Yes, this just happened. Deal with it.
Also, apparently I do not own Zoids. My Raynos begs to differ.
Ill News is an Ill Guest
The bright afternoon sun shone over the capitol of the Guylos Empire, its warm, soft light illuminating the streets. The noise of the city, the roar of engines, the blaring horns, the chatter, the sounds of birds and pets and laughing children, filled the air. As Van stepped out of his taxi, he took a deep breath of clean, fresh air, and smiled. This city reminded him much of his home in the Wind Colony. It was larger, and busier, and certainly richer, but not so different. Thomas followed him out of the cab, and they both walked toward the entrance to the Guardian Force's headquarters.
Guygalos was, in its own way, a remarkably beautiful city. Though it was the largest city in the empire, it lacked the busy, impersonal feel of many other cities, and was completely free of high-rises and skyscrapers. Whereas most other cities had skylines dominated by tall buildings, with bright lights blocking those of the stars at night, Guygalos always had a full, picturesque view of the sky above it. Most buildings were relatively short, with none over ten stories. To make up for the small size of its buildings, the city stretched on for miles. Each region of the city was marked by some monument or other, with obelisks, towers, statues, temples, and huge fountains scattered throughout the city. A substantial portion of the city was entirely dominated by its largest building, the imperial palace. An enormous, expansive structure, the palace was by far the most recognizable thing in Guygalos. Then, hidden among the beautiful, artistic, bluish-grey glass and steel structures that made up most of the city, was the headquarters of the Guardian Force.
Everything about it looked out of place, starkly contrasting the appearance of the rest of the city. It was an unattractive, steely-grey structure with thick walls and high barbed-wire fences surrounding it. With only four floors, it was much shorter than the rest of the buildings in Guygalos. It was also much wider, taking up nearly as much ground as would eight normal buildings. Automated anti-zoid turrets guarded every entrance, their multi-barrelled guns whirring as they occasionally spun to demonstrate that they were ready to fire at any time. A landing pad on the roof held Redlers and several AZ anti-air missile launchers, and attached to the building was a large hangar filled with a dozen more zoids, all ready to deploy at a moment's notice. It was the picture of security.
As was to be expected, it was a difficult place to get into on short notice. Because it housed so many of the Guardian Force's higher ups, as well as generals from either nation that were unaffiliated with the Guardian Force, and, on occasion, the emperor himself, the heavy defenses and strict security were entirely necessary, as it was a prime target for any would-be assassin. It was about as close to impenetrable as a building could get.
Naturally, Van had very little difficulty getting in. As he approached the entrance, one of the two guards stationed by the main gate held his arm out, asking for identification. Almost the instant Van handed the guard his papers, he stepped aside, opened the gate, and let him through. Such were the benefits of being a war hero. After defeating both the Deathsaurer and the Death Stinger, it was difficult to find anyone who did not know his name; it was perhaps the most well-known in the world, save for those of the emperor and the president of the Helic Republic. When he wanted access to something, it was given to him almost without a second thought.
Thomas, however, was not so lucky. Despite the fact that he had worked alongside Van for years, and despite his help in the fight against Hiltz and the Death Stinger, his name had somehow managed to avoid the public eye. Where Van was allowed instant access, Thomas was usually required to sit through a mountain of paperwork and several hours of processing, unless Van came to his aid. As Van approached the headquarters' main entrance, he watched with a grin as Thomas, who had attempted to follow Van through the open gate, was accosted by the pair guards.
"Relax," he said, holding back laughter. "He's with me." The two guards looked quizzically at him, before releasing Thomas. As he brushed himself off, somewhat indignantly, Thomas scowled at Van. "Think that's funny, do you?"
Van nodded, grinning. "About as funny as the time you arrested me, actually." Thomas' frown grew larger, and for a moment he attempted to stutter a rebuttal, before falling silent. "Come on," Van said, gesturing to the door. "We've got somewhere to be."
