FOURTEEN
PAST TRANSGRESSION, FUTURE CHALLENGE
Abzan City,
Eastern Continent, Planet Zi,
February 18, 2128
When Cassiopeia agreed (or was forced to agree) upon the addition of a mercenary to her lineup, she was displeased. She never held high regard of somebody who fought for money. When she was forced to agree that a police officer would join her rank, she could sigh a breath of relief, but she still wasn't happy.
"Do you realize what task I am to carry?" she blurted, begrudgingly, as Kenny and Leila laid out their plan. "I am to track down a rogue Rottiger agent over continents of Zi. Royce DesGagne is far removed from a petty criminal. He was an elite warrior, bred to fight elite Neo Zenebas battleforces, far from friendly units or supply lines. Why mind perceives you can assume challenge?"
"My mind but perceives you will fail task absent aid," Leila replied with equal bile. "I merely offer assistance in honor of father."
"I did not fail!" Cassiopeia sneered.
"Yet we rescued you from death and nurtured you back to form," Leila raised her voice. "Should you fail to realize, necessity for more firepower has arisen. We must assume Royce and Saskia are working together. My assistance will place us on equal footing."
"Words of wisdom from a small-town cop," Cassiopeia huffed. "You think your hands are up to such weight?"
"Lieutenant, take pause," Kenny tried to defuse the situation, seeing Cassiopeia and Leila start to have a meltdown. "Ears can reject truth, yet fact remains. We need aid. We sought for a mercenary yet we gained support from a cop. Fate just gave us a bargain."
"A doubtful one," Cassiopeia exhaled exasperatedly, "as typical bargain offered on streets."
"Being a Rottiger Special Force agent does not make you above our station, Lieutenant Cassiopeia," Sahar tuned in, getting aggravated by Cassiopeia's persistence. "Your jobs stand equal, yours and Leila's. The difference lies in the crooks. Leila has no privilege of fighting high-profile criminals like Royce DesGagne, yet she excels in what's available."
"Then how should I trust her in the advent of Royce?" Cassiopeia miffed.
"A demonstration, perhaps?" Leila huffed impatiently. "You and me, outside of town. I would see myself hold your high expectation."
"And I would see you fall hard if you don't," Cassiopeia straightened herself up from the bed.
"Let minds not swell in vanity!" Kenny once again tried to cool everybody off, but this time to no avail. "Nothing is gained from haste decisions! Lieutenant, you are not of form yet."
"I am well enough to fight a small-town cop," Cassiopeia replied halfheartedly. "We have wasted too much time. I will see this matter settled, then we shall continue mission."
Cassiopeia thought the medic did a good job taking care of her. She felt fine barring the soreness on her ribcages. Laying down for a while made her legs a bit wobbly, but it wouldn't take away much of her fighting skill. She didn't think her condition would hold her back against Leila.
Outside the hospital, her Arosaurer greeted her. The zoid had been fully repaired, and for that Cassiopeia started feeling like she was being ungrateful. Rottiger received a lot of assistance from small towns and colonies, and Rottiger always returned the favor, a token of appreciation for helping it in its missions. A zoid duel didn't feel like a proper reward for somebody that had given her ample support.
But she couldn't just take somebody with her.
"Lieutenant, is this really necessary?" Maia said as Cassiopeia was getting ready to climb her zoid.
"Remove yourself to the side," Cassiopeia huffed as she pulled herself into the cockpit. The Arosaurer greeted her with a series of enthusiastic grunts, letting her know that it was ready to fight. A quick scan on the Arosaurer revealed that it was, indeed, in nominal condition. All weapons were hot and ready.
"Is everything in accord, Lieutenant Cassiopeia?" Sahar hailed her from the Rev Raptor.
"Yes, gratitude," Cassiopeia replied. "I would see this assistance rewarded by Rottiger high command."
"None needed," Sahar continued, "I merely honor my husband, ripped from grasp by Neo Zenebas. Take Leila as your aid instead. Make sure she avenges her father."
