DR: Welcome back! Chapter 22 ahoy!
Irvine: Do we get to see some action now?
DR: Ah, no. There's a few nice moments, my take on how the BackDraft was first formed, and we see what's coming for the Blitz Team. It's not going to be pretty...
Shadow: Could you please untie us now?
DR: Hmm... no.
Zeke: (pleading voice) Please?
Chapter 22: Tales & Reformations
Over the drinks and meal that followed, the past and future Blitz team members bounded together. They swapped jokes and tales from across the world. Sarah was able to relax, truly relax, for the first time in over a decade. Even Stigma Stoller cracked a smile now and again at some of the tales that flowed around. Other bar patrons glanced at the gathering every now and again, trying to understand how the Blitz Team could so openly sit and laugh with people who had been their fiercest rival at one point. Pierce skimmed over her past, claiming that there was nothing of any real interest there. Jamie and Leon doubted that, but decided not press just yet. If they were to be team-mates, there would be plenty of time to find out the truth.
As they all ate, Leon turned to Stoller. "Sarah mentioned that you're the one to ask about the Backdrafts beginnings, and suggested that it was really different back then. Care to elaborate?"
Stoller sighed. "I guess it can't hurt anyone now." And with rather cryptic statement he began his tale.
"At first, the Backdraft was formed by pilots who simply couldn't get excited by battle in ZBC organised matches. Like myself, they felt that there was always something missing. True, at the time the ZBC were quite tight with the rules, as they were still finding their feet. Back then the pilots and warriors were mostly ex-military, those who had seen real battle. The organised battles seemed too 'false' to them." He paused to take a drink.
"They, like the many other small groups formed all over the planet, started running their own battles out in the wilderness, without the rules the ZBC imposed. They did keep a few, but most of the book was thrown out the window. Back then the Backdraft didn't even have a name.
"Over the next few years the ZBC relaxed the rules a little and expanded them, allowing greater range of weapon options and variations on the basic rules. At that point many of the smaller groups faded back into the mainstream system. Also the influx of new, young pilots boosted the standing of the ZBC.
"The pre-Backdraft group also lost members, but it remained a separate entity. It had a hard core of ex military pilots, who treated it like an old pilots club. But it also began to attract a certain type of pilot. Pilots who put victory above all else, and damn anything that gets in the way. It also began to gain elements from the fringes and underbelly of society.
"It was only when the ZBC – and the world governments in general – declared gambling illegal that the Backdraft really took off. That's how they came up with the name 'Backdraft'. It was meant to show the ZBC the face of the back draft of unpopular judgements.
"However, even then it was not a truly criminal group. True it was outside the law, but it had no aim. Only the desire to have no-holds barred battles, where vast sums of money could be won and lost. Battles that fired the blood of the pilots involved beyond what the regular fights could.
"I joined the group first as a means of training, thinking that once I cut my teeth there, I'd be the best warrior in the ZBC. But it was about that time that someone took an interest in the group. I may never know who it was, but looking back I can see the chain of seemingly unconnected events and decisions that turned a – relatively – harmless thrill seekers club into the shadowy organisation that it became." Stoller looked at Sarah almost apologetically.
"Had I taken more notice at the time, I would never have brought Sarah in with me. By the time I realised what was happening, it was too late to stop it. I know, because I tried. I spoke out, calling for sense. In reply I was visited.
"They knew far too much about me, including that I had taken both Sarah and her new born son under my wing, and that I was about to do the same for Pierce. I was warned that should I persist in 'Slowing the natural order and progress of change', there would be repercussions for my two 'freak concubines'." While the gathered Blitz team was stunned, Sarah however sighed. She'd seen the change that had come over Stoller at that point, how he had become more protective and offering to help her more. Now she knew the root cause.
Pierce was both shocked and furious. "They called me and Sarah 'Freaks'?"
"Well, you both do have odd coloured hair…" Bit began, but a look from bright red-haired Leena shut him up.
"After that, I did what I was told, but I never really agree with their policies." Stoller continued. "The expansion into truly criminal circles continued, and the pilots joining were from that section of society. I did what I could to tilt the pilots away from the roles that the bulk of the committee was aiming, but it was never enough. It was only when I was put in charge of the Elephander Revival project that I got my chance to split away. By using your defeat of me as a basis, I was able to make a successful break." Stoller sighed.