He led the way into the building, which was nearly as unassuming on the inside as it was on the outside. The main entrance led into a small, cramped room with dull , solid grey walls and security cameras in every corner. Small vents lined the ceiling, designed to pump toxic gas into the room should a security breach occur. On the far end were a pair of doors leading into the next rooms and an elevator. "Going down?" Thomas said, looking to Van as he entered the elevator.
"As always," Van replied. The control interface for the elevator, like the rest of the building, was very secure. A thumbprint, an ocular scan, and a DNA test were all necessary to get the elevator to move. Van routinely completed all three tests, wincing slightly as a small needle pricked his finger, retrieving a drop of blood. For a few seconds, they waited for confirmation, before a quiet beep signified that the machine was finished.
The thick elevator doors closed quickly and tightly, shutting Van and Thomas inside, and, with a sudden jolt, the elevator began to descend at an alarming pace. The ride never grew less uncomfortable, regardless of how many times Van had done it before. Still, it was fast, and it allowed for the real headquarters of the Guardian Force to remain safely hidden from the public. The façade that the building above the surface put up was important to security; it meant that anyone unfamiliar with the building would drastically underestimate its security and defenses. The building's short height belied its actual size; underneath it was a massive complex of secure rooms and tunnels, bunkers, zoid hangars, and massive stores of equipment.
The headquarters was connected to a vast, sprawling tunnel system that spread throughout the city, which was the main reason behind the height limit for buildings in Guygalos. The system, like much of the Guylos Empire, was discovered when Zi was first populated, a remnant from an earlier time. All of the tunnels connected in a central hub directly beneath the palace. Over the generations, the tunnel system had often been put to use by the imperial government. Six years earlier, Gunther Prozen had used the underground system to hide the first Deathsaurer in Guygalos; now, the Guardian Force used it to hide their base of operations.
The elevator came to a sudden, lurching stop, making Van glad that he had neglected to eat breakfast that morning. Its doors opened into a long, sterile, grey-walled hallway, with large, thick windows and steel doors along the walls leading into various rooms. They proceeded through the hallway, easily finding the room they were looking for. It was, after all, the only room with an armed guard—and a familiar one, at that.
"Van. Schubaltz." The tall, barrel-chested redhead greeted them sternly, giving a slight nod in acknowledgement. Rosso looked almost nothing like the man Van had met nearly seven years ago. The former bandit leader had long since become Rudolf's head of security, and he and Viola were almost singularly responsible for Rudolf's safety. His appearance reflected his position; his hair was much shorter than it had once been, his face was clean-shaven, and he wore a heavy, black, armored uniform. The familiar purple stripe still ran across Rosso's face, a remnant from his days as a criminal, but it only seemed to make him seem all the more intimidating.
"Rudolf's in there?" Van said, looking to the door Rosso guarded. Rosso responded with a stiff nod. "I've got some news for him."
"Of course," Rosso said. His voice betrayed no emotion, but Van noticed his subtle twitch as the understanding set in. Rosso was a remarkably intelligent man; he knew that any news that required Van to show up on such short notice was bound to be bad. He stepped aside and punched a code into the small keypad by the door. It slid open, revealing Rudolf's temporary office.
It was, like many rooms in the headquarters, small, grey, and almost completely bare. There was a single metal desk, with only small metal folding chairs to sit on. It, like most Guardian Force offices, was not designed to be used for long. Those that were were found on the upper floors, and were usually much larger and far less grey.
Rudolf sat at the desk, looking extremely out of place in the sterile grey room. His brightly colored clothes clashed against the grey of the rooms, and a visible grimace covered his's face.
