Battle Dawn
Chapter 9: Eve's Conspiracy
by Silver
Author's Note: This chapter took a long time because I've been busy with a video production project as well as finishing my Digimon fan fic "Darkness Reborn." Thank you to all my faithful readers who have been very patient with my lack of progress, and thanks to anyone who took time to click on this story and give it a look J.
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Leo knew there was trouble right away. But that was pretty obvious considering how the whole base shook. It wasn't a huge rumble from a direct attack, yet the source had to be close by.
He'd waited for almost an hour in cuffs alongside the very men he'd beaten. All had glowered at him, no doubt thinking of ways to punish or kill him in prison. Leo, meanwhile, glared at the walls for beyond them was the true target of his anger, Leena. Miss-I'm-so-perfect-and-haughty Leena. She was probably cavorting with that commander. What was his name? Sin Vase? San Vaheyz? Sen… Sen Vaez. Leo had heard the name somewhere, but it slipped his mind. Something to do with the ZBC, recently. Whoever he was, he'd handed Leena a "get out of jail" card and she'd ditched Leo to latch on to her new best friend. Oh, she'd pay for this. Already Leo had a nice list of things he could do to for revenge. Maybe reverse the controls on her Zoid so when she charges into battle she ends up fifty miles away from the fight; or set up a stink bomb that goes off in the cockpit when she tried to fire that absurd amount of artillery. Or maybe simply rig the bathroom showers to release itching powder during her oh-so-precious bathing time. He'd have to make sure he was far enough away that she couldn't throw a tub at him this time!
All he had to do was get out of this, which wouldn't be too hard. If he had to flee, there wouldn't be much opposition. This base obviously wasn't designed to house criminals or captives. They'd lumped all their catches into one room, with only two guards protecting a standard door. Stupid. Both appeared to be waiting for some superior officer, and be coming more bored by the moment. If he had to, Leo wouldn't have trouble dealing with them.
"Where the hell's the chief?"
"Probably brown-nosing with Chairman Vaez. Can't miss this opportunity." Chairman Vaez? Great, Leena would definitely be spending even more time with a guy that high up on the food chain.
"So we get stuck with this crowd while he scores a promotion? Gimme a break."
"I doubt Vaez'll be giving out any promotions tonight. If I were in his shoes, I'd be pissed."
The other guard laughed. "Yeah, who knew Zoid Eve split? Too bad no one told her about tonight." Zoid Eve? Leo frowned. Everyone on Zi knew about Zoid Eve. Only a handful had ever seen her, and most were dead now, but the name was still a mix of mysticism and religion. What did the ZBC want with the mother of all Zoids? His question answered itself. Who wouldn't want possession of all that power? Trouble with the military was that it was often tempted to use the power at its disposal. If the ZBC, Helic, or Guylos ever got their hands on a power like that, Leo would quickly look for a way off planet.
Judging from their conversation, Zoid Eve was a no-show, thankfully. That raised the next question: where are we? Leo wasn't too familiar with Eve's history. The name and its significance were easy, but facts blurred over time. This base had to be located near Eve's resting place—or former resting place. If the ZBC didn't have Eve, then Leo decided he needn't worry about it. No doomsday power meant he was free to focus on hating Leena.
And he would have hated her more if he hadn't felt that explosion. Then all he thought about was concern for the woman who'd locked him up. Knowing Leena, she might be the one causing that blast, but Leo couldn't help but dread. The guards were equally startled, and confused. One went outside to check on the situation while the other remained to guard the group. Suddenly out of patience and eager to get these damn handcuffs off, Leo stood.
The guard immediately cocked his gun. "Sit down!" Bad. It seemed no one had been expecting an explosion (something one had to do whenever Leena was in the vicinity). That meant this guard would be nervous and short tempered. He'd be more likely to snap off a hasty shot and kill someone. Leo thought about the other prisoners. His first plan had been to wound the guard long enough to take the key and free himself. The man wasn't well-built and obviously relied on the use of firearms over physical strength. Leo could have swiped the key and ran out, leaving the guard enough time to keep the true criminals. Now, though, the guard was more likely to start firing if anyone made a move. Leo wasn't prepared to simply leave these other people to die because of one man's fear. They'd need some way to survive. Except that if they escaped they might very well attack someone else. Maybe the next woman in the ally wouldn't have a rescuer.
Great. Leena could be dead outside and here he was philosophizing about the right action. He'd just have to take the most direct approach. "Easy now." He said in a calm voice to the guard. "I don't want trouble." He took a step towards the guard.
