DR:Well, that's Harry out of the picture... (Harry Champ walks in)
Harry: NO! I REFUSE TO BE SEPERATED FROM MY LEENA!
DR: Oh will you just... (Waves writers wand(tm). Harry vanishes)
Leena: Oh thank you! I never want to set eyes on him again!
Bit: Me neither. (cuddles Leena)
DR: (rolls eyes) shouldn't you two get back into the story?
Bit: Oh, right. (Bit and Leena leave)
DR: Now, let us continue in the aftermath of Harry's rage.
Zeke: This is good! (munches on a twix)
Shadow: where did you get that?
DISCLAIMER: Dragon-Raptor does not own zoids or Earthseige 2. Just making sure you know that...
Chapter 21: Reparations & Recruitment
After a quick examination with the bases own medical equipment, it was decided that Bit should see a real doctor. Calling one out was not a problem, so within an hour a professional arrived. After taking a close look at Bit, and the results provided by the bases medical computer, he prescribed his treatment.
"Well, your lucky here Mr Cloud. You've got two cracked ribs, but they didn't snap completely. Given a couple of weeks they should be as good as new. You're going to have to take it easy though; that would hinder the healing process. So I strongly recommend no zoid battling for at least a week, if not two." He had been apologetic about that, but also firm. Bit took the recommendation in good graces. After all, Vega was going to join the team; he could cover for Bit easily. The doctor was paid generously for his time and feeling grateful, he also checked Leena for free. But the only thing of note was the slap she received; the bruise would fade within a day or so. It would sting for a few more hours, but that would fade rapidly.
So the next day, armed with a prescription of painkillers, Bit it took easy. Leena remained at his side, the unhurt one, throughout. The rapid and extreme changes brought over them both the previous day had thrown them both into confusion, and made them both realise how much they cared for each other. Brad and Naomi returned that day after spending the previous evening packing up the last of her stuff while finalising the last stages of selling her old home, and were full of questions about this sudden arrangement. The last time they saw Bit and Leena together was when she slapped him across the face, and when they left the previous day Leena seemed to go out of her way to avoid Bit. So they had to be told the full story of yesterday's events, Bit relating the parts of Mary Champs story that he knew while Leena filled in the part where she had met Harry inside. Both of them were shocked and disgusted at Harry's actions and full of applause for Bit and Leena. Both Bit and Leena however kept to themselves their thoughts before the incident, neither really willing to expose them selves just yet. Bit in particular did not want to scare Leena away by telling her that he loved her. After Harry's actions, she would not take it well.
Secretly Naomi had been hoping that something like this would happen, to drive the two together. But she had not wanted either of them to get hurt. She had come to regard all those of the Blitz Team – even Leena – as extended family. Having more contact with the Blitz had shown her that Leena was not all bad. Sure she had a fiery temper, but underneath that was a good person.
Something that got everyone's attention was a dispatch sent to them – by courier no less, not electronic - from the Champ Corporation. Inside was a formal hand-written letter of apology from the head of the company - Bernard Champ, Harry's father. He was profusely sorry for the behaviour of his son, and made several gestures of compensation. He would pay not only for the replacement of the window Harry had broken, but also any medical fees incurred. And for the emotional distraught, almost a quarter million credits, paid for by selling Harry's zoids and team equipment. The 'Champ Team' was dead. Brad commented that clearly Bernard Champ had quite an ironic streak, as that money would most likely be spent improving the Blitz teams zoids and base.
Lastly, he gave his word that his worthless and wayward son would never again threaten Leena or the Blitz team again. Mr Champ clearly felt shame that it had been his son that had caused all the trouble. And he was determined to set things right.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Stigma Stoller sat in the bar again, slightly before the time he'd arranged with the others. This time, knowing that they were expecting a large group, he'd sat down in the middle of the largest corner booth he could find. With enough space for a dozen people, it should serve their purposes very well. A few other patrons gave him black looks for hogging such a large table, but he had explained to the barkeep why he needed such a space. They had been more than happy to let him stay there.
Sipping at his cider, Stigma continued to mull over everything he'd dug up over the last three days. After he had left the bar, he'd headed straight for the closest public records office. Several hours later, he'd still been there, pouring over everything he could find on the history of Class S, its teams, and the Blitz Teams recent record. In fact he had to return the next day as soon as the office opened, so embroiled into digging up the history of Class S was he, and learning more about its roots.
Bit hadn't been lying when he'd said that they hadn't been doing so well. In fact he had understated it. While it had been gratifying to see him lose, Stoller had been deeply impressed too. Even in the fights when the Blitz had lost, they had given a strong, stirring fight to the very end.
