DR: I am so stupid...
Zeke: 0-0 How so?
DR: I made a couple of very stupid errors in this fic...
O'Neill: Such as?
DR: Well for one, I got Naomi's eye colour wrong (I said brown, but it's actually a dark reddish-purple), and I assumed that Sarah's hair was the same as Resse's (the only Zoids anime that's been on lately has been CC/GF). It's not, her hair's really a dark blue (makes sense when you think about it, as it's what you would get if you blended Raven's dark locks and Resse's bright blue strands) So now I've got to go through the and ensure that I've corrected all the references. (sighs)
Zeke: With that many words, that's going to take a while...
DR: Yea. Well, I suppose dark-blue hair can still 'shimmer', but 'vibrant' is not a word you could use to describe that colour...
Shadow: You really are a sap for love aren't you?
DR: I know, hopeless romantic. Anyway, Brad and Leon both pop one of 'those' questions, Jamie and Pierce get... closer, and you Bit/Leena fans will like the end of their scene (though I expect you'll get ready to throw stuff at me part way through!) Also, Vega meets a legend from the really ancient times!
Chapter 45: Proposals & Bonding
"It's so peaceful up here…"
Brad smiled at Naomi's comment. The pair of them were sat on a bench part way up the mountainside above the city. The view was breath taking from up there. Beneath them both was the plateau, and beyond that was the city itself, spread out in concentric rings. Then there was the open plain, green and fertile, with threads of blue interwoven though it. The gleam of metals from within the city turned it into a collection of jewels and ornaments. Faintly the sounds of running water could be heard; any other sound was smothered by it.
Around them plant life grew strong and vibrant. A willow gave them shade from the sun, the gentle breeze making the leaves rustle quietly. The mountain path had been gentle, winding back and forth. Every now and again the gravel path was reinforced with wooden sleepers, while alongside a riot of plants grew.
"I almost wish we could take a part of this place home with us…" She sighed, leaning into his shoulder.
Brad had to agree, there was something about this place that stilled his soul. He wanted nothing more than to remain there, Naomi at his side. The two of them sat together with their arms round each other. It was the perfect place for him to do what he needed to do.
"About that Na', going home that is…" He began. She twisted her head to look up at him. "I think we're going to need make a small adjustment in our lives…"
"What are you saying?" Worry began to drip into her gut.
"Well, I think it would look better if, when we return home, the door to our room says 'Mr and Mrs Hunter', wouldn't you think so?" Bard asked her smiling.
Naomi's jaw dropped back onto his shoulder. In truth she had been wondering if he was ever going to propose, but she had never expected it to be so soon…
"Brad, you sure? I mean you do have your reputation…" He silenced her with one finger.
"Na', I've been wrestling with this for a while now. But I realised that this…" He gentle slipped his hand from her shoulder to the side of her belly. "…Is what I want, besides you with me. And what kind of image would I be sending out if I didn't marry you?" She smiled with him.
"Not a good one…"
"Exactly…" He whispered as they kissed a slow, passionate kiss. Eyes closed, they clung to each other, determined to never let anything come between them.
"Brad…" She whispered when they parted for air. "Are we going to tell the others?"
"Of course." He said gently, reaching his right hand back to his neck. "I'm afraid I don't have a ring at the moment…" he told her apologetically as he lifted his necklace from around his head. "…But I do have this."
Naomi's eyes widened in shock his gesture of respect. "Brad… that is your family heirloom! It belongs round your neck!" He had told her the secret behind his necklace. Just like the one Leena had recently inherited, his too went all the way back to Earth, from a region that had been called North America. It was a trinket of the native tribal people who had lived there, centuries ago.
"It will go where I want it to go." He told her as he slipped it over her head. He gently lifted her hair out from underneath it as it settled down around her neck. Since it was made for him, the main pendent hung a little lower on her, placed right over her heart. She gently lifted her hand to press down on it, feeling the smooth warm rock though her shirt against her skin.
