutt, the recoil of the blow nearly knocking him from his seat. Ryke grunted and shrugged his shoulders dramatically, urging the combat vest back to rest more firmly against his chest, his hawklike gaze watching the shadowfox stumble violently and collapse, crashing into the waves.
Jagged armor shifting frantically beneath it, the Dark Fox seemed to stumble from the immense impact, its powerful legs working desperately to keep it on its feet. It settled in a weakened crouch from the unexpected blow, its dark eyes turning to its foe with renewed vengeance. Squinting towards his enemy, Ryke could see the heavy waves of the tempest rising behind it as it faced him, it's relentless glare just below that of the twin moons of Zi, their emerald intensity partially blocked out by stormclouds.
Glaring at that dark form, Ryke started as lightning crashed through the night again, its ruthless intensity jarring his eyesight, quickly providing a view of his opponent in the darkness. In that split-second, he could make out a pair of rectangular boxes slowly lifting from beneath plates of pointed armor, settling into place and pointing towards him. The ghost crouched, its feet sinking deeper into the sand below it, stabilizing itself despite the heavy waves crashing against its hull.
The large man let out a loud curse, suddenly jamming his controls to the left and rolling them forwards, his jaw agape in both fear and urgency. The Lightning instantly responded to his command, its deafening mechanical roar sounding distant and almost silent to him, soft and muffled, as if not quite there. The storm around them raged without any sign of decline, constantly drowning out all sound with its blustery wrath.
Feeling the zoid move beneath him, its burly feline form undulating gracefully with each gallop, sprinting at its top speed towards the same rock outcropping. Ryke squinted past the heap of shattered rock from before, doing his best to lead the golden machine towards an undamaged section of the jutting excursion.
A greenish vidscreen to his left blinked a bright red circle around a small 3D diagram of the Lightning, the words "Missile Lock" repeating over and over, accompanied by a chorus of insistent and demanding beeps. A loud, airy rush suddenly exploded through the night air, a high-pitched scream somehow audible above the crash of the waves, the howl of the wind and rain, the furious bellow of the thunder. "Missile Launch" now appeared in bold, a more frantic and rapid beeping constantly screaming its message at him, as if trying to convince him of what his senses had already proved. A number below the words blinked along with them, rapidly declining by the second, the numbers being rapidly burned away with every breath he took.
Powerful steel claws sliced into the heavy granite, urgently trying to gain traction, the armored cat laboriously struggling its way up the heavy rock cliff, powerful legs clawing and scratching their way towards the top. The tiger pushed off of a small excursion with it's back legs, leaping upwards onto a higher platform of stone, its heavy steel claws digging into the rock, causing it to crumble around the points of contact, stones tumbling down against the zoids armor along with the endless rain, only adding to the massive drumming atop its alloy carapace. Ryke cursed aloud as the missiles continued to close in, urging his zoid to climb faster. Ten meters to the top. The missiles, twenty meters away.
The number scrolled its way down unbelievably fast, their high-pitched, earsplitting scream intensifying with very passing moment. The android was forced to crawl gradually up the massive rock face, struggling for every inch, every slight sign of progression, a tedious test of sheer endurance, absolute strength of will. Nearly at the top, Ryke could feel his own muscles tensing and straining as they forcefully pushed and pulled at the controls, feeling as if he himself pulled the machine up as well. He could feel his own fingers clawing at the stone, his own legs pushing with all their might. Squinting through the heavy pillars of rain constantly soaring downwards, he could see the summit of his climb. Nearly there.
The sickening shriek of the missiles rose to a deafening wail, blocking out all other sound, before abruptly disappearing with a roar of light and flames, rock being thrown in all directions. Ryke was jolted in his seat, his eyes closing as his hands gripped the controls for dear life. The earth itself was being blasted away from beneath him, his claws fought to remain a firm hold on what he could not see or feel. The world was light and darkness as one, complete and utter blindness. He felt only fear and determination, the sheer terror of the situation and the will to persevere, to continue through all costs.
