Everyone waited as the doctors bandaged Zack's injuries up. Crougar was there to question him about it more and so was Fiona because she just wanted to know what actually happened to Van.
Her heart was really hurting from what she saw but she still wanted to know what happened to Van. She wondered why he hadn't even tried to come for her, why he did what he did, and what actually happened to put Zack in such a position. She hated the guy but she felt she could at least hear what happened.
A doctor came out and nodded silently telling them that it was ok for them to go in. Fiona followed Crougar with Irvine and Moonbay also coming in since the both of them also wanted to hear Zack's side of the story.
Crougar walked over to the side of the bed. He looked down at Zack who had a brace around his neck, one of his arms in a cast and a nasty black eye. "Can you please tell us all that happened between you and Van?" Crougar asked as someone else started to take notes of what Zack was about to say.
"I saw Van cheating on her," he said indication Fiona. "I confronted him about it and it was like he didn't even care that he was caught in the act. I tried to stand up for Fiona but he just attacked me," Zack explained and it was clear that Moonbay and Irvine didn't believe him but Fiona's face was devoid of all emotions at that moment.
"He…" he said cringing in pain as he clutched his ribs. "He attacked me mercilessly," He said breathing rather hard. Even if it was a scam, he was still hurt. "He tried to kill me!" he said sounding really pained by his injuries. "I could hardly do anything to protect myself. He pulled a gun on me and tried to shoot me. Using the last of my strength I kicked the out of his hands and it fell to the ground going off and it hit him instead. I pulled out that knife of his and attempted to strike me so I grabbed the gun and just shot at him trying to protect myself," he said looking as if it was a really painful memory for him but it was the best moment of his life.
"Wounded, he ran away leaving me there wounded and pretty much leaving me to die!" Zack said clenching his teeth angrily. "I barely had the strength to pull myself to a vehicle and get back here after that. I thought I wouldn't make it."
Zack just laid there and stared at the ceiling with his hands clenched at his side. It looked like he was angry but he was actually just laughing on the inside. The Guardian Force was now after Van and nothing could be done about it. If Van was found dead then it would be deemed because of the wound he got from the gun. If he was alive then he'd be chased after. It was a lose-lose situation for Van.
Crougar sighed wishing that it wasn't true. He didn't want to believe that Van was capable of such violence but the truth was laying right before him. "Very well. Rest up and regain your strength," he said standing up and left the room silently.
Zack saw Fiona following after Crougar. "Fiona," he said and saw her stiffen. "I'm sorry I had to show you that but I didn't want to see you hurt by him anymore," he said before he fell unconscious because of his injuries.
Moonbay scowled and walked towards Fiona and lightly pushed her out of the room. "Don't believe him Fiona. Van couldn't possibly be capable of such an atrocious act," she said but she wasn't sure that Fiona even heard her. She seemed to be filled with a deep sadness. She just knew that the real culprit was Zack and not Van that placed that in her.
The two of them walked silently towards Fiona's room and Moonbay laid Fiona down on the bed. "Have faith in Van Fiona. Something isn't right about all this," Moonbay said but Fiona was asleep before she could even hear it.
Moonbay sighed and left the room to find Irvine standing outside the door with his back pressed against the wall and looking tired. He then pushed himself off the wall and the two of them started walking. "What do you think really happened?" he asked her as the two of them walked down the halls towards the cafeteria.
Moonbay sighed and took a seat. "I know that Zack's lying. Van was too excited about Fiona and the baby. He wouldn't cheat on her. The real question is what Fiona actual saw. It was definitely Van but I can't believe he would cheat on her," Moonbay said as she poured a bit of coffee.
"I know. Van has more honor than that. He was really excited at the prospect of marrying Fiona too. Her and the baby were everything to him. If that wasn't the case then he would've left her when she was avoiding him," Irvine said as Moonbay nodded her head in agreement.
"I find it too convenient that Zack, who has basically been stalking Fiona since he got here, could suddenly find Van cheating on Fiona. I wish I knew what actually happened," Moonbay said it was Irvine's turn to nod.
"What we need is Van. We need to know his half of the story. Something doesn't feel right and I plan to get to the bottom of it," Irvine said getting up and rushing out of the room. 'Where are you Van? Don't you know how much you're hurting Fiona by not coming back. Not to mention how much it's making you look bad by not coming back?' Irvine thought with a scowl as he hopped into his lightning saix and sped out of the base quickly.