"A premature arrangement, forced before assessment."
"Then I would see it done as a harmless exhibition," Sahar moved closer, extending the Rev Raptor's blades in a threatening posture. "Seize guns before kill, or find blades in your core."
"Acknowledged," Cassiopeia sneered and guided her zoid to the outskirt of the city. Leila and her Saberlion had already waited. A quick check on the Saberlion stats gave her an idea of a battle plan. The Saberlion did not have ranged weapons. All it had were melee weapons, centering at the massive broadsword on the zoid's head. The Arosaurer itself wasn't exactly a shooter or a sniper, but at least it had 4 105-mm beam cannons on its shoulders. They were strong enough to secure a win against the Saberlion.
"Alright, Arosaur, show muscles beneath hides!" Cassiopeia snarled as she mashed the trigger. The Arosaurer's quadruple cannons flashed in rage, hurling energy blades at the smaller Saberlion. As expected, the Saberlion engaged evasive maneuvers, jumping around to dodge the shots. Cassiopeia expected this maneuver, but she was impressed by the speed and agility of the small lion. It moved almost at the speed of a Lightning Saix, one of the fastest land zoids in existence. She knew Leila would force the Saberlion's speed upon her, because her Arosaurer wouldn't be able to match the Saberlion's agility. She had to keep the lion at arm's length at all cost.
"Let's try this one!" Cassiopeia hissed as she turned the Arosaurer around while keeping her thumb at the trigger. The cannons created a wall of beam strands, charging at the Saberlion with murderous intention. The Saberlion jumped as high as it could but the lagging edge of the beam wall grazed the lion on the side. Sparks bled from the cut, and the agile lion recoiled to assess the damage. It was not a deep cut, but it was a serious wake up call.
Leila realized she had to get close to the Arosaurer, so she decided to take the initiative. The Saberlion charged the Arosaurer and sprinted at full speed. Cassiopeia stepped aside and flung the Arosaurer's long tail to sweep the Saberlion, but the small lion went airborn just as the tail whipped the void underneath it. The Saberlion sank its nails onto the Arosaurer's back. The Arosaurer screamed and twisted to bite the Saberlion, but the lion quickly jumped away, leaving deep scratch marks on the Arosaurer's back.
Cassiopeia knew the Saberlion had the means to break her defense, but she didn't expect it to happen this soon. She was against recruiting new member for her mission, but after seeing what Leila could do with the Saberlion, she started thinking of expanding her capabilities. Royce was an excellent marksman, and his Command Wolf sported great weaponries to accommodate his skill. With Leila's speed, she could break Royce's defense in a short time, cutting off his long-range advantage.
"I will see but one maneuver," she grimaced as she took a steady stance. She recalled Royce's fighting style, and mimicked his stance when he was about to hurt his enemy with long-ranged cannons. Her 105-mm beam cannons paled compared to Royce's long beam cannons, but hurting Leila was not her intention. She wanted to see how Leila handled Royce's firepower.
"Fire it all!" Cassiopeia yelled at his zoid as she hammered the trigger. The Arosaurer hurled its battlecry as the cannons roared in blazing fury. A hail of beam strands fell upon the Saberlion like a downpour. The small lion pulled all the stops to dodge them, jumping, sliding, zigzagging, while inching forward. Cassiopeia held her position and kept pouring down her beam shots, but the Saberlion found holes in her defense and kept moving forward, slowly but steadily. At point blank range Cassiopeia switched to melee mode and shoved the Arosaurer's head to catch the Saberlion. But the lion flinched at the right time and thrust its broadsword. The massive blade carved a deep incision at the Arosaurer's left hip. Cassiopeia jerked her joystick to the side, bringing the Arosaurer to sway right, taking away half of the cutting force of the Saberlion. She swiped her tail, but the Saberlion quickly jumped to safety, away from the Arosaurer's range.
