-Rebirth of the Guardians – the long awaited sequel to chapter 3

Chapter 4 – The final mission

-Ahem- DECEMBER FIFTH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE NINJA, CELEBRATE IT

Blunt, but exactly what I plan to do. Now you should too.

That was NOT copied directly from chapter 3…

Oh yeah, and I changed Tom's age (and thus Johns age since John is compared by being called the same age as tom) Now he's 21 at the beginning in order to account in his back-story. (Ooooh another hint to my guessing game, can you guess his past, probably not but you have to be a mind reader to see the curve ball I'll throw ya when I do reveal what it is) I also made an edit to the last time war took place; it has now been 200 years since the last major war. (Although only 20 since the last border conflict)

-Begin-

In a hospital bed making a recovery that shouldn't be possible the ghost fox first opened himself to the public as a miracle ace who prevailed against all odds in order to keep fighting the poster enemy, Zenebas, and now was just stuck in a bad situation. He had everything that the media needed to support the war. Drama, a sad past, a strong will, and a good story. Hell it's miracle no-one in the at home audience recognized the face that had been on their TV screens 10 years ago, or more recently 7 years, much more like it was in his current form.

-From the book series, "Why are they famous?"-

After the hospital recovery, and a bout of sickness he received from shock of the magnitude of his fame, Tom once again returned to the front. In the end there was no real inquiry to how he survived, what were the weapons and gadgets he used, and how was the iron Kong destroyed. (All though it should be painfully obvious why to you readers, HE'S NOT NORMAL)

No. Well there was no official inquiry. To say the members of forward base 347 were more than a little interested upon one of their biggest stars return. And they went to desperate lengths to try and discover it all. But I digress. (And I tend to do a lot of that, I'm trying to limit it) So I'll let you try and guess to what lengths everyone went. (The most evil torture of all, MUHAHAHAHHAHAHA (I'm done with the commentary))

Late one mundane day a series of reports came in. They said a small Zenebas group, maybe 12 Zoids, if that much, was holding a town. The report indicated one odd fact than the fact that the town was the first to become a long term fortification with a lack of fortification needed. They all piloted black reddlers. And they seemed to be led by one ace pilot who, according to the same intelligence that had underestimated the 'grand battle of the canyon' Zenebas forces, was a child, perhaps not over ten years old. And if he wasn't the leader he was an elite pilot slave. Who was about ten years old.

Everyone who read the intelligence report was confused to say the least. Confused or disgusted. "What?" Was Jaina's response.

In stark contrast to the response of her Mentor Fred, "CHILD SOLDIERS! The Zenebas abominations, I will personally kill all save the child with my own hands!"

Tom treated it with no more passion than he would any report. He looked at the situation and began to plot. And plot, and plot, and plot, then he would plan, and then go back to plotting. And throughout this he had was honestly stuck.

Finally after three straight days of plotting and one half a day thus far of planning, with various assistance from various people along the way, he finally was stuck on the same point. "God damn it! How the hell do we fight without blowing the town to pieces!?! Freaking, how the hell do we fight without killing all those innocents. Damn those stupid goddamn Zenebas sonofabitch bastards!" Major Darlian chose that moment to strut on in. Tom hit his fist on the table when he heard her arrive. "I have amazing accursed timing."

Relena sighed, he had become more agitated as this had drawn on. She really saw no way to make him relax. He just was to tense. "Will you relax at all. Lose some of you're stupid stress."

"Honestly." Tom said as he leant over the table with his elbows down resting on the table. "You have no idea what that hospital trip did for me."

"Then remember it and relax already." Relena said as she strutted over to the table once more.

"What it did was bad." Tom muttered as he picked up a small figure and tossed it around. "Before I knew of my statistical importance. I knew that it was important. I knew that it was of some enormous value. And hell that was no problem at all. I wasn't worried if I were to fail, other than the fact that that would mean certain death. I wasn't worried about the effect that would have. My dying, other than the fact that I would be dead, I felt my death would have no, or few, irreparable repercussions." Tom caught the figure; it was a miniature of his command wolf. He scooped up an iron Kong. He tossed the command wolf to his left hand and gripped it tight. He glared at the iron Kong. "But that hospital visit." His voice was faint. "That goddamned hospital visit." He tossed the Iron Kong up once. "That goddamned god forsaken accursed hospital visit. That iron Kong!" He shouted as he threw the figure into the wall. It harmlessly bounced off and hit the floor.

