Zoids Unlimited - Chapter 2 - Team Blues

[zogster]

Chapter two, which took far too long to write, and introduces the rest of the cast. I was going to detail the opponent team more, but I simply ran out of space.

Setting is vaguely post battle-story, some twenty years after the "Three Tigers" period, using ideas but not plot, characters or similar elements from NC/0. Zoids and all are copyright Tomy, but the characters are entirely my fault.

*****

Zoids Unlimited

Chapter 2: Team Blues

*****

The vid phone’s incessant beeping drove into Melissa’s skull, dragging her inevitably awake. Bleary, blood-shot eyes blinked twice, then focused on the digital display beside her bed. Eight in the morning? she thought before rubbing her eyes and checking again. Yep, eight AM. Who do I know that calls before eleven?

A hand reached out from under the bed sheets and briefly probed around. She reached backwards, briefly confirming that last night’s companion had already fled, before stretching forwards. Her fingers wrapped around a pair of dark glasses on the bedside table which she quickly pulled on.

The world shot sharply into focus. Her small but spacious bedroom looked out west, over two of Island City’s bridges and towards the open sea. The waves already sparkled with reflected sunlight as the sun rose far behind her. She squinted behind her glasses from a combination of tiredness and the after-affects of last night’s party. Got to fix that.

Gathering a sheet around her, she half-staggered the few steps to her window and drew the heavy curtains shut. Her apartment was immediately plunged into darkness, save for the cool blue glow of the clock and an incessant blinking from her desk. Ah yes, she thought, the phone.

She drew out her chair and dropped down on it in front of the phone’s small, flat screen. She reached out and carefully angled the camera up, making sure it would only capture her face. She hardly wanted an important caller to see her stumbling around half-naked. Pausing briefly to flick her black hair back over her shoulders, she finally sighed and intoned “Accept call” to the phone.

The screen lit up, illuminating her pale face. She started in place, glad her dark glasses hid her no doubt surprised look. On her screen was a stern man in his fourties, dark hair slicked back and eyes hidden by dark glasses that seemed almost a mirror for hers. Melissa immediately recognised the man – Reed Dowling, founder and owner of the Zoids Unlimited Battles commission.

“Miss Valentine,” he said, his voice even and smooth, “So sorry to have woken you.”

“Not at all, sir,” she said, rapidly regaining her composure. A small smile crept across her face just as possibilities flew through her mind. He must have seen my performance in the Battle Royale yesterday. Either he has an offer in mind, or he’s going to see about that result. The smile faded as fast as it had appeared as she remembered the final ruling of the battle. Because her Brastle Tiger’s systems had failed mere seconds before those of the Genosaur, she was ruled to have lost.

“I have to say, I was impressed by your performance in yesterday’s battle, miss Valentine,” Reed stated calmly. Melissa’s smile crept back into place. “You pulled in more kills than any other competitor, and your placing was very impressive.”

“Thank you sir,” Melissa replied. She lifted her chin ever so slightly, basking in his praise. My first battle and the boss is congratulating me. Clearly he recognises my potential.

Reed nodded to her over the screen. “I do have a proposal for you, miss Valentine.”

Naturally, she thought, her smile threatening to become a smug grin.

“I’ve decided to sponsor a team for the new season, composed of participants of yesterday’s battle royale, and I want you to be a part of it. My management will establish everything, and I’ll handle base and living expenses for the team personally.”

And her smile froze dead in place. This offer was unprecedented. Teams formed themselves, paid for themselves and had to manage themselves. Dowling was taking an obvious risk, but she could hardly refuse such a generous offer. Of course, there had to be a catch.

“This applies as long as I remain a member of the team, of course,” she asked carefully.

“Naturally,” he replied. It seemed his turn to smile. “The team and their Zoids will be housed together at a specially designated ZUB facility. It will come fully furnished – decorated as the team dictates, of course – and staffed, both with zoid technicians and management for the team.”

“But only the team members will live on site?” She asked.

“Of course. I assure you that it will be quite comfortable.”

There was no contest. She knew from the moment she arrived in Island City that housing would be a huge problem until she established herself, not to mention the costs of repairs and upkeep to her Brastle Tiger. And teams always got far more media exposure than individual pilots, especially newcomers.

Fame had been handed to her on a platter. Who could turn it down?

“I accept,” she said, nodding firmly. “And thank you, sir.”

Reed leaned back in his seat, angling away from Melissa’s view. “I knew you would. I’ve already e-mailed you the details. You’ll meet the team and staff at the designated site at midday. Until then.” With that the screen deactivated.

Melissa couldn’t help but laugh. She knew that her fame and success were foregone conclusions from the moment she arrived. This merely confirmed that belief. Of course, she had to make the right first impression on her team mates, but that was a concern that could wait. She sprung from the chair, dancing with joy across the room as the sheet slipped off her body.

*****

Anita’s sleek silver hovercar slid into position, coming to a stop outside a large modern hanger complex. A few people waited outside the front, enjoying the complex’s waterfront view. Christina stepped out, sweeping her hair back over her shoulder to let it trail down her back. She looked around, taking in the beautiful view of the central stadium before glancing up at the hangar itself. The ground floor was devoted to the Zoid hangars, and through the open doorway she could see her Genosaur sitting amongst a network of frames. Above that were the team’s living and work area. If they covered the whole floor, then they’d be more than comfortable.

“Call me if you need a lift back,” Anita said, leaning over to her.

Christina turned back, favouring her with a warm smile. “I doubt I will. This place looks just perfect.”

Anita nodded her agreement. “You’re lucky. Just be careful. Reed can be… touchy at times.”

Christina leaned down and looked in at her. “You’d know, wouldn’t you?” She said, smirking.

“Very cute,” Anita deadpanned. “I’ll see you later, then?”

Christina nodded, and the car pulled away. She turned to the group and steeled herself. First impressions were important, and she wanted to look serious and professional, given her apparent role in the team. She gently smoothed down her grey jacket and skirt then started towards the group.

They made for an unusual group, although she could immediately pick out two other pilots. One stood head and shoulders above the others, towering nearly two meters tall. She couldn’t help but notice his broad build and muscular arms, picked out by the plain white t-shirt he wore. Yet despite his solid build, he looked rather plain and ordinary. If not for his staggering height, he could easily melt into a crowd.

She picked out the second pilot, equally as distinctive yet for different reasons. Whereas the others around him were clean-cut, corporate types in crisp suits with professional haircuts, he evoked a wilder, more unpredictable lifestyle. His tattered and patched leather jacket competed with his thick, dark dreadlocks to mark his most distinctive feature. His dark skin completed the look, and as she approached he turned and flashed her a broad, warm smile.

