Title: The One That Got Away

A/N: I meant to split this into two chapters. But I was getting frustrated with some scenes and the way the story was going. So I cut some story elements and tried to wrap up the immediate threads. Thanks for all the feedback. I got all kinds, better than none at all.


Naomi surveyed the battlefield from the small ridge that was her perch. Sadly, it wasn't much, only slightly higher than the tips of the tallest trees. But it was the best vantage point available and she would use it to the fullest.

The Liger Zero stood in the center of the field, as still as any statue.

Four square kilometers were laid out before her, much of it cratered and scared. Only the farthest boundary had been spared the worst of it. There were gaps, mostly fallen trees or scorched earth, but large sections of the forest remained.

The Judge's pod, seated on the highest ridge in the area, opened. It rotated forward just as two shapes appeared on the horizon, one black, one white. Naomi's eyes fell on the black Shield Liger first. It stalked across the battlefield, stockier, blockier, than the Zero, and without the natural grace of its successor.

100 meters away, a Sabre Tiger mirrored its movements, off-white except for the eight point missile launcher was on its back. She glanced back at the Shield Liger. Standard armament, as far as she could tell, shock cannons mounted to its chest, missile pods folded into its flanks. The Tiger's missile launcher wasn't a match for her, not her range or velocity.

Whereas E-Shields… were an annoyance. Not invulnerable, not by a long shot, but they could take a hit or several. Pinpoint accuracy was the key to taking them out and that was a tall order, even for the best snipers. No, one shot and it wouldn't see it coming.

"Naomi." Bit's voice over the com. "There's a zoid moving inside the forest. The southern edge."

All she saw was a sea of green. She switched over to infrared and turned the filters way down. There, inside the forest, a little over 3 kilometers out. A wide blocky mass burned hotter than the ambient air. It was dug partially into the ground, equipped with a long barreled weapon. "Trying to hide in the weeds?" Nice try. Bit had damn good eyes. She re-zeroed her targeting system, for the distance, accounting for the elevation drop. Movements she'd done a thousand times before. The reticule was slow, sluggish. She backed out and refocused.

"The Domino team versus the Stars."

The shape shifted backward, likely altering its trajectory. She leveled her targeting reticule, one notch above its center. "No you don't."

The Judge raised both hands overhead. "Fight!"

She fired.

The bullet streaked across the battlefield, left a heat trail on her monitor. She pulled the trigger again, just to be safe. Her screen flashed. She switched back to normal resolution.

[Target – System Freeze]

Her radar flashed again. An explosive shell, 38mm or worse, was airborne and careening toward the center of the field. Hmm. He'd been quick on the trigger too. The three feline zoids scattered. 20 meters from the ground the shell exploded, showering the area in fire and shrapnel and kicking up a cloud of dirt.

The Shield Liger burst from the chaos. A cone of shimmering orange light surrounded its head, trailed along its flanks. She brought her sights down on the Shield Liger as it wheeled toward her position. The rear vertical servo jammed completely. Shit. Now of all times? She widened the Gun Sniper's stance to compensate, to bring her main gun down. The Shield Liger altered its course, zeroing in on the movement.

She fired. The bullet struck the center of the E-shield, in line with the zoid's mane. A ripple went through the orange energy barrier. The Shield Liger charged forward. She tried to track its movement, to stack one shot onto the other. The targeting reticule stuck then jerked down, past her target. The shot went low, in line with the zoid's legs. The energy field wavered but held. She bit back a curse. She'd never punch through like this.

The Shield Liger was 300 meters out and closing, quickly. Damn it. Eight seconds, eight seconds to switch- She slammed her fist on the release button and rolled onto her back. The padded bench hummed underneath her.

The enemy zoid stumbled, recovered, and turned sharply away from her. An errant plasma bolt splashed into the ground behind it.

Naomi let out a breath. The white Liger turned with its counterpart, firing as it closed in.

The Shield Liger returned fire from its tail gun. The shots missed just over the Zero's shoulder. Bit backed off and swept from one side of the enemy to the other, putting the odd plasma bolt on it with each pass. A panel on the Shield Liger's right flank shuddered. The compartment unfolded, revealing a missile pod perched on the end. Four missiles launched forward, arcing upward and back.

Guided missiles. Damn modification fanatics.

