Battle Dawn
Chapter 3: Power Shift
by Silver
Author's Note: I want to once again thank everyone who has read my story, and thank all of you who were kind enough to leave encouragement with a review. I hope everyone will extend the same courtesy for this chapter and let me know what you like and what I can improve upon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
War. It was such a causal term these days; used to describe insignificant actions. "Did you see that last match? It was total war!" "How about that one team? They're on the warpath!" Pathetic. War wasn't some game where a judge could tell everyone to stop fighting and play nice, nor was it a place where the weak could hope to gain glory. War was the struggle for power during which the inferior were weeded out and sacrificed to give glory those who possessed real power.
This battalion — arrayed for the most historic battle in the ZBC's history — was a true symbol of war. Every soldier resonated the tension felt by the whole, despite their attempts to hide their feelings. Each of them was keenly aware of their mortality. There would be no "Ready, FIGHT!" no time out, no calls on illegal activity. Anything was possible, including death. This was to be the first and most significant strike against the Backdraft Organization. These young people were making history; albeit not the history they currently imagined.
Every Zoid chosen for this mission was meant to symbolize the significance of this battle. The Gojulas units, towering saurian behemoths, had always been revered and feared as the Helic Republic's most powerful weapon. In one night, as single unit had turned the tide of war and driven back an entire Imperial platoon. Vaez had several at his command.
In front of the Gojulas units stood a rank of Red Horns, royal Guylos command units used by offices. They had always been a symbol for the Empire's authority. And finally, the Command Wolfs and military-grade black Redlers. One had been a mainstay unit of ground warfare for centuries; the other ruled the skies for almost as long. Helic and Guyglos units united for a strike against a mutual foe. Such would be the case in the future, although the outcome would be very different from today. Today they would win the battle.
"Chairman Vaez?" Such a lovely ring to the title.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"All forces report ready. We can begin the attack any time you're ready."
"Dawn breaks in five minutes. Tell everyone we will attack then." What better time to issue in a new era of war than at the first light of day? The sun had set on the era of Zoids Battles the minute he'd become the new ZBC Chairman, and a new day for Zoids warfare was about to burst forth and cover the land in its blazing light. But for Sen Vaez to fully appreciate the new dawn, he had to put one final relic in the past.
He stood before his own war mount, the Orudios. Its black chrome body blended with the dark sky while its white armor almost made it glow. It, like Vaez, was a mixture. It was a both of light and darkness, fact and fiction. The stallion it resembled had changed the course of history on Earth. Horses had enabled the eastern hemisphere to conquer and colonize the west; and horses had been a mainstay of war for many years. And the wings on the Zoid's back gave it the majesty of a fictional Terran creature, long revered and romanticized for its beauty.
Vaez, too, would become polar opposites. Today he was a leader for justice. Soon he would be a shadow stalker, preying upon society. Then a conqueror, hated and feared by his enemies. And once those enemies ceased to be, he would be the monarch of a new era: a true king.
He climbed up into the Orudios' cockpit and settled into the pilot's chair. Most leaders preferred to stay safe at home while others fought for them, but that was only cowardice. A true leader exposed himself to danger so his subordinates would draw strength from his lead and fight harder.
The sun seemed lost for an eternity in the desert night. The timer on his consol moved excruciatingly slow. His palms grew sweaty and his mouth dry; not from fear of battle but impatience born from restraint. He forced a deep breath to calm himself. Eventually, the sun's rays arched over the sand dunes, causing Orudios' golden wings to shine like the blaze of a new star. As its light reflected off his army, he rejoiced that the time for war had finally returned to Zi.
"All units, attack!"
The Redlers soared in first, launching missiles from underneath their semi-transparent emerald wings and firing burst from the cannons mounted on their heads. The darkness of the dawning sky concealed them from any counterattack at the moment. The Command Wolfs, with their white finish, were far more visible as they charged, firing bursts of laser fire.
The Red Horns lumbered behind, providing shelling with their heavy mounted cannons and Vulcan guns. Vaez delighted in their blood red bodies and how the dawn light turned them ablaze. The Gojulas units, too boxy and cumbersome to advance quickly, remained behind and provided long-range shelling using shoulder-mounted cannons. The base, a small dome encircled with turret towers, vanished in a mixture of fire, smoke, and sand. Fires consumed the armor, and the turrets remained silent.
The debris from the first wave had yet to settle when the counterattack began. Small patches of darkness appeared the navy blue sky. A squadron of Zabats dropped bombs and fired missiles into the advancing force. The comm. chorused the panicked cries of those unfortunate enough to be targeted while the irregular beat of explosions timed the battle.
The tempo increased as a small set of simian Iron Kong Zoids appeared and began adding their own firepower to the battle. Some were mounted with Vulcans, others beam weapons. Their aim was impressive. Several Command Wolfs were struck down with critical hits to their Zoid cores. One mortar-launching Iron Kong took out a Red Horn and its pilot with one shot.
Next came the Dark Horns, the Red Horn's black cousin. They too were heavily armed and began tearing through the advancing forces. Count Umbra had spared no expense in his personal defenses. Nevertheless, his forces were grossly outnumbered. The base's defense relied upon the turrets to handle long-rang forces while the heavily armed Zoids dealt with the closer, weaker forces. With the turrets disabled, the Red Horns and Gojulas units were able to blast the defenders with little fear of retribution.
