Battle Dawn
Chapter 13: A Normally Abnormal Day
by Silver
Author's Note: Long time no writing, eh? Work's insane and I haven't had much time to myself. Writing fan fiction is a great way to relax and take my mind off things, so I appreciate both the readers and giving me the chance to express myself like this.
Nothing too big to mention about this chapter. It's more a transition to other parts of the story. I hope you enjoy.
Maybe Leena's missiles inherited her ballistic personality. It sure seemed as if they'd blown off more of the Shield Liger's armor and parts than the average projectile. Leo stepped over a chunk of debris that looked like it'd come from the Shield Liger's torso. The metal chunk was worn and melted, creating a smooth lip around the edges. It must have been white hot at the time of the explosion. To inflict that kind of damage on a Zoid in one barrage… Leena was terrifying.
Still, the Zoid core was intact and Shield Ligers were too valuable to simply discard. Leo had little doubt that the pilot would choose to repair the Zoid rather than buy a new one. The man in question was slumping out of the cockpit, dazed. The reality of defeat hadn't set on his face yet. "You all right?"
The man nodded. "What the hell hit me? I thought the sun had exploded."
Leo grinned nervously. "Sorry about that. One of our pilots is a little heavy on the trigger." The man was uninjured, so now Leo regarded the scattered shield generator parts around the crash sight. "Are you going to be needing these?"
"What? That's all scrap metal now. It'd be cheaper to buy new parts."
"So I can take them?"
"Help yourself, for all the good they'll do ya." The man shrugged and began checking his Zoid over, confirming there was no terminal damage. He appeared to have already forgotten Leo. For a moment he was angry at the brush off, but there were rumors about Class S arrogance. He hoped the Blitz Team didn't fall to that. Well, Leena was pretty full of herself to begin with…
Leo left the man alone and began collecting whatever looked even remotely useful in his arms. Shield generators, power couplings, even standard wiring; anything that could be adapted to Fang was fair game. There wasn't much that was useable, but soon Leo had every bolt and piece of scrap tucked away in his jacket, which now served as a make-shift carrying sack. There was only one shield generator component left on the ground, and two hands reached for it.
Leo looked up, startled by the competition. Bit Cloud grinned back at him. "Hey, nice day for some scavenging, huh?" Bit was using his own jacket to carry his bounty, which was double the size of Leo's collection. Since they hadn't bumped into each other until just now, he could only have been "scavenging" on the other side of the Shield Liger.
"You didn't ask to pick those parts up, did you?"
"Naw, that wastes time and lets the competition get all the good stuff. It's faster to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?"
"Does that apply to stealing Leena's cookies as well?"
"Oh, you heard about that… Leena's not big in the forgiveness department. Steal her food is more a test of stealth and courage."
"… Take your hand off that shield part or I'll tell her who stole her last cookie."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!" Both men growled at each other like two wolves vying for the same meat. Leo wondered who would triumph in this test of will, until they were interrupted by a giant shadow passing overhead. Leo looked up at the belly of a Whale King suspended overhead, eclipsing the sun like a small moon. "Who the heck would be-" Bit was already several paces distant, running with his collection of parts, the disputed part they both claimed, and several parts that Leo had placed in his own collection! "Bit Cloud! Stop thief!" Bit cackled and ran behind the Shield Liger's remains. The pilot of the fallen Zoid was also fleeing for some reason. Leo never had time to give chase. A massive crimson meteor fell from the Whale King's mouth, kicking up a tidal wave of sand that engulfed Leo. It took several moments to dig himself out, only to want to sink back into the sand as an Iron Kong glared down at him. For a moment he thought the opposing team's Zoid was back in action, but its bright red color scheme was totally different from the brown and gray design of the beaten Iron Kong.
The gorilla-type Zoid pointed a finger at him. It was easily big enough to squash his body. "I challenge you to a duel!"
"Wha?" Leo blinked. That voice sounded a lot like…
"Harry? What are you doing here?" Leena's Gun Sniper marched into view.
"Leena! My darling! How I've longed to-"
"Answer my question!"
The Iron Kong pointed its finger back at Leo. "Earlier this week, this upstart dared to mouth off to me! I demand satisfaction!"
Leo's anger shifted. "You called me a servant! Who's mouthing off at whom?"
Leena spoke over her loudspeakers. "Tsk, tsk, Harry. How could you call my new sweetie a servant? Leo, dear, aren't you going to stand up for your honor?"
"Sweetie?" Harry asked dumbfounded.
"Dear?" Leo was equally confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Leena, you can't mean to say you've settled for anything less than the Prince?"
Words were suddenly hard to gather. "'Settled for less?' Where the hell do you… I am not… WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!"
Leena oozed smugness. "Sorry, Harry, but you can't keep a girl waiting so long. While you were in the hospital, Leo came in and swept me off my feet. You've got some hard competition now. So many men seem to be vying for my attention. Oh, what is a girl like me to do?" Giggle.
She really shouldn't leave an opening like that. "I know what you can do. You can go and-"
"I CHALLENGE YOU AGAIN!" the Iron Kong boomed. "You and I will duel for Leena's love! The winner shall have her hand in marriage."
"Oh no. No! No! No! She and I are not a couple. You want her, don't bother with me. Go right ahead and take that pain-"
Ballistic turned around. "What's the matter, Leo? Afraid a 'commoner' can't match Harry?" Commoner? Why that stuck-up, selfish, manipulative bit-
Harry laughed. "Yes! None dare challenge the Prince! I'm Harry Champ, a man destined-"
"To have his butt whooped in a few minutes. I'll be right back with my Zoid." Leo ran towards the Hover Cargo. He hadn't been this mad since he'd challenged Leena to fight, and he was trying not to remember what happened back then. Given how furious he was now, any pack of marauding Zoids better stay clear of this battle. What the hell was Leena doing? Since when had she decided they were a couple? And what was with this Champ guy? He stalked the Blitz Team all the way out here to duel? I swear, thought Leo, this team attracts every weirdo and freak in the universe.
He climbed into Fang and set the Hover Cargo's rotation system to take him up to the catapult. Leena's aggravating face appeared on a comm screen. "Good luck out there. I'm so glad you've come to your senses and decided to duel for my love. I knew you had feelings, but I never imagined you'd go to such lengths for my beauty!"
"Are you delusional?"
"Oh, there's no need to be shy about it."