"Brad, I… don't know what to say…"
"How about 'Yes'?" He smirked as he lowered his head again for another kiss. Just before their lips met, she whispered her answer.
"Oh god yes…" His lips on hers stopped anything else she was going to say…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Jamie and Pierce wandered though Christian's mansion home. He had given them all free rein to wander the city, and everyone had split up. Bit and Leena had yet to be seen, while Brad and Naomi had decided to take a walk up the mountainside. Leon, Sarah, Stoller, Steve and Vega had headed down to the lower levels of the city. Vega and Steve had decided to look in the huge building they had seen on the fifth level, which Christian had told them was a museum. Leon and Sarah had decided to go their own way, while Stoller had tagged along with Steve and Vega.
Meanwhile Jamie and Pierce had wished to see again those great cats. They had followed Samantha back to their home. Both huge cats had greeted them all happily, and the five of them had spent an enjoyable time together. The two cats had proved to be just as powerful as their sleek bodies had suggested, but oh, the feeling of their coats! Pierce had never felt anything so silky soft before!
After a long enjoyable romp, the two of them had asked if they could explore the mansion themselves for a bit. Samantha had waved them off, telling them to help themselves. And so the pair of flyers wandered though the home, marvelling at everything. The whole building had an air of space and comfort, but also was practical and lived in. Ornaments and pictures hung on the walls, depicting scenes and objects that neither of them could recognise. They found a gallery filled with artwork that started off quite amateurish when compared to the works in the main rooms, but quickly the quality improved. They soon realised that they were looking at the works done by Christian and Susan themselves.
As the two of them explored more, they drifted closer together, until they were practically holding hands. When they touched it caused them both to jump. They smiled together like little children as they then gripped the other's hand.
Neither of them knew when the mutual attraction between them had truly started, but they both knew it. And they both knew about how the other felt. Pierce guessed her feelings stemmed from him saving her life, while Jamie felt that maybe he found in Pierce someone who could replace his long lost mother. She had died shortly after he had been born, so he had never had that close female figure. His father and his sister had raised him, but Jamie had never really gotten close to his aunt.
So the two of them felt something far more than companionship for the other, but neither felt that it had yet crystallised into love. They both knew there were no hurdles in their paths should they decide to head down such a road, but neither one had made a move yet.
They stepped though a doorway into a two-floored room. The central section of the upper floor was cut away, allowing a view of the floor below. They could see a slightly raised area below, marked by pale matting. There were trestle tables and racks along the walls, holding a frighteningly large number of sharp looking bladed weapons.
"What do you think this is for?" She whispered to him.
"I don't know…" He began, but he was interrupted by the sound of a door opening on the floor below. "…But I think we're about to find out."
On the floor below they watched as Christian and Susan walked to the centre of the matting. They had both changed into simple tunics and pants, his deep blue like his zoid, hers a wine coloured red. Together they stopped and slowly looked round the collection. Part way round she whispered something in his ear. Nodding he stepped away to one of the trestle tables. From the surface he picked up a pair of sheathed swords before returning to her. Passing one to her, he stepped back as she did the same. They drew their blades together, revealing long, slim, slightly curved swords, which gleamed in the gentle overhead lights. Tossing the sheaths aside, they both took up an on-guard pose.
For a long moment their stood like that, watching the other. Jamie noticed that they stood almost like a mirror to each other, holding their swords in opposite hands, her right, his left.
Pierce leaned down again to whisper to him. "What are they waiting for?"
Even as she finished speaking the two below moved forwards as one. They became a blur of motion, the ringing of steel on steel resounding in the air. They both swung and parried seamlessly, a constant flow. Twirling, swinging high and low, dancing back and forth, each sweep of a blade stopped with only a few inches to spare. The shining steel blended with the swirling blue and red cloth.
