DR: What's really surprising about these two chapters (the last one and this one) is that these cover my original idea for this story from three years ago, and the plot line for this bit is virtually unchanged!
Van: Man, That's great!
DR: I'm not so sure, considering what happens...
Van: Oh, right.
DR: Okay, from now on things are going to get a little off the wall. So bear with me...
Chapter 34: Avenging Angel of Fire
The pilot of the Gojulas, Raymond, smiled to himself as he lined up the shot on the downed Gunsniper of Leena Toros. Ever since the 'Dark Lord' had arrive on the scene and offered up a bounty on the heads of the Blitz Team, splinters of the old Backdraft had flocked to him. With these new combat units more powerful than any zoid the ZBC could field, these hardened felons were itching to make the Blitz pay from bringing down the Backdraft.
Raymond had been a rising star, kicking every Class B team he encountered into the dirt. After the Royal Cup, he would have been busting up Class A teams.
The Blitz's surprising defeat of the Backdraft super zoid, the Berserker Fury, and Sarah Obscura's defection had destroyed the Backdraft. Raymond suspected that her and Vega's defection had been arranged during that fight. Vega could not have been beaten; he must have thrown the fight! And the only way the ZBC could have found their base so quickly was if Sarah had TOLD them were they were.
And now she and Vega, along with those other weak willed fools Stoller and Pierce had joined the Blitz Team! Raymond had a score to settle with them all. The 'Dark Lord' was offering a bounty to those who could prove that they had killed one of the Blitz Team that was enough to cause all bounty hunters to start drooling. Their heads were the best form of evidence, but conclusive proof would be enough.
'And now I have Leena Toros, the second highest one on that list in my sights!' He cackled to himself as he set his sights on her zoids exposed core. Once he finished off her zoid, he'd go down to see if she survived.
'Almost a shame to kill her though.' Raymond eyed the injured young woman. 'Nice piece of ass there…'
He decided to allow the gun cameras a few more seconds to record the moment, while he allowed himself to dream about undressing her…
A sudden detonation overhead caused him to look up. A raging fireball expanding in the air, while small chunks of metal flew out of it. All that remained of his Land-Skimmer. A rapidly fading contrail led off into the distance…
Squinting, Raymond could just make out an airborne shape. No way a zoid could shoot a missile that far away without warning! Even as he watched, the shape grew larger…
Quickly cancelling his target lock on the ruined Gunsniper, he snapped orders to his units. "Prepare to engage hostile zoid! Set for anti-air operations!"
A chorus of electronic 'Affirmatives' came back, but Raymond didn't hear them. He had achieved enough of a lock onto the incoming zoid to get a magnified look at it. And what he saw in the zoom window terrified him. 'Holy mother of…'
The aerial zoid approaching was unlike anything he had ever seen, but he was having trouble making out details. A rounded body, with two massively long, but almost delicate looking wings spread out each side. Under the first third of each wing was a rack of missiles. Just beyond them the wing had a bugle, and from beneath each bugle spat a hail of burning blue laser darts.
The zoid roared in too fast for him to track, and he quickly reset his display. Flashes of light heralded the launch of a swarm of missiles that screamed in faster than any missile he had ever seen. Twelve contrails led straight to one of his Diablos. The massively armoured machine was rocked back on its legs as the missiles punched though its shield. Laser bolts torn through the machine, and with a flash it exploded in a geyser of fire. The second was clearly blinded by the hail of bolts striking its shield, as its return fire was way off target.
Raymond was firing too, with exactly the same effect. The oncoming zoid came screaming in, and he began to realise just how big this thing was! It rocketed over the old Ramses Cybrids, almost clipping them with dangling golden claws. One limb shot out and the three articulated toes latched around the second Diablo. The massive zoid appeared to shift, before a stunning impact rang on the side of Raymond's Gojulas, knocking the towering zoid over. As he fell over, Raymond watched as a long tail rushed past his view as the attacking zoid took to the air again.
A rush of anger coursed though his veins, then fear. The other pilot had knocked his mighty zoid, a Gojulas no less, over with his zoids tail!
