Ryan Apollos
Posts : 274
Join date : 2011-03-01
Age : 34
Location : Florida
Wrestler Stats
IWF Record:
Alignment: Face
![Ryan Apollos [vs.] Storming Raven Empty](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif) |  Subject: Re: Ryan Apollos [vs.] Storming Raven ![Ryan Apollos [vs.] Storming Raven I_icon_minitime](https://2img.net/s/t/15/19/06/i_icon_minitime.gif) Sun Nov 04, 2012 11:16 pm | |
| Dream State Zi
Part 11 "I'd never heard of 'em." Ryan proclaimed.
"Well hear or not, they were plenty popular back in the day." Eura responded. "People came from miles around just to catch a whiff."
Ryan shook his head. "Just how good could they possibly be?"
A light ding came from the oven. "Time to find out!" Eura said, opening the oven door.
"Curry cakes…" Ryan mused. " Just sound weird to me."
"We kept 'em on the specialty menu half a year." Eura replied happily as she put on a set of mittens. "And it just seemed appropriate for his birthday."
Ryan chuckled. "Can't argue with that." He leaned his arm on the dark kitchen counter," So, whatcha think about the Blitz Team?"
"Hm? Oh, I don't know much about them. I wasn't as much into Zoids back when they were around."
"Well they won the Royal Cup two years ago, but I stopped following them once they reached the S rank. I hear their main warrior pilots a Liger Zero. They say it's decked out with all kinds of armors."
"Armors?"
"Yeah, a lot of Zoids have them, though they're pretty expensive. They aren't just defensive – you can add whole new layers to their combat capabilities."
"Speaking of layers," Eura placed the orange-red cake on a pre-prepared plate – a strange mix of sweetness and spices filled the air. "Let's get some frosting!" she smiled.
Sao crossed his arms and rested his head in the cockpit nearby. Where the Judge's face had appeared a mere hour previous, there was only a blank window and a few textual messages from the Commission, notes confirming that Sao's remarks had been relayed to the Blitz team, notes that a call was soon expected, and no word on when 'soon' would be.
Pieces of the kitchen exchange floated out to him. "Frosting? On curry cakes?"
"It's the most important part!"
Sao cranked his head just over his right shoulder towards the kitchen door. "Curry cakes…" he scratched his chin.
Beeping from the console. Sao whipped back towards it. A yellow call icon flashed on the screen with the text [CALL ID: ZCDX-03 "HOVER CARGO"]. Sao answered the call.
"Leena, it's not my faaaaaault!" a male voice yelled.
Before the screen sat a boy of about 16 or so, clad in what looked to be a new white vest with elaborate clips. He looked discomforted by the voice but also intent on ignoring it.
"You're mine Bit!" A scratchy female voice replied angrily. The boy winced. Behind him, a blond man in red jacket ran across a room from a woman perhaps only slightly younger, sporting rustled maroon hair and a pink outfit.
"Leena stop! Just let me exp-" A crashing sound from off-screen.
The boy spoke, hesitantly. "Uh, hello! Nova Team?"
"That's us!" Ryan replied, walking in behind Sao as he balanced three slices of steaming-fresh cake topped with white frosting. He set one down before Sao, handed the other to Eura behind him, and began eating the third himself. "The Blitz team, I presume?"
"Yes, well, something like that." The boy scratched his uncombed black hair. "I'm Jamie Hemeros, I'm kind of a… representative."
"Representative?" Sao asked, "Don't you have a team captain? I believe he went by the name of Steve To-"
"Jamie!" A new, older voice ran out from off-screen. "Are you calling them?"
"No Doc! Just talking to some old friends!"
Ryan and Eura eyed each other suspiciously. They looked to Sao. "I can't believe this." He turned round to them – frosting lined his face. "This is some seriously good cake."
"Cake?" The first male voice piped up. "Who has cake?"
"Not you!" The female voice responded, prompting cries of anguish from off-screen.
Jamie sighed. "Uh… sorry bout that. Things are a little… hectic around here."
"Mmot aa allm." Sao swallowed. "We understand you're interested in a battle?"
"Jamie!"
"Nothing Doc!" Jamie turned back to the screen. "Yes, we'd heard a lot about your team, and we were interested in testing our skills against yours."
Sao nodded. "An admirable motive. But the Nova Team does not accept challenges in mode 0982."
"Ahhh! Nova Team!" The older voice, a man of a worn, tan overcoat burst in from the side of the screen, pushing Jamie aside, "So sorry I wasn't able to greet you in person. I'm Steve Toros, though, most people just call me the 'Doc." The Doc beamed with pride at the last few words.
"Sao Ensiné. A pleasure. And these are my associates, Ryan Apollos and Eura Curae. I understand you're interested in a battle, Dr. Toros."
"Yes well," the Doc leaned in towards the screen, "Tell me, is it true you have a Trinity Liger in your arsenal?"
