Chapter 56: Gift of a God
Christian shook his head to clear the ringing in his ears before looking about him to take stock. Mnementh lay on his back, leaving him hanging from his seat upside down. The strike from the Death Saurer had badly damaged the right wing, and several deep gashes ran down the dragons flank.
"Mnementh old buddy, talk to me. How bad is it?"
…It hurts… Christian sighed in sympathy. …But I can still fight!
Mnementh rolled onto his right side, before heaving himself up. His right wing trailed behind him as he staggered out of the woods, slipping through the trunks despite the darkness. When they reached the edge the pair of them gazed out across the plain, towards the city that was their home. Fires burned within the first tier, and the unmanned walls were taking a severe pounding. Fires dotted the plains, while the Cybrid factory continued to imitate a volcano. The Death Saurer's massive form blotted out the cities outline, filling the air around it with that blood hue.
With a roar of pain and horror, the Dragon zoid bounded forwards, before skidding to a stop besides Eros. As the huge head bent down to the fallen unicorn, Christian grew worried.
"Susan! You all right?"
Susan's face was the best thing he had seen that day. "We're both fine, for now. But we can't help unless we get rid of this bloody spear!"
Mnementh twisted his head, before latching his jaws around the spear. …I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt…
#Do it…# the smaller zoid told him. With a sudden jerking motion, Mnementh yanked the spear from the ground and out of Eros. She neighed in pain, as the saw-toothed edge of the spear was torn free. After a second though, Eros rolled and got herself back on her feet.
#That bastard is going down for this!#
#Count me in!# Shadows bellow turned both older zoids heads. Shadow limped towards them, the spear still impaled in his leg, while his chest was caved in from the Death Saurer's kick. Alongside him Zeke staggered, the left foreleg dragging.
#We're not doing so good this time are we?# Zeke commented, a note of pain in his roar.
…It has to be due to the fact that the Death Saurer has fused with the Cybrid computer core… Mnementh thought aloud. …That's not all. There is something, different about him. He is now part Cybrid…
#Well whatever he is now, lets get him!# Shadow turned to follow the Death Saurer, but he staggered.
…Sorry Shadow, but your in no condition to take him on again… A sudden crashing sound turned all their heads. The rockslide that had smothered Thunder was shaking. With a roar of rage, the buried zoid forced his way free, rocks sent flying by the force in his moves.
#Oh man, he's pissed…# Eros whined, taking a step back in fear as the heavyweight zoid stomped forward. His eyes glowed with pure anger.
…Thunder, you sure your up to this?
#Ha! It'll take more than a mountain falling on my head to stop me!# Thunder bellowed, before he broke into a run after the Death Saurer.
Christian sighed again as the massive zoid charged past. "Raven, can you fire on the Death Saurer from here?"
Ravens return grin was filled with malice. "Easily."
"Good. Then do so. Van, could you check on the others? Me and Susan need to ensure Carlos and Thunder don't get themselves killed…" Van nodded in understanding as he turned away to check the other zoids.
"Van, Christian, stop." Fiona's voice came across the comm system.
"What is it Fiona?" Van asked gently, worried about his wife.
"I need to go with Christian." She told him as she unbuckled herself from the Liger.
"You sure?"
"Yes. I don't know how I know but I do."
As Van brought the Ligers head low, he saw that Shadow was also stooped, the canopy raising. It was not much of a shock to see Resse slide out.
Both ancient Zoidians shivered as the rain fell about them both. The night had turned decidedly chilly, and they both hurried over to Mnementh as he lowered his head to them. Christian helped them up, and as they both settled into the second set of seats behind his shoulders, Mnementh stood up tall again. Already Raven was unleashing his charged particle cannon onto the Death Saurer, who reeled again as the beam slammed into his shoulders.
"Time to finish this…" Christian snarled as the dragon zoid broke into a run, since with a wing ruined he couldn't fly. Eros lopped along at his side, her silvery eyes narrowed.