"You're already in trouble. Sit DOWN!"
Leo kept his voice as even as possible. "I didn't do anything. These guys behind me are the criminals." Another step.
"I'm not the judge. Now sit down and shut up."
"My friend is outside; the woman who was brought in with us. She could be hurt right now. I can't just wait here." One more step.
"You will."
"No. I'm leaving now." There. Last step.
"Wanna bet?" The guard waved his rifle. Leo had been hoping for that move. This guard was fairly predictable. The instant the gun tilted upwards, Leo charged forward and slammed the rifle from beneath, pointing it at the ceiling. The guard cried out and snapped off a shot. It dented the ceiling but hit no one. Fortunately—or perhaps not—another explosion sounded throughout the base, masking the gunfire. Leo quickly kneed the man in the groin, causing him to pitch forward. A blow to the face sent him reeling and the gun clattered out of his hand. Leo brought his knee into the man's belly, spilling his dinner on the floor and sending him into unconsciousness.
The criminals cheered while Leo fished the handcuff keys off the man's belt and freed his hands. Good thing they hadn't tried to shackle his legs as well. One of the gang members, probably the leader, stood up. "Nice work, man. We could use a guy like you."
"I'll pass, thanks. Now sit back down."
"Come on now." One step. "You just K.O.'ed a ZBC guard. You don't really think they'll just let that fly, do you?" Another step.
Leo was already well aware of his situation, and its penalties. He was willing to face punishment if he could check on Leena. He didn't need someone else to point it out for him, and he certainly didn't appreciate this man trying to use Leo's own escape plan against him. The leader didn't have a chance to argue further. In less than a minute he lay on his back with a broken jaw.
"Here is what the rest of you are going to do." Leo addressed the other gang members. "You will sit here quietly and wait for this guard to wake up, or for another officer to come. You will explain everything that happened, and not make any move to escape. If you get out, they'll assume you helped me attack this guard, and then you'll be the fugitives. If you abandon your leader, he'll lie so you'll have no alibi in court. Then you'll be looking at the same jail time as me. Understand?" They all nodded dumbly.
Leo understood the balance between talk and action. Words could diffuse a situation, and were most often the better choice. When people were already set on one action, however, sometimes the only way to gain their attention was to use a very powerful display. Breaking the jaw of one man had made four others stand down. Still, no reason to be naïve. Leo took the rifle and unloaded the ammunition. He took the rifle with him into the hallway and left it in a darkened corner. No sense carrying a weapon around the base. It'd only make the soldiers more eager to fire first.
If there were any other soldiers. Leo ran in the direction of more explosions and didn't bump into another base personnel the whole way. Maybe his luck had finally turned.
Or not.
Outside was a battle zone on par with most Zoid battles. The concrete grounds were littered with the remains of Gun Snipers, Command Wolfs, and Rev Raptors. Five wrecks in all. It was strange. Given a base of this size, why were there be so few units; and why where they all lower-class Zoids? Not a Liger, Dibison, or Gordos to be seen. Towards the landing pads, Leo saw several Godos disembark from a Whale King and charge into battle.
Godos was the Gojulas' tiny brother. Based on the same bipedal lizard, it was probably the blockiest Zoid in existence. It was basically a cockpit with a transparent canopy mounted atop a narrow body with short stubby arms and thick legs for running. A Godos could move fairly quickly, but its light armaments made it a poor combat choice. The blasters on its tail and back were difficult to aim, leaving the two lasers on its hips as the main armaments. Godos were usually deployed in areas where they wouldn't have to worry about fighting other Zoids. They excelled at crowd control, construction, and excavation (all thanks to their highly customizable bodies) but anyone who attempted more than a one-on-one fight with a similar class Zoid would be in trouble. None of this made sense.
Whatever the case, Leo knew he needed to be close to the fight, because he saw one figure running amongst the blasts and ducking the fire overhead. Her red hair stood out amongst the smoking debris. Leo ran forward at full speed, but he hadn't the slightest clue what he could do to save her.
The Godos' target came into view. It looked like a Dibison, but scaled down with deep midnight colors. There didn't appear to be any other units; not that this Zoid couldn't handle itself. Against the smaller units, this blue bison Zoid had little to fear from their artillery, and its array of laser cannons tore apart their ranks fairly easily. One blast severed a Godos' arm, sending it flying over Leo's head and crashing at the other end of the base. The pilot couldn't cope with the sudden force of the blast and the Zoid fell to the ground. It was close enough that Leo decided he should check on the pilot. Maybe he could reach Leena by hitching a ride.