The Iron Kongs were the first targets of the Gojulas' onslaught. One burst struck a Kong's power core, causing it to explode from the inside. Another Kong lost its arm and its command system shut down. The Zoid itself slumped over as if it had passed out from the pain.
High above, the Redlers honed in on the Zabat squadron and brought them down with a barrage of machine gun fire. The Zabats made poor evasive maneuvers, providing nary a challenge to their rivals. The Count had not spent as much money on pilots and had thus relied on unmanned craft. Machines were not to be trusted with humans lives; his second big mistake.
Galloping forward in his Orudios, Vaez dodged a round of fire from one of the few remaining Dark Horns. Its mortar cannon fired shot after shot, yet none could touch him. Orudios weaved between the explosions so smoothly it seemed as though the Zoid truly was flying. Vaez grinned as the shots became more desperate; there was nothing like seeing your opponent panic.
When he was so close it seemed as if he'd actually challenge the rhino head on, Vaez skidded to left and allowed the desert sand to propel him to the side. Digging the right hoof into the ground, Orudios spun just enough that its hip-mounted cannons were aimed directly at the Dark Horn's side. It took several quick bursts, but the enemy Zoid eventually relented under Vaez's assault. The remaining forces had cleared through the other defenders, and the turrets had not fired a shot.
"Sir," his Lieutenant's voice came from the comm. "all enemy Zoid pilots have either been killed or surrendered. We're also receiving multiple surrender signals from within the base."
"Any of them from Count Umbra?"
"No, sir. In fact, one communiqué says that the Count has sealed the exits, preventing anyone from exiting the base. Sensors confirm that all doors are locked down, and the main gates are heavily reinforced. I don't think the Gojulas or the Red Horns have enough ammo left to punch through."
"Understood. Signal the troop carrier. We'll use ground troops to enter the base. Have the Zoid pilots cover the arrest of the enemy Zoid units."
"Yessir." The comm. clicked off. Vaez then selected another frequency.
"Pegasus to Shadow."
"Shadow receiving."
"Creep from within and burst forth."
"Understood." Silence.
Vaez leaned back and smiled. His covert unit, specially selected and trained for this mission, would soon be inside the base, snagging one key member for his future. Just a little more time and soon the king would have all the pawns he required. But now the fun was over. Now he had to move faster than his own forces and locate the Count before anyone else. He had to end things here, or his entire future might unravel.
A modified hover cargo mounted a sand dune and pulled into place beside the enemy base. It's round hanger section had been replaced with a short cylinder equipped with several boarding ramps. The bridges spanned the gap between the cargo and the lip of the base's outer wall. ZBC soldiers poured out of the carrier and jumped onto the ledge, taking up positions along the doorways.
Vaez signaled the troop commander. "Commander, hold the troops back until I join them. I wish to take part in this phase as well."
"Sir, with respect, I must protest. We're fully capable of taking this base and it would cause you unnecessary risk to enter the enemy's ground."
"Most of the enemy has surrendered. They're just waiting for us to open the doors."
"True, sir. But that could be a ruse, and some might resist without surrendering."
"Your concern is appreciated, Commander, but I'm still going. Consider this a professional courtesy. Count Umbra, head of the Backdraft is said to be hiding here. It would be disrespectful for anyone less than the Chairman of the Zoids Battle Commission to arrest him."
"I doubt the Backdraft would be offended if you stayed back, sir. They're not big on manners."
"True, but we of the ZBC hold ourselves to higher standards than the Backdraft. Trust me, Commander, I will be perfectly fine. Order your troops to wait."
"Yessir."
* * * * * * * *
The C.A.S. was incredible. It was beautiful. It was stubborn as hell. Well, actually just the bolts were stubborn. Leo grunted as he pulled back on the crowbar with all his strength, trying to force the damaged armor off the Jager unit.
The high-speed navy-blue armor was covered with scratches and dents. He found some twigs, leafs, and even broken eggs smeared on the armor and in the cracks. It took him a moment to remember the Royal Cup, when the Liger Zero Jager had plowed through a small forest to surprise Jack Sisco's Lightning Saix. It had been an intense battle that had all the audience gasping for air later, but now Leo couldn't help but feel sorry for all the birds who'd lost homes and offspring when a good chunk of their habitat was destroyed.
Still, it wasn't as if Bit Cloud had been trying to uproot all those trees. He'd been focused on the battle and took it to the most extreme level of combat; even though that put both Bit and Liger Zero in danger. Of course, that left Leo with the task of cleaning up after him. Such was the fate of a grease monkey. And right now, that task was all the more frustrating thanks to an armor plate that absolutely refused to budge!
"Come… on… you… stupid…" Leo's stomach growl almost drowned out the squeaking of metal.
"Jeez. I'm surprised your stomach doesn't rumble the whole Hover Cargo." Leo glanced up, and quickly yanked out the crowbar to step into a defense position. He hadn't seen Leena since the day before when he saw her… well, saw her.
Now she stood in front of him (fully clothed) with a tray bearing a sandwich and some milk. Her expression didn't seem hostile, but she had a humoring look about her, as if Leo couldn't protect himself from her no matter how hard he tired. "Put that down. You look like a scared little kid."