A man walked down the streets since he was late for a very important appointment that he had. 'If I don't hurry then I'm going to be late,' he thought rushing past an alleyway.
A sudden groaning sound caught his ears and he came to a stop. It was one of agony and pain. "W-who's there?" he asked looking closely into the alley as a figure started to come out of the darkness the alley held. "H-hello," he said nervously as the figure approached him.
Van stumbled out of the alley clutching an area near his heart which was bleeding rather profusely. He eyes were blank almost as if they were dead. "Fiona," he mumbled as he collapsed again right in front of the man. Blood continued to pour out of him slowly and he laid unconscious on the ground.
"Oh god!" the man said as he rushed over and knelt down before Van taking his pulse. "It's faint but he really needs to get help," the man said as he carefully lifted Van and rushed him to his gustav. There weren't any good doctors in that town but he knew of a place that had just what he needed.
One month later
Moonbay sighed as she watched Fiona go about her normal routines. It wasn't that she seemed to finally be getting on with her life but the fact that she did it with a smile. It was clear that Fiona was just putting up a mask. Moonbay just knew that underneath; Fiona was crying and screaming out her pain.
Van had yet to even show himself. One month and there hasn't even been a sign of him. Zack was pretty smug with that fact. Unknown to everyone, he was glad not to see Van because seeing him might put his position in danger.
Moonbay carefully approached Fiona because she really seemed to be on edge despite the calm disposition on her face. "Do you need some help Fiona?" Moonbay asked as she grabbed a tool and walked towards the zoid Fiona was trying to help repair.
"Um… that's ok. You don't have to help me Moonbay," Fiona said trying to give Moonbay a smile but she frowned when Moonbay decided to help her anyways. It isn't that she wasn't grateful for the help, she just wished to do it by herself. Something to help her clear her head. Having something to do would keep her from thinking too much about her problems but if Moonbay helped, then it would be finished faster and Fiona would have more time to think.
Moonbay smiled and lightly grabbed the tool from Fiona's hand. "Nonsense. I want to help. Besides, I don't think you should be working so hard when you're pregnant," she said and knew that she might've said the wrong thing right then because pain shot through Fiona's eyes.
Fiona's hand immediately went to her ever growing stomach. Van's child was growing inside her. An ever present reminder of what she almost had. She fought back the tears as best as she could and just walked away after that.
Moonbay sighed knowing that she really screwed up. She was just trying to help Fiona but it turned out to do more damage than that. "Wait up Fiona!" Moonbay yelled running after Fiona before she could get very far away. "I'm sorry if what I said upset you," Moonbay said catching up to Fiona.
Fiona looked at Moonbay with emotionless eyes that held little warmth in them compared to how they used to be. She just wished that she could rid herself of this pain. There was even times that she wished that she could die but she didn't want to take this child's one chance at life no matter how much it's father hurt her. "What did I… do wrong Moonbay?" Fiona asked with her voice filled with sadness.
"Absolutely nothing Fiona!" Moonbay berated her wondering where she could think it was her fault. "Where in the hell did you get the idea that this was your fault!" Moonbay yelled at her which made Fiona flinch a little. This wasn't the Fiona she knew. The Fiona she knew was strong, this one was weak minded. She somehow got the feeling that Zack was behind it.
Fiona looked sadly towards the ground. "Zack said that I must've given Van the impression that I wasn't good enough for him," Fiona said with no emotion to her voice. She didn't know why she believed it but she was just hurting so much.
"To hell with what he says!" Moonbay yelled and she saw Fiona flinch again. "As far as I'm concerned, all this is his fault in the first place! Don't let his words get to you because they are nothing but poison!" Moonbay yelled at her friend despite the pained look she continued to see in Fiona's eyes. She wanted nothing more than to get her old friend back and get rid of this monster that Zack created.
Fiona began to shake pretty badly. She would've collapsed but was caught by Moonbay at the last moment. "I don't know what to do anymore Moonbay. I love Van but he doesn't even want me anymore," she said as the tears she tried to hold in for so long started to erupt from her eyes.