To Jamie and Pierce watching from above, it was like watching art being formed. Both combatants danced together with grace and passion, and neither appeared to be holding back. "No wonder they could dance so well." Jamie muttered. "They do this in their spare time…" Pierce didn't comment, for she had never seen such a display of skill in her life. 'If they're as good zoid pilots as they are swordsman,' she thought 'Then nothing could stand before them.' It was breath taking how effortlessly they both moved. The amount of trust the two of placed in the other was made clear when his blade sliced into the floor after being deflected by hers. At first Pierce thought his blade must have just missed, but as they moved away the patch of matting folded up, showing a clear slit in the material. She gasped in shock. 'His blade cut through that stuff without slowing down! Those weapons must be razor sharp! If they connect with flesh…' It was not hard to imagine whole arms being sliced off in one swoop.
As they watched the two continue to spar, their arms began to creep round each other. Neither Jamie or Pierce took their eyes from the scene below, but they gradually moved closer together, until they were pressed side to side, their arms round the others waist.
After almost half an hour, the two suddenly stopped, face to face. They both panted heavily, their chests heaving. Jamie didn't notice why at first they had stopped, but then he noticed the position of their weapons. Both blades were at the others neck, inside their guard. They had both stopped the fatal swing with only fractions of an inch to spare. For a long moment the two stood like that, staring into each other's eyes. Slowly Christian moved his blade away, using his arm to drag hers away too, as his free right arm snaked round her waist. She reciprocated the motion as he drew her closer to him. Their lips met in a kiss as they both let the blades fall to the floor, forgotten.
Pierce continued to watch them both continue to remain locked at the mouth as Jamie slowly turned towards her. She only turned to face him when she felt his free hand cup her cheek and pull her round and down. Over the last few months Jamie had grown by quite a bit. His height had gone up several inches and he had filled out quite a bit. In fact he was looking more and more like his father, who was built like a brick outhouse. Pierce still towered over him, but the gap between had narrowed, since his eyes were now level with her shoulder.
As they stared into each other's eyes, they both realised that it was time to take that next step…
With a sudden intake of breath she dropped her head down to kiss him firmly. Quickly their arms wrapped round each other as they both fell into the kiss…
X-X-X-X-X-X
In the darkened cockpit of the huge dragon zoid, Bit sat as calmly as he could besides Leena, holding her hand in his. With his free hand he periodically wiped the sweat from her brow, all the while watching her eyes shift back and forth underneath her eyelids. Leena muttered words almost continually, and every now and again she would jerk a little. Clearly things were happening in her head, and Bit wished with all his heart that he could help her. But all he could do was hold her hand, pray that she would return safely, and gently talk to her.
"Leena my dear, please come back to me. I only just found you again. I don't think I could survive you going again…"
He felt a noise beneath his feet, a deep-throated rumble coming from the zoid. Mnementh had been making such sounds every now and again…
"You're not worthless…" Leena gasped a little louder than before. Bit looked at her in shock, but then realised she was not talking to him, but she was verbalising her thoughts in this effort.
"I never realised… You were great…" Another trickle of sweat ran down her forehead as her eyes shifted. "I never believed zoids were alive…" Her tone was hurt, full of grief.
"I… sold you since I knew it would take months for you to recover… I needed a zoid to fight in, do you understand?" She jerked her arm again, almost tearing her hand out of Bits. Another rumble from below resounded.
"You were both the best… I'm… sorry. I want… to make it up…" her voice trailed off, going so quiet that Bit could barely hear her. After a long moment of silence, Bit began to speak again.
"Leena, please say something. I want to help you, but I don't know how…" His voice trailed off, as her eyes seemed to still.
"Yes…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Yes, that's it…" A note of wonder had entered her voice. Bit began to feel joy enter him. It appeared that the process had worked!
"Beautiful…" she whispered once more before slumping back in her seat. Bit sat there, waiting for her to awake. After several minutes and she still hadn't awoken, Bit began to get worried.