The Zero broke off its pursuit, activated its boosters, and ran for the center of the field. The missiles followed, gaining steadily, tracking the zoid's core emissions. The Zero turned, angling toward the downed Sabre Tiger. Just in front of the Sabre, the Zero pivoted hard and cut a sharp angle from the unmoving zoid. Fortunately, a disabled zoid had enough core activity to trip the guidance system. All four missiles slammed home, drawing an angry tirade over the open channel.

The Shield Liger came to a sudden stop, planted its feet, and fired its shock cannons. Three shots. Three misses. All behind the charging white zoid.

Bit cut a wide turn, back toward the Shield Liger. He managed two bolts on the stationary Liger before peeling off. The first bolt went wide but the second hit home, struck the enemy square in the chest.

The Sniper's bench formed into a pilot's seat. She thumbed a switch, broadcasting on a general channel. "Seems like a good time to surrender."

"I've faced worse," came the frustrated reply.

"Uh-huh." A second voice, this one frustrated and sarcastic. "Really kicking some ass there Sgt."

A string of expletives was the only answer. The orange E-Shield took shape and the Shield Liger rushed to meet the Zero.

The Zero turned to the oncoming zoid, held its ground, and fired a steady stream of superheated plasma. The bolts splashed against the E-Shield, rippling along the energy barrier like a blue fog but they did little else. The E-Shield held, barely wavering under the onslaught. "Yeah…" Bit muttered to himself.

She managed the uneven slope in her wounded Sniper. Some asshole wasn't going to spoil their tournament chances out of spite. She made it onto level ground, her finger tips brushing the firing controls.

The Zero leapt aside, narrowly avoid the charge. The Shield Liger shot past. Then the Zero was after it, at full speed, and closing on the black Liger. A panel, this time on the left flank of the Shield Liger, shuddered. The compartment split, unfolding from the main- The Zero was there. It drove its shoulder into the open panel, into the Shield Liger's flank. The compartment slammed shut. The Shield Liger recoiled from the impact.

The Shield Liger's flank erupted, ejecting the side panel with such force it bounced off the Zero's armor. Flames shot out the gaping hole in its flank, followed by thick black smoke. There was a scream over the open channel as it cartwheeled forward, first the front half, then the back.

The Zero threw its head back and roared.

"Battle Over!" The Judge raised its blue hand. "Winner, the Stars!"

Someone was cursing and retching over the open channel. At least they were alive. She terminated the channel, switching to the team com. The sun was low on the horizon and sinking fast. "Bit." She started. The Zero turned to face her. Its pilot said nothing. "I might need some help." Something was wrong with her Sniper and by the Eve, she needed it fixed. For all the days' excitement, it was the easy part.


Naomi sat in her cockpit, arms crossed, legs crossed, and face grim. She stared at their campsite, displayed on the Gun Sniper's screens. Opposite her own zoid, the Liger Zero, its armor dented and scratched, caught the light of the campfire. It looked ready, proud, despite the battle scars, hell, because of the battle scars.

"Try it now." Bit's voice crackled over the com.

She activated the sniping mode. The pilot's seat hummed. She leaned back as the seat reclined. Once she was lying flat she shifted onto her stomach. The flattened seat slide backward, into the sniping position. The targeting reticule flared to life as she grabbed the controls. She put the reticle on the Liger. The resistance was heavier than normal but nothing compared to before, when it felt like a Gustav was sitting on the end of the barrel. She targeted a broken tree in the distance and brought it back to the white zoid. The servos were slower than she liked but the movement was smooth, consistent. Good enough. She sighed in relief. "Much better. What was wrong?"

"Stabilizer was slipping out of its mount. Patched it and reseated it. It'll hold up, no matter what they throw at us tomorrow."

"That's all I need." She hit the switch and the flattened seat began to slide back into place. Once the pilot seat had reformed she opened the cockpit. Bit stood in front of the zoid, a spare rag in his hands. She grinned down at her new partner, her first real partner. "Where'd you learn to work on a Gun Sniper?"

"Being a junker helps." Bit smiled up at her. He was always smiling. He started toward their campfire. "Bet the coffee's ready."

Naomi climbed out of the cockpit and followed, pausing only to dig a blanket out of her pack. She wrapped it around herself, more to fend off the chill. Her clothing drew plenty of looks. She couldn't get caught on a skirt or jacket while piloting, specifically, switching between piloting and sniping modes. And she wasn't going to ruin a nicer outfit while camping out.

She took the offered coffee pot and filled her mug. The pleasant scent of a dark roast teased her. A smooth finish made her smile. "Not bad." Easily the best cup she'd ever had over a campfire.