First things first, she thought. As much as she wanted to meet the other pilots, especially after their battle yesterday, it was only proper to greet the organiser first. Reed Dowling stepped towards her, even as she approached, and extended a leather-gloved hand for her to shake.

“Mr. Dowling, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she said, shaking his hand.

“Likewise, Christina. Anita, has told me a lot about you.”

Christina blushed, feeling all eyes on her. Conversation around her had abruptly halted, and she could see both pilots staring at her. Reed smiled slightly, and released her hand. “I’m sure you’ll get used to it soon.”

“I doubt it,” she muttered to him, trying to avoid their stares. She could see them step forwards, and resigned herself to the first of a long list of introductions. She nodded to Reed and stepped away, approaching the pair.

The dark-skinned man shook her hand eagerly, his smile wiping away her fears. “Damien DiArco,” he said immediately. “Great to meet you.”

“Christina. Yes, McCade. Yes, my sister’s famous,” she replied, her face reddening further.

“No kidding,” he said. “They made a big fuss that there’d be someone special in the match yesterday, but I had no idea who.”

Christina rolled her eyes. “I figured they would, somehow. I mean, they said we’d all be anonymous in that fight...”

“But the announcers carried on about you anyway,” the tall man said in a surprisingly soft voice. Up close, he towered over both Christina and Damien. He extended a hand, and they shook. “Andre Murciel. I was in the Yeti.”

“Christina, Genosaur,” she replied simply. “And Damien, you were...”

“In the Whitz Wolf,” he said. “We’re waiting for the Brastle Tiger pilot to show up.”

“So it’s the top four from the match, then?” Christina asked.

Andre nodded, and indicated over to Reed, who had resumed talking to the other suits. “We got that much out of him. Said he was impressed by the way we worked as a team.”

Christina nodded. “I meant to say, thank you both for your help with knocking out the Elephander and Death Raser.”

“Well, you were the easy target, but I didn’t want to face the ‘phander alone,” Damien replied. “And really, the Kong and Brastle did all the work there.”

Andre chuckled to himself. “It was a risk, sure. I just wasn’t sure you wouldn’t hit me.”

“I was tempted,” Christina said, chuckling. “But I wanted to make sure the Elephander was down first.”

“Which reminds me,” Andre said, turning to Damien. “How come you threw in the towel at the end?”

The shorter man shook his head. “I was down in front of a Genosaur. I could probably have struggled out of there, but I didn’t want to risk the repair bill.”

“I’m glad you did,” Christina replied. “I probably wouldn’t have caught the Brastle Tiger in time otherwise.”

“In other words, you were lucky, and I should have been the winner.”

As one, the assembled group turned to find the source of the sudden proclamation. A lone woman strode down the street as she crested the slight hill leading to the hangar. Her black dress stood out, both against the clear blue sky at her back and her pale skin. Straight black hair hung past her shoulders, and a wispy purple shawl was draped over her shoulders. A pair of dark glasses hid her eyes, although they no doubt reflected her eager smile.

She immediately strode down to Reed, extending her hand palm-down for him. “Mr. Dowling, Melissa Valentine. I’ve been waiting for this chance for a while.”

He casually regarded her for a second, then gently shook her hand. “I’m glad you could make it. Your team-mates,” he said, indicating to the three other pilots with a wave of his hand.

“A pleasure,” she said, stepping towards them. “Call me Lyssa. I’m sure we’ll work well together.”

Damien stepped forwards, offering his hand. “No doubt. I’m-“

“Damien, yes. Nice work in the Whitz Wolf, keeping out of trouble for so long.” She smiled at his surprised stare, then gently waved away his concerns. “I saw files on all of you before the match. There were quite a few copies in circulation.”

Anita was right, Christina said. She had turned down the very same information, expecting other pilots would have done the same.

“Andre,” Melissa continued, nodding to the tall man. “Nice work with the Hammerhead, taking it down with a single blow.”

“Just a shame I couldn’t follow it up,” he replied. “I’d hoped the Yeti’s arms could hold up to your Tiger’s firepower.”

“No such luck, dear.” She turned to Christina at last, who stepped forwards to greet her. “And… Yes,” Melissa said simply, then turned on her heel and strode back to Reed.

Christina stood stock still. It seemed impossible to know what to think. She seemed so warm and eager to the others, yet had deliberately snubbed her. Jealousy possibly? Had she been told the full details of the team’s assignment? Maybe resentment over the battle’s outcome. That seemed more likely, given her choice of introductions.

It was true at least; Christina wouldn’t have won if Damien put up a struggle. At the same time, she had taken down the Brastle Tiger without assistance, and may have done so if Damien had fought, but gone down quickly. No, she thought, It’s pointless to go over ‘maybes’ and ‘could haves.’ I shot her down, and she has to accept that.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to look. Andre smiled down at her, nodded towards Melissa as she chatted amiably with Reed. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure she’s got her reasons.”

Behind her, Damien nudged Andre in the ribs. “Sure. She thinks we’re cute, buddy.”

“I’m very pleased, thank you,” Melissa cut in, suddenly talking louder than before. “I couldn’t be happier with my team, Mr. Dowling.”

Christina smiled and stepped forwards. “Your team?” She said, eager to watch the woman’s reaction. “Didn’t anyone tell you?”

[zogster]

Melissa stood, fuming silently as the rest of the team and their escorts made their way into the hangar building. Opposite her, Reed stood waiting and watching her, curious eyebrows raised above the rim of his glasses. Beyond them, the doors closed, and the rest of the group vanished from sight.

“HER team?” Melissa blurted out. “What did she mean by that? Her, the leader?” She rolled back her head to laugh, but then caught the amusement playing across Reed’s face. She froze in place, then straightened up to look at him head-on.

“She was serious,” Melissa stated, suddenly quiet and cold.

Reed nodded his confirmation. “I informed her that she would be leading and managing the team.”

It was more than the position that mattered to her. A team’s leader always got the most attention from the press, not to mention a higher pay rate. Not to mention that a team was often known by its leader’s name; the last thing she wanted was to be ‘that girl in Christina’s team.’

“Why her?” Melissa suddenly asked. “I’ve got far more battle experience than she does.”

“Nonetheless, she displayed far greater tactical know-how in the battle royale,” he responded calmly. “She concentrated on evasion rather than offence, used her opponents against each other, and played off expectations of her Zoid’s standard tactics.”

“Even though I took down three other Zoids single-handedly?” she asked. “Four, really. Hers was disabled as well.”