"Leena? Come on Leena, wake up!" panic began to enter his voice. "Come on Leena, wake up! I need you, now more than ever!" She remained unresponsive. She didn't appear to be breathing…
Tears began to form in Bits eyes. 'No! She can't have gone! They told me they would protect her! Not like this!' Bit gripped her still hand in his, willing her to open her eyes. Still nothing happened. Bit began to break down, and slowly dropped his head. As her lifted her hand to his face, he didn't notice her slight breathing. As he kissed her knuckle, her eyelids flickered.
Leena was slowly returning to consciousness, her head aching. Walking though the mists again, she held her head in her hands.
…I'm sorry, that was more powerful than even I thought it was going to be… Mnementh walked besides her. Iycen had been left behind with the zoids minds, the three of them becoming one. The great dragon zoid seemed to be sluggish, his wings held not as tightly upright as normal.
'It's okay…' Leena told him. 'I'll be alright…' she paused as the zoid headed off from her, disappearing into the mists. 'Hey, where are you going?' She took a few steps towards him…
…I'm returning to my own form… Mnementh's voice was faint, his image wavering. ...As must you. Bit Cloud is worried…
'BIT!' Leena suddenly remembered him. Reaching out, she seemed to grab a rope out of nowhere, and began to climb upwards. Slowly her vision faded…
"Leena, I love you…" Bit managed to say, before he couldn't take it anymore. 'She's dead!' He lowered his head to her still lap and cried.
She had began to feel her body again, the stiffness in her backside telling her how long she had been sitting there, when Leena heard Bits words. Her heart leapt as he began to cry. 'He's in love with me!' She forced her eyes open, despite them being gummed up. With protesting muscles, she looked down at his head. She could feel his tears soaking though her gown from the healing house to her thighs underneath.
'Oh Bit…' She thought, tears forming in her own eyes as she gentle placed her free hand on his head. Gently she ruffled his blond hair, before gently pulling his head up. His eyes shot open when he saw her face.
"Leena! You're alive!"
"Of course I am," she croaked back. Her throat was as dry as the desert. "They protected me…" She was cut off by Bit throwing his arms round her.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Underneath the thin layer of anger in his voice was very real and deep passion and longing. Leena hugged him back just as tightly, one hand snaking up to hold the back of his head. They sat like that for several minutes, clinging to each other.
"I thought I'd lost you forever…" he gasped.
"Hush…" She whispered. "I'm not going anywhere without you…" Leena paused for a second, before deciding to push forward. "…My love…" Bit drew his head back to look her in the eye.
"Oh Leena…" he whispered as he leaned forwards again, but this time he kissed her. The two of them slowly slid down the seats, until they were laid out along them, Leena half below him. They remained locked together at the mouth the whole time, drinking deeper of each others rising passions.
Slowly Bit began to reach down her body, looking for the clasp that held the gown closed. She too was reaching for the fasteners of his clothing. They took a moment to look into each other's eyes, catch their breaths, and savour the moment.
Bit was the first to break the silence. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she breathed huskily, just before their lips met again. As they began to shed each other's clothing, neither turned a thought to where they were…
Mnementh was acutely aware of where they were. He watched the two of them stoke each other's passions. …Good thing Chris made sure that those seat covers could be removed… He chuckled to himself before directing his attention outwards, shutting down all his internal sensors and locking the canopy controls. The two of them deserved some time alone now. He instead focused on the growing zoid in the pool just before his snout. …Grow well, knowing that your mistress has at last found her happiness…
X-X-X-X-X-X
On the floor of the sword room, Christian and Susan parted for air. "Chris?" Susan whispered as she settled her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"Did you know we were watched?"
"Oh yes. Pierce's hair doesn't really hide well at all."
"Well, take a look now."
Slowly the two of them turned so that he could look over his shoulder. On the upper floor they watched Pierce and Jamie locked together at the mouth, their eyes closed tightly.
"I wondered when they'd get together…"
"That's how many couples in this team now? Three?"
"Four. Don't forget Bit and Leena dear."
Susan looked at him questionably. "I thought she was still cut up about her zoid and near death experience?"
"Not the last time I saw her." Christian slowly reached out with his mind. 'Mnementh, you there old buddy?'
