Um…very sorry? Does that even begin to make up for how long it took? I do feel bad, otherwise I wouldn't be writing right now. But anyway, I always do a Thanksgiving update, so here I am. I'm saving it all for the last second, so tomorrow, I'll just post whatever I have done. The rest would get done on another day…but hopefully I can update everything tomorrow. So there…yay, right? Right? Okay, I'm not sure if I'm even making much sense. I just totally zoned out, and I'm currently starving. It's almost dinner time, and I haven't eaten much today. But that's not your concern, ne? Okay, shutting up now…

By the way, praise me! Haha, just kidding…but really, I mean, I've already written three books, one which was done in two months! (August 24th to Octorber 24th and it's 287 pages, 34 chapters…and a lot of words…but only the first thirteen are up on the net.). I'm so great! Just kidding…anyway, I'd greatly appreciate it if someone at least checked it out, like read the first chapter even…but anyway, onward!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zoids, but I do own Star and Josh, both of which I'm happy to claim.

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The hanger at the ZBC was huge, spanning nearly twice as far as the one at the Blitz team's base. There were so many zoids stationed there, including the Midnight Storm, Star's own zoid. In fact, all of their zoids were there. That was probably because they had spent so much time here due to her and Leon. Star was happy that he was finally awake, and she had been so sure that her problems would all go away with his reawakening, but now something else was bothering her. Life just wasn't fair. Her only remaining family member was in trouble. Josh's cover had been blown, and now there was no telling what would happen to him. It was possible that he could already be dead, but she didn't want to think about that. She couldn't. She had to stay positive.

Star was sitting by herself, stationed on the shoulder of her zoid. Her head was down, and she was deep in thought. She had to come up with something. She had to think of a way to help Josh. She was worried about him, and for good reasons. She knew from experience. The Backdraft wasn't too tolerant of traitors. That's an understatement. She sighed deeply before falling into her thoughts, now deeper into her own world than before.

You shouldn't think so much Star just sighed as Storm's voice filtered into her mind.

"I know," she responded as tears began welling up in her eyes. "But he's my brother. I can't stop thinking about him. I hope he's okay."

There's no point in worrying. It won't get you anywhere. You have to decide what you're going to do about it

"What do you mean?"

Don't you plan on going after him? You're not just going to let him rot in their prison, right?

"Of course not!"

Then come up with a plan. Figure something out. I'll help you in whatever way I can

"Thanks," responded Star with a smile as she wiped her tears away, sniffling just a bit. She stood up and jumped down, landing perfectly on the floor. She gave Storm one last smile before running out of the room. She couldn't do this on her own. She would need some help, and she knew exactly who to turn to.

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"What now?" asked Leena curiously, hoping that one of her teammates would give her an answer. However, everyone remained quiet. They weren't exactly sure what was to come next. What could they do? This was the new and improved, not to mention more deadly, Backdraft that they were dealing with. The members wouldn't hesitate to kill any one of them. This was no light matter anymore. Things had suddenly gotten a whole lot more serious and incredibly complicated.

"You know she's not gonna take this sitting down," stated Bit. "She'll go after him alone if she has to."

"We can't let her," stated Naomi. "She'll get herself killed. The Backdraft is no longer a laughing matter. They're serious this time."

"Yeah, but we can't just abandon Josh," stated Leon, still sitting up in his hospital bed. "Besides, I really owe him."

"Well then," began Brad. "If we're gonna do something, then we should probably come up with some kind of plan."

"Yeah," agreed Leena. "It'd be pretty stupid to just charge in there blindly." Bit nearly broke out laughing at that remark. It wasn't exactly the remark itself that was amusing but the person who had said it. That was one of the last things he ever thought he'd hear from Leena, the trigger happy, hot-tempered redhead, who's theory was shoot first, ask questions later.

"Shouldn't we be discussing this with Star?" inquired Jamie. "I mean…Josh is her brother."

"Yeah, but I think we should leave her alone for now," said Naomi. "She probably needs some time to think."

"Well, we can at least come up with a day," decided Bit. "How about tomorrow or the day after?"

"Sounds good," said a voice from the doorway, and all of them turned to see Star standing there, a sly smile on her face. "I think the day after tomorrow'd be better though. We'll need that time to get ready."

"So you were listening?" asked Leena.

"Of course. It's a bit ironic, really, 'cause I was just coming to ask you if you'd help me. It's nice to see that wasn't needed."

"Do you think we should tell John about this?" asked Jamie. Getting the ZBC involved could be a bit dangerous, depending on how John reacted. He could forbid such a suicidal rescue mission or he would support them. Either or seemed just as likely. If anyone had a chance at getting him to agree, it would be Star. She knew him the best, and she could probably get him to give in.