As always, Van was taken aback by how much Rudolf had changed since they'd first met. In the three years since the destruction of the Death Stinger, he had grown taller, though he was still shorter than Van, and his hair had grown as well, reaching the middle of his back. The amount of work befitting an emperor had taken a small, though visible toll on Rudolf. Beneath his eyes were dark, wrinkled circles. His disheveled hair stuck out in many places. His foot tapped against the floor anxiously and his eyelids drooped as he rested hishead against a supporting hand, trying to stay awake. It was clear that he hadn't gotten much sleep recently, and Van knew that wasn't likely to change anytime soon.
Still, upon seeing Van, Rudolf's face lit up. He stood and held out his hand, grinning widely. Even though he knew that any knews Van could possibly have to bring would be the worst kind, the sight of Van always brought back happy memories.
Rudolf's exuberant grin made it impossible for Van to avoid smiling back. He shook Rudolf's hand, the dark look in his eyes betraying the smile on his face.
"If you couldn't tell, we've got bad knews." Thomas twitched slightly as Van addressed Rudolf. He'd never really gotten used to how close Van and Rudolf were, and Van's informality always caused him to feel uncomfortable.
Upon hearing that, Rudolf's grin disappeared, to be replaced by the steely resolve that so much of the Empire was familiar with. After successfully ending one war and preventing another, Rudolf had grown into a very popular leader. Most people knew him by his brightly colored, opulent outfits and his often strict, regal appearance and demeanor; the jovial young man that Van had known for years was not very well-known.
"How bad?" Rudolf asked, sitting back down. He straightened his back and brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes, an air of importance already beginning to radiate around him.
"Bad enough to involve Raven," Van replied, gesturing to the door with a free hand. Rudolf nodded at Rosso, who, with a gruff nod in return, closed it somewhat loudly. The message to Van and Thomas was clear: if anything happened to Rudolf while they were with him, it would be on their heads.
Rudolf sighed and rested his head in his hands, his official demeanor once again washed away, replaced by sheer exhaustion. "Of course it's that bad."
Van was torn by Rudolf's reaction. His initial instinct was to break the news slowly and carefully, so that Rudolf would better be able to absorb it all. However, he found that his voice caught in his throat, as he was unable to think of anything to say to dull the impact his words would have. So, knowing that he could do nothing to make the news less painful, he instead spoke quickly and utterly without tact .
"Homaleff is dead."
Rudolf's head bolted upwards, his mouth agape and his eyes wide with shock. The color drained from his face as he stared in silence at Van. "W-what did you say?" he sputtered, trembling, his words broken and halting.
"We found Homaleff dead in a small town near the Imperial side of the Red River border," Van said. Struggling to ignore the look of dismay on Rudolf's face, he continued, spewing the information out cold and emotionlessly, like a machine. "We think the town was attacked sometime last late last night, based on the fires at the time of discovery. Most of the buildings had been destroyed by small zoids of as-yet unknown make. Blast craters and slash marks found on the site suggest that the zoids were equipped with beam weapons and energy swords."
With that, Van paused for a moment, watching Rudolf's reaction as the news began to sink in. His face blank and defeated, Rudolf fell backwards into his chair. "Anything else?" he said hesitantly, not really wanting Van to continue.
"Yes," Van said, his voice grave. "We found charged particle residue on the site, suggesting that the zoids also had access to charged particle weapons. We also found—" He hesitated. For a moment, he remained silent; it was difficult to believe that he'd seen it himself, and its implications were severe. It meant the possible beginning of yet another international crisis, one they had been trying to prevent for the last three years.
Taking a deep breath, Van stated flatly, "We found bite marks on Homaleff's neck and shoulder. He was killed by an organoid."
For a moment that seemed to stretch on for hours, the room was filled with a heavy silence. No one dare to speak, and with the quiet, the small room began to feel stuffy and cramped. As the oppressive silence drifted on, Thomas shifted his wight awkwardly, and was about to open his mouth to speak before Rudolf did.
"I'll alert the Guardian Force," Rudolf said, his voice calm and cool, as the color began to return to his face. "If Ambient's finally decided to come out of hiding, we have to find him—and quickly. If we don't, we won't be able to keep his survival secret much longer."