…I am always here…
'How's the union going?'
…Which one? The zoids are well on their way… The mental equivalent of a chuckle came across loud and clear. …As for Leena and Bit… Mnementh showed Christian the last scene he had seen before withdrawing.
'Ah, I see.' Christian's face flushed slightly, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Susan. 'You okay with them doing that?'
…Considering you've done 'It' enough like that, with either Susan or Samantha… Christian's flushed redder.
"What is he saying?" Susan whispered. Christian pulled himself back from the mental contact.
"Bit and Leena are… getting real close." He told her. "On the back seats." He didn't need to elaborate.
"Ah… I remember those times…" She cooed.
"Let's take this somewhere else…" Christian said, leading her away from the blade room. "And leave our two love birds alone for bit."
"What about the swords?"
"We can pick them up later…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
Slowly Steve, Stoller and Vega walked out of the Museum, each awed with what they had seen. "We have got to bring the whole team down here." Steve said, wonder in his voice. "And we have to see all the sections next time…"
Stoller and Vega nodded in agreement. When they had entered the surprisingly small main hall, they had been confronted by three arched entrances, one each side and the third straight-ahead. Vega had been the first to see the small plaque before them. It showed that the museum was divided into three parts, each detailing one topic. The three of them decided to each try a separate section, and then meet up again at the main entrance later. Vega had taken the hall titled 'Natural History of Earth', while Steve had rushed towards the hall concerning Zoids and the Ancient Zoidians, leaving 'The History of Mankind' for Stoller.
For all three it had been a real eye opener. Vega had found himself awed at the huge bones of creatures that had lived millions of years ago on Earth, and which exactly matched many zoid patterns. A footnote before the exhibits did say that the bones were actually replicas, but none the less the effect was everything that was needed. Vega spent hours wandering though the displays, amazed at the huge range of life that had lived on Earth, before and during man.
But the section he lingered the most in was the section on dinosaurs. In particular he stood before the display on possibly the most famous of them all – Tyrannosaurus Rex. As he looked up at the long dead beasts' skull, he realised why Zoid Eve had chosen such a creature as the model for her most powerful servants. Even the bare bones showed the raw power and brutal nature of the beast, and he gazed in awe at the titan. The secondary displays, such as how the creature might have looked in life, demonstrations of how powerful the jaws really were and such like, thrilled him almost as much. He even spent a little money to purchase a disk packed with all the information there was about this famous creature.
Steve in the meanwhile was goggle-eyed in amazement as he wandered the zoids section. There he learned about types of zoids he had never heard about, and he learned more about the ancient Zoidians in those few hours than he had ever learned in his entire life.
Stoller however had come face to face with the dark side of humanity. The displays ran in a great circle, starting from the oldest known records and traces right the way round though almost fifty thousand years of evolution and history. And for the most part it was not pleasant. It was all there, the terrible atrocities and cruelty that had been mankind's mark on the Earth. The insanity of fundamentalist religion, the horrible cycle of corruption that ran hand in hand with freedom-based governments. The terrible wars that had shaken the world, and the cost, etched there in hard unforgiving stone, so that all future generations could see the cost, and try to work together for peace. Underneath that black stone inscription, an extra line had been added.
'May we all learn from the mistakes of the past…'
But beneath the bloodshed and destruction, he could see that man had also done great deeds. Monuments of skill and daring, tales of heroes that rang true even all those years later. The latter displays showed how man had began to grow up and start to right the terrible wrongs it had done, but there was still a long way to go yet.
As they exited the building, the setting sun shone into their eyes, monetarily blinding them. "I think it's time we headed back." Vega said. Despite his youth and the excitement he had felt, tiredness hung in his voice.