Van watched them go. "Take care of her…" He whispered. Zeke echoed the sentiment, before they both turned and starting limping towards Panthro…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Bit raced across the hanger to enfold Leena into his arms. The two of them stood like that for a long moment, seeking and giving reassurance. Above them both their zoids slowly healed under the power of the organoids who fused with them, while the human techs worked like the clappers to reload the zoids weapons.
"When I heard you were coming in, I…" Leena managed to choke out.
"Hush, I'm fine…" Bit rubbed her shoulders to try and calm her.
Not that the situation was calm in the least. They had been pushed within the city, unable to remain either outside the gateway or on the walls; the attrition was just too much. A third of the City Guard zoids were out of action permanently. The Cybrids were pounding the walls, trying to break them down enough to get through. So far the old but thick walls held, but no one knew for how long.
Of more concern was the fact that the Death Saurer appeared to have defeated the ancient zoid team, and was heading for the city. Tall enough to look into the fourth tier, his charged particle cannon could wipe out half the city in one blast. There was almost nothing that could stop him now.
The only bright spark in the whole battle was Pierce's rescue of Jamie, and the way they were carving through the Cybrid Land-Skimmers. It was as if with them both in the same zoid, they could perform to a far greater level than they could separately. Dozens of craft were falling, either from the Storm Sworders blades, its lasers, or the cities own guns.
But there were still hundreds of them, and with the cities shield down, they were attacking the guns directly. For each Cybrid that was blown from the skies, another gun fell silent. Soon there would be no weapons left to fight back. The Rev Raptors fired up as well, but hitting those fast moving targets was hard.
Worse, the Cybrid ground legion was still strong. No one had attempted to get a count, but it was reckoned that only a few hundred had been destroyed so far. Against a force of ten thousand, what were five, six, seven hundred losses? The Bulldogs were firing their guns into the walls and gate at point blank range, while volleys of cluster missiles flew overhead to spread small explosive charges over the city. So far the solid stone buildings had mostly withstood the barrage, but things were getting out of hand.
Within the walls, the City Guard braced themselves again. It was expected that the gateway would be breached soon, and the Apocalypse pilots were waiting for them there. Infantry checked their weapons, each one not looking at the others.
No one expected to survive this…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Emperor Nicholas stood at the front of the lead Whale King's command centre, staring out ahead of him. Alongside and ranked behind his transport, the entire Guylos armed forces were arrayed. A dozen Whale Kings, each fully loaded with Iron Kongs and Red Horns. The Emperor had decided to leave behind the Molga and Rev Raptor units, since their lightweight guns would barely scratch the Cybrid force. He needed heavy hitters.
Ahead the coast of Europa came into view, the dusty plains spreading out to the horizon. 'Not long now…'
"Sir! We have contacts approaching from port!"
The Imperial Air Force, consisting of ten squadrons, reformed their arrangement to create a screen between the Whale Kings and the incoming contacts.
"I need an ID on them now!" In response to the Emperors order, the ninth squadron's peeled off on an intercept course.
As they closed in on the contact, the squadron leader called out to his squadron. "Keep it loose people, and for Emperors sake don't fire unless fired upon!" The four Redlers increased their spacing from each other and the leaders Black Redler, all the pilots scanning the air ahead.
Emperor Nicholas stood there, gritting his teeth as he awaited a report. At last it came in.
"We have visual… They're Hammer Kaisers! It's the Republicans!" On a screen before him the image that the ninth squadron leader could see was brought up. Almost two-dozen Hammer Kaisers flanked by bomber unit equipped Pteras and a flight of Storm Sworders. All their flanks were emblazoned with the Republican emblem.
"Return to the fold." The Emperor commanded a slight smile on his lips. "Hail the lead transport."
Quickly the link was made, and the Emperor came face to face with an aging man dressed as a Republican General. "Emperor, this is a surprise. I am General Mitchell Herman."
"Pleasure to meet you General. You know what we're going up against?"
"Yes sir, I do. All too well." The General looked troubled. "My family has faced the Death Saurer before."
"When?"
"One hundred and fifty eight years ago. My great, great, great, great, grandfather, Rob Herman, the commander of the first Ultrasaurus."