"You'd be scared too if you had a whole arsenal thrown at you the day before!"
Leena rolled her eyes. "Oh, quit being a 'fraidy cat and set down. You skipped lunch." She set the tray down on a nearby work bench.
Leo glanced from the food to Leena. "So… does this mean you're not mad anymore?"
"I've forgiven you. Let's leave it at that. And I told you to stop looking so scared. If I wanted to take you out you'd be sprawled on the floor by now!"
Leo conceded the point, sat down, and reached for the meal greedily. Then Leena's hand slapped his away. "Ouch! What was that for? I get it. This is torture for yesterday. You're going to torture me by not letting me eat!"
"Will you listen to yourself? Your hands are filthy. You can't just eat food with those. Go wash up first!" Again Leo resisted fighting, especially when Leena was right. His hands were greasy and dirty from repairing and cleaning the armor units. He quickly rushed over to a small faucet and cleaned his hands, then returned to the meal and took it with a little more hesitance this time.
As he ate, Leena sat down next to him. "So, how's the work going?"
"Okay. Schneider's all done, but Jager's taking a while. Armor's bolted down pretty tight. Guess it'd have to be with the speeds the Liger can reach. I haven't even started on the Panzer yet, but it didn't look too damaged."
Leena nodded, "Panzer could handle anything short of a Charged Particle Cannon Blast. But good luck trying to get the Panzer armor off. If you can't get the Jager to cooperate, then you'll never handle the Panzer."
"Gimme a break. This isn't easy you know."
Another roll of the eyes. "Oh, please." Leena sat up and picked up the crowbar. She walked over, fitted the bar into the small gap Leo had started, then kicked. The bolts practically leaped out and the panel came flying off, skidding to a stop at Leo's feet.
Leo stared down at the liberated armor. "Hm, humble pie. Guess that takes care of desert." He took another bite and enjoyed Leena's laugh. "You're a lot stronger than you look."
"What's that supposed to mean? Don't think a girl can lift a few tons of steel?"
"No. It's just that I wouldn't expect someone so slender to be able to do that. I thought only people who were built like a Gojulas could do what you just did."
Leena's eyebrow's lifted. "Oh? You think I'm slender?" She leaned to the side and ran her fingers through her hair. "It's not easy being strong and beautiful, but I somehow manage to pull it off."
"Too bad your humility stinks. You might win the next Ms. Zi pageant otherwise."
"What are you implying?" Leena's voice carried venom.
"NOTHING!" Leo stuffed his mouth before he shot it off again. Leena sat back down next to him.
"It's funny you mentioned the Ms. Zi pageant. I've been thinking about entering someday. I'd be a guaranteed winner, right?"
Leo withheld comment and decided to change the subject. "So you don't plan on being a Class S warrior for life?"
Leena shook her head. "No way. This is just a start for me. Win fame as a Zoid Warrior, then launch my career using my already high profile as a platform!" She punched a fist in the air. "You're looking at the next supermodel of planet Zi!"
"Model?" Yeah, she was hot enough, Leo decided, but her temper and violence…
Leena didn't register the surprise in his voice. "Or movie star. Or maybe even the wife of a big-time male model! When you're as skilled as me, anything's possible."
She had confidence. Leo tried to look as agreeable as possible.
"What about you?" asked Leena. "I know you don't want to be a mechanic for life. What are you going to be? Zoid warrior full-time?"
Leo shrugged. "Haven't had the luxury to think that far ahead. I can't really think of anything else I can do that would involve my partner here."
Leena stood up and strolled beside Fang, who rested on one of the Hover Cargo's platforms. "I was wondering where your Zoid vanished to. Why'd you bring it in here?"
"I think Fang would be jealous if I did maintenance on another Zoid without him around. He's pretty insecure." Fang growled an almost inaudible protest. Leena didn't hear it.
"You honestly think Zoids are that aware?"
"You think they're not?"
"No. Most Zoids I know stand around like statues until the pilot tells them to move. Bit's Liger Zero's the only one I've seen move on its own, and even it waits around for Bit to pilot it. I really can't see how you could think a Zoid would care what you were doing if you weren't piloting it."
Leo frowned. "You mean the Gunsiper's never done anything out of the ordinary? It hasn't reacted to your commands in weird ways?"
"No. Never."
"When did you get it?"
"Just last year. It was a custom job. State-of-the-art after the Backdraft's Elephander blew up my Dibison."
"What happened to your Dibison?"
"I traded it in to buy the Gunsiper and have it outfitted."
"You traded your partner???" Leo's jaw fell.
Leena placed her hands on her hips. "Well what was I supposed to do? The Dibison was completely scrapped! You couldn't salvage a microchip from it."
"But its core and battle data were all right?"
"Yes."
"Then it would have healed! In would have worked fine in time!"
"Yeah, in a couple hundred years! Several seasons would be over by the time the Dibison healed itself!"
Leo hated it when people thought like that. Everyone was willing to wait for a family member or friend to heal up in a hospital, but there was no patience for a Zoid that was too hurt to move. Just sell them off and get a new one, like a car. He didn't want to be mad at Leena for doing such a thing, but it was hard to ignore. He also realized this was an argument that was neither winnable nor necessary.
"So… was everything on your shiny new Sniper up to date?"
"Of course." The danger in Leena's voice matched disdain of Leo's words.