He laughed. "Being a junker helps with that too." He dragged the back of his hand across his forehead, leaving a dark streak. Her lips quirked. He tilted his head. "What?"

"Nothing." She took another sip, smiling into her cup. "You're a handy guy to have around, Bit Cloud." A real partner, capable of watching her back. On and off the battlefield. Coffee in hand, she returned to her Gustav. She closed the main hatch behind her. With the hatch closed and the wind chill kept at bay, the cabin was almost comfortable. She sat on the single bed with a sigh, rolling her shoulders, stretching her neck.

Aside from her Gun Sniper's stabilizer, she and Bit had gotten out relatively unscathed, better than most. None of the finalists had officially withdrawn, yet. Assuming the worst, that meant six teams, battling it out in a melee. The Walker Team. The Buffalo Team. The Tigers Team. The Salamanders. The Red Fire Team. And them.

Five other teams, preparing and plotting around their own campfires, and none of them were pushovers. Even the one trick ponies, the Buffalo Team and the Red Fire Team, had plenty of firepower. The Salamanders were knocking on the door to Class A. Rumor was, one of their zoids was out of commission. That left a Stealth Viper and one heavily armed and armored Kong.

The support terminal in the cockpit flashed. She took a seat and tapped a key. Tomorrow's battlefield appeared on the main monitor. Roughly 10 kilometers long, 8 wide though it narrowed to half that at one end. Smaller than she'd expect, with so many teams involved. Dense forest covered a third of the ground, flanked by a series of ridges on the western and southern perimeters. More open space would have been better, for the Liger's maneuverability. A better vantage point would have been better for her rifle.

She put the map on a data pad and opened the main hatch. A rush of cold air cut through her. She tugged her blanket tighter around herself. Hopefully, he'd be warm enough. The Gustav was a tight fit for two but cramped or not, if it started raining she'd insist he setup his bedroll inside.

She found Bit arranging the poles of his tent. The Liger crouched next to him, like a cat resting on its stomach. "I've got the map for tomorrow."

"Any surprises?"

"Take a look." She stood shoulder to shoulder with Bit, holding the data pad between them. "Doesn't look great." She pointed to the ridge line on the west edge of the field. "I'll try to post up here."

He barely gave it a glance. "They'll expect that," he dumped his sleeping bag unceremoniously inside the frame, "expect you."

She frowned. "How do you figure?" Six teams were left, at least 15 warriors… Most people would be worried about the Kong and the team of Dibisons.

"Good warriors attract attention." He yawned. "So do beautiful women." Naomi opened her mouth, paused, and glanced away. He rubbed his eyes wearily. "Man, I'm beat." He threw the canvas cover over the tent frame and started tying it down.

"Bit." Her voice was tinny to her own ears. He glanced up at her questioningly, as if a six team free for all wasn't 12 hours away. "What's your plan?"

He tilted his head, studying her with his dark green eyes, like it was the strangest question in the world, like she was crazy. One of them was crazy. "Wing it?" She gave him a dead stare. He stood, studied the map, and hummed to himself. "Don't get mad." He pointed to spot on the map.


A shaped charge detonated next to the Liger Zero, driving the superheated core into its right flank. The armored panels buckled. The connecting joints twisted inward and dug into its frame. It lurched to the left. Its pilot clutched the controls. He threw them to the right, trying to recover.

They were just too fast.

Its leg buckled. It pitched over. Its left shoulder dug in. They tumbled, onto its back, onto its other side. One of its back plates caved under its own weight. A shoulder plate was sheared off cleanly. Its partner jerked the controls back, drawing its legs to its body. On its back again, another roll, another tumble. The right side of the safety harness snapped. On its side, again, its pilot nearly slipped from the harness, his head caught the side of a console. Limp hands slipped from the controls. His thoughts retreated into darkness.

Its back caught the edge of something, a boulder, the edge of a crater. The impact threw its pilot forward, limbs flailing, head flailing. It cinched the damaged harness down across his chest, nearly crushing him in his seat as they skidded across the ruined battlefield.

All its strength, all its useless strength-

Bit inhaled sharply, grit his teeth against the burning in his chest. His hands clawed at his chest, clutching the safety harness and wrenching it-

He was in his tent, lying on his bedroll, with his blankets thrown haphazardly at his feet.

He was fine. He was safe. His heart kept racing but the fire lancing through his ribs had faded, was never real. He blinked, taking short shallow breaths as the world came into focus. Dim but not dark, somewhere around sunrise. Bit drew a shallow breath and carefully rolled onto his side. A little sore but nothing compared to those first weeks. He exhaled slowly.