"I just got Fang fixed and now I have to fight an Iron Kong because of your ego trip."
"I didn't make you choose to fight Harry. I can't help it if you're compelled to battle for my dazzling looks." She had a point about choosing to fight, but the rest of it-
Doc's face appeared on a screen next to Leena's. "This should be an interesting fight. I don't think a Command Wolf's ever had the audacity to challenge an Iron Kong to a one-on-one fight."
Now Jamie joined. "I just ran the stats through the simulations. Leo's Command Wolf-"
"His name is Fang!"
"-has a 1 in 65 chance of winning. We need to leave within half an hour if we're going to reach the next battle site on schedule, so could you please try to finish this up by then? According the computer, you should last about five minutes; ten if Harry's game is off today."
"Wait a minute!"
"Jamie," Doc chided. "that's no way to support your teammates."
"I'm just reading the computer's predictions. I really am rooting for you, Leo."
Leena was only half-listening. "Anything's possible when you're fighting with passion for the one you adore! I wish I could return your feelings, Leo, but Sen is the only man for me. But don't let this sad truth dampen your resolve to prove yourself to me!"
Brad came online before Leo could snap anything back. "You know, Harry usually wagers a lot on fights like these. See if you can't make a bet with him. If you think you'll lose, just bet you'll last more than… what was it, Jamie, five minutes?"
"Yeah, he should try for seven, I think."
Doc sighed. "Really, now, such terribly defeatist attitudes."
"Fight for love!"
"I call dibs on any left over parts!" Oh, great. Now Bit was in on this.
"All of you SHUT UP!" Leo killed the communications channel. "I'm surrounded by psychos, thieves, and liars!" He gritted his teeth as the catapult's electric charge accelerated him forward, flinging him into the air where Harry Champ waited to duel.
"My name is Harry Champ. I'm a man destined to-"
"DIE!" Leo didn't wait to hit the ground before opening fire with Fang's new sniper rifle. None of the shots struck the Iron Kong's body, but the blasts startled Harry into a panicked run. Fang pursued, firing round after round. Some blasts hit the Kong's back. They were relatively harmless against what had to be customized armor. The young Champ had obviously poured a lot of money into the Zoid, and it outclassed Fang in probably every regard. That didn't stop Harry from running.
"Stop! What are you doing? Don't you believe in the honor of a duel?"
"Forget honor. Now stand still while I shoot you!" Yeah, this was the perfect way to relieve stress. He could understand why Leena enjoyed blowing stuff up. 'Course, he'd never say that to her. She'd just get all smug and annoying as always. Leo imagined Leena's face on the Iron Kong's buttock and aimed as best he could. Then he envisioned Bit, the part stealer. Then Jamie with his computer predictions and split personalities. Seven minutes, yeah right. That only reminded him of Brad and his wagers. Another shot. Leo couldn't think of a reason to envision Doc, but he did it anyway and fired, repeatedly.
By the time he'd used up his ammo, Harry had fled to a large dune overlooking an outcropping of rocks. In his flight, he nearly tumbled over the side of the dune. The Kong swayed and waved its arms frantically, trying to regain balance. Leo didn't let him. Fang charged forward and bounced both paws off the Iron Kong's butt, toppling it forward end-over-end and smashing it into the ground below.
The rocks shattered against the Kong's head, hailing down as pebbles that bounced off the Zoid's dented body. "Ughhohhh…" Harry Champ, the man destined to be king, moaned. The Iron Kong was battered, but its armor bore the brunt of its fall. While dazed, Harry would be okay.
"Harry!"
"My goodness." Two more Iron Kongs approached from behind. One passed by Fang and moved to help its fallen brother; the other paused in front of Leo. "We're very sorry for Harry's behavior. He's been obsessed about proving himself to Leena and I'm afraid you lit the fuse." The voice was very calm, albeit somewhat squeaky. Its owner, however, was the last thing Leo expected. He'd heard about custom robots that served as personal attendants, but this was the first time he'd seen one, and piloting a Zoid no less! It looked like a stack of multi-sized disks with a small domed head and visor for eyes. Two retractable arms sprung from the largest disk, placed about shoulder-height on the robots body. "My name's Benjamin. My partner, Sebastian, and I are Harry's aids. And as his aid I have to apologize for his behavior… again." Benjamin regarded his partner. "How many apologies does this make?"
"Two-hundred, forty-seven."
"Really? We're almost at Two-hundred-fifty! I should bake a cake."
"Uh…" Leo wasn't sure what would happened next. "You're not here for revenge, right? I mean, he started the fight."
"Oh, no, we don't do revenge. While Harry's actions can push our tolerance protocols, we are under no obligation to defend his honor, or what's left of it."
Sebastian was stealing even more of Harry's honor with a lecture. "Honestly, why did you run from that outdated Command Wolf? Its sniper rifle can barely crack your Iron Kong's armor. And falling off a sand dune? Surely you could have at least-"
"Be quiet, Sebastian!" Harry roared. "You! This is not over! I shall never let you take Leena's hand in marriage. We will face each other again!"
"Huh?" Oh, yeah. Leo grinned as he remembered the terms of the fight. Sweet revenge crept inside his mind and found a warm welcome. He bade the robots goodbye and moved Fang back to the Hover Cargo. Leena was waiting inside, grinning.
"So, how'd you like fighting Harry? I see you learned a few things from my piloting style." Yeah, like how to waste a month's pay on ammunition. Leo didn't let the irritation show.
"Yes, dear, you teach me so much." He leaned closer. "Now how about a kiss?"
Leena went stark white. "W-what are you talking about?"
"The terms of the match, honey. 'Winner gets to marry Leena.' How do you feel about a trip to the Triangle Darias for a honeymoon?"
Now she was as red as Leon's Blade Liger. "How dare you even suggest-"
"You can't get out of this one, Leena." The rest of the team grinned at her from the doorway. Bit's grin was the widest. "Never thought I'd see you get hitched."
Brad nodded, "I always thought she'd end up killing any boy before he had a chance to propose."
Jamie agreed. "Technically, Leo hasn't proposed. He's marrying her by default and-"
"My little girl's all grown up!" Docs was in tears. "I thought I'd never get her out of the house, but finally-"
"QUIET!" Leena stormed off. "I don't have to take this. I'm calling Sen! He at least knows how to treat a girl with respect." She stormed out of the hanger like a rampaging Gojulas.
