PAC-Wolves: Geyser of Fire - Chaps. 7, 8, Epil.

[pacwolf]

The end of the PAC-Wolf saga, if you can call it that. I feel I may get ripped on the ending, but there really was no other way to do it, without making the story into something ultra-twisted, and I was tired of twisted. I spent a lot of time on these stories, and hope that some of that dedication shows through (I know there are a lot of typos).

Chapter Seven
From Whence Ye Came

It was painful to re-enter the Helic Republic, especially via the same route that we had left it over two years ago. At that time we were running away from Mt. Hoploy—now we were running to it.

So much had changed for us: we were no longer soldiers; now we were hungry, downtrodden bounty hunters—and one of us was gone. We were still piloting PAC-Wolves—but they weren’t the same ones. Our main Enemy wasn’t a Republic Officer abusing the power of the Particle Charger, now it was an Imperial one.

But occurrences in life always seem to move in circles. Our adventures with the PAC-Wolves began at Mt. Hoploy, and one way or another, they would end there.

Kavid rejoined our convoy by the time we reached the Hoploy Ridge Trail—the path through the woods that didn’t exist until Kavid, Sifen, Mansod and I were attacked by an Iron Kong two years ago. We decided to mount our Zoids on Bruno’s Gustav’s trailer get some rest by riding it out in the Gustav cockpit. It almost worked.

“It’s unfortunate you didn’t find anything at the Bay of Rocks, Kavid.” Said Sifen.

“Yeah, well, it has been looted pretty clean, especially by us.” Kavid’s tone was full of disappointment. “But after what you guys went through, I wish I would have looked a little bit harder. Despite his feelings about not having fought with us, I was glad he wasn’t at Gellenos—his Redler would have been pulverized.

“Just stay focused. Remember, Katrana probably knows we’re coming, so we need to watch for traps of any kind.” I ordered.

“That’s right,” Kavid cut in, “That *Watch your language!* is out to get us.”

“Watch it, Lieutenant.”

“Ugh. Back to the rank crap.”

“Cap’n?” I was surprised to hear Bruno enter the conversation.

“Yes, Bruno?”

“I’ma not gonna sit this one out. I’ma fightin’ with youse guys.” Our big friend said with his chest held high.

“There’s not much your Gustav can do, big buddy.” Said Kavid.

“I don’ta care! I’ma fightin’!” bellowed Bruno.

“Okay, okay, no need to get riled up. I’m happy to have you with us, Mr. Saltus.” Bruno smiled at my using of his last name.

“There it is.” Pointed out Sifen.

The branches of the trees seemed to act like curtains as the Gustav rounded a corner and revealed the towering green slope of Mt. Hoploy. It was not a decidedly large mountain, but it was a pretty one. Its forests were not too thick, and it had a rich supply of green plains; it was a great location for Zoids, which is why the Republic built a massive sub-surface base in the mountain eight years ago.

“Okay, boys, let’s try our new little attack. Get into your Zoids and prepare for the ‘Castaways Come Home’ maneuver.”

It wasn’t much, but dammit, it was gonna work.


Boy, I had been walking Zoids through sand and soft grass for so long that I had forgotten just how difficult it was to keep a Zoid quiet in a dry forest. There were so many things to snap and crunch that stealth was quite impossible.

Still, it felt good to see life again. No more dead deserts or near-empty grass fields. I just hoped that I wouldn’t bring any harm to this beautiful place.

Sifen and I emerged from the trees in our PAC-Wolves, and began our nervous trek up the grass plain towards the hidden entrance to the Mt. Hoploy Command Center. Bruno parked his silvery Gustav at the tree line, with its lone weapon exposed.

About 500-meters from the entrance, I inhaled a deep breath, and took the first step. My quivering finger pressed the comm button. “Katrana, this is Jeremy. I am well aware of your problems with us, but a new factor has arisen that requires both of our assets to destroy. I beg of you, please, let us work together before the major makes his move against us.”