"Doc!" Jamie called out accusingly, as the Doc's right arm kept the youth safely off-screen. "One just like this one? Hm?" He held up a Zoid Model – the standard red Trinity Liger.
"Welp," Sao said, gulping down another piece of cake, "Mine's blue." He smirked. " I suppose you want it?"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
Jamie, the girl, and the blond man chorused, each coming into view beside the Doc.
"Oh come on! Just look at it! That salesman wasn't kidding when he said the kit was a bargain, just think of the real thing! Isn't it a beauty? Rawwrr! Trinityyy Ligerrrr!" The Doc responded cheerfully as he waved the model in the air.
"Doc, you paid for the model too? We'd almost got the books balanced!
"Dad! We had finally managed to get some money set aside for my Gun Sniper, and it's gonna stay there!"
"Uh Doc, when was the last time you paid me?"
"I paid you with that last new armor for the Liger Zero! Don't you remember?"
"The one with gold spikes and no practical use?"
"No use! It's beautiful! Almost as precious as that Trinity Liger…."
"This is all very flattering," Sao murmured, finishing off his plate. "But I'm a warrior, not a salesman. And as I've told you before, I don't battle in mode 0982."
"Well personally," the blond man pushed his way forward, "I just couldn't get the image of your liger out of my mind! I think my pal'll wanna test you guys out too!"
"You must be the notorious Bit Cloud."
"The one and only!" Bit said, smiling.
"Stop saying it like you're proud!" The girl said, dragging Bit's head down by the ear, "If I could trade you for any other warrior on the planet, you know I would."
"You should tell that to Harry, I think he was calling about- ahhh!"
"Uh, the point is," Jamie reclaimed his spot in front of the screen, "We really just want to have a battle."
"Does it need to be in that mode?"
"Well, to be frank," Toros closed his eyes, making for an uncharacteristically stern look, " Our team's had most of its experience in 0982, more so than most, since almost every S-ranked match is done in that mode. Besides, as a higher ranked team challenging down, convention is that we have the right to choose the mode! And battling a team of our rank would gain your Nova Team, significant publicity."
"What just happened to him?" Ryan whispered to Sao.
Sao shrugged, and gestured for more cake. "Publicity… Is not a major concern of mine." Eura chuckled. "I am merely in search of unique and interesting battle modes."
Toros sighed, "Well, if you're set on choosing the mode yourself," he switched into a low grumble, "And if you're not willing to part with your wondrous Trinity Li-" Four spontaneous knocks to his head followed.
"Give it a rest Doc." A fourth figure, of a sandy brown mullet shook his head as he recoiled his hand.
"Alright Brad! Lay off. Ahem. If you're just going to do that, our Team gains nothing from the exchange."
"What about the experience?" Ryan piped in.
"Well I'm alright with it." Bit replied.
"Seems like a lotta trouble to me. Memorizing new rules just for a one-time event." Brad said, walking away.
"Precisely." Toros continued, cradling his head. "We've gone out of our way to contact you, and unlike most of the other teams you've been facing, we don't have the time or money to spare to train for new modes."
"Dad, do you have to be so rude?"
"You're one to talk Leena!" Bit remarked, ducking the punch that followed.
"He's right thought." Sao stated, drawing the attention of the whole group. "Learning a new mode is a lot of trouble. I wouldn't want to appear as if I was using said mode as a crutch or handicap. But I think I do have a proposal that can bridge our differences, or at least make the battle worthwhile."
"Liger?" The Doc held up his model, which was swiftly struck to pieces by an adjacent Leena. "Ah! Leena, look what you've done! It's in twenty pieces now!"
"Twenty. Good idea." Sao nodded.
"Hm?"
"Let's increase the prize money twenty times."
"Twenty?" Both groups gasped.
"What is this? The backdraft?" Bit said sarcastically.
"Not at all. My rules are fair." He straightened himself up. "Look, you think fighting in my battle mode is a waste of time and money. That's how I feel about yours. Let's mitigate the waste of time, by putting in more money. Loser pays. True, you'll be rather out of sorts if I win, but if I lose, you'll not only find yourselves a fair deal richer, but you'll have the distinction of beating me in a mode you'd never experienced before, and have the experience of it under your belts."
"I dunno..." Jamie scratched his chin, "Losing'll set us back 20 times the normal amount! Doc, what do you,"
"20 times the normal amount!" The Doc's eyes sparkled, "We could buy a new armor for the Liger Zero with that!" The rustling of plastic evidenced that someone had thrown the remnants of the Trinity Liger model onto the floor. "Ahh! My Trinityy! Your pieces are everywhere! Don't worry, Daddy Toros has got yooou!" He crouched off screen, revealing that Brad, Bit, and Leena, who held the cockpit of the Trinity model in her off-hand, had huddled in the background. Their discussion was barely audible.
