Chapter 48: The Last Recruit
True to his word, Bit and Leena spent that night together, locked in their passionate embrace. Neither of them wanted to think about what was coming, and so their passion had a sense of urgency, as if their time together was somehow limited. The other couples within the Blitz felt the same way, and they clung together just as tightly. None of them would speak about what they all knew was ahead, but it was there in every embrace and kiss. They all feared that their loved ones would not return.
Throughout the city the people prepared for a siege. Any crop that could be harvested was, and the remaining farmers came within the cities walls. Provisions were laid in storerooms, and all the micro-hospitals stocked up on fast acting drugs and first-aid equipment. The shutters that were fitted to every window of every building were oiled, and the City Guard precincts became hives of activity. The zoid hangers slowly filled up with zoids being refitted with weapons in place of their tools and law enforcement equipment, while every person who volunteered to help defend the city was issued with body armour and helmet. Stores of firearms were unlocked, and valuables were put into storage.
The day after Derek arrived a blood red Whale King came in, its flanks emblazoned with the markings of the Guylos Empire. As it settled down on the landing field, only two people stood waiting for its cargo. Since they could not produce certain types of munitions themselves, Christian had asked for a shipment from the Guylos Emperor. He had sent them without question or complaint, along with his best warrior. He could not spare any more warriors since the Empires army was at an all time low, his way of reducing taxes on his people. Besides with peace between the Empire and the Helic Republic, there was no reason to keep a large standing army. Although in times of war he could call up a vast number of people to serve, the professional force was tiny compared to how it had been even a hundred years ago.
Raven stood besides Christian, because the pilot who had been sent was one who had come from their city in the first place. And was of special significance to him.
As they watched the mouth of the Whale King yawned open, and even before the ramp was fully down a zoid began to stroll down it. The Genosaurer reminded Raven very much of his resurrected one all those years ago, except that the colours were reversed. The armour was blood red like the Whale King, while the neck and other parts were jet black.
With a deliberate, measured pace the zoid walked over to where the two men stood, while behind it a Gustav began to haul a string of containers out of the transport. When the Genosaurer stopped the head pitched down to look at them both.
"Permission to enter your city?" The cultured female voice asked over the external speakers.
"Permission granted." Christian called back. The chest of the Genosaurer hinged open, and with a hiss the cockpit seat was extended down to ground level. Once it was low enough the pilot leapt gracefully off to land on her feet. Slipping off her comm headset she confidently stepped over to the two men.
The woman before them was thin and sharp featured, with a rangy stride and a cold expression that could have been cut from ice. Her hair was cut just above her shoulders, and was a few shades lighter in colour than Ravens. Her large eyes were sea green, and held a coldness that brooked no arguments. She wore the purple uniform of an Imperial captain, complete with the peaked cap held down tightly over her hair and sidearm at her right waist. Over her left breast a row of medals and decorations hung, most prominent of which was the Imperial Star Cluster, one of the highest awards for combined skill and daring. She snapped to attention before Raven.
"Raven…" She said formally, a twinkle appearing in her eyes.
"Cassandra…" He replied in an equally formal tone, looking her over carefully. From her black knee length boots to the top of her cap, she was impeccably turned out. "They treating you well back in the Empire?"
"Now they are, since I kicked all the other officers ass's in the latest tournament." Despite her attempts to remain neutral and cold, a slight flush touched her cheeks and her voice held a note of pride.
"Good. We can't have the Imperial officer core getting soft." Raven was now struggling to hold back his grin of pride. "I see you made Captain."
"Last month. Youngest ever, male or female."
Raven nodded, before at last letting his emotions free. He opened his arms, which had been folded across his chest. Cassandra abandoned her ramrod straight pose to embrace him.
"Raven…" Her voice had lost all her previous coldness and was now filled with warmth.
"Cassie…" Raven too had dropped all pretence and held her tightly. After a few moments they parted. "Haven't you forgotten somebody?" He asked a touch of humour in his voice.
Her face flushed a touch redder this time. "Oh!" She whirled to face Christian, who was stood to one side, one of his trademark one-sided smiles on his face. "Uncle Chris!" She cried as they embraced. In truth he was not her uncle by a long shot, but she had grown up with him in that role, along with Van and Mnementh.
"Good to see you too. And just look at you!" Christian stepped back to look her over. "Thirty-three, and already a Captain! You look just like Resse did before she came here, except for the hair." It was true; Cassandra was practically the splitting image of Resse before she met Raven. The only differences were the hair colour and the sharper jaw line she had inherited from Raven. "How long has it been?"
"Sixteen years."
Christian shook his head. "Sixteen years. Seems that only yesterday you were a bouncy five-year old begging your great, great, great grandfather if you could play with his zoid. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you again."
Her eyes lit up. "Shadows here? He's been found?" It had been shortly after the event Christian had mentioned that Shadow – the Fury – had disappeared. Only later had the evidence of a struggle, and the encasement of the zoid, had been found. The disappearance of the zoid had affected Cassandra almost as badly as it had affected Raven himself.
"Found and released almost nine months ago. Though he did almost go crazy, hence the name he now has, Berserker Fury. But he's okay now."