I waited for almost a minute, but heard no reply. Next step: try harder.

“Katrana, without a Particle Charger, we cannot defeat Major Nevets. No one can. You must see that. If you don’t give us one, then Nevets will destroy both the Republic and the Empire. Thousands have already died. We have to stop him!” I was starting to sweat.

A response finally flickered onto my HUD-Comm—but it wasn’t Katrana…it was Bruticus!

“Sared is dead, Captain, and I can assure you that you won’t get any help from us.” With that, the image disappeared. Massive panels in front of the Command Center opened out of the ground, and the Stone Dragon and Blade Liger Vampire leapt out from below the surface.

“Sifen!” I screamed in panic, “Break!” As I scampered away, I could see PAC-3 standing its ground. “Sifen? What are you doing?” I called back.

“Captain, I’ve told you before to keep your cool. I’m staying with our attack plan, and I request that you do the same.” Damn. It felt like suicide, but that old soldier was built of steel. He deserved my rank more than I did.

Pulling PAC-1 around, I retook my position and aimed for the Stone Dragon. I had beaten it once before, I could do it again. The Dragon’s appearance wasn’t as impressive as before; its starboard torso was still burn-black—it just had new armor and weapons attached to it. The Vampire was just as sinister as ever, but I’d bet it had Plasma Armor. Who didn’t these days?

“This is where we settle it, Kelt. Once and for all.” Threatened Namor. Ever the melodramatic.

“You’ve really got to be a little more creative with your evil threats, Bruticus. That was weak.” I slapped back at him.

“So was your response.” Pointed out Skyler. Touché.

“Where is Katrana?” asked Sifen.

“I already told you: dead. Along with her father.” I could feel Bruticus’ grin. “You’re not going to get the last Particle Charger.” I suppose it didn’t take a genius to figure out why we were here.

“Don’t you realize if you don’t use it to destroy the Geyser of Fire, Major Nevets will end up killing you, too?” Sifen drilled at them.

“We can hold our own.” Replied Skyler.

“You fools!” I barked. “Sifen and I just saw two thousand Zoids get incinerated by Nevets and his Geyser! As for its power against Plasma Armor? Look at us! There are only two of us left! Mansod is gone! His PAC-Wolf was destroyed!” I paused to let that sink in. “Nevets has no need for you. You cannot possibly stand up to him. You will die! Get it through your damn heads!” I was starting to breathe hard.

Skyler seemed to be thinking about what I had said, but Bruticus just blew it off. “Bah! You’re just trying to trick us! Your third wolf is simply hiding in the trees, waiting to strike. I will not be defeated by some lowly Command Wolf again!”

With that, the Stone Dragon charged us, its vulcan cannons spinning streams of highly explosive energy through the air. Sifen and I jumped away and ran around to the sides of the stampeding but very sluggish Liger, and activated our shields (Bruno was kind enough to fix-up PAC-1’s). We performed an Emerald Scorpion Attack, sandwich-slamming the Dragon and flung it into the air.

Now that Namor was temporarily taken down, I peered back at the Blade Liger Vampire. It hadn’t moved! What was Skyler doing? It wasn’t prepping a Charged Particle blast—it’s cannons were still flipped back.

Sifen hailed me. “Now is a good time for ‘Castaways Come Home,’ sir.”

“Punch it!”

PAC-1 and PAC-3 ran full speed towards the Command Center entrance, since, basically, the “Castaways Come Home” maneuver was “Avoid-Any-Opposition-and-Make-a-Break-for-the-Door.” Hey, it works.

We were about 200 meters away when a volley of missiles rained down upon us. Our Zoids tumbled and flipped as the blasts knocked us in every direction. As PAC-1 shook off the blast, I could see the Stone Dragon charging us with its blades fully extended—blades that had cut the legs off of PAC-3. This was dangerous.

“Sifen, get out of here!” PAC-3’s thrusters fired and saved my friend, but there was nothing I could do—I was going to get hit…until a big silvery dome slammed into the starboard side of the Dragon, knocking it rolling away from PAC-1.

