Zoids Rhapsody
Into the Mist
Author's Note: Hi, to all… sorry it's been so damn long since I posted the last chapter, but well… I've been through some tough stuff, and I just couldn't write. Please forgive me? Moreover, thanks again to those who reviewed the first two chapters… it was your reviews that helped me break through this wall of writer's block.
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Chapter Three: Tactical Error
The rotund little man whom had thanked the three warriors so generously turned out to be the mayor of the town they were in, Little Rusty Rock. Apparently, Big Rusty Rock was a metropolis that Josh had heard of, and was only a few kilometers away. The mayor told them that he would inform the local Zoids Shop there of their presence and rewards, and that there was scant little they could not find there.
Therefore, the trio found themselves plodding through the desert sands once more. Jamie was a bit behind the others for some odd reason; usually, he was rushing in ahead of them like the young kid he was.
"There it is," Josh said brightly as the first high buildings of the town—no, city…metropolis—loomed up ahead, just showing through the haze of dust between it and them.
There was an admiring silence.
"Silence is the wit of fools," Chesnee sated bleakly before charging for the town. Rushing to catch up to him, Jamie thought, 'Not bad, not bad at all.'
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The city's Zoid Shop truly was amazing. They had everything from CP-012's to Gravity Saurers, from Guysacs to Gunbluster FHATs. It was overwhelming, and then, just downright impressive. Jamie wandered around aimlessly for most of the search, before coming into the Gunsniper section. Now, it was his turf.
They had everything from a modified version of the Helcat's cloaking device to the Wild Weasel "Leena" Special Unit. He kept his eye on that installation; it had two honkin' six-barreled Vulcans, a pair of missile pods, a pair of double-barreled laser pulse rifles, and another pair of missile pods. It was amazing, and priced through the roof. He only got one free buy, and he was sure the team would be angry if he blew the 50,000 credits to hell in one fell swoop. He might just end up spending his free reward pass on that. Then put in a little money to get the barrels coated in gold, the missile pods painted red, that sort of thing. He mentally bookmarked the area so he would know where to come back to.
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Josh was in heaven. Free upgrades for his Zoid… what more could you ask for? Oh, wait, he knew: a Zoid that you actually could upgrade. There was almost nothing he could install in his Liger. Almost. He saw the one thing that could make his Zoid any better off, and headed towards the salesperson, smiling happily to himself.
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Chesnee was bored. Nothing interested him. Not much could be fitted to a Dibison, and what could, was boring and lame. Therefore, he had fun by pestering the salespeople, begging them to drone on and on about a Zoid or weapon, then saying he did not really like that one, and asking them about a different one, several times over. It really was amusing.
After a while, even that grew boring, though, so he decided to venture into… other areas of fun.
"Oh. My. TOMY!" He shouted, sprinting away from the salesperson, who'd been in mid-sentence (some kind of stabilizing joint mount for the Ultrasaurus!), and hopped in place, standing before—you guessed it—a Shadow Fox. He did mental calculations thus: sell Dibison—75,000 credits… 75,000 and 50,000 is 125,000… Foxy Zoid cost 100,000… leaves 25,000… I get red and gold paint job free… "I'll take it!"
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After having wandered around the 'sniper section, the only thing Jamie found even remotely amusing next to the Wild Weasel "Leena" was a dazzling cobalt blue Zoid called the Gunsniper "Spec." He guessed it stood for Special Ops. It was a very vivid contrast to the standard unit, about like comparing a Liger Zero X to a Garius, and besides, he thought it was probably just show. He needed good old-fashioned trusted steel. Therefore, he settled for the free Wild Weasel Unit. Now to do business.
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(Three Hours Later)
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Jamie marched his heavily laden Gunsniper proudly through the town proper, parading his new armaments with prim parole (A/N way too many Ps in that sentence…). He had told Josh and Ches to meet him at the Northern Gate, so that's precisely where he was headed. When he got there, he was met with the sight of a dazzling crimson-and-gold Liger Zero X with a single-barreled version of the Long-Range Pulse Laser Rifle (the Geno Saurer's gun) mounted betwixt its boosters. It took a second for him to realize that this was, indeed, Josh.
"Holy mother of all things cheese!" He cried. He was greeted with three grunts in response. "What?"
"Please, when in good company, keep a civil tongue about your head," Josh said indignantly. Jamie huffed to himself, and went for the sweet talk, opening up a COM link and grinning warmly.