The other men burst out laughing as soon as the door slid shut. "Oh, man." Bit was in tears too, from laughing. "I never thought I'd ever see her that riled up! It's like someone stole all the cookies and donuts in the world and ate 'em right in front of her!"
"Dumped on your wedding day," said Brad. "Sorry for that."
Leo shrugged. "Plenty more fish in the sea, I guess."
Bit nodded, "And hopefully the next one won't be a sea serpent."
"Ahem. That is my daughter you're talking about."
"Sorry, Doc."
The team's leader sighed. "I am sorry for the trouble she caused, Leo. But I am glad you managed to turn the tables. I hope she'll be a little less reckless with both you and Harry after this."
Brad shrugged. "Too bad Harry won't learn. You just earned a rival for life."
"Whoop-dee-do." Leo didn't enjoy the thought of Harry Champ charging up and issuing challenges again and again. Then he realized how casual he was being with people who, just a short while ago, made him want to pull out his hair. Strange how this team was so skilled at moving from one emotion to the next with almost no effort. Even Leo got caught up in the current.
Doc threw his arm around Leo. "Well, let's not dwell on things. Time to celebrate Leo's first decisive victory!" A feast awaited them in the Hover Cargo's meeting area. Jamie had prepared a larger variety of dishes than Leo had seen in most restaurants.
"This was going to be a victory party for the battle," he explained, "but we decided to wait until you faced Harry. Sorry if it's gotten cold."
"Wait, are you telling me you got me all riled up to make sure I'd win?"
Brad nodded, "Fighting mad isn't a smart thing to do, but it helped you catch Harry off guard, so it was an okay strategy this time. Of course, next time you need to listen to me and bet on the match. You can pay off your debts faster that way, right Bit?" Bit only growled and shoved some spaghetti in his mouth.
The meal continued on into the evening while the Hover Cargo moved towards the next battlefield on auto-pilot. Leena returned long enough to spoon up some food for herself, look down her nose at Leo, then hold that same nose up high as she marched out.
Doc chuckled. "I've never seen her this upset. You really know how to throw her off-balance."
The others were engaged in conversations/arguments, so Leo leaned closer to Doc and asked quietly, "Is it really okay for Leena to lead that Harry guy on like that?"
"Not really, but there's little I can do about it. Leena's not a child and is very strong willed. Not to mention that Harry doesn't know to stay away. Leena's always needed to be the center of attention, so she leads Harry on. Anyone except Harry can see that she doesn't have any interest in him, but she won't give up his worship. I'm waiting more on Harry to give up rather than for Leena to move on."
Leo rolled his eyes slightly. "I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. Why is she such an attention seeker?"
Doc sighed and looked pensive. "I think it has to do with the fact that Leena never knew her mother. Leon and I both love Zoids, so it was easy to find common ground with my son. But Leena's interest in Zoids isn't the same. She loves her Gun Sniper, but that's because its hers. I don't think she feels the same way as Bit and Leon. So it was harder for me to find ways to connect with Leena. I sometimes think her mother could have done a better job than I did."
"Something tells me she would have struggled just as much. Leena's the most explosive woman I've ever met."
That a got a chuckle. "You didn't know my wife. She was every bit as strong-willed as Leena. Maybe even more-so."
"A miracle you're alive, then."
"No, no. My wife was more restrained than Leena. She understood how to be strong but at the same time approachable. She was the most incredible woman." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a picture. Mrs. Toros had been an incredibly beautiful woman. Leena had indeed inherited most of her looks from her mother. The biggest difference was that Leena's mother had silky straight hair that was a shade or two darker than Leena's. Doc said, "My friend Laon would go crazy if he knew I carried this around with me. It's one of the few things I have to remember her by."
Leo frowned. "'Few things?'"
"My wife didn't own a lot of things. I remember the day we moved into our new home after our honeymoon. She barely had enough clothing to last a week and a half. And almost no jewelry. I was stunned (though maybe a little thankful. It made shopping for gifts a breeze)."
"How'd you two meet?"
Doc leaned back and smiled. He had that look of a romantic remembering his finest days. "I was messing around with my old friends, Laon and Oscar Hermeros."
"Jamie's father?"
"You got it. We were all best friends at the Zoids Academy, even though we all studied different fields. Laon studied Zoid power systems, I researched weapons upgrades and customizations, and Oscar learned to be a pilot. He was the original Wild Eagle."
"Was he a schizo too?" Leo glanced at Jamie, who was thankfully still distracted by Bit and Brad.
"No. He earned the reputation of the Wild Eagle and started the legend. Anyway, one of our favorite places to hang out was the Gentala Ruins. It was an abandoned excavation site; empty long before the end of the Helic-Guylos war and never reestablished. We could go there to tinker with units or test out flight models without any fear of interruption or supervision. We hid drinks in an old military bar. It was our secret getaway, a place where we could go to just be ourselves.
"One day, when we had been doing… something. One of those foolish kid things you forget after a while. We ended up blowing up a good chunk of the landscape, nearly blew ourselves up in the process. Oscar, being an impulsive fool at the time, went down, fell, and nearly broke his neck. Laon and I went down to rescue him, and we accidentally discovered a pair of capsules in the process."
Leo nearly spewed his drink. "C-capsules?" He flashed back to Eveopolis briefly.
"Yeah. There were two of them. One had apparently contained an Organoid, but the ceiling overhead had broken and crushed the pod long ago. There wasn't anything we could do for the Zoid. The other one was sealed tight. At that time, I knew a Professor who studied Ancient Zoidian technology. We contacted him discreetly and took him out to the sight so long as he promised never to tell anyone. We didn't want our hangout to become an excavation site again.
"We took the capsule back to the Academy late at night and that was the last we ever saw of it. As thanks, the Professor made sure we all received scholarships and we became assistants to very skilled teachers. I myself got to be the Professor's assistant. After a few months, he introduced me to his daughter, my future wife."
Leo grinned. That was one heck of a romance story. "So was it love at first sight?"
"Not really. She was very nice, a little naïve though. Laon was the one who really took an interest in her. She became the fourth member of our troupe. We even brought her to the ruins a few times. Laon eventually came to me and asked me to write her a love letter to her in his name. He never was very good with words. Neither was I. Oscar was the closest thing we had to a poet in our group. So I passed the task on to him, and he accidentally signed the love letter in my name, not Laon's."