“The battle wasn’t won on points. She did what was needed to survive, considering she didn’t have the most advanced Zoid on the battlefield.”

Melissa scowled and turned away from him. “This bites,” was all she said.

Reed shrugged. “Very well. Hmm…” He turned and began an easy stroll towards the hangar. “Belov was snapped up by X-C after the battle. I wonder how a Death Raser would fit in with the others.”

“Wait...” Melissa called out, running up behind him. “You’re replacing me?”

Reed stopped in place, and nodded slightly. “It’s obvious you don’t want to be on the team, so I need a fourth member.”

Nice, she thought. Really, she should have expected this. It was a good reminder that she wasn’t irreplaceable. “Alright... Suppose someone else on the team was shown to be better qualified.”

Reed slowly turned back to her. “In that case, I’d have to review my assignments.”

“Alright, you win. I’m on your team. But keep your eyes on me. I’ll make you forget her.”

Reed met her darkened glare with his own blank glasses. “I’m glad we could see eye to eye.”

*****

“And finally, your magnificent, up-to-date living room, fitted with the most modern audio-visual home-theatre system on the market! Genuine leather sofas and armchairs, photo-sensitive auto-polarising windows to both the harbour view and the hangar bay, fully equipped and stocked kitchenette with the latest appliances...”

Christina watched the man in a blank haze, tuning out as he continued to prattle on a long list of features their new home came with. Glancing at the small, wiry man as he continued the announcement, she knew that she would never remember his face. But then again, the list was so extensive that she knew she would never remember it all either.

From what he said, the hangar facility had been snatched up and overhauled overnight, since Reed had announced the team immediately after the battle royale. While she could tell Damien was amazed with the ostentatious display of wealth and comfort features, she suspected Andre shared her concerns. It all seemed too sanitized, to impersonal. And more than that, she couldn’t help but feel she was being manipulated into it.

Not that she could complain with the arrangements. Literally everything they could want was right here, on the edge of one of the wealthier islands in the bay. She couldn’t imagine why anyone had a Zoid hangar set up here, but she certainly couldn’t argue with the results.

They each had their own bedroom, and a pair of spare rooms were set up as an office (hers, for administrative duties) and a computer room (which Damien had openly gawped at). The living room was more than comfortable for them and a number of guests, although she did note that they didn’t have any spare bedrooms. The team had already been assigned a corporate liaison and a personal technician, both of whom were at work downstairs.

“…mention the security system.” Chrisitna found herself tuning back in briefly. “Electronic locks on all external doors, as well as between your quarters and the hangar. Monitoring system hooked up to a silent alarm that automatically notifies the police in case of a breach of security, along with concealed security cameras in all the major rooms.”

“Security cameras?” Andre interjected. Already, Damien was scanning the corners of the roof. “I thought we’d have a little more privacy than that.”

The man dismissively waved a hand. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Your bedrooms and the bathroom are all excluded for your privacy. Mr. Dowling’s just concerned over the considerable investment he’s put into this team already, and wants to make sure you’re all safe.”

He picked up a remote control from the coffee table, and aimed it at the wall opposite the couch. The floor-to-ceiling window immediately darkened, then displayed an image of the room and its four occupants from above. As he resumed, his voice was echoed from the room’s walls. “Of course, you can check the security system yourself if you’re not satisfied.”

Damien stepped forwards, openly gawking at the window projection. “So…” he said, trailing off briefly. “How many channels do we get?”

The man bounced his eyebrows. “All of them.”

Christina shook her head, an amused smile playing across her face. She had her doubts about the setup, but it seemed that Damien and Andre would be easy to get along with. Not her first choice of roommates certainly, but she was happy. Sharing with Lyssa on the other hand…

As if summoned by her thoughts, Christina felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned to face Lyssa, standing silently behind her in the hallway leading to their rooms. Lyssa tilted her head backwards, then paced back down the hallway, out of sight. Christina glanced back to the main room to find Damien and Andre flipping rapidly through the channels. She slipped away quietly and followed Lyssa down the hall.

The pale woman held a hand up to silence Christina before she could even speak. “Look, first up, sorry we got off on the wrong foot.” She shrugged expansively. “It just got me by surprise and all. Nobody told me just who’d be in charge when I got the offer.”

“That’s alright,” Christina replied. She suddenly felt relieved; her earlier suspicions about the other woman may have been unfounded. “I had to prod a bit to find out myself.”

Lyssa shrugged once more. “I jumped on the offer. Who could resist free accommodations, hangar space and instant fame? And you just know we’re going to be famous.”

“I wouldn’t-“ Christina began, but was cut off by a dismissive wave of Lyssa’s hand.

“Oh, please. The angle’s obvious. We’re Reed’s selection, his prize team. Everyone will want to know about us. That’s why this place is so flash.” She gestured back out to the living room. “Don’t think for one second that the press won’t get in here. This setup is all for them.”

“As long as we stick together, that shouldn’t be a problem,” Christina replied.

“That’s the other thing.” A confident smirk wiped over Lyssa’s face. “You’re in charge for now, but Reed told me the position may still be open. If one of us proves to be more capable that is…”

Christina shook her head. “Look, I didn’t ask for this-“

“You got it anyway,” Lyssa replied. She patted Christina on the shoulder and brushed past. “But hey, what have you got to worry about? You’re already famous.”

Christina shook her head. Her first impressions were right after all. She could already tell that living with Lyssa would be a pain. She quickly thought over the situation and realised there was only one solution – not to give her any ammunition.

She strolled back into the living room, only to find the tour had moved on without her. She could hear their guide droning on from the hangar. Her eye was drawn to the window opposite her, which showed an excellent view of the bedroom corridor.

*****

Both Andre and Damien agreed that it had been a long, long day. And while Christina had immediately thrown herself into the administration (that is, paperwork) inherent in a new team, Lyssa had virtually fled as soon as the tour was over. She had muttered something about ‘moving in properly,’ and had departed to find someone to pack up her old apartment for her. Left to their own devices, they had both reached the same idea. Hit the pub.

Monterey island, their new home, turned out to be a thriving community. Far wealthier and more upmarket than either had expected, they felt out of place the moment they stepped out of their base. Their simple clothes and Damien’s rough appearance had garnered a variety of unusual looks, and Andre had attracted more than a few appreciative glances.

“Funny, isn’t it?” Damien said, glancing up at Andre. “You and me. We couldn’t be more out of place if we tried. But we’re going to be living here, hobnobbing with the finest people in the city.”

“The richest,” Andre said. He chuckled slightly and added “Big difference.”