"That's one snazzy paint job ya got, Joshie," he said in his best cutesy-voice.
"That was very… disturbing," said a new voice. Jamie didn't even have time to turn before Josh had his Liger up at stance, gun leveled and blades at present arms. It gave a roar and, well, did its best to look regal. By the time Jamie was turned around, the pilot of the yet-to-be-identified Zoid had started giggling in a way that absolutely screamed Ches.
Jamie gave a start as he found himself staring down a six-barreled Vulcan pod, silver barrels with gold braces on a crimson-with-gold-trim base. The 'sniper leapt back a step for him, earning another little giggle.
"Weird people," the Shadow Fox pilot said. "The dino with a doggie-brain is afraid of the Foxy Zoid."
"Chesnee!" Josh asked incredulously. "Where the devil did your Dibison—oh no…"
For once, Jamie caught on immediately. He slapped his consol in what he couldn't really decide was mock anger or true annoyance, and shouted,
"Why the bloody hell would you sell your—I mean—Chesnee, I just—oooh, boy, it's gonna be a long day…"
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Major General Martha Marie Malenfant muttered angrily under her breath as she brought General Banks his seventeenth cup of coffee. As punishment for letting Jamison O'Flaherty run off "unescorted," she was sentenced to three weeks of assigned chores. In other words, she was the General's personal maid. She pasted on a default mask of complacency as she back through the door, opening it without spilling even a drop of the creamy brown liquid. 'Seven teaspoon of sugar… and all that cream… it's a wonder he ever sleeps…'
"Here you are, sir," she said in a light, cheery voice, gently setting the cup down on the desk.
"Ah, Martha, my dear…" the General said, smiling slyly. 'Oh, crapmonger… here we go,' she thought wearily.
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After the general mutterings of (first) disbelief, (then) acceptance, and (finally) awe at Chesnee's choice of a Zoid, the trio had headed north, towards the township of Herald. Evidently, this was a neutral town (and a merc magnet) that Josh frequented in his "glory days," whatever that was supposed to mean.
It was a good six hours' run and now, Jamie was lagging a little behind by pure necessity; the WWL unit had reduced his mobility by about forty percent. Every so often the Liger and the Fox had to break pace and meander a bit for the waddling 'sniper to catch up. It was quite the sight.
"Know what I just realized?" Chesnee asked blandly. Josh had the gumption to ask what it was. Jamie held his breath.
"We are all red. What's the deal? I miss a fart joke?" The trio erupted in laughter. 'Not bad at all,' Jamie thought almost proudly. 'Maybe he really does have some good ones in that quiet skull.'
Jamie's thoughts were interrupted when Josh said, with no small measure of urgency, "I think we're being followed, my friends!" Jamie laughed and swiveled around to look in his sniper scope, saying,
"Really? 'Cause last time you said that, we had to save Ches's skinny little—holy Tomy!" Through his viewfinder, he saw the rising column of dust that could mean only one thing—a large group of Zoids approaching at a fast pace. They were probably large Zoids, as well. He started counted as best he could; he could only just make out shapes.
"Quick to dissent, quicker dissented," Chesnee said in a wise-man tone. Jamie muttered a cursory grunt as he swiveled back around in his chair and turned his Zoid fully around, presenting his full arsenal.
"Yeah, so mister chivalry was right. Big whoop. We've got fourteen Zoids, minimum, I repeat, fourteen minimum heading our way. I get the funny feeling they're Republican. I suggest you guys get your rears in—"
"Stop talking."
There was silence, in which Jamie thought angrily 'Damn! He's good!' Josh stepped up and assumed command yet again.
"Fourteen potential unfriendly Zoids against three of us. Two of us are equipped for long-range warfare; one of us is not. My Liger has the rawest power of any of us, whereas Jamie's holds the heaviest trigger. Chesnee, old chap, I daresay you're going to play backup on this one. Follow me in to engage the enemy, then shoot like a madman with that Vulcan cannon. Jamie, stay back and snipe; I'd rather not risk and crossfire from your excess armaments. If I need you to engage further, I'll ask it of you. Are we ready?"
Silence. After a moment, the Shadow Fox burst into a mad dash, Jamie trotted his Zoid back around to sniping position, thinking 'Dammit, I just got this stuff!', and Josh, realizing he of all people was lagging, went after Chesnee.
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Maj. General Malenfant smirked as the trio she was apprehending broke form and took up a staggered delta formation, the only brat she was interested in staying back to snipe. 'Either that or he's too scared to face me.'