"A state-of-the-art Command System. Figures."
"What do you mean?"
Leo stood up and walked beside Leena. "I have no doubt that Zoids have a much stronger will than people realize. They're "warriors by nature," as some people call them; and that life requires a strong will. I think it's the Command Systems that suppress their wills so they're easier to pilot. It used to be that Zoids didn't accept pilots who couldn't draw out their full potential. And if a pilot abused his partner, it ran away. There used to be a ton of runaway Zoids in the wastelands. Now a runaway Zoid's an urban legend. The more advanced Command Systems become, the more we suppress the Zoids' wills."
"'The Zoids' wills.' You sound a lot like my brother."
"You have a brother?"
Leena sighed and nodded. "Yeah, Leon. He used to be the leader of the Blitz Team until he got hurt in a match. Then Bit came along and took his place. Leon went off to see the world and become a better pilot, then came back with a Blade Liger and joined Naomi Fluegel's team. He's always talking about the wills of Zoids and their 'unlimited potential.'"
"You don't sound all that convinced." Leo was pleased that the hostility had already left the conversation. Leena's mentioning of her brother had taken some of the rancor out of her.
Leena said. "I've piloted two Zoids and neither one has ever acted like it had any other desires that to move however I ordered them. I know that, technically, Zoids are supposed to be alive, but I've never seen any Zoid— besides Liger Zero and Berserk Fury—act on its own."
"So you're saying that only Ultimate X Zoids have a real will of their own?"
"Yep."
"Hmm." Leo said, "Well, I can see where you might think that, but trust me when I say Zoids do have a will of their own. Fang's done some pretty amazing things so far."
"Such as?"
"He gave me a name. I doubt even an Ultimate X has done that."
Leena frowned. "Waitaminute. Fang named you?"
"Yes."
"And Leo was the best he could come up with?" That grin on her face showed she didn't believe him. No one ever did. He decided to change the subject.
"So, you have a brother. Any other siblings?"
Leena's grin widened. "Nice dodge. But Leon's my only brother, and I don't have any sisters."
"What about your mother?"
Leena's face suddenly lost its tease and enthusiasm. She suddenly looked serious. It wasn't an expression that fit her face. "She… died… giving birth to me."
"Oh… I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay." Leena forced the happiness back onto her face. "It happened a long time ago. Don't worry about."
Grroowwwlll! A loud rumble shook the Hover Cargo's floor. Leo frowned. That sounded like a Liger's roar.
Leena didn't seem surprised. "About time. I was wondering when he'd get here."
"Who's here? Is Bit Cloud back?"
"No. Someone else. Actually, it's my brother."
* * * * * * * *
How could the glorious battle I envisioned come to this? Count Umbra asked himself for the hundredth time. The reality lay before him, cruelly simple and direct, yet he could not bring himself to accept it. The Backdraft Organization had come so close to claiming ultimate victory at the Royal Cup. Yet the defeat of Vega Obscura, coupled with the loss of the dark Judge satellite network, had robbed them of any gain and brought the Backdraft to the brink of oblivion.
And now this. This strike at his hidden sanctum. How could the ZBC have found him all the way out here in the midst of a wasteland? And more to the point, how had they overpowered his defenses so easily? In his most honest moments, the Count knew that his Backdraft pilots were far from the cream of the crop. Most were recruited as failed Zoid Warriors and bandits who were looking to make it big. None of them were truly as skilled as many Class A warriors, hence the reliance on cheating devices. The Backdraft warriors liked to delusion themselves by thinking that the absence of rules was simply to increase the bidding by the Backdraft's constituents. While half-true, the lack or restrictions also worked in the Backdraft's favor, since its warriors would probably lose in a fair fight.
Yet this time the fight was stacked against them. It was the ZBC that cheated by somehow disabling his turret defenses, thus stripping him of the core of his resistance. His defenders could not hope to repel the ZBC's superior forces without the guns. This fact, coupled with the speed of his detection, could only lead to one conclusion: betrayal. Someone within his immediate group had divulged the location of the base and disabled its defenses.
"Count?" his aid, Linda Hilbrant, said, "We should make our way to the hanger before the soldiers come. If we hurry, you can escape before the gain entrance."
Yes, that would be wise. Digging out with the Guysack had saved him last time. But anyone skilled enough to leak information about the base and sabotage it without detection was surely thorough enough to disable his one true means of escape. He was trapped, and he did not want false hopes to make him a fool.
Never one to sit around and wait for something to happen, the Count set about the one task left to him. "Computer, online."
A holographic screen materialized in front of him with an indicator flashing. "Computer ready. How may I serve you, Count Umbra?"
"Display all access records for turret defense control and communication. Correspond by date and time." The data flashed before him with no obvious footprints. Perhaps he needed to narrow the search. Turret control had been working fine during the security check yesterday. Whoever had cut off the power had timed it well enough to avoid the security sweep yet not allow a single shot to be fired during the attack. A code had to have been used lest security detect a break-in. "Computer, list all turret control access from one hundred hours this morning. The data scrolled down, reflected in his black mirrored glasses.
His aid continued to plead. "Count, please. You must escape now."
There it was. The evidence that implicated… himself. The Count's access code had been the last one used to open the door to turret control. But who could have-?
"Count, please!" The realization was almost numbing.
