[PG 13] Zoids: Cataclysm (Part II)

[Ushima]

Michael moved closer to the Energy Liger. "Its got some nice mods on it. Makes it actually usable now." As he moved around it something on the underside caught his eye. It was the zoid's serial number. "Son of a bitch."

~

Michael was in another meeting with the other Generals. Ceaser had just finished talking battle strategy and was about to dismiss the meeting, but he had one more piece of information. "Two days ago our prototype Energy Liger Mk II went beserk and escaped from the containment facility." Michael was handed a piece of paper with details on it.

~

Delta approached Michael, piece of paper in his mouth. Michael took it from the organoid, reading it over. he looked up at the Liger then down at the paper again. "God damn it." Tossing the paper away he went back over to Nell, taking a seat on a large rock and laying back across it. "My superiors are gonna kill me for this."

[TheDoctor]

As the hydrogen-peroxide fell on the gash to disinfect it, Cadmus waited for it to sink in. First there was the long pause as he waited for the imminent pain. And then it hit him, a horrible stinging sensation that he was all too familiar to him, as was evident with the scars across his back and chest. Biting his lip, he squeezed his eyes shut, letting out an inward muffled groan of pain. Then the stinging subsided, and he relaxed.

His sleeveless shirt was essentially cut in half, so he grabbed the frail ends, tearing them and discarding the rags to reveal his bare chest to help Agera with her work. Looking down, he got a look at the wound. The gash was less than an inch wide, but it did run from the tip of his left shoulder to his right hip, dividing the skin right through the center of his chest. He saw that it had cut through several layers of skin, maybe into some of the muscle. Stomach churning slightly, he looked back up at Agera.

"Well you were successful I'll give you that Cadmus, but that was still rather rash and foolish,"

"But I was successful. That's what's important." He grinned at her. "It doesn't matter what I did or whether it was foolish or not. I made it out alive AND with a zoid." He shrugged as the dull stinging left his body. "You can't say that this is a bad deal."

As Michael inspected the zoid, Cadmus heard him curse. "What? What's up?" Then as Delta brought him a piece of paper, Michael read something, cursing again. Cadmus jolted as he tried to stand up, but he let out a small grunt of pain as Agera held him down, glaring at him with annoyance. She still had work to do on his gash.

"Sorry..." He glanced over as Michael lay down next to Nell and said something to her. "Michael, what is it? What's up with my zoid?"

[MaskofSilence]

Watching Cad and the Zoid in there intricate dance, Nell sighed and rocked back and fourth on her heels, her eyes never leaving the Zoid. Something felt off. Suddenly, Cad turned into a ball of light and moved. I wonder if I am the only human among this group... She was brought back from her thoughts when she noticed that Cad was bleeding. She thought about going to to help him, but knew better. He had to do this on his own.

Once the fight was done, Agera went to help Cad. She observed as they talked. Micheal then moved from beside her to go look at the Zoid. Delta then appeared with a paper in it's mouth. Taking it, his eyes scanned over the paper, "God damn it." Tossing it aside he came and laid back next to her. "My superiors are gonna kill me for this." Eyebrow knitted together, she walked over to the paper and picked it up. Coming back over, she leaned against the rock and let her eyes wandered over it.

"Michael, what is it? What's up with my zoid?" Cad shouted.

Letting her eyes wander over the paper, she only thought of one word. "Shit." She then glanced back at Micheal, "This is going to get interesting." Her eyes wandered back to the Zoid, she wondered what she could learn from it.

[MarchingThunder]

Cadmus had remained remarkably stationary while she had applied the hydrogen-peroxide Agera had reflected, but then Michael had had to go and start cursing about something as he approached which got Cadmus's attention enough that he started squirming around trying to see what it was that had Michael's attention and possible ire.

It wasn't that Agera was worried about Cadmus making the wound worse that was bother her as he moved around rather it was merely that he was making it a damn sight harder for her to put on the bandage as he shifted around. After a few seconds she was frustrated enough that she gave him a non-too-gentle tap on the top of his head as she spoke to him saying, "Hold still for a moment Cadmus so I can put on the damn bandage."

Whether he stayed still or not, Agera used that moment to forcefully apply the entirety of the bandage across his chest after a quick antiseptic spray before gently using her hands to smooth out any wrinkles in the material. The last bit of that action left her blushing though as she quickly stood and turned away trying to put the feeling of running her hands across his well-muscled chest out of her mind. She certainly didn't need to be love-struck at the moment Agera reflected, they were heading into possibly hostile territory and being distracted was the last thing Agera needed to be or she'd be dead.

