A/N: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I had some family problems that needed to be addressed and a few days of writer's block. I also apologize if for some reason the chapter doesn't turn out very good.
CHAPTER 5
Uncovering the Truth
Craven entered the dark depths of the Undercity below the ruins of Guygalos, walking into a large room lit only by a few ceremony candles. The Death Wraith pulled back his hood and bowed in homage to the unholy leviathan that stood before him. "Master," he said, "everything has gone to plan. What are your next orders?" The candles flickered in an omnipresent wind and in a flash Craven was staring right into the face of Chaos itself.
We wait my loyal servant, we wait a sinister voice said inside his head. Now that the President is under the protection of the enemy she will be more willing to speak the truth about the location of the Mad Thunder. After that, we will uncover the Great One and commence with the Fusion ceremony.
Craven smiled wickedly at that comment. "You are a wise and powerful master," the Death Wraith said, "but what about the Sentry?" The Chaos Saurer let loose a low growl in response, making Craven shudder in fear.
The Sentry is not important as long as we capture the Mad Thunder before our enemies, the Chaos Saurer said, and that will go to plan, won't it? Craven quickly bowed.
"Of course master, of course" Craven said.
The Special Forces met with a unit of guard Zoids a few miles outside of the main base, the new arrivals forming a protective circle around the Forces. Victor wasn't surprised at how careful Crow was being, his longtime friend had been increasingly paranoid over the years. As the guards led them to the base, Victor turned to the President behind him. "We're arriving now Madam President," he explained, "when we get you to safety my leader will request an audience I'm sure. Are you feeling up to the task?"
"I've waited ten years for a few nights of decent sleep," the old woman said, "I guess I can wait a few more hours."
"Vengeance will be pleased to hear that" Victor said as the Attack Arach crawled through the open entrance into the base. The Special Forces unit was met by a few more escorts which led them to the safest section of the entire base, the personal quarters. There, Victor helped the President out of the cockpit and bowed before her in respect. "Madam President, meet the Paladin of Vengeance, Crow."
"Madam President, thank you for meeting with me" Crow said, bowing quickly.
"Thank you for the rescue Vengeance," the President said, "its good to see some real people."
"If you don't mind Madam, I have a few questions" Crow explained.
"I'm sure I can accommodate your curiosity, what would you like to know?" the President asked.
"The location of the Great One, the Mad Thunder" Crow said.
"I've been asked that question countless times over the last ten years, and remained silent out of homage to my people," the woman said, "and now you ask the same thing of me as my tormenter. My silence brought unimaginable torture and unbearable pain, but surely now I am safe. The answer you seek lies in the question itself my child. I am of course speaking of the Thunder islands, off the west coast."
"The Mad Thunder is held there?" Crow asked.
"The Great One rests there, yes," the President said, "buried under the leagues of the sea. I wish you well in your affairs my faithful rescuer. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep." The old woman pushed past Crow, striding toward the personal quarters with as much elegance as she could.
"Thank you ma'am, have a good night's sleep" Crow said. The President waved in response. Victor leaned up close to Crow at his request. "Prepare the excavation team and begin sending out the Navy," Crow said, "and send for Gambit and Nicholas." Victor nodded and turned to leave. The Great One would soon see the light of day once again, but that left one other piece of the puzzle unsolved, the Sentry.
Gambit and Nicholas, flanked by Predator, entered Crow's office with high hopes. "You called for us sir?" Nicholas asked, running his fingers through his recently gelled hair.
"Yes, thank you for coming men," Crow said, "I have good news. The President just minutes ago provided me with some pleasing information, the location of the Thunder itself."
"That's great news!" Nicholas exclaimed. Gambit just listened on in curiosity.
"As commander of our Naval Forces, you will lead a defense force to protect the excavation team Nicholas" Crow said.
"It would be an honor sir" Nicholas returned. "Shall I begin preparations at once?"
"Yes, thank you for meeting with me" Crow said and watched as his fellow Paladin exited the room.
"Why did you send for me?" Gambit asked.
"Because whether or not you know it, the fate of Zi may very well rest of your shoulders" Crow explained.
"Is this a joke?" Gambit asked.
"No, I'm not kidding at all," Crow said, "you're one of the only people left on the planet that knows where the Sentry rests."
"The Sentry?" Gambit looked at his leader, puzzled.
"The guardian of Planet Zi, brought forth to vanquish any evil that might threaten the Republic," Crow said, "the Ultrasaurus."
"I've never even heard of any Sentry" Gambit said.
"Oh, but you have," Crow began, "after all, your parents were the head of the team that buried it." Gambit's interest piqued at that comment. "That's right Gambit, I never saved you just because you were in trouble. I had other motives behind it. Your parents also were not killed in a random attack, the Spawn slaughtered them to keep them quiet. Your father, an ex-Paladin named Herc, retired from Zoid battling when his Double Sworder was destroyed. After that, he married your mother, a famous research scientist specializing in ancient Zoids of the past. They dug up the remains of the original Ultrasaurus and managed to salvage its core, though its body was surely lost. Together, your parents rebuilt the ancient guardian, with improved armor and weaponry. Then they hid it in an undisclosed location, I believe traces of your scattered past may hold the key to bringing the Ultrasaurus back to life."
"My parents never told me the location, this is the first I've even heard of the Sentry, how can I help?" Gambit asked.