"Computer, list all dates and times for access by Count Luscious Umbra." There was indeed an access log using his code for the communications office two days ago. It had been for a secured outside line. Location unknown. No wonder such a communiqué had not been reported. Who would dare question the Count's activities? Or, rather, the person using the Count's code.
He turned to regard Linda. She was tall and young, around her mid twenties. Her cinnamon hair was cut short and curved around her head ending at two points near her chin. Her black and red uniform was akin to a butler's, though she was far more invaluable as his personal attendant in his old age. Looking at her, it was hard to believe her history. He'd trained her almost her entire life. He'd trusted her implicitly. That was perhaps his greatest mistake.
He took a few steps away from her. He needed distance to do what had to be done. He didn't bother to look at her as he spoke. "Linda, how long have we known each other?"
"Over twenty years, sir. But I don't-"
"Are you grateful to me?"
"Of course, Count."
"Why?"
"Y-you saved me. You-"
"I took you in." His voice became harsher with each breath. "I took you, a filthy beggar, off the street. I brought you into my home, fed you my food, and raised you like my own. I gave you a prominent position as my aid, a place of power that many coveted. You had more power than anyone could have realized, but I trusted you not to abuse it. I thought, above all others, that you were loyal."
"I am!"
"Do not insult me with more lies."
"… Count… don't move." He finally looked at her. A gun trembled in her hands. "I mean this. Do not move, please."
But the Count did move. Holding up his walking cane, he leveled it accusingly at her. "You betrayed me. Me, your savior. I am the only reason you are alive; and you betrayed me."
"Count…" The gun shook even more fearfully.
"You'd have died in a mud hole or a gutter, soiled, starved, and alone if it had not been for me. Who could have possibly won your loyalty against me?"
"I am serious. I will shoot!"
"Was it the Zoids Battle Commission Chairman? Sen Vaez can be very persuasive. I should know. What did he offer you? A new Zoid? Money? Power? A place within his cabinet?"
"Sir…"
"Or did he offer you the kind of service that only a man can offer a woman? Yes, I imagine that is the case. That was the one thing I never provided for you, wasn't it? That was the only thing that could sway you. I hope he was worth it."
"I will shoot you if you do not raise your hands right now!"
The Count finally acknowledged her words. "No, my dear. You will not shoot me." He caressed the carved beak at the hilt of his cane. Some of the finest and deadliest craftsmanship on Zi. "You will not shoot because it is not your nature. You are a betrayer, not a murderer. I've known you almost all your life and I know that you do not have what it takes to pull that trigger."
"Don't challenge me." She pleaded. "Sen will-"
"'Sen?' Dear girl, he didn't even tell you his real name and you think he cares what happens to you? You have been used by the one man closer to you than I. Think about that for the next few moments. It is a far greater punishment than anything I could have given you. Next to this, of course." His finger found the hidden trigger within the cane's beak. In a heartbeat, half the cane dropped away, revealing a barrel in its midsection. There was a loud crash throughout the room and when the smoke cleared Linda lay sprawled on the floor. A small hole had appeared in her chest and she heaved for breath as her eyes—now triple in size—scanned the room desperately.
"Goodbye, my Linda." He sighed. "You shall not ever betray me again." Out of respect for her service, he watched unflinching as the life drained from her face and her body went limp. She had served him well until this one event. He would have protected her beyond his death if only she had stayed loyal.
He snapped his cane back into position, hiding the gun barrel, and moved towards the comm. "Commander, report."
"Count, sir! We are being overrun. All Zoid units are down and many soldiers are surrendering. The few that are putting up resistance are falling back to the main hanger, but the enemy's numbers are too great. They'll be surrounded soon. Sir, I suggest surrender."
"Meaning that you have surrendered already."
"No, Count! I would fight to the last-"
"This is the last moment, Commander. You have surrendered, haven't you?"
"… Yes, sir." Loyalty was so cheap these days. Didn't young people believe in living and dying for anyone else but themselves? "I don't want my life to end here. If you give in, Count, they'll be lenient. They promised."
"Of course. But then, you don't know what they originally planned, do you? So how do you know what their leniency will be? You may only get life in jail instead of an execution.
"Sir! I highly doubt-"
"I will leave you to discover your fate." He turned to comm. off.
"Just so you know," a voice said from the doorway, "he'll probably get a maximum of sixty years. After all, he is the head of this outpost and ordered the counter attack. I'm sure the families of the soldiers he killed will want some form of justice." The man known to most as Sen Vaez stood in the doorway with a gun leveled at the Count's head. "A pleasure to see you again, Count. Drop your cane, now."
* * * * * * * *
Leo liked Leon from the moment they shared a powerful handshake. Leena's brother was very different from what he'd envisioned. Leo's mind had concocted an image of a berserker in a Blade Liger, running around and chopping up anything in his sights. Leon was not like Leena. He shared her violet eyes and her confidence, but he had a calm about him, a certainty that Leena lacked. And he kept good company.
Naomi Fluegel was one of the most beautiful women Leo had ever seen. Her reddish-brown hair shined in the desert sunlight, and her athletic, thin body was all curves. Her piloting outfit, a cross between a cowgirl's clothing and a bikini, didn't hurt either.
Leon smile resembled Doc's. "Leena mentioned you could use a little help in piloting a Zoid."