"We gotta keep the money out of Dad's hands right?" Leena stated. Nods from Bit and Brad. "And we could use the extra, couldn't we?" More nods. "Alright, as soon as we win, we take the money out, and split it four ways, me, you two, and Jamie."
"Hey, you what are you guys talking about?" Jamie called from the foreground.
"…3 ways, me and you two." Nods. They turned to the screen.
"Well, Sao?" Bit asked, "What mode ya thinkin'?"
Sao put down his newest piece of cake, and the rooms turned to him.
"0901 – Kings."
Eura walked up beside Ryan.
"Kings?" she whispered.
"It's a… a three on three I think. I don't remember the specifics, it's an old one." Ryan replied, softly.
"So as to make it easier on everyone, I'll explain the basics here and now." Sao proclaimed. The Blitz Team crowded the screen. "Kings is a 3 on 3 battle."
"Seems pretty simple!" Bit replied.
"Shhh!" The rest of his team chorused.
"Each team chooses two 'servants' and a 'king'. One servant will only have access to melee weapons, the other – only ranged. Furthermore, one team's two servant units can never come closer than 5 kilometers of each other."
"How's that work? What happens if they get closer?" Jamie asked.
"If they come within that distance, your weapon systems will lock. They'll reactivate once you get at least 10 kilometers away from each other."
"Interesting, a set-up for one-on-one battles." Toros mused.
"Partially. The King unit can be close to any other units, and use all of its weapons. However, there's a catch. Each King starts in a 3 kilometer safe-zone near its side of the battlefield. It can fight all it wants within that zone, but when it exits, it only has 3 minutes before its weapons lock."
"What? Then the king can only fight for three minutes?" Leena questioned.
"To reactivate its weapons, the king must return to its safe-zone, and wait another 3 minutes."
"That sucks! No frontal assaulting there…" She moaned.
"That all?" Brad asked.
"Just note that this isn't a total elimination match. The first team to down the other's king, wins."
"I like the sound of it!" Bit grinned.
"That makes 2 of us." Sao replied.
"Three!" Ryan chimed in.
"Four!" Eura leaned in beside Sao.
"Yeah, this is sounding pretty interesting." Brad grinned.
"Why'd we even wanna say no?" Leena asked. The Blitz Team glared at their leader. Toros chuckled.
"Well, what time's good for you?"
Two days later, the Dragoon's Nest arrived at a valley whose floor laid host to great hills of sand. At the other end, the Blitz Team's blue Hover Cargo approached, as if the two carriers themselves were to do battle. Each could see but the tip of the other, as the dunes obscured the far side of the valley, but this did not diminish the power that each team's transport pulled to the battlefield.
"Hey, Josef." Ryan asked the robot, who turned his head from his duties driving the Dragoon's Nest. "Is it just me, or has this ground been tread recently?" Ryan pointed to the sands below, which under close examination showed an array of imprints - clawmarks, treadmarks, the jet streams of hover systems, and many more dotted the landscape. As the Dragoon's Nest overcame the nearest hill, a dull roar started to pervade the air. Ryan looked up confused. Slowly his confusion faded into disbelief as the Dragoon's Nest cleared the hill.
A cacophony, a convention, a veritable rainbow of Zoids had made camp precisely in the center of the battlefield between the two teams. Barigators, Battle Rovers, Dibisons, Dark Horns, and even a platoon of Glidolers, joined the assembly of increasingly familiar press.
"Just you." Josef responded at length.
"Ryan! Eura! Better get down here. Crowd control." Sao's voice yelled out.
"You in the Zoid bay already Sao?" Ryan mused into the intercom.
"In the Zoid fray actually." From the corner of his eyes, Ryan sighted the Trinity Liger just below the cockpit and prancing out toward the crowd.
"Right behind you Sao!" Eura's voice.
"Wha?" Ryan eyed the monitors – Eura's Evoflyer was opening the cargo bay. "Dammit! Why are they all leaving me behind!" He yelled, snagging his jacket off a nearby chair and running down the hall.
"Some watch tracks. Some make them." Josef mused.
"Shut up!" Ryan replied.
"Sao, is it true that the S-ranked Blitz team took interest in your team solely because of a model of your Trinity Liger? Did your interest in the Trinity Liger begin in the same way?"
Sao's face – eyes closed, eyebrows pulsing – betrayed an annoyance that had long been building up without release.
"Mr. Ensiné! Did you choose to sit out the Nova team's most recent match in recognition of the romantic relationship between your team members?"
He'd been completely surrounded at this point, and slowed the Trinity to a stop. The Evoflyer had inched in beside him.
"Ms. Curae, do your relations with Mr. Apollos represent your first long term relationship? Are you officially engaged? Are you breaking up?"
The Houndsoldier brushed aside an off-kilter Bigasauru and took a place behind its teammates. "What'd I miss?" Ryan asked.