The pilot had not fared the fall well. His helmet had taken most of the shock, but it had cracked open and faint trickle of blood seeped out. Leo unbuckled the harness and dragged the man out of the Zoid towards the shelter of a Whale King. The pilot groaned and didn't appear to have any life-threatening injuries, but he certainly wouldn't be piloting for a while. "Rest easy, friend. I'll take it from here." Leo ran back to the Godos and crawled into the cockpit. Amazingly, the Zoid had not suffered Systems Freeze, even with the loss of its arm. Leo closed the cockpit and buckled himself in. He could feel the tenseness in the piloting controls and realized he was not welcome here. "I know I didn't ask permission to enter, but I need your help. My friend is out there, in the middle of all that fire. I need your help to save her. Will you please help me?" The controls relaxed a little in his grip. "Thank you. I think I'll call you Sentinel, because you're my friend's best protector right now."
Sentinel wobbled up onto its feet and moved towards the fray. That blast had taken all the lasers off-line. There'd be no returning fire. Oh well, it wasn't like he was actually trying to kill the Zoid. Just grab Leena and run. Let the soldier boys and girls play out their war games.
The fighting hadn't move far during Leo's run. That bison Zoid could really absorb punishment. The military forces weren't doing nearly as well. None of the units were at full power now, and very few were even able to fight back. The bison Zoid had moved beyond Leena. Luckily enough, its body took every blow that would have come close to hitting her.
"Green three. Come in, Green three." A woman's voice came over the comm. The video display was not working. "What's your status?" When no reply came, the woman repeated her call. Leo then realized that Sentinel must be "Green Three." What a dumb name.
"Um… I'm assuming you're calling me."
"Who is this? What are you doing in that Zoid?"
"The pilot was injured. I took him to safety and piloted the Zoid out."
"Return that Zoid at once! That is a military-class Godos."
"I can't do that. My friend is out there, behind the attacking Zoid. You keep shooting like this and you're bound to hit her. I'm going to rescue her, then we'll be out of your way. I'll return the Zoid after I'm sure it's safe to do so."
"You do realize you're guilty of theft. Returning that Zoid means facing a military court."
"I know. But my friend's out there. If it was one of your teammates in danger, and you were in my position, what would you do?"
The woman chuckled. "Got me there. All right, we'll lay down cover fire, but you've only got two minutes to get your friend out of there and then get out. We've called in heavy support to put this Zoid down."
Leo pushed Sentinel to go faster, thankful that there was at least one person on this base with a heart. The remaining units cut back on their fire. The barrage was just enough to keep the bison distracted while Leo maneuvered around to the side. He could see Leena running away from the battle. It was a miracle she'd survived the initial assault.
Leo veered right. He'd be close enough to pick her up in a second.
"Watch out!" The military woman cried. Leo looked up and saw the blue Zoid charging him, its horns bent forward to impale Sentinel's chest.
Leo swore and turned Sentinel to face the charge. I don't have time for this, he thought. If they're calling in the big guns then Leena can't afford to be out on this field much longer. I can't beat that bison head-on. I gotta get around it. I gotta get to Leena!
And then he was flying. At first he thought the bison had struck him and now he was airborne. If he was, though, he was flying the wrong way. Leo's teeth shook and Sentinel's feet slammed down on the concrete, the bison now behind them. Leo heard several whoops and exclamations of amazement from the military pilots. He had no idea what had just happened.
"Move your ass!" The woman shouted, snapping Leo out of his surprise. He charged forward, bent Sentinel down, and scooped up Leena with its remaining arm. Leena was shouting something at him, but he didn't bother to turn on the external mic. Sentinel ran forward with the bison firing shots at his tail. Whatever had just happened must have damaged the Zoid's targeting system, because none of its shots actually hit. The military units continued to fire irrelevantly. The bison Zoid was obsessed with its current target.
Leo ran Sentinel under the belly of a Whale King and swerved around its landing gear. He attempted to contact the crew, asking them to open the ramp and provide shelter. Either they didn't hear him or didn't want to offer any service. The Whale King remained a fixed mountain of steel on the landscape.
Fortunately, the Godos' speed kept them ahead of their pursuer; and it could corner tighter than the bison. A winding chase around the landing pads eventually gave Leo enough lead to break for the valley passages. The bison cried furiously as it followed with the military still blasting like a swarm of insects biting at the hide of a tank. Leo lost sight of it behind a stone wall and didn't bother to look back.
He would run for a long while before he realized he had no idea where they were.