"And aiming, and firing, and learning not to touch other people's stuff." Brad's emotionless persona hadn't betrayed any sign of resentment over Leo's stealing the Shadow Fox, but it was clear he hadn't easily forgotten. Still, he hadn't lunged for Leo's throat yet, so he had probably forgiven the debacle.
"Then let's start with a little target practice." Naomi held up a sniping rifle. "If you can aim with one of this, the big guns will be no trouble." She pointed towards a rock just off the base's paved grounds. Someone had hastily painted a bull's-eye across its face. "Try to hit that."
Leo frowned. "Wouldn't it be better if I got Fang first?"
Naomi asked, "Who's Fang?"
Leena sighed. "Leo has this weird habit of naming Zoids. He doesn't all the time."
"That's not too weird. I call my Gun Sniper 'Big Red.'"
"Well, you're pretty weird to begin with."
"Oh really?" Naomi sounded amused. "If we want to discuss weird, why don't we take a look at your Gun Sniper with all its overdone components? Honestly, a Gun Sniper that doesn't actually snipe."
"You wanna start something?" Leon and Brad held Leena back. "Let's see whose Gun Sniper's better!"
"I thought we already determined that when I took you out in our last match. You didn't even land a hit, Leena."
"Um," Leo didn't want to see where this catfight was heading, "anyway, shouldn't I get my partner out here?"
"No. You can't aim a Zoid's gun until you really understand how to aim on your own."
Leon nodded. "A Zoid draws its strength from its pilot. If you're unfocused, your Zoid won't reach its full potential."
Leo didn't fully understand, but he picked up the rifle and aimed at the target. His first shot didn't even hit the rock. The next one was slightly better, although it barely struck within the target's rings. The final shot didn't improve upon the second.
"Wow." Naomi said. "I haven't seen shots that bad since my first battle with Bit."
"You don't have to rub it in." Leo said as he reloaded. This was yet another reminder that the flaw lay with him, not Fang.
"Not to worry. We'll fix your aim in no time."
"I don't get what I'm doing wrong."
"You're not focusing. Targeting is more than just pointing in the right direction. Isn't that right, Leena?" Brad and Leon dragged her away before she could answer. Naomi continued, "You have to feel the shot. Block everything else out. Nothing exists besides you and the target. When you obtain that focus, you release it by pulling the trigger and the bullet does the rest for you."
Leo re-aimed and tried to drown out Leena's shouting. "Wait," Naomi wrapped her arms around him and placed her hands on the gun. "Try holding it like this." Now Leo really couldn't focus. He couldn't ignore the fact that a beautiful woman was rubbing up against him, or that she had her arms around him. He couldn't ignore Leena's fist connecting with his skull either.
"Ow!" Leo was now sprawled on the floor. "What was that for?"
"What was that blush for? You're here for target practice, not a testosterone high!"
"My, my. Jealous, Leena?"
"Are you kidding? Why would I be jealous about you being all over him?"
"Wadda mean 'him?' What's wrong with me?"
Naomi waved her hand. "Don't worry about it, Leo. Leena's a very poor judge in character. I happen to think you're very attractive, and I'm a wonderful judge of character. Right, Brad?" She glanced over her shoulder. Brad just shrugged, and for a moment disappointment melted Naomi's face. Then it was replaced with her usual cool exterior. Now that Leo thought about it, Naomi had been glancing a Brad a lot since they had arrived. What was wrong with him; ignoring the advances of a beautiful woman like Naomi? Too bad women always went for the brooding loners.
Leo stood back up and tried to mimic the hold that Naomi had showed him. Fortunately, everyone remained quiet this time, so Leo didn't have as much trouble aiming. His new shot struck much closer to the bull's eye; and the next was even closer. His aim bordered the bull's-eye but never struck it. Naomi and the others encouraged that his aim was improving. Everyone except Leena.
"If you take that much time to aim, you'll be hit without even taking a shot." That stung. Leo couldn't understand why Leena was so intent on beating him into a hole. She hadn't been this way in the Hover Cargo. Leo didn't like this Leena.
"At least he aims, Leena. You'd just blow up the whole area and still miss the target." Naomi smirked.
"You wanna see how good a shot I am? Let's go! You and me, right now!"
"I'll take you on anytime, but right now I'm here to help Leo. We've got several more rounds with the sniping rifle before we move on to the Zoid targeting. Now, you can either stay and offer support or leave and grace us all with silence. Either way, you'll be more help than you are right now." Leo couldn't believe how Leena withered away from Naomi's criticism. She didn't utter another word as Leo continued to fire at the target. He didn't hit once, but he did get a feel for the weapon.
"Okay." Leon stepped forward. "Let's go see your Zoid." He and Leo walked into the Hover Cargo. When they were out of the group's earshot Leon said, "Don't let Leena get to you."
"I'm fine with it."
"I doubt that. I know how hard it is to admit you need help piloting a Zoid. I was in your position less than a year ago. When I left the Toros base, I participated in many battles as a freelancer. I lost more times than I'd care to recall and each loss chipped away at my confidence. There came a point where I hit rock bottom and lost all pride in my piloting skills."
"So why are you still a Zoid warrior?"