“No kidding,” Damien replied. He took in their surroundings, a massive open-air mall, all glass and shining steel. “I mean, it feels so strange! This is the richest district on the continent, and I don’t even have change for beer.”

Andre laughed out loud. “I get the hint. Don’t worry, I got my last pay check just a couple of days ago. I’m good.”

“Thanks, man.” Damien reached up and patted him on the back. “I’ll cover you next time. Seeing what they want to pay us, I’m gonna be good for it.”

In the glitz and glamour of the island, they managed to find themselves a small and noisy corner pub. The Empire Arms was an old fashioned brick building under the shadow of a five star hotel. The sun had set by the time they arrived, and they pushed their way through the crowds to find a handy spot at the bar.

“Funny it being here, don’t you think?” Damien shouted over the noise.

Andre signalled for their drinks, then turned to his team-mate. “Don’t believe it. This place is a carefully planned anachronism.”

“Figures,” Damien replied. Already his eyes were sweeping the walls and the roof. “The bricks look weathered, but they don’t have any old stains from when smoking was legal in pubs. They’ve got old photos up on the walls, but they’re not consistent.”

“Like they’re pulled in from all over the place, rather than relating to this one pub?”

Damien nodded vigorously. “Exactly. So why do you reckon it’s here?”

It was Andre’s turn to look. He scanned the room thoughtfully, taking in the crowd. There was something about them that made them stand out from the people at the shopping mall, or on the streets of the island. At length, he asked “This whole place is a tourist island, right?”

“A lot of it,” Andre replied. “I mean, the mall as all brand-name outlets, for example.”

Andre nodded. “So this is part of the tourist services. A nice little homely pub that they’d be familiar with.”

“Huh. Figures,” Damien hunched his shoulders and turned to his drink.

“We can move on if you want,” Andre said at length.

“Heck no,” his team-mate replied. “This is just the sort of place I was after.”

Andre chuckled and continued to scan the crowd. They were an average sort, he thought. Some may work with the ZUB or even ZBC, but he doubted any of them would be Zoid pilots. There seemed to be something different about competition pilots, something that set them apart to onlookers...

“Checking out the girls?” Damien asked, smirking.

“Not quite,” Andre replied with a chuckle.

“Go on, which do you like?”

Andre pointed vaguely into the crowd. “What, out there.”

“Heck no.” Damien punctuated his reply with a swig of his beer. “At the base. Lyss and Chris.”

Andre blinked in surprise, then turned to Damien. “You’re joking, of course.”

Damien shook his head earnestly. “We’re going to be with them a while, y’know. Which one of them do you like.”

“I can honestly say I hadn’t thought about it.”

“Well, go for it now.” Damien took another swig, then glanced back up at Andre. “I mean, I love Lyssa’s look, really. I just wish they had cameras in her room.”

Andre jabbed him in the shoulder, rattling him in place. “Cut it out!” he said, his light tone belying his powerful blow.

“Yeah, I’m kidding. But really, she is hot.” Damien chuckled, even as he rubbed his sure shoulder. “I mean, a lot of guys don’t like the wispy sort. But it’s the way she moves, too… She’s all about confidence, y’know.”

Andre shook his head slowly. “No, I don’t.”

Damien decided it was his turn to jab Andre in the shoulder. “Your turn. Which one do you want.”

“Want?” Andre replied, laughing. “Now I know you’re kidding.”

“Alright,” Damien said, rolling his eyes. “Start with what you think of ‘em.”

Andre sighed. “Christina seems like a good person. She was very gracious about her victory in the battle yesterday. It would be too easy for her to dismiss our efforts in it.”

“Yeah, but she’s got to put on that show. Being the leader and all.”

Andre shook his head. “I don’t think so. If she was so concerned about that, she’d have dragged all the team out together. Called it a ‘bonding experience.’ Instead, she wants to get us established.”

Damien scratched his head. “I don’t get that. I thought Reed and his suits were taking care of all the details.”

“They are. But she wants to do this properly.”

The thought seemed to hit Damien, and he settled down to consider it. “She really cares about this, doesn’t she?”

“Although it’s as much a surprise to her as it is to us. But I’d say so.”

Damien nodded. “So then what do you make of Lyssa, oh wise one.”

“She’s trouble. Nothing more.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic.”

“I’m serious,” Andre replied. “First thing she did was brag. She wants to impress everyone around her, and I doubt she’s too concerned about how that makes the rest of us look.”

“Ah, man…”

“Besides,” Andre said. He smiled, and elbowed Damien in the ribs. “She’ll say you’re too low-class.”

[zogster]

A screeching, buzzing noise filled Lyssa’s room, and she reached out a hand to swat at the source. Flailing blindly, she eventually caught hold of the digital display built into her bedstead. She fumbled briefly with it, and quickly hit a button that silenced the alarm. That accomplished, she dragged her rapidly cooling arm back under the warm covers.

But something wasn’t right. She could still hear the buzzing, although muted, echoing throughout her apartment. Throughout the base, she corrected herself, her mind quickly catching up with yesterday’s events. A hand reached out once more, seized her dark glasses from the bedstead and dragged them under the sheets as well. A moment later, her head emerged, crowned with ruffled and messy dark hair, and she stared at the digital display opposite her.

Two things immediately struck her. First was that it was eight in the morning once again. Sleep seemed to be extinct in her life. The second, following only close afterwards, was the realisation that she hadn’t even set an alarm. Coupled with the same noise coming from the other bedrooms, she quickly realised that all their alarms had been triggered from an outside source, which meant someone official wanted them up and about very early.

By the time she staggered out into the hallway she looked somewhat neater. Her hair was at least straight, although much of it still stuck out in odd directions. She had hastily wrapped herself in a soft, black dressing gown with an embroidered silver “V” on the breast. She raised an eyebrow at her team mates, seeing Christina’s soft pink gown ahead of her, and Damien stumbling up behind in the same attire as last night – which he had no doubt slept in. Almost in a daze, the trio made their way to the living room to find Andre, naked save for sweat pants, a short white towel draped over his broad shoulders and trailing down his muscular chest.

Even more surprising was the fifth occupant of the base. A lanky man with limp blond hair stood by the coffee table, while a steaming fresh pot of coffe along with four cups waited at his side. Without warning he extended a hand towards the three team members, and began talking in a rapid, nasally voice, gesturing extravagantly as he did so.

“Hi! Vin, charmed. Manager, corp rep, media guy. So pleased. Coffee? Anyway, morning! Battle planned, team thing. Pre-season, not official, just for practice. Established folks, Blues Cats, pretty good. At ten, forest, near town. Zoids? No, sorted. Transport’s waiting, folks. Shall we?”