[TheDoctor]

Once the bandage was on, Cadmus leaped up, forgetting the pain in a moment of frustration. Then he stopped halfway to Nell, his legs weak from exhaustion. Oh wait. I'm forgetting something. Turning back to Agera, he grinned, tapping the bandage lightly. "Thanks for the help."

Then he returned to Nell, snatching the paper from her hands. "Gimme that." His eyes scanned over the paper, reading line after the line. It was a military report, and it was about the Liger, apparently an Energy Liger Mark II model. "Well...son of...a bitch..." He turned to Michael, holding the report in his hand.

"I'm sure hoping that you don't have plans to turn this in." Still looking at Michael, he crumpled up the piece of paper, tossing it over his shoulder. "Because that Liger is now mine." Another fit of coughing hit him, and he lowered himself down to the ground, sitting down next to Nell and leaning against the rock.

As the coughing subsided, he looked back up at Michael, grinning weakly. "And just to warn you," he gestured at his newly bandaged wound. "that zoid's got one hell of a blade."

[Ushima]

Michael got up, moving toward the Energy Liger. "You are going to get me into a lot of trouble if I don't play this right."

"I'm sure you can come up with something to let Cadmus keep the zoid." Delta encouraged.

Michael thought for a moment. "Congrats Cadmus you are now responsible for field testing the prototype!" He was happy he got that out of the way. "Let me know how it handles." Going back to his zoid he grabbed a field computer. Going over to the EL he opened a panel on the front leg and connected his laptop to it.

"What are you doing?" Delta asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"I'm making sure its all there and that there's no problems with it. It's been missing for four months. Who knows what's happened to it in that amount of time." The blueprints appeared on screen. Each piece of the liger was highlighted as the part was inspected and information was displayed showing the result of the diagnostic. He had forgotten how many pieces there were in an Energy Liger.

[MaskofSilence]

Rereading the paper, Nell had gotten about halfway though when a voice interpreted and rudely ripped from her hands. Glaring at Cad, she watched as he took a spot next her while reading it. She was about to raise her hand and give him a light slap on the back of his head for being rude, but didn't. He was hurt right now and her pride would not let her hit someone who was already hurt. Plus, she could always get him later.

Her gaze then drift over to Agrea. The way her cheeks were heated up indicated that that she was thinking most likely about Cadmus. Then something else flashed in her eyes, uncertainty. For a second, she studied Agrea. They seemed similar in many ways, but others ways different. Nell found herself strangely wanting to befriend the girl. Although the thought made her nervous, she had never been very good with people.

Micheal moved behind her, drawing her attention. He walked over, grabbed his field computer and then linked it to the Energy Ligar. Now was her chance to learn and Micheal looked rather bored. Pushing herself off the rock, she made her way toward him. Once over, she ran her hand along the Zoid. Now that she was over here, she didn't know what to say. So, she started to draw off their previous conversation.

"You know," started started sending him a small smile. "I should be thanking you for letting me on Kinami. That was an amazing experience." Although, nothing would compare to building and creating Necros. He was her pride and joy and currently, her pride and joy was basking in the sunlight. She then felt a need to smack her head on the Zoid. It always came back to Zoids in her mind. Man, I need to work on my social skills...

[Ushima]

"You can't keep your mind off zoids can you?" Michael said with a chuckle as he watched her face darken a shade of red. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hey Delta, monitor this." Michael set the laptop on the ground.

"I will alert you if there is an issue." Delta's light changed from red to green before he went silent.

"Maybe we should work on that?" Michael teased. "But I'm glad you liked working on Kinami. You have great skill for someone so young. I'm impressed that you created such a successful business."

[TheDoctor]

As Nell stood up, Cadmus felt himself slightly deflate. Well, shit. So much for friendly interaction. Then he jolted up as he heard Michael speak.

"Congrats Cadmus you are now responsible for field testing the prototype!"

I haven't even driven the thing yet! Filled with energy almost instantaneously, he pushed himself up, not even noticing the pain from his wound. Running over to the zoid, he leaped into the cockpit, which opened for him. The seat was worn down, but not uncomfortable. In fact, it was perfectly used to the point that Cadmus could've fallen asleep in it. The atmosphere of the Energy Liger cockpit was very different from the old Murasame's cockpit, but it wasn't bad. More of an atmosphere that simply takes getting used to.

It's been a year...a year since I last piloted a zoid...