"I'll ask tomorrow," said Star, stretching her arms over her head. However, I'm just a bit tired, so I think I'll go lie down for a bit." And with that stated, she left the room, leaving the rest of her team alone with their thoughts. Tomorrow would be a rather busy day for them, full of preparing and planning, not to mention begging. This was all just so complicated. What had happened to the good old days, the ones where they could battle without the threat of the Backdraft trying to kill them? It just wasn't fair. Were they really ready for a battle like this, one that could easily cost them their lives? They'd figure out soon enough, and they'd do it the hard way. They'd charge right into battle…and pray to the gods that they'd come out alive.

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A sigh escaped Josh's lips as he realized how pathetic he probably seemed right now. Here he was, locked away in a prison cell, and for what? Because of his own carelessness. Because of two women. Since when had he gotten so soft? How had he become so confused? It didn't really matter though, because he couldn't do anything about it now. He'd just have to put up with this until someone came to help him. Then again, that was highly unlikely. Who would be able to make it this far to get him out? Star wouldn't risk it…or would she? He wasn't sure anymore. His little sister seemed a lot different now. She was more confident, headstrong, insinuative…all the things he never thought she'd be. To be perfectly honest, she was never a very good spy. Zoid battles had always interested her far more than the work of a special forces agent.

Still…even though he desperately wanted to be saved, he didn't want his little sister coming after him. He didn't want her risking her life just for his sake. It would be better if she just lived out a normal life, away from all of this. Then again, with the Backdraft after her, that wasn't possible, was it. She'd always be hunted, she'd always have to run away, and she'd always be different. Star could never be a normal person, not with a talent like hers…a talent that the Backdraft would exploit to no end. That was the last thing he wanted. He began praying that she wouldn't come.

"But I already know you will," he whispered aloud. "You're always so rash." As odd as it seemed, he began laughing. Maybe this small cell was starting to get to him. Maybe he was slowly being driven insane. He didn't care though. Insanity was better than being anxious and paranoid. He frankly didn't even care if he was interrogated again right now. He was just so bored, and now that Maria had left, he had no one to talk to. He heaved another deep sigh, sinking further against the wall.

"Maria…" he whispered.

"You called?" chimed a very kind, female voice. Josh turned towards the bars to his cell and watched in curiosity as they were opened. Maria came in, carrying something in her hands. Despite everything…despite all his lies, his current position, and his ranking as a ZBC officer…she was smiling at him.

She closed the door behind her, but made sure not to lock herself in. This left Josh in a very odd position. Right now, he could easily run away. He could escape the cell, and then what? He'd probably get gunned down in the hallway. Well, so much for that kind of idea. Instead, he just watched Maria, his eyes following her as she came up to him and knelt down. In her hands was a plate of food, or at least what he assumed was food. People in prison weren't supposed to be fed with luxury, after all. He would just have to settle for whatever this was.

"I thought you could use something to eat," she said. "It's not much, and it doesn't taste that great, but at least it's something." Josh just looked from the plate and then to her. He just didn't get it. Why was she taking such risks? Didn't she understand that he was the enemy?

"Why are you here?" he asked curiously, and she gave him a look that questioned his skepticism.

"What do you mean?" she asked in that same tone.

"I could easily take advantage of this situation and use you to escape," he explained. "So why risk coming here, knowing that I'm your enemy?" To his surprise, she smiled. She then set the plate down and took a seat next to him.

"Because you're not like that," she told him honestly, her voice lacking any uncertainty…any fear. "You're just not the hostage taking type, so I'm not afraid of you at all."

"…You should be." She just shook her head, dismissing his comment completely. Instead, she leaned against him a bit, shocking his already startled mind. He wasn't exactly sure what she was doing. They were supposed to be enemies, after all. Then again…did they have to be? So what if he was from the ZBC? In reality, they were both the same, both human, both people with dreams and desires. Sure, maybe their views were a bit different, but that didn't really mean much. It was pointless to let such differences decide their fate. They could focus on the similarities instead. God, it'd be so easy to just get out of here right now, but…

Josh just sighed and raised his still good arm, placing it around Maria's shoulders. It just seems wrong…to use her like that…after I caused her so much pain already. Besides… A smile crossed his face. I'm really not the hostage taking type.

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"So we're really doing this," sighed Leena as she walked with Bit down the large hallways of the ZBC base. All of them were staying there for now considering the dangers involved of remaining at their own.