"Yes, I think we've had enough sightseeing for one day." Steve commented as they walked back towards the ramp that led to the upper level. He noticed now that there were still a number of small shops on this level, though these tended to be more souvenir shops rather than the type needed day to day by people. For instance there was a jewellery store…
Suddenly he noticed his son Leon walking down the street on the other side. He was about to call out, when Leon stepped into the jewellery store he had noted. 'Now why would he need to…' Steve smiled as he remembered the one time he had needed to pay a visit to just such a store…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Some time later on one of the lower levels, Leon and Sarah sat together at one of the open-air restaurants. They had slipped away after the council meeting to explore the city, much like everyone else. On foot it was even more impressive than they had thought. The city seemed to radiant life and goodwill. Now they sat together, having the first private meal they had had in almost a week.
"It's a shame that in few days this city will be a battleground." She murmured quietly.
"Only if they get within the city walls, and somehow with their own forces, Van and Raven plus us and whoever else comes, I don't think Hiltz has a chance."
"I guess…" She still looked downcast.
Leon sat there, watching her. 'God she looks beautiful this evening.' For this evening meal out, Sarah had changed into a long dress with sweeping sleeves. The combination of a tight waist with a deep neckline – and an even deeper drop over her back – conspired to show off her splendid figure. Since she had joined the team she had begun to let her hair grow longer, till it now was down to her hips. She had lessened the use of her harsh blue eye shadow, and had begun to experiment with other colour lipstick. Right now she was using a paler, softer blue eye shadow, without any lipstick at all.
Now in the fading evening light, she seemed radiant. During their meal Leon had seen many a head turn to regard her. And it was not just men, but also women, and even a couple of organoids. Leon wasn't sure what was on the minds of the organoids, but frankly he didn't care. The sleeves of her dress were partially transparent, and the candles that had been lit gave her skin a warm glow. 'Who would have thought that Sarah Obscura could become such a vision?' So lovely was she that Leon didn't realise she was speaking to him for a couple of seconds.
"Huh, what?"
She rolled her eyes. Sarah cared deeply for Leon, but sometimes he proved he was his father's son. So far he had only ever zoned out when looking at her, rather than a zoid model or an actual zoid, and she found that deeply flattering.
"Never mind."
They continued to sit there for who knows how long, drinking in the feelings of peace and serenity that permutated the city. Leon though was doing more drinking than her, since he needed a boost right now. He already had the vital item needed for what he intended to do. He had slipped out earlier to get it from the store he had seen while they had been walking together. Now all he needed was the courage.
He drained his glass before gently setting it on the table. "Sarah?" he said gently, reaching into his pocket.
"Yes?" she turned back to him, one eyebrow raised. In another time such a look would have been filled with ice, but for him it was warm and inviting.
"I well… I wish to ask you something…" He stammered, pulling out what he sought.
"What?" Sarah smiled in amusement. Her face rapidly shifted to shock and awe when he placed a small velvet box on the table between them both. The lid was open, and inside was a gleaming ring.
"Marry me?" He almost whispered.
Sarah's mind seemed to shut down for a second, her eyes taken in by the incredible ring. The main band was silver, with threads of bronze worked into it and encasing the stones. Central to the collection was a smooth round sapphire, bracketed by two hematite stones carved into the form of rounded arrows. Her ears picked up his question however, and slowly she brought her eyes up to look at him. His face was completely open, that of an eager puppy. It took her a minute to get her brain restarted enough for her to answer him.
"Yes…"
Leon's heart went over both moons when she uttered that single word. With tears of joy running down his cheeks, he slipped out of his chair to kneel before her. Plucking the ring from its case, he extended his hand. With tears beginning to run down her face, Sarah gave him her hand. As he slid the ring over her finger, neither of them noticed that the entire restaurant had stopped to watch them both. When they embraced, everyone else broke down into gentle applause.
Mooybay: (sniffles) God, that's so romantic...
Fiona: (looks ready to cry) Yes it is...
Carter: (Already has tears on face) I wish that would happen to me...
DR: Irvine, Van, Jack! Your ladies need some comforting!
Shadow: I'm not hanging around! I can't stand crying women! (stalks out)
DR: Told you all it was going to be one of those tear jerking chapters. And next time, things heat up, as it's the morning afterwards...