Cassiopeia knew she was not Royce, but she did the best she could to impersonate him, and she liked the way Leila handled herself, even though it was just against a shadow of what Royce could do. But she was convinced that together they could take down Royce the next time they met again.
"An ample showing of skill and determination," Cassiopeia said as she lowered her guard.
"Your mind is set?" Leila replied as she brought her Saberlion closer.
"Yes. You can fall to formation. We go after Royce presently."
"What of Mother?" Leila turned to Sahar. "You can join too."
"I have more pressing matters in this city," Sahar replied. "I can handle this city absent your aid. Your time finally comes, out of shadow of Abzan City. Watch your back, and take Neo Zenebas life as it took your father's."
"Gratitude for your hospitality," Cassiopeia turned to Sahar. "I give words, I shall see your daughter return."
The port at Owl City was still inoperational, so the party had to go to the port at Abzan City to take a Hover Cargo to Helic Republic. Road trip was not everybody's idea of long travel, but it was the only one available without taking a long trip to Blue City.
"It is not bad," Maia chimed as she watched Cassiopeia's expression. "All flights from this area are suspended due to Port Estuaria being destroyed, so this is the only choice."
"Hover Cargo doesn't agree with me," Cassiopeia grumbled. "It is lacking in speed. If I could run my Arosaurer for days absent breaks, I would rather take chance with it."
"Royce and Saskia could not be too far ahead," Kenny mused. "They had to take the same means. Their head start is a mere measure of how fast they go back to form."
"Once again fate makes a mockery of me," Cassiopeia somberly exhaled. "I fear we would let them slip from grasp this time."
"We must yet continue in path," Leila tuned in, trying to boost morale. "Ears had not caught news of rampaging Gilvader, so they must have not succeeded. We still have time. Let's buy tickets and secure zoids in the Hover Cargo. The transport leaves in 15 minutes."
"I shall check on logistic," Kenny said as he observed a small convenience store by the corner. "Cleto, secure some spots on Hover Cargo. I shall join you presently."
The small organoid chirped and rushed into the transport. Kenny watched until Cleto disappeared into the Hover Cargo, then started trotting when he was made aware of Maia. Kenny didn't usually pay attention to her, but he couldn't deny he was charmed by her appearance. She was taller than him, with a pair of long, thin legs and arms that moved in sync with the rest of her body. Her shoulder-length hair matched her white crossover halter top and a pair of shorts. He recalled that she was a dancer, and it showed in the way she moved: as graceful as a crane.
"Care to come with me?" he involuntarily asked.
"Alright," Maia flashed a courtesy smile and walked next to Kenny. Once in a while he stole glances at her, observing her physique from up close. His mind wandered, wondering how she looked like when she took the dancing floor and moved her chopstick-like limbs. His imagination got the best of him, and for a few seconds he forgot what he was doing in the first place.
His wandering mind was rudely snapped when Maia abruptly stopped. His ex boyfriend, the one that was caught cheating on her redhanded, stood in front of them. She looked at him, white as a ghost, while her breaths came in short gasps. He, on the other hand, stood steady but his aura was miserable.
"Maia…" he spoke; his voice was hoarse. "I stand in regret…"
Kenny didn't know what to do. The guy was a mercenary, standing almost a head taller than him, and sporting biceps as big as his thighs. He could beat him up to pulp long before Leila and Cassiopeia could come to his rescue. But he couldn't just step aside. Maia was his friend. After everything the asshole had done to her, Kenny just had to make a stand.
"Your affair with her is done," Kenny said with trembling voice. "Take leave."
"Still tongue, boy!" the mercenary snarled, shooting a nasty stare at him. "This is none of your business!"
But Kenny stepped in front of Maia, foolishly stared right into the mercenary's eyes. "It is now. Leave and don't ever find her again."
"Or what?" the mercenary came closer. If Kenny could close his eyes, he would. He wished he didn't send Cleto back into the Hover Cargo. At least the organoid could help him out against the mercenary. But he kept his stance, waiting for the mercenary to raise his hammer and drop it on him.