Relena stared at Tom. She hadn't moved during his whole speech. "So what did you learn?" She turned so that she rested her back on the table and then stretched her head back. "What was it that was so goddamned stressful? I just heard your stupid rant now I want to hear what type of crap made you get this way."

Tom chuckled, for a moment his shoulders laugh and a sound like a weak laugh, or cry, came out. "My public."

"You're what?"

"My fans. My geeks, my bitches, my public. Whatever you want to call it they provide the volunteers, draftees, equipment, money, general war support. The war is in their hands almost as much as ours. I had assumed, with over 100 kills under my belt, that I was somewhat famous. Heck even decently famous, but I never would have assumed that I was famous enough that support in the war effort dropped by 12 percent when the fact that the legendary 'ghost fox' was hospitalized. God I was surprised, almost scared. That one man can be that powerful without even trying. Imagine if I actually tried to take over the world."

"Don't let your popularity swell you stupid goddamned ego, you selfish bastard."

"Oh no you got it all wrong. I was genuinely scared. You see I know better than most the right people dead can make or break an empire. And fact is if I'm one of those people, well honestly I really genuinely feel that if I break this empire I just don't want to see all those people suffer." Tom laughed a bitter remorseful laugh. But all he did was laugh. "I'm just a common soldier, what could New York have been broken over babe Ruth? World war two by Elvis?" Tom laughed out loud a bark of a laugh, "Am I Spartacus the one destined to threaten Rome to no end?

Relena sighed, she didn't do this often but if he went nuts then they were really, really screwed. So she strutted up to him, went behind him and wrapped her arms around him. He stopped his ranting with a sigh. But he did relax somewhat physically. She sighed he really is screwed up in the head; everyone I've ever done this too has lost almost all their muscle tension on contact. Well I guess step two, the flirt, is needed. Thoughtlessly she reached her head up to the nape of his neck and kissed it, not the most romantic spot but the best she could get with the veritable giant in front of her and her being at his back already. Physically tom dropped all tension save that needed to keep him upright. "Feel better?"

Tom chuckled with mirth this time, "Yes mom, your kiss made the boo-boo go away."

Relena frowned, this was not protocol by any stretch, nor was it necessary in the military's eye. How he was reacting was just rude. Then she noticed, he was laughing with genuine happiness still.

Wiping an invisible tear from his eye he finally stopped. Gently raising up Relena's hands Tom turned around deftly. Then he kissed her lips, not with a long kiss, not with an intense kiss, but with a mirthful kiss, one with genuine joy stuck somewhere in it. "Thank you so much." He said as he walked out of the room, dropping a small figure on the floor on his way out.

It was his command wolf.

The next day a new intelligence report arrived, 'the village is being evacuated as we speak. Rumor has it that Zenebas soldiers told the villagers about some sort of 'secret weapon' called, Gael fury (related to the Gael stone) and several ultrasauruses are on the way to the forward front.

No-one could believe intelligence about stuff like this. Something this big was impossible. The 'Gael fury' seemed like something that couldn't exist. And related to the still not stolen Gael stone. (Or so they thought) Also this was the intelligence that, as has been stated before, was just plain bad. Of course their underestimation, in the words of tom, would suggest that, "The enemy probably has around 20 ultrasauruses headed this way. As well as at least two of those Gael furies. In short we are going to be gang raped." He said with a smile on his face as he completely ignored the reports that said something along the lines of what he suggested.

No-one in the base really cared about the general Intelligence reports said. The only time anyone said anything about the intelligence was when they sent in a report about an intercepted message saying, "Evacuation of civilians complete. Operation Gael-Z phase one can begin."

No-one believed this because no-one would think anyone would name anything 'Gael-z'.

However that message finally made everyone move, because it came with another message specifically for the group preparing to assault a small village. "The village is devoid of civilians, Zenebas has done the hardest part of the job for you."