"After our fight, I had to take time to look over the latest version of the rules the ZBC was using, and the way fights were now fought. Realising that I could now achieve my dream, I enrolled. I figured that a warrior, hardened by the Backdraft, piloting one of the most powerful zoids around could defeat all comers." He chuckled. "I forgot to take into account the fact that I would often be going up against three to four zoids at once. Even the best can be beaten by shear numbers."
"Well, from now on, you'll no longer stand alone." Leon stated with conviction. Several others agreed with Leon.
Stoller cocked an eyebrow. "Surely that's up to the ZBC?"
"Well, why don't we find out what they say?" Bit asked.
With everyone agreed, the group began to make their way out of the bar, tipping Tony handsomely on their way out for his excellent and courteous service.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Twenty minutes later they gathered again outside the Romeo City branch of the ZBC. The glass and steel building was non-descript compared to the other such structures around it. The only things that made it stand out were the ZBC emblem on the front wall and the plinth that ran above the door. Like all such plinths on all the branches of the ZBC, this one had small statues of two zoids – a Blade Liger and a zoid that looked a lot like a meaner version of the Genosaurer – on it, locked in mortal combat.
After registering the Fluegel teams transfer to the Blitz here, they knew their way around. As they approached the transfers' desk, Leena recognised the woman sitting there.
"Hey there!" She called cheerfully. The lady looked up, and a smile quickly formed on her face.
"Hey, welcome back. Here again for new team members?"
"Yep. Just don't scream…"
"Huh…oh." The lady trailed off as she saw who accompanied the Blitz. "I see…" She turned back to face Leena. "You sure about this?"
Leena looked over her shoulder at her team, before replying. "Completely."
Sighing, the woman motioned over the ex-Backdraft pilots. Once they were close enough, she put on her official business voice.
"Any of you registered with the ZBC already?"
Stroller stepped forward. "Yes. Stigma Stoller, Solo pilot of the Stoller Team." At the Blitz teams funny looks while the lady punched in his details, he shrugged. "Couldn't think of anything better at the time."
"Ah right, here you are." The lady beamed happily. "You are aware that you will have to disband your own team to join the Blitz?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"You are sure you accept being a pilot within the Blitz Team, without a controlling interest?"
Stoller glanced sharply at Leon.
"Standard rules I'm afraid. Doc owns the rights of the team, so technically what he says goes. But really we all have a say in what happens." Leon reassured him. "We don't have a pecking order at all."
"We'd never survive one anyway." Bit added playfully. Stollers face eased, and he turned back to the ZBC lady.
"In answer, yes."
"Okay," The lady stretched out a hand to pull out a set of forms from a number of drawers. "Once you've filled these in, I can send them up to the local commissioner for his approval."
Stoller took the forms without a word. As he stepped away, Pierce stepped up to the desk. The older woman behind the desk looked up at her.
"You registered too?"
Pierce looked uneasy. "Sort of. I took the flyer rating tests the other day, but I've yet to register as a pilot in my own right."
"That's fine." The lady answered. "Just give your name."
"Pierce." At the ladies look, Pierce shrugged. "Just Pierce."
When Pierces data came up on the ZBC system, the woman whistled. "That's a pretty good score. I don't think I've ever seen one that high before." Pierce blushed slightly while the woman collected a set of forms again. This bundle was a bit thicker than Stollers.
"Okay, I'm afraid you'll have to fill these out, and you'll need to collect your zoid gear and personal code once these have been approved."
"Thank you."
The woman turned to face Sarah and Vega. She had to sit up a bit straighter to see Vega.
"And are you both wishing to join the Blitz as pilots too?"
Sarah shook her head. "No. I was hoping for administration support." She ruffled Vega's hair. "My son's the pilot. But he's not registered yet…"
Something in Vega's open, honest expression seemed to ease the lady's heart. "Okay then. I'll just get you the forms…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
The team sat around in the central waiting room. Brad and Naomi were snuggled together on one sofa, while Bit and Leena sat together on another. Stoller leaned on a nearby pillar, watching as Steve and Sarah talked about the trials of raising children as a single parent, while Leon sat close by. It had been a long time since he'd seen Sarah open up and talk freely to someone else. It warmed Stollers heart just to see her like she had been when she little. She had been such a free spirited child back then, full of life. Though she could be firm and determined when she wanted, Sarah had always had a soft heart.
It was possibly why she had been so easily taken in by Vega's father…
Stoller also noticed that Leon's eyes seemed to linger on her. Stroller had to admit that she was an attractive woman, wearing that dark blue dress that complemented her hair. It was loose and flowing around her legs and lower arms, but was close fitted around her body and had a low cut neckline. Combined with the small amount of makeup she wore, Sarah Obscura certainly could turn heads. It was no wonder Leon was looking at her in appreciation.
