DR: (passes round box of tissues) I hope everyone has access to a cold shower, since this chapter gets a little... hot. Yet another one that pushes the K/M (content rating) boundary (sighs)

O'Neill: Hot? (eyes widen)

DR: I've tried to write the scenes implicitly, leaving the rest to your fevered imaginations!

Zeke: Cool! (grabs popcorn)

DR: Oh, we also get a sneak preview of what is heading their way...

Chapter 46: Morning Passions

Sarah slowly drifted awake the next morning, her mind filled with images from the night before. In sudden fear for her sanity, she looked down at her left hand. The ring Leon had given her was there, gleaming gently in the little light that filtered though the cabins window. Her face crinkled into a joyous smile. 'It wasn't a dream…'

She looked at the man beneath her. Leon remained asleep, his breathing regular and deep. She could feel one of his arms wrapped round her waist… an after effect of their passion. When they had returned to the Hover Cargo, Sarah had at last felt ready to drop her guard completely. Leon had remained the gentleman, letting her set the pace and temper of their lovemaking. Her recollections of her first time were hazy and indistinct, so last night she had felt that she had finally lost her virginity. Together they had entwined within the sheets, he watching her every action and reaction, learning along with her what she liked.

Sarah flushed bright red at the thought that everyone in the Hover Cargo must have known what the two of them had been up too, so loud had she been. But she couldn't help it; at long last she had been able to release all her pent up desires and cravings. She had been surprised at the level of her own passion; she had never really realised just what she had craved. But once started, she couldn't stop.

She felt Leon stir beneath her, and she looked down into his warm eyes. His hair was mussed up and his face was flushed. Sarah's eyes widened when she saw the mark on the side of his neck…

"Oh Leon, I'm sorry…"

"Sorry for what?" She leaned down to kiss him on the forehead.

"Sorry if I hurt you last night…"

"Don't worry about it…" he started to shrug, but halfway though he winced. During the peaks of her passion, Sarah had dug her nails into her back so hard they had broken the skin. "You really had a lot to work out, didn't you?" he teased.

"Leon!" she scolded him, but softened it with a smile. "Here, let me take a look…"

Slowly he sat up with her. Arranged as they were he ended up with his head resting against her cleavage. Remembering their passion filled night he gently stroked her back again. Sarah quickly began to respond. "Oh Leon…" She gasped. She had been meaning to look at his back, but having his head over her heart had fired her up again, and it had been all she could do to hold his head there. As she felt both their passions rise again, she wiggled herself even closer to him. Leon mumbled something from her chest but she couldn't hear him, so reluctantly she drew his head back so she could look him the eye.

"What did you say?" She asked lustily.

"I said, the others can wait a little longer, don't you think?" He said with a grin as they began to move together again. Her answer was to simply drop her mouth onto his again.

Outside their cabin Vega overheard their words, and he flushed red as he smiled with pride. At last his mother was happy, at ease with a man.

Grinning to himself, he quickly slipped into the shower, wondering where Bit and Leena had gotten to…

X-X-X-X-X-X

Steve slowly sat down with his second coffee, passing mugs to both Brad and Naomi. "So Christian, what is it you wish to talk about?"

Steve had been the first one up that morning, followed closely by the resident two coffee lovers. It had taken a few minutes for Steve to pin down what was different about them both this morning, but he had got it when the two of them kissed deeply. 'Naomi's wearing Brad's necklace!' He had been so surprised to see it swinging from around her neck he almost spat out his coffee. Before he could say anything though, someone had pressed the buzzer by the external door. Seeing that is was Christian, Steve had let him in.

Christian now sat forward in his seat, watching as Vega walked in, still rubbing his hair dry. Stoller had already come in with him, and was now leaning against one wall. "First, I think I should say congratulations." He faced Brad and Naomi. "Any plans for when yet? Or have you not thought that far ahead?"