“Bruno! Thank you, buddy!”

“Jus’ go, Cap’n. Go! Go! Go!”

I nodded and spun PAC-1 around and followed PAC-3 towards the entrance. The Stone Dragon stood back up, fired its turret cannon at Bruno—which did no good against his Zoid’s thick armor—then chased after us.

“You…you can’t get away! Skyler, cut them off!” ordered Namor. The Blade Liger finally moved, but not in the way that Bruticus had intended. The Stone Dragon slid to a stop to keep from crashing into the black, gold and silver Zoid that now blocked its path.

“Zaun! What are you doing?” barked Namor.

The Vampire’s Attack Boosters flipped over, and its twin Charged Particle Beams began to sparkle with energy. “As much as I hate to admit it, Kelt is right, Bruticus. If we don’t stop Nevets, he will kill us.”

“You bonehead! Nevets is our ally! He helped us! He promised we would stay alive and be his generals!” Bruticus was frantic with fear.

“No, Namor. Erem Nevets’ word is garbage. I believed it once before, and he tried to kill me, regardless of my loyalty to him. If we don’t stop him, we are all dead.”

I suddenly realized that I had stopped running to the entrance so that I could listen to their conversation.

“No! I will never support the cause of that bastard Jeremy Kelt! Even if it means my death, at least I will die with some self-respect!” With that, the Stone Dragon opened fire on Skyler, but despite the moderate impact damage, the Vampire stood its ground… and then fired back.

The Charged Particle Beams ripped through the air and scorched across the Stone Dragon’s body. This time, it was obvious that Skyler was shooting at full power. The Dragon’s armor and weapons melted, vaporized and exploded away, but the powerful Zoid did not budge under the incredible stress. Once the blasts had run their course, Namor’s Zoid stood completely engulfed in smoke and wreckage this time.

“You…you traitorous bastard.” With that, the Stone Dragon slowly trotted away into the forest and disappeared from my life.

Skyler hailed me directly. “Go. Go before I change my mind.”

“Thank you, Zaun. We’re even, now.” I ran PAC-1 into the Command Center, only feeling slightly safer.


Mt. Hoploy’s Sub-Surface Command Center was even more lifeless than the Imperial Southern Scientific Outpost was when we infiltrated it. Not one, not a single soul drifted through this massive structure.

Luckily, Bruticus and Skyler had left enough lights on so that we could find our ways around. Our memories guided us as well, although there had been a few changes during our two-year absence.

Focusing on our objective, we headed for the Officer’s Quarters, searching for the room of Lieutenant Katrana Sared. In only a couple of minutes, we found it. Unable to contain my energy, I raised my foot and kicked the door in. It didn’t fly very far before it his something…something big…something that yelled out in pain.

“Ow! Dammit, Jeremy! Ever think about turning the knob?”

“Kavid! Oh, man, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I forgot about you.”

“No, really? Ow. That was my bad shoulder, too. Ow.” Kavid hadn’t followed our assault on the main entrance because he was sneaking into the landing pad entrance up at 3,000 meters. We figured Katrana wouldn’t expect us to attack from above since she didn’t know that Kavid now flew a Redler.

Sifen went straight to business. “Have you found anything in here?”

“Not yet, but I haven’t had much time to look.” We began scouring Katrana’s room for anything that could lead us to the Particle Charger, and the frustration began to grow. The supply of books about holograms and stealth technology was ample, but there was absolutely nothing about Plasma Armor.

“Perhaps she hid the information elsewhere.” Suggested Sifen after about an hour.

“A technology that only she and her father are supposed to know about? I don’t think she’d take the risk.”

I agreed with Kavid. An idea popped. “Wait a minute. Her father! Where would her father be buried?”

Kavid looked concerned for my sanity, but Sifen caught on. “In the Officer’s Memorial Chamber.”

“Is that around here?” asked Kavid.

