DR: Now on with the Story, where we learn about Sarah's past, and a certain old CPU returns...!
Shadow: Good.
NOTE: I'm guessing in this chapter how the CAS works...
Chapter 12: Unexpected Revelations
Naomi just sat there, her jaw hanging open. Sarah's remark had completely stunned her.
'Pregnant?' Naomi couldn't believe it. It just wasn't possible. She took precautions; they had never failed before on the few times she had needed them…
Wait. That week with the dinner, she had run out of her pills a couple of days before. She had meant to get some more, but the masses of paperwork had demanded attention, and besides she hadn't been planning on sleeping with anyone before a quick run down to the nearest pharmacy. The instructions said that the pills lasted a few days each, so there was room for a small gap before they needed replacing…
She folded both hands on her belly out of shear reflex. Although a small part of her had always wanted kids, she had always put her zoid piloting first. Besides, she had never really met the right man…
…Until Brad Hunter that is. They clicked, even though at first she hadn't believed it. He was cool, distant and concerned mainly with his money. He never showed extremes of emotion…
…Until that night, one month ago, when they had been alone together, both on that balcony or in his room here…
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up into the blue-green eyes of Sarah Obscura. "Did you feel like this too?" Naomi asked in a quiet voice.
"A mixture of dread, shock and joy?" Naomi nodded. "All of those, plus more. At least you know the father is still around…" Sarah's voice grew bitter. Naomi was startled at the insight she had glimpsed into her past.
"Sorry, I shouldn't be heaping my past on you." Sarah said quietly. "You've got enough on your plate right now."
Naomi sighed. "Could you go? I need to think about this…"
"I understand. Remember, I've been where you are now." Sarah stood up. "One thing: you're not staying in here." She held out her hand.
Naomi looked at the offered hand strangely, before pulling herself up. She nearly collapsed when she tried to take a step though. Only Sarah's arm had stopped her from falling back to the tiled floor.
"That spell took a lot out of you." Sarah muttered in surprise. "Is there anywhere you can lie down?"
Naomi had to think for a minute. "Brads room, really. We don't have a lot of space here at the moment."
As they moved down the hall, Sarah had to ask something. "By the way, what is Steve Toros doing trapped in a room down the hall?"
Naomi laughed. "He was dreaming about spending the prize money from the battle tomorrow – even though we don't have it yet and the debts need to be paid - and wouldn't listen to his daughter. So she dragged him off and trapped him in his own room." Both women chuckled. As they turned into Brad's room, Naomi suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, let me just send a file to the remote terminal…" They made their way over to the desk unit that all the rooms had. Once there, Naomi quickly punched in a few commands. "Okay, done." With Sarah's help she was soon stretched out on the bed. As Sarah turned to go, Naomi threw a hand out.
"Please, don't tell anyone, especially Brad. I want to do that, after I've had a chance to have your…verdict confirmed, and I've thought things though."
Sarah smiled as she patted Naomi's hand back onto the sheet. "Sure."
Naomi smiled in thanks as she left. Once the door was closed, she unconsciously reached down again to stroke her stomach. And the tiny spark of new life it contained.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Brad was pacing to and fro, worried sick about Naomi. When he had found her in the bathroom, puking what seemed like every meal she'd eaten for the last month up, he'd been at a complete loss. In fact if Sarah had not come along he might have had to use the sink for a similar purpose. Bit and Leena sat on the Ligers paw, While Jamie and Leon leaned on the workbench. Vega sat cross-legged by Bit, listening to every word he said as he described the encounter with Harry earlier that day.
"So there I am, sitting in Liger, watching as Harry held Leena in his Iron Kong's hand. And he starts insulting the Liger, calling him a coward because we used the other armours all the time now." Leena was shivering at just the memories of the event. Bit put an arm round her to comfort her without thinking about it.
"Now I get annoyed, but I'm surprised at the mood I'm getting from the Liger. He physically trembled from suppressed rage!"
"That the problem with the Fury." Vega sighed. "It can't control its anger. Insult it, and it'll lash out in answer. No waiting around. Nearly killed a fool at the Backdraft."
"Well, I think Liger held back since I was worried about Leena…" Bit stopped, remembering who was besides him. But Leena was too wrapped up in her memories to notice what Bit said. Leon and Jamie however did, and shared a knowing look.
"…Then Harry starts to say we couldn't do anything, and then I see our chance. Before I could even say anything to Liger, he's already acted. He grabs the Kong's arm by the elbow in his jaws, and then tears though the bicep with his claws. Took the arm right off!"