As he lay there, he watched as the other zoid made another impossible turn before settling down on a ridge over looking the valley they were in. At last Raymond got a good look at the beast.
He wished he hadn't.
The Diablo kicked and fired of the odd shot, clearly unable to understand the simple fact that the attacking zoid was holding it in one forepaw! The size difference was inconceivable! Compared to the zoid, the Diablo was nothing more than a large toy figure, or a human to a Rev Raptor!
But the fear in Raymond's belly began to rise as the zoid lowered its head and bit down on the Cybrid! Even as he struggled to right his fallen zoid, Raymond could only watch as the other zoid tore the Cybrid apart. Chunks of armour went flying as the zoid crunched down on the Cybrid.
The Ramses units, without fallible human emotions, now fired on the beast that had just ripped their larger cousin apart. Their laser beams were reflected away by the smooth, curved skin, while the depleted uranium tipped rounds simply bounced off with a shower of sparks. In response the massive zoid dropped the remains of the Diablo, came down onto all four feet, crushing what was left of the Cybrid under a paw, and returned fire. Literally.
A stream of bright yellow-white flame poured out of the zoids opened mouth, tearing across Raymond's vision and engulfing the four Ramses units. The rocks surrounding the area blackened, and waves of shimmering heat rose into the air. One by one the Ramses units faded from Raymond's tactical display, indicating total destruction.
At last the stream of flame cut off, as if the other zoid pilot wished to see what remained. Where the four Ramses had stood before, only four pools of liquid metal surrounding molten lumps marked there had ever been four deadly machines. The rocky ground itself appeared to be molten, warping and giving off steam.
Desperate to avoid the same fate, Raymond armed and fired the supercannons, just as the other zoid gently and gracefully leapt down from the ridge.
One shell struck the zoid in the side of the stomach, between the left legs just as it landed. Raymond was confident that such a hit should have hurt the other zoid, but as the smoke cleared his jaw dropped. All that showed from the hit was a scorch mark! And the Zoid was staring right back at him, glaring with deadly intent…
It quickly, fluidly, shifted round. It raised its haunches and lowered its head. Both massive wings spread out high into a 'V' shape as the jaw hinged open again. Beneath the burning blue eyes, a bluish-purple glow began to form, particles sucked into a growing sphere…
Raymond had seen this attack before, on other zoids. He jerked the controls to turn his zoid away, but before he could completely escape the charged particle cannon fired, sending a burning stream out that clipped off his right supercannon. Kicking the Gojulas into full gear, Raymond prayed as he ran, feeling wet warmth spread though his pants as he did so. A second blast took off his zoids left arm, vaporising it completely. A third gouged a furrow though the cliff to wing the back of his zoids head.
Safely behind the rocks, Raymond poured all speed towards the hidden base. Although his sensors had been completely unable to gather any form of conclusive data, the 'Dark Lord' had to know about this…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Inside the other zoid, the pilot watched the Gojulas go. He felt his zoid relax and power down the charged particle cannon. Looking across towards Leena's Gunsniper, he sucked in his breath.
"I hope we're not too late…" He murmured as he stood up to gather equipment from the back of the cockpit. He pulled the large medical kit from its recess, while pocketing the laser cutter. He shucked off his leather coat, throwing it over his seat.
His zoid lowered its head to allow him to safely jump down. …I'll see to the zoid, you check the pilot…
Quickly the man rushed over to the Gunsniper's cockpit. Looking in, he grimaced. He hit the external emergency canopy release system, but the damaged canopy didn't shift.
"Drat." Pulling out the laser cutter, he began to cut away the wreckage to get inside. The compact laser was staggeringly powerful, slicing though the armour plating quickly and with little smoke. Once he had access, he shut off the cutter and dragged over the med kit. Leena's leg was still impaled, but her arm was the more serious injury. If the bleeding was not stopped soon, she could die from blood loss.
The shards of canopy would have to be removed, but right now the important thing was to prevent the loss of more blood. Quickly he wrapped Leena's arm in soft bandages, putting several layers over it. Next he wrapped some round her head. He tensed as he did this, but she was out cold.
