The Dragon Dilemma
I don't own Naruto and Zoids
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"Talking"
'Thoughts'
/-- Scene change
)-()-( Different point of view
?-? Flash back
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Chapter 20
He didn't have any trouble getting into the hanger; most were going about their business and not really caring as to his reason of being here. It didn't take long before he's before the cell that belongs to the small red Zoid. The Zoid is simply curled up and staring out of the cell.
He shivered slightly as he stared into those inhuman eyes. He didn't know what creeper that they didn't blink or that he couldn't read any emotion within them. He didn't know if he should talk with the small odd Zoid, for how did he know that this one might not do something desperate like try and ram the bars to attack him. He doesn't know how strong the odd red Zoid is, but he figures that it's better to be wary and not to underestimate the small Zoid.
He leans on the wall behind him, having moved away from the cage as much as he can without knowing that he was doing it. He stiffens as he notices how cold the wall behind him is. Then he shivers for a whole different reason as he tries not to fidget too much as his shoulders and upper back begins to cool off from the contact with the cold wall. He finally decides to either leave or to talk with the red dragon Zoid in hopes of getting some kind of reaction to see if said red dragon knows said black dragon.
He took a deep calming breath and stares into the red dragon Zoid's eyes as he begins, "You're not the only one of your kind it would seem. We've spotted a black one like you. He took off with one of our ninjas about a year ago." He watches as the small Zoid growls softly, he waits for the red dragon to do more, but it soon stops growling so he continues. "The black one's front opened up and the wires dragged the ninja's helpless body into its self. Then that one jetted out of the window. I don't suppose you know why the black one took that kid?"
He stiffens as the red Zoid gets up off the ground and begins to study him with interest. He tries to keep his face calm even though his insides were busy cringing and rolling around within him. He didn't like how the Zoid was eyeing him like he was an object, some tool that suddenly was looking promising. It reminded him of his elder brother, that night when his brother killed his clan and then used his new eyes on him, to make him relive the massacre that he hadn't been there to witness personally.
He's snapped out of those thoughts as something hums from the direction of the small red Zoid. He feels cold inside as the odd Zoid launches itself into the air and through the top of the cage. He coughs and covers his face as the dust floats within the air. He hears a crashing sound once more and he opens his eyes to find the red Zoid standing before him. He tries to yell out as the front of the Zoid opens and wires begin to wrap around him and pull him into itself.
He didn't know what to expect, but he didn't expect to find himself receiving information within the body of the Organoid. 'That's what he is, not a Zoid but something more. They bring out the potential of the Zoid in different ways. Shadow can evolve a Zoid as well as repair it as well. Ambient can't evolve a Zoid, but can make it grow large as well as repair.' Then something new filtered into his thoughts. A picture of a different world, a place where Zoids and Organoids originate from and are native to a world called. 'Planet Zi.'
Soon he's dropped to the floor and he just blinks as he takes a look at his surroundings. "We will find Shadow and I will show him he's not the only one who can find a suitable partner on this world." Ambient growls out as the red Organoid studies the cell from the outside. He blinks in surprise at being able to understand said growls as if they were words. He wonders just what he's gotten himself into as of now.
/----
He didn't know how he explained what it felt like to be bonded with Ambient, but he was sure that more then one person thought he was under some kind of mind control. It didn't help that Ambient seemed to enjoy growling out things as someone is talking. It really must have freaked out a few of them when he began to argue with Ambient. Especially when they didn't know what the red Organoid was saying and, to them, they only heard growls and snarls from the dragon Organoid.
He wondered if Naruto got the same reaction when anyone found him chatting with Shadow, the black Organoid that kidnapped him. 'Or they make sure they were never caught. Ambient mentioned that Shadow had been here before he had, so does this mean that Naruto knew about Zoids before everyone within the village? How would Shadow hide?' Were usually where his thoughts headed during the last four days. He did know that Kakashi believed him when he said that Ambient can project things through his growls and snarls.
The medic nins founded a part of his brain begin active, they figured that somehow, Ambient stimulated that part of his brain during the time he was within the red Organoid. They have yet to decide whether that it'll be harmful in the long run of having that part of his brain active through the 'forced' stimulation that Ambient provided.
He glances around at the scroll that they brought in from the hide out that once belonged to that group his brother belonged to. They hoped to find what interested the killer enough to take on the whole group within a single day. He sighs and does his best to ignore Ambient, for it seems that the red Organoid knows just what buttons to push to get the deserved reaction out of him.