"So you're just going to let someone control how you feel?" Moonbay asked as she held her hurting friend. "Don't look for answers from someone like him. You need to find them for yourself. The more he tries to help, the worse you seem to get," Moonbay said trying her best to calm Fiona.
"I don't know what answers there are though. I want so bad for things to just go back as they were. At least then I had Van. Even if he didn't love me, I loved him and was happy just being with him!" Fiona said and started to cry even harder.
Moonbay sighed as she held Fiona carefully as if she would break if Moonbay did anything wrong. "Maybe you should get some rest Fiona. After a good nap, maybe you'll be able to think of something. You've always been able to before now," she said as she helped Fiona to her feet.
Moonbay carefully guided Fiona down the hall and to her old room. Fiona got herself out of the room she shared with Van because she said that it held too painful memories. Moonbay didn't understand her logic because Fiona's old room was where that child of theirs was conceived. She thought that it would hold even more painful memories but Fiona was really comfortable with it.
Off to the side, Zack watched the scene with great interest. There was a scowl on his face at the sight of Moonbay attempting to undo all that he'd worked to accomplish over the past month.
He knew that even the way she was after the incident that she wouldn't willingly give up Van for him. He worked to weaken her mentality. Put even more doubt in Van and herself into her head. He would've been the one to comfort her though. Make him seem like he really was the good guy. In her weak state, she'd need someone like that. That was when he planned to make his move.
'Now that stupid bitch is trying to undo all that I've accomplish. I can't let that happen!' he thought angrily as he watched Moonbay lead Fiona into her room and then came out a few minutes later.
When Moonbay came out of the room she started to walk down the halls. This gave her a real chance to think things over. 'all of my friends are disappearing on me. Van's disappeared off the face of the planet, Thomas is too busy, Fiona's becoming something she's not, and Irvine…' she thought before cutting herself off not wanting to think about it. Unfortunately, not wanting to just made her still think about it.
Irvine searched for Van a couple of days before he came back and then barely two weeks after Van's disappearance Zack was promoted to the position that Van held before all of this mess started. Irvine hated the idea of that asshole being in charge and just left. He knew it would be an act of desertion but he left anyways. No one had seen him since and Moonbay knew that no one would unless he wanted them to.
Moonbay came to a stop when she saw someone and turned. A scowl crossed her face at the sight of Zack leaning against the wall around the closest corner to Fiona's room. "What the hell do you want!" she growled at staring at him dangerously. Most would cower but he stood firmly.
Zack just smiled as he pushed himself off the wall. "I've just dropped by to check on Fiona," he said walking towards Fiona's room but Moonbay stepped into his path. Do you mind moving? There's something I want to talk to her about," he said not letting the calm look leave his face.
"You're not going anywhere near Fiona! You've done enough damage to her and I'm not going to allow you to do anymore!" Moonbay said standing firmly in her spot. The look on Zack's face just made her angrier. It was like he didn't even care about what she said.
Zack just smirked and chuckled at her. He admired her bravery but thought it was rather foolish. "I don't think you have any choice in the matter. Fiona's a big girl. She can take care of herself," he said with a smirk as he pushed her out of the way.
Moonbay regained herself and stepped in front of him again. I swear if you take another step towards Fiona I'll… I'll," Moonbay said before raising her fists. "I swear to god I'll beat the crap out of you. Worse than any of those attacks Van's supposed to have done!" she yelled at him glaring at him fiercely.
"Do you really think that will do you any good? It would put you in the same amount of trouble as Flyheight," Zack said with a smirk as he tried to move her again but was interrupted by another soldier. The soldier whispered something into his ear and he nodded his head. "As fun as this has been, I have another matter to attend to," he said turning and leaving.
Moonbay growled and then headed towards her room. She needed to find Irvine. Zack was ruining Fiona and she knew that Irvine wouldn't be happy to know what was happening to the woman he thought of as a sister.
Fiona groaned as she sat up in her bed and looked around her room. She then looked towards the clock and saw that she'd only been asleep for two or three hours. It felt like much less than that though. She'd have to say that she hadn't properly slept since Van left her.
'I need to find answers, I need to know what I'm going to do about all of this,' she thought as her hand reached towards her stomach. "I wish that things didn't have to be so hard for you. I wish you'd have a father," she said to herself.
