"Chase, if you'd just put down the wrench and we could…"

I hissed, grabbed the piece of fruit and my wrench and scurried back to the garage. I was a bit animal-like when I'm really into a project. I'd been going for six hours now, this was a full job. They didn't send me a zoid, they sent me some parts.

Before they arrived I spend all night constructing a 3D model and blueprint series. Rax commented it looked like that toy liger on my desk. Exactly. I had in mind not a custom zoid, but a whole new breed. This was going to change everyone's view on transports, and on zoids.

After stealing food like the little gremlin I am, I went back to welding the torso to its limbs. Then buffering the seams, then spending an hour on each limb. Then I took a break and worked out the appearance, another four hours. Then worked out a paint job, then built the cockpit. Then rebuilt it. Then another redesign. Well, repeat six times and this is how I built it.

But this was all before we reached Max's place, I'll cut to that. Well, did I mention his sister's family was rich? Like, never worked in their life, ride the servants like ponies rich? Well, their double-wide mansion had a landing area for aerial transports, so we dropped down off the ramp and started walking the six miles of garden paths to get to the door. Then some guy in a hover-cart drove up.

"…MAX!"

…there he was…seven months older, but there he was. He always struck me as a detective look-alike. Slightly pale, aged face. Salt and pepper goatee, same with the gelled back hair. Dark green eyes that contrasted with his face, that scared the hell out of most people. He seemed really laid back compared to his days back 'home'. Must be the weather. He was wearing a jacket-pants combo that was extremely similar to my own fashion tastes, gee, what a coincidence.

"…boy, what are they feedin' ya? You look half-way healthy."

I looked at him under my hat and smirked, what, you expected a hugging fest?

"Back at ya'…"

He hopped out of the cart, getting a closer look at us. He was about my same height, looked more imposing though.

"Well…Team Reckless…"

We all stood up straight, this was a pilot from the Golden Days of the ZBC, and we were still rookies, somehow. He paced a bit in front of us like a drill instructor, stopping in front of Sue.

"…Sue Ryder…I have a few clippings about you from your mercenary days, sorry to hear about your Geno."

Then he flashed a wink at me then looked back at her.

"…you move in that Reaper like a swan from hell. Keep it up."

She formally accepted the compliment, by shrugging and grunting under her breath. Max nodded at this and stepped in front of Rax.

"...Rax…used to record those bouts you did out East, about time you joined a team. And owned a zoid."

Rax nodded absentmindedly.

"…well, just keep doing your thing…"

Then he stepped in front of me, glaring.

"…And my replacement…well, the fact my old zoid evolved after I gave it to you is a bit much…but now you have my nickname…you worthless little…"

He screamed some profanities at me before we just hugged each other, laughing. This was an act he did, he was always young at heart. Then he got us all in the cart and sped up to our Whale like a little kid, wanting to see the zoids. He then did an inspection of our living quarters. I'll sum it up in one sentence.

"…well…eh…you certainly have a lot of strategic devices…"

Well, Rax ordered more models, and they were currently on every flat surface available. The kitchen counter, the couch, tables, chairs, the winged ones hanging from the ceiling, and also filling most of the spare rooms. Then he checked out the garage, I tapped the lights revealing the Saix, Liger, and the Reaper. He went to the Geno skeleton first.

"…so I hear the ZBC has you making zoids now…this is a good start. Scary as hell."

Then the Liger.

"…the street art is nice."

Then he noticed something in the corner, my project for the President's daughter.

"…holy…geez, wonder where you got this idea…"

I walked up and hit a light, standing next to him looking at what appeared to be a smaller, more basic version of the Shield Liger. No mane like the Blade, no extra guns like the Shield. And while the Shield had bare black sections, this one was fully blue, it resembled a Command Wolf in that way. Both sides had a single small gun, nothing special. The legs had a bit of armor, but just enough to move around. Overall it was a nice-looking but lesser form of a Liger.

"…it's for the President's"

"Chett?"

"…Chetts daughter."

Max nodded.

"Hmm...looks like a good starting zoid for a 16 year old…why did you just make a downgrade though? I mean, you made a Geno from hell but this looks like an economy model Liger."

I nodded, expecting this to come up.

"…and it cost about.."

Max stared at the amount.