The shock that rose on their faces was matched only by the equal shock on Stoller and Vega's faces. "How… how did you know? We haven't even told our team yet!" Naomi stuttered.

Christian produced another of his crafty smiles. "You're wearing Brad's necklace." He nodded towards her. "And I saw the way you two walked back here last night." He winked to them both.

Vega grinned happily while Stoller continued to look stunned. He hadn't noticed at all!

"And while we're on the subject, I should say the same to you." Christian told Steve. "I think you'll soon have both a son and daughter in law, with grandchildren of your own not long after." His smiled widened as he took in the looks of stunned amazement that ran throughout the gathered pilots. Brad and Naomi's jaws dropped rapidly, Stoller was so stunned he almost dropped his cup, while Steve and Vega had looks of awe of their faces.

"What are you talking about?" Pierces voice drifted though as she entered the main cabin, Jamie right behind her. Both still looked sleepy, and her hair was messed up. Jamie in fact looked like he had slept in his clothes.

"Oh nothing, just that Sarah's sporting a new ring…" Pierces jaw fell to the floor at that comment. "…And somehow I think Leena will soon too." It was Jamie's turn to lose control of his lower jaw. Leon and Sarah were not too much of a surprise, but Bit and Leena! The way those two had been over the last couple of months…

"How… How do you know so much about us?" Stoller cried as Pierce groped her way to a spare seat.

"I know almost everything that happens in this city. It's my job to know." Christian shrugged. "As well as keep an eye for anyone who might be working for the Death Saurer. As for you guys… well you're nearly all descended from my friends or myself, so of course I'm going to keep an eye on you. Some closer than others of course." Stoller nodded, not entirely satisfied with the answer but it was enough for now.

Leon and Sarah took that moment to walk in, hands linked together. "Dad, guys…" Leon began. "We've got something to tell you…"

"They already know." Christian interrupted, breaking into gentle laughter at the looks on the couple's faces.

"Is it true?" Pierce cried standing up rapidly. Sarah simply held her hand up, blushing as she did so. Gasps of astonishment resounded around the room as everyone saw the ring on her finger. Pierce rushed over to look at it closer, before throwing herself round Sarah.

"I'm so happy for you!" She cried into Sarah's neck as the older woman returned the hug. Even Stoller felt warm inside his stone heart. Pierce and Sarah were the younger sisters he never had, and Sarah in particular had had a rough life. For her to find happiness, it was the best day of their lives.

"My son…" Steve stood up to hug Leon tightly. He was so damn proud of him! "You've made a fathers dream come true…" Slowly they parted, his face flushed with pride. Suddenly he noticed something, and a slight frown creased his face. "What's that mark on your neck?"

"What mark?" Leon said shakily, his face flushing red rapidly.

Brad chuckled loudly. "Well, well, well, looks like someone's a little rough in bed. I wondered where all the noise came from, 'because it certainly wasn't us." Sarah flushed almost as red as Leon's Blade Liger. She had hoped no one had heard her! But a small fast moving lad – Vega, distracted her.

"Oh mom!" Vega cried as he hugged her tightly. She returned the hug, tears creeping out of her eyes. "I've waited so long for this…"

"You don't mind honey?" She asked him in shock. How could he not fear his mother marrying another man?

Vega smiled at her. "It's long past time you lived for someone other than me."

"Thank you." She gently kissed him on the forehead. Vega turned to Leon.

"Take care of her for me." Leon crouched down to look the young man in the eye.

"I will." He said as the two of them shook hands.

Throughout all these displays Brad, Naomi and Christian had remained seated. Brad stayed partly because it wasn't in nature to jump up at such things, and because he didn't want to leave Naomi's side. Naomi stayed for similar reasons, plus she did not fancy hauling her expanded form upright just now.

And Christian? He knew there would time later to congratulate them both. He had been through this dozens of times before. But even after all those hundreds of years it still brought a tear to his eye.

Slowly the others sat down again, and Steve turned back to him. "So, what was the reason you came over so early?"