He stood, his hands pressed hard against his desk, turning his knuckles white. "I recommend telling your friends and family to get somewhere safe," he said darkly. "Ambient knows you, and if he starts targeting you, then no one you know is safe."
He stood up straight, then, his arms behind his back and his chin up, making him appear nearly as tall as Van. "If that's all," he said, "then you are dismissed."
Van and Thomas nodded, and, saluting, turned to leave. As Van reached for the door, Rudolf spoke once again.
"Get some rest tonight. I don't think you're going to have many chances in the future."
"Yes, sir," Van said softly, opening the door and exiting ahead of Thomas. He looked up at Rosso, and, as he saw the look on Van's face, Rosso nodded grimly, understanding the implications.
And, as Rosso closed the heavy door behind them, Van caught one last glimpse of Rudolf, collapsing into his chair in exhausted defeat and sobbing softly.
Author's Note: I'm back!
I'd like to thank the Academy, my family and friends, and all my fans for waiting this long for me to post some new content. Seriously, this is a big milestone; I've finally surpassed the number of chapters I had posted in the original version of this story.
I'd like to hear what you think about the whole "underground tunnel system." The idea originally came about as a way to explain how Prozen hid the Deathsaurer in Guygalos in Chaotic Century. Does it seem too James-Bond-villain-y to you?
Also, I have no concept of the size of buildings in cities. I've never really spent much time in cities, and it's kind of difficult to picture exactly how tall these buildings are. I just remember Guygalos buildings being shorter than most cities'. So, just think "short."
I don't really think I need to say that this chapter is a bit late. The last one was posted more than a year ago, and left us on a bit of a cliffhanger. I had intended to have this done a LONG time ago, but, needless to say, I was struck with a horrible, devastating case of Real Life. Things are a bit different now, and I'll tell you why.
NaNoWriMo.
That's right, I said it. In the next month, I am going to attempt to write 50,000 words of pure fiction. Of the many unwritten stories I have at my disposal, I have decided to take this opportunity to continue this one.
It's going to be tough, but I'll manage. Somehow.
In case you want to follow my progress, or you feel like pestering me about the next chapter (I could seriously use the extra motivation), you can follow me on Tumblr at theleeryone.
And, now that the shameless blog plug is out of the way, on to reviews!
LuminiaAravis: I'm glad you think so. I try to keep Raven calm and collected, because that's really the way he usually seemed during the show. He'll get emotional at some points, but, for the most part, he's going to continue to act like everyone's favorite stoic. Also, excellent use of the word "tantalizing." I like it. I would give you so many cookies for that, if I could.
Requim17: Thanks! I really stressed out about that battle scene; I'd never written one before, and whenever I write something that fast-paced, it always seems to be a little too fast-paced, you know? Also, in order to clear up a bit of confusion: the zoids seen in the last chapter were not, in fact, the ones responsible for the attack on the town in the chapter before. The ones that attacked the town, though canon, have never been in any of the anime series, as far as I am aware. I did, however, do a lot of research on the zoids that did appear, as I wanted them to be as authentic as possible.
Also, special thanks to HeartlessNeoShadow, who provided a review and a bit of advice to me via PM. To address a small complaint he had "...something about how you started your latest chapter just made it seem like everything that was happening just came out of nowhere. It seemed to me like a weird shift from the ending of chapter 2..."
This story is written from the perspective of Raven and Van. The POV will alternate every chapter (meaning that the next chapter will star Raven) until the end, or until I see fit to change that pattern for reasons THAT I WILL NEVER REVEAL. BWAHAHAHA.
So, following the end of November, expect to see more content. Probably a rewrite of the prologue and the first chapter as well. Also, read my blog.
Oh, one last thing: I'm changing my pen-name to reflect my handle on other websites. So, Gojiralee becomes Leerex.
See you in a month!
