DR: Well, this it people, the final chapter! All previous chapters have been sorted and updated, so you should have no problems re-reading it!
Chapter 61: Together, Now & Forever
The after wedding party continued on till late that night, the entire plateau turned into the largest ballroom ever. The zoids ringed the area, their croons filling the air. Tables loaded with food were scattered about, allowing everyone a chance to break away from the dancing to eat.
The main table was situated just before the fountain, and there sat the Blitz Team; the three newly wedded couples centre stage. Their close friends and relatives sat at the closest tables, easily within reach.
Bit and Leena were central, with Brad and Naomi on one side and Leon and Sarah the other. Before them was a towering wedding cake, made especially for this event. Every now and again fireworks would be set off, and gentle music was piped out of dozens of speakers. The gathered people were taking the opportunity to not only celebrate the marriages, but also the outcome of the siege where they had fought so hard.
As the evening progressed, Bit watched from his place at the riot of colours about him. Everyone had gone all out, and it showed. The women were dressed in a multitude of hues and styles, while the men could be arranged into two groups, those in expensive suits or dress uniforms. There were a few women in uniform too, but they were few and far between. Bit smirked as he watched a group of children run about the zoids belonging to the Blitz. The huge Iguanosaur was lying down, and seemed highly amused at the antics of the young humans that scampered all over it, even when they hung a banner from the ends of the Vulcans proclaiming 'Just married' in big, roughly written red letters.
"Well Bit, I never thought you had it in you." Bit turned to face the owner of the voice, Jack Cisco. Just behind him were the Tasker sisters, both in long dresses, congratulating Naomi. One blue, the other green, both cut the same way.
"Nice to see you too." Bit offered his hand, grinning away like an idiot. As Jake shook the offered hand, he looked across to Leena.
"How do you stand that?"
"By remembering what is underneath…" Leena purred, her arm sliding round Bit's.
Jack shook his head before turning back to Bit. "I don't know how you do it. First off you go and beat the unstoppable Berserker Fury, then you save millions of people by getting rid of that nuke, then you find and save this place!" His arms went wide as he gestured to the city around them. "How can one man be so lucky?"
Bit shrugged. "Don't ask me. I haven't a clue."
"Well, I won't keep you away from each other. I look forward to the day we meet again on the battlefield."
"Why don't you join us?" Bit asked a note of curiosity in his voice.
Jack smiled. "As much as I would like the pay, I can't leave the Lightning Team. After the Royal Cup, I changed my status from mercenary to full time member of the team."
"Really?" Leena's eyes widened at the news. "How come?"
Jake looked over his shoulder at the Tasker sisters before answering, a sly smirk on his face. "I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that at least one of them has fallen for me. Maybe both."
"Whoa… I'd hate to be caught between them when they start fighting over you." Bit grinned. "You're in for a rough time."
"But it'll be exciting." Jack winked. "Enjoy yourself."
"Oh 'we' will." Leena told him as she leaned against Bit. Chuckling, Jack walked away, both Chris and Kelly following in his wake. Bit turned to give Leena a kiss, but he saw Harry approaching their table, clearly in trepidation.
"Leena, please don't do anything rash…" He whispered.
"Why?" she asked, before she turned her head to see Harry. Mary Champ was now just behind her younger brother, clearly keeping an eye on him. All cheer drained from Leena's face.
A hush seemed to fall across the table as Harry stepped up. Everyone there knew about the last time he had been this close to Leena and Bit, and it was clear on his face that he knew they knew. He was dressed smartly if sombrely, and his entire pose was of one who is struggling to remain upright.
"Bit, Leena…" His voice caught as he spoke her name. He swallowed before continuing. "…Congratulations. You two fit together. It's taken me this long to see that." Harry couldn't keep his head up, and his chin dropped down to his chest.
"I… wish to… apologise for my behaviour, back…" he paused, unwilling to even mention the events that had happened. "I was… not myself. In fact I've not been myself for a long time. My actions were however inexcusable. I can only beg your forgiveness." Behind him, Mary slowly nodded, pleased that he had gone through with what needed to be said.
Leena's face, which had hardened at the sight of him, slowly softened. "Harry," she began. "I'm not sure if I can every really forgive you. I understand however that you were not yourself, so in that regard your forgiven."
Harry looked up slowly at her, tears in his eyes. "Thank you." He half whispered, before he turned away and walked off. Mary stepped up in his place, holding a wrapped box.