“No,” I sighed, “It’s outside of New Helic City.”

[pacwolf]

Chapter Eight
Ignition

As PAC-1’s cockpit hatch closed, it mimicked the feeling of desperation engulfing my heart. New Helic City was over a week away from the Southern Frontier. In a week’s time, Major Nevets could obliterate half of the Europa Continent. Kavid would have to go there ahead of us in his Redler, but it had no Plasma Armor—there was no way he could survive even a conventional weapons attack. The dangers were too high, but we had no choice. We would just be sending him to his death.

My eyesight was gazing into oblivion as my Zoid walked back up to the plain atop Mt. Hoploy, but PAC-1’s growl re-awoke me.

The Blade Liger Vampire and Bruno’s silvery Gustav were gone. Odds are the big guy chased after Skyler. One lone Zoid stood out on the green grass, staring directly back at me. It was a moderately-sized Zoid, with a black main body, ruby-red armor and…and silver weapons! It was a Command Wolf! It was my original PAC-Wolf-1!

As for who was piloting it, well, there could only be one answer to that question. I flicked on my comm. “Katrana. How do you like the cup-holders?”

Her solemn face appeared on my HUD-Comm. “Don’t make this any harder, Jeremy.”

Rain drops started to pat my Zoids windshield. “We don’t have to make this into anything, Katrana. You can help us.”

“I am sorry for having betrayed you and your friends as much as I have, but I swore to my father that I would never stop until you all paid for what you did to him.” She was forcing her pain to become anger, even though truly, it wasn’t there.

“Your father was a freaking lunatic, Katrana!” Bad move, Kavid. “And now it sounds like he made you feel guilty for his mistakes. Don’t do it!”

Thunder began to rumble across the mountain, and lightning soon followed in spectacular obedience. Nearby, a bolt of electricity struck a tree, striking the plant-life like a wick, and igniting a fire that began scampering across the dry grass, daring the increasing rainfall to put it out.

“My father was a great man,” praised Katrana, “He needed what you took away from him.”

“But even you saw that he was wrong—“ I tried to emphasize.

“Damn the morals of it all!” she slapped back. “No one would have died! The Particle Charger doesn’t kill! You’ve seen that!”

“No,” solemnly responded Kavid, “But it makes you wish you were dead.”

Katrana was silent. “Enough. I’m through with this talk. My mind was made up the day my father died. You took the glory he deserved away from him, and now you must pay the price for what you did to him!”

Another thunder and lightning combo shook the sky as the fire grew. Katrana’s PAC-Wolf fired its 150mm cannon at me, and the energy shells shook PAC-1 a lot more than the rain did. Sifen ran PAC-3 next to me and opened its missile launchers, but I called my friends. “No, guys. Let me do this. When you get down to it, this is between me and her.”

PAC-3’s dripping wet launcher panels slowly closed and the Wolf backed off. Kavid called in. “She’s all yours, buddy. Just don’t lose.”

I was too lost in concentration to let Kavid’s remark bother me. Katrana ran to the left and started downhill, making for the forest. Another lightning bolt hit nearby. My targeting sights ached to lock onto her PAC-1, but she was too good, too maneuverable. Still, I attempted to predict her movements and fired a series of shots at her feather-footed Zoid. They all missed.

Despite the massive downpour of rain, the forest fire was upheld by the constant input of lightning bolts across the widely spread trees. The dry ground needed a good burning, and it was getting one.

In this sparse forest, the only place Katrana could hide from me was behind the flames, and she had plenty to make use of. A large oak tree was drenched in fire, and the original PAC-1 jumped behind it, spun its cannon at me and started a barrage. I took a couple of hits before I dove behind a boulder. The giant rock soon exploded from the assault, and left me open for another assault.

“Katrana! This is a waste of time!” I pleaded, “We are in two indestructible Zoids! Our weapons are useless against each other. Let’s solve this another way.” Despite what I had just said, I wanted to prove the paint, and fired three shots at her PAC-Wolf—they all just ricocheted away uselessly.