Her blood was sticking her to the seat, so to treat her side wound he'd have to remove her from the zoid. Picking up the cutter again, he began to slice away again. Despite every instinct in his being screaming at him to hurry, he took his time and ensured that he did not rush the job. Any sharp edges or points could cause further injury as he lifted her out, and as he cut closer, he could accidentally cut her as well as the metal.
At last he began to make the final cut, slicing the sheet of armour that had folded in and stabbed her though the thigh. He didn't have the skill or tools to remove something like that: it would have to wait till he got her to a fully equipped hospital.
Just as he finished the cut, he turned his thoughts to his zoid. 'Mnementh… how's the zoid?'
…Emotionally distraught, and fatally wounded… Came the almost soft reply. …I've managed to ease its pain, and done what I could to heal it, but the damage to the core is too severe…
"Damn it!" The man cursed as he lifted Leena Toro's unconscious form from the cockpit. Blood began to seep from her side injuries as he pulled her away from the pilots' seat. "How long before it…"
…Only a few days, maybe a week…
"Is there anything…?"
…No. Not even submergence in a birthing pool can save it now…
The man sat silently for a minute while he wrapped bandages round Leena's body. "At the very least we can make its last few days comfortable, even ease it's passing…"
Silently his zoid dropped its head till the chin rested on the ground, tilted slightly to allow the man an easier time getting Leena in. After gathering up the last few items, he climbed in too.
The massive zoid stepped close, before gingerly picking up the Gunsniper in both forepaws. Crouching on its back feet, the huge zoid spread its great wings as the ion engines primed. With a roar the zoid rocketed into the air, the wings giving one great beat as it became airborne.
Wiping his hands, the man turned his seat around to look at the still unconscious Leena. "Take us home Mnementh."
Silently the massive zoid banked and set course, gently reaching out with his mind to the dying Gunsniper in his forepaws.
The man sat back, thinking things over. 'We'll need to contact her family, and she'll be in no condition to travel…' He sighed. 'They'll have to come to us…'
…You know the council would never allow it…
"Only three of them."
…That is still enough…
The man was quiet for a few seconds, and then smiled slightly. "Oh, I think I can persuade them…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
It had been over thirty-six hours, and Leena had still not returned. The whole team was worried, but none more than Bit.
"I don't get it. Where the hell is she?" He paced back and forth in the main room, alternately running his hands though his hair, and yanking it out with the same. Bit was really worried about her. He knew more than most that Leena could take care of herself, but still… The two of them had been together, off and on, for almost two months now, and they had been the happiest two months of his life.
Leon was just as worried for his little sister, but so far he had managed to keep quiet about it. At least when compared to Bit, who was climbing the walls already. Sarah managed to help him focus his worry into searching though the reports that came.
When Leena had failed to show up that evening, the team had not been duly alarmed. But when she failed to return by the next morning, panic began to set in. Steve had called all the local sheriffs and City Security officers he could think of. None had any reports about Leena. A general call went out, but very little had been sent back. The only tangible trail was a commercial Hammer Kaiser pilot had logged sighting a lone heavily armed Gunsniper heading towards Battam City. All the local police forces were searching along that line of travel, but things were going slowly. The sandstorms had been heaviest in that region, and to an extent were still blowing. If her zoid had gotten caught in one, she could have been blown dozens of miles away. Or could be buried under several dozen feet of hard packed sand.
The search was also confounded since over the last couple of weeks there had been a number of attacks against lone zoids wandering the desert. The zoids in question were always completely destroyed, their pilots killed. The central point for these attacks seemed to be somewhere near the ancient 'Valley of the Rarehurtz', a no go area for almost two hundred years.
Other Class S Teams were keeping an eye out, and the ZBC had devoted a scanner on the Super Satellite to scan the area methodically. But all of that took time… time that Bit Cloud was unwilling to wait.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Later that day a news flash interrupted all programmes.
"We interrupt your regular schedule to bring this breaking news. Within the last hour a battle between the Class S teams 'Rampagers' and the 'Apaches' was interrupted by unknown forces." The newsreader looked positively sick.
"Thirteen of the fifteen zoids present were destroyed, along with both teams' transports. Twenty-five people, including fourteen pilots, were killed in this, viscous attack."
