Hey all, this is Arratra.

Newcomers is my first posted Fanfic on here, so I'm trying to make this the best I can.

I forgot to put the disclaimer and Zoid info in the last chapter, so here we are:

Zoids, the Inheritance Cycle, and custom Zoids are not mine.

The Drakus: .com/art/Drakus-Unit-RZ-Blade-243644057?q=boost%3Apopular%20Zoids&qo=2179

:System boot initiated:

:Reverting to standard form:

A blue glow engulfed the raptor-like one, and the creature's armour shimmered, shifting slightly so that his thigh plates were more rounded and his backpack no longer had blades, instead carrying massive angular objects. The arm-mounted shields were gone as well.

"I… Well," the human spluttered, completely taken aback. Not only did the creatures speak the human language fluently (if with a slight accent), but one had transformed without magic!

:Systems online. Operation normal:

:Evolt System down; calibrating:

"Evolt system?" the creature murmured.

:OS booted. Welcome, Cruurtun:

"My apologies for not introducing myself," Cruurtun said, trying out his name in his mind, before deciding he liked it, "My name is Cruurtun. You are?"

"Muukhuz," the Drakus-morph interjected, examining the blades that she seemed to be able to make project from her wrist at will.

"Eragon Shadeslayer, son of Brom," the human replied blinking, "Are you lost?"

"You could say that," Muukhuz said, blinking. It was eerie when they looked at you; it was fairly obvious that they blinked (the light of their eyes would dim for a moment at a semi-regular interval), but it was next to impossible to tell where they were actually looking.

"You're on the shore of the Leona Lake," Eragon explained, "Near Fienster. Is… there anywhere in particular you intend to go?"

"Well that's no good," Cruurtun grumbled, "I'm not familiar with a 'Leona Lake'. We're not on Zi, are we?"

"Zi?"

"I thought so… Well this is just perfect," Cruurtun continued, sarcasm dripping from his words, "Over half our identities erased by the Backdraft, transformed into… whatever we are, and now we're stuck in a backwater with no clue where we are or what's happening."

Eragon bit his lip, then approached slowly.

"I need to check your minds," he said quietly, wishing he didn't have to, "Please don't resist… I'll try to avoid hurting you."

"Check our minds?" Muukhuz asked, "What for?"

"For Galbatorix's influence. The Black King has made thralls spy on the Varden and try to assassinate members before."

"I don't know what's going on here," Cruurtun said, stepping forwards, "But I think it's best to get this over with… Do it."

Eragon snaked out a tendril of thought towards the strange being, and smacked straight into a defence of truly unbelievable strength; it was literally like a wall encasing his mind… only it almost seemed to be made out of fire. Eragon took a figurative deep breath, and stepped into the flames… only to find that they didn't seem hot. The licked across his mental form (and he now noticed that this was quite unlike his usual mental searches; he seemed to be walking here), but did not burn. He reached a wall, and a panel shifted aside to allow him through.

"What was that?" he asked aloud, "It was like a wall of flames."

"A firewall in my mind? Strange…"

"A what?"

"Don't worry about it."

Eragon was now in some form of room, which was completely unfamiliar; a huge window looked out over a plain similar to the one around Daret and Yazuac, and similar, smaller windows instead seemed to be looking at some form of page that changed as you looked at it. Seats faced these pages, and one was in roughly the centre of the room, facing forwards. All of them were currently empty.

"The Battledragon's command bridge," a voice said, and Eragon turned. Standing there was a man, a human, who Eragon guessed was actually Cruurtun, back before he'd been changed.

"I've never mind-searched like this before," Eragon said quietly, examining Cruurtun, who was wearing a heavy, ankle-length coat in some blue material that he didn't recognise. He was sitting on one of the seats and on the desk beside him were two small figurines; two dragon-like creatures were depicted, one markedly similar to the other person, only on four legs, and the other much larger, with deadly-looking horns, and white, blue, and gold.

"Yeah… This is a surprise to me, too. I didn't realise telepathy was so complicated."

Eragon smiled slightly, and leaned around the young man, studying the page he was looking at. It was depicting a scene from the first person; someone pulling and pushing levers, and the small room around him reacting accordingly.

"What's this?"

"The first time I ever climbed into a Zoid," Cruurtun explained, "The Command Wolf wasn't bad, you know. Always willing to help me out."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Eragon said pointedly, "I've never heard of a Zoid."

"Fair point," Cruurtun admitted, looking up. Their eyes met-.

"Zoids are biomechanical life-forms, living machines. They can fight without us humans, but they're much more effective when they're being piloted. Always remember to treat them well. They'll reward you for it."

"Dragons are mysterious creatures, Eragom; remember, things happen around us that we can't explain. You remember what happened to Zar'roc when you first received it? Good. That is one example… your new appearance is another."

"Battle over! Battle over! The winner is; the Dragons Team!"

"Good, Eragon, good. Now, the next word I want you to learn is-."

"The Blade Liger's core was completely crushed. I'm sorry, Van, but even Ambient wouldn't be able to revive this Zoid… You mentioned performing well in the Gojulas sims?"

"Wild magic-."

:OS boot complete. Welcome, Cruurtun:

"Gah!"

Both of them jumped backwards, sloshing in the water that was swirling around their shins.

"What happened?" Muukhuz asked, stepping forwards. Her tail lashed in response, slicing into the protruding pedestal, and she jumped back, somehow looking sheepish despite her immobile features.

"That was… the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me," Cruurtun said, "Did you really make something lift into the air using only words?"

"Not quite… and how did you know that? It wasn't in the sequence."

"I don't know how… but I do."

"OK, the main weapon of a Gungyarados is a Hyper Charged Particle cannon, corre… Holy!"

"No way!" Cruurtun murmured, stunned, "We have fragments of each others' memories that we didn't see."

A pause, as he sorted through his new memories, then he nodded gravely.

"Galbatorix is a tyrant. I'll help you, Eragon. Muukhuz, I'm sorry, but I'll have to drag you along. We can't let Galbatorix get his hands on such technology."

"I actually agree with you about that," Muukhuz said, "Someone called the 'Black King' can't be a good person."

Eragon nodded, holding out his hand. The two others grasped it, and nodded.

"I'll take you straight to Nasuada," Eragon said, "But unofficially… Welcome to the Varden."