This was intelligence that everyone was going to act upon. With Fred, Jaina and Tom quickly preparing to go to the town and take the enemy out and get the little kid, if there was one, tom advised extra caution. Everyone could feel something big on the horizon and no-one wanted to have to deal with more than they were prepared for.

When tom left with john in the command wolf with him Fred and Jaina did not. There were a few reasons behind this, one is that storm sworders are faster than pretty much all aerial Zoids, and all land based Zoids, save perhaps the raynos. Second was a timing aspect, they were to leave at a certain time as to coordinate their attack with toms. And third was the danger everyone could feel. If tom felt that it was more important to defend the base then he would let Fred and Jaina stay. He knew he would be able to handle a few black reddlers. It just would be hard. And also tom had just got new missile pods fixed onto his command wolfs side, and he wasn't sure if they would blast Fred and Jaina out of the sky by some freak accident. And last was that Tom was certain something bad would happen and he did not want to leave the base to only two Zoids, even if they were himself copied exactly twice.

In short this was honestly a solo mission from the start. And everyone knew it, even though they acted as though it weren't.

And thus the trek to the town began. On the way there tom suddenly felt odd as they passed ancient zoidian ruins. For a moment he actually passed out. The feeling, or the extreme one, passed quickly. But once tom woke up he felt something was missing. When Tom did wake up John had to ask, "Why did you pass out there?"

Tom blinked. He sat up and said simply, "Hold on, it's a meditation related thing." Tom simply straightened himself up and closed his eyes. His hands lay haphazardly arranged, his legs stretched out on the ground that he had been moved too. This lasted for a few moments then tom opened his eyes. "Are those zoidian ruins?" Tom asked pointing to the ruins that were nearby the two.

"Yup." John said figuring out a lot from that statement alone. "They were pretty famous; some strange zoidian writing called it the 'temple of the heroes'. It's a decent sized city, partly above ground in small, small cities spread about, partly below in tight cramped spaces. Only thing is, no-one has ever been known to get to the center. And of course rumor has it, since the hero Van Fleiheight (spelling) as well as Fiona and the rest of his fellow heroes disappeared in that city ages ago. Course that would lead people to assume that the hero is Van, and he's somewhere in the center. I'll let you make up your own legends from there."

Tom stared for a moment towards the ruins. "Like the lost treasure of Atlantis. It draws in hopefuls and fortune seekers alike. But I will never be tempted by it's pull. Unless you count It's pull for me as a push."

"What?" John said staring at tom like he was insane.

"Oh well I seem to be an odd one. You hear about how the first humans who arrived on the Globally 3, well at least some, were susceptible to fainting spells and weakness when near ancient Zoidian holy grounds. Yeah for some reason I have that same weakness."

John stared at tom like he had three heads, or more. "What are you 5,000 years old?"

"Not quite." Tom chuckled to himself.

John sighed, "Well are ya' over it?"

"Yes most certainly. Let's get moving. We've got a lot of ground to cover still." Was what tom said, but what he thought was, Crap. I am no longer the black dragon while within this area. I guess I'll have to resort to who else I am. Tom then, subconsciously thumbed his belt as he hopped up into his command wolfs cockpit. But no matter what I will win. I have something I am fighting for!

Upon the pairs arrival at the town tom called off Fred, which did little to anyone's plans. Then Tom went, alone, to observe the town and see how many enemies were present. Upon arriving he found that there were only black reddlers, and not a whole lot of them. Well not a lot by the standards of a man with over 200 kills in 8 months. Only about one dozen enemy Zoids. A cakewalk, save for the kid. Because tom recognized him right away. He was reddy – the lone reddler pilot of legend. Having been in the battle ranking for only one year he managed to reach the top 500. 500 out of over 18,000 pilots, in one year, at age 8. Tom had fought against him before. He always won, but only after hard fought battles.

Tom had been contacted at the earliest stages of the war by Zenebas with a request for his services but he had refused. Tom wondered who else Zenebas had requested for help. And who had listened.

Tom left knowing a hard fight would be ahead. And that the easiest way would be to get the reddlers down while they were on the ground. It wasn't chivalrous but chivalry was long gone in tom's eyes. Anyone who gave themselves over to the offer of money lost a lot of respect in tom's eyes.