"Attention! All long-range artillery, drop anchor and shell the Gunsniper! Aim to damage, not destroy! He is a deserter and the General wants him imprisoned! All mid-range support, keep the Shadow Fox at bay. I'm going after the Liger." With this order, her fifteen-Zoid battalion (including herself) broke form into a static delta, the nine RZ-028+ Snipe Ligers skidding to a halt at the back, the five Command Wolf LC's setting up ten meters ahead. All together, the mini-platoon opened fire in perfect tandem.
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As the first volley of ammo flew in, Josh realized he'd need to sing a different tune. Just as the Zoids had set up, Jamie had relayed to him just what they were facing off. He had also just realized that, because they were Republican, they were probably after Jamie, who was literally a sitting duck. Dino. Whatever.
"Chesnee, would you do an old chap like me a bloody great favor and try to keep Jamie from being murdered?" Josh asked as the rounds whistled over his head, sending up plumes of sand.
"The 'phobe? Why me?" Chesnee whined. Josh huffed in annoyance.
"Because he is our friend, whether homophobic or not! Please!"
"Fine…"
That taken care of, Josh pulled the throttle all the way open and bore down on the white Liger that seemed to have singled him out. 'Righto, let's do this Liger style…'
Without even pausing to think of the value the weapon would have, he jettisoned the Long-Range rifle with the simple push of a button, and plowed onwards, blades flashing through the superheated air of the desert. All tangible thought ceased, and he once again became the decorated soldier he had been before being demoted to 'test pilot.'
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"Ooh, we have a smart one…" the Maj. General said, observing the sudden change in ploy. Her men were smart enough to know to adjust appropriately. For now, she had a feisty Liger pilot to deal with. But would she jettison her CP-012's? Hell no. They were like a part of her. "Time to go, honey! Show me whatcha got!"
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The Ligers skidded to a halt about half a kilometer away from each other, facing off in a true display of warrior-like honor. They circled each other like lions, silent as the wind. It was an age-old dance, Liger versus Liger, Man versus Woman.
The Blade Liger Mirage made the first move, pausing long enough to throw its head back, unleash a billowing roar, and present its blades, lit with energy that simply flowed from the golden metal. It flared the CP-012 boosters, kicked in the afterburners therein along with the standard backpack boosters, and charged. The Liger Zero X met the challenge with a proud roar of its own, imitating the firing of the back-mounted boosters, and charging headlong. Its triple-blades pivoted forward, reaching like talons before the massive melee of moving metal.
They met with the resounding clang of locked blades, and for one fleeting moment, their faces were a bare meter apart. With a snarl, the white Liger twisted its torso just enough to counterbalance the blade-lock and the red Liger faltered, overbalancing and hitting the dirt hard.
The Mirage raised its paw in a primal display of supremacy, but just before it could bring it down, the Zero locked its jaws around the white Zoid's other foreleg, ripping through vital circuitry and hydraulics. With a pained roar, it stepped back, limping, providing the red Zoid enough time to get to its feet.
"Who are you, soldier?" Maj. General Malenfant demanded breathlessly, trying to open a COM Link. She was greeted with the last face she wanted to see.
"I am the former Major Jonathon Joshua Bishop of the Imperial Army's 27th Expeditionary Task Force. You are not someone I like very much, Major General."
"Jonathon Bishop!" She gasped overdramatically, trying to hide the cold fear that now gripped her heart. "You—you single-handedly wiped out an entire platoon of Republican and Imperial Zoids with a Death St—" She was cut off abruptly as the Liger Zero X leapt high, coming down glowing-paw-first on the Blade Liger Mirage's head. When the paw lifted, all that was left was a mess of melting metal.
In one final display of anarchic animosity, the Liger Zero X threw its head back and pealed the skies. It was framed by the smoke of a battle well spent. Then, as Jonathon Joshua Bishop came to himself and passed out, the Liger first leaned as if drunken, then came crashing down to the ground with a resounding thud.
"Josh!"
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Well… that was a blast. Now you all know Josh's little secret. Moreover, I hope I may have resolved any confusion as to his name; I know he presented himself as John bishop in Ch. 1 and everyone called him Josh. I think I just neglected to enter his middle name, his alias. Again, I apologize for not updating in months; I was beyond sick and quite disallowed computer access. I'll try to speed it up in the next coupla weeks. Review please!