"Thanks for that. He's recovering, but still has a way to go. Hearing that from you should help him." She sighed deeply, showing the exhaustion she felt from caring for her brother.
Leena smiled slightly. "I know what it's like to keep things bottled up. It's unhealthy in the extreme." She turned her eyes on Bit. "Luckily I've found my balancing point."
Mary smiled. "Lucky you." She gently placed the box she had been holding onto the table. "I hope that, someday, we can be friends."
"Maybe, someday. And thank you." Mary nodded before walking off in pursuit of her brother.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Slowly other gifts began to be offered to them all. Naomi receive a mobile of a number of flying zoids that could be hung from above a child's cradle, while Layon gave to Brad a set of blueprints for optional add-ons for the Shadow Fox, along with the zoids original blueprints. "They were in development when you stole the Fox." He told Brad without a trace of anger or resentment. Brad was quite pleased at the selection, since getting upgrades for such a unique zoids was a pain in the neck, as was getting it repaired after a battle. Sarah was gifted with a personal organiser that could be mounted on a person's forearm, while more mundane gifts slowly built up. Cups, cutlery and other knick-knacks slowly accumulated with the team. As the evening wore on, Van, Raven, Fiona and Resse walked over. Van had a flat package under one arm, while Raven carried a long wide tube.
"So, how does it feel to be considered heroes?" Van asked warmly.
"Not sure, to tell the truth." Bit answered, causing a round of laughter to echo around the table. Once he got himself under control, Van handed across the package he had been carrying.
"Here's something you might be interested in." Bit, filled with curiosity, peeled away the wrapping to reveal a framed picture. It showed Van and Fiona standing together on a hilltop, her hair billowing in the breeze. The bulk of a blue Blade Liger was behind them, but just to one side was a silvery white organoid, rather plain looking when compared to many of the others the Blitz had seen.
"Let me guess; that's Zeke." Leena asked, her eyes filled with mirth.
"Best buddy I even had." Van smiled.
Meanwhile Raven stood before Vega, sitting besides his mother. As he looked down at that younger version of himself, Raven smiled as warmly as he could.
"Vega, you are truly me reborn." He said, before handing over his package. "And it's long past time you received something from me."
"What is it?" Vega asked, baffled by the long tube.
"My first telescope." Raven told him. "I long since got a better, more permanent one fitted to my home, but this one still works like new."
Vega blushed as he slid the telescope out of the casing, running his thumb over the marking that Raven had added to the barrel. It was an exact copy of the marking on his cheek. "Thank you."
Christian, Susan and Sam waited until later before they came over. Sam held in her arms a large furry bundle, which as she stopped shifted, revealing two large blue eyes over a black nose and surmounted by a pair of rounded ears.
"Is that…?" Naomi asked, her jaw dropping.
"A Liger kitten? Sure is." Sam said as she gently stroked the huge kitten. "A new litter were born just a couple of days ago."
"Technically, Ligers are infertile, due to them being a cross breed." Christian put in as Sam handed the kitten to Naomi. "But when a team of geneticists tweaked their DNA to make them a bit more docile around the humans they consider family, they also fixed that." Naomi's eyes were round in delight as the kitten began to purr loudly as she tentatively stroked its tawny head. "Treat it right as it grows, and it will consider all of you, and any children you have, as family. She will protect your children like they were her own." Christian's voice was of one who spoke from experience.
Brad leaned a little closer to the Liger, whom promptly licked his face with her tongue before settling down on his lap, purring away happily. As the team gather round to fondle the newest addition to the team, Leon couldn't help but chuckle. "What's next? A Whale King? A statue of each of us?"
"Nope. Just an offer." Christian smiled another half smile as he held his hand out, in which were three sets of keys. "There's a half dozen cottages further up the mountain, all secluded from the rest of the city, and separated from each other. They each have their own little green section of the valley allowing complete privacy. Lots of soft plants, a warm stream fed by hot springs running past, quiet and peaceful. The perfect sort of place for a honeymoon, in my opinion…" All six of the newly weds smiled as they contended on to what Christian meant.
X-X-X-X-X-X
A few hours later the party was winding down. The now married couples had taken up Christian's offer, and were now up in their cottages. They had taken some clothing up with them, but Christian somehow suspected that they would not use much of those. The rest of the team, including the zoids, would be heading back home in the morning, taking with them most of the gifts from last night, including the Liger kitten. Pierce and Jamie had virtually taken over the care for the little thing, so much did they love the feel of that silky coat. When the honeymoons were over, Christian and Mnementh would fly them home themselves.