Stoller hoped that Leon's intentions were fully honourable. He'd always seen Sarah – and Pierce too, for that matter – as the younger sisters he'd never had. As such, he always felt protective of them both. But from what he'd seen of Leon Toros, he could make Sarah very happy. She deserved it.
Pierce sat across from Jamie, discussing aerial zoid tactics and manoeuvres. Slowly she began to see that Jamie was brilliant in his own quiet way. A bit lacking in self-confidence really, but there was nothing wrong in being modest. She was however still struggling to understand how this young lad could have beaten her in air to air combat though.
"The others said you have an alternate personality," She asked gently. "Is that true?"
Jamie sighed. "It is. But we never found out until Doc bought our Raynos, selling my Pteras to do so…" His voice hung slightly at mention of his beloved old zoid.
Pierce fully understood. There were always certain zoids that people found themselves comfortable with. She had dismissed such claims until she had first climbed into the Storm Sworder she had been given by Dr Layon. Suddenly she had felt right at home, the first time she ever had.
"How did it – he –emerge?"
"I'm not sure. All I remember of that fight was being hit, plunging towards the ground like my father did once…" He trailed off, and Pierce could guess what had happened.
"Next thing I know, I'm in the Hover Cargo, and the rest of the team are congratulating me for excellent flying." Jamie looked thoughtful. "After I reviewed the logs, I sort of know what happened, but I have no memory of it."
Pierce motioned him to continue.
"It seems that when the Raynos broke the sound barrier in the dive, I lost consciousness. But almost immediately afterwards, I woke up again, but it wasn't me flying, it was this alternate personality. He calls himself 'The Wild Eagle'." Jamie looked glum. "He's everything I'm not."
"How so?"
"Cocky, highly skilled, incredibly reflexes, and supremely confidant." Pierce nodded as Jamie listed all the traits she had noticed in their short fight, though she thought that the 'Wild Eagle' had been rather over confident actually. But then, with those kinds of skills, anyone would.
"Any idea how he came into being?" She asked gently.
"I haven't a…" Jamie was interrupted by a ZBC official stepping into the room and calling for all their attention.
"Could you all please follow me?" he asked politely.
Quickly he led them all into the main office. Sitting behind his desk the local commissioner watched them all file in. Off to one side was a high ranked member of the City Security forces.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting, but we had to gather a few facts first." With only three chairs facing him, the bulk of the Blitz had to stand. Steve, Sarah and Naomi took the seats.
"Firstly, the transfer of both pilot Stigma Stoller and pilot Pierce is approved." Leon grinned at Stoller, while Bit shook Pierces hand. Stoller had a slightly surprised look on his face while Pierce blushed slightly.
"As for Sarah and Vega Obscura…" The commissioner trailed off, before turning to face the Security Chief. He now stepped forward as the assembled pilots hushed.
"Sarah Obscura, you were allowed to go free on bail instead of being sentenced, mainly due to your willingness to assist us in tracking down the remaining Backdraft group members. To appease the public, and the more hard line officials within both the Justice System and the ZBC, you had a set of conditions placed upon you." At this point he smiled, and Sarah once again began to breathe freely.
"You have met those conditions admirably. You have kept your nose cleaner than some of my own officers. You did not attempt to take control of any zoid teams, nor did you attempt to deceive us in any way. In fact, the officer you've been reporting to claims that you brought so much detail to your daily reports that he wonders when you had time to sleep." Several of the Blitz chuckled while Sarah blushed as she looked embarrassed.
"Now that you're being offered employment within a successful team that has proved time and again to be able to handle anything thrown at it, it is my duty, and my privilege, to formally release you from nearly all conditions of your parole. It is now up to the Blitz Team to keep you in check, and to report anything that could be termed suspicious and or deceptive on your part."
Vega cried happily as he hugged his mother, while the rest of the team were ecstatic. The officer held up an electronic key card.
"Would you mind lifting your foot up? I would remove that bracelet now, but my joints aren't what they used to be…"
Smiling sweetly, Sarah stood up before lifting her right foot onto the seat. She pulled her skirt up enough so that he had clear access to the tracker anklet. As the officer disarmed and removed it, she felt her eyes drawn up. She noticed that Leon was watching her leg, until he noticed her looking at him. He flushed a nice shade of red.