"Because once you've broken yourself down, you can accept your limitations and work to surpass them. You can only overcome your own barriers by seeing them, and you can only see them when you look at yourself with humility. Leena doesn't realize that yet. She still tries to build her confidence by comparing herself to others and trying to surpass them. She's still trying to strengthen herself by winning battles instead of learning from them."
"Great. And I asked her to tutor me."
Leon laughed. "She'll probably teach you how to dodge, although not intentionally. You'll learn by evading her shots. Stick with Brad, Jamie, and my Dad. They'll help you learn. Plus, Naomi and I are happy to help."
Leo sighed. "Thanks, Leon. This means a lot to me. You're a good guy."
"You say that now, but wait until I teach you."
* * * * * * * *
"You wouldn't deny an old man his walking stick, would you?" The Count was leaning on his cane far more than he needed to.
"You're not that feeble. Drop it, now." Vaez motioned with his gun.
"I'll fall."
"Then be sure to land on your shoulder. For the last time: drop it." The cane clattered to the ground. "Now kick it over to me." The Count did as ordered. "I take it this is how you disposed of my informant?" Vaez nodded towards Linda's body.
"She threatened me and I defended myself. You don't seem too broken up over it. Weren't you two close?" He was being tested to see how well he kept his emotions in check. The Count was still prodding him after all these years.
"She was a means to an end. Your end. She's served her purpose."
"Very cold of you."
"'Be cold and clear as the ice and patient as the soil. You cannot be rule planet until you learn from it.' You're first lesson."
"Didn't I also teach you to respect your elders?"
"Yes. And you taught me to weed out the weaklings so the strong may flourish. Which lesson am I to follow?"
The Count sighed. "This is the second greatest shame I have felt because of you."
"It was either join the ZBC or play your little games in the Backdraft. Given our current situation, I'd say I followed the better path."
"Yes, a real mess this. I hear it was you, 'Chairman Vaez,' who suggested the creation of the Supper Satellite."
"It was. Though I wasn't Chairman at the time."
"If you'd joined the Backdraft, then we wouldn't be in this situation, would we?"
"And do what? Play the bad boy and rack up gambling wins for a bunch of bloated, rich, bored pigs? What a mockery of our mission."
The Count took a step towards him. "You still don't understand! The Backdraft's true goal was always to rule!"
"By taking over Zoids battles?"
"Yes! Zi is no longer won by warfare. The mob rules, and the Zoids Battles rule the mob. People will follow whoever supplies their entertainment. Rule the battles, rule the world!"
"I own the ZBC itself."
"And yet you answer to both Guylos and Helic. That is not the goal our family has sought!"
"Patience. In time, I will gain even more power and claim the whole of Zi for our family. No matter how different our methods, our goal is one and the same. I will rule Zi in our family's name, and I will reap revenge upon those who wronged us."
The Count was silent for a moment, then chuckled. "'Sen Vaez.' I caught the meaning right away. Anyone with a knack for anagrams will discover the truth."
"I doubt anyone will have that much free time. Soon Zi will be awash in news of the Zoids Battle Commission's success. Fortress and camp of the Backdraft shall be overturned and destroyed. Its soldiers will be tried, and the hidden figures in society shall be arrested."
"News and truth are not always the same. What will really be happening?"
"Useless soldiers will be sacrificed to create pretence of victory, obsolete bases will be given over, and anyone who owes the Backdraft a debt will pay through jail time. Surviving Backdraft cells will strike with great revenge and put all cities and states on high alert."
"And how will you take advantage of the situation?"
"Isn't it obvious? I will be the one creating the situation. Using a pawn, I shall assume reign over the Backdraft Organization. It will be a war without end because I will be the puppeteer of both sides. Each side will strike at the other with the populace caught in the middle, crippled with fear."
The Count nodded. "And such fear will drive the independent city-states to seek protection. Protection that can only be given by Helic or Guylos."
"But Helic and Guylos will not share the task. They will want those territories all for themselves. Tensions will build as arguments become more frequent, and eventually…"
"War."
"Yes, very
good. War will break out, and I will step in to claim victory."
"With this fabled 'Queen' by your side?"
"Of course. She will be the base of my power. She will ensure that all serve me with complete loyalty."
The Count was again silent, taking in all that Vaez had said. "It is a good plan in theory, but there are too many variables. You dabble in things that you do not fully understand. Such ignorance will surely ruin you."
"No. I will succeed. I have worked too hard to fail. Anything that comes up, I can adapt to meet and defeat it."
"I do not approve of your plan."
"My plan does not require your approval. Merely your absence. You have another sidearm, correct?" The Count produced a small pistol from beneath is cape. "Excellent. Kindly shoot yourself with it."
If the Count was scared or startled, he didn't show it. "I beg your pardon?"
Vaez explained just as he'd rehearsed. "People will be too busy to analyze my name, but it won't take much to discover the link between you and myself, and from there someone could find out our history. In order for my plan to succeed, you cannot be alive to alter its future. I cannot kill you. Even the most basic autopsy would reveal that I fired the gun, and an investigation would find the truth. In order to remove you from the equation while protecting myself, you must take your own life."
"And why would I do that?"
"'No sacrifice is too great for our family to regain its place in the world.' You told me that every day of my life since I was an infant. It was your idea of comfort the day my father died. Will you ignore your own teachings?"