Then, curiously, she froze. Katrana just stood about 100-meters away from me, holding a motionless stance. I jumped as a lightning bolt slammed the ground behind me, unable to stand still myself.. Rain ran off of the dented armor of her PAC-Wolf and dripped off the end of her 150mm cannon as she stared at me in dead silence. What was she waiting for?

Finally, she spoke. “You’re almost right, Jeremy, but I’m afraid you’ve made your last mistake.”

Did I see the sparks sizzling out of the side of her Command Wolf’s jaw before it happened, or did I just have some gut-instinct? I don’t know, but whatever it was, it saved my life.

Katrana’s PAC-Wolf cocked its head back and dropped its jaw. In an instant, a blinding white burst of energy fired from its mouth sending a waving stream through the air—right at me. But that gut-instinct or whatever it was already had me moving, and PAC-1 was leaping to the right, avoiding the beam by centimeters.

It was an overcharged Particle Charger beam, or “Wave-Smacker,” as Bruticus liked to call it. It was a blast specifically designed to destroy whatever it hits. Not as violent as a CPG, but if used correctly, just as destructive.

As PAC-1 landed, I knew that speed was the only thing that could save my life. Dashing for Katrana, I pounced through the fire before she could charge-up another blast. Our two wolves clanged together in a metallic smash that drove my cyberphonic implants crazy. Even if it was a waste of time, I had to stay face-to-face with her—she couldn’t have any shooting distance.

My veteran PAC-1 slammed my original PAC-1’s head to the ground and scraped its neck with its claws. Katrana’s Zoid fought to escape, but my Zoid had it pinned.

“Get off of me, Jeremy! I won’t let you live!” Katrana’s voice was starting to get panicky.

“If I have to hold you here forever, I will.” I warned her. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. Fate makes the rules, though.

The rules just changed.

“Jeremy! Get the hell out of there!” Kavid’s scream was the loudest I would ever hear him yell. I couldn’t even turn my head before the red flash hit PAC-1’s cockpit with a thundering roar twice that of the storm raining down upon us.

My Zoid’s rattling made concentration difficult. I could sense that I was flying yet again, a victim of a massive concussive blast. This was something that pilots in “normal” Zoids never had to deal with. Their Zoids always just exploded when hit this hard. Mine didn’t—it just flew off. This was starting to get annoying. Naturally, a hard, tumbling crash followed the flight. I seemed to remember that my original PAC-1 could somehow reduce the impact of concussive force from blasts and crashes. This second one didn’t seem to have that feature. That first guy must have been special upgrades—like the cup holders.

“Kavid, what got me?” I asked as PAC-1 ran out of the burning forest moments later. I was lucky my cyberphonic implants still worked.

“Twin Buster Cannons.”

“Crap. Nevets.”

“He nailed you long range. I’m flying to intercept.” Kavid took off in his heroic way.

“Don’t be a fool! You can’t stop him!” I begged.

“Well, neither can you. I’m not going to just sit around and wait for him to incinerate all of us. I’m going down with a little pride. I suggest you do the same.” A perfectly-timed lightning bolt accentuated his bold statement.

I smiled up at my friend. “You’re right. Let’s go. You with us, Sifen?”

“Of course, sir, as is Mansod.” That really got my blood boiling.

I suddenly realized that we had lost track of Katrana. Where had she gone to after getting shot by the Geyser’s Buster Cannons? She couldn’t be hurt, not in a PAC-Wolf. Now I was really nervous.

When we approached Nevets’ dragon, we realized we were too late.

The Geyser of Fire hovered in front of the Mt. Hoploy Command Center’s main entrance. The Zoid’s mouth was red hot, and it slowly pushed its neck forward, spewing its virtual lava of death straight into the core of the mountain. A massive eruption was ignited throughout the small mountain. Bursts of fire shot out of hidden vents and exhaust ports spread across the mountainside. The landing pad up at 3,000-meters was blasted off of its supports and came sliding down the slope, stripping off rocks and plant-life as it scraped the surface.