"Since Vega Obscura was never charged with any form of criminal actions," The commissioner stated. "He is free to join the Blitz team, since there is no doubt about his skills…" everyone laughed happily at that. "… I assume you want the Berserker Fury too?" Vega nodded eagerly.
The commissioner laughed. "Well, you'll have it. The only conditions we impose are: One, that the Fury's charged particle cannon be either downgraded, or replaced. Such weaponry is still illegal in official zoid battles, purely for their destructive potential." No laughed at that. They could all remember Vega using the Fury's cannon to almost completely destroy a falling Judge Satellite that would have landed on top of them had he not acted.
"Two, you'll be held responsible if it gets out of control again. Do you agree to these terms?" Vega nodded again, sombrely.
"Good, the Fury will be transported to you within the next couple of days. I wish you all the best in Class S. I expect we'll be hearing more about the new and improved Blitz Team very soon."
For Sarah, it was one of the happiest moments of her life.
Outside the offices, the newly expanded team congratulated each other.
"Well, that went well!" Bit crowed.
"Hmm, too well…" Stoller stared at the building, suspicions running though his head.
"Come on Stroller, you worry too much." Pierce chided him.
"Either way, we've still got a lot to do." Leon put in before Stoller could respond. "We need to see if the Hover Cargo is complete, and the Base is going to need an overhaul, including extra hanger space."
"We could hire a temporary hanger for both aerial zoids," Sarah suggested. "That should leave enough room in the current hanger for the other zoids. I'd suggest the Elephander be the one placed in the centre of the hanger: It's about the only place it'd fit."
"Good idea. We could kip in the Hover Cargo – if it's ready – until the bases overhaul was complete." Bit threw into the discussion.
"We still haven't decided how we're going to have the base remodelled." Leena pointed out.
"Well, let's see if the Hover Cargo is ready first, then we can all sit down and work out what we'll need." Leon answered her.
X-X-X-X-X-X
The man strode down the long dark corridor, towards the central bay of his hidden base. Helios had assembled a strike force for the attack on the Blitz Team, and the Dark Lord wished to see it before it was launched.
Stepping around a crumbling wall that protruded into the hall, he mused on his location. 'No one would have ever thought I would make my new base here, right under my greatest defeat.' He kicked the small chunk of wall as he passed.
Every now and again the corridor opened up, allowing a look into the tomb of the buried city. As he walked along the path, he looked out across the ruined skyscrapers, towards the centre of the once great city. He could just see the place, where a great monument had stood, a vaguely female figure in a squared off alcove, cables thicker than tree trucks linking Her and the alcove. The whole structure had had a bluish tinge, and had radiated power for thousands of years.
But since before Helios had begun to build his base nearby the statue had vanished, gone without a trace, leaving an empty alcove. Now the city that had been built around her, for her, stood empty and dull. In truth it had been empty of life for thousands of years even before it had remerged from the ground at his moment of glory. But She had brought a spark of life that could not have been discounted. With Her here, the city was never truly dead.
Now it stood dead, as dead as its builders. Crumbling, decaying, and breaking down into rubble and ruins, in a few hundred years time there would be nothing left.
Chuckling to himself, the man stepped back into the dark corridor. 'In a few months time, there wouldn't be anyone left to attempt to find this disgrace.'
"Something amuses you Dark Lord?"
He grimaced. He'd forgotten that Helios had cameras, mikes, speakers and sensors along every single stretch of corridor and tunnel. Nothing happened within his base that he didn't know about.
"Just thinking that soon, we will complete our life's work…"
"And the first blow will land within a few days."
"Yes…" The man's face formed into an evil grin as he contemplated the fate of the remaining bits from his past.
Stepping though a door, he stopped at the edge of a rocky ledge. There was no safety rail, but he had no fear, his toes protruding just over the edge. He stared down in to the hanger he had entered, looking over the force Helios had assembled.
The bulk of the force was made of Rev Raptors.He could see sixteen of the small biped zoids, in four groups of four. Each looked fairly standard, though the eyes had shifted tone, from green to purple. It was an odd contrast to their mostly red metal skin. Their silver scythe blades on their backs were folded back, and the heads were brought back on their necks.
With each group of Rev Raptors, a solitary Command Wolf stood. The Backdraft had repainted these ones in a dark grey tone, but apart from that they seemed pretty standard. The only odd thing was that the normally orange canopy had shifted tone, turning darker, more reddish.
Near the rear of the force two hulking Dibisons stood, their back mounted arrays of cannons augmented by four separate small Vulcan cannons; two on the cheeks, the others either side of the main gunnery set. Like the Command Wolves, their eyes had a red shift.