The other teams were also deeply impressive. 'Thank god the Count didn't send us up against those teams…' He thought. These teams took the rules to the limit, as the Burning Rain team had demonstrated against the Blitz. While they never crossed the lines like the Backdraft had, they did blur the edges a little. Had the Backdrafts regular pilots tried to fight them, they would have been cut apart in seconds, even with their fancy toys and underhanded tactics.
It was now common knowledge that the calibre of the Backdraft pilots had been grossly over rated. Most were either failed warriors who couldn't make any form of progress within the ZBC ladder, or loose cannons, gang members and thugs. Very few had any real talent, and even fewer had the brains to use that tiny amount of skill they did have.
There were exceptions, such as himself, Pierce, Vega and the Fuma team, but they were the elite. Polta had never been good enough to be ranked up there with them on merit alone. He had help from above. The Fuma team, last Stroller had heard, was currently under house arrest, and had to arrange any trip with the local security forces. Fortunately for Fuma herself, her mother who had been one of the Committee members was allowed to stay with her. All the other committee members were either in jail along with the bulk of the Backdraft, or dead at their own hands. The only one unaccounted for was the Count himself. The only other ranking Backdraft member still free was Altiel, who had disappeared somehow.
Diving into the history of Class S, Stigma had not expected his blood to begin to quicken at the thought of competing against such warriors. Class S was, supposedly, set up to be the pinnacle of zoid piloting by none other that the great hero Van Flyheight, shortly before his retirement from the Guardian Force and public life in general. Such warriors would serve as the core of a new Guardian Force, the elite of the elite, had another great evil arisen to threaten all civilization.
Certainly Van had played a major part in the establishment of the ZBC's predecessor, basing the idea off a brief point in his early adventures. Although it was clear that he hadn't been the core driving force behind it, his efforts and support for the idea had gather a lot of support for the cause. The military forces of both the Empire and Republic could see the advantage of having their troops constantly train in such gladiatorial combat, and so the bulk of the initial set of teams were made up from military units. But rapidly independent teams flocked to the cause, people drawn to the new idea. It provided an outlet for the violent nature of mankind, without spilling over to harm others. The number of bandit groups and rogues dropped almost fifty percent overnight, until a bandit group was almost unheard of.
Stigma's biggest mystery was 'who' the figure most responsible for the creation of the initial ZBC had been. After it had been formed in its current establishment, he had been stated as being the first chairman, but there was no record of his name or anything. Records stated that fire had destroyed those records long after his death, when no-one living could recall the name anyway. But the mystery continued to circle Stigma's mind.
His thoughts snapped back to the present when he spotted Vega and Sarah enter the bar, quickly followed by the expanded Blitz team. After the introductions and greetings, he noticed that Bit was being rather careful about how he walked, and Leena Toros seemed to be hanging around him.
"Something wrong Cloud?"
Bit winced. "I guess you know about the battle I had with Harry Champ?"
Stoller nodded, his face not displaying a whisper of emotion. It was true that there were rumours flying around all over the place, ever since the surprising announcement that the 'Champ Team' was being shut down, its zoids and equipment being sold off at auction. It almost, but not quite, overshadowed the retirement of Harry Champ from zoid battling, and the darker rumour that he had been committed to a mental hospital.
"Well, afterwards, Harry hit the alcohol, and then…" Bit grimaced. "…He decided to settle things outside the battle."
"Ah. How bad?"
"Couple of cracked ribs on my part." Bit grinned, glancing at Leena. "Large vase over the head for him. Plus whatever Nic Champs Whiskey did." Leena smiled, a blush riding up her face.
At that point a male bartender walked over. "Sirs, may I take your orders?" He asked politely, a friendly smile on his plain face.
The gathered pilots fired off their requests, just as the last member of their group turned up.
"Pierce!" Sarah called, happy to see the younger woman stride in. Leon noticed that she had a bounce in her step, and was almost bubbling over with happiness.
"Good to see you Sarah."
After placing her order with the barkeep, she sat down along with the rest.
"So, how did it go?" Bit asked excitedly.
"Well…" Pierce drawled, before grinning broadly. "You were right. I smoked all their tests. I have my ranking: A+ Class pilot."
"Great news!"
"How tough were the tests?" Jamie asked. Pierce glanced at him, turned away, and then preformed a hilarious double take. She stared at him as though she'd seen a ghost.
"Pierce?" Sarah asked, worried.
"Your… you were the one flying that Raynos last time we fought?" Pierce extended one trembling finger at Jamie. He could only hang his head.
"Sort of…" he muttered.
"Jamie undergoes a weird personality change when ever he breaks the sound barrier." Leena put in.
"Just like you do when someone steals your sweets…" Leon teased his sister.