The entire Blitz Team watched in horror as the screen shifted to a field camera panned about the battleground. The slumped remains of the two teams' zoids dotted the landscape, with both the transports making artificial volcanoes. Wreckage was scattered about all over the place, and the judge capsule was a blackened shell. Several of the zoids had already turned to stone, the sigh of death. For most of them it was impossible to tell what they had been before.
"ZBC officials have already made an initial examination of the debris, and have advised that the few remains of the attackers' bear striking resemblance to the remains of the unknown machines that attacked the Blitz Team two months ago." Several of the team threw worried looks at each other. On the screen the view came to rest on the face of the only surviving pilot. His face was blackened, and it was clear that his arm was missing below the elbow, despite the sheet draped over him.
"They took the judge out before we even knew they were there…" He was saying, clearly still in shock. "They… looked like simple boxes on legs, but those eyes… those demonic eyes! They came at us, weapons blazing… We returned fire, but our weapons barely hurt them! They cut us down one by one, shooting so accurately… I would never have believed such shooting was possible if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes! One of them tore James's Command Wolf apart with these lightning like weapons, even after he was out of the fight! We destroyed a couple of them, but they simply overwhelmed us, even though there were only nine of them…" The camera turned away as the pilot was helped into a medical Hammerhead. It came to rest on a long line of black body bags, some only half full. The view returned to the initial newsreader.
"The ZBC has called a halt to all zoid battling until the party responsible for this atrocious attack is found and brought to justice. This attack follows on from a series of attacks against lone zoids wandering the region around the 'Valley of the Rarehurtz', promoting speculation that the source of the attacks could be hidden within the valley itself. The latest count of missing…" Stoller snapped the screen off angrily.
"Good god…" Steve breathed in horror. "Two entire teams destroyed…"
Naomi clung tightly to Brad, fear for her child making her seek comfort wherever possible. Why now, when they were set to bring a new, fragile and defenceless life into being? Why did this have to happen now?
Jamie and Pierce sat side-by-side holding each other's hand. Both had been shocked at the level of destruction. Even Bit had stopped pacing, his jaw hanging from the sight of such carnage.
Vega was the least affected on the outside, but inside he was just as shocked. He'd seen the effects of real war in the Fury's memories, but he'd never thought he'd see them first hand…
None of the team said it, but they were all thinking the same thing: had those who had caused this attack, had caused the other attacks, got Leena?
X-X-X-X-X-X
Back in his private chambers, the Dark Lord sat back and laughed as he watched the news flash. Helios's legions had performed far better than expected. Two entire Class S teams, the cream of the ZBC's might, wiped out one single attack. If a small force could destroy a collection of zoids that outnumber them almost two-to-one with only a couple of losses, how much damage could an army do? Partially when the source of their improvements was leading them?
The Dark Lord raised a glass in a toast to the thought of seeing the world burn, when Helios called.
"Dark One, one of our human pilots' has returned. Without his assigned units."
"Really?" The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow. "What is his explanation?" Helios was quiet for several seconds.
"He reported encountering a lone Blitz Team zoid and gave pursuit. The rest…" Helios paused again. "He refuses to give anymore details unless he sees you personally."
The Dark Lord scowled as he put his drink down. "All right. Send him down."
X-X-X-X-X-X
Raymond trembled with fear as he was escorted down to see the Dark Lord. He was flanked on each side by a mini Cybrid, created to storm cities and hunt down any human survivors. It was based on a successful pattern, the Scarab if Raymond recalled correctly. The central body was a flattened hexagon, with box like extrusions to both sides and above. The outside faces of the side boxes had flat panels that supported two weapons each, a hi-energy laser beneath a multi-barrelled machinegun. The protrusion above that glowering red eye was a micro-rocket pod, powerful enough to bring down any reinforced door.
Raymond shuddered. When he had first seen these things, the eyes had been a baleful blue, with only a hint of red. Now the eyes were almost completely red, and a blood thirsty, hate filled one at that.
Soon the procession reached the Dark Lords private chambers. The two massive wooden doors cranked open, sounding like the gates of hell opening up for Raymond's soul. He was escorted to the centre of the dark chamber, just before the Lord's desk. Behind it, he could barely make out the shape of the Lord himself. He was a black shadow, nothing more.
