CHAPTER 3
Down in the Dungeon
Gambit wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and focused on the command screen of the Gun Sniper, its infrared sensors showing the heat signatures of other Zoids. Beside the Sniper was the Whitz Wolf, with Scar in the cockpit. The boy pressed a few more buttons as he analyzed the information his Zoid's sensors had brought up. "I'm picking up three Red Horn and a Dark Horn" Gambit said.
"Don't forget about the two Command Wolf Attack Customs their using as scouts" Scar pointed out. The Gun Sniper turned to the side and picked up the heat signatures of the wolf type Zoids his companion was talking about. "Ready for action?" Scar asked.
"Shouldn't we wait for reinforcements?" Gambit asked. Scar scoffed.
"Listen rookie, we haven't survived ten years against the Spawn and their masters by using our numbers," Scar explained, "we use our superior strategies. Now, on my command we each attack a scout. But you have to be quick about it, taking the Command Wolf before it can call for the Horns. Got it?" Gambit nodded. "Attack!"
The Gun Sniper and Whitz Wolf descended down the cliff side and into the luscious forest below, splitting up at the base. Gambit followed the heat signature of his chosen opponent and the Sniper silently stalked its prey. The Command Wolf, white in color, turned around and spotted the Gun Sniper, howling into the air. Gambit winced, but charged forward. "Predator!" he yelled. A saurian roar and a flash of maroon energy signified the arrival of his organoid. Upon fusing with Predator, the Gun Sniper nearly doubled its speed, quickly closing the gap between it and its opponent.
The Command Wolf scout activated his smoke dischargers, sending plumes of chalky black clouds into the air. Gambit's world became red and without even looking down at his sensors he found his opponent. The Gun Sniper, under the cover of smoke, viciously tore into its opponent with a combination of firepower and claws. The Command Wolf, barely still operational, lunged forward and knocked the ravenous raptor-like Zoid backwards. Then, the wolf-like Zoid howled into the air a final time before Gambit fired a plethora of bullets from all of his Sniper's weapons. In a blaze of muzzle flashes the Command Wolf collapsed to the ground.
But the scout's true purposes behind the smoke became clear, it was a signal to his allies. In an explosion of black smoke a Red Horn charged toward the Gun Sniper, catching the smaller framed Zoid with its hardened alloy Crasher Horn. The Red Horn impaled the Gun Sniper, its horn gouging into the Zoid's exposed chest. Gambit activated the Sniper's boosters, the momentum pulling his Zoid off the dangerous horn. Just as the Gun Sniper touched the ground again, the other Horns came crashing into the fray. The second Red Horn bulldozed over the top of the Gun Sniper while the Dark Horn trampled on top of it. The small Sniper was nearly in ruin now.
Gambit roared a mighty battle cry and his Zoid responded in part, rolling to its feet and firing at the Dark Horn as it tried to turn around. Shots exploded from the Wild Weasel Unit, slamming into the side of the Dark Horn with significant force. The impact threw the bulky Zoid over, giving Gambit a chance to advance. The Sniper boosted toward its fallen opponent like a vulture coming down on roadkill. A few shots from the Red Horns rocked the raptor-like Zoid but Gambit's rage fueled it forward. The Dark Horn roared in bestial rage as the Sniper bit into the saurian Zoid's exposed neck. The Horn malfunctioned and a surge of electricity passed through it.
The Sniper turned to face its remaining opponents but after a small barrage from the Red Horns its already damaged body collapsed. The Horns cautiously approached their prey, carefully aiming all their weaponry at the fallen Zoid. Before they could open fire and finish off the boy and his organoid a pair of energy beams slammed into the first Red Horn, cutting through its back leg and forcing it to fall off balance. The second Red Horn turned, only to be met by a barrage of shots from the Whitz Wolf's dual impact cannon. The shots stripped the Red Horn of a chunk of chest armor before the saurian type Zoid fired a few shots, sending geysers of dirt and bark into the air as they collided with the ground around the Wolf's feet.
Scar screamed a battle cry and the Whitz Wolf boosted forward using its trio of boosters. The Red Horn charged as well, hoping to impale its opponent. Scar quickly maneuvered out of the way and activated his smoke dischargers. In a flash the area was engulfed in darkness once again. The Spawn soldier inside the cockpit of the Horn immediately brought up his sensors, scanning the area for the Whitz Wolf. A gust of wind blew the smoke away and the soldier heard a whistle from behind him. Scar ended the battle with fire from all of the Wolf's weapons. The final Horn fell to the ground, its back legs both missing.
Predator boosted to the ground, his chest opening and Gambit appearing from inside. The boy and the organoid ran over to the cockpit of the Red Horn as it opened, a zombie-like child pulling himself out. Predator roared and sprang on the child before he could escape, pinning him down with his superior weight. "You . . . fool," the Spawn managed to choke out, "you . . . can't stop us!" The sound of a gun firing stopped the child from talking, Scar standing above the Spawn and re-holstering his weapon. Suddenly the Spawn sprang back into motion again, crying in pain. "That hurt!" The hole in the Spawn's leg oozed with crimson-colored blood.