Cassie frowned as she thought back. "I recall hearing that name before, but I can't remember where…"
"Well, you missed out on one of the best fights the ZBC ever covered. It must have been an equal to one of Ravens old fights with Van Flyheight." Christian smiled gently. "Why don't you bring your zoid up to the top level and catch up? We've got a lot of guests here…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
Naomi and Leena stood together in the huge bay where their zoids were growing, Naomi staring at the smooth grey ovoid that encased her Gunsniper, Leena peering though the porthole into the central zoid pool, trying to get a glimpse of her new zoid. The rest of the team were trying a course that Christian had shown them to, to allow him to measure exactly just how good each pilot was. With both their zoids currently out of action, neither of them could partake in the tests.
Sighing, as she once again was unable to make out any discernable shape within the murky liquid, Leena turned to face Naomi. The older woman stood to one side, her eyes locked onto the grey shape. One hand rested on top of her expanded belly, the other tucked underneath. Everyone in the team knew that she would not be able to compete much longer, for soon her condition would make it impossible to operate a zoid with any degree of control. She had talked things over with Brad and Sarah, and Naomi would drop out of battling for the last two months of her pregnancy, and for a month after birth. She would then return to battle. Since their battles were only every couple of days, rarely more than two a week, she'd have plenty of time to bond with her child.
Leena stepped up besides her and looked at the grey ovoid along with her. There was no way of telling exactly what was going on inside that smooth shell… just like there was no way for her to know what was happening in the zoid pool.
"Guess we're both waiting for our zoids to be born again." Naomi joked lightly, smiling at Leena. Leena smiled back, aware of the double meaning of Naomi's statement.
"Na, I've been meaning to ask you something…" Leena hesitated, not sure how to put her question. "Do you think you're ready? To have this child?"
Naomi sighed as she eased herself into a chair. "I don't think you can ever be truly ready." She gently stroked her belly absentmindedly.
"I know you didn't plan on getting knocked up, but tell me, how did you feel?" Leena sat down besides Naomi, who looked at her quizzically.
"Well, it was certainly a shock when Sarah told me that she thought I was pregnant. But I have to admit, when she suggested that, I felt such a mixture of emotions… Fear, awe, and joy." Naomi looked closely at the younger woman. "Why the sudden interest?"
"Oh… Nothing." Leena said, turning her head away to look again at the pools. Too quickly in Naomi's opinion.
"You're not pregnant yourself are you? I know you and Bit have been at it these last couple of days…"
Leena's head snapped back. "NO I AM NOT!" She snarled, a small fragment of her psychotic side coming out. "At least, not yet…" she added almost to herself.
Naomi now understood Leena's state of mind. "You're wondering if it's time that you consider motherhood." She said gently.
Leena slowly nodded. "Don't get me wrong, Bit is great…" She grinned happily. "But somehow I get the feeling something's missing…"
Naomi looked closely at the young redhead. "Tell me… was it your first time the other night, with Bit in here?"
Leena blushed bright red, and could only nod. She looked so retched that Naomi put an arm round her shoulders.
"I felt the same way myself, after my first night. It's all a part of growing up. Leena…" She gently pulled the younger woman's chin up so she could look into her violet eyes. "You'll know when the time is right."
"But you said before…"
"I know. But there is something else, something I didn't mention before." Naomi looked down briefly. "That first night with Brad, I felt completely at peace with myself. I had at last found a man who wanted me, not 'Naomi Fluegel Leader of the Fluegel Team' or whatever labels people attach to me." Leena nodded, recognising the same feelings that she had had the morning after her first night with Bit.
"Had Brad asked me to have his child that night, I would have never let him leave the bed until I was carrying." Naomi smiled again. "As things turned out, he didn't ask, but I ended up carrying his child anyway." They both laughed together at the irony of the situation. After a few minutes, Leena sighed and turned away.
"Naomi, I… just thought you should know." She almost whispered. "I'm… sorry for everything I said to you… over the last couple of years…"
Naomi's eyed widened as she gazed at the younger woman. What had happened to Leena, the fieriest person on the whole planet? Who was this person, who had her voice and face?
"Recently, I've been… reconsidering my life." Leena continued, struggling to find the right words. "And I realised… I've never been truly fair to you. You have real skill and talent. My only talent is mass destruction."
"That's not true…" Naomi told her, pulling Leena into a hug. "You're just as good as any of us. You're inventive, and you never quit. At least until now…" A spark returned to Leena's eye, warning Naomi that her fiery temper was still there.
"Don't worry about it Leena. Everyone in the team likes you, and most love you. Surely if Bit Cloud loves you, then you're worth it."
Leena returned the hug tightly, tears in the corner of her eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." Naomi just smiled and patted her on the back. As they drew back a commotion back in the main hanger began.
"Sounds like the others are back." Naomi smiled, heaving her-self upright. "Why don't we see how they did?"