A good director knew when to alter the script. Sometimes an actor wouldn't cooperate, or there'd be limited resources. Plays that failed to adapt to life's little surprises always fell through. Inability to adapt meant failure. So Sen Vaez rarely let the unexpected jolt him. He would adapt. He would overcome. He would rule. It shouldn't be too terrible. But when a Zoid suddenly comes to life and attacks his future queen… well, that was one script change he hadn't expected.
The Zoids initial charge had been so unprecedented that Vaez had barely managed to step out of harm's way. The Zoid's reinforced hoofs would have carelessly ended a centuries-old legacy if Vaez had been a fraction slower. Leena Toros had almost suffered the same fate, but her swift action and flight to safety only proved her exceptional heritage. She had fled out of the Whale King with the Zoid in hot pursuit. The fools on this base had misinterpreted Vaez's rescue order as a charge to destroy the Zoid itself, putting Leena's life in danger. To think that the script could alter so abruptly that Vaez himself had not been able to rewrite it fast enough. Now he could only try to reorganize the cast without losing his star. He was currently shouting at the Zoid units' leader, who reported that a civilian—a commoner— had spirited Leena to safety.
"It was amazing, sir. He actually rolled that Godos over the Cannon Fort's back and landed without a problem. But then he then froze up and nearly got himself blasted. Once I shouted him back into motion, he scooped up Ms. Toros and fled into the canyons. The Cannon Fort followed."
"Why did you not pursue them as well?"
"Our unit took heavy damage, sir, and our weapons can't even dent that Zoid. As soon as the Gordos units arrive, we'll head in after them. I'm confident the civilian pilot and the Godos can stay ahead of the Cannon Fort for a while."
"You should pray they can. This debacle, and its outcome, will be marked on your record." He shut off the comm. just in time to see the base Commander running up to him with a look of utter dread scarred onto his face. Here was a man who knew his career was likely over. How clairvoyant.
"Chairman Vaez, sir! I'm pleased to report that the President and Emperor are safe, and their Whale Kings are now departing the base. However, they had to leave behind several crippled Zoids. I've already ordered the techs to begin repairing the units so we can later return-"
"Forget the obsolete units for now." Vaez commanded. "Have the techs prep Oriudos. I am heading out myself. Send the Gordos units after me, understood?"
"SIR! You can't possibly head out alone-"
"Do not presume to tell me what is within my power. I am going to rescue Ms. Toros and additional units will only slow me. Execute my orders, now."
"Yes sir." The Commander moved fast enough that a man of his girth would soon have a heart attack. So long as he fulfilled his role, Vaez was unconcerned with the man's health. A servant existed to provide his aid to those above him. If he failed to do so, he became socially dead. At that point, what did his health matter? Your career is dead, Commander. If you were smart, you would join its demise. You're useless now.
"HEY! Hey!" Leena kept shouting at the jerk in the Godos. Did he really have to keep carrying her all this way? They had lost the Cannon Fort long ago and should have made it back to the base by now. What was this moron thinking? "Hey up there!" No answer. "Jeez, how rude can you be? When someone shouts at you, you're supposed to answer. When I tell Sen how you've-"
"Tell Sen? Since when are you two on a first name basis?" A voice boomed from the Zoid's loudspeaker. It was frighteningly familiar.
"Leo?"
"Yep. Now, how exactly did you and this Vaez guy get on a first name relationship?"
"Waitaminute! Last I saw you, you were being carted off with that gang!"
"Yeah. Thanks for bailing me out."
Leena's fury grew with each breathe. "Why didn't you respond to me earlier?"
"Revenge."
"Revenge?"
"Nothing too terrible. I mean, I could have shaken you up or given a little squeeze, but I'm not cruel. A little silent treatment is enough payback for abandoning me to rot in jail."
"I would have gotten you out!"
"Before or after Vaez proposed?"
Leena blinked and, despite her best efforts, blushed. "Well… was it really that obvious?"
"Wait, he really did propose?" Leo's voice became disbelief incarnate. "I was only joking!"
"Joking? What so unbelievable about a rich, cultured, handsome man falling in love with me?"
"You just answered your own question."
"Listen!" Leena pounded her fists on the Godos' claw. "He may not have proposed but he is madly in love with me. He even gave me that Cannon Fort Zoid as a gift!"
"Wait, you mean that rampaging Zoid back there was a gift?"
"Yes."
"Niiiice… what's next, a time-bomb engagement ring?"
"You shut up! It's not his fault the Zoid went crazy. Someone else must have screwed up. I'm sure Sen would have saved me."