"Leon!" she shot back, but did not move from Bit's side where she was entirely comfortable
Pierce shook her head. This was defiantly something she was going to have to explore deeper at some point.
"Well, the flying tests weren't that hard. The combat sim was more of a challenge, since I had to fight progressively harder waves of opponents." She shrugged. "I managed to make my way to third on the list."
"Nice work!" Bit commented.
"Who was ahead of you?" Brad asked.
"Some chap calling himself 'The Wild Eagle' came second. Had almost twice the score I got..." Pierce noted the sharp intakes of breath from the Blitz team. Jamie went even redder and seemed to be trying to sink though his seat.
"What?"
"Jamie, you never told us you went thought those sims!" Leena cried.
Jamie shook his head. "I never did…"
Steve looked thoughtful. "…But Oscar did." He finished for the young lad.
Jamie nodded. Pierce noticed how cute he was when flushed red.
"Your dad…" Bit breathed. At Pierces puzzled look, Steve filled her in.
"Oscar Hemeros was the first generation of the 'Wild Eagle'" He nodded towards Jamie. "Jamie's his son."
"The second generation?" Pierce guessed.
"Sort of. It's his alternate personality."
Pierce sat back, trying to work things all out. Stoller chuckled to himself while the same barkeep brought them all their drinks.
"Well," he began once the barkeep had moved on. "Looks like working with you is going to be interesting, at the least."
Leon looked up intrigued. "You planning on taking up our offer?"
"Why not?" Stoller shrugged. "I'm not getting anywhere on my own."
Pierce nodded in agreement. "I'm certainly in."
Bit grinned, and then turned to Vega. "Do I even need to ask you two?"
Vega grinned right back, while Sarah smiled. "What do you think?"
"Remember the ZBC still has to approve…" Jamie pointed out.
"Well, assuming they do…" Leon raised his glass. As one, all the others did so to. "…Welcome to the Blitz Team!" he toasted.
Unknown to them all, the polite barkeep had heard everything, and now made his way to the bar. Quickly exchanging a few words with the bartender there, he quickly slipped out the back.
X-X-X-X-X-X
In the bar's office, the barkeep sat down at the videophone. He quickly punched in a rarely used code. After several seconds, the line went though. The screen remained blank.
"Hi. Sorry, you've called when I'm not around. But if you'd like to me a message, I'll get back you as soon as I can." A cheerfully recorded female voice played, before a tone sounded. The barkeep lowered his head closer to the microphone.
"Code: Romeo, Bee Kay, five, zero-two." He whispered. At the other end of the line, a special program had been installed that listened for such a code phrase. Once the code was verified, it quickly hung up the line at that end, and redirected the call to a hidden server.
The screen shifted and flickered, before bringing up a simple 'Please Hold' message.
After a several seconds, the screen flickered again and the face of a youthful man with deep, wisdom filled eyes appeared on the screen. Over his shoulder a very pale skinned woman with startling red hair stood.
"Report Tony." It was always amazing that he could remember his name.
"I think you should know sir. The Blitz team are going to ask the ZBC if they can hire a set of extra people very soon, perhaps even today. The persons in question are… well, distrusted."
The man's face grew serious. "Who are we talking about here?"
"Stigma Stoller, Pierce, and Vega Obscura. Also Sarah Obscura." Tony stated.
"Stoller, Pierce, and both the Obscuras…" the man seemed to be muttering to himself. He then looked up at Tony, a slight smile on his face. "Good work there. I'm glad you brought this to my attention. Show them all every respect you can. And keep up the good work."
"Thank you sir." The man nodded as he signed off.
Tony quickly made his way back the bar area, a warm glow from being appreciated in his heart.
X-X-X-X-X-X
At the other end of the line, the man began to punch in a call code of his own. "Could you see that Tony gets a reward for his quick thinking?" He asked the lady behind him.
"Sure." She stated in a cool, confident voice. Leaning over, she quickly recognised the code he'd punched in. "You're calling the ZBC Chairman direct?" She asked, one dark red eyebrow rising over her large, slightly slanted eye.
He shrugged. "Fastest way to get the result I want." He quickly turned his head to give her a quick kiss. "Tell the others I'll be out soon."
"Okay, just don't take too long. Those two are going to eat all the meat if you let them." They both knew whom she was referring to.
He grinned back. "Save some for me then."
On the screen before him, the system asked for his access code before he could proceed. Punching his code in, he couldn't help chuckling as he thought about the reaction that the people on the other end of the line would have…
In the ZBC headquarters, the communication operator tasked the system to check the code that had come from this unknown source. He didn't recognise it, and he knew nearly them all. 'Must be some really obscure or newly added code…'
He nearly fell out of his seat when the system shot back the verification. It was one of the oldest codes in the system, ranked higher in importance than many disasters. This one superseded even the President of the Helic Republic and the Emperor of Guylos! It was marked as being for the current ZBC Chairman's eyes only.