Scar jumped down and pulled the child-soldier out of the cockpit, throwing him over his shoulder. "You'll make a fine specimen for target practice," Scar said, "unless you have some information for us that is." At first the Spawn just remained silent, but a gentle nudge from Scar's pistol changed his mind.
"What do you want to know?" the Spawn asked.
The darkness of the dungeon was pierced by a sudden beam of light, revealing the ragged prisoner inside. The Madam President, her dress torn to pieces and body beaten from multiple forms of abuse, raised her head weakly to see the face of Craven. "Evening Madam President," the Death Wraith spat out, "cup of tea?" The Death Wraith held out a cup of warm, soothing tea. A brilliant aroma of different berries and herbs awoke the President's senses, piquing up at the delightful smell. She leaned forward with what little strength she had to try and sip the wonderful liquid. At the last minute Craven pulled back the cup, took a big swig of the brew and then poured the rest on the old woman's head. The Death Wraith laughed uncontrollably as he watched the woman's soaked hair drip the liquid just out of her reach. "Guess not" the Death Wraith cackled, shrugging his shoulders.
The President moaned out a few words. "What . . . do . . . you . . . want?" she asked, barely able to talk.
"Glad you asked," Craven said, "it's a topic we've discussed many times Madam President. One that is wearing my patience thin, and my master's. Where are you hiding the Mad Thunder?" The Death Wraith hissed and slapped the old President across her face. She coughed and spat blood into the Wraith's face. Craven wiped the blood from his face, cocking his head in frustration. He quickly grabbed the President's chin, squeezing roughly. "Tell me you old bitch or it's your head!" he threatened. A whimpering laugh was the only reply. Craven screamed in anger and threw the woman against the stone wall of the dungeon. "Give me the answers I seek or I'll shall violate you in ways you've never imagined" Craven whispered. When there was no response the Death Wraith let the woman go, turning to leave. The Madam President took a deep breath of relief as her tormentor exited the room.
Then, the door burst back open and Craven reappeared, wielding a long-handled sword. He held the blade up to the frightened woman's neck for a moment, bathing in her fright. Then he turned the sword over, showing her the spiked, pole-like handle. "Where do you want it?" the Wraith asked. The President screamed.
Scar tossed the dead Spawn's body to the ground effortlessly. "Well, got what we needed out of him," Scar said, "let's return to base." A few minutes later the trio of Freedom Fighters entered Crow's command room. "Vengeance" Scar said, saluting the man.
"Virtue," Crow said, returning the favor, "what news have you?"
"We managed to capture a Spawn alive and interrogate him," Scar said, "rather aggressively. He told us that the President was still alive, but he was too low of a rank to know the location."
"After all these years," Crow said, "and there's still hope after all." The man got up and began pacing around in his office. Gambit looked around confusingly.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"The President is the only person on planet Zi alive that knows the location of the Mad Thunder" Crow explained.
"What's the Mad Thunder?" Gambit asked.
"The perfect answer to the Death Saurer," Scar answered, "a Zoid capable of out-matching the Saurer in every aspect."
"But the Chaos Saurer is ten times the Zoid the Death Saurer was right?" Gambit asked.
"Yes, but the Mad Thunder is only half of our plan," Crow said, "we have another piece of the puzzle as well." Gambit moved his hands in circles as if to say "continue". "There's no time for anymore explanation Gambit," Crow said, "we have to save the Madam President or all hope for the salvation of our great planet will be lost." At that comment, the other Peace Paladins entered the room.
"What's our plan of action, sir?" Scar asked.
"Take all available forces and scour the continent," Crow commanded, "attack every known Spawn encampment and take as many high-ranking soldiers hostage as possible. Sooner or later someone will talk!"
"Whoa Crow, don't you think that's a little extreme?" Juliet asked. "You want us to launch a massive offensive against the Spawn? They outnumber us by way too much, we'd never survive!"
"Think this through a little more buddy" Victor suggested.
"I have thought it through," Crow barked, "and if we're ever to win this battle we have to strike hard. The President is the key, without her we're nothing. That's why the Chaos Saurer needed Necros, it had to seize the one person who might be able to stop it and it needed someone close to her. This is not a negotiation, its an order! Prepare to attack the Spawn with everything we've got!" The Peace Paladins looked at each momentarily, questioning their leader's rash decision. A quick clap of Crow's hands forced them to ignore their doubts and jump into action. "Move people, the President awaits our rescue!"
A/N: There you go, chapter 3 and the plot thickens once again. The Chapter's a little short so sorry for that, but hopefully you all liked it! Please review!