He ended up indicating to the exit out to the Zoid bay. As they stood in stunned silence, they could hear the sound of machinery downstairs, no doubt moving and loading their Zoids. Without waiting for a response, Vin turned and strolled out, leaving them staring at each other.

Damien was the first to regain his composure. “What the crackers was that all about?” he asked.

A chorus of ums and ahs from Christina and Lyssa was interrupted by Andre loudly clearing his throat. “His name’s Vin and he’s been assigned to work with our team, both as a representative and liason for Dowling-Storm. They booked a practice battle for us overnight against the Blues Cats, a well-established team who reshuffled a couple of their members after the Battle Royale. It’s taking place at ten o’clock in a forest battlefield near the town, and he’d prefer it if we got moving sooner rather than later.”

“You actually understood that?” Lyssa cut in.

“Ah... No,” Andre admitted. “I was working out downstairs, and I got the info off some of the technicians.

“Didn’t anyone think to tell us?” Lyssa replied.

“Welcome to the big time,” Christina muttered as she stepped forwards for some coffee.

*****

The rest of the morning was a blur. Vin had abruptly returned in the middle of their breakfast to tell them “People, time, money, okay, you know? Please? Thanks, great,” and had dashed. They took the cue and were ready with remarkable speed, all except Damien gathering up their pilot’s suits.

A fast ride out of town had followed, giving them a chance to review their opponents from what Damien had briefly found. The Blues Cats used only feline Zoids, all in various blue colour schemes. They had dropped one member in a Blade Liger between seasons, and had replaced him with a Liger Zero pilot from the Battle Royale. Their second Blade Liger had remained, along with the team’s Rayse Tiger and Shield Liger.

By the time they had reached the deployment station, a large concrete workshop with a nightmare of scaffolding surrounded by automated camera drones, Damien was finally reviewing what he had gathered about the Team’s leader.

“He goes by the name of Saladdin, although I doubt it’s his real one. He put the team together himself, basically hand-picking the pilots. He gets good teamwork out of them, and is supposed to be an expert strategist. No doubt he already knows what our Zoids are.”

“But nobody really knows what we’re capable of,” Andre replied. “Especially not as a team.” He towered over the others, pilots helmet tucked under one arm. His flightsuit was custom fitted; as he’d explained while changing, it had to be. Like his Zoid, it was largely white in colour, although picked out with highlights of pale green and grey.

“Least of all ourselves,” Christina added grimly. Her own flightsuit was a rich, royal blue in colour, and despite picking out and emphasising her good figure, was the most plain and unadorned of the trio. It sported a few white highlights and no markings, although the helmet had a purple insignia on it, stylised after a Genosaur’s roaring head. “I just wish we’d had a chance to practice properly, but instead we’re basically going into this blind.” She looked sternly at each pilot in turn. “I don’t want to sound preachy but-“

“Blah, blah, stick together, pep talk, blah,” Lyssa interrupted. “Good of the team too, am I right?” She raised an eyebrow to match her cocky grin. Her own flightsuit was jet black, highlighted in both purple and silver tracery to emphasise her figure – although Damien noted it was particularly ineffective as she stood next to the team’s taller, more shapely and far better endowed leader. She held her hair in place with one hand as the other slipped her pilot’s helmet over it. “Apart from the Rayse Tiger, we’re going in with better Zoids. That Shield Liger is junk, believe me.”

“Yeah, but the leader’s in the Shield Liger, and he has twice the individual and team points of anyone else on the team,” Damien objected. Unlike the others, he lacked a custom flight suit. He made do with his own jacket, zipped up, and thick leather riding pants. He did sport a helmet which was white with black and red stripes.

“It’s not the Zoids, Lyssa. It’s his tactics I’m worried about,” Christina replied. Already she felt her blood boiling at the other woman.

Lyssa shook her head. “Please.” She turned to her Zoid, where a motorised, wheeled platform was waited with a ladder that reached up to its cockpit. “All you need to worry about is staying out of my way.

*****

With time running out, the team had mounted their Zoids and made their way into the forest to the designated starting point. Camera drones buzzed around them, keeping the team’s Zoids in view despite the thick foliage and the dense shadows of the canopy. The trees were large and well-spaced, seemingly scaled for Zoid combat. Andre suspected they had been transplanted here and their growth accelerated to create an arena. It seemed about right; such a sight was far too convenient for the ZUB to be natural.

Once they were in place, the battle was announced and the countdown began. The pilots glanced nervously out of their Zoid’s monitors, observing the thick forest around them. It was dotted with boulders, clearings, and even a small lake off to one side. Although their opponents were well and truly out of sight, their sensors had locked onto all four target Zoids, waiting on the other side of the forest.

The countdown timer on their control panels abruptly ended. Within a split-second of its termination, Lyssa’s Brastle Tiger launched itself into motion. “Watch me!” She called out eagerly from the cockpit as she sprinted away from the Team’s Zoids.

“Wait! We’ve got to...” Christina began, but she knew it was worthless. Her monitor showed the enemy team dispersing in amongst the trees, with the blue Liger Zero heading off to intercept the Brastle Tiger. She knew it was an odd choice to oppose such a heavy Zoid, but had little time to contemplate the meaning of that move. To her right, the Iron Kong had set into motion, knuckling its way between the trees, course locked in to the east side of the battlefield.

“I’ll take out the Rayse Tiger,” Andre reported, even as his Zoid departed. “My Kong’s the only one whose weapons can defeat its ray-absorbing armour.”

Before she could reply, Damien’s nervous face appeared on her comms panel. “What do we do?”

Christina considered the options for a second. Andre was right, yet it seemed foolish to split up their team. Then again, Lyssa had already done that for them, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to call the hot-headed pilot back. The team was falling apart – no, they simply weren’t ready for this kind of competition.

“We stick together. Move ahead and cover each other. They’ve got the advantage in this terrain, so keep your eyes out for their four Zoids.”

“But... Hang on,” Damien replied. “I’m only reading three.”

*****

Lyssa smiled eagerly as the Liger Zero approached. First battle, first kill. First opportunity to prove her rightful place in the team. She could see its position on her monitor, weaving in and out of the trees as it approached, but as yet it was obscured from view. On the other side of the battlefield, she could see that Andre had already engaged the Rayse Tiger.

“Like I’ll let him one-up me,” she muttered as she thumbed the Tiger’s weapons control. Her shock cannon fired, blasting into a pair of trees up ahead. Even as they exploded into splinters, the powder blue Liger Zero burst out from behind them. It ran at her Zoid, matching her continual shock cannon fire with its own impact cannon. Lyssa charged forwards, the shots scoring her Zoid’s heavy armour but accomplishing little else even as it skilfully weaved in and out of her sights. She spied its foreclaws as they began to glow.