"Cool!" Vega was impressed. Then a thought crossed his mind. "But how did you get Leena out of the hand? Without input from the cockpit, the fingers would never open."
"Well, Liger handled that. He…" Bit trailed off as he saw Sarah walking back towards them. Brad rapidly stopped pacing and rushed over to her.
"Well, how is she?" He asked, a note of alarm in his voice.
"She's fine. It was just a spell." Sarah replied. Brad heaved a deep sigh of relief. "I put her back in your room for now…" She continued. "…But she doesn't want to be disturbed. She's got to take in some… news." Brad nodded.
"What news?" Bit asked. Leena elbowed him gently.
Sarah shook her head. "Sorry, but she asked that I not say a word. She'll tell you when she's ready. Meanwhile…" she gestured to the remote terminal between Jamie and Leon. "…I think you'll find she sent a file there." Jamie quickly rounded on the terminal. Leon looked over his shoulder while Bit, Leena and Vega got up. Brad slowly walked back towards the central base, deep in thought.
"Oh, clever." Leon muttered as they gathered round. "You could tell Na' came up with this just by the detail she puts in."
On the screen was a diagram of the Liger Zero in its basic armour. Highlighted were several points: the secondary laser generator in the checks, the back mounted ion boosters, and the central Zoid Core. Notes by each showed her lines of thought.
"Bit, how much do you know about the Ligers other armours? Primarily, how they work?"
Bit shrugged. "Not really. I mainly concentrated on how to get the best out of them in battle." He raked his brains for a second. "I remember that the Strike Laser Claw no longer works in either Schneider or Panzer though. And of course Panzer is so slow."
"Yes, to power the extra laser blades and the missile pods, Doc rewired the armours so that the power that would feed into the laser generators for the claws instead goes to the other systems." Leon tapped the screen next to the ion boosters. "The Panzer uses the power that goes to the Ion Boosters normally to feed the Hybrid Cannons. It also taps the power from the actuators to feed all those missile pods. Naomi's suggesting we add low power consumptions weapons to those systems, piggy-backing on the originals. She's also got a few ideas to boost the zoids power output, to make up for the drain on the systems. Jaime, could you bring up her suggestions?"
Jamie punched a few keys. A small list appeared, consisting of only three simply named entries. Before the list was a block of text. Jamie began to read it out.
"'The Liger Zero is mainly a close range fighter. In its basic armour, it has a strike laser claw and dual shock cannon. Both the Schneider and Jaeger are close combat type, with the Schneider completely focused on damage potential with it's seven laser blades, while the Jaeger is set up for high-speed combat, to allow it to get the strike laser claw in the right position quickly. Currently only the Panzer armour has any real form of ranged attack potential.
'As has been proved with the Panzer and the Schneider, the Liger Zero can handle a considerable amount of weaponry. However it has a limited number of points where the zoids power can be taped. To achieve the requirements of the other armours, some of the Ligers other systems had to be cut back. But if low power units could be installed in tandem with the old subsystems, instead of replacing them, then the Liger Zero basic armour could be turned into a worthy alternative to the other armours.
'These three patterns all attempt to give the Liger Zero Basic a much greater ranged ability without sacrificing its close combat potential. Some additional armour would also not go ami…' It ends there. Guess that was when she felt that attack coming."
Leena whistled. "She really covered the bases, didn't she?"
"Shows just how smart she is." Leon stated with admiration. "Shall we take a closer look at her ideas then?"
X-X-X-X-X-X
Brad sat in the central lounge, sipped a mug of coffee. His thoughts were completely focused on Naomi, who had yet to emerge from his room. What was the 'news' that Sarah had hinted at? Clearly it was nothing imminently fatal, since he felt sure that she would have never held anything like that back. And it was clearly not something like a bug that would fade away in time. No, it was something serious, but long term. Something that would have a marked effect on her life, if she lived though… whatever it was.
Brad tried not to think such negative thoughts, but he couldn't get them out of his head. He lost track of time. He just sat there, his mug in hand, the coffee going slowly colder. He only snapped out of it when he felt a hand gently rest on his shoulder.
"You okay there?" Sarah asked.
Brad looked up at her, then at his cold coffee. Grimacing, he moved through to the kitchen and tipped the cold drink down the drain. Switching on the coffee machine again, he leant on the doorframe to look at Sarah. She was clearly making an effort to be helpful, but Brad was in no condition to maintain his indifferent exterior.