Christian sighed and schooled his face. "Well, I've been informed that the fusion of Leena's old zoids is going well. Not sure when the new zoid will be ready, hopefully within the next couple of days.

"I've already made contact with the Empire, the Republic, and the ZBC. So far the response is low. They have to take care of their own people first, just in case Hiltz strikes elsewhere." Just the very mention of his name drained all cheer from the room. "I'd expect him to send small raiding groups all over the planet to spread fear, and get the governments to stick to their own territory."

"So they're not going to help?" Stroller asked downcast.

"I wouldn't say that. The President of the Helic Republic has offered to support our non-combatant population until the current crisis is over. The Empire is willing to send any munitions we need, and their best warrior. And one Class S Team is heading here right now." He smiled again. "I think you know them quite well. It's Derek's 'Raiders' team." The mood brightened again at the mention of the Blitz's long term rivals in Class S.

"But even with them, we're still going to be hard pushed. That's why I have a few more favours to ask of you." Christian took a deep breath. "Naomi, I think I've found the perfect sniping spot for you, but your Gunsniper is not quite up to the job. I'd like you to allow one of the organoids in the City Guard to take a look at it, see what he can do."

Naomi was puzzled, and by the looks on their faces so where the rest of the gathered Blitz. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that maybe, if your Gunsniper has gained enough experience in its primary role – sniping – then he might be able to evolve it to the next level. Much like a Shield Liger evolves into a Blade Liger." Naomi's eyes widened at the thought of such an advance to her zoid.

"Organoids can do that?" Brad asked in amazement.

"Yes, it is one of their basic powers. Each organoid has a particular power as well, be it endurance like Shadow, psychic abilities like Specular, or sheer raw power like Ambient. But all of them can speed up the evolution of a zoid. Sometimes even induce radical changes in the zoids core." The entire team sat back to think about that. None of them had known the power behind such creatures.

Slowly Steve dragged his thoughts away from dreaming about all the wondrous possible zoid configurations that an Organoid could create. "Anything else?"

"Yes, but for that I'll need to ask Bit as well." Suddenly the team realised that Bit and Leena had yet to appear. In fact they hadn't been seen the night before either.

"Say, where are those two?" Leon asked, worried about his little sister. Christian smiled again, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, I know where they are…"

X-X-X-X-X-X

Bit shifted in his half-awake, half-asleep state. His bunk seemed to have changed overnight. It was firm with a heavenly soft and warm cover, but the shape was really odd. There were several funny bumps and ridges now. And there were patches that were much firmer, not as comfortable to his bare skin. Also his sheet must have slipped off, since he could feel air on his bare backside. Feeling around the floor with his arm that was hanging over the edge, he couldn't find it. Sighing, he cranked his eyes open. The cabin was almost pitch black, but there was a faint green glow coming from across the room… and a soft blue glow coming from either side…

'Wait a minute. Green and blue glows, like console lights? My cabin doesn't have console lights…' As his eyes began to work again, he could just make out the outline of three seat backs before him, arranged in a triangle… 'Great, I'm dreaming I'm still in that zoids cockpit… WAIT A MINUTE!'

Bit snapped his eyes wide open as he realised he was not dreaming. 'I AM still in that zoids cockpit!' Bit rapidly trawled back though his memories, trying to work out how he ended up here, stark naked. 'Last thing I can recall, I was with Leena, and…' He stopped there, the floodgates opening up and the whole of last night returned to him in a rush. 'Oh… my… god…'

In mortal fear of his life, Bit slowly turned his head to the left. He knew now that he lay on her, and they were in the same condition. 'She's not going to…' That thought was stilled though as he finally saw her face, the face of a sleeping red-haired angel. Her hair was splayed around her head like a halo, and her mouth was curved in a smile, the smile of the cat that got the cream.