“Mine’s bigger,” she added to herself with a chuckle. The Zero pounced at her Brastle Tiger, claws out to strike. At the same time she lunged up with a forepaw, her Zoid’s own claws glowing red-hot. In mid-leap, the Zero’s boosters fired and it sailed clean over her Brastle Tiger. Even as Lyssa brought her Zoid to a stop and turned, the Zero landed and set into a sprint once more,
harrying her flank with shots from its tail-mounted beam cannon.

She grit her teeth in frustration. Already it was tearing away from her, and she had lost valuable time turning to correct her course. She set off, shock cannon blazing away, half to catch the fleeing Zoid and half to clear a path for her larger, broader Tiger.

“This isn’t going quite to plan,” she muttered.

*****

The ground literally exploded, sending clods of earth flying in all directions. The Rayse Tiger sprang to the side, rolling and firing its shoulder-mounted laser cannons. The brilliant blue beams cut narrow gashes into the Iron Kong’s forearms. The Kong’s shoulder-mounted cannon fired again, but the Tiger was better prepared. It darted forwards, under the shot and barrelled at the Gorilla Zoid. The Tiger’s foreclaws glowed as it ran past, slashing into the Kong’s right forearm, causing it to buckle in place.

This was insane, Andre thought. The Rayse Tiger had gotten the drop on him, and closed the distance before he could blaze away with his heavy weapons. It had been darting in and out of his reach, taking advantage of its own close combat weapons before he could get a good swing in with his Zoid’s mighty fists. He fired the Kong’s thrusters and jetted up and back, aiming another shot from the Kong’s missile cannon down at his opponent. The Rayse darted away, and the explosion tore into empty forest.

Glancing around, Andre saw his opportunity. A clearing nearby opened into a small lake – a perfect place for him to re-establish his range and cut down the enemy Tiger. The Kong landed in the center of the lake with a titanic splash. It circled around, watching for the Rayse’s movements.

Through the trees he saw flashes of light, reminiscent of beam cannons. Checking his Zoid’s scope, he could only detect the Rayse Tiger within, which was slowly circling the clearing. It seemed to be in the center of the fire, but barely responding to it.

“He’s taking the shots... Letting his panels absorb them. One of his team’s charging him up, but I can’t detect them. I know what he’s going to do...” The Kong hunched down, the ten-shot rocket launcher on its shoulder opening. “But he’ll have to emerge to get at me, and then I’ll have him.”

Sure enough, the Rayse Tiger quickly bounded from its hiding place in the woods. Panels all across its body were glowing with stored energy, with its fangs shining brilliantly. Andre knew that it had charged its ultimate attack, the Explode Bite, which could easily disable his Zoid with a single strike. Not that it would get that chance.

He fired. Ten rockets streaked from the shoulder launcher, dead on target at the enemy Zoid. Even as he did, beam cannon shots streaked out from the forest. They intercepted his rockets, detonating much of the volley. A couple still impacted against the Rayse Tiger, tearing apart its back but not with enough force to dissuade it on its course. It leapt at the edge of the lake, springing into the air at his Zoid, mouth open wide to strike.

With a yell of panic, Andre surged back, flinging his Kong’s damaged arm up in a desperate attempt to ward off the Zoid. He struck hard, catching it by pure chance in its chin and neck. The Tiger was deflected, and flung high into the air. It arced lazily up and over, unable to change its course without boosters. Andre drew a bead and fired the missile cannon once more, catching it this time square in the back. The explosion flung the Zoid away from his, sending it crashing to the ground with a splintering of trees. Even before it came to a halt, it was registered as disabled.

Before Andre could register his victory, his Zoid was rocked with a heavy impact. A weight pressed down on its back, and even in his cockpit he could hear the tearing and screeching of the maneuver pack as something tore into it.

The Kong’s head flicked around, even as its arm reached back, desperately searching for his assailant. Yet he could see nothing other than the torn backpack and the spray of water, coming off something settled on his back. Before he could figure out what he was facing, the tearing intensified. Two long gashes opened up at the Kong’s neck, and warning lights flashed across his panel. The Kong faltered even as the assault continued, and quickly collapsed face-down into the lake.

*****

The Whitz Wolf swept its head across the clearing, looking once more for their adversary, even as its pilot scanned his monitors. “Andre’s out,” Damien reported nervously. “But at least he got the Rayse Tiger.”

“Did you see who finished off his Kong?” Christina asked.

Damien only shook her head. He’d detected nothing from the lake, even as the Kong had been disabled by a well-placed strike. He could still see the Zero and the Blade Liger that had been hassling them so far, along with Lyssa’s Brastle Tiger which had continued its futile chase. “Hang on...” He said, concentrating his attention on the Blade Liger. “He’s coming back for another pass.”

Even as the two Zoids swung into place, their opponent emerged from the trees. The shimmering distortion of its e-shield obscured its blue body even as it bore down on them. The Whitz Wolf and Genosaur opened fire with their cannons, unable to penetrate the shield even as it bore down on them. Christina saw the boosters deploying on its back, and called out to Damien.

“Split up! It’s deploying the blades!” Their Zoids surged apart even as the E-shield deactivated. The Liger’s laser blades glowed as they flicked out to its sides. As it ran, it fired the boosters, putting on an extra surge of speed. Damien’s Whitz Wolf leapt aside, unable to bring its cannons on the unprotected Zoid. Christina’s Genosaur lunged away as well, barely avoiding the tip of its laser blade as it surged past her, too fast for her turreted laser cannons to track. Even as the duo turned, it dashed into the trees once more, avoiding their return fire.

“Dammit! We need a better plan to catch him,” Damien said.

“Hold on... He’s coming back already,” Christina replied. Unlike its previous runs where the Blade Liger had gained some distance before turning back at them, it was already coming around for another pass. The Genosaur and Whitz Wolf turned to face it as it charge, shield down, blades out and booster already firing.

Before they could open fire in response, a flurry of beams streaked from seemingly nowhere, tearing into the side of the Whitz Wolf. Damien turned his canine Zoid in horror, but the source of the beams was on the move, constantly firing on his flank. Christina tracked it for a second, but realised the more pressing danger and turned back to the Blade Liger.

It was already on her. The Zoid tore directly at her Genosaur, glowing blades moving in for a killing blow. She desperately yanked the controls aside, bringing her Zoid up in strange one-legged hop. The blade nonetheless cut through the Genosaur’s forearm, cleanly severing its claw from the Zoid’s body. She swung her own laser cannons around to draw a bead on its unprotected back, but her aim was thrown off as shots from the other, invisible source rocked her Zoid. Behind her, the Blade Liger departed, unmolested.