"I'm the one who saved you, and you have no idea what I'm in for because of this little rescue. I had to knock out a ZBC guard, sneak through the base, and take over a damaged Godos. That's at least an assault charge, trespassing, and theft. When the military courts get through with me I'll be lucky if I see daylight for a decade!"
"Relax." Leena waved her hand. "I'll just ask Sen to help you out."
"You meet him once and instantly you think he's wrapped around your finger."
She grinned. "Or maybe I should tell him you tried to get frisky with me after you snatched me away."
"You wouldn't."
"Try me." She made sure he caught the edge in her voice. "Now, put me down or at least let me into the cockpit."
"This cockpit's barely big enough to fit one pilot. You want to sit in my lap and get really close?"
"I'll pass. Put me down."
"And then trip over myself while trying not to squash you? No. I think I'll just leave you out there for a while." Leena heard an audible click from the speaker and knew that Leo had shut off the external mic. So she used hand gestures for a while.
They trudged on for what seemed like a whole hour, though it was impossible to tell time. She hated being in canyons. They all looked the same and it was so easy to become as hopelessly lost as they were now. And… canyons scared her. Not that she was afraid of a bunch of rocks but she had bad memories of being terrified of canyon shadows. She'd fled through a similar path while being chased by bandits pretending to be "Chainsaw Man" of legend. She had fled blindly in her Gun Sniper, screaming all the way and dodging Spinosapper chain-saws at every turn. Her imagination and her memory still conspired to create ghost in the shadows ever since she'd felt such terror. And then there had been that strange ghost girl who had appeared before her, twice. No one else had seen her, even though she'd been in plain sight. That could only mean…
Finally fed up, Leena screamed, "Where the hell are we?"
The Godos' speakers came back on. "Sorry, what?"
"Where are we?"
Leo chuckled uneasily. "We're… lost."
"No kidding… What kind of a lame rescue is this?"
"The kind where you have to improvise because the person you're rescuing makes the job several times harder. We'd have been back at the Toros base by now if you hadn't ditched me!" Leo's reference to "the Toros base" was more frustrating than his idiotic grudge. Why couldn't he call it "home" or "our base" or some other nickname? He was still keeping everything distant, even in name.
"Why don't you just call the base and ask them to find us?"
"What makes you think the Cannon Fort won't detect the broadcast?"
"That thing's-"
"It's a Zoid. Not a thing." Sure, he could refer to his new home as if it were just another spot on the map but call a Zoid a thing and suddenly he got all temperamental.
"Just call the base! I'd rather risk the Cannon Fort than spend another moment wandering around lost with you!"
Leo was about to snap back at her. He never got the chance, though. A loud rumbling shook the ground beneath them and for a moment Leena feared her earlier statement had come back to haunt her.
But the rumbling didn't come from the ground. It came from underground. Large cracks ripped through the rock at the Godos feet and before Leena could shout a warning to Leo, she was screaming as they tumbled down into the darkness.
There wasn't enough time to react. The ground had been secure one moment, paper the next. No chance to set Leena on a safe bluff or jump up and hope to land clear of the collapse. It was almost as if the ground itself was trying to swallow them. He didn't remember how long they fell, or what he did during the plummet. Almost immediately after the ground gave way and Leo lost all orientation, a teeth-shaking jolt ran through Sentinel's body, shaking everything and nearly bouncing Leo out of the pilot's seat. The vibration faded slowly, giving Leo's innards a chance to settle down. He glanced outside and could only see darkness.
Leena! Had she survived the fall? What if Sentinel had landed on her and squashed her flat? What if the shock from their landing had snapped her neck? What if-
Thump!
Something bounced off the cockpit window. Leo only saw it for a moment, but the dim light seeping in from above made it look like a silver wrist band… the type Leena wore on her left arm. Leo flipped the external mic back on.
"HEY! Leo! Will you say something already?!"
"Leena, you're okay!"
"Okay? You call this okay? We're stranded underground with no one having the slightest clue where we are, and you think I'm okay."
Leo leaned back in his chair. There was nothing more relieving that Leena's complaining. "Nice to know the situation hasn't darkened your mood."
"Why you-"
Thoommm…
Leo blinked. That didn't sound like a rock falling. It was almost like a footstep. Leena heard it as well and fell silent. They stood on an island of light, waiting for whatever prowled beyond. Thoom... Thoom.
"Leo…" Leena's voice wavered. Leo could only "shh" her while he tried to find the source of the sound. Thoom………Thoom.
Whatever it was, it was big, and the cavern's echo only made it sound worse. There wasn't a clear source, the sound kept bouncing off their surroundings. Leena said, "I think you should let me down." She tugged a little on Sentinel's grip.