Bit took stock of his situation. He was lying mostly on her sleeping form. Neither of them were clothed, though her right arm was still in the sleeve of her gown. Bit vaguely recalled them having so much trouble getting her left arm out of the gown in their current positions that they decided not to bother with her right arm. Their legs were intertwined together so well they might as well have been tied together with chains.

Try as he might though Bit couldn't help but grin at the memories of the night of passion they had shared. Who could have known that the fiery redhead, whose temper tantrums were feared throughout Zi, would turn into such a gentle, delicate lover? She had urged him on, not asking for any change in their position or motions. That might have been due to her still being injured, but Bit wasn't sure. As their passions had grown, so had her eagerness to please him. And he had reciprocated those desires. Bit didn't know how many times the two of them had reached the heights of passion last night; it was all one blur. Neither of them had any experience before last night; they had been acting on instinct alone.

He decided to move off her at least, give her some space to breath, but as he began to shift she moaned. "No… stay with me…" Her voice was low, and her eyes remained closed. She was still asleep. Bit didn't want to disappoint her, or do anything to upset her, so he stayed where he was. He looked round for his jacket, anything that he drape across her, but his shirt was lying half on one of the other seats in this set, out of reach.

Bit lay there for who knows how long, taking in every curve, every feature of Leena's sleeping face. He could never have done this while she was awake, as she tended to be a nervous bundle of energy, never sitting still for long. He deliberately kept his eyesight above her neckline, despite being extremely tempted to look down her body. It would be disrespectful. Besides if she caught him doing that… he'd never wake up again.

As the time passed, Bit found it harder and harder not to look down. His hands itched, craving to stroke her soft skin again just like last night. His head began to droop…

"Go ahead…" He snapped his head back up to look at her eyes. Leena's eyelids were half open, and her violet irises seemed to glow in the light. Her skin was flushed, and her mouth was shaped into a smile.

"Leena, you're awake!" Bit gulped.

Leena nodded gently. She had been awake for some time, watching him from underneath her eyelids. At first she had been alarmed at waking up with a large warm mass on her, but then she recalled the pleasure the two of them had experienced. Her brain still tingled from the waves of passion she had felt, and even the feel of his firm body pressed against her was enough to alight her senses again. She had watched him keep his eyes on her face, and while he had studied hers, she had done the same to him. Taking in the way his face had such a manly curve, the way his blond hair fell down from his head. She had fond memories of running her hands though that hair last night. It had been so fine and soft…

Seeing that Bit was terrified, she brought her left hand up to clasp the back of his head. Alarm filled his eyes as she pulled him down. But the alarm faded instantly when her lips touched his. Slowly she drained the terror from his heart, while getting another taste of him in the bargain. Slowly she drew back, letting her head lie back again on the seat.

"Bit, you can look. And touch. No more secrets between us." His eyes lit up, as if saying 'Really, I can?' and her heart melted with love.

Bit allowed his eyes to roam hungrily along her body, drinking in every smooth curve and crease. His free hand followed his eyes, gently moving up and down, as if he was trying to commit every single detail of her body to his memory. "Oh god Leena, you look so wonderful…" She flushed again at his whispered appreciation. She knew she had a stellar body, but hearing it from him…

"So divine…" he continued, his eyes returning to hers.

"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself." She teased him before he pulled her into a hug.

"I love you Leena." He whispered into her ear before kissing it.

"I love you too…" She whispered back.

Outside the cockpit, the rest of the Blitz Team had arrived with Christian. They all stood staring at the still form of the mammoth zoid.

"Your saying they are still in there?" Leon asked a wry smiled forming on his face.

"Last time I checked." 'Hey buddy, they awake yet?'

…Awake, and getting ready to go again… Mnementh rumbled gently.

'Well, you had better stop them before they do, otherwise we'll never get anything done. Besides the doctors want to change her seals…'

Inside the cockpit Bit and Leena were staring into each other's eyes, their mutual love shining bright. She began to pull his head down again, when they both 'heard' the great zoid speak to them.