"Waitaminute. You don't mean…"
"Yep. My soon-to-be wife fell in love with me because of a misprint, and I fell in love with her too. She came on a little too strong at first, but soon I just couldn't resist her. Laon was furious; thought I'd betrayed him and swore revenge. I've always been a little sad about that. He never attended the wedding. But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Knowing what I know now, I'd have fought Laon tooth and nail for her."
"Nice." Leo grinned.
Doc returned the expression. "What about you? Are you planning to fight for my daughter?"
"What?"
"Come on, I see the way you look at her, and I've seen her looking you a few times over as well." He elbowed Leo lightly.
"Did Leena inherit her delusions from you?" Why was he so nervous suddenly. Sure, Leena was attractive. But Leo didn't want anything beyond friendship, especially when she kept playing him against other men to make herself feel important.
"You're a lot like I was, Leo." Doc sighed. "Let me ask you something, is Leena like any other girl you met?"
"I don't think she's like any other person in the galaxy." Doc seemed a little too pleased with that answer.
"And have you met a lot of girls?"
"I've wandered a bit. Met my fair share."
"What did you think of them? Does any one stand out?"
"Not really. After a while they all tend to blur together."
"What about Leena? Will she mix with the other women you've met, or will you remember her more clearly?"
"I'm going to try as hard as I can to forget her." There, that ought to shoot Doc down.
"But will you?" Persistent.
"Probably not. She's too weird to forget."
Doc nodded. "Leo, I don't mean to intrude, but I see something happening between you and Leena that both of you are missing. I worry that she's being distracted by this Sen Vaez character. Not that I don't like my daughter dating the ZBC Chairman… but I'm not sure he's best for her. We barely know a thing about him."
"You don't know much about me either."
"I know that you keep your word and risk your own life to save other people. That's more than I know about this Vaez person." Doc placed a hand on Leo's shoulder. It was both assuring and alarming at the same time. "I'm not trying to tell you to compete for my daughter, but don't let her stubbornness or selfishness fool you. Leena can be a completely different person if you take the time to get to know her." The conversation ended with that. Leo ate in silence, glad that Bit and the others had been too distracted to eavesdrop. He sincerely doubted that he could compete with someone like Sen Vaez for Leena's affection, even if he wanted to.
Alteil was the first of many to be frightened. "You can't be serious!"
Vaez reclined as he looked in to the communication window. "I am very serious. You will execute my orders tomorrow night. Any delay will meet with punishment." He held up the small remote that would end Alteil's life. "You will obey."
"But… but you'll waste a whole division of Zoids, not to mention countless resources!"
"The Zoids that will be lost are insignificant, and the Backdraft will soon raid towns to replenish all that we have lost. Stop worrying about the plans, my puppet. That is my role. Your role is to follow my commands without fail. By this time tomorrow, I had better be dealing with a full-fledged crisis or you will find your body betraying you." He switched off the channel without awaiting a reply.
All things proceeded as planned. This would be the first blow of many that would eventually lead to the end of both Helic and Guylos. It gave Vaez great pleasure to see his grand design taking form, just as it gave him pleasure to receive a call from his future bride. Leena Toros had almost demanded to see him. Such impatience was truly flattering. It was good for her to desire him so; it would make the transition from popper to princess all the easier.
Vaez opened a set of files and scrolled through the data until he found Leena's measurements from her last battle costume fitting. He then crossed the data with several pictures recently taken. The ensuing data was the closest estimate he could gather on Leena's very fine figure. He shaved off an inch or two in just the right places, then forwarded the measurements to Vaez's personal assistant, who was instructed to provide several dresses. No budget, no limitations and only the finest. He would win Leena Toros in one night. Zi would follow soon after.
The gentle rapping at the door shouldn't have bothered Leo's sleep. Small noises like that didn't usually wake him. But for some reason he got up and went to the door. The Blitz Team had given him a room of his own, near the hanger. At first he thought they'd given him this room so he could get to work on their Zoids faster. Then he realized they'd given him this room to save him a long walk after tiring himself out on their Zoids. Unlike other teams, they didn't try to force Leo into the mechanic's role, the supported him. It seemed like such a small thing, but it was so crucial.
The door slid open. Leena smiled back at him. Not that mocking or teasing smile. She was more… sultry than usual, even the way she leaned against the wall. "Did I wake you?" Her voice was cool and even. None of the usual rage or selfishness Leo associated with her.
"Actually, yes. You need something?"
She reached up with a finger and traced it around Leo's chin. "Something, yeah." Leo wanted to recoil, but his body didn't move. Leena leaned closer, her breath warm on his face. "I was impressed by how you fought today. I think I may have been wrong about you."
"W-wait a minute… I… I…" Words failed him as Leena's lips pressed against his and her arms wrapped around his body. For a moment, Leo could feel the warmth of her skin and the sweet taste on her lips. Her body pressed closer to his, and he reached to draw her closer. They kissed for several moments before Leo picked her up and carried her towards his bed. She kissed him every step of the way. The bed seemed to grow to fit the two of them. He laid her down and reached for her -
Then he awoke in a cold sweat. Panting, he glanced around the room, confused. Reality caught up to him. The door was closed and no gentle rapping came from beyond. There wasn't a soul awake at this hour. Leena had gone to bed furious at him and would probably be the same way tomorrow.
What was he doing, dreaming about Leena? Damnit, this was Doc's fault! That little chat had screwed with Leo's head. Now instead of dreaming about beatings from those men in dark uniforms, he was having a hormone-filled fantasy about a woman who drove him insane!
Leo lay in bed for several minutes, and when he realized that sleep wouldn't return he got up, dressed, and went to work on Fang. There wasn't much work to be done now that the new components and weapons had been installed. Fang was better than before the Diloforce attack. Better than before when he and Leo had saved Leena's life. Better than when Leena had thanked him and apologized…
Shake it off, he told himself, don't think about her. Except now that was all he could think about. Leena was truly the most bizarre woman on Zi. He'd never met anyone who could waste ammo, attract trouble, manipulate men, and be so damn intriguing all at once. Doc had said that his daughter was a different person than she first let on. Leo thought he'd seen some of that once or twice when Leena brought him his dinner or came to save him from the Cannon Fort. That Leena impressed him. He admired her bravery and kindness.