"Already your plan begins to break down. Its success depends upon my compliance. You have no way of guaranteeing my cooperation."
"On the contrary. I know you will do this. You and I are the last of our family, and you just killed my most current option for producing an heir. The Backdraft is broken; your plan has failed. The burden now falls to me. If I fail, then our family ends here and we never accomplish our dream. Will you place your life above the mission that is rooted so deeply in our beliefs? Will you ignore all that you taught me? I think not. No, Grandfather, I don't think you'll forsake all that for fear of dying. You will pull that trigger to ensure our future, even if you will not be a part of it. I know you will."
He let the silence hang between them. Muted explosions and gunfire sounds seeped through the walls, announcing the approach of the ZBC soldiers. Time was short and the Count knew it. He had to make his decision, the only decision that he could possibly make.
Finally, the Count said, "You always were good at scripting out conversations. There is a hanger beneath this base. I have stored a small contingent of new Zoids. They're light weight and not much good against forces like the one you have brought down upon me, but I'm sure you'll find some use for them. The access is through that doorway." He nodded to a wall.
"You're donation is appreciated. Now hurry. We don't have much time."
"I'll be watching you alongside your parents and our ancestors. Don't disappoint us."
"I promise; you will not regret your sacrifice."
There was nothing left to say. No words of love or comfort. No goodbyes. The mission was all that mattered. In one swift motion, the Count pressed the pistol to his temple and pulled the trigger. With a loud crack, he slumped to the floor.
Vaez inhaled the moment. Now it was just him. No more lectures or teachings. Now he put his life-long training to work. He awaited the arrival of his subordinates, and prepared to put on the best performance of his life thus far.
* * * * * * * *
"Twelve O'clock!"
Bam!
"Nine O'clock!"
Boom!
"Five O'clock!"
Leo wasn't sure what time it was anymore. He wasn't sure how long this drill had gone on either. He was finally inside Fang, surrounded by a circle of stones. The one before him was Twelve O'Clock, the one behind was Six. Leon's voice bellowed times for Leo to strike, and his body was begging to take more effort than his mind.
"You now know the basics of aiming," Leon had said, "it's time to learn to aim at a moment's notice. You have to focus, aim, and fire in a split instant or your enemy will get the first shot in. If you can bulls-eye these targets without thinking, then you'll have mastered this exercise." Fang was forbidden from movement. Only the laser turret on his back could swivel to find the targets. That wasn't good news, since Fang's censors and calibration were still offset.
Leo shook his head and remembered Leon's berating when he made that excuse. "If you're aware of a weakness, then you can compensate for it! If you know the sites or off, then adjust your aim to be off center! The two errors will cancel each other out." Good theory. But there was no compensating for Leo's aim. Each shot reminded him of how far he had to go before he was truly broken and could rebuild himself into a better warrior. Each shot hit his heart, even though it missed the bulls-eye every time. One wrong shot; a crack. Two missed shots; a small fissure. Three shots gone and now his heart felt so heavy it might fall out of his chest.
How much longer do I have to lose? thought Leo. When do I become a real pilot?
"That's enough." Leon said. "We're going to do one more exercise for today."
"Okay…"
"You alright?"
"… No. Not really."
"Good. That means you're taking this seriously."
Leo didn't know if he should laugh or cry. "It's good that I feel terrible?"
"Don't misunderstand. I know how unpleasant it is to struggle with training. Believe me, it hurts some days. But I also want you to believe me when I say that you'll grow from this experience. Some days you'll wear your shame like a badge of honor-"
"I don't want a stupid badge of honor!"
"Other days you'll fight better than you used to and feel a great satisfaction from it."
"Are we talking about you or me? 'Cause this sounds an awful lot you're your autobiography."
"Anyway, let's move on to the last session."
"Are you listening to me?" The silence answered for him. What good was complaining if no one was listening?
Fang slumped down the ridge from where he'd been practicing. Leon's Blade Liger waited below. The desert heat, mixed with the Liger's bright red color scheme, made it look afire. The twin golden blades lining its back looked especially sharp and threatening. Leo fell into a romantic dream about piloting a Liger such as that. Blade Ligers had won a place in history by defeating the Deathsaurer, twice. Not to mention they were some of the most well-balanced Zoids in all of Zi.
But piloting a Liger meant letting go of Fang. No way chance of that. Leo focused on the present and his true partner.
Leon's Blade Liger began to move away. "This final part is an obstacle course. Jamie's set up a flare ten kilometers south of here. You have to reach that flare before you're disqualified."
When no further explanation came, Leo asked, "And how will I be disqualified?"
Leon's Liger had vanished. "You'll see. Just start running."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Count "Umbra" is a name I came up with. It was never mentioned in the show or any fan page. So far as I know, the Backdraft Count was never named. "Umbra" is Latin for shadow. Seemed fitting for the leader of the Backdraft Organization.
I was very uncomfortable with the idea of killing the Count. I don't usually like it when people kill off a TV character in a fan fic. unless it is vital to the story. You should have seen me react to some of the Star Wars novels that came out over the last few years (Chewie! NOOO!).
I also realize that it might be difficult to have Leo and Leon appear in the same setting. Their names are so similar that it's easy to mix them up (and miss them in a proof-read). However, I named my character Leo for a reason and I hope it will make sense in the future. Please bear with me and watch for the next chapter.