The entire forty-acre sub-surface complex that took seven years to dig out and another three to build, was obliterated in less than thirty seconds.

Then, as quickly as the structure exploded, it started to implode. The mountainside began crashing in upon itself, desperately attempting to fill the gap left by the obliteration of the Command Center. A deafening roar shook the air as massive potholes caved in all about the mountain.

“You bastard!” screamed Kavid, “Have you no morals at all?” His Zoid rocketed across the stormy sky, held back from full speed only by the constant firing of the Redler’s Hybrid Thruster Cannons. Shells of energy bashed against the body of the Geyser, but they did no harm. However, their constant concussive force did force the dragon to lose a fair amount of altitude.

Why didn’t it put up its shield? I asked myself.

PAC-3 ran up next to me. “Sir, I’ve noticed an anomaly.”

“So have I, Sifen. The shield, right?”

“Yes, sir. I have a theory.”

“So do I. What’s yours?” I thought I’d be polite.

“The Geyser of Fire may be low on power.” Sifen’s theory was exactly the same as mine. As impossibly powerful as Nevets’ big lizard seemed to be, it must have some sort of limit, and it was reaching that limit. But still…

“Even if it totally fizzles out, it has its Plasma Armor. We can’t break it.” I replied.

“But if it has no power, it can be restrained. I suggest we keep attacking it until it can no longer move, then restrain it.” It was a difficult plan, but it might work. Bless you, Sifen.

“That could take hours.” I warned.

“To quote a private I once knew, ‘Let’s do it!’” Those lightning bolts sure knew when to hit.

I smiled. “Damn right.”


Kavid was running rings around Nevets—Buster Cannons weren’t exactly the fastest shooting guns. PAC-1 and PAC-3 ran in and joined the fray. Sifen’s missiles shook the dragon up quite well, but my 150mm cannon did little harm.

“You morons! You’re just as stupid as ever! You can’t hurt me, you will just die like that idiot Captain Kelt did!”

Whoa. He didn’t know I was there! He must have thought my Wolf was Mansod’s. I was debating whether to reveal myself to him, when he got his second wind.

As Kavid soared around for another pass, the Geyser of Fire lurched out and bit his Redler by the neck, snapping its head off. The little dragon’s head, the one that my friend, PAC-1 and I had worked so hard to re-attach, fell to the ground as the back-body tumbled in a ball of fire and smoke.

“Kavid! No!” Slamming PAC-1’s accelerators to the max, I sprinted towards Kavid’s potential drop point. Moments before the head was to strike, I leapt my Wolf through the air and opened its jaw. PAC-1 clamped onto the Redler head, getting its own head jerked left as it came down. The head still banged the ground, but nowhere near as hard as it would have alone.

“Impressive move, Jeremy.” I looked up to see Katrana’s PAC-1 staring at me from the flaming trees.

“Don’t do this, Katrana. What I’m doing here is too important for any spite you have towards me.” I turned back towards the Geyser, still carrying the Redler head in PAC-1’s mouth. PAC-3 was desperately fighting Nevets, and in dire straits.

“How dare you turn your back on me?” snarled Katrana, “I could kill you with the flip of a switch, and you turn your back on me?”

“So this is about power?” I let that sink for a moment, “Why don’t you stop wasting your time fantasizing about revenge on us, and maybe focus on what your father wanted. He wanted to use the Particle Charger to save the Republic. Well, here’s your chance to use it to save the whole damn world! You’re the only person on the planet that can stop Nevets! You can credit it all to your father if you want, but I’m telling you, Katrana, killing me will get your father absolutely nothing.” With that, I ran off to help Sifen.

PAC-3 leapt over a Buster Cannon blast and shot off some feeble turret shots at the dragon, who was now in obvious control of the battle.