Thoom…
"No. Whatever's out there I think you're safer here with me."
Thoom…Thoom…
"Then let me into the cockpit. I'll even sit in your lap."
Thoom…Thoom…Thoom… It was moving faster.
"Yeah…okay."
Thoom, Thoom, Thoom, Thoom, Thoom. Damn it; it was charging! Leo swung Sentinel around and caught a brief flash of something lunging at him from the darkness. It was a myriad of gray and brown colors with a silver blade lashing out farthest. Sentinel dove the side and Leena screamed as she was flung about. The long blade was attached to an even longer copper arm. It looked as if the weapon was somehow built into the creature's body.
With Leena in harm's way there was little Leo could do to fight back. He needed to see what he was fighting. Whatever was attacking swung the blade in wide arc, wasting far too much force for one swing. Leo backtracked and nearly tripped over Sentinel's own feet but managed to steady himself in time to dodge another attack. He couldn't make out the beast's face. All he could see were two eyes that shone as bright as headlights. Judging from the outline this creature's right arm was far longer and stronger than the left, but its legs balanced the weight enough that it didn't fall. It wasn't a graceful fighter. It lunged and leaned this way and that, relying on ferocity and panic from its prey. Well, Leo had not intention of staying scared forever, and Leena's shouting was getting on his nerves.
"Control your Zoid with your mind." Leon had said. "Envision the movements even before you manipulate the controls. The Zoid will move with you." Easy for him to say. The only times Leo had ever managed to pull off a high-grade move, he hadn't been thinking or envisioning anything. It had just… happened. The blast on the Diloforce, evading the Cannon Fort, Leo had just moved without any conscious decision. He couldn't just do that at will, could he?
It would be so much easier to figure out his own secret if Leena would just shut up for a minute. She could be so-
Leena. That was it! In both cases, Leena had been in danger, and somehow that had forced Leo to maneuver Fang better than he had any time before. Well, Leena was most definitely in danger, as was he. But how to tap that need? How was he supposed to save Leena without actually thinking about it? The last two times had been at the very last second where the adrenaline rush was at a complete high. He was scared, but there wasn't that exact moment of need; not like before. Meanwhile, all he could do was dodge and sidestep, which was better than he would have been able to do a few months ago.
"LEO! DO SOMETHING!" Leena screamed with a mix of fury and panic. Leaving her out there in Sentinel's grasp was far more terrifying than trying to fight off this thing. At least Leo had some degree of control in the situation. Leena was forced to stay in the thick of it without any means of fighting back.
Okay, no hesitating. He'd just have to trust that he'd be able to do something when the need arose. Leo pressed the foot pedals to the floor and Sentinel charged forward. Those two flashing eyes made it hard to discern the rest of the body, but Leo didn't miss the flash of silver that came from the beast's right. Sentinel managed to dodge the swipe and in that moment Leo saw his opening. It seemed so obvious, so simple; it was almost comical.
But it was safe for Leena and Leo had nothing against an easy win. As the creature's forward momentum carried it past Sentinel, Leo stuck out the Godos' foot, tripping their opponent. The creature stumbled and fell and landed flat on its belly with a tremendous thud that shook the cavern. Not wasting time, Leo moved forward and used the creature's eyes as a beacon for where he would aim Sentinel's foot. Despite their small arms and thin legs, Godos had impressive-sized feet, perfect for squishing.
For a moment he hesitated. He'd never killed anything before. Beaten, yes. Broke, yes. Shot up, yes, if could survive and be fixed. But never killed. Though there really wasn't any other way he could see. It was either end this creature's threat now, or have it come after them again. And so Leo pressed Sentinel's foot against the creatures head and began to press in.
And that would have been the end of it had the creature not screamed. The sound was far too fresh in his memory. Leo had heard it barely an hour ago, coming from Sentinel when the Cannon Fort's shot blew off his arm. The creature was a Zoid! Another Godos. It made sense. Godos were often used in construction or excavation. That large silver and rust thing on its arm must be a drill. No wonder the weight made it so wobbly. All this came to Leo in a dizzying flash of realty along with one other though.
I'm hurting a Zoid. I'm killing a Zoid.