"Mr. Apollos!" The voice questioning Eura continued, "Good of you to join us! Are you engaged with Ms. Curae?"
"Um, no?"
"Oh, no is it?" Eura spat back jokingly.
"Hey! I- We- We need to talk about this!" Ryan said, the humor in her remarks escaping him. She laughed.
Sao kept his eyes closed, one final effort to ignore the sense that had increasingly been pervading him, the surges of anger bordering on pure indignation, seeking to escape him. One familiar voice pushed him over the edge.
"SAO ENSINÉ HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ENGAGED?"
"YOU!" Sao boomed back.
From inside a pink Diloforce, the reporter asked back, "…Me?"
"Why is your Diloforce pink?"
"Excuse me?"
Sao pushed the Trinity Liger forward. "You have all been asking me questions for the past few months. You've crowded my every step, followed my every move and you in particular, seem to have appeared everywhere I go. I'll admit, it was, at first, an interesting experience, but now and all the time, it's just more questions. And not just questions – questions I'm fine with. Questions, I like! Your questions are STUPID!"
The reporters fell silent, and a few inched away from the Trinity Liger. "Relationships, music, food, who cares? I'm not interested in those things! I don't care to answer questions about them once, much less repeatedly! So now I'm gonna ask a question – what is with that pink Diloforce? Seriously, it has a charged particle cannon – pink would not be my first choice for it. Enlighten us as to the series of events that ended with that Zoid in that feminine pastel hue."
Eura stifled a laugh. Ryan smiled. The group assembled turned to the Pink Diloforce, the owner of which seemed at a loss for words. Then she grinned.
"Well, since you asked, there is something of a story behind that. I used to pilot a purple Gorhecks that my boyfriend picked out for me. We battled together, and had our own Team with some robots of his, and he was smoking hot…" She swooned and sighed. The reporters looked at each other, and few typed some notes, timidly, "But then the bastard found another girl and left me with barely a word! 'My love for you wasn't serious' he jokes! And he ran away to start another team with her! I felt more rage than I'd ever felt before and all I wanted was to smash him up! So, together with some friends," she grinned, "I went out and found a Diloforce, patched up its cannons, and painted it pink, and when I found him, I incinerated his Zoid until there was nothing left but molten metal and a cockpit! And then I said, 'All love is serious.' It was great." The sand fields had never known such silence as they did now. "Aaaand, after that, I hadta pay for the Diloforce, so I got a job with Heart Warrior Magazine, and here I am!"
"Wow girl! I like your spirit! If that asshole ever bugs you again, my Leena Special's got your back all the way!" Leena's voice carried from the Hover Cargo, which had now stopped a few kilometers away.
"Yes, just beautiful, can we get this started?" Bit asked, seemingly from beside her.
"Shut up Bit! You don't know the first thing about a lady's travails in love."
"Neither do you. Ahhhhgh! Stop! I have a battle soon! A battle!"
A few of the reporters broke away to swarm the hover cargo, and a few others went closer to the pink Diloforce.
"Well, Mr. Ensiné? What questions should we be asking?" A lone voice asked from the crowd.
" I would be satisfied to see you ask about the mode we're fighting in today. Not one of you've ever asked about those before a battle, and I think your readers could take a real interest in them."
"But you're about to start fighting, Mr. Ensiné! We wouldn't want you to get cut off in the middle of your explanation."
"Ask someone else then!" Ryan cut in, "Sao doesn't need to be the one to explain it to you. The rules and history are unambiguous facts."
"Well said." Sao backed him up.
"Who should we ask then?"
A roaring shriek turned into a hard impact as the Judge Capsule struck the ground. "The area within a 40 kilometer radius is a designated Zoid battlefield." The Judge proclaimed as his capsule rose above the ground and opened up. "All non-authorized personnel must…" He caught sight of the assembly. "Oh boy."
The Zoids ran towards the Judge. "Hey! Stay back! Damaging a Judge Capsule is a violation of the Zoids Battle Commission general regulations! You must vacate the premises!"
"Judge! Judge! Can you tell us about the battle mode?"
"No you can't sta- Pardon?"
"We'd like to know about today's battle mode! Can you tell us anything special about it?" The man who Sao had talked to asked.
Another woman piped in, "Do you like judging this battle mode more than the standard mode?"
"What does the Commission think of this mode?"
The Judge seemed quite flustered, but not angered per se. "Well, I, er, My databanks do indicate that mode 0901 has not been called for in the preceding 6 years. It is my understanding that the Zoids Battle Commission will soon retire the mode due to disuse."
"WHAT?" Sao yelled, turning the Trinity Liger forth on the Judge Capsule. "They're eliminating the mode? For disuse?"
The Judge responded matter-of-factly, "The retiring of battle modes is a regular function of the Zoid Battle Commission. The elimination of extraneous battle modes allows to Zoid Battle Commission to conserve computational and physical resources."