His breath turned to steam in the air.

He rubbed his hands over his face. His heartbeat wouldn't quite settle down. He clenched and unclenched his fists. With a groan he climbed to his feet and found his pants. He unzipped the front of the tent and stepped into the early morning air.

The sun was still on the horizon, casting everything in soft orange tones. Even the white zoid, standing vigil over his tent.

He laid his hand on the white metal armor, just above its claws. His fingers tingled, as if his hands were wrapped around the controls. He opened his mouth, paused, and closed it. He closed his eyes, rested his forehead against the warm metal. "I'll be fine, partner. Whatever happens, you and me, together." The Liger made no move, no sound, but the anxious energy that tingled along his skin eased. They stood in silence, letting the sunrise banish their nightmares and doubts.

"Didn't peg you for an early riser." Naomi called out. She stood in the hatch of her Gustav, a blanket wrapped tightly around her. She glanced at his bare chest. "How are you not cold?" Steam rose from her lips with every word.

Bit drew his hand back from the Liger's armor. "I ah," he blinked at her, shaking off the last vestiges of his nightmare. "Guess I didn't notice." The pants were a good call.

"Like a different species." She muttered. "I'll get on breakfast." She ducked back into the Gustav's cabin. "You mind making coffee?" Her voice echoed from inside.


Naomi released a frustrated breath, relaxing her grip on the Gun Sniper's controls. The worst part was the waiting, hiding in the forest. She glanced at her scanner as heat signatures moved in and out of her range. No one paid her any mind as they fought to survive, racing around the battlefield. Hell, the one's that stayed close didn't notice her either, too busy fighting with missile and bullet and tooth and laser claw. So she waited, holding position, giving the three Judge pods a run for their money. Technically, the Judges were doing their jobs.

Her screen flashed. Three heat signatures expanded on the opposite end of the battlefield. The Buffalo team continued their "Fire at Everything" strategy.

"Volley." Naomi warned. The three Dibisons each launched another 17 mortar barrage. At that range, they managed to hit everything and nothing. They'd lain waste to half of the battlefield, including a good chunk of the forest where she hid. Good thing she was so far in the back. Not that she enjoyed hiding, especially when to the west, barely over a kilometer away, the ridge was totally open.

Bit didn't respond. The Liger leapt aside. It pivoted, turning and firing a wide spray. Three shots missed, one caught the top of something. The air wavered. Two more bolts and the cloak failed completely. A Hellcat's rear legs pitched over and it hit the ground awkwardly. "Nice one, partner." Bit spoke… to his zoid. "Incoming." The Liger took off, racing for the edge of the blast zone. The Hellcat righted itself, turned, and bolted-

Directly into the path of the Iron Kong.

Three times the size of her Gun Sniper and strong enough to pick her up like a toy. A pair of Vulcan mini guns were mounted onto a single wrist. Two missile pods were built into its back. Then there was the rail launcher, eight meters long and mounted onto its right shoulder.

The Red Fire team, brave or foolhardy, had taken the fight to the Kong. The two Red Horns gave the Kong a wide berth, circling at distance, and peppering it with shots from their pulse cannons.

The Kong returned fire with the mini guns on its left arm. The Red Horns took more hits than they evaded but the armored zoids kept up their attack. While still firing its mini guns, the Kong leveled is launcher. The barrel of the launcher glowed blue. It raised both arms forward. A flash of white from the muzzle, the Kong's upper body swayed backward.

The blast punched through a Red Horn's armored flank, burst out the other side, and left a smoking heap in its wake.

The second Red Horn turned toward the Kong. It charged, firing its pulse cannons as it went. The Kong raised its left fist. The mini guns spun up, easily spitting out 50 rounds per second, leveling a constant stream of fire on the enemy. The hardened rounds pitted the zoid's armor, casting sparks off the Red Horn's reinforced crown. The Red Horn weathered the assaulted. 10 meters from the Kong it raised its head, lining up its Crusher Horn.

The Kong's right fist slammed into the zoid's head, lifting the Red Horn from the ground. The Red Horn crashed onto its side. Slow, heavy, and awkward, its legs flailed. The Kong loomed over it, giant fist raised. It crushed the pulse cannons in one blow. The beaten zoid went still.

"Dibisons." Naomi called out. "They're advancing." Taking their sweet time. Firing their shock cannons as they went. Ran out of mortars? Thank the Zoid Eve.