Then there was the Leena who constantly bullied him and set up fights that had no importance except to stoke her ego. He did not like that Leena. Such polar differences, more of contrast than Jamie and the Wild Eagle. Leo tried hard not to dwell on which Leena was the real one while he tightened Fang's bolts and checked for any upgrades. That lasted all of fifteen minutes, not nearly enough time to calm down and focus on other things.
Leo had hoped to stick with small maintenance. Most injuries happened during overtime, when mechanics were tired and prone to making mistakes. But Leo was too nervous about falling asleep again, so he went to work on the Panzer. Repairing the armor would last well into dawn and beyond. It was the perfect task at first. But after a while Leo slipped into routine and his mind wandered. He began to think about Leena, about that dream, and about what might have happened if the dream had continued. Why was this bothering him? He'd had his share of dreams and fantasies before. It was part of the human condition, that instinct that half the world wanted to denounce as a sin and the other half didn't want to acknowledge. Leo didn't have an issue with having the occasional fantasy. He'd met quite a few good-looking women in various cities and towns.
But he'd always left those towns before anything could develop. He'd lose sight of those girls as the people of that town faded from his memory. That wasn't the same with Leena, who was far too different to be forgotten, ever. He was trapped with Leena on the Blitz Team. Could he talk to her normally after dreaming about her? Would he blush ever time she looked at him? Gods of Zi, she'd be intolerable if she thought he had the hots for her. If you don't have the hots for her, why did you dream about her, his mind asked. This was so insane.
"Hey there." A hand fell on his shoulder. Leo yelped and dropped his tools. "Whoa, easy." Bit Cloud motioned for quiet. "You'll wake the whole team."
"What are you doing up?" Leo demanded while hoping his face wasn't pure red.
"Couldn't sleep. Too psyched about today's battle!"
"You're joking." Wasn't being "psyched" supposed to happen before a match?
"No way. When I think about how strong that Iron Kong was, I can't wait for a rematch! I want challenge them again!" Too bad the new season's rules forbade rematches. Leo didn't have the heart to tell Bit. It was obviously important to the Zoid Warrior, though Leo still didn't understand his excitement. "I can't sleep like this. I need to pilot the Liger a little. How's about a little practice run?" Good, something that would definitely keep his mind off Leena. Besides, Leo wanted to test Fang's new parts.
They exited the Hover Cargo the hard way. The catapult would have made too much noise, so instead they lowered the rear ramp just low enough to jump out. The metal door never touched the sand while the two Zoids jumped out and skidded on the desert sand. Just as Leo's teeth stopped rattling, he realized something. "Isn't it a bad idea to leave without telling anyone?"
"You think Jamie would let us go if we mentioned this?" Probably not. Leo could already envision his friend's face upon hearing that Bit, Leo, Zero, and Fang had disappeared. "You really want to cause Jamie that much grief?"
"Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, remember? Besides, we'll catch up to the Hover Cargo long before they wake up. It's the perfect scheme. Now, let's go!" Zero was already charging him.
Leo yelped and pressed Fang forward, barely dodging a swipe from the Liger's claws. "Sorry," said Bit over the comm. "I should have said something like, 'Ready… FIGHT!" He laughed. Such joy.
"Please," Leo rolled his eyes, "I'm so tired of hearing the judge's speech. Anything except that line!" He fired three shots from Fang's sniper rifle. The targeting was so much easier, and the range more than double the older laser cannons. This was the kind of firepower Fang had needed from the start. Too bad Bit was so good at evading. He would have liked to see what damage those shots could inflict.
The Liger Zero charged again, firing its shot cannon as it went. Leo managed to dodge the first two shots, but he quickly realized that Bit was missing on purpose. He almost jumped right into the third shot. Only Fang's new servos gave him the speed to duck down and let the round pass overhead.
"Nice," Bit complimented. "I guess you learned how to dodge from Leena." This was weird. Most Warriors got so serious and even angry during a fight. The adrenaline changed them into completely different people. Not so with Bit. If anything, he seemed happier behind the Liger's controls than he was on the ground. It unnerved Leo a little. Here they were, a Class S pilot and living legend having fun while the Class D nobody was feeling rather miserable. It was all Leo could do to keep from getting a Strike Laser Claw in the face. What was it about battling that appealed to Bit? Why was he so happy while everyone else became either stressed or frightening? These questions didn't help Leo's piloting at all.
The match continued with Bit holding complete dominance. It wasn't like the gauntlet run with the others. No special tricks this time, no surprise sand dunes or barrage cover. Bit was in total sync with the elements. Zero's feet seemed to move with the sand, turning it sharper than Leo thought possible. He couldn't keep up at all. Bit and Zero were a fluid torrent of white, rushing around him, towards him, and away. Then they swept back again, so fluid and quick he wasn't sure if he was actually moving at all.
Before Leo could collect himself again, he saw the Liger standing over him, its mane shimmering gold and its illuminated claw poised above Fang's cockpit. "Good match. I can't believe how hard it was to get you! You've really improved." When Leo said nothing, Bit's tone changed. "You okay? You're not mad, are you? I mean, this was just for fun."
"H… how can you be so happy?"
"Huh?"
"I just don't get it. You're giggling like a kid while firing off shots and slashing with Zero's claws. I've never seen anyone that happy in a fight."
Bit smiled over the comm monitor. "I can be serious in a fight, but not today. I love meeting strong opponents and testing myself against them. When I win, I feel this rush; like I'm getting stronger and stronger with each day. When I lose, I get mad, but I also have a new challenge, a goal that I can overcome. The only time I don't like fighting is when I think the Zoids suffer, like in Backdraft Battles." He was quiet for a moment. "What were you thinking about during our fight?"
"I was thinking of how I could not die tonight."
Bit shook his head. "Liger and I were only focused on having fun." The Liger Zero roared as if agreeing with its pilot. "When I fired my shot cannon, your only focus was dodging, right?"
"Yeah. Wouldn't you?"
"I'd dodge, sure, but that wasn't my focus. If all your focused on is dodging my one shot, then you won't be ready to dodge the next shot, or the one after that. You gotta focus on a larger goal. In an official battle, me and Liger are all about winning the fight. Tonight, we were all about having fun. Once you have a big goal to focus on, all the small stuff comes easier. Even when you get hit, focus on winning and you'll be back on your feet in no time."