The man sat back while he waited. He knew this Chairman quite well: they'd spent quite an amount of time together lately. Quickly he was patched though. The Chairman sat up straighter when he saw who had called.
"Sir! This is unexpected!"
"Hello to you too you old rascal." The man grinned briefly, and then turned serious. "I'm afraid this is more than a social call though."
The Chairman quickly got down to business. "Really?"
The man nodded. "I'm sure that you know about the recent fortunes of the Blitz Team?"
"Aye. They've been putting up good fights, but their struggling something fierce." The Chairman nodded. "Though that last fight between Bit Cloud and Harry Champ," the chairman grinned. "Glorious." The other man grinned with him.
"Well, I've just been informed about how they are planning to reverse their recent losing streak."
"Really? How? The Blitz Team, I mean." The Chairman knew better than to ask about how he got his information.
"Their planning to hire some new warriors, in addition to the Fluegel team members who joined a few days ago."
"Don't see why that's so important…"
"Their ex-Backdraft warriors."
The Chairman's eyes boggled. "You're serious?"
"About the Blitz? Always."
The Chairman visibly swallowed. "Well, I see." He paused. "Who are we talking about here?"
"Stigma Stoller. He's already a registered pilot in Class A." The Chairman nodded. "Pierce, who just came third in the flyer zoid tests." The Chairman raised an eyebrow at that. He had only just the results, so how could his caller have known them?
"That it?" He dared ask.
The man sighed. "No. They also want Vega and Sarah Obscura. And of course the Fury." He sat back and waited for the explosion.
The Chairman did not disappoint him.
"Absolutely not!" He almost rose from his seat, his face going three shades of red. "Stroller and Pierce I don't have that much trouble with, since they left the Backdraft before the Royal Cup, but Vega… and Sarah Obscura, the mastermind of that whole incident?" The Chairman shook his head firmly. "Never."
"My reports say that the officer in charge of monitoring her say that Sarah shows no inclination to restart the Backdraft, and in fact was instrumental in its downfall. As for Vega… he's just a kid who enjoys zoid battles." He grinned at the Chairman, whose face was slowly losing its red hue. "Besides, the Blitz wouldn't just ask them both in if they felt they were at risk."
"Maybe…" The Chairman had to concede.
"Besides, what if some rouge element of the Backdraft grabs both of them, and then threatens Sarah's life to get Vega to do things for them?" He pressed his case. The Chairman clearly had not thought of that angle, since his face whitened rapidly at the thought of Vega on the loose again. "Many within the Backdraft blame Sarah for their fall. If she is with the Blitz, both of them would be in safe hands."
"True…"
"And of course, IF they do get out of line, who better to stop them?" He smiled again. "Who better than those who took them down before when no-one else could get close?"
"You could…"
The man lost all cheer. "You know that I can't get involved." The Chairman seemed to sag in his chair.
"All right, I'll let them join. I still think it's a bad idea though…"
"Trust me," The man smiled again. "You'll soon realise that it is the right choice."
"I hope your right. I suppose you know which city they'll…"
"Romeo City."
The Chairman snorted before sighing off.
Shaking his head, the man stood up and made his way out of his airy office. He could understand the Chairman's reluctant, but he knew in his heart that all four of the ex-Backdraft members were at heart good people. He had known several of their forefathers, so he knew they came from good stock. The skills they displayed, even certain features of their faces and bodies showed that in them the inheritance was strong. Stoller was really the only unknown, but even he had traceable ancestors, and they turned out all right. Of course it was never a foregone conclusion, but if you played the odds…
Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of the clear mountain air. The faint smell of snow, water and life was almost smothered by the smell of good food cooking on a traditional barbeque. The gentle sounds of a peaceful city were drowned out by the crackle of the barbeque, clinking drinks and the easy laughter of old friends.
"Ah you're just in time!" He looked across at his family and closest friends. "We were going to start without you." Several cheers and raised glasses punctuated her comment.
Smiling broadly, he stepped forward to join the gathering…
DR: Ah, the intrige and drifting sense of romance... it... (loud crash comes from other room)
Zeke: Mine thief!
Shadow: Mine now!
DR: You two cut it out! (More crashes from other room. DR sighs and gets up) Excuse me while I knock some sense into those two... (walks out. Even more loud crashes ensures)
Shadow: Ouch!
Zeke: Mommy!
Irvine: (shakes head)