"I wasn't aware the Commission was particularly limited in resources digital or physical! Do the benefits of one free computer really outweigh the benefits of the variety, the challenge, the thrill of an entire different battle mode?" Sao roared.
"T-this issue is not subject to discussion! Unauthorized personnel must vacate the premises!"
"I am authorized! I'm fighting today!"
"Oh… Well return to your designated position, Warrior. All other…"
"Before I do, I'd like to make a statement. To the Commission, these reporters, anyone who might be watching!" The Zoids still cluttering the field turned to the source of these impassioned words. "Today I will fight in a battle mode like no other. 5 others will fight with me and everyone here will experience something that no other mode can even parallel. It has always been a dream of mine to share these modes with the world, and if the Commission is truly on a course to eliminate them from its repertoire, then the time is right for me to stand. I will make my own Zoid battle league, in a stadium I will wholly own, to abide by rules not sanctioned by the Commission if necessary!"
"Sao…" Eura muttered.
"Well, we're in for it now." Ryan sighed.
The Judge stood silent, processing the speech just delivered to him. "Your statement has been recorded, and will be presented to the Zoids Battle Commission Department of Grievances at a later time. Please move to your designated battle location."
"Thank you."
The Judge turned to the rest of the Zoids, and gave the standard warning. "The area within a 40 kilometer radius is a designated Zoid battlefield. All non-authorized personnel must vacate the premises immediately. Danger."
Ten minutes later and the field was clear (its outer rim was a different story, now housing a line of spectators who had come as close as the Judge would allow.
On one side of the field, Ryan in his Houndsoldier, and Eura in her Evoflyer, 10 kilometers apart, Behind them, Sao in the Trinity Liger, glowing gold in the sunlight. Before them, Jamie in his green Raynos and Brad in the black Shadow Fox made up the frontlines. And behind them, Bit Cloud, and his Liger Zero, its white armor glinting back to match its opponent King.
"Area scanned. Battlefield set-up. The Blitz Team versus the Nova Team. Battle mode 0-9-0-1. Readyyy? FIGHT!"
"Alright you two," Sao began, "Our largest roadblock is the Raynos. They'd be fools not to give it the ranged-weapons privilege, and that would let him come right over here and start pummeling me. Eura, you're the main line of defense. He's faster, but you're more agile."
"I've handled that before." Eura giggled.
"Good. In any case, I guarantee they won't see what we've planned coming, so long as you find the right moment to attack. Get up there!"
"Roger!" The Evoflyer flipped into flight mode and took off.
"Make sure to keep to the east side of the field! Ryan, keep to the west, keep on your feet. If something happens to Eura, you may have to rush by and take over the offensive against the Raynos, but the Shadow Fox can't be ignored."
"Leave it to me Sao. I can cross this field in the blink of an eye."
Sao nodded. He looked to the Liger Zero in the distance. "You may not be the only one." He muttered.
"Doc, why aren't we going out in the Schneider or the Jager or something?"
"Don't be impatient Bit." The Doc responded, "Sao Ensiné revels in his battle modes. If we run in and hope for the best, he's more than likely to make us pay for it."
"What does that mean Doc? We want some action here!" The Liger Zero roared.
"What he means, BIT, is that if you run in there, stay three minutes, and your Liger's weapon systems lock, Sao's gonna slaughter you!" Leena yelled.
"Blunt, but well put, Leena. We need to scope out the Nova Team and see how they fight before we make a move. Stay back Bit."
"We're goin in Doc!"
"What? Bit! Stop!"
The Liger Zero leapt forward into battle. "Brad! I'm comin' to back you up! Leave some for me and my partner to finish!"
"Blitz King in play. 3 minutes till systems lock." The Judge announced.
"I thought the Doc told ya to stay back!" Brad yelled. "Dammit, and he's comin' in fast." Brad eyed the oncoming Houndsoldier. "Guess I'll push him back with the laser Vulcan." He clicked the trigger – a message appeared on his computer screen: "PROJECTILE ARMS LOCKED". "Oh yeah. Jamie's got the projectile weapons. Crap!"
"Brad! Don't worry!" The Doc commanded, "Odds are the Nova Team's given their projectile weapon privilege to their Evoflyer, just like we gave ours to Jamie. Don't worry about enemy fire, just keep him from getting at the Liger Zero!"
"That's right… He doesn't have any guns either! Heheh. Alright then, let's see you get past this!" Brad braced the Shadow Fox into the ground.
"Jamie! Er-" The Doc caught himself, "How're things with the Evoflyer, Wild Eagle?"
"Goin' good Doc!" Jamie answered in a gruff voice, "I'm on her tail now!" Adapted to his flying persona, Jamie maneuvered the Raynos after the Evoflyer, fired off its 3-barrel beam cannon. Eura dodged, but just barely, and made no headway in shaking her pursuer. "Those assault rifles o' hers won't be firin' anytime soon!"