"Well, what have you to say for yourself, hmm?" the Lord's voice was like ice, in a cultured sort of way. "You had the power of an enhanced Gojulas, two Diablos, and four Ramses units in your force. Plus the Land-Skimmer assigned to your area." The Lord shifted back. "What happened?"
Raymond forced the lump in his throat down. "My Lord, we managed to bring down the Blitz Team zoid, and were about to make the kill, when…"
"What?"
"We were attacked! A zoid monster, something I hope never to see again!" Raymond screeched. "It torn a Diablo apart with ease! The thing was larger than any zoid I've ever seen!"
The Lord shook his head. "Sounds a bit too fanciful to me. Now, what really happened?"
"My Lord!" Raymond fell to his knees. "I swear it's the truth!"
"Oh quit your babbling. I can get my answers from your zoid…" The Lord's arm moved…
…And suddenly the floor opened up underneath Raymond. Acting on instinct, he dived forwards, and managed to get grip on the lip of the floor surrounding the trapdoor.
Hanging there, Raymond heard a chuckling. Looking up, he saw the Dark Lord had stepped round his desk.
"Hmm, I'll have to make this bigger…" He said, as he stepped into the light.
For the second time is his life, Raymond lost control of his bladder as he stared into the disfigured face of a mass murderer... just as the Dark Lords boot landed on his fingers.
Raymond fell down the chute in pitch-blackness. He rebounded off the metal walls several times as he fell, and was vaguely aware of other chutes leading into this one. In the dark, he no idea how far he fell. At last a hazy purple light could be seen at the bottom.
With a thick 'Splat' sound, Raymond landed in a viscous pool. The sting of impact faded, and the thick fluid began to ease his broken and bruised body. He quickly sank beneath the surface, and was surrounded by the dim purple light. The liquid was murky, and he could barely see anything. 'What now? Am I supposed to drown here?'
As if in answer, Raymond got the sense that something lurking in the pool had felt his entrance. A dark shape began to form, and Raymond got the feeling that something massive was coming closer.
Dimly, though the murk, two red points of light emerged. Slowly they got closer, their light revealing an outline of a zoid head. Larger and larger it got, till Raymond was convinced it could not get any larger. Slowly the head turned, bringing one baleful eye to bear. At last it was close enough for Raymond to see details, and them he realised the truth.
He was eye to eye with the devil itself.
The head drew back, turning to face him again. In the dim light he saw the jaws open, and the head rushed forward…
X-X-X-X-X-X
That evening, a message arrived at the Blitz Team base. It had no sender address, no details as to who had sent it.
'Blitz Team, Leena Toros is safe. But she was badly wounded, and her zoid is critically damaged. Please make all speed to these coordinates.' A set of numbers, detailing a point on the world followed. 'You will be escorted the rest of the way in. Will explain everything when we meet face-to-face. Have learned that the leader of the group that is responsible for the recent attacks has placed a price on your heads. Be careful.'
Bit was all for heading out right away, while Stoller was concerned that the message might have been intended to lure the team out to be slaughtered. The others ranged between the two extremes.
"What is the problem here?" Bit yelled at the others after almost an hour of discussion. "These people know what happened to Leena, and most likely have her! What are we waiting for?"
"Bit…" Leon began gently. "I want to find her as much as you, but what if this is a trap?"
"So what?" Bit demanded. "We've fought our way out of traps before. We'll burst thought this one, if it is a trap."
"I have to agree with Bit." Jamie said, surprising everyone. "We're better than we ever where before, and we have experience at killing those things. I say we go."
Slowly the rest of the team nodded in support, all except Stoller, who continued to look doubtful.
Quickly the team sorted themselves out and headed out. The zoids were loaded such that Vega, Bit and Stoller would be the first out in case of trouble. Bit would use the catapult, Vega the rear cargo ramp, Stoller the front.
As the team headed off, none of them knew that they had gained an extra passenger…
DR: And the plot thickens... who sent the message? And just what lies beneath the 'Dark Lord'?
Shadow: I can't wait!