As he frantically adjusted his chair, the Liger stood. The cable connecting the laptop to the Liger disconnected spontaneously without being properly ejected, and Delta's light flashed on with a pulsing red. Cadmus looked out the cockpit, watching Michael protest his actions. Letting out a laugh, he used the intercom.

"I've been out of a zoid for way too long! I'll be back in fifteen!"

You up for a run, Krios? Now you can see my true piloting skills!

I'm not fond of being hooked up to another computer anytime soon. Plus, you do need another test. Let's go.

And then they ran, Cadmus laughing like a kid on Christmas day.

~~~~~

This city certainly is a beautiful place at night. All of the lights...they're so colorful. They make the place stand out. But they can't hide its true face. The gangs. The rapes. The murders. The crime lords. They show what this shit hole really is. Not even the pretty lights and glistening skyscrapers can hide that.

Aelia Auburn stood on the balcony of one of those very same skyscrapers. It was a warm night, and she wore her signature skimpy top and black shorts. The outfits had its benefits to get information, but it did have its cons. A long rifle was slung by a strap over her back as well. Gazing over the railing, she stared down at the city as a comfortable breeze weaved its way through her long red hair. The lights from below were reflected in her new yellow eyes. Both the hair and the eye color had been obtained through the courtesy of the black market, allowing her to develop an entirely new identity.

"Mikaila!" She heard a voice call her new name from the door behind her. Shrugging the strap of the sniper rifle higher onto her shoulder, she walked inside. There was a dark room with a flickering holographic table that was obviously in bad shape. Behind that table stood a man. Aelia--or how the man knew her as, Mikaila--was his right hand. His second-in-command.

His name was Peter Nellis. Or, to many others, "Psycho Pete."

"Yes, Mr. Nellis." She nodded to him.

Pete glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She noticed that his eyes flickered to her somewhat exposed and rather voluminous bust. Cursing, he slammed a fist on the table. "Dammit, woman. I told you to call me Pete." His eyes flickered to her chest again, and she let out a small curse, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. Then he continued.

"One of our highest informant notified us of a possible threat. A group of four people in Dust Town, two men and two women, know about our position, and they know about me." His eyes passed over the map, moving from piece to piece. "They want to know about Prime, and they think that they can get it by finding me. We sent some recruits to Dust Town to take care of them, but apparently they had already left. They're on the way to Arcadia."

Then he turned to face her. "You know the streets, Mikaila. They should arrive here any time now. Find them. Figure out what they know and how. Then report back to me." He held his gaze on her a second longer, then nodded.

Firmly, Aelia nodded back.

She took the elevator to the bottom of the building, exiting the skyscraper and heading further into the city. She had been infiltrating the Zealots for a full year now, climbing her way higher and higher in order to get to Zoid Prime. I have to know what he knows about me. About Azuroth. About my past. The passion had driven her to change her physical image and name, going as far as repainting her Zaber Fang to be black and red. Without even knowing it, she had changed her personality too, becoming outspoken and strong instead of silent, spineless, and shy.

Leaning against a wall, she looked at the ground, shouldering her rifle further onto her back. Then she listened, waiting for the rumors to pass by her waiting ears.

~~~~~

Cadmus had forgotten how much he enjoyed piloting zoids.

The rest of that day as they traveled the remaining distance to Arcadia, the Liger was sprinting ahead, waiting for the others, and then sprinting ahead again. At one point, however, Cadmus fell asleep, exhausted from his previous struggle with the Liger and allowing his body to heal. The rest of the journey had been smooth sailing.

They arrived at the gates of Arcadia that night, light pollution dimly illuminating the sky. Cadmus jolted awake in the Liger, throwing on a new black sleeveless shirt. He had forgotten to put a new one on earlier. Then he connected to the others. "Here we are. Arcadia. Anyone up for hitting the bar as soon as we get in?"

[MarchingThunder]

The trip to the entrance of Arcadia had been as pleasant as could be expected as Agera had napped in the Berserk Fury's cockpit till Cadmus had woken her with the question over the radio over who would be interested in going drinking at a bar once they were in town. The idea had appeal she immediately considered, she hadn't gotten to finish her previous bottle of whiskey in Dust Town, and their bar had been rather dull and boring compared to what she might have enjoyed normally. Even if she did tend to stay out of the spotlight during parties, she enjoyed the atmosphere a great deal.

After careful consideration she voiced her own thoughts on the matter, her voice a touch tentative as she spoke. "I'm not against it, Cadmus, but please try to stay out of trouble. You've already got one scar for today, lets try not to get any more," she said into her microphone.