"Eura? You holding up?" Sao asked.
"He's got more control than that Storm Sworder did. Should I try and do it now?"
"No, hold off a little longer, if you can." He turned the Trinity Liger to face Ryan and the Houndsoldier as it started circling the Shadow Fox. "Ryan?"
"I did just as ya said Sao. Haven't started yet."
"How's the Liger?"
"It's-" Blasts from the Liger Zero's shock cannon shock the ground as it interupted the conversation.
"How ya like that?" Bit yelled over an open channel.
"He's… getting close." Ryan replied to Sao.
"Alright. On your mark then- do it!"
"Gotcha."
"What's wrong Houndy? Starting to miss those big guns o' yours aren't ya?" Bit yelled. The Houndsoldier fired back a round from its Hound Buster Cannon.
"No, my guns are still right here, and I do like using 'em!" Ryan yelled back.
"What?" Brad gasped.
"Hey! That's against the rules! So these are the true colors of the great Nova Team?" Leena yelled.
"No, Leena, I think they're completely within the rules." The Doc responded.
"Huh?"
"Think – did that Evoflyer actually fire a shot thus far?"
"Well, no! Jamie's been tailing it!"
"And did the Houndsoldier ever get in close enough to attack Brad at close range?"
"No, he'd been circling around… No way!" Leena screeched.
"Eura!" Sao called, "Now!"
Eura pulled back on the Evoflyer controls, stalling the Zoid, flipping it round in the air and facing right toward the Raynos. "Strike Claw!" Eura yelled, as the Evoflyer's claws glowed.
"Whoa!" Jamie jerked the Raynos to the side, barely avoiding the attack.
"Jamie! The Nova Team gave the projectile weapon privilege to the Houndsoldier and the melee privilege to the Evoflyer!" The Doc called in.
"I noticed!"
"Can you handle it?"
"No problems! If I keep at enough of a distance, I should be able to take her out at range."
"Alright. Bit? How're you?"
"No worries Doc! He may have some guns, but he's still outnumbered, two to one!" Bit yelled. The Liger Zero aligned with the Shadow Fox and shot towards the Houndsolider. Its steady barrage landed the occasional hit. "See Doc? You were all upset over nothin'!"
A beeping rang out from the Judge Capsule and the Judge made a proclamation: "Three minutes elapsed. Blitz King systems locked."
"What?"
"Heheh!" Ryan called. "Oh, is the wittle wiger missing his wittle gun? I'm not!" He fired back, closing in on the Liger Zero.
"Bit! Get back to the safe zone! Brad! Cover him!" The Doc called out.
"It's alright Doc, I got it!" Bit replied, narrowly dodging a hit as he ran out of the battle zone.
"Don't worry Bit!" Jamie called out. "I'll cover you!" He flew the Raynos in closer, and slammed the trigger for his Barrel Beam Cannon. An error message appeared: ALLY PROXIMITY BREACHED – SYSTEMS LOCK "What?"
"Dammit Jamie! You've gotten too close to Brad!" The Doc called out.
"Sorry Doc! I'll turn her around!" Just as he'd said, Jamie wheeled around the Raynos in a hard bank, when- Slam! He'd moved straight into the oncoming Evoflyer, and its strike claws. "Aaah!" Jamie yelled.
"Sao! I got him!" Eura swooned!
"Great job! Ryan! Keep the Shadow Fox at bay and stay away from Eura! I'm going in!"
"Gotcha!" Ryan nodded.
The Trinity Liger dashed forth.
"Nova King in play. Three minutes till systems lock."
"Wild Eagle! They're moving in! Get out of there!" The Doc yelled.
"No can do Doc!" Wild-Eagle Jamie replied, "The wings are slashed, I'm going down!"
"Hang in there Jamie! I'll get outta the area." Brad called out. "Argh!" A blast hit the Shadow Fox.
Ryan smiled at the result of his shot. "I used to be a sniper, you know."
"Yeah, well snipe this!" Brad replied as black smoke erupted from the Shadow Fox. Ryan leapt back. At the corner of his eye, he caught the Shadow Fox making a break for it, backwards, but it was inevitable - the Raynos would regain its weapons. Hopefully it would happen too late to matter.
After a hard run, the Liger Zero arrived back in the safe-zone. The Judge confirmed this: "Blitz King has exited play. Three minutes until play can resume."
"You alright Bit?" The Doc asked.
"I'm good Doc…" Bit answered, panting. "Say… you think you could move the Hover Cargo into the safe zone?"
"Move it in? Sure thing, but why?"
"Then I won't have to waste time when my partner an I get suited up."
"Ah. Brilliant idea, Bit!"