The ZBC, Empire and Republic troops and personal were heading to their homes, as were the other zoid teams. The citizens of the city were also making their way home, many walking slowly and barely in a straight line. It had been a night of full enjoyment. Christian himself sat back in his patio, looking up at the stars. Despite the several days of rest since the battle with the Death Saurer, he still felt an ache in his bones after the long day.
…We can rest now, for our task is done… Mnementh's mental voice was soft but clear, as the sleepy zoids head was resting next to him.
"That we can old friend, that we can…" Christian agreed, taking another drink from his mug. Stretched out, he listened to the sounds of his home as he wondered what would become of him and his close friends now that the Death Saurer was gone for good.
'Will we linger on, till the end of time? Or will Eve pull the plug, and let us die of old age as we should have done long ago?' Christian had figured that Eve had somehow halted the aging process in their bodies. They were held at the age they had been at when she had gifted them with immortality. If she were to remove her touch, they would age again as they should of…
…I will not, my most loyal champion. There will always be other battles to fight… Christian brought his eye line down to watch as several threads of mist slipped between the trees to coalesce before him into Zoid Eve herself. "No, don't get up." She said gently when he started to move. "You have earned your rest. The Death Saurer is gone, but something or someone will eventually rise to take his place."
"I didn't know you were so pessimistic Eve!"
"It is, unfortunately, a fact of life…" Eve's voice trailed off, and she turned to stare up at the peak of a mountain. Mnementh growled, and Christian sat upright. "What is it? What's wrong?" Even he could tell that Eve was deeply worried by something. He followed her line of sight…
X-X-X-X-X-X
At the summit, a man stood, looking down onto the plains before the city. Slowly he shook his head in disgust. His silvery hair spoke of great age, while his white robes with their gold embroidery suggested an honest man, a peaceful one. But such concepts never applied to this one.
'You promised so much, yet you never managed to deliver…' He thought as his eyes settled on the last fragment of the Death Saurer, its great head, the jaws locked open in a roar of pain and fear. He had given the Death Saurer the power to take control of the world, but he had fumbled, and had been forced to lay low before trying again. But Eve had somehow anticipated the Death Saurers move, and had assembled a team of her greatest servants to fight him. Now, almost two thousand years later, the Death Saurer was finally destroyed.
And the Cybrids, they had failed too, barely reaching the heights that the Death Saurer had reached. Chased out of their home system, scattered to the stars in the hope that they may regain their strength and destroy humanity.
He raged internally as he considered the race of man. They were the most stubborn, irritant and chaotic race he had ever seen in his hundreds of thousands of years! Not even his best and most favoured servants had been able to completely defeat them, though they did control a vast swath of their galactic cluster. It was just the remnants of their set of human adversities that remained, but nothing they did was able to exterminate them. And their fixation on the one set had allowed others to slip through their mechanical fingers unnoticed.
He looked up and out, to where those remnants plodded on through the stars, searching for their long lost cousins. He knew that he could not interfere directly, but maybe he could use this world to deal with them once and for all. A Cybrid outpost was close to the route one of his favoured one's base ships would go. It wouldn't take much to get them to go a little closer…
Looking down, he saw Eve and her favoured two staring up at him. Grinning with pure evil, the one known as Count Iblis, the Prince of Darkness phased away, revealing his true midnight blue skinned, horned and pig-faced form as he did so…
The End…?
DR: Well, there you are. This story is now complete, but don't worry! The expanded and unified Blitz team's tales will continue in my sequel, 'Uncertain Future'. As an aside, I have written an epilogue for this story, set during that last little scene with Christian, but with the newly weds... (Evil grin) I think you can guess that I'm worried that such a piece would push the M/MA content rating boundary. Tell me if you wish for me to post it...
Special Thanks to:
-Legendary-Titan-, for acting as my beta-reader (as well as giving me a few ideas!)
And everyone else who reviewed this story as it grew. Your comments have spurred me on to keep at it, and have the drive to create a sequel for this tale. I hope you've all enjoyed reading this as much as I've had writing it!
Credits (the source for some of the key original characters):
Emperor Nicholas of Guylos: Prince/Emperor Rudolf
Daniel Brown: The one person in my sixth form years who I hated...
Samanatha Masters: Regina, from 'Dino Crisis'
Susan Masters & Anna Calisto: Two very nice young ladies from my Sixth Form years...
If your reading this (and recognise yourselves), then please consider the parts based on you as a form of flattery!
Christian Masters: Myself (grins)