Chapter Two

Awakenings

"No! Kavid!"

I sat up and nearly threw my blanket off. My cry out quickly turned into coughing. My throat hurt, but I no longer felt dehydrated. Looking down, I saw that I was covered with sweat, and obviously in a hospital-type bed.

"Bad dream?" asked a voice from across the room. I knew that voice.

"Kavid?"

He was sitting at the foot of my bed, in a slouched-over position. My scream had obviously woken him up, too. He was still in the Imperial officer's uniform that he wore when PAC-2 was destroyed by the Stone Dragon; back when I thought he was…killed.

"Yeah, it's me. You don't have to announce it to everyone, Jeremy."

"B-but…but how did you…I thought you…I couldn't find you!" I was gasping. My head was in a spin.

"Yeah, uh, sorry about that." Kavid stretched his arms and yawned. "See, I barely had enough time to hit the "Eject" button when the big "Rock Lizard" busted PAC-2 up. All I could do was crawl into the caves and hide for a few days. I…uh…got lost in the caves." Kavid gave a dopey smile. I frowned. "Well, it's the truth. It took me three days to find my way out. Once I did, what do I find, but a massive Republic versus the Empire battle raging out on the dunes. And to put salt on the wound, I see you jump into the fray. At least I thought you did. I saw PAC-1 running around zapping stuff. But he sucked at it."

I stood up, feeling a few aches and pains in my feet. "What do you mean?"

"He moved kind of slow, and his shots were sloppy, like a sleeper-Zoid. What I noticed most of all is that he was taking incredible risks, attacking Imperial big-boys and getting thrown all over the field. It didn't take me long to figure you weren't piloting him."

"Damn." I started to feel anxious. "So what happened to him?"

"He got picked up by an Iron Kong and hurled about 750 meters. Didn't see him return to the battle after that."

"How did you find me?"

Kavid snorted. "That was the real kicker. Seeing how you weren't in PAC-1, I figured I better go pick him up, so I went to the field to steal a Zoid so I could drive out and go get him. Lo-and-behold, I see a Molga parked by a destroyed Gordos, with a pilot trying to stuff an unconscious Imperial Captain into the cockpit. Turns out the pilot was saving your sorry ass."

I squinted my eyes as I tried to think back. "I…I can't remember."

"Figures. I just decked the guy, and figured I'd escape with you in the Molga. But look at you. You're a mess…again. I had to bring you here to get fixed up. It's just our saving grace that we are still wearing these Imperial uniforms."

I nodded in agreement. "You look pretty beat up yourself, buddy. Maybe you should get some help."

"Nah, I'll be all right. Just some cuts and burns. I had to make sure you were okay, first." This was just like the day at My. Hoploy, after we battled the Iron Kong that assaulted the Republic Base. Kavid didn't leave my side until I was recovered there, either.

I swore this day to never leave Kavid's side if he ever needed me.

Our next task was to escape the ISSO base, but there was a feeling inside me that said we only lucked out when we got in so easily. Getting in after a battle is easy. Getting out, after everything is re-organized—that's a lot harder.

Kavid and I walked through the bunker, trying to find our way back to the Zoids Storage Hangar. I must have been the last remaining Captain at the base, because I had never been saluted so many times before with such vigor.

Once we reached the Hangar, it was the exact opposite of how Kavid and I found it a week ago. Then, it was nearly lifeless. Now, it bristled with activity, as engineers frantically operated the equipment, attempting to repair every available Zoid before the Republic forces decided to come back.

"We need to get out of here, now, while they're busy." pushed Kavid. I quietly agreed.

"Captain! Captain!" A young enlisted man came running up to me with a panicked look upon his face.

I returned his salute. "Uh…what's the problem, soldier?"

"Sir, short range scans show a massive sandstorm heading this way!"

Kavid groaned. I struggled not to curse, but figured I better continue with my disguise. "Are there any troops still outside?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Get them all inside as quickly as possible, and lock up the bunkers." I could see Kavid start to smile.

"What about the Zoids, sir?" asked the soldier.

I growled in false frustration as an idea came to mind. "We'll have to forget about them for now, and dig them out later." The soldier looked concerned, but didn't ask anything.