He tries to shake Ambient from his thoughts and focus on reading what's in his hand. He had volunteered to help out, most of the younger ninjas weren't aloud to read certain scrolls, they were mostly technique scrolls and most likely to be forbidden types to boot.
He could see out of the corner of his eye Ambient moving around the room, scaring Hinata more often then not. He did have to wonder how could Hinata be so nervous and shy while Neji was bold and prideful, they were from the same clan, though Hinata is the eldest daughter of the clan head while Neji is a member of the branch side of the clan. They should have been raised the same way, right?
He once more attempted to focus in on the scroll in his hand, determined to read it as well as a few others. He did have to wonder why there were scrolls on dimensional travel though. He snorts softly at mention of some open gate somewhere in Earth Country. 'As if, we would have heard about it by now.' Were his thoughts on the matter.
)-(Naruto)-(
He glares at the patrol camping just a few miles away. He closes the scoop and pocket's it. He's in a bad mood, first of all, Shadow has yet to tell him why he's so distant, another is that they keep on running into patrols, not just Stone nin ones, but for some freaky reason, Sound nin ones too. He was getting close to the boarder of Earth Country and his patience is wearing thin.
He turns away and checks on his dinner. He'll have to wait until they're moved on before attempting to travel through that valley. 'All this sneaking around is time consuming. But I also don't to alert anyone to where I'm headed.' He thinks, calming a bit of his restlessness.
He takes a side glance at Shadow; the black Organoid is currently staring up into Rogue Liger's face. He turns away and stirs the pot. He almost missed the soft rumble coming from Shadow's direction. He turns and replies, "What's a Zoidian?" Shadow turns and growls softly, "A race of people who tended to be bonded with Organoids. The majority of them were wiped out by a Zoid called Deathsaurer. A few escaped as well as their Organoids, not a great deal of them, about a handful."
He looks thoughtful as he thinks about this. "So what do Zoidians have to do with anything then? Or are you remembering an old partner?" He asks in a softlya d gentle tone. Shadow made the equivalent of a snort and answers, "I've been thinking that someone within your family might have been a Zoidian. That gate, it's not just reaching within my time, but also the future and past. It wouldn't impossible for a Zoidian to slip through the gate and adapt to this culture." He blinks in surprise, his mouth open as well. He didn't know what to say to that, but it did relieve him that Shadow wasn't angry about anything he did or didn't do.
He just grins and returns to his stew, in a better mood then he had been just minutes before. Though that brought up another sore topic, his blood family, in a way, he just didn't get why nobody, not even the Third, had been willing to diverge that information when he had asked. Family is important not only to citizens as well as only to ninjas as well. It hurt to know that the man he came to consider a grandfather hadn't told him about either of his parents; he kind of figured out a while ago that his clan name isn't his true last name. He snorts mentally and turns away from the subject, knowing that he'll most likely never get any answers about his family, especially when he leaves this world.
'Maybe I should change my name once we land on Zi.' He muses as he picks up his bowl and fills with the stew he had going. He nods as he thinks about the idea a bit more. Now he just needed to come up with a new name and maybe history to go along with it. He'll talk it over with Shadow later, for now; he just wants to enjoy his supper without too much bother.
)-(Shadow)-(
He hadn't known that Naruto was that worried about him as he watches the blond eat his stew. He had noticed that his blond partner and friend had been growing impatient with all this sneaking, it most likely hadn't helped that he had been keeping to himself most of the time either. It stirred his emotions at the fact that Naruto truly worried about him in other ways that weren't physical.
He knows that he can't always be there for the blond, but right now, he was determined for he's all that Naruto has at the moment. While the Rogue Liger can feel and, at times react, to Naruto's emotions, the Zoid couldn't interact with Naruto in the way he can. He was kind of glad for that, for it meant that he didn't have competition for Naruto in that way. He knows that Naruto will need to make friends with other humans and he truly will encourage that, for humans are social beings, even if a few try and deny that.
Pictures of little kids playing in a school yard played within his mind. He wondered what kind of woman Naruto will marry when he's old enough. He gets the feeling that Naruto would most likely prefer a large family once he settles down, the fact that the blond never got to hear anything about his parents and such will also mean that Naruto will try to be the best father he could be, something that reminds him of Raven when Reece accepted Raven's ring.
He would smile if he could as he thinks more about Raven's life once he and Reece had been wed. He did wonder if any of Raven's blood is still around, he hopes so. Raven wasn't an evil guy, just didn't get a chance to define himself until his teens and by the time they finally defeated the Deathsaurer.
To be continued …