"None of note," he dared himself to speak. "But deeds shall not matter. She will not return to you."
"Maia who is this creep?" the mercenary turned to Maia, much to Kenny's relieve. "Does he think you're a mute, so he needs to speak in your stead?"
"Just go," Maia took some steps back. "I don't want to see you anymore."
"Maia, we had good years behind us," the mercenary started to beg, "and many more to come. Don't abandon it by a mere indecency on my part."
"Mere indecency?" for some short seconds Maia, who was characteristically demure, showed a burst of anger. "You dare to call 'sex with another woman' a mere indecency?"
"Your eyes betray heart," the mercenary replied. "It was not like what your head perceives. My mind was on you all the time. I love you so much…"
But Maia turned away, and Kenny stepped in, keeping the mercenary from following her.
"You! You of little…" the mercenary snagged Kenny's throat and clenched his fist, but then released him, and turned away.
"Huh! Bastard! Shit from whore! Run before I put foot to ass!" Kenny spat as he coughed and retched, gasping for air. It actually felt good, having a mercenary turn away from him. He had had bigger men back out on him before, but he had Cleto on his back. Nobody wanted to mess around with a 7-foot tall metal dinosaur. This time he was on his own, and the fact that he backed up a mercenary by himself made him feel like he was Van Flyheight.
But when he turned around, he realized that Leila was actually standing behind him.
"How much did eyes lay upon?" he puffed, acknowledging the fact that the mercenary actually backed up because of Leila.
"Enough to merit stunt," Leila smiled. "Facing a mercenary absent backup was brave. Stupid, but brave."
"You think?" Kenny laughed foolishly. "Well, fate must have taken pity on me. Now I must attend to Maia. That mercenary asshole had her shaken beyond measure."
Kenny was just about to swerve past Leila when the young cop grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Kenny could only look at her with questions in his eyes.
"She is in grief," Leila explained. "Give her time absent men if you seek chance with her."
"I seek what?" Kenny couldn't believe his ears. "You think I press advantage toward her state?"
"I saw how you looked at her," Leila spoke gently but firmly. "I saw spark in your eyes as they set on her feet. And you say your standing between her and her ex lover deserves none of note? Denial may fall from mouth, yet action speaks truth."
Kenny was so overwhelmed he chocked himself.
"Why… why… why… OK, so what if I looked?" he stammered, but couldn't find a way to rebuke Leila's assessment of him. "She is hot! She is a dancer! She moves with grace! I bless fate for such elegant companion! Yet it does not mean I yearn to force myself upon her! I just lost girlfriend as well. I do not play that game, if you must know!"
"I said nothing of sort," Leila grinned at Kenny's foolish overreaction. "I merely pointed fact that you have moved well beyond Roxy, and set yourself upon danger absent mind for Maia. An act well praised, with but one reason to accept."
"And what would that be?" Kenny wondered sarcastically. "That I'm in love with Maia?"
"Love?" Leila replied with a shrug. "Who's talking about love? You brought it up, not me."
"With all due respect, Officer Leila," Kenny couldn't continue this conversation any longer. "Remove yourself from private affair."
He left in a brisk, but once again Leila caught his arm. She dragged him back to where he stood a second ago, and looked into his eyes in the earnest. "Give her time," she said.
"A lifetime, for all I care!" Kenny huffed and rushed toward the Hover Cargo. That was the second time Leila made comments about his private life, and he wished she didn't. But she made a good point: why did he interfere with Maia's private life? Why did he put himself on the mercenary's crosshair to defend Maia? As an act of valor? That would've been a great cause, but he knew it was not true. Pity? Perhaps. But did he pity her enough to make himself as her shield? That was a lot of pity for somebody he barely knew.
Kenny blew a long puff as the Hover Cargo blew its horn, calling all passengers to get ready to leave.