"Yes, sir!" He saluted, spun around and ran off.

"You seem to handle the reins of Imperial Commander pretty well, Jeremy. Maybe you're on the wrong side?" teased Kavid.

"I don't know what side to be on anymore." I replied truthfully.

"Well, you just helped the Republic out. It'll take the Empire days to dig their Zoids all out."

"I'm just helping us escape."

Kavid put his hand on my shoulder. "Look, all joking aside, we've got to get out of here before someone with a little rank realizes we shouldn't be in here."

I frowned. "Not now, Kavid, now is not a good time."

"Kelt, now is the perfect time! No one would expect it, much less go after us!"

My jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me! We barely survived the last sandstorm we were in. I'm not too enthusiastic about enduring another one."

"So what do you want to do? Keep running around the ISSO base until the Republic forces come blow away a bunch of half-buried Molgas?"

Dammit, Kavid. Why was he always right?

"All right, fearless leader, lead the way."

Outside, the wind was getting intense. It was still possible to see the width of the outpost, thanks to the walls, but walking around was difficult. Most of the pilots had gone into the bunkers and hangar by the time Kavid and I walked out, but a couple of them were still outside tying down their Redlers.

"What Zoids should we take, Kavid?"

"Nothing that flies, that's for sure. Something that stays low to the ground, like maybe a Stealth Viper."

My hands wadded into fists. "I always swore to myself that I would never get into one of those stupid snakes."

"Then what do you suggest? Ow!" Kavid slapped his cheek as a lump of sand smacked him.

I scanned the Zoids still standing outside. There weren't many left, and most were Molgas, Lightning Saix' and Energy Ligers: all Zoids I didn't feel comfortable trucking out into a major sandstorm with.

Then, I saw the answer.

"A Hel Digunner!" I pointed out.

Kavid looked over and squinted, then nodded. "That's a great choice, but there's only one of them!"

I smiled. "Then it's a good thing we both took showers before we left the medical center!" I punched his shoulder and began the difficult walk towards our new ride.

Kavid just cursed.

The Hel Digunner handled remarkably well, considering two full-sized adult men were crammed into its cockpit. I sat on the left half, and Kavid sat on the right, each of us working one side's legs controls. Strong winds threatened to flip us over a few times, but we managed to work the controls well enough to cruise the big Iguana along through the blasting sand.

Our journey became a bit difficult when we reached the former battlefield, which hadn't been cleared yet. Battered and busted Zoids laid strewn across the dunes, slowly being buried by the brown sky. Maneuvering around them was quite a chore.

Suddenly, Kavid slammed on the brakes, and I slid forward into a painful position with my shins crammed against the HUD screen.

"What are you doing, Kavid?" I barked.

"Look up ahead, Jeremy!"

I managed to twist myself around enough so I could see out of the front of the windshield. My eyes just about popped out of my head.

Barely visible in the swirling mist stood PAC-1, head held high and looking back in our direction.

"Uh…two questions, Kelt."

But I already knew the questions and the answers. "I don't know why it's just standing there or what it plans to do to us. But I do know we're sitting in an Imperial Hel Digunner, and that means it doesn't like us."

The 150mm cannon on PAC-1's back began to glow red, and the Command Wolf roared with determination.

"This…this is not good, Jeremy." Whined Kavid.

PAC-1 fired.

"Move!" I jerked the left control stick forward, but Kavid pulled the right stick back. Instead of evading the blast, the Hel-Digunner turned 90-degrees clockwise, making it an even wider target for the blast, and we got smacked hard.

"What are you doing?" barked Kavid.

"I'm trying to dodge PAC-1's fire!" I screamed back.

"Well you screwed up!"

"I screwed up? I don't think so!" The Hel Digunner growled, and I turned my head left. "Go forward, quick!"

"What?"

It was too late. The metallic clang from PAC-1 smashing into the side of our Iguana-type Zoid rang painfully loud into my cyberphonic implants—the fake eardrums I have that don't respond well to metallic sounds.

Kavid and I screamed like school children as our Zoid tumbled through the sandstorm, shuffling our bodies like dice. We ended up thirty meters away, upside down on the Hel Digunner's back cannon, twisting in the wind.

