Chapter 7

FALLEN

Nyx Backdraft Base, night...

Anubis stormed from the hangar, that last fight had left a bitter taste in his mouth. He hadn't just been defeated. He'd been completely humiliated! His Geno Breaker was a wreak, and chances where he'd need a new Zoid if he were to participate in the Tournament. No matter what measures he took first, some things just can't be avoided. His musings continued as he entered the lounge where his men quietly ate. "Boys... let's go out." he said as he picked up some keys. He knew perfectly well that on Nyx, when a team wins a handsome sum of prize money, there's only one place they can be at this time of night...

Guylos City, night...

Shiva, Axel, James, and Cooper sat at a decent table of one of the most expensive restaurants on Nyx, and arguably the most popular. The food was great, and the music that played wasn't too bad, though Shiva was never a fan of classical. James and Cooper were plenty happy, enjoying their food. Axel ate his food quietly. The rate he was eating, though, was an indication he was satisfied as well. Shiva herself finished the grilled shrimp she ordered and pulled out the money while waiting for the check. While she felt she could be putting her time to better use, such as honing her skills for the upcoming tournament, it was still essential she meet her team's needs in the meantime. Plus she had Kali waiting outside and didn't want her waiting all night. She leaned back in her seat a little, thoughts flying through her mind. A lot of which were focused on Anubis. Despite the nasty defeat Shiva had given him, there was little chance that would be the last she'd see of him. But the question was how soon? He'd most certainly find a way to still make an appearance at the Tournament, and likely he'd have a new Zoid. She needed to be ready for anything. Finally, everyone was finished, and the check arrived. Shiva got up and headed off to pay it. Axel sat quietly and waited while James and Cooper got caught up in a conversation about their victory.

"Who'd have thought victory could pay off this well?" Cooper said proudly.

"Yeah, maybe we oughta face the Backdraft more often." James replied, a hint of sarcasm.

"These guys may not play by the rules of the ZBC, but boy, the money they give out if you win..."

"Tell me about it." Cooper said. "Plus with idiots like the Hip Team frolicking about, they're one of the few teams that's gonna be any challenge till the Tournament. What's your opinion on the subject, Axel" He added, glancing at the big man. Axel just nodded.

"The meal was expensive." James added. "But we still have plenty left. But for what?" Around this time, Shiva came back. The group decided to leave their conversation for another time as they all got up and headed outside. What happened next, they never would have seen coming...

The four had just gotten Kali after they stepped out the door, afterwards heading up the road and finally reaching the parking lot that was a block away from the restaurant itself. As the group turned to head for their parked Zoids, there, in front of them, sitting on motorcycles, were Anubis and his men. The Dark Jackal leader grinned.

"Well, I had a feeling you guys would be here." He said. "Would have been disappointed if I were wrong, I mean, this is practically the place to be when you've got a lot of prize money!"

Shiva glared at him, setting down Kali. "What do you want, Anubis?"

The man dismounted his motorcycle, followed by his men and approached the group. "I want..." Anubis began. "To make sure that things continue to go my way. Unfortunately, with you around, some things... can't... go my way. So I'll have to change that!" With that, he delivered a punch to Shiva's stomach before she even had a chance to stop him, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the ground. The others quickly rushed forward to intervene, but Anubis immediately pulled a gun on them, causing all of them to come to a stop. Kali had long ago been trained to stay back when a gun was pointed at her. "Take one step closer, and each of you gets a bullet to the head!" Anubis said. The tone in his voice indicating he was deadly serious. Anubis took a few steps back, his gun still trained on them. The three didn't seem sure of what to do.

"Just... do... what he says..." Shiva said, having trouble talking while trying to catch her breath. "You're my responsibility..." She managed to stand back up. "Anubis, if you have a problem, you can settle it with me."

Anubis grinned a cruel grin. "I was hoping it could go this way! Boys!" At their call, Anubis's men trained their guns on Shiva's teammates to keep them in place while Anubis himself walked over to Shiva and knocked her to the ground again before she could react. This time though, her shirt slid up, revealing the white tape she wore underneath to conceal her figure, and Anubis's eyes widened in surprise as he put two and two together.

"I don't believe this..." He said slowly, anger rising. "I was beaten... by a girl!" He said furiously as he delivered a strong kick to Shiva's side, bruising her with the metal plate of his boot. He then began to circle her, like a vulture gliding over carrion. "I am a highly feared mercenary hired by the Nyx Backdraft division. People were afraid of me! And then some... girl... comes along and humiliates me on the battlefield!" he shouted at her, delivering a blow to her other side, this one worse then the last. "Beating down on a girl gives me some satisfaction, but not enough..." He said, examining Shiva's face for any tears. "Pity, I was hoping I'd see you cry. Now that's satisfaction. Seeing a girl cry, and moreso if it's because of me. Let's them know who's in charge, and that a battlefield is, simply put... No place for a GIRL!" he said loudly, flipping Shiva over and pressing his boot down on her back.

"When are you females gonna learn that? When you lose, it's 'cause you're weak. When you win, you just got lucky, but it doesn't make the bad aftertaste of defeat any worse for me!" He then pressed the barrel of his gun to Shiva's head. Shiva had remained quiet the whole time. Her body ached from the abuse Anubis had given her, and it felt even worse what Anubis was going to do if the others try to intervene. As Anubis prepared to pull the trigger, he heard shouting from behind him, and suddenly, a sharp pain in his leg. Anubis cried out in pain and shook his leg, staring down at the monitor lizard that had just bit him. With a sharp kick he sent the lizard skidding back a few feet, and turned and faced Shiva as she struggled to just get up, but her strength had abandoned her. But she was able to turn her head enough to see Anubis form a very, very cruel smirk she'd never forget.

"Looks like you've got some friends who don't know how to stay put." He said, Shiva begun to get increasingly frightened. She already knew what Anubis had in mind but there was no way she could stop him now. "Seems to know what attack means. What can I teach her? How about... PLAY DEAD!"

Shiva's eyes widened in absolute horror as Anubis pulled the trigger and a spray of blood erupted from Kali's chest. The lizard cried out and fell forward, unable to stand up. Anubis laughed at the sight, his cruel grin never left his face as he fired two more times. When the third shot was fired, Kali's lifeless body dropped to the ground, blood pooling around her. Anubis' sadistic laughter filled the parking lot. "Now that… was satisfying." He said, his arms raised as he turned in a circle, glancing up at the sky. He then leaned down and pulled Shiva up so they were face-to-face. "I'll see you at the tournament. In the meantime, have fun attending to your little casualty. Just be glad I'm sparing your life this time, you weak little bitch!"

He whacked her across the head with the butt of his gun, knocking her unconscious. With that, he stood up, and got back on his motorcycle as a storm began to brew up in the sky. He gestured to his men and they followed, keeping their guns trained on Shiva's teammates until they were all on. With that, Anubis started up his motorcycle, laughing cruelly, and the four of them sped off.

As soon as they were gone, James and Cooper rushed to Shiva's aid while Axel picked up Kali. Rain fell around them as James and Cooper carried her to their car and sat her in the back. Cooper could only stare, shocked. James checked Shiva's pulse while Axel put Kali's body next to her, wrapped in towels.

Axel checked the car for a city map to find the hospital, got a marker from the glove compartment, and drew a line connecting from where the restaurant was to the hospital was. He took to the wheel and started up the car and they drove off. James and Cooper could only stare down at their unconscious leader, hoping for the best...

TO BE CONTINUED...