He pulled Sentinel's leg off the other Godos' head. Leena was shouting something at him; probably egging him on to finish the job. But now Leo did have other options. He didn't have to kill. It didn't matter that it was too dark to see the rest of the Godos' body; he knew the design well enough to strike without a clear target. Every Godos had a built-in flaw. The space between its arms and legs held a thick bundle of nerves. Many pilots tried to compensate by adding armor to that section, but a close-range blow from this range would overcome any defenses. One swift kick landed on the Godos' midsection, applying enough pressure to cause a pain overload and send the Godos into a System Freeze. The rampaging Zoid gave one final cry, then went limp.
Leo sat for a moment, panting and trying not to think about what he'd nearly done. Then he chided his own hypocrisy. If that had been some kind of monster, some unknown life form, then it was okay to kill it. But when you find out it's a Zoid—oh heaven forbid it die! You mustn't harm the Zoid that's trying to kill you and your friends. Knock it out, causing a freeze, but don't kill it. Only monsters should die.
He felt like a fool. Nothing should die without a just cause. Killing for food was part of nature, killing to save a loved one was the lesser to two evils, but killing something simply because you were ignorant of its existence or showing mercy when you suddenly recognize it… that was unforgivable.
Another burst of shouting from Leena snapped Leo out of his self-berating. He knelt Sentinel down and set Leena on the ground. He then checked the cockpit and found an emergency flashlight and small repair kit. He clambered out of the cockpit and found his way over to the fallen Godos. The ground was unusually smooth and even. He had wondered why he hadn't had any trouble moving around the environment. At first he'd hoped it was a sign that his piloting really had reached a new level, but it appeared he was actually working with a handicap. It was still too dark to see much. The other Godos' eyes—or headlights—had gone out during the Systems Freeze. He couldn't even see his way back to Sentinel.
"Leena, you okay?"
"Yeah." She called from the dark. Where are you?"
"Over here." He waved the flashlight. Try to follow the light. I need to check something."
"Wait, what if I trip on something?"
"You won't. The ground's pretty much even around here. I think our friend here stomped down all the big rocks. Just take it slow and feel your way towards this light." He waved it again.
"Our friend? Yeah right. I don't know what you call a friend, but I-ahh!" There was a loud thud.
"Leena?"
"Even ground, huh?" She sounded annoyed, not hurt. Leo exhaled.
Returning his attention to the rogue Godos, Leo examined the main body. It was covered with rust spots, dirt, and many fractures. Rust for Zoids was something like wrinkles and arthritis for a human being; a sign of old age. Given the longevity of a Zoid (at least several times that of a human) this Godos had definitely been trapped here for a long time. Leo found a small service panel at the Zoid's neck and managed to pry it open with the repair kit tools. A few snips of a wire was all it took to cut off the Zoid's self-recovery program. It would sleep in System Freeze until someone repaired it. Leo didn't often perform such surgery on Zoids (after all, how would he feel if someone kept him asleep for days on end?), but they were already dealing with one violent Zoid. This was the only way to keep the Godos contained without killing it.
Leo heard
scuffling feet nearby and turned the flashlight on Leena. She shielded her eyes
from the light. "Watch where you point that thing!"
"Sorry."
"You could have held it up more so I could see it! I nearly fell several times."
"Again, sorry. I had to make sure this Godos
didn't wake up and attack us again." Leena reached out and took the flashlight
from him. "Hey!"
"I need this." She started
walking away. Leo followed.
"For what?"
"Remember that bracelet I threw to get your attention?"
"Don't tell me you're going to look for it."
"Why shouldn't I?"
Leo was so stunned he almost let Leena get away; but without the flashlight Leo was stranded in the darkness. "We're not exactly out of the woods yet. We're stranded underground while the Cannon Fort is still up there, looking for us. This isn't the time to be worried about fashion."
Though he
couldn't see it, Leo knew Leena was waving her hand. "It'll only take a
second." He sighed and followed her as far as Sentinel. Once he returned to the
pilot's seat, he sent out a distress signal. Even if the Cannon Fort did pick
up the message, the chance of rescue was now well worth the risk. Too bad the
message never made it past the cavern's walls. They were too far underground
and too deep within the maze of ravines and valleys for the message to reach
any hope of rescue. Leo leaned back in the pilot's seat and sighed. He didn't
want to think of how this situation could get any worse, because that rhetoric
often did make things worse. It took
a while before Leena returned, flashlight and bracelet in hand. "Found it."
"Good for you." Leo made sure
she wouldn't be able to miss the sarcasm. He exited the cockpit once again and
took the flashlight back, then led Leena on an short
exploration of the cavern. Much to their relief, they found a tunnel that
seemed to take them out of the cavern and—hopefully—towards freedom. It was too
small for Sentinel. The only way this cavern could have been created was if
that rampaging Godos had used its drill to dig. But
why carve out such a small tunnel? Had the Godos been
trying to escape and lapsed into madness before completing the tunnel? It
didn't seem likely. It was too well-carved to be a half-finished job. Leo felt
a deep foreboding about entering the passageway, but Leena insisted. She had to
reassure him that she would convince "Sen" to send a
rescue squad for Sentinel before Leo would even take another step.