As the rubble cleared, the massive shower of rock and stone having already struck against his zoid's shell, denting it ruthlessly and beyond belief, he could barely make out a pair of glowing crimson eyes gazing down at him, the eyes of the smirking predator as it watched its pitiful prey scramble for existence, fighting for dear life. The cliff had been decimated, the Lightning simply dangling from a crippled outcropping, a jagged peak created by the incredible explosion from the rockets. By what he saw in those blood red eyes, he knew the miss was not a mistake. The waves had rose rapidly in moments, now crashing only 20 feet below, lapping against the rocky cliff, pulling insistently at it like wolves around a larger prey, biting at its ankles, forcing the rubble from its surface and carrying it off.
The onyx, threatening frame of the lighter fox remained motionless as Ryke struggled his way onto the cliff's surface, the powerful metallic legs of his zoid whining and trembling with incredible effort. Their hydraulics were strained to the very limit by the merciless climb and the titanium frame released another agonized wail as it withstood stress that transcended belief. The tiger quietly stood as powerful legs struggled beneath it, one of its emerald eyes badly damaged from the flying shrapnel of rock, its broken gaze returning that of its adversary. The tattered zoid took a shaky step forward, its heavy, dual-barreled cannon cocking upwards, locking in tandem on their target.
Ryke panted in both exasperation and agony, one eye partially closed from a great, swollen bluish bruise that had spread just above his eyebrow. The queasy feeling of defeat slowly sunk over him like a thick, dark blanket. It was not for comfort, but to lay him to rest. This black sheet settled not as a barrier, but to separate him from the world he so loved. Ryke stared through the eyes of his battered zoid, his jaw hanging slack as he gasped for air. The enemy before him stood unmarked, flawless and intact. It watched him with its haunting demon eyes, letting him decide his fate. It had only to wait. He had fought to his last breath, to the very extent of his power. Fatigue, agony, and grief washed out all other emotion but a numb acknowledgement of what was to come. The rain continued to hurtle down, the deep thunder and dazzling bursts of lightning still scrambling against one another in the dark sky. The waves had overtaken the stony outcropping, stranding the two combatants with one another. It was over.
The older man shifted his square jaw to one side, quietly scratching at his jaw, the sound of his nails against rough stubble seeming to hang in the heavy, thick air of the moment, a light, scratchy sound as coarse as sandpaper. He would die the warriors death. He had fought with honor. His time had come, the final blow was to be struck. The Lightning seemed to growl softly in agreement, the massacred zoid standing lopsidedly, its right hind leg limp and useless, it's foot lying awkwardly on the ground. The zoid's once spotless yellow armor was now speckled in bullet holes, tattered by huge tears and gashes. The zoid seemed to pant in exhaustion, its huge metallic bulk rising and falling as if struggling constantly to stay standing. Ryke set his jaw, slowly bringing his hand back towards the controls, nodding firmly. "We did well, Lightning," He quietly muttered, his gruff, deep voice filled with a stone-cold resolve. "A warriors death. Could we have asked for more?"
Ryke brought his fingers inwards sharply, relishing the soft, firm click of the cannon's triggers. The airy thud of the photon bolts being fired burst into the night air, the bright projectiles quickly being hurled through the air towards their target. They seemed to slow and smolder in the air, their ephemeral forms churning and fuming as they flew. His raptor gaze could barely catch the Shadowfox as it moved with incredible speed, easily leaping above the shots and soaring through the air, plunging upwards towards the dual sparkling moons with incredible speed. As it reached the apex of its arcing leap, the Shadowfox thrust its heavy, sharp claws downwards, soaring down towards him in a fraction of a second. Staring up with an emotionless expression on his face, Ryke watched as the demon eyes grew closer, their great inferno burning into his own. He stared not at his opponent, but at death, a warriors death.