“I grow weary of this. This battle ends now!” growled Nevets. Unleashing a volley of missiles, he knocked back Sifen’s Zoid 200-meters. The Geyser then turned its focus onto Kavid’s fallen Redler. Crashing upon the broken dragon, the mighty dragon used its massive claws to rip through the body of its prey, until the Redler’s Zoidcore was exposed. The core still weakly glowed with life—it hadn’t died quite yet. Memories of Gellenos shivered through my spine. I almost felt…hungry…again. But Nevets did what I didn’t get the chance to: the Geyser reached down and bit the core, tore it out of the Redler’s body and raised it high into the air. Then, almost magically, the Geyser of Fire absorbed the energy from the Zoid core, sucking the last bits of life from a dying life-form. It was just like in the legend of the Blade Liger Vampire. This was how the Geyser gained all of its massive power—it sucked it from the hearts of its enemies.

“Now, you pathetic ‘Castaways,’ I once again have enough strength to fire the Plasma Particle Cannon. Your fate is sealed.” I was shivering, but I knew it wasn’t because of Nevets’ laughter.

The red glow began to grow again in the dragon’s mouth. I wasn’t right next to Sifen, but I knew that I couldn’t escape. After all this time, all these struggles to survive, to be beaten by that squeaky bean-pole Nevets. I…I couldn’t find the strength anymore. Was I too scared, or was PAC-1 too frightened? Either way, the strength was gone.

The Geyser cocked its head back and opened its mouth.

The storm had weakened in the last couple of minutes, so when the bolt of lightning shot through the air, I was surprised. When it struck the Geyser of Fire, I was really surprised. When the dragon shattered into billions of particles, leaving Nevets in a sitting position up in the air, I was shocked.

But that bolt hadn’t come from the sky, nor was it lightning. It was a wave, fired from the forest. Katrana had fired her Wave-Smacker. She hadn’t betrayed us after all. I would thank her later. Right now, there was something else I had to do.

Major Nevets’ body fell thirty meters to the ground and hit hard. There wasn’t much chance he would survive, but I had to see him one more time.

More importantly, he had to see me.

I jumped out of PAC-1 and ran through the rain and across the muddy ground up to my arch-enemy. The mud must have softened his fall, because although his limbs were shattered, he still had some life left. His quivering, writhing-in-pain body lay soaked on the ground as I reached it. I rolled the major over and forced Major Nevets’ eyes open so that I would be that last thing he would ever see.

“N…Nooooo…” With that, Major Erem Nevets, slaughterer of thousands, died on the broken slopes of Mt. Hoploy.


Kavid’s eyes flickered open about six hours later.

“Where…where am I?” He asked.

I smiled from the foot of his bed.. “You’re in the Intensive Care Unit of a Whale King, buddy.

He looked up at me, and almost started laughing. Almost. “So, this time I’m the one in the bed and you’ve been waiting for me to get up?”

I nodded. “Yup. Really boring job. How do you stand it?

“I think up poetry.” That one caught me off-guard. Kavid sat up and looked at the floor. “So we got him? He’s gone?”

“Yeah, we got him.” I huffed. “Actually, Katrana got him. I lost.”

Kavid looked confused, then shook his head. “So I suppose we have to thank her.”

“If we ever find her. She disappeared right after the battle.”

“Figures. Seems like we’re always making friends with our enemies.” That truth hurt so much I couldn’t respond to it.

The room suddenly felt darker as Kavid turned and looked straight at me. “When we stood by the granary outside Klaylos, I agreed to help you because you promised I could go home when it was all over.” Kavid’s eyes teared up. “Can I go home now, Jeremy?”

Feeling the tears in my own eyes, I took his hand and shook it. “Let’s go home, buddy.”

With those words, the “Castaways of the Republic” ceased to exist, and Republic citizens Jeremy Kelt and Kavid Deen were reborn.

[pacwolf]

Epilogue

As I seamed a Godos’ shoulder weld together, a voice call up to me. I powered down the torch and lifted my goggles. It didn’t take long for me to smile.