"Got it." Bit brought the Liger around in a wide turn, putting the Kong between himself and the Dibisons. "Thanks, Naomi. Hang tight."

Hang tight. Yeah, right. The ridge was just as open as the last time she checked, as it had been since the beginning of the battle.

A yellow Sabre Tiger with a high powered rifle charged across the battlefield, straight toward the ridge. Finally. Naomi hummed softly to herself, settling her reticule just in front of the mountain. The Sabre slowed at the base of the ridges, turning toward the gentlest slope.

A cloud of dirt and rocks shot up from the ground. The long, sinuous, shape of a Stealth Viper stretched into the sky. The dual laser machineguns below its head fired as it rose, catching the Sabre along its left flank. The Sabre veered away from the impacts, only to batter itself against the side of a ridge. The Viper rose fully and swung its tail around. A pair of 40mm heavy guns joined the onslaught. It hammered the other zoid relentlessly.

Which made it a very easy target.

Her bullet impacted just below the head of the Viper, destroying the upper guns, caving in the armor. It listed to one side, twisting in the air, and then fell as if its strings were cut. Naomi hit the conversion button, switching into piloting mode as it collapsed over the abused Sabre. Back in the cockpit, she grabbed the controls and raced toward the mountain. She burst out of the forest, used the downed zoids as cover, and scaled the nearest ridge.

The highest peak was a bad place for a sniper, too obvious. So she settled for one just below it, with a decent slope she could slip back down when she had to. She thumbed the switch and pilot's seat began to recline.

An explosion echoed through her com.

"Here kitty kitty." Someone taunted over the public frequency. Two more Sabre Tigers, sporting the same yellow paint job as the last one, bore down on Bit and the Liger Zero.

Her pilot seat flattened out. Naomi rolled onto her stomach before it was fully in position. She brought the targeting reticule up, wrapped her hands around the controls.

The Liger tore across the battlefield. The Sabres gave chase, spreading out to flank Bit. She sighted two notches ahead of nearest Sabre. "Firing, 3 o'clock." She pulled the trigger. The Sabre's backend pitched to the side. It crashed into the ground and slide, disappearing in a cloud of dirt and dust. Her screen flashed.

[Target – System Freeze]

"You're welcome." She said sweetly.

The Liger and the remaining Sabre ran side by side. The two zoids slammed into each other, shoulder to shoulder. They broke apart and slam- The Liger dug its claws into the ground and opened fire. The Sabre passed in front of the Liger, took two shots to its back end, and tumbled to the ground. The Liger closed in, claws glowing-

"Bit! Kong!" She put her reticule on the center of the advancing zoid.

"We see." Bit grunted. The Liger leapt over the fallen Sabre Tiger just as the mini guns spun up. The Kong put a hundred of rounds into the Sabre before it swung around, dropping a line of fire behind the fleeing Zero.

The Kong's chest cavity wasn't empty space. The armor could be half a meter deep at its chest, at its back, all reinforced high tensile steel. The head was a no-go. Even if she could hit it, with the massive launcher and missile pods in the way, targeting the cockpit was an automatic disqualification. She could try for the mini guns, hamper it. A difficult shot, with its arms moving about. Hit or miss and the Kong would zero in on her position. She could slide down the slope, take cover behind the downed Viper and Sabre.

The three Dibisons opened fire on the Kong's flank with their shock cannons. The Kong turned to face the attack. Its launcher glowed blue then white.

Bit came in fast on the Kong's right side. In the launcher's blind spot. The Zero closed in. Its mane expanded. Golden energy gathered along its claws. The Kong fired its launcher, raising its arms to counter the recoil. The particle beam streaked across the battlefield, lancing a Dibison through its shoulder. The Zero leapt, reaching out-

The Kong swung around, catching the Liger with the back of its fist. A two man crew, second man in the chest cavity, only way to keep on the Dibison and swing like that. The Liger crashed along the ground. Bit cursed into the com. The Liger rolled, scrambled to its feet, and narrowly avoided a barrage from the mini guns.

If the launcher was in her way, so be it.

Naomi adjusted her sights. One shot and the back end shattered. The Kong turned its soulless armored face toward her position. It wrapped one of its giant mitts around the barrel. Her fingers hovered over the conversion button. No more launcher and she was well out of range of the mini guns. It ripped the ruined weapon free from the shoulder mount and tossed it aside. Unless it rushed her position… Both missile pods opened. 24 incendiary warheads streaked into the air.

And arced toward one of the Dibisons.