"No, not really." He answered her. "I can't get her out of my head. Nor can I stop thinking about what could be wrong. Clearly she's not going to die within the next couple of days, but equally as clearly it's not something that's going to go away." He shrugged in frustration.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Sarah replied with a smirk. Naomi had asked her not to tell Brad, but this was too good a chance to pass up. Maybe she could get a clearer view of the reclusive mercenary if she niggled him.
"What's supposed to mean?"
"Well…" Sarah went evasive. "… I know what she's going though. I been though it myself once." 'And the result: Vega' "All I can say is that the early morning runs to the bathroom will cease in about a month, perhaps sooner. The mood swings will last longer though."
Brad raised an eyebrow. "For how much longer?"
"Sorry, I've said too much already." At Brad's look of pure frustration, Sarah softened. "You really love her don't you?"
Brad sighed, his anger dissipating. "Yes, I do." He muttered softly.
"Then trust me, she'll tell you when she's ready."
"That's the thing: how can I trust you? No offence, but you used to work for the Backdraft, an organisation that wall full of deceitful, backstabbing characters. Hell, you were one of the top people! So tell me: why should I trust you?"
Sarah sighed. She had expected something like this to come up. Surprisingly though, she didn't feel any resentment towards Brad. She tried to arrange her arguments into a logical arrangement.
"First of all, I may have worked for them, but I never really believed the core policies." She eased down into one of the couches in the central area. It was exceptional soft, something she had not experienced for some time. She allowed herself a few seconds to luxuriate in the feeling, before turning her thoughts back to the longhaired mercenary standing before her.
"When I found out I was pregnant with Vega, I had nothing. No job, no qualifications, nothing. The only things I had were a couple of friends, and my future child. But it was only Stoller – Stigma – who helped me."
Brad had drifted forwards and now sat on the couch opposite her, all thoughts of the coffee forgotten.
"Stigma was like an older brother to me. Despite being several years my senior, he cared for me. When he left to join the Backdraft, I went with him." Sarah leaned back, the haze of memories drifting over her eyes. Unnoticed by both, Leon and Leena had also drifted in. They had been going to see if their father had calmed down enough that he could be safely let out of his room. The work on the Liger would work much faster if they had his help. But now they felt drawn to Sarah's sad tale.
"At first, the Backdraft was not the ruthless organisation that it became. At first it was set up by pilots that found regular, ZBC organised battles dull. Their blood didn't fire. Why is not my tale, its Stollers, to tell as he sees fit.
"He could barely afford to feed us both if I hadn't been pregnant. I nearly ate him out of his job. So I started to take a role in the group. I found I had a knack for organisation, and I've always been able to take the long view, and plan ahead. Thanks to my help, the Backdraft found its feet and began to survive.
"I dropped out on the main group when Vega was born, but I remained interested. So I asked Stoller to keep me apprised of what happened. I had moved out of his place by then, since I doubted he'd enjoy the company of a baby. But I didn't get too involved: I had sworn that I would be there for Vega, unlike my parents had been for me."
She sighed deeply. "Looking back, had I stayed involved, I might have been able to stop the transformation from a simple thrill seeking pilots club to the monster that it became in the later years." She remained focused on Brad, even though she knew about the other two listeners who had now moved into the room proper and sat down together in a spare couch. It was Brad alone who needed to hear this.
"After a while, I needed to earn my own money again. But the newly appointed – self-appointed in my opinion – committee of seven requested that I work for the Backdraft. At that time, the lower ranks knew who most of the committee members were. I knew six of them. I knew that they didn't want their involvement with the Backdraft to become public knowledge. I didn't know why at the time."
She sighed again. "As time went by, I was drawn in deeper and deeper, and the more I was dragged in, the more ruthless and vindictive the people I had to work with were. After a couple of bad points involving Vega, I realised I had to school myself in their tactics, so I could fend them off in equal terms. To further cover myself, and Vega, I asked him to never refer to me as 'Mom' around other people. I was afraid that if it were found out that he was my son, some of the others would use him to get at me. Only Stoller and Pierce knew the truth. They were the only one's I trusted."
Sarah scowled at her resurfaced memories. "I never did find out who the Count was, despite some very careful searching. I only stopped when I found a note left in my bedroom at home. All that was written was: 'Stop looking for me, accidents can happen.' But I got the message."
Leena felt sick to her stomach, while Leon raged internally. What kind of man threatens the life of a child?