Leo was silent for a moment, trying to process this. He wasn't looking for a subject change, but something came up. "Uh, Bit. The Hover Cargo was on auto-pilot, right?"
"Yeah."
"And we were only going to fight for a little while and then catch up, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"Where's the Hover Cargo now?" Both Fang and Zero looked around at the empty desert.
"Uh oh…"
At least he wouldn't have to deal with Leena right away.
Bad things happened to people who didn't listen to Alteil; and it was never his fault. He had told the Committee of Seven that the Liger Zero was an Ultimate X and should therefore be taken for the Backdraft's gain. They didn't listen and soon after the Liger Zero won the Royal Cup and crushed the Backdraft's ambitions.
He told the Count not to entrust Sarah with the Berserk Fury. He hadn't listened either. The Fury was now gathering dust in a ZBC hanger.
And he'd told that witch, Sarah, not to provoke the ZBC, not to shoot down their satellites, and not to start a war with the strongest force on Zi! She didn't listen, and he was glad she was rotting a cell now!
Now the latest non-listener, far more aggravating than any before, wasn't listening to his warnings. "Don't provoke the ZBC now, in our weakened state!" He said. "Don't waste our resources! Don't charge in like a fool!" Vaez was a fool, and he didn't listen. Alteil hoped he'd pay for that soon.
How could that brat waste so many Zoids on one insignificant city? Alteil's eyes panned across the large hanger, filled with two types of Zoids and every manner of mechanic, pilot, and munitions expert preparing for the big day. The first Zoid was familiar to Alteil, and one of his favorites. At its highest, the Demantis could barely reach the Liger Zero's shoulder. The cannons protruding from its pincers were rather weak, and the gattling on its back could only inflict moderate damage. It's insectoid body was not that resilient, meaning that even a Command Wolf could crush it without much effort. Such a frail body meant it was cheap to produce, so the Backdraft made hundreds of them, planning to have the Demantis Zoids swarm across the ZBC ranks when the time came. It never did.
The second Zoid was a bit more expensive and Alteil wasn't as fond of it, but he was relieved that it wouldn't be sacrificed like the Demantis. The Glaive Quama was to be a support unit for the Zabats and a carrier for the Demantis. Its sleek, black and purple body reminded him somewhat of the Genosaurer, though its head was more dragon-based than Tyrannosaur. It featured a pair of wings that looked as if each one was assembled from seven blades each. Twin lasers were built into either shoulder, though offense was not this Zoid's forte. The Glaive Quama was a transport Zoid, meant to drop Demantis units behind enemy lines for a surprise attack. The retractable bar under its belly was more than adequate perch for the Demantis. Tomorrow night, the Quama would fulfill its role for the last time. Between the 100 loss of Demantis units, and the inevitable destruction of at least a few Glaive Quama, Alteil knew the Backdraft would suffer a tremendous financial blow, all because Vaez wanted to send "a message."
Yet when the deed was done, it would be Alteil's blood everyone called for. He would be the most wanted criminal, because he had been caught by the most lowly bastard on Zi. It just wasn't fair.
He wouldn't be in this position if people bothered to listen to him for a change.
The Hover Cargo was faster than Fang, so Bit charged ahead in Liger Zero and tried to flag down the transport. Leo could already envision Jamie lecturing them about slipping away without notice. "Did you even think about what might happen if you missed the match? It's a four-on-four battle, and if we're shorthanded then we instantly forfeit!" Leo toyed with the idea of blaming it all on Bit, but decided he deserved a good share of the blame.
The Liger was up ahead, standing fixed in the desert. Leo frowned, the Hover Cargo was nowhere in sight. "Bit, what's wrong?"
"Liger's picking up the Hover Cargo's signal, but it's coming from the wrong direction." Leo checked his own sensors and confirmed Bit's own readings. If it had been just Fang's sensors picking up the Hover Cargo, Leo would have thought it a malfunction; but if Bit was picking up the same direction…
"Why would the go that way? It's not a shortcut, and it leads right through a judge tumult. That's a-"
"I know. That's the name people use for unnatural sandstorms. Those judge satellites kick up a lot of sand and dirt when they hit, so a few storms aren't a big surprise." Bit grinned, "You're not the only one who's wandered around for a while." The fierce sandstorms were the environmentalists' main issue with the ZBC. Most other people didn't mind since the Commission made sure they only dropped large numbers of judges around uninhabited areas that no one would miss. Leo could see the storm on the horizon, a tan cloud where the sky touched the ground.
"Well, better go see what's going on. Think the Liger can handle a storm like that?"
Zero growled and roared. He sounded offended. "Liger can handle anything. How about Fang?"
"He and I have been through more dust storms than baths. We'll be fine."
Bit frowned, "Are you serious? I really didn't need to hear that." Leo grimaced and led the way in. He couldn't help it if baths were less available than storms. Besides, he'd showered the day before so it wasn't like he was a walking cesspit.
They prepared their Zoids by covering any open ports or weapons barrels with emergency cloth, and coated the joints in a temporary solvent that would allow movement, but keep out most of the sand. Leo would have to give both Zoids a thorough cleaning after this. He then fished out a pair of goggles and a scarf from an emergency kit he'd assembled long ago. In case Fang's cockpit broke or he had to exit his Zoid for some reason, he'd be at least a little protected from the elements. Bit didn't have such a kit. "It's in my salvage truck. I didn't think I'd need to use it in the Liger." It wouldn't be a problem since the Liger's cockpit was more secure than Fang's. Satisfied that they were as ready as possible, the two set out into the storm.
The winds wrapped both Zoids in sand sooner than Leo had imagined. The swirling grains made radar almost useless, and the signal they tracked cut out periodically. It was stupid to go into this storm, even to meet with the rest of the team. Most people would advise to wait until the storm passed, but Leo figured that would take another ten years.
He paused when he felt the sand shift under Fang's paws. He signaled for Bit to halt, then fired a quick burst from the sniper rifle into the ground. The shot kicked up far more sand than it should, and the hole left by the blast was over several times larger than average. Here lay the cause of the storm. Craters left by judge capsule landings filled with sand quickly in a storm like this, but the sand itself was too loose to be a solid base to stand on. Stepping carelessly often meant sinking into your doom.
The pressed on, avoiding several more pits and getting closer to the Hover Cargo. A flash of red caught Leo's eye, though it was so brief he wasn't sure if he'd imagined it. He asked Bit to follow him towards the red. A small delay was okay, but leaving his companion would have been suicidal. The farther apart the two became, the greater the chance they'd lose each other for good.