"Your mother was a caring woman, she would've sang to you right?" Crow suggested. Gambit nodded. "Does any song in particular come to mind?" Gambit rubbed his chin in deep thought.
"There's a Zoid down below, that could make the whole world shake," Gambit sang, "and it lies beneath-"
"Windeen Lake, of course!" Crow exclaimed. "Thank you, you've done the Resistance a great favor today."
"Hold on," Gambit said, "you mean that if I wasn't who I am, you'd never have saved me?"
"That's not how it is," Crow said, "I tracked you down and went after you. It was just an unfortunate accident that led to the Spawn attacking you." Gambit glared across the room at his rescuer in suspicion.
"Fair enough, but what do you want the Sentry and the Great One for?" Gambit asked.
"Alone, both are of impressive power," Crow explained, "but imagine if they could combine. Become a single entity. They would become a being capable of matching the Chaos Saurer in strength, or maybe even surpass it!"
"So you're planning on combining the two?" Gambit asked. Crow nodded. "What if your little escapade fails?"
"Than all hope for the Resistance is washed down the drain," Crow said, pointing below his office, "and all those people down there will die. I cannot allow that to happen." Gambit looked over at Predator.
"Ready to save the world buddy?" he asked. A low mechanical growl was his response. "You're right, we shouldn't mettle with the Powers of Old." Gambit rose to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Crow asked.
"I for one wish you good luck, but I'm a person who stays true to his roots," Gambit said, "your plan is just as much of an abomination as the Chaos Saurer. You cannot guarantee absolute control of the powers that be. I believe that if nobody else can get something done, do it yourself." At that, Gambit and his organoid left the room and the leader of the Resistance. Crow stared out the window and watched as the Gun Sniper climbed out of the mountain base and disappeared into the world outside. The Paladin of Vengeance sighed and mourned for the loss of the boy, but then again, he truly had no further need for him.
The Gun Sniper roared into the horizon as it set toward the sun as it fell to the rising night sky. Gambit looked down at the radar screen of his Zoid, making sure no spies had been sent to follow his movements. He wished the Resistance well, but could not in good faith follow Crow. He sat back in his seat and sighed as the Sniper entered a swirling sandstorm. The winds picked up and tossed the desert in all directions, blinding Gambit's sight. His sensors blared a small, ringing alarm, causing him to look down in response. The heat signature of an approaching Zoid had set off the alarm and Gambit began tensing up as it came nearer and nearer.
The wind died down all at once, letting the sand die down as the Zoid came into sight. The black and red mechanical beast roared at the sight of the Gun Sniper. Gambit's Zoid roared back a challenge. The enemy Zoid resembled a spinosaur, with a prominent spine coming from its back and a sleek, dinosaur-like body. "Well, well, well," an undead voice said, "a Freedom Fighter huh? I was looking for a good victim."
"And just who are you?" Gambit asked.
"My name is Jack, commander of the Nightstrike unit," the Spawn said, "now get out of my way or be destroyed."
"I'm afraid I can't do that" Gambit said. The Dark Spiner growled.
"Then die you foolish bastard!" Jack yelled. The Spiner charged forward, closing in on the Sniper using its ion boosters. The Gun Sniper unloaded a few rounds at its enemy before jumping aside and boosting around its opponent. The Dark Spiner turned, met by the raking claws of the Sniper as Gambit's world went red. In blind fury, the Gun Sniper tore viciously at its opponent, stripping the side armor of the Spiner. Jack growled and boosted his Zoid backward. When the Sniper went to follow, the Spiner whipped its tail around, knocking its foe to the ground. Next, the Spiner locked down its feet and bent forward. Its tail vents opened and a gun barrel extended from its mouth. A cloud of charged particles formed as the Spiner prepared the Charged Particle Gun.
The Gun Sniper sprang to its feet and boosted to the side just as the Spiner fired its ultimate weapon. The Charged Particle Gun blasted toward the Sniper, missing it by inches. The ensuing shockwave knocked the small framed Zoid into the air. Taking careful aim, Jack fired a shot from the Dark Spiner's AZ144mm cannon. The shot exploded into the Sniper's chest, blowing a massive hole in it before it fell to the ground. The severely wounded Zoid gasped as its opponent towered over it. "Death is only the beginning, you arrogant fool! Now suffer!" Jack yelled. Gambit calmed down, preparing to meet his end. A sudden growl from Predator and the Gun Sniper rose to its feet in one last defiant attack. Looking on in surprise, Gambit's world began turning gray once again.
The Sniper bit into the shoulder blade of the Dark Spiner, its victim roaring in pain. Next, Gambit's Zoid leaned to the side and opened fire with its Wild Weasel Unit. Craters appeared in the Spiner's chest, damaging its armor greatly. The Gun Sniper then boosted over the top of its foe, tearing the Spiner's spine apart as it went. Gambit turned his Zoid around and opened its missile launchers, firing a few rockets toward his enemy. The projectiles collided with the Spiner's cockpit, blowing open a massive section of it. The Gun Sniper collapsed as Jack crawled from the wreckage of his Zoid.
"I will have my revenge!" he yelled, disappearing in a flash of black energy.
Predator landed roughly on the ground, opening his chest and watching as Gambit crawled out. Then the organoid turned back into a bolt of maroon energy and slammed into the nearly destroyed Gun Sniper. "What are you doing?" Gambit asked. A crystalline box of energy formed all around the carcass of the Zoid as it disappeared inside. "What does this mean? Predator, what's going on?"