"Over time, I gained power within the organisation, but I did it playing by their rules. It still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. So you see, although I grew to adulthood and brought up my son within the Backdraft, I don't owe them any form of loyalty. Once maybe, long ago, but not the form it's in under the Count."
"What about the Judge satellites? You ordered the destruction of the ZBC's network…" Brad asked gently. All his anger had drifted away.
Sarah scowled again. "That was the Counts idea, not mine. He was adamant that now we had a fully operational satellite network of our own, we could remove the ZBC once and for all. Once the ZBC was gone, the Backdraft would emerge as its replacement." She smiled thinly. "Somehow I doubt it would have stopped there. I always got the feeling that the Count was playing for bigger things, and had his eye set on much loftier goals. Or maybe he had a higher boss? I sometimes got the feeling that he wasn't the top person in the organisation, that there was someone else behind him, pulling the strings.
"The destruction of the satellites was the one thing I really fought him on. But I was over ruled. Maybe that's how Altiel got his hands on those three Genosaurers, I certainly never saw him as the type to have the kinds of contacts needed to acquire those.
"I did manage to alter the Counts plans though. He was originally going to use nuclear tipped missiles." Leena gasped in shock. Both Leon's and Brad's jaws fell. Nuclear weapons had been outlawed for centuries. In fact there had never been a nuclear weapon used in the history of Zi, even as far back as before the disaster that destroyed the Ancient Zoidian civilisation. It was a monument to their beliefs that they hadn't used such weapons on the cause of their demise, the Death Saurer.
Sarah smiled. "It took all my persuasive techniques, but I finally managed to talk him round to using charged particle weaponry. It was quite a masterstroke really. We recreated the tail of the Death Stinger, but it was slaved to a simple fire control computer, not to any zoid. But by using it to down the satellites, it would put the fear into the ZBC that we had recreated the Death Stinger itself. At least that's what I told him." She shrugged. "It also held back the destruction of the network until our mock-up was ready. Fortunately by then the ZBC had finished the Super Satellite. I had known that they were building it; I just didn't pass the information along. But even I was shocked by its size." She smiled at the joy she had felt when the Counts plan misfired. Her listeners couldn't help but smile too.
"Do you think the Backdraft will return?" Leon asked. Sarah sat back in thought.
Leena too was thinking hard, but not about Leon's question. 'Bit was right. She was trapped within the Backdraft. Course, it's only her word right now, but why lie now?' Leena began to feel guilt at doubting Bit's judgement, and her own rash reaction.
"Not in its present form, at the least." Sarah finally answered. "It may return to its original form, but to all intents and purposed the Backdraft is dead. My testament should have seen to that."
Leon picked up on a hidden meaning. 'She said 'Her' testament…'
"Aren't you worried about reprisals?" Leena asked. "If some of those who you testified against found out where you were…"
Sarah sighed. "That's why I'm getting desperate to earn some money, so we can get the Fury fixed. Vega can keep it under control, and no warrior in his right mind would challenge Vega and the Fury together."
"Except Bit."
Sarah laughed with Leena and Leon. "Yes, except Bit. I hope he and Vega can become friends. Vega's had a very sheltered life until now, and he's going to need help to adjust."
"Well, I won't say we're all that normal, but we'll certainly help." Leon realised the underlying message he was giving out: the Blitz team accepted Sarah and Vega, together.
"Thank you." Sarah had picked up on the second layer in Leon's' voice, and she felt very grateful. The only time she had felt like this before was when Stroller had taken her in during her hour of need. Now she and Vega were in similar straits, and once again people she barely knew were opening their doors for them, simply because they cared.
She looked over at Brad. "Well, have I cleared your mind of doubts?"
Brad slowly nodded. "Yes."
X-X-X-X-X-X
Far away from the warm glow that suffused the Blitz team, a man sat at his desk in his private retreat. This was were he had always come to brood and reflect. Where he laid his plans, and drowned his sorrows.
Curse that Sarah Obscura! The conniving witch had planed this from the moment she had learned of his plan to finish off the weakling Zoid Battle Commission! How humiliating, to lose out to a descendent of two of his old rivals! She even looked like one of them, right down to her hair! But how could she have known that creating the illusion that the Death Stinger – his personal zoid – had been resurrected would be so enticing to him? Could she have realised…
No. She never could have worked out who he really was, or even that he existed. Despite his age, he hadn't lost his mind yet. Of course, some said he had lost his mind centuries ago. Those who had thought that were now all dead.