The red, Leo soon learned, was a downed Redler. The dragon-styled Zoid was a mainstay of the Guylos air force, though this one looked to be a civilian model. Its wings had been reduced to scrap and most of its body was too battered to even resemble its true form. The Zoid core had taken damage, and it would soon die. Leo's heart clenched. Miraculously, the cockpit was in relative good order. A few cracks, but no place for the sand to seep in yet. That was very good, because Leo was reading one life sign on board. "Bit, someone's in there. I'm going to get him."
"Are you sure? It might be better to get some more help."
"We'd never find this Redler again, and I'm the only one with a spare set of survival gear."
"You have a spare?" Bit growled, "Why didn't you give it to me before we headed out?"
"To teach you a lesson. 'Always have survival gear on-hand.' I can't help it if you left your equipment in your truck." His grin was as big as Bit's frown. Leo grabbed the extra gear, along with a snap-on cable from behind his seat. Once outside, he clamped the cord around Fang's leg and tied the other end around his waist. He'd barely taken five steps away when the sand tried to devour him. The grains sifted under his feet and he began to sink up to his knees. Pulling on the cord as quickly as he could, Leo hauled himself back up to Fang's paw.
"Are you okay?" Bit's alarm was barely audible over the storm's winds. He probably had to crank up the Liger's speakers. Leo waved an affirmative and set out again, trying to step around the hidden pit. He was nearly swallowed two more times before he reached the Redler. Although he'd done everything he could to cover his body and seal off his clothing, he could still feel sand gathering in his boots and wearing at his skin. Gonna need a very long bath after this, Leo thought.
He couldn't open the cockpit without letting in a flood of sand. Instead, he rammed against a crack in the window that faced away from the storm winds. It took all his strength, and if there hadn't been a crack in the first place it would have been impossible. It finally gave and Leo was barely able to crawl inside. He looked for the pilot, hoping he was still alive.
Not he. She. A young girl, about Jamie's age, lay in the pilot's seat, unconscious. There was a nasty bump on her forehead. She had dark skin that contrasted greatly with her pure white hair. Leo had never seen someone like this before, and the way she dressed suggested that she was used to living in much colder climates. A helmet lay on the floor beside her, cracked in two. If not for that helmet and the Zoid's efforts, Leo had no doubt the girl would have far worse than a bump to worry about.
Leo climbed in and wrapped a cloth around her nose and mouth, then slid the goggles on. Her warm clothing was good for sealing off her body from the sand, though he'd have to get back to Fang fast. The belt harness was barely intact, so it wasn't hard to pull her out of it. Leo addressed the Redler. "I'm sorry I can't do anything for you. By the time I send a rescue crew, I don't think your core would survive. But you have my word that I'll protect your pilot. You saved her life, and I won't let it be for nothing." He could feel the Redler's contentment with that promise. It didn't care about its own life, only that of this young girl. She had to be a good person to inspire such loyalty in a Zoid.
The return to Fang was quicker than the first trip, but not by much. Leo couldn't trace his footsteps as the sand had already covered them up. He had a good memory of where the sand-traps lay, so he at least could avoid another fit of sinking. By the time he finally returned to his partner with the young girl, his skin felt like it was on fire and his breath was becoming shallow. He gasped for breath the moment Fang's cockpit closed. The girl had survived the trip, though she was still out cold.
"You okay in there?" Bit appeared on screen.
"I will be as soon as I get my breath back."
"Whoa, a girl!"
"Yep. She was piloting that Redler. Heck of a bump on her head. She'd be dead right now if not for her helmet and Zoid."
"What do you think happened?"
"I don't know. Her Redler was far too damaged for this to be a crash landing. Something hit that Redler, hard. We can figure out more if we get to the Hover Cargo."
Bit paused for a moment. "Leo, while you were coming back… the Redler's core died out."
Leo let out a heavy breathe. "I think it was happy to know its pilot would be safe. There wasn't anything we could have done."
"Yeah… let's get going." They resumed their course for the Hover Cargo. It was an uncomfortable ride. Fang was a one-seat Zoid, which meant Leo had to pilot with the girl in his lap. At less that several meters from the signal, she stirred. "Ohhh…"
"Hey, you're awake." Leo smiled, "Welcome back to the land of the living." She had beautiful, crystal blue eyes. They reminded him of a few lakes he'd seen in the mountains. Right now, those shinny eyes were staring at him, as big as a Gojulas' cannon barrel.
"AAHHH! Kidnapper!" She punched Leo in the nose.
"Ouch!"
"Let me go!" She began to squirm and kick, bashing Leo with her fists and elbows.
"Ow, hey, stop it!" Leo couldn't keep Fang steady and block the girl's assault at the same time."
"Leo!" Bit was back on the line. "What's going on? Are you under attack?"
"You could say that!" The girl elbowed him in the chest. "Stop it!" He hit the brake and grasped the girl's arms with his hands. "I am not a kidnapper! I saved you from that downed Redler. We're on our way back to my team's transport so you can get some medical attention. If you don't want to come, you free to walk. But I wouldn't recommend it." He pointed out the cockpit to the swirling sand storm. The girl followed his gesture and settled down. She still eyed him with great suspicion and apprehension. Content that she wasn't trying to bash his brain in any more, Leo finished their trek to the Hover Cargo.
The transport Zoid was already wedged in the sand. It wouldn't be hard to move it out since it didn't rely on wheels for movement, but Leo couldn't understand why they'd stop in the middle of a storm.
"Calling the Hover Cargo. This is Leo. What are you guys doing out here?" Static was the only response. "Hover Cargo, do you read me?" Nothing. "This isn't good."
Bit called over, "I have a remote code to open the hanger. We can get in from the back.
Fang and Liger Zero entered through the rear hatch, accompanied by a small wave of sand that littered the hanger floor. The white-haired girl jumped out of Fang before the cockpit could fully open and stood a fair distance away from Bit and Leo. "I guess we should introduce ourselves first. My name's Leo and this is-"
Bit wore a confident smile. "I'm sure you've heard of me: Bit Cloud, Class S warrior and winner of the Royal Cup."
"… No."
So much for that smile. "Really? You've never heard of me?"
"Never." Bit wilted before the truth.