The shadowfox slammed into the larger Saber Tiger with incredible force, landing atop it as its powerful claws easily shredded the armor from its back. The already struggling legs of the zoid collapsed beneath the immense force, sprawling out to the sides as sparks burst in all directions, fragments of metal being hurled into the raging storm, all splashing into the ocean with a loud chorus of hefty splashes. A strange peace settled over the rocks afterwards, the rain still heavily showering down on the two, as the fox stepped off of its opponent, turning and watching it's slaughtered corpse. The zoid had been reduced to rubble, small flames about its eviscerated fuselage hissing against the heavy rain, as sparks crackled and snarled at the night air. The twin moons of Zi watched calmly over the scene, spreading their eerie verdant glow across the raging shore.
"I've got it!" the bandit cried jubilantly through a mouthful of noodles, holding up one finger. Khalsin looked up over his ramen noodle cup, pausing a moment as his grey eyes searched the woman's delighted face. Quirking one flared purple brow, he jerked his head toward her. "What?"
"The Scrapper team!" she exclaimed, grinning triumphantly before slurping a long pull of steaming noodles between her crimson lips. The woman nibbled the cheap bamboo chopsticks for a moment, her purple eyes glancing upwards before back down to her partner. "See? Because...we break things! We've got all the heavy weapons, so I figured 'hey, why not?'" she chuckled gleefully at this, looking back down into the small Styrofoam cup, jabbing at it quietly with her chopsticks, seeming to have hit an incredibly rebellious noodle.
Khalsin stabbed his own sticks into his cup, lifting his newly freed hand to scratch at the back of his neck. Leaning his head to one side, the young man considered this idea, shifting his hand toward the side of his head and running his fingers through his stubborn violet hair. "I like it," he began, nodding quietly as he licked his lips, his stony features being exaggerated into shadow by the blazing campfire before him. "It makes sense, and it just sounds more... 'us'..., I mean, not necessarily heroic, but threatening nonetheless. Not good or evil, but a third-party effect, a neutral force."
The older woman across the fire from him furrowed her brow, grinning wryly and waving her chopsticks in mock-sophistication. "Well god, Khal, you've certainly got this all figured out, huh?" she jested, chuckling playfully.
Khalsin couldn't help but to laugh as well, quickly tilting his noodle cup and slurping down the still-hot remains of his soup, his nostrils filling with the delicious steamy aroma of spiced chicken. The food was heavenly after a day with nothing to eat, its warmth seeming to heat his insides, providing a cozy sense of security. The salty chicken flavor was more than mouthwatering, easily forcing him to devour his meal before being able to truly enjoy it. The young pilot casually plopped the noodle cup down beside him, leaving the chopsticks inside, before hugging his knees to his chest, staring quietly into the fire.
The soft crackling of the flame was comforting to hear, its gentle snaps and pops like the reassuring words of a loved one. Khalsin idly tugged at the tightened cuff of his bronze pants just below his knee, feeling the smooth material against his skin. Amidst all this rain, he had somehow managed to stay dry. These last few days had been incredible, the sudden acceleration in his life having been nothing close to what he had expected, but nonetheless exciting. He had found an incredible zoid and a partner. His career as a zoid pilot would come with these two. He had found what he had needed in those woods; a strange zoid and an unusual companion. Khalsin chuckled again at this thought, his sharp lupine gaze flitting over to the woman for a moment, watching her down a small can of soda in a few dramatic gulps, ending the theatrical ordeal with a heavy belch. The woman quietly thudded a fist against her chest, clearing her throat idly before placing the can on the ground. The sound of her demanding voice abruptly catching him off-guard.
"Hey, when you're done staring at me, are you gonna finish that grape seltzer?"