X-X-X-X-X-X
Zoid Eve looked out over the battlefield, her heart heavy. 'So much death and destruction…' She could see the fallen zoids, and knew instinctively which ones were beyond help. Over the years she had gained a sense of mankind, and every time one died she could feel it. Tears ran down her face as the waves of fear rose with the smoke from the city.
As she lifted her face to look further out, her eyes hardened. The Death Saurer looked up, and met her gaze. For a moment both great and powerful beings stared at each other.
…Give it up Eve! Your followers can't hope to survive. I know how this hurts you. Surrender yourself to me, and I can stop this…
…NEVER! I will never give myself to you! I won't let you destroy the world again!
…Eve, haven't you noticed? These humans are worse that the Zoidians! They war with each other all the time! Look into their souls. They have done things to themselves that we would…
…'That we would never do'? Look around you! What are you doing now? The Death Saurer was quiet for a second.
…Eve, had you just surrendered to me at the beginning, none of this would have happened! All these deaths are on your head…
…No, they are on yours. This ends now!
The Death Saurer was about to reply, but a blast of charged particles slammed into his shoulders. Raising her sight, Eve's heart leapt at the sight of Mnementh and his companions moving again. But then she gasped as she saw how badly they had been hurt. With his wing ruined, Mnementh had lost his main advantage over his foe. Thunder charged forth, fury radiating off him. Eros strode besides Mnementh, her head held high. The others were too badly hurt to continue, except Shadow, who continued to fire on the Death Saurer.
Snarling, the Death Saurer spun round to face them. …Say goodbye to your most precious ones… Air began to be sucked into the vent on his back, sparks of electricity crackling.
…NO! Mnementh, he's going to fire his main weapon!
Even as she screamed out, the Death Saurer fired. Thunder skidded to a stop, raising a shield while Raven redirected his particle stream to intercept the Death Saurers. Mnementh also fired back, his beam joining with the bright lance of light that shot forth from Eros's horn.
The huge blast of charged particles enveloped Thunder, before sweeping forth to smother Mnementh and Eros as they slid in behind him…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Leena and Bit were just stepping out of the hanger in their zoids when both the Liger and Iguanosaur looked up. "What is it Liger?" Bit asked.
Atop the gatehouse high above a single figure stood, surrounded by a nimbus of light. Anguish and terror poured off her in waves. Bit didn't know how he knew the figure was female, but then a name came to him.
"Zoid Eve…" He gasped as he realised what he was looking at was the zoidian equivalent of god!
The Iguanosaur spun round, priming the Hybrid Cannon before Leena realised what she was doing. Aiming upwards, she fired. Both pilots watched as the bright spear of light shot out… to slam right into the Death Saurers back-mounted particle intake vent. A great bellow of rage split the sky as the Death Saurers charged particle attack slacked off. He spun round to glare down at them both, his blood red eyes filled with hatred.
"Leena, I think you made him mad…"
"I didn't do anything! My zoid did it all!" Leena cried, unable to take her eyes off that terrifying visage. "Why'd you do it?"
#To save Mnementh#
The Death Saurer glared at them for a moment longer, before tilting its head down a little more. The guns built into his forehead fired, the massive beams smashing into the outer gateway. Rock was smashed into dust at the explosive power unleashed. The inner gates ran molten from the incredible heat that was produced, and rubble was blown hundreds of meters.
As the dust cleared, the waiting City Guard pilots could see the outer gate collapsing under the constant bombardment from the Cybrids…
X-X-X-X-X-X
To the Imperial pilot watching the whole battle from the sidelines, it was a terrifying experience. He'd seen the Death Saurer take down the zoids that engaged him and then turn his attention on the city. When they tried to re-engage, he had unleashed a massive charged particle beam on them. Nothing could have survived that!
When the single shot had hit him from behind, the roar of anger had shaken the very mountains. Now with the gate blown open, the Cybrids were almost ready to storm the city. He choked on the thought of all the people who were still in there being massacred.