“Damien!” She called out, quickly spinning her Genosaur around to try and find their unseen assailant. “Are you alright?”

“Waizman’s seen better,” he replied. In his own cockpit, he gritted his teeth as he studied the damage readouts. “My side’s been cut to ribbons, and my foreleg’s disabled.” He shook his head, even as he studied the surroundings. The shots had stopped, but there was still no sign of their origin. All they were left with was an eerie silence.

“Can you move?” Christina asked.

“Barely. I’m a sitting duck if either of them come back, although the Blade Liger’s taking its time to come around.”

Christina trotted her Genosaur around to the Whitz Wolf’s side, placing it in front of his damaged flank. “What was that? I couldn’t see who was firing on us.”

“Think about it,” Damien replied. “ZUB considers even the Blade Liger and Genosaur to be out of date, so why is this team’s leader running around in a Shield Liger? It’s one of the oldes large-scale Zoids.”

“Only if there’s some new model...” Christina replied as she surveyed the terrain. Something about this seemed familiar to her. If only she could place it...

Damien nodded. “Did you ever hear of Holotech Zoids?”

Realisation swept over Christina. Holotech Zoids were apparently able to render themselves invisible, along with projecting false sensor and holographic images to throw off pursuers. “I thought they were banned from competition,” she replied.

“Only in the ZBC,” Damien corrected her. “They’re prohibitively expensive to maintain though, but you can see the advantages.”

“Especially when you’re taking on a rookie team and can choose the terrain,” Christina replied. She shook her head. “So what do we do about it?”

Damien glanced at his scope and quickly replied. “Whatever it is, we do it fast. The Blade Liger’s coming around, and you can tell that Shield Liger will be – Wait! The Zero!”

[zogster]

Lyssa shook her head, trying to clear the sweat from her brow inside her pilot’s helmet. She had been pushing the Brastle Tiger throughout, maintaining its speed and weapons fire, and it was dangerously close to overheating. After its opening stunt, the Zero had kept well ahead of her, easily evading her running fire while peppering her Zoid’s armour with shots from its tail-mounted beam cannon. It had been weaving through the trees even as she had left a trail of destruction in her wake, tearing through the forest to chase it down.

But now it had changed tack. The Zero had made a sharp turn ahead that she could turn into, and had drastically closed the distance between them. Now it was making a beeline for the center of the battlefield ahead of her. The trees were starting to thin out, so she opened up the throttle and closed the distance even more. At this speed, she would have a clear shot in seconds, but certainly couldn’t aim her shoulder-mounted thermic cannons with any accuracy. Her shock cannon was already overworked, but it was all she could rely on for this chase. Nothing else for it.

The trees suddenly opened up, giving her a clear view of the Zero’s back, its claws already glowing for a strike. She smiled and fired the shock cannon even as it leapt. All of a sudden she had a clear view of the frantic, chaotic battlefield she had run into, and just as suddenly, everything happened at once.

Christina’s Genosaur stood in the Zero’s path, already turned to intercept it. Even as she drew a bead on the leaping Zoid, a volley of beams shot from seemingly nowhere, aimed at the Genosaur. In the same instant, the Whitz Wolf had surged forwards, protecting the bipedal Zoid’s side with its own damaged flank. Laser fire from the Genosaur impacted on the Zero, knocking it off course. The Zero crashed down to the ground, bowling into the Whitz wolf as it dropped. The two tumbled into the path of an incoming Blade Liger, which leapt over them, deviating from its no-doubt fatal strike at the arriving Brastle Tiger. Lyssa screeched her Zoid to a halt and flattened it to the ground, barely avoiding the Blade Liger’s attack.

The Wolf and Zero rolled together, the Liger pressing on the Wolf’s damaged flank and gaining the easy advantage. The wolf kept the pair locked together, and clung tight to the Liger’s flank and belly so as not to let it use its deadly laser claws. The Liger instead snapped with its powerful jaws, even as the Wolf likewise tried to bite into its foe. The two struck simultaneously, the Liger tearing into the Wolf’s shoulder even as its own neck was pierced by the Whitz Wolf’s electron fangs. Power coursed into the Zero, disabling it even as the pair struggled.

At the same time, Christina turned to follow the Blade Liger. Off-balance from its impromptu landing, it was unable to avoid a volley of fire from her Genosaur’s laser cannons. She shots struck its flank, and even as it raised the e-shield, Christina maneuvered her own Zoid around behind it to keep pouring on fire. The Blade Liger faltered as it ran and tumbled to its side and skidding to a halt against a grove of trees. Christina sustained the volley, and soon enough her target was disabled.

Even as the other Zoids struggled, the Brastle Tiger regained its footing. She caught sight of the struggle between Damien and the Liger Zero, and surged her Brastle Tiger towards them. That’s my kill, she thought even as the Whitz Wolf tore into the Zero’s neck. Before she could respond however, something struck her Zoid hard from the side. The impact staggered it, throwing it off balance. As her Zoid recovered, she swept out with a blazing hot claw, trying to counterattack. Her invisible assailant had moved on already, and she caught nothing but air.

“What the hell is going on?” She demanded, sweeping her Tiger’s gaze across the battlefield. Her team was spread out, Damien still caught underneath the deactivated Liger Zero. There was plenty of room to move, but none to hide in the open, blasted clearing. Nonetheless, a spray of beams shot out from literally thin air, scoring along the Whitz Wolf’s flank. The wolf howled out, even as Damien yelled in panic from the cockpit.

Lyssa drew a bead on the source of the shots, even as it moved. She could see what was happening; an invisible Zoid, running as it fired, tracking Damien with a turreted cannon. She aimed and fired, triggering the shock cannon to blast the path of the unseen attacker. However, all she got was a warning from the control panel; her overheated cannon had refused to fire.

“That’s IT!” She bellowed out. The Tiger roared and spread its legs, even as the hatches on its shoulders flipped open. The hidden cannon nozzles spread out, tracking across the field. She set for a wide dispersal, unable to track a target she couldn’t lock onto. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Genosaur flinch away, even as the Whitz Wolf finally collapsed. Regardless of them, she triggered the cannons.

A spray of red-hot beams lanced through the air in all directions, spreading out from the Brastle Tiger. They scythed through trees, seared armour off the downed Ligers and barely missed striking the Genosaur which had flattened itself to the ground. But in the spray of beams, she saw no unaccounted impacts; the final Zoid had escaped. The Tiger’s heat sinks let out a massive burst of steam, clouding the area.

