Chapter Three
Homeward Bound
We knew we couldn't go back to ISSO, or the town we started from, Klaylos, since our arch-enemy Major Erem Nevets lived there, and he would kill us the moment he saw us. Still, we had to find a town or base where we could get some information on the location of Zaun Skyler, a.k.a. the Blade Liger Vampire.
Unfortunately for us, the Southern Frontier was a barren wasteland, and towns and bases were extremely few and far between. Also, due to the recent Republic and Imperial invasions, opposition could pop up anytime, anyplace.
First and foremost, however, we needed to find a Zoid for Kavid. As the sandstorm died down, we risked traveling back out to the battlefield by ISSO and looked over the damaged Zoids. Once again, Kavid rode in PAC-1's mouth, cursing profusely.
Most of the large Zoids were too heavily damaged, and the little Zoids were blown to pieces. When we reached a crashed Redler, Kavid banged on the rood of PAC-1's mouth. I dropped my friend and he ran out to the damaged Zoid dragon. I jumped to the sand and followed.
"You…uh…like this thing?" I asked
"It's perfect!" cheered Kavid.
The Redler still had both wings and Hybrid Thruster Cannons, but its head was broken off, and it was missing a front leg. Fortunately, they were laying nearby, intact.
"But…pal, it's…missing important parts."
"Open your eyes, Jeremy! They're clean cuts. With PAC-1's help, we can fix this baby by dinnertime!" That was sure a big grin.
I scratched my head, shrugged my shoulders and went to get the welding kit.
With the shield unit filling up the cargo hold (even though it no longer worked), there wasn't much room for supplies, but a welding kit was something I insisted on.
Once again making use of PAC-1's mouth, we lifted the Redler's head into the proper position and Kavid and I welded it back to the body.
After the head was finished, Kavid began work re-attaching the leg. I started soldering and hooking cables and wires from the Redler's body up to its head. There were a lot of wires missing; fortunately, there were plenty of extra parts lying around the battlefield.
It was a frantic pace, and took a lot longer than we imagined. Constructing a Zoid piece-by-piece was a lot more work than we expected. It was especially difficult in the 110-degree heat. We knew better than to keep track of time.
Right after sunset, Kavid crawled into the Redler's cockpit and closed the hatch. He activated the Zoid's Core and miraculously the HUD turned on. I sent him a comm signal as the final test, and although it was a bit pixilated, it worked.
"How's it running, Kavid?" I asked with pride.
"About as good as a busted up Imperial Zoid can run." Always the snide remark. "Looks like there are some power problems in the left leg, but it's still moveable. All weapons systems look good. Head reads about…89. Reasonable. Let's take her up."
"Waitaminit. Where are we going, first?" I nervously asked.
"I figure we've only got one choice, Jeremy."
"Uh-oh." I knew the answer.
"Nevets."
I was not looking forward to this. We had seriously humiliated Nevets the last time we saw him. I figured I would never have to deal with him again, so why not teach the squeaky bastard a little lesson?
Things looked like they might be a lot different this time, though.
An Imperial Brigade stood guard outside Klaylos, apparently watching for Republic Zoids, but no doubt having our appearance described to them as well.
There were about sixteen Zoids of various types; a few Molgas, a couple Hel Digunners, a Saber Tiger, a few Redlers, an Imperial Liger Zero, three Red Horns, a couple Helcats and the leader was no doubt that big Iron Kong. This looked hard.
I activated my comm, audio only. "CR-2, this is CR-1. Someone left a mess out front. Any ideas on how to clean it up?"
"I think we have to pick up the little pieces and ignore the big stuff. That's all we can do."
I nodded. "Roger. No need to monkey around."
Although there were a lot of powerful Zoids, the layout was sloppy. The big feline-type Zoids were clumped together with the Red Horns. The grass field by the Molgas and Helcats made an ideal attack point..
Luckily, PAC-1's cloaking device still worked, so I was able to get close to the Imperial Zoids undetected. I knew that once I was too close, though, I would be noticed. Kavid stayed far off, but was ready to blast into the battle in a matter of moments, thanks to his Redler's Hybrid Thrusters.
Unfortunately, there were very few trees in the area, so I had to try to tip-toe PAC-1 through the grass field, hoping the Redlers wouldn't take notice of my footprints.
I was concentrating on the Redlers so much that I was caught off guard when a Hel Digunner scampered across the field in front of me. In a panic, I crouched my Command Wolf to the ground, causing a puff of dust and grass to blow into the evening sky.