"I think this battle's overdue for a change after all. And I know just the one…"
The Raynos slammed into the sands. Jamie quickly pushed the Zoid's head up and out of the sands, revealing straight ahead – the approaching Trinity Liger. He started up the Raynos jets, but not before the Liger's Twin Beam Cannons were hitting him hard and fast. Smoking and sparking, he pressed on upwards, lifting off the ground. The text "SYSTEMS ONLINE" flashed on his screen.
30 meters airborne, he flipped around for a close range shot at the liger, when the Evoflyer struck down from above with its Bite Fang, pressing its opponent Zoid back down and straight into the Liger's "Photon Cutter!" Sao ripped through the Raynos wings, leaving a smoldering wreck behind him.
"Blitz Team, unit 3, out of the battle." The Judge announced.
Eura turned to Sao. "Nice work!"
"It was all you. My time will be up before I can get to Ryan – I'm heading back."
"Should I go after the Liger?"
"May as well. Be careful!" Sao said, dashing back towards the safe-zone.
Eura pressed forward toward the enemy safe-zone. Far down to the left, she could see, the Houndsoldier scuffling with the Shadow Fox. It seemed to be a straight out draw. She looked down toward the safe-zone itself.
"Nova King has exited play. Three minutes until play can resume." The Judge affirmed Sao's reentry into his safe-zone far behind Eura. She decided to report to Sao.
"Sao, it looks like they moved their Hover Cargo into their safe-zone. Think they're gonna use it as cover?"
"Possible, but only if they're desperate. If the transport Zoid enters into the battlefield proper, it's officially subject to battle-fire. They probably have something else in mind. Where's the Liger?"
Eura squinted. "I… I don't see it."
"Don't see it?"
"Three minutes elapsed. Blitz Team King is eligible for play."
"Well, that confirms he can't have exited the safe-zone…" Sao mused.
"Wait! The Hover Cargo, it's opening!"
"Hm?"
Out the side of the hover cargo, the dark green armor of the Liger Zero Panzer emerged.
"It's the liger! I think… It's all green now. What'd they do to it?"
"I don't like it Eura, get back!" Sao called.
The Panzer let opened its rear pod silo and let loose a respectable, soaring barrage of missiles, straight at the Evoflyer.
"Whoa!" Eura wheeled the Evoflyer around, a white trail of missiles trailing her.
"I can't reach her from back here Doc! Move us closer!"
"Sorry Bit, the Hover Cargo's already vulnerable to enemy fire under the Commission rules, I can't bring us straight into the battlefield! Do you remember what happened the last time the backdraft attacked the hover cargo? Do you remember those repair fees-"
"Alrigh, alright! C'mon Partner, let's do some damage!" The Liger gave a long, low roar of assent, and made a few bulky, slow steps off the Hover Cargo and forward.
"Eura? What's happening?" Sao called.
"It's a missile unit! It almost got me with just a fraction of its load. I can't imagine what its full blast is like!"
"Get back here! Get back and down!"
"Don't worry, I'm out of his range. And he looks slower than a Cannontortoise now!"
"Blitz King in play!" The Judge announced as the Panzer slogged over the invisible line marking the safe-zone.
"Alright partner, this should be close enough! Let's fry that bird!" His screen lit up with target reticules and flashed the text "BURNING BIG BANG!" Like a thunderous torrent fired straight into the sky, a white stream of missiles blasted into the sky towards the Evoflyer.
"Eura!" Ryan called.
"Get out! Get down!" Sao commanded.
"Aaaah!" The blasts filled the sky, their white light searing into the eyes of the spectators. With a muffled thud, the charred Evoflyer fell to the ground. The blast-light had made it impossible to see how far it had fallen.
"Eura?" Sao said under his breath.
"…I got down…" Eura replied. Sao breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nova Team, unit 3, out of the battle!" The Judge proclaimed.
"Ryan, we underestimated them."
"Yeah, I'm starting to think that myself." Ryan grumbled, firing off a few more shots at the Shadow Fox, which dodged his firing gracefully as it had been doing the past few minutes.
"You needta start a run-and-gun. I don't care if you only land one hit per pass, we can't keep up this attrition game!"
"Right… C'mon baby, let's make em run for this win!" Ryan pushed the Houndsoldier away.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Brad called, pushing the Shadow Fox after its pursuer. "Bit? Think you could put out another blast on the Hound?"
"Uh… Little difficult Brad. Youch!" Bit pulled his hand away from the steaming dashboard. The display was cluttered with OVERHEAT warnings. "Just like ya said Doc, it's been heating up faster these days."
"Not a problem Bit. We're on even footing again. Get back over here!"
"Got it." With a mechanic CA-CHUNK, the Liger ejected its army-green armor, and shook its steaming body off. "Wooo! Think we need somethin' a little lighter eh Partner?" Affirmative growls. The Zoid moved back into its safe-zone.
"Why don't ya stand your ground and fight?" Brad called to his opponent.