"Well this is just great! Ow!" griped Kavid as I "accidentally" kicked him.

We were all tangled about each other now in painful positions. Piloting a Zoid while laying on my stomach looking down at the HUD, flipped 180-degrees around was quite impossible. Kavid's head was stuck against the foot controls.

"We've got to get out of this thing." I said, rather obviously.

"You think we'll survive in that sandstorm?" asked Kavid as he pulled his head off of the foot controls.

"We won't survive in this Hel Digunner if PAC-1 keeps attacking it."

Kavid groaned. "Okay, pop the hatch."

I painfully reached back with my arm, searched for the lever and pushed it (If we would have been right-side up, I would have pulled the lever, mind you). The HUD cleared off and the hatch opened, letting in a swarm of dust and heat. I slid off of the hatch face first and crashed to the desert floor. Kavid slid right behind me, but managed to grab onto the cockpit edge, and drop himself down smoothly.

"I can't see anything but dirt!" yelled Kavid as he stumbled through the wind.

"We have to find PAC-1!" I called back.

"Why do you want to find it?" inquired my confused friend.

"I have an idea!"

Out of the waves of sand, two flashes of red flew across the sky, and tore into the body of the Hel Digunner. Our topsy-turvy transport exploded in a fiery burst, but thanks to the strong wind, the explosion was quickly deflected, saving us from harm.

Still, Kavid and I jumped to the ground, and when I next looked up, a ruby-red, black and silver mass emerged from the cloud of sand.

I jumped to my feet and raised my hands. "PAC-1! Stop! It's me, Captain Kelt!" The Command Wolf took a couple of steps back, as if it was shocked to see me. "Please, no more! I'm your friend!" I prayed that my former Zoid could understand my pleas.

PAC-1 hung its head low, and crouched down, letting out a soft growl. Was it sad?

"Look, PAC-1, I'm not sure why you did what you did, but you probably thought you were doing the right thing, and looking back at everything, I guess I kind of deserved it." PAC-1 growled. My eyes watered a little. " But buddy, we are a team, and we need to stick together. We can't split up like that, or we're gonna get hurt, just like now. The whole big Zoid battle could have turned out a whole lot different if we would have stayed together."

Kavid walked up to me. "Uh…Jeremy, you're talking values to a Zoid."

I smiled as PAC-1's hatch opened for me. "I know, and maybe it can't understand, but I know what happened, and I think this Command Wolf does, too. Maybe someday you'll understand, too, Kavid."

My friend rolled his eyes. "Okay, well, anyways, let's get out of this storm and into the caves."

"After you."

Kavid and I had no intention of squishing ourselves into the cockpit of PAC-1, since it was even tighter than a Hel Digunner. There was no room in the cargo hold anymore, thanks to the shield unit, so against Kavid's approval, I scooped him up into PAC-1's mouth. I then trotted off towards the canyon at a brisk pace, attempting to tune out his curses and promises of death.

After about ten minutes, we reached the cave hideout, but to my concern, the Gustav was no longer there. I set Kavid down—more of a drop, actually—and ran PAC-1 to the cave entrance. There was no sign of Bruno's Zoid or either of the PAC-Wolves. More importantly, all of our friends were gone.

I jumped out of my Command Wolf and ran into the cave. Kavid followed soon after, dusting himself off.

"What's wrong, Jeremy? Where is everybody?"

"I don't know! They should be here!" I cried in panic.

"Don't throw a fit, maybe they just moved on, thinking you were captured or something."

"Maybe." But I didn't think so; I was only gone for a day. I looked around the cave, scanning for clues, and found one. "Look! That was where Sifen, Mansod and Katrana were laying, and there are blaster marks on the wall!" I started to sweat.

Kavid was standing back where the Gustav was parked. "Over here. The Gustav wasn't driven out, it was pulled out." He looked around some more. "By a Liger. Lots of Liger-type footprints around here. I'd guess Blade Liger."

I ground my teeth. There was only one Blade Liger pilot who knew that this canyon cave was to be our fallback position.

"Zaun Skyler."