'Van, did you really love me or was it all just some stupid joke. Why can't I stop loving you though? I just want to forget you! I don't want to love you anymore!' she mentally screamed in her head as her fist came down but the blow was softened by the mattress.
Fiona didn't even look up when she heard the door to her room open up. She almost instinctively knew who it was. He was always just coming in unannounced. It was rather annoying to her.
"I see you're up," Zack said with a smile as he walked over to Fiona. He was glad that Moonbay wasn't there or this would make it hard to have a conversation with Fiona. "How are you feeling? You didn't look to good earlier," he said looking naturally concerned for her.
"I'm fine," Fiona said as almost a sigh. She knew it was a lie though. She felt that she would never be fine until she could get some real answers. She felt like that would never happen. "Maybe I deserve all of this," Fiona muttered to herself.
"No you don't. I don't know what happened between you and Van but he was a fool," Zack said taking a seat on Fiona's bed right next to her. He placed a hand on Fiona's knee and smirked when she didn't fight back like usual.
Fiona was really uncomfortable with what he was doing but for some reason her body just wouldn't fight back. He just felt so weak right then. "Do you know what I did wrong?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Could be anything but I see Van as more of the one at fault. He's the type that thinks he can get away with anything. Fiona… what would you say if I told you that I had a solution to your problem?"
Fiona looked up at him with those empty eyes. "A solution?" she asked trying to understand. She didn't see how he could have one when she couldn't figure one out. The idea of it was very appealing though. Something that she would give anything for.
"Yes," he said with a smile at the look that said she might actually think about it. "I have researched into the ancient zoidian past for a long time. In that time, I have found many secrets that the ancient zoidians held. There was one in specific that I found that I know might be of interest to you."
He looked and saw Fiona curious eyes. He knew now was the right time to throw his plan into action. She was at her weakest now. "Tell me something. Do you want to forget Van?" he asked and she looked cautious for a second before she slowly nodded her head. "But you know that you can't as long as you're carrying his child?" he asked with a inner smirk.
Fiona couldn't help but nod her head. She couldn't help but feel guilty for some reason. 'Why should I feel guilty? He was the one that abandoned me,' she thought but that didn't stop her from feeling guilty.
"Ancient Zoidians were good with genetics as well as making zoids. Zoid cores are essentially a mixture of genetics and mechanics. That is why they appear to have a mind of their own at times. They found a way that can actually change the DNA structure of a child as long as it is within the first four months of pregnancy," he said pulling out a small vile from his pockets. "It can completely change the father of a child if it wanted to. But it would still need to accept a new one first. I'd be willing to do that if it would help you Fiona," he said with a sickeningly smile.
Fiona couldn't believe what she was hearing. What he was telling her just seemed so absurd. She knew what they needed to do to finish it as well, have sex. The whole idea of all of it was just so wrong. 'So why can't I just say no?' she couldn't figure out what was wrong, why her body didn't respond the way she wanted it to.
Zack walked over to a small bathroom that was connected to the room and grabbed a cup from in there and walked back to the bed. He took the vial and emptied it's contents into the cup. "Drinks this," he said holding it up to her mouth. "Just by drinking this isn't enough though. Unless it is finished, you will be left with this pain you bare in your heart at the thought of a child caused by a man who doesn't love you," he said knowing that might get her started.
He knew that unless that had sex after it, that everything would fail and she would still be having Van's child. The concoction was hard enough to make the first time. He wasn't sure if he would be able to make another one.
He also couldn't allow a child of Flyheight's to exist. He remembered something about it but it wasn't clear. He had to make sure that it was his child instead. That way Fiona wouldn't taint their race with that of the blood of humans.
"I promise you Fiona that I can be a good father to that child. You won't ever have to remember something as painful as this ever again. You just need to trust me," he said somehow finding a moment when he managed to sneak the concoction down her throat before she could react.
Fiona choked for a second but ended up swallowing it. It made her feel a little queasy but then she felt normal afterwards. She couldn't believe that she actually drank such a thing. 'I don't know what to do,' she thought having a bit of a war in her mind. It was split between her loyalty to Van and her need to want to forget about all of this pain she'd been feeling.
Zack carefully placed his hands on Fiona's shoulders and lightly pushed her onto her back. He saw her apprehension and smiled at her. "You just need to relax Fiona," he said climbing on top of her.