Tom returned to the encampment of two. Where john greeted him with a reflection. "This is very similar to that first mission. You, myself. Several enemy reddlers our foe. You confident as ever."

Tom snorted, "Hell you crazy bastard you think I'm confident? What drugs are you on? I am, and have always been, genuinely nervous. Now more than ever before." Tom sat down. "The child intelligence talked about is a famous zoid battle commission warrior. Reddy, the child pilot master. If he were my age his skills could surpass my own. But I have the advantage now. So I'm using it."

John huffed, "You were scared. You're scared now. And most importantly you're telling me this before a big battle. You sure are one hell of a motivator."

Tom continued once he was sure John was finished. "I don't like being scared. I am scared when I am in battle and only then. The weakness of aerial Zoids is their challenge when it comes to being deployed into battle. With a land Zoids you just need ammo and to push a few buttons and you can go. Aerial Zoids need to be launched fueled and prepped in order to guarantee that there won't be a freak incident that may kill the pilot. Thus that is the weakness at which we will strike. It may be plain and simple but I plan to use the new missile launchers to blast all the reddlers I can, along with the Gatling cannon and take them out while they're on the ground."

John smiled. "I need my gunner to target for the missiles, you and I worked together on the operating system and it still isn't perfect. You shoot the missiles and I'll use the Gatling cannon. I pray thou can kick some major ass with me before this wave comes." Tom stretched out his hand, "the time is now, we strike at once then face the wave head on. I need you now more than ever."

John shook Tom's hand. "You know it, I know it. I'm pretty sure the whole world knows it. Something is coming and whether intelligence was right or wrong it's coming right here and it's coming soon. I guess it's you're nature to face the inevitable face on so I will stay with you."

"Begin the attack."

"At approximately midnight on night the later known as, 'night of fate', where many events coincided towards the final saga of the Zenebas conflict the first shots were fired by the legendary Ghost fox. They took out 8 black reddlers. Then the first fight of the day began."

-'Night of fate' a timeline, a history of the night and day during which the cursed wave mobilized-

The four reddlers began to fly in an intricate pattern overhead tom. Tom was occasionally taking potshots at one but mostly he was moving around town avoiding fire.

Unbeknownst to him the child pilot reddy was contacting his superiors for help. "General Sammael, general Sammael! This is reddy of the probe phase 4 sector 3 quadrant 1. We have encountered enemy forces and have engaged in combat. The enemy was able to bring out a surprise attack and take out a large portion of our reddler force we need backup!"

The general Sammael on the other end responded, "Who is the enemy?"

"Not sure but-" Then a pilots report confirmed it.

"WHAT WHERE DID THAT LITTLE SHIT OF AN ENEMY DISSAPEAR TO? He was right there a second ago. But he just phased out. A command wolf shouldn't be able to do that!"

"Sir it's not totally certain but the tactics, modifications and Zoid suggest that it's the Ghost fox." Reddy said calmly.

Sammael could be heard laughing. "What is it sir?"

"Oh nothing. I will be sending support of the greatest kind."

"Wait you mean!?!"

"Yes. I was uncertain where to deploy it but the confirmed presence of him right in the path of the president just fixed it, Reddy you you're comrades in arm that remain alive and the ghost fox will be the first to witness the Gael fury in a real battle. Honestly I feel jealous."

"Thank you sir. Over."

"Right. Over and out." Then radio communication between the two ceased. Just as the last black reddler was shot out of the sky.

And right as a command wolf stood over a small boy it's pilot leaning out of the cockpit. The pilot had no joy on his face when he said. "The Gael fury. So the first battle will take place here. And the enemies assault it tonight. Thank you."

-End-

So I know it's a bit odd. And shorter than usual. But I felt this should be split up into different parts. So this is part one of the final battle. And at least three more parts are to follow. As well as a conclusion chapter and an epilogue. Conclusion will be after the war. Epilogue will be at an unknown time.

Now for names:

Sammael – he is the name of one of the forsaken in the book series, 'The wheel of time' he really serves little importance overall. But he does appear a couple of times. Even though they all are during the final battle