"We're all going to die here if we just sit around and wait. Then your Godos buddy will have to sit back and rust just like that freaky Zoid. Let's go." Submitting to her less-than-gentle persuasion, Leo took a deep breath and took his first step into the darkness. This was all too familiar.
Geography would not stop him. Vaez was too smart to even let nature thwart his goals. The ZBC had conducted extensive topographic scans since the Rarehertz subsided, and he knew exactly how to find his way to Leena Toros. He'd made sure that the Cannon Fort was outfitted with several tracking and spy-ware devices so that he could bask in Leena's strength and keep her under his eye. Now that very technology would save her life. Wherever Leena went, the Cannon Fort was sure to be close behind. Destroying his traitorous gift would further endear himself to his future queen, and erase an unprovoked script change.
Oriudos' comm. chimed to signal an incoming message. "This is Vaez."
"Sir." The Rarehertz base's chief scientist reported. "We think we might have an explanation for the Cannon Fort's sudden attack." This man obviously had a pension for drama, given the prolonged pause between his statement and explanation. Vaez did not take the bait. He remained silent and composed while pursuing his goal. He dictated the scenes to the actors, not the other way around. The disappointment in the scientist's voice was obvious. "It was a Rarehertz pulse, but unlike any we've seen before. It was focused solely on the Cannon Fort's Command System, as if the pulse itself was aimed. What's more, we cannot find the source of the pulse. The scans of the immediate area don't register any pulse, whereas the Cannon Fort's sensors did pick up the energy surge. Given the discrepancy, I think the Rarehertz pulse may have been temporal. That means-"
"I am well aware of the definition of 'temporal.' Report back if you discover anything new." He switched off the channel without waiting for a reply. Vaez grinned slightly at how disappointed the scientist must be feeling; his chance to flaunt his own knowledge denied. It was important for the director to always keep his subordinates in line so as to maintain a clear chain of command. This scientist had useful information, but that did not exempt him from his place in the natural order.
And what interesting information it was. A temporal Rarehertz blast; shot through time and space to strike the very core of the Cannon Fort. Such power was not unimaginable. After all, Zoid Eve was said to have the greatest power of all Zoids. With such immense power, why should she be chained to the present?
Yet that only led to another question. Why use her vast power to send the Cannon Fort on a rampage and try to kill Leena Toros? Simple: if Zoid Eve could see into the future, she already knew Vaez's destiny. She knew Vaez would succeed, despite her unwarranted disappearance, and she feared him. She feared forfeiting her power to him and becoming the source of his new empire. Well, too bad.
He was nearing the Cannon Fort now. Strange that it had not moved recently. Perhaps it had found Leena. Best to hurry then, but something did not seem right. Vaez peered closer to the dot on the map overlay. The Cannon Fort remained near the valley wall, so close in fact that it looked as though it was inside the wall. Apparently Oriudos' technicians required a pay cut, or maybe a reassignment to a more inhospitable location.
Or not. It seemed that the technicians would not suffer any reprimand this time. For the Cannon Fort was actually within the valley wall, or under it at least. Rounding the corner, Vaez saw a freshly-made cave, easily big enough to house most Zoids. Further inspection revealed that it was not a cave, but rather a tunnel, leading down so far Oriudos' lights could not penetrate the darkness. This was truly an anomaly. There had been no excavation sites nearby and this cave certainly had not existed for long. More of your trickery, Zoid Eve?
Vaez moved forward into the dark tunnel in pursuit of his prey. Perhaps Zoid Eve sought to bury Leena Toros before she could come into her full role as Vaez's Queen. As he had said before, too bad. Zoid Eve's role was already decided, and nothing she could do would obstruct Vaez's goals. Leena Toros would survive this assassination attempt, and she would become his queen. She would be the answer to all his desires, and with her by his side he would rule Zi as was his birthright. Not even Zoid Eve could deny that future.
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Author's Note: Truth be told, I'm not sure if I'm foreshadowing or giving away the plot right now. Guess I'll know when I get deeper into the story. I will try to speed up on writing the next chapter, but by now that's probably a hallow reassurance. Odds are I'll be apologizing for being late again.
Reviews are always welcome. Thank you for reading my story.