…I hate to break you two lovebirds up, but the rest of your team is outside, waiting. And Leena's arm and leg needs looking at… They both looked at her arm. The hardened gel coating was starting to peal away from her skin at the edges. Flushed with passion, embarrassment and frustration, Bit slowly levered himself up off her.

As she began to pull her robe back on, Leena had a sudden thought. "Do you think they know? About…"

…They've worked it out already… Leena flushed red again as she scooped up her underwear.

Once they were both presentable, Mnementh unlocked the canopy and raised it. As the edge lifted up, Bit and Leena found themselves face to face with the rest of the team, all of whom smiled broadly with an expression that clearly stated that they knew what they had been up too. Leena felt like sinking though the floor, but there was nowhere to hide.

"Come on now, I think Mnementh wishes to get up and stretch. He's been lying there all night for you two…" At Christians comment they both started. Leena looked about for the stairs that had been provided for her earlier, but they were nowhere in sight. Bit however solved the situation by simply scooping her up in his arms and carrying her out. He was almost as surprised as her that he did that, and to be fair so where the rest of the team.

"So who's turned romantic now?" Brad asked playfully as Bit set Leena down. "By the way, your shirt is done up all wrong." Bit looked down and noticed that too. He flushed an even brighter red.

Leena stepped towards her father, dread coiling around her gut. "Dad, I…"

"Hush…" He gently stepped forward to embrace her. "You're a grown woman, I can't tell you what not to do anymore." He kissed her forehead gently. "As long as you're happy with the choices you make, I'm happy." She looked up at him, tears in her eyes and smile o her lips.

"I am."

Leon stood in front of Bit, his arms crossed over his chest. "So Bit, just how far did you two go?" Bit gulped. What could he say to the older brother of the woman he had just spent the night with? He decided that the best thing was to tell the truth.

"As far as she wanted to go…" It was true; she had never asked him to stop. In fact she had urged him onwards.

"I see…" Leon continued to stand there, looking at Bit critically. His hair was a total mess, his clothes wrinkled and worn wrong. And the looks on their faces when the canopy had opened… Leon knew instinctively how far things had gone between them.

"Hey, what's that on your neck Leon?" Bit suddenly stepped forward to pull at Leon's collar. He tried to evade, but Bit was too fast. "I'll be a… You're a fine one to talk Leon! Looks like you got some action last night yourself!" Bit's grin widened as Leon squirmed, his face flushing red. "Does Sarah know?"

"Of course I do." Sarah chided him as she stepped forward to loop an arm round Leon's neck. "I'm the one responsible for that." Bit was about to reply, but then he noticed the ring on her hand hanging down Leon's chest. His jaw dropped in amazement.

"Well… Leon you sly dog!" He clapped the older man on his arm, while Leena stepped over to have a look for herself. Unnoticed by them all, the huge zoid had slowly gotten up and began to work out all the twinges from his long rest. The great zoid shifted and rolled each segment of his long body, sending ripples running down his entire length and the dorsal spines waving side to side. The huge jaws hinged wide open, and both wings extended to their full extent, almost brushing the ceiling. The motion drew the attention of the Blitz and they watched spell bound as the massive zoid stretched out each limb in turn, before arching his back until his nose almost touched the tip of his tail. With a deep-throated rumble the dragon zoid returned to his normal pose, neck and tail gently curved, wings folded up and held upright.

…Ah, that's better… The whole team heard the generally broadcast thought, and chuckles floated up.

Stroller now turned to Christian, who had stood to one side throughout. "So, now we're all here, what was it you wanted to ask Bit and Vega about?" He asked in a no-nonsense manner.

Christian smiled sadly. "It's this coming siege that has me worried. I've got the whole city Guard preparing, but I fear we'll need heroes when the time comes. Every hero we have."

Leon frowned. "You're referring to Van and Raven, aren't you?" Christian nodded.

"Their skills are valuable. Having them besides us would be a great benefit." He looked both Vega and Bit in the eye. "That's why I want to borrow your zoids, for a little while."