The Hel Digunner kept going, but a nearby Helcat took notice, and turned its head my direction. The comparatively little kitty walked my way at a cautious pace. Great. Out little infiltration plan lasted about two minutes. Subterfuge really was not our specialty. I slowly turned PAC-1's invisible 150mm cannon 70 degrees until it was aimed straight at the curious feline-type Zoid. Once the Helcat was about twenty meters away, it stopped. I placed my left finger on the "de-cloak" switch, and my right finger on the firing trigger. The Helcat flinched, jumped back and began to cloak.
Damn.
I hit the "de-cloak" switch and once the power levels had transferred from "Cloaking Device" to "Weapons System," I pulled the trigger. The thunder of the cannon blast shook my Zoid, and I watched the flash of red energy hurl itself through the air toward the Helcat's former position. Grass and earth erupted in a ball of fire, but the feline-Zoid was long gone. PAC-1 jumped up and scrambled towards the Helcat's foot trail. While in pursuit, I slammed the comm button. "Punch it, Kavid! Damn cat sniffed me out!"
By now a good deal of the Imperial Zoids had turned their heads my direction. Two Molgas were already heading towards me. The second Helcat was nowhere to be seen.
The scuffle of dust emanating from the invisible Helcat's feet across the dry grassfield was an easy path to follow. It was a trail I was all too familiar with.
And this time, the stupid little cat was only 100-meters away.
Despite the approaching danger of the Molgas, I steadied PAC-1, carefully aimed the 150mm cannon in front of the footprints, and…got blasted from behind by the second Helcat! Son-of-a--!
Moments after, the Molgas opened fire on me, shaking my Zoid to unbearable levels. Right behind the slithering Zoids, two Red Horns were charging my position, launching missiles.
I knew I had only one choice left:
"Kavid! Help!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark shape blast through the sky. Twin marks of red began flashing on top of it, and soon after, heavy blaster shots started screaming through my little battlefield of death. Rows of rapid fire began pounding across the ground, shattering Molgas and spearing through a Red Horn. Even one invisible Helcat was hit, flickering back into view as it sailed through the air and exploded.
Kavid's Redler rocketed overhead, spun around and pulled back up into the sky.
"That's four for me, Jeremy. You're getting soft. Think you can handle the rest?"
My teeth-grinding was getting painful. "You just take out the Redlers. I've got everything under control down here."
Kavid's laughing pushed me that one more step I needed to go. I was stressed, I was tired, I was mad; now, I was jealous.
The strength and focus I felt back when I fought the Stone Dragon poured through my blood once again, forming an inseperable lock between PAC-1 and my mind.
These Zoids were going down.
A Red Horn opened fire, but PAC-1 jumped clear and landed on top of the last living Molga. Using its teeth and claws, my Command Wolf tore through the outer shell of the slithery-Zoid and dug in until it exploded.
My eye caught the leap of the Saber Tiger through the smoke. PAC-1 backed up two steps, raised its cannon a few degrees and blasted the incoming Zoid straight in the face.
I was shaken as a Red Horn rammed PAC-1 from behind, sending it tumbling head-over-heels. Despite my chaotic situation, I never lost focus. As soon as my CW regained its footing, I spread its legs and slid backwards, dancing my finger across the weapons trigger. The shots didn't do much good against the Red Horn's armored head, so I altered my attack, and charged.
PAC-1 swerved around every laser shot from the Red Horn until I was close enough, then it leapt into the air, raised its front right claw…and got blasted by a Hel Digunner.
For a second time, PAC-1 rolled along the ground, this time on its side. Feelings of fear started to creep into me, but I shook them away.
Remembering Kavid's initial plan of ignoring the big Zoids, I changed my target towards the Hel Digunners and started shooting. One was quickly obliterated, but the other hid behind the Red Horn.
I guess I had to fight him after all.
Starting a new charge, I armed the 150mm cannon and blew off every weapon on the Red Horn's body. As it roared with anger, PAC-1 flanked it, raised its left claw this time, and performed a perfect Claw Strike through the styracasaurus' front left knee. The Red Horn screamed even louder, and crashed to the ground.
Claw Strikes are very difficult to do, mind you, since there is no laser energy used to strengthen them. They have to be aimed perfectly.
As PAC-1 skidded across the ground, landing from its deadly leap, I noticed that I was starting to breathe heavily. What was happening to me? Was this Zoid drawing energy from me?
Whatever it was, I was liking it.
Suddenly, a light reflection flashed my retina. I pulled back hard on the controls. PAC-1 jumped back, but the Saber Tiger's claw smashed into the Command Wolf's Plasma Armored face and shattered.