The Redler however was staring at the sight where the Death Saurers beam had been aimed. …No, he couldn't have… he can't have killed them! There was only a blackened scar that ran across the plain. Shadow lay on his side; the last few seconds of the attack had brushed past him. Of the others…
Movement within that blackened mass caught the zoids eye. Slowly, the massive Thunder staggered forward a few paces, before thudding to the ground. Smoke rose from him as he laid there, the remains of his armour cooling. Vast amounts of his armour had gone, but the hyper-dense composite had saved his life.
Hope surged within the Redler as something else moved in the charred mass. …Yes! They survived… But the hope faded into horror as the picture became clear. Eros slowly pulled herself out from underneath Mnementh's body. He had interposed himself between her and the particle beam. Her once silvery hide was almost completely back, and both her tail and mane were gone. Her movements were weak, pain filled.
But the effects of the beam on Mnementh were the worse. The great zoids armour had been stripped away, leaving behind the zoid equivalent of a skeleton. His majestic wings were gone, only the main limb and the reinforcing spars remained. His entire body was black and part molten and he lay there as if already dead.
The Redlers heart broke at the sight of him, the legendary 'Blue Redler', lying dead and broken on the field of battle. …It can't end like this…
…It won't… The soft feminine voice filled the Redlers core with hope. There was only one being that sounded like that…
…Eve…
X-X-X-X-X-X
The Death Saurer prepared to destroy the last gate that blocked his legions, when he felt Eve's presence shift. He felt her bring her full powers to bear as she leapt high into the air. …Eve, what are you up too?
X-X-X-X-X-X
Naomi pulled back from the sniper controls, fatigue coursing through her veins. As she rubbed her eyes, she noticed a bright light above her. Looking up, her jaw dropped as she watched a shaft of light rocket up over the Death Saurer before seeming to twist and dive down to where the legendary zoids had been…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Christian sat there, every bone in his body aching. Despite the damage to Mnementh, the zoid had saved him. By keeping his head up, he had used his own jaw as an extra layer of armour for the cockpit. Christian, Fiona and Resse, despite getting rather warm and rattled around, were alive and well. But the same was not true of Mnementh. He could feel the state of his old friend, the nearness of death.
The sudden flash of light overhead caused them all to look up. When the shaft of blinding light slammed into Ranenth, all three found themselves surrounded by it. With a flash they were no longer in the zoids cockpit, but instead standing on a green hill, beneath a tree. A gentle wind ruffled their hair.
"I've been here before…" Fiona breathed. "When Zeke and I resurrected the Liger…"
"And now your power is needed again." All three of them turned to face the owner of the voice. Zoid Eve stood before them.
"Mnementh is the only zoid capable of taking him on. To do so, I have joined with him." Christian's jaw fell as he realised the implications.
"Fiona, Resse, your strength will be needed for this battle." As both women stepped forward, Eve reached out with her hands. Christian took a step forward too…
"No Christian, you must remain Mnementh's pilot." With another flash of light, Christian found himself back in the zoids cockpit. Looking over his shoulders, he saw both Fiona and Resse were wrapped in glowing cords that bound them to the seats. Their eyes were closed and their limbs slack.
Turning back to the controls, he gently gripped them. 'Mnementh, are you there?'
…Yes… I am here… His replay was deeper, stronger…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Everyone in the city watched in awe as a shaft of light erupted into the air, drowning out the light from the fires and even the Death Saurers own aura. He looked on, fear coiling around his core.
Slowly the light faded, revealing Mnementh again. But instead of the blacken husk from before, now he stood whole again. His blue hide glowed with power, and every golden part burned with fire. Light streamed from every crack in his form, and his eyes burned with power.
…She went and did it… she fused with a zoid! The Death Saurer, or rather the being that had become the Death Saurer, knew what power such fusion could create. He had done it himself, when he had become what he was. And now she had done the same thing!
Mnementh roared, his voice shaking the heavens. Every limb tensed and his tail lashed about, while his eyes were fixed on the Death Saurer, narrowing.
…Let us end this… once and for all… Roaring again, Mnementh leapt at the Death Saurer…
DR: You just can't keep a good dragon down, can you? XD
Shadow: Nope. Now kick his butt!
DR: Oh we will. Next time, The Cybrids breach the gates...