“Colonel Sifen! Good to see you, old friend!” I called down from my perch on an elevated platform.

“Please, Jeremy, despite my gift of rank, I will never ask you to call me by that title.” He humbly replied.

“You’re just lucky the Republic was desperate for officers last year.” I winked. Once the platform was lowered, I continued our conversation. “So what brings you to me and Kavid’s repair shop?”

Before he could answer, another voice entered the shop. “Is that the big-time Republic Colonel Kellar Sifen in here?” Kavid walked out from his back office.

“Hello, Kavid.”

“You better not be asking us to fight for you.” Stated my stern-faced business partner. “I’ve got a girlfriend now.”

Sifen held up a hand to calm him down. “Relax. I was just passing through New Helic City and thought I’d come say hello. I’ve heard of a pretty nice bar around here. Care to show it to me?”

“Put up the ‘Closed’ sign Kavid, we’re headed to Bruno’s ‘Castaways Bar & Grill.’”

“Hot damn! It’s ‘Ladies Night!’”

“I thought you had a girlfriend.” inquired Sifen.

“I do! She works there!”


The team was back together again, at least for one night, and it felt great. Kavid and I had stayed close, and Bruno wasn’t far away, but Sifen was a veteran to the core, and chose to stay in the army.

The War of the Southern Frontier was pretty much cancelled by the actions of the Geyser of Fire. The massacre of Zoids scared off both the Republic and the Empire for decades to come. The Stone Dragon was never seen again, although the Blade Liger Vampire popped up from time-to-time, performing a random dark deed.

No one ever heard from Katrana Sared again, or even found her PAC-1. Sifen and I chose to keep our PAC-Wolves, but kept their Plasma Armor a secret. Kavid didn’t buy another Zoid, although, ironically, he became a Zoid repairman. Bruno faired the best in my opinion. His bar became the biggest night club on the lower south side of New Helic City.

Our lives dropped to a level of refreshing simplicity, but as I’ve said before, life always works in circles. I knew that the simplicity could not last forever, but I would enjoy it for as long as it would last. Let’s just say, keeping my life quiet isn’t easy.


THE END

[Deadborder]

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away a guy called Kavid posted a fic cannled the PAC Wolves. And it rawked hard.

And now, many moons later, it ocmes to and end. So how is it?

Well... pretty dmaned cool.

Normally i'm loathe to look at fics that laergely center on custom Zoids. The main reason is simple: The authrours will allmost allways attribute their ZOids too many powers or weapons or abilites or whatever, resulting in rather luduocusly one-sided battles or an insanly over-powerd chracter. This has not happened here.

Despite their uber-armour, the PAC Wolves are still writen as being, well, Command Wolves. They still have hteir own limitations and shortcomings. They're not unbetable and indestructable by any means. The same goes for other things, like the Some Dragon and Geyser. They're deicted with enough shortcomings and weaknesses to be belivable.

But that's not what impressed me the most aobut htis fic. Oh no.

The PAC-Wolf series are that thing I like the most, the OC Fic. Its a fic all aobut new chracters, albiet within an established setting. And I like it. I like it a lot. What makes this fic work so well is that the chracters are orginal, well developed, well thoiught out and, above all else, belivable.

And thats what I liked. The chracters, both the PAC wolves themseves and their adversaries are very well devleoped chracters who grow and mature acorss the ocurse of the ostry. They're quite interesting, which makes the fic both entertainign ands engrossing. And they beat the pants off most every other Zoids OC I've seen.

Much goodness. You've done great work here.

Rick R.

[Tilly]

deadborder said:

Despite their uber-armour, the PAC Wolves are still writen as being, well, Command Wolves.

And that's why they're cool. I want a shiny ruby CW now...what paint did you use, anyway?

And that ending line still rocks.

[pacwolf]

Thanks guys. You really made my day.

As for the paint, uh..it was something I picked up at Fred Meyer almost 2 years ago. I can't remember anymore.

Kavid