Leo couldn't help but grin. "Now that you've destroyed my friend's ego, how about telling us your name?" The girl didn't answer. "Please, I need to know your name if I'm going to help you. Like I said, we're not kidnappers. We're a Zoids team."
"… Yuki." An odd name. Leo wasn't sure he'd heard that anywhere.
"Where are you from, Yuki?" No reply. Both Bit and Leo shrugged and escorted Yuki into the main hallway.
Bit keyed in the intercom. "Hey, what's going on?" More static. Both men frowned. There were no signs of attack or struggle, but for the intercom to be down…
"Stay close, Yuki." Close for her was roughly five feet from either Bit or Leo. "Yuki, what happened to you and your Redler?" She still didn't reply and the Blitz Team men weren't in the mood to press for answers. There were already enough mysteries here at home.
Down the hallway, Leo could hear a small banging coming from a locked door. He motioned for Bit to stay behind with Yuki. Creeping was one of the specialties he'd developed back in the base with the dark men. Some nights he could sneak down the hallway without raising a soul. He'd tried to escape several times by sneaking out before he had met Fang. Each time he'd made it outside, but the desert had been too far a trek, and the angry men always found him, then beat him. He had mastered stealth as well as any boy could, and had continued to use it as he grew older.
He was at the door without having made a sound the entire way. Whoever was on the other side was in for a very rude surprise. The lock was active from the outside, so Leo could open the door with the push of a button. He did so and the door slid open. Jamie came tumbling out, wrapped in rope from head to toe, and landed on his belly.
"Jamie!" Bit ran to his friends side. Yuki stood back, horrified.
"I knew it! You are kidnappers!"
"For the last time," Leo said as he tried to steady the frantically thrashing Jamie, "we're not kidnappers. Our friend Jamie is tied up because… because… Jamie, why in the world are you tied up?"
"No time! Hurry up and untie me! Now, now, now!" Something really bad must have happened. Leo could already see Leena and the others tied up or carried off by some marauding bandits or Backdraft remnants. He reached for the nearest knot-
"Stop right there!" Leena had materialized before them. "Don't you dare let him loose!"
Bit and Leo exchanged confused looks, then turned towards Leena. "So, I guess this means you haven't been kidnapped?"
"Kidnapped? What made you think that?"
"I dunno, maybe the fact that Jamie's bound up and locked in a room? I guess on most teams that'd be suspicious."
Leena growled, "Don't get smart with me. Where have you two been? Do you have any idea what trouble you've caused? We could lose the next match because of you!"
Bit retorted, "We're not the ones who tied up Jamie and sunk the Hover Cargo in the middle of a sand storm. What were you thinking?"
"I didn't do anything! Jamie's the one who got us stuck out here. We had to tie him up because he hijacked the Hover Cargo!"
Leo looked at the accused. "You want to explain any of this? I'm completely lost."
"Ohhh… My Pterraaaasss!" Jamie whimpered.
"Pteras?" Yuki spoke up. "Are you the monster's pilot?"
"Who is that?" Leena pointed a finger at the girl she'd only just now noticed. Yuki looked poised to either run for freedom or pass out.
Leo tried to keep his voice even so she didn't attempt either option. "This is our friend, Yuki. We found her in a wrecked Redler and brought her here. I'm trying to convince her that we're not mean or violent people, and you're not helping right now."
"Uh… hi." Jamie had snapped out of his mania and now had a blush on his face. Leo grinned when he noticed a small hint of red along the girl's face as well.
Leena looked between her teammates and the newcomer. "All right, fine. Grab Jamie and follow me up to the bridge. But don't untie him." They did as ordered and rode the lift up. It was perhaps the most awkward ride Leo had experienced. He and Bit stayed close to Jamie while Leena leaned against the wall, glaring at all of them. Yuki huddled behind Jamie. He was apparently the most trustworthy of the group, seeing as he was at their mercy. Leena explained on the way. "We'd just gotten up and noticed that you two were gone, along with your Zoids. So he stopped and tried to pick up your signals. Next thing we know, Jamie's locked us out of the cockpit and is piloting this Hover Cargo right into the middle of a judge tumult! We tried to call him on the intercom, but all he did was cry about his Pteras."
"My Pteras!" Jamie moaned. "I'm so close."
Leo sighed. "What Pteras?"
Bit explained, "Jamie used to pilot a Pteras Bomber Unit before Doc sold it and bought the Raynos. Jamie really loved that Zoid and he took the loss pretty hard."
"Doc sold Jamie's Zoid?"
Now Bit was a little weepy. "You see what kind of a man he is? He'll sell and buy anything because he thinks it's all his. Then he'll trick you into signing to pay for a CAS system that you can't afford and-"
"Get over it, Bit." Leo and Leena spoke in unison, stared at each other in surprise, and glared. Leo realized he should be nervous around Leena after that dream, but given everything that was happening, one dream didn't carry much weight.
The bridge looked as if it'd been the target of a ZBC raid. The lock on the door had been burned through, and large portions of the console were ripped out or re-wired.
Doc was leaning over the side of the pilot's controls with a tool clenched in his teeth and wires coiled around his arms. Brad sat at a nearby computer, typing furiously. He glanced up long enough to say "Welcome back," then returned to his duties.
Leena, Leo, and Bit exited the lift. "What happened here?"
"Jamie happened." Doc sighed. "He locked the auto pilot to follow some kind of signal, then sealed off the bridge and started scanning the radar."
Brad said, "We've almost got everything unlocked, but it'll be another half-hour. After that, we're going to have to head straight for the battle site if we want to make it on time. Repairs will have to wait."
Leo frowned. "Why would Jamie do this?"
Leena cracked her knuckles, "I think it's time for an explanation. Jamie-HEY!" Jamie wasn't there. Neither was Yuki, and the lift door was sealed. Leena hit the down button. A red light flashed on the panel. "Locked." She snarled.
A few moments later, they could hear the catapult door at the top of the Hover Cargo open, and the Raynos rocketed into the air. "Great…" Leo was starting to wonder if he'd ever have a normal day with this team.
Author's Note: Yuki is based off a character I saw on the Zoids Web Comic. I saw her piloting an Iron Kong Yeti. Unfortunately, I think the Web Comic is a thing of the past for the most part. She won't be a prominent character, but she will have a big impact on the story.
Until next time, thanks for reading and a review is always welcome.