Smiling happily, Leena followed her away from the growing zoids, eager to see Bit again.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Some time later Christian stood before the zoid pools, his arms folded over his chest as he stared at the central pool. It was late and most of the technicians had gone home to their loved ones. All the stored zoids were ready for the coming siege, all that was left was to crack open the oldest vault and bring out the HERCs. Due to the power of those units, he had had them stored in the most secure vault of all. He had hoped to never have to open that one.
But he had to now. He knew, deep in his bones, that Hiltz and his Cybrid allies were coming here, possibly with the Death Saurer as well. They would need all the firepower they had to defeat such a force. Including the zoids that were nearing full growth in the pools before him. He had arranged for an extra special 'rich' mixture of zoid fluid to be pumped into the pools, greatly increasing the rate of growth. Glancing at the grey ovoid that contained Naomi's Gunsniper he smiled slightly…
"Something amusing?" Fiona's voice drifted from the rear of the chamber. Christian turned to look back at her. One eyebrow rose rapidly as she approached.
"I thought that uniform was too old to be worn anymore… new version?"
"It seemed the most appropriate, considering what's coming." Like her husband Van, along with Raven and Resse, Fiona had pulled her old Guardian Force uniform out of the cupboard. And just like the others, it had decayed with age. So the four of them had sent the old clothing to one of the few remaining quality tailors in the city, asking for a new set of clothes to match the old. Since he had done nearly all their clothes in the past couple of dozen years, he knew their measurements off by heart. Using the finest fabrics, he had recreated their old uniforms from their heyday, suitably altered to fit the subtle changes their bodies had undergone after a hundred and sixty years.
Fiona now stood before him like she had done all those years ago. Her hair was tied back into a single ponytail that hung down her back, revealing her jaw line and the thinness of her neck. Two thick strands hung free though, just masking the turquoise markings on her forehead and framing her scarlet eyes, which were filled with determination and confidence. Despite the physical changes left on her by motherhood and her hair starting to turn silvery, she looked almost exactly like she had all those years ago.
'No wonder Van called it her "Hot pants fighting dress."' Christian thought, as he looked her over. The dress clung to her skin, flaring over her arms and following ever curve of her torso. The cut of the top seemed to have been made to empathise her bosom, while the missing sections that ran over each shoulder showed off her smooth pale skin.
"How are they doing?" She asked as she stepped up besides him, her eyes wandering across the three tanks and the encased zoid.
Christian turned to regard the zoids. "The Gunsniper's evolution should be complete sometime late next morning." He waved towards the two outermost pools. "The Liger Zero and Fury's clones around noon, at their current growth rate. Mnementh has already linked with their minds, and has made a few tweaks."
"Tweaks?" Fiona's eyebrow rose along with her question.
"He altered the mindset of the two, slanting them so that they'll be more like the organoids they were, rather than the zoids." when the organoids had permanently fused with both zoids, the personality of the new zoid had been a fusion of the personalities of both the zoid and the organoid. While the Fury had been kind of like Shadow had been, the personality shift in the Liger Zero had been more pronounced. Neither Van nor Fiona had been able to be entirely comfortable with the new 'Zeke', part of the reason they had let him go off and be traded around, looking for his perfect partner. They were overjoyed when he did find such a pilot in Bit, their closet direct male descendent.
"And your project? Leena's new zoid?"
Christian smiled again. Fiona stepped back, for it was another one of his 'special' smiles, mixed with humour. "Oh, the zoid is growing well. Why don't you take a look?"
He punched a key on the console he had been leaning against. The main display blanked, before a three-dimensional holographic image of the contents of the zoid pool formed above it. At first it was a solid block, but as the array of sensors began to scan the pool, the block was slowly eaten away to reveal the growing zoid within. It still had parts missing, mainly the armour panels that would coat it, but the zoid was clearly nearing completion. All ready the basic structure was complete, and most of the weapons could be seen. When at last the scan was over, the computer overlaid the image with, amongst other things, a scale. Fiona's jaw dropped in shock as she took in all the details.
"I think I might have underestimated the power output of the new zoids core…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
That night, Leena lay awake in Bit's arms, her fingers idly playing with her new necklace. Christian's estimate of when her new zoid was going to be ready was tomorrow, and Leena had a deep-seated coil of dread in her gut. Had it worked? Would the new zoid accept her? Would it even be a zoid, and not a mewling amalgamation of zoid parts, unusable and hideous to look at? She couldn't think how such two radically different zoid could combine and create a form that fitted both mindsets.
Bit was aware that she was not sleeping, and he suspected that he knew the reason. "Nervous about tomorrow?" He asked quietly.
Leena turned her head up to his, meeting his eyes. "A little. I mean, how will this all turn out? What will the result look like?"
"They know what they are doing love. Christian was pretty confident that he could get it to work successfully. If he oversaw the creation of both the Liger Zero and the Fury, then surely he knows his stuff."
Leena sighed as she rested her chin on his chest. "Maybe…"
"Hey…" Bit pulled her to him by the shoulders. "It'll be fine. By this time tomorrow I'll have to drag you away from that zoid…" He grinned as she narrowed her eyes at him, before dropping down for a kiss. Rolling together, the two of them gently began to rededicate their passions for each other, Leena at last able to take her mind off what was in store for her tomorrow…