"What for?" Vega asked, worry in his voice. He had faced losing the Fury before, and he had promised him that he would never allow him to be caged again.

"Nothing harmful, I assure you." Christian smiled. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of extracting a core sample from them both."

"What? Why would you need a core sample?" Bit asked confusion clear in his voice. But it was Sarah who answered his question.

"You're planning on cloning them!" She gasped, shock and awe clear on her face.

"Correct. They are the zoids both of them know intimately. Cloning an Ultimate X level zoid is much harder than a normal zoid, but not impossible. Considering what's likely to be coming our way, I think we'll need all the help we can get."

X-X-X-X-X-X

Hiltz had returned to his small ledge overlooking the cavern, to see the army that Helios had built. His heart beat faster at the sight of it. 'THIS is power! Those fools haven't a clue what real power is.'

Below him was row after row of Cybrid units, arranged in block of almost one hundred Cybrids apiece. The bulk of the force was made up of the 'Diablo' type, their distinctive form capable of sending chills up any mans spine. Leading each block was a Cerberus, taking up the same amount of space as two smaller Cybrids. The force filled the chamber from one side to the other, and stretched onwards till it became lost in the gloom. The total number must have been in the thousands.

Towards the sides were rows of the old 'Bulldog' type Cybrids, the only Cybrid design that used four legs. Each was a huge block of armour with a massive turret at the rear. They were built to be siege/assault units, capable of battering down any defence. Many were unarmed, gutted of their weapon support systems and turned into heavily armoured carriers. Around the feet of each one of those were a swarm of the miniature versions of the 'Scarab' type, each no larger than a man. Once the walls of the city were breached, the transport dogs would charge in under covering fire, intent on delivering their lethal cargo deep into the heart of the city. Once inside, the Scarabs would be able to hunt down any human who tried to hide within tunnels, buildings or other places were the larger Cybrids could not go. No one was to be spared.

The two sidewalls were now supporting long racks, packed with Land-Skimmers. These aerial Cybrids would hammer the upper regions of the city, keeping the defenders bottled up. Without the shielding system that the land based Cybrids had, the Land-Skimmers replied on speed to evade hostile fire.

Hiltz heard a rumbling behind him. Since the resources in the local area were exhausted, Helios had outfitted his factory with treads and turned the entire base into a mobile fortress. Helios's central processor was in a separate unit, while their secret weapon was almost ready to be released.

'Not even those ancient guardians can stand before us!' After breaking contact with the Arachnotron, Hiltz had looked into the memories he now carried. He now knew all about those ancient zoids, and their pilots. They had stopped him – his master – before many times. They had been the one responsible for the initial downfall! No more. This time, there would be no escape…

Hiltz threw his head back and laughed at the thoughts of seeing that proud city burn, of seeing Fiona weep over the dead body of Van, of watching that bloody Liger Zero turn to stone. He envisioned the death of thousands of people, and he rejoiced. 'Resse, I'll make you squeal for turning against me…'

"Hiltz, it's almost time."

"Good. One thing: I want all those females who are pure zoidian like myself to be left alive."

"What for?"

"Why, so the world can be repopulated of course! A new world order, one where he is the god, not that weakling Zoid Eve!"

"I see… I will instruct my units to spare any female Ancient Zoidian they find."

"Good. Now, shall we go?"

Helios watched as Hiltz turned to head towards the transport Helios had provided. He had no intention of imputing that directive into his units. 'Yes, a new world order will arise, but you won't be a part of it, nor will your pathetic race!' Hiltz had almost reached the end of his useful life. When the time came, Hiltz would be cast aside like the weak flesh thing he was.

…Yes… It's almost time. We are far more alike than that fool Hiltz knows… The deep voice drifted into Helios's CPU, like it had done so many times before.

…When the time is right, they will all know you for who you really are, and we will rule a pure world as one!

O'Neill: Oh crud.

Zeke: You said it.