“Lyssa!” Christina called out as the Genousaur approached. “What was that for.”

For a second, the only response she gave was an exhausted panting. Finally, she gasped out. “I... I panicked. I thought I could get it...”

“And now we’ve lost it,” Christina replied as the Genosaur looked through the cloud of steam. “But he’ll be back soon, and we’ve got no good way of detecting it.”

“I thought you were meant to take care of him. He is their leader after all,” Lyssa shot back.

Christina shook her head. “I wanted us to stick together, to stop this very thing from happening,” she said as her Genosaur looked down at Damien’s deactivated Wolf. “They outmaneuvered us and took the fight to their terms, because...” She trailed off.

Lyssa cursed under her breath, and finished for Christina. “Because I ran off and didn’t support the team, right?”

Rather than reply, Christina maneuvered her Zoid into the middle of the clearing. “We need to draw him out,” she said. “And for that, we need to stick together. And we need a decoy.”

“Me, obviously,” Lyssa shot back, the venom returning to her voice. “So you can steal the kill.”

The Genosaur turned back to face the Tiger. “Who said you were the bait?”

*****

Silence reigned over the forested battlefield. All was in stillness in the clearing. Disabled Zoids littered the ground, and the only one standing was stock still in the center of the clearing. The silver and gold Brastle Tiger watched the tree line cautiously, waiting carefully for some sign of movement. Its head glanced furtively into one patch of trees, where a skilled observer could make out the form a Genosaurer, its dark armour blending into the shadowed terrain. The tyrannosaur Zoid’s foot clamps were already deployed and its tail outstretched. The Zoid waited for a target, sensors fixated on the exposed and vulnerable Brastle Tiger.

“This is ridiculous,” Lyssa muttered from inside the cockpit. The Brastle showed its own feelings, shifting nervously in place.

“The bait’s obvious enough, Lyssa. He’ll take it,” came Christina’s reply.

“I just wish he’d do it sooner than-“ Her reply was cut off by a gasp from her team’s leader. The Brastle Tiger whirled around, facing the Genosaur which was bellowing in panic. Massive rends in its armour had opened up on the flank, and it staggered in place as another blow sunk into its shoulder, just shy of the Zoid’s neck.

“Now, Lyssa, now!” Christina yelled back. Lyssa’s hands flew over the controls with practiced ease. The Tiger’s shoulder panels deployed, thermic cannons already locked on the Genosaur’s position. Without hesitation, with barely a moment to adjust her aim, Lyssa fired.

Six searing red beams struck out, blazing directly at the black and purple Zoid. All impacted instead on seeming thin air, burning into the flank of a rapidly appearing Zoid. The image shifted and resolved, even as armour and structure vaporised under the intense beams. Within a second it was over, and the newly appearing Shield Liger pitched over, its left side little more than smoking wreckage.

*****

The four Zoids assembled once more at the deployment station, the Wolf and Kong supported in a network of frames as technicians swarmed over them, assessing the damage and making immediate repairs. On one side, the Genosaur had already settled in place, and the ladder trolley rolling away from its cockpit signalled that the pilot had already dismounted. Finally, the Brastle Tiger stepped into place, having opted for a slower pace than the Genosaur to attract more of the waiting cameras.

The Brastle Tiger’s cockpit opened with a hiss of steam. The command couch raised out of the Zoid’s head, and the black-suited pilot stepped out onto a waiting service ladder. Automated cameras watched her as she pulled off her helmet, letting her sweat-soaked hair fall down her back before shaking it out. She turned to the nearest one and adjusted her dark glasses, favouring it with a smile. Then she delicately let herself down the ladder to join her waiting team mates.

She flicked a few loose strands of hair over her shoulder and regarded them. “What do you think, is the drenched look in this year?” She asked, half joking.

“Nice work,” Andre replied with a nod, his own pilot’s helmet tucked under his arm. His tone was carefully neutral; Lyssa wasn’t sure if his compliment was genuine, or merely well-disguised sarcasm.

“I am the star, after all,” she said as she stepped down the last rung to join them. Andre merely shook his head and ignored her.

Damien nodded to her as she approached. “Thanks for bailing me out there. I thought we’d all lost.”

She watched him for a brief second and nodded. “Nice with the zero. Crazy, but it worked.” Before he could reply, she stepped up to Christina, looking up at the other woman’s amused smile.

“I told you it would work,” Christina said simply.

“Work?” Damien asked as he looked between the pair. “I don’t get it, I thought Lyssa was the bait.”

“Who said I was?” Lyssa replied, not even looking at Damien. She regarded Christina for a moment more. “Pretty gutsy, actually. Making the ambush too obvious.”

“He was too smart to fall for it,” Christina replied. “We had to fake him out, and your Zoid was the best to respond quickly.”

“Huh...” Lyssa glanced away as she sighed. She frowned, worrying over a hard decision, before finally turning back to Christina. “Okay, I was wrong.”

“Never thought I’d hear that,” Andre muttered from behind as Christina waited patiently.

“I thought you were just some glory hog,” Lyssa continued, somewhat more subdued than normal. “And I wanted to show you up. I mean, come on, we don’t all have famous sisters to push us to the big time.”

“That’s...” Christina pondered her words for a second. “Faint. But I guess it’s an apology.”

Lyssa took her timed but eventually gave a grudging nod. “Yeah. Yeah, it is. I guess you really were on the level about this whole ‘team’ thing.”

“So are you actually with us this time?” Andre asked from behind.

“Yeah. Yeah, sure,” Lyssa replied. With a smile, she added “But I’m gonna be in charge.”

Christina could only laugh in reply.

[Deadborder]

Thats some prertty good stuff y'all got there.

The chracters develop wel in theis chaper and come along very nicely. They sare nicely three dimesnional and fleshed out, which is pretty good given that all bar one are band new for the chapter (Well, more or less. Appearing only as facless enemy pilot dudes doesn't count). And ofr a guy who only has two lines, Vin rawked hard. I laughed my arse off.

The battle was rather well written. It flows well and made sense, with no "uh" moments or bizzarness. The way both teams acted was very well thought out, both from a "tactial" POV (Blue Cats whole plan) and a "Character" one (Lyssa running off). I live ofr the day that she gets her arse spanked big time... heh. That will show her.

You need to use Blue Cats again. And Vin.

Keep writing. You have to beat Steve now.

Rick R.

[Tilly]

I love Vin.

And niiiice fight. I called the Holo Shieldy, but not until the Kong got chomped. Good to see one getting some fic-time...