"I'm right here man! Come and catch me!" Ryan pressed the Houndsoldier forward.
"Dammit. Doc, I just can't keep up with him!"
"Just hold on Brad, we're switching to the Jager now!" Doc responded.
"Tell him to hurry! Argh!"
"Nova King in play!"
The Trinity Liger moved in on the Shadow Fox, showering it with Beam Cannon fire. The Shadow Fox started moving in, but soon found itself cut off but the incoming Houndsoldier and its Hound Buster Cannon. Again, it dodged all but one of the hits.
"Sao," Ryan quipped, "This good enough?"
"They're probably gonna move in another armor soon. If it's anything as heavy as the last one though, we should have a minute after he's out before we're in range. Just keep up the pressure!"
"Three minutes elapsed! Blitz King eligible for play!"
"Goooo Jager!" Bit yelled, as the blue ion boosters of the Liger Zero Jager soared out from the Hover Cargo's catapult deck.
"A magnetic catapult?" Sao realized.
The Jager landed and quickly burst into a run towards the action, approaching fast.
"Shit. Ryan, we needta split! We can't risk whatever this new armor's packing! His speed's completely changed!"
"Right!" The two Zoids made a run for it.
"Yeah, you'd better run!" Bit yelled, going after them.
"Bit, take the Houndsoldier! I'll catch the Liger."
"Right!" The Jager moved for the Houndsoldier. "Pretty fast Zoid you got there!"
"I used to pilot a Cannon Spider, if you can believe that!" Ryan called back. The two Zoids races forward, neck and neck. "Dammit, Sao, I can't shake him! He's right at my speed!"
"Going from a powerhouse than can barely move to a jet-powered racing unit. Some opponents we got picked by. Look, just-"
"3 Minutes elapsed. Nova King, systems locked."
"Shit. We're going on the defensive! Get over here to the safe-zone! We'll finish the battle there."
" I'll see what I can- argh!" The Jager slammed into the Houndsoldier, sending both Zoids cascading through the sand. Slowly, each got to their feat.
"…Ya ready for more?" Bit taunted, as he caught his breath.
"Sure… But I hear you only got a few minutes left."
"Well I got all the time you need!" Brad shot in from the side, ripping into the Houndsoldier with his Electron Bite Fangs. Ryan growled, firing the Houndsoldier's 4 chase missile pods straight into the Shadow Fox, blasting it away, and pushing the Houndsoldier back with recoil.
"Strike Laser Claw!" The Jager tore into the stunned Houndsoldier,
"Nova Team, unit 2, out of the battle!" The Judge proclaimed. "Three minutes elapsed. Blitz King systems lock."
"Brad, start whittling him down! I'll switch into the Schneider!"
"Ugh! I'll see what I can do…" Brad replied, moving the smoking but functional Shadow Fox forward as the Jager jetted back behind him.
"3 Minutes elapsed! Nova King eligible for play."
The Shadow Fox stopped just outside the Nova safe-zone.
"Aren't you gonna come out and play?" Brad quipped smugly.
"Fine where I am thanks. How bout you?" Sao fired off his twin beam cannons. Knowing his only chance to do damage was in close combat, Brad moved in, taking more blows than he would've liked. He swiped with his own strike laser claws, largely missing the Liger.
"What's wrong foxy? Can't be this conservative this late in the game. Not when you don't have your guns to back you up."
Brad chuckled. "You know, that is some damn good advice!" He surged the Shadow Fox forward, baring his electron bite fangs, and ripping into the Liger's front leg. The Liger struck back with its hardened alloy claws, dealing a hard blow right to the opposite leg of the Shadow Fox – sending it flying clean off.
"Blitz Team, unit 2, out of the battle."
Sao breathed deeply, tested out the bad leg. He could move, but not well. Would Bit go out with the previous armor? He looked forward. In the distance, he saw the tell-tale flying shine of the Liger Zero soaring off the catapult. It landed and started towards him, slower than the previous, but plenty fast. It shone orange in the light, with large turquoise laser blades.
It was clear he wouldn't be dodging the next attack. And yet, perhaps, just as Brad had, he could deal a counter-blow. If his armor was strong enough and his photon cutter quick enough… He started forward, pushing over the fallen Shadow Fox. The Liger moved straight ahead and closer. He wasn't going to back off, wasn't going to drag things out. Sao moved forward. Pressed forward. Pushed until the two Ligers were racing towards their counterparts.
The Schneider's five mane blades aligned outwards. The Trinity Liger's photon cutter charged with golden light. The two Warriors ran forth, not a care but that which lay ahead of them.
"Photon Cutter!"
"Buster Slash!"
A great cloud of dust and sparks arose, blanketed the spectacle. The onlookers squinted to see the outcome, but the sandy cloud settled slowly. A shadow could be seen, but which it was impossible to tell.
Only one thing was certain: two Ligers had entered, and only one now stood victorious. | |
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