Well, he thought, time to start again. The Backdraft may have been a loss, but he now had a clear idea of where the last fragments of his greatest set back lay. One was locked up in a ZBC compound, and if his agents were successful, in a couple of weeks it would never interfere with his plans again. He thought he had dealt with it before, but that fool Altiel had dug it up without his knowledge. And once it had been dug out, he couldn't turn round and have it reburied. Though the entombment did seem to have had a positive effect on the stubborn old thing…
Another was roaming free, but it was only a matter of time before he could bring his vengeance to Sarah and her brat of a child, Vega. God that spoilt little squirts resemblance to one of those who had defeated him was uncanny! He knew that he would get great pleasure from removing Raven's remaining legacy…
The last was sitting in the Blitz Team hanger, he was sure of it. Trouble was it seemed it had brought the luck from the past along with it down the years…
He snapped back to the present as his monitor lit up.
"An agent within the Law wishes to report to you personally. Says he has important information. And Count Umbra is arriving." An electronic voice stated flatly. The voice of his partner, the only other – thing – he could count on. Their goals did coincide after all.
"All right Heli, I'll receive the agent now. Have Umbra escorted down here. I'll deal with him after I hear this 'Important' information."
"Patching you though. And I told you not to call me 'Heli'. My designation is 'Helios'."
The man laughed. It was a long running joke between them, though Helios had never got it. Most likely because 'it' was a machine, and was not programmed for humour.
After a few seconds, the call came though. The man knew the officer in question on the other end on the line would only see a vague outline, not enough to id him. Conversely he knew everything about this officer.
"Report, and make it good." He ground out.
The Officer was suitably scared. "I… I just got the transcript of Sarah Obscura's last routine report. She asked permission to visit the Blitz team. Her minder cleared it."
The man said nothing, his mind whirling. No, this could not be happening! If the Obscuras were visiting the Blitz team, it could mean only one thing…
…Sarah knew she couldn't hide forever, so she was running right to those who had always beaten the Backdraft!
This would ruin everything! If the Blitz took Sarah and Vega in, then they'd take the Fury in, ruining his plans to kill it permanently. And if they managed to get the Fury up again…
But wait, this could be used to his advantage. With all the remaining ghosts in one place, he could wipe them out in one go! He couldn't use a nuclear weapon, not with the ZBC's super satellite in orbit. It could shoot down any missile…
…Maybe Helios's legions could deliver the weapon instead…
"Thank you from bring this to my attention." The lord cut off the startled officer. "Helios?"
"Yes?"
"That officer is getting too delicate to continue being a spy. Arrange his… retirement."
"Consider it done."
"Good. Now, show in the Count."
The doors on the far side of the room creaked open, and Count Umbra, the shadowy ex-leader of the Backdraft walked in. He kept glancing fearfully at the mechanical constructs that walked besides him as they escorted him to the centre of the chamber. Due to the low lights in the room, they were little more than harsh shadows. But in the centre of their bodies a baleful blue light gleamed, tinged red. Like some kind of narrowed eye.
"Ah, my dear Count. How good of you to spare me the trouble of sending someone to fetch you." 'For your execution.'
The Count swallowed. "My lord, I wish to… I beg for your forgiveness. It was all that bitches Sarah's fault! She delayed the destruction of the ZBC's satellite network, she…"
"Oh, so you allowing yourself to be talked round from my plan does not shoulder any blame?" The count went as white as a sheet. "What about the fact that it was you who put her in a position that allowed her to affect my plan? You put her in overall control of the operation, did you not?"
"Y…yes, my lord" The Count was clearly terrified, as he should.
"Umbra, you are as equally to blame as Sarah Obscura. And you know how I punish failure…"
"Please, my lord!" The Count dropped to his knees. "Give me another chance! Anything!"
The man considered the Count for a second. "You were one of my best operatives…" The best had been those two, centuries ago. "…But you are of no more use to me. But you can still be useful."
"H…how can I serve?" Hope crept into the Counts voice.
"Simple. Your death will have meaning." And with that, the Lord hit a button.
The Count had no chance to respond. One second he was there, the next the floor beneath him fell away, dropping him into the shaft underneath. Neither of his escorts moved. They had been standing just beyond the trapdoor, as programmed.
As the floor reset itself, the Dark Lord considered his options. "Helios, could you assemble a strike force? A large strike force." he corrected himself, absently toying with a lock of his greyed, flaming red hair. "Preferably a disposable one…"
DR: New guessing competition: Who's the 'Dark Lord'? Next time, we learn more about the connection between Sarah, both Ligers and the Fury...