Khalsin stammered in shock a moment, quickly looking away from her before moving his eyes back, his face bursting with a sudden flush of red on his cheeks. "I..uhh...n-no, you can have it.." he managed to say, before tossing the can towards her. The woman smirked triumphantly, reaching up with one gloved hand. She opened the can with one hand, the purple metallic plates along the backs of her fingers and palm shifting quietly. The can cracked open with a loud hiss followed by a snap, the abrupt sound making Khalsin jump a little bit. The bandit held up the can towards him a moment and bobbing her head briefly in thanks, before tilting it back to take a long drag from the purple cylinder.
The woman sat with one knee bent and her heavy purple boot on the ground, the other leg laying on its side and folded inwards. Bringing the can from her lips and resting the arm that held it on her knee, Tolei quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. "Well god, you're a bundle of nerves, tonight, huh." She spoke gruffly, jerking her head towards him, the black, swirling overhang of hair at the front of her head bouncing softly.
Khalsin gave a shrug before feigning interest in his sleeves, re-rolling the long grayish fabric back up towards his elbows. "Yeah.. guess its just been a long day.." he muttered in response, feeling sheepish at her previous comment. He could feel her intense blue eyes watching him, so filled with intelligence and incisiveness that a chill ran down his spine. The woman was uncouth and seemingly boorish on the outside, but whenever he looked into her eyes, it was obvious this was but a façade, an attempt at hiding what her mind really held.
"Something wrong, man?" came the voice again, the woman taking another impressive swig from the small canister.
Khalsin shook his head, rubbing his neck a bit as he quietly lay himself down in the dry grass, looking out form beneath the armored underbelly of the Emperor crab. The rain came down in a constant, heavy barrage, colliding with the enormous red crab's domelike shell in a rushing chorus of thousands of hollow thuds. "No... I'm fine, just...been a long day, that's all..." he let himself trail off, yawning widely and stretching his arms out slightly in the grass. Long day indeed; he guessed he hadn't slept for over 32 hours now. Khalsin's eyes watered slightly from the yawn, causing him to close them in sympathy, rolling onto his side. The warmth of the flame continued to gently comfort him, its bright, undulating light still barely visible through his eyelids, dulled to a gentle shifting of sleepy luminescence beneath his eyelids. Khalsin felt himself gradually fading into unconsciousness, the crackling of the flame and the quiet roar of the rain atop his zoid's shell lulling him towards his dreams. More had happened in the last few days than he could possibly remember, his destiny had rushed to rest before his feet in what seemed like moments. Sleep gradually drifted over him, setting his sore muscles to rest, easing his exhausted mind into relaxation.
The harsh thunder and merciless gales of wind from before had stopped hours ago, and now only torrential rain remained, allowing for the two to have had their picnic beneath the emperor crab. The Dusk Sniper sat quietly off to their left, crouched beneath a huge tree. Tolei sighed happily as she finished her soda, licking the rich, grapey taste from her lips before running her fingers through her short black hair, feeling it spring back into its normal position instantly. The bandit heaved a quiet sigh, glancing over at her sleeping partner a moment, letting out a soft "hmph" as a kind smirk poisoned her rock hard façade. Tolei leaned back, stretching out her legs and folding her arms beneath her head. The woman stared quietly up at the massive titanium armor on the stomach of the Emperor crab, quietly allowing her thoughts to drift as she lay there.
A zoid pilot. Exactly what she had wished to become. Was it fate, was it destiny that brought her here, that guided her to this kid? Was it some predetermined law that today she would attempt to rob a scrappy man in his late teens, and end up finding what it was she needed most? He seemed so fresh, so new, as if unprepared for what the backdraft could do. It was as if he didn't understand, yet in his eyes she could see his maturity, the massive comprehension with which he lived. Her new partner intrigued her to no end. A zoid pilot. A zoid team. A zoid fighter. Much had come from this old thief, she thought haughtily to herself. It was time to turn her life around. Tolei slowly shut her ice blue eyes, grinning broadly as she drifted to sleep, her elbows jutting out sharply from behind her skull. The Scrapper team. So there it was.