Standing front and centre though was a set of constructs that no zoidian would ever have made. Each was made of boxy sections, which gave them a tough, no-nonsense feel to them. They stood on two thick, clearly mechanical legs with four joints apiece, and they had no arms as such: They were walking turrets. Their skins were bare metal, and were layered with armour.
Placed between the groups of zoids, four identical machines surrounded a fifth. It truly was a boxy construct, basically a flattened cube with a truncated pyramid on each face. The front was defined by a single purple eye blazing from the end of one of the pyramids. The sloping faces above and below were the fronts of missile pods. The two side 'arms' had weapons attached above, below and on the outside faces. The top 'arm' however carried a single large tube on top, blazon with nuclear warning symbols. It's heavy, three toed feet and massive legs held it upright.
Its escorts had longer, thinner legs, with almost dainty feet. The 'body' was built more like a man's, with a thick, well armoured 'chest' that protruded ahead of the 'head' housing the single eye. On both sides thick spars shot out where arms would be, supporting two large pods that rose up higher than the head and two smaller ones that hung below the spars. The front faces of both pods were studded with missile tubes. The spars ended in mounting points for three separate weapons.
But the most impressive beast stood ahead of them all. It was a nightmare made of metal, massing at least as much as a Gojulas. At its core sat another hexangular box, with missile pods and two smaller boxes each side. From those two spars shot out, looking relatively thin and weak, but the man knew that they were tough, almost pure armour. The spars split part way along their length, and at the ends each mounted a ranged weapon. A total of eight weapons, an even mix of high-energy lasers and rotary ballistic cannons hung there, while another five weapons where attached directly to the beasts body. Two of those weapons were large, brutal looking things consisting of four blades mounted in the corners of a square, all pointing the same way. The whole construct looked frail compared to many zoids, but he had seen the things in action. Even before Helios had begun to upgrade them with zoid technology, these machines had been rugged and lethal, fighting all the way till they were completely destroyed. Just standing there, immobile, it exuded an air of menace, of lethal intent.
"The initial wave will be made by the zoid elements. Each element of four Rev Raptors led by a Command Wolf will concentrate fire on a single Blitz Team zoid." Helios explained. "The two Dibisons will provide fire support, and will engage their aerial zoid with their secondary armament."
"And the others? They are yours?"
"Correct. I had to modify an old Headhunter to carry the weapon; no zoid would accept such a weapon." As Helios spoke its name, the machine carrying the nuke seemed to stand up straighter.
"The four Diablos will provide close escort, all the way to the end." The man nodded. If the Blitz figured out what was happening, then the one carrying the bomb would need help.
"And the last one?"
"The Cerberus?" The nightmarish machine tilted its body back, so it stared up at him. Despite being nothing more than a collection of metal parts, wiring and circuits, that single sensor eye blazed with a hatred of anything remotely human. "It is in overall command, fitted with command element protocols, and will coordinate the assault. If the Diablo units should fall, it will provide the close escort instead. If the weapon fails to go off…"
"Don't you mean if the Blitz stops the Headhunter?"
"No. The warhead is a sixty-megaton thermonuclear device. Anything within ten miles of the weapon will be obliterated. The blast and heat wave will destroy anything within thirty. Projecting 100 fatalities within fifty miles, either from the blast itself, or radiation poisoning. For every mile further away from ground zero, the fatality rating drops one percent. If the Headhunters AI is terminated before it reaches the target coordinates, the weapon will detonate. It also has a backup timer in case it is removed from the Headhunter by force."
The man nodded a smile on his face. Such loss of life would shock the world, just as he intended.
"If the weapon fails, the Cerberus and its remaining units will attempt to destroy the Blitz Team in the traditional manner. Targeting first any and all zoids, then any people it senses, then the base itself. After the Blitz Team is totally destroyed, it will turn its guns on the wreckage of my other units, to ensure that nothing remains for the ZBC to find."
"And the zoids under your control?" He eyed the array of ballistic and energy weapons on the Cerberus machine.
"The Cerberus will ensure that nothing remains that will give them a clue that I exist. If anything approaches before it has completed its work, the Cerberus will enact its overriding order, the same as for on the approach to the Blitz Base."
The man grinned, guessing what the order was. "And that order is?" Helios's reply had a firm air of finality.
"No witnesses."
Irvine: (gulp)
Zeke: Oh oh...
DR: A storms heading right for the Blitz... Till next time!