"…and for retail it'll be just above that, it's easily mass produced. Easy to customize or upgrade, many color options. Extremely easy cockpit. This thing could go two ways, a good starter for a battle pilot, or the ultimate form of civilian transport. It's faster, and grander than a car…"

Max slowly smiled.

"…you made the zoid that everyone can afford…"

I shrugged.

"…it will revolutionize what everyone thinks about Zoids…"

"…so you go both ways…metal killing machines, and user friendly family transports…"

"Back seat optional…and convertible, the cockpit slides back instead of a hatch."

Sue and Rax were nodding at all this, wondering how much money this will rake in. Sue got the guts to ask.

"So you get so much for each one sold…"

"Plus a large amount for giving them the design."

"…and they can mass produce these things…"

"…yeah, we'll be stinking rich."

I turned back to Max and nodded toward Psy, who had not moved since we entered.

"How about checking out your old zoid? You always wanted to see it in good condition."

We walked over and he whistled.

"…yep…that's the Saix…ten times better…but hey, at least it can walk…"

"…I got 600MPH last week…"

"…that too…"

"…you…left...me...to…ROT!"

Rax ran off to his room, Psy sounded pissed. Sue and I just watched, in on the joke. Max looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

"…HA! Seriously though, good to see ya."

Max burst out laughing, new to Psy's humor, and we left them alone to chat about the old days. We stayed two days down here, never once went into the mansion. Max drove up every day and we showed him everything we had going on, talked about whatever there was to talk about, and left after he called and said his nephew saw our Whale and was sprinting down the path toward us. He was pissed over us scrapping his zoids into making the Reaper. Well, by the time he got here we were just a speck in the sky.

One Week Later

"…and a commercial spot!"

I was in the President's office, I had shown him the zoid and given him all the details and plans. He was going to use it for a whole new campaign to make zoids mainstream media. He wanted to make these things by the thousand and use them to replace some lesser forms of transportation.

Think about it. They were cheap, powerful, not too powerful to the point of doing any damage. They were very fast compared to cars. They could be customized to fit any lifestyle or person. And they're just plain kickass. And the prototype wasn't going to be given to his daughter, he stated right away. He would have his techs make another one for her, he said the prototype would be worth millions.

"…and I'm sure it will be safe and useful in your hands."

…great, another zoid to park.

Another Week Later

Team Reckless, and Riz, and Clara were sitting in our Whale watching some football game in the living room. Honestly, none of us knew what was going on. Then the commercials started. Two about some sex pill, one about soda, then the screen changed to a shot of the Ultrasauras, with a dramatic voice over about the power of zoids. Then panned back to reveal a tiny blue Liger. Yeah, my zoid had a commercial. It was an official ZBC thing, with testing footage, performance charts, political statements, and a picture of me and my Saix listed as the designer. At the end of the thirty second spot, they showed all sixty optional features, add-ons, and alternatives.

We all nodded, approving of it. The President, Chett, called a minute later, the ZBC had a get together going on to start off their campaign.

"Chase! You're a freakin' genius! We just got ten thousand orders!"

"…t-ten…thou…"

"Just from the commercial! And they're still pouring in! And just a note, everybody in the ZBC ordered at least two. My daughter has a picture of you on her nightstand, she loves the Liger!"

We'd decided on just calling it the 'Liger'. No adjective or anything, just Liger. I clicked off after he said he had to go. Then shook my head slightly, thinking this was an odd dream. Then right as I turned back to the living room the screen rang again, I caught it. It was one of the ZBC Techs.

"Mr. Brand…we've been monitoring one of the Ligers, this morning we walked in and found a Shield Liger in its space."

"…it evolved?"

"Yessir…congratulations, you've given every person who couldn't afford a zoid the chance to get one of the Liger Evolutions. This will be announced during the next press statement."

I talked a bit more with him before signing off and going back to the living room.

"Well, one of the Ligers evolved into a Shield…"

All four people stared.

"…you mean they're alive?"

It was Sue who asked, Clara and Riz were pretty left out.

"Yep…"

The intercom buzzed.

"…just heard…Eve says you're welcome."

And he buzzed out.

Author's Notes

Things will be back to normal by enxt chapter, I'll include a flashback to the Blitz Team-Geno Rangers battle.