Fiona was growing really scared as she felt him reaching for the edge of the shirt. 'Can I actually do this? Can I actually give up the last thing I'll ever have of Van's?' she asked herself trying to pull her shirt back down.
"There is no reason to be scared of me Fiona. I can take better care of you than Van ever could. I can give you the world if I wanted to and make you it's queen. All you need to do is just accept me," he whispered smoothly in her ear before he attempted to kiss her. She dodged that though. He knew she would act like this but he wouldn't let it go on for long. He would make sure that he would have Fiona before the end of the night which was really all the time he had before his concoction would wear off.
He could see that Fiona was really starting to reject it so he did the first thing he could do and forced his lips upon hers. He felt her calm down but her eyes widened in shock and he couldn't help but smirk. "I promise I'll be gentle with you Fiona," he whispered into her ear as he reached for the bottom of her shirt again.
Fiona couldn't believe this was even happening. It was so wrong. 'Can I really do this? Can I really give up Van's child?' she repeated her question over and over in her head. "I… I… I… I can't do this!" she yelled pushing him off her and running to the other end of the room. "This is wrong! I can't just give up Van's child like that!" she yelled wiping all taste of him off her lips.
"So you want to live with that pain Fiona? Do you want to live with that constant remember of that foolish mistake you made of falling in love with a guy that never loved you in return?" Zack asked standing up and he took a few strides towards Fiona.
"I will not have anyone else's but Van's child! I don't know if he actually loved me or not but this isn't right for me to do! This is my child and I'm not going to change one thing about it!" Fiona yelled at him as tears streamed down her face.
Her heart felt the betrayal full force. But it was strange; it wasn't that of Van betraying her but her betraying Van. She knew something had to be wrong if that was the case. "No matter what I will always love Van and don't you dare try to take that away from me!" Fiona yelled running out of the room.
Zack growled angrily. He just knew it was Moonbay's fault for putting such ideas in Fiona's head. He knew that he didn't have much time either. He knew that he needed to complete the act in order for things to turn out correctly.
If he didn't do this now then that child will be born into this world as Van's and he would not allow that to happen. He would rather see it dead then let such a thing exist. He knew he couldn't do that though because Fiona would hate him and that was what he was trying to avoid. 'I have to get her to see reason and just continue!' he thought running out the door.
He turned and looked in all directions but Fiona was nowhere to be found. "Which way did she go?" he yelled as he just ran in a random direction. 'Time is running out, I have to find her!' he mentally yelled as he looked in several different places.
Zack was searching in a room near the hanger when he suddenly heard a bit of a commotion. He ran to the hanger just in time to see the blade liger all but blasting it's way recklessly out of the hanger. He just knew that it was Fiona doing that. "Stop it Fiona!" he yelled up to her.
"Don't come near me!" Fiona said as the blade liger turned to face him. "I'm going and there's nothing you can do to stop me!" she yelled as the blade liger headed towards the hanger doors which were slowly closing. "Zeke!" she called out to her faithful organoid.
Zack thought quickly and tackled Zeke before he could manage to fuse with the blade liger. "Are you just going to leave without your organoid then? I'm afraid that I can't let you do that Fiona. You'll just end up giving a dangerous man back his most important tools," he said holding Zeke down as best as he could.
Zack suddenly collapsed to the ground and Moonbay stood over him. "I told you to stay away from her!" Moonbay said glaring down at the unconscious man with a large piece of metal in her hand. "So what's your answer Fiona?" Moonbay asked with a smile on her face.
"I… I don't know. All I know is that I need to find Van. I need to get the truth out of him. I know that I won't be able to do anything unless I see him. What about you Moonbay? You attacked a captain of the military. I don't think they're going to let you off," Fiona said in a worried tone.
"Are you kidding, this place will be no fun without you, Irvine, or Van. Just get going. Go find him and I'll meet up with you later. You need to hurry though," Moonbay said as she watched Zeke fuse with the blade liger.
Fiona looked at Moonbay a little worried for a few moments and then nodded her head. "I will. Thank you for everything Moonbay," Fiona said as the blade liger rushed out of the hanger door before it closed.
"I guess it's time I got going as well. No doors will keep me in here," she said running to her gustav and she jumped it. She got going and blasted a hole into the hanger door before driving out of there quickly before the could do anything to stop her. "Good luck Fiona."