The Tiger was now brutally damaged. My earlier shot had blasted half of its face away. Now, its front right leg was clawless. Still, whomever was piloting the Zoid seemed anxious to fight me, and opened up every cannon his Zoid carried at me.
It amazes me how these guys never grasp that my Zoid is indestructible.
After about five shots to the Tiger's leg, it was taken care of. As I turned PAC-1 around, I was amazed to see Kavid engaging the few remaining Zoids. The last Red Horn was a fiery mess, and smoking Redler carcasses littered the battlefield. The Red Liger Zero suddenly exploded, spewing body-parts throughout the sky. Kavid's Redler hooked left and headed my way.
I clicked on my HUD-comm, "Pretty impressive looking work, Lieutenant Deen."
"Pay attention, Jeremy! Behind you!"
"What?" PAC-1 jerked as something grabbed its tail and pulled it into the air. As I was lifted up, I saw the feet of my attacker: and Iron Kong. PAC-1 started shaking uncontrollably, as if it was in panic.
This reminded me on what happened to Mansod on Mt. Hoploy, when that other Iron Kong ripped his Command Wolf apart. These big guys sure like the flashy kills.
Sure enough, the Kong raised my Zoid over its head and grabbed it with its other hand. Letting out a triumphant roar, it attempted to tear PAC-1 in half.
But this time it didn't work.
Sounds of metallic creaking and groaning poured from the IK's arms as it struggled, but the Plasma Armor was too strong for it to break.
"Don't move, Jeremy!" called Kavid.
I looked towards the west and saw Kavids Redler fire in at full speed. It closed its wings against its legs, turning itself into a rocket-like projectile, then began spinning. As it turned with a drilling rage, its Hybrid Cannons began pouring energy shells at the Iron Kong, pummeling the chest of the massive Zoid with energy explosions.
At first, the blasts did no harm, but like a machine, they kept their focus, weakening and weakening the Kong's armor, until it finally game way and cracked, then caved in, creating a gate into the Zoid's inner systems that were soon shriveled to death by the heavy blasts. The giant beast exploded from within and Kavid's Redler crashed on through its body and soared out the other side. As the Iron Kong fell, I twisted PAC-1 free of the Kong's exploding hands and ran after the Redler. Kavid's burning, smoking Zoid was easy to follow.
"You're out of your freaking mind, Kavid! Your Redler doesn't have Plasma Armor!" I scolded.
"Yea, I know. That's why it was so much fun!"
"Arrggh!"
"By the way, Jeremy," I could hear gloating in his voice, "I got ten, how about you?"
I attempted to change the subject. "You better land that thing, quickly, before its wings melt off.. Also, a Hel Digunner and a Helcat got away. That could be trouble. We had better find Nevets right away."
"Then that means four, Jeremy. Four for you. That seems to be substantially less than ten."
"Kavid?" I growled."
"Yes, Captain Kelt, sir?"
"Muzzle it."
Klaylos was a wasteland. Every house and building in the town was burned to the ground; absolutely incinerated to atoms, with no sign of wreckage or even ash left over. There was almost no sign it ever even existed.
"Whoa, what the heck happened here?" asked Kavid.
"I…I don't know. It would take a Charged Particle Gun a full day to do this much damage, and there would be signs if one of those was fired."
A warning light started to flash as PAC-1 walked farther into the town. "Kavid! Get down here and pick me up! PAC-1's feet are breaking down!"
"What do you mean, 'breaking down?'"
"I mean if I don't get off of the ground I won't have a Command Wolf any more! Now hurry up!"
The Redler flew down and dropped a couple of hooked cables, which quickly snagged onto my Command Wolf's back legs and lifted it off of the ground.
Kavid came up on the comm, and looked concerned, "Do you mean the Plasma Armor was coming apart?"
"Yeah. Whatever was used to destroy Klaylos has properties of a Particle Charger." I analyzed. "There was so much energy left in the area that just walking through it is deadly for Plasma-Armored Zoids."
"Damn. How are we going to find Nevets now?" asked Kavid.
I had to think about that for a moment. The town was gone. Everyone who knew Major Nevets was gone. The major was probably gone, too. It started to seem that except for Kavid and PAC-1, my whole world was disappearing around me. First it was my friends at the caves, now it was the entire town I lived in--including my arch-enemy.
I needed some sleep.
"There's nothing for us around here, Kavid. I suggest we head over to the town of Gellenos and see if we can find some answers.
Kavid sighed. "You think anybody there would know what happened thirty kilometers away?"
"Whether they do or not, it's the closest point to start from." I answered with frustration.
"Can we take a nap, first?"
For once, I was not going to tell him no.