"Of course," Bit responded, "though it really is kinda hard to believe." He suddenly broke into a very wide, cocky grin. "But we'll win, no problem."

"Why are you so confident?" she asked skeptically. Bit just put an arm around her shoulders.

"Because I'll be there," he stated smugly, showing his extreme overconfidence in himself. But that was Bit for you. He'd never change. "Besides…we don't have a choice."

"What do you mean?" Suddenly, his voice didn't seem so confident anymore.

"Well think about it," he began. "If we fail, we won't only lose Josh. We'll all die, and if the Backdraft decides to use Star…I can't even imagine what kind of problem that'd cause."

"I guess you're right," responded Leena, lowering her head a bit. "If Star can communicate with a Zoid, not to mention borrow its powers, then she's possibly more powerful than anyone on the planet. It'd be horrible if they found a way to use her." Bit put on a stern front and pulled Leena just a bit closer as they walked down the hallway.

"We'll all be there, so nothing'll happen," he assured her, but his own voice didn't seem half as confident as it once had. Just what had happened to them? When did this all get so complicated? In the beginning, it had seemed like nothing but a game. Let Star join their team, fight random Backdraft men…but now everything had suddenly changed. Their simple game had become a fight for their lives. There was so much more to this than they had originally thought. It was enough to put both egotistical, hotheaded pilots into a rather unconfident, worried state. Zoid battling had always just been a game, a way to make money, something fun to do…a way to prove yourself in a rather unfocused world. It had been a way to express something…but now they were fighting in a small war. This was so much more than just their lives…this was their future…the future of the ZBC…and the future of the zoid battles that they loved.

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"Leon?" called Star as she entered his medical room. The base was more or less shut down for the night. Almost everyone was already asleep. "Are you awake?" She watched as he shifted a bit and soon sat up, rubbing his head.

"I am now," he answered, and she walked in, closing the door gently behind her.

"Sorry," she apologized as she took a seat on his bed. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"What is it?" he asked. She hesitated a bit before giving an answer.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Nightmare?" She only nodded her head. "They're just dreams, Star. Nothing's gonna happen." Star just lowered her head and clenched her fists a bit.

"Do you really think we can do this?" she asked him, her voice barely even a whisper. "Can we really save Josh?"

"Of course."

"Why are you all so confident?" she half shouted. "How can you be so sure? They're different from the Backdraft you're used to! They kill people! How can you all say things like 'we'll win' and 'don't worry'…I just don't get it."

"Well, would you rather hear us say that we can't?" he asked seriously, drawing her attention. "It's not a matter of confidence. They're just words. We're all scared, really. We're just saying things that everyone else needs to hear, because if we go in there convinced that it's impossible, then what's the point of even trying? You wanna save Josh, right? That should be enough to keep you going."

"Then what about all of you? What's your reason?"

"My reason?" She just nodded, awaiting his answer. "I love zoid battles. I like being under the rule of the ZBC where battling is a sport, not a life or death struggle. I'll do what I can do protect that, and I'm sure that's the reason for Bit and Leena as well. We all love zoid battles. But my real reason…I wanna save Josh. He's done a lot for me, and I need to repay him. Besides…you'd cry if he died, wouldn't you?" Star didn't say anything as she just focused on the dark room she was sitting in. She really did want to save Josh. He was all she had left, family wise. He was her only blood relative. She loved him.

Star jumped a bit when she felt Leon wrap his arms around her, pulling her against him. She couldn't exactly see him right now, but she knew exactly how close he was. She could almost sense him, but that wasn't unnatural…at least for her, anyway.

"You can stay here tonight if you want," he offered. "You really should get some sleep." Star just smiled and leaned into him a bit.

"Okay," she agreed, and he began to lean back, taking her with him. Soon enough, they were both lying comfortably on his bed. Star just moved a bit closer and closed her eyes.

"I really missed you," she told him drowsily. "I like seeing you there…when I wake up." Leon just smile and pulled her a bit closer, realizing that this could be one of the last times he'd ever be able to do this. After tomorrow they'd be heading out into battle. Hopefully Josh could hang on until then. It wouldn't be fair if he died before they even got there. They were doing this all for him after all. Besides, he couldn't die. It wouldn't be fair to Star. She needed him. For the sake of her sanity…he had to survive.

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Um…Yeah…a bit depressing. I wonder why everything I write has a rather angsty twist to it. I've noticed that in my original stories too. Bad things happen a lot…because I'm just to bit into trauma and drama, I suppose. It's so much fun! I makes for good reading…or at least that's my opinion.

And once again, happy Turkey day…if you celebrate it, that is.

Until the next time!