Some of the missiles hit. The rest raised too much dust and dirt to see how it faired. The Kong didn't wait to find out. It charged the remaining Dibison, disturbingly fast for a zoid its size.

The Liger chased after it. Fast as the Kong was, it was a lumbering mess compared to the agile white zoid. Within seconds the Liger was on it, keeping pace just behind the massive zoid. Again, its mane expanded, its claws glowed. It shot forward, claws extended. It tore down the back of one leg, into the lightly armored joint. The Kong's heel caught the Liger in the side, a glancing blow… from a 200 ton zoid. The Zero slammed back into the ground, rolled along the dirt. The Kong's leg bent on the next stride, twisted one the second, and buckled on the third. It too crashed into the ground.

The lone remaining Dibison closed in, on the Kong, on Bit, maybe both. Naomi put her reticle on its chest and pulled the trigger. The telltale tremor went through the bulky zoid. It crumpled down.

[Target – System Freeze]

Bit was muttering softly over the team channel. The Zero shifted. The feline zoid climbed to its feet… doggedly. It stalked forward, body low, circling to the right of the Kong and away from its mini guns. "Anymore?" His voice was dark, heated. The white zoid opened its jaws and made a low growl.

The Kong planted both arms on the ground. Slowly, its chest rose. Stubborn. Could it really support its bulk on one leg? Swing around with its mini guns? The left wrist was out of her sightline. She put her reticle over its right should- It stopped moving, awkwardly propped up on three limbs.

"Forfeit of Iron Kong unit accepted. Battle Over!" The Judge declared. "Winner the Stars!"


The Lost Redler, the largest hotel in Temp Town was also the most upscale. Normally. Tonight the ZBC had rented out the hotel and the restaurant, gone so far as to provide rooms for all of the finalists. Almost all of the zoid warriors had taken advantage of the hospitality, turning the hotel bar into a warrior hangout.

There wasn't much ceremony involved with their win, or any really. Money was transferred to their accounts. Though they'd been shown to the best table in the hotel's restaurant. Naturally, the battle network was on every screen.

On one such screen, the Liger Zero was flanked by a Sabre Tiger on each side. Naomi smiled. She speared another cured olive from her plate. Any moment- Suddenly, a Sabre lurched violently as her bullet slammed into its side.

There was a hoot from the table behind them.

The olive practically melted in her mouth. "Think they'll repeat it tonight?" Tournaments, even those for the lower classes, usually garnered some airtime.

"Hope so, I could watch it all night." Bit was, well Bit, upbeat and all smiles. His food sat untouched. His beer, less so.

Naomi wasn't the type to judge, especially on her second glass of wine. She shifted in her chair, stretching her back with a sigh. "You're not tired at all?" The free-for-all had been harrowing and she wasn't in the thick of it the whole time.

He glanced back at her, grinning, green eyes bright. "I swear I could fight another tournament."

"Easy Tiger." She grinned back and drained the last of her wine. With no waitress in sight, she rose from her seat and made her way to the bar. She drew a few glances. She'd never let it bother her before and wouldn't tonight.

Not with all the money and glory they'd won.

Winning the tournament wouldn't boost their rank. The confirmed kills didn't count to their point totals for the season. But 26 teams had entered and it was winner take all. No team outside of Class A would make that much money in a season. Tonight's plan was simple: good food, good wine, and a feather bed.

Naomi set her empty glass before the bartender, an older woman with short black hair and a nametag that read Sherry. "Red. The Helic '64."

"Right away." She disappeared into the backroom.

Someone sidled up beside her. "That was a hell of a move, waiting for someone else to spring our trap." He was a few years older than herself, still early twenties. He extended a hand with a smile. "I'm Geetz. Salamanders." A red lizard was tattooed onto his forearm. Coiled into a tight circle, its jaws almost closed over its tail.

Yes, yes it was. "I try to let the enemy do the heavy lifting." She gave his hand a quick shake. "Naomi Fluegel."

"I know." He flashed a wide smile. "The Stars? That permanent?" So they knew her. Before or after they setup their ambush?

"I hope so."

Sherry returned and refilled her glass. "Congratulations Ms. Fluegel." She left the bottle on the counter.

Naomi smiled in thanks. She glanced back at Geetz. "That was you in the Viper?" Waiting for her.

"That was me." Geetz looked her over as she took a sip. He didn't have a drink, even an empty one.

She kept her tone neutral. "Better luck next time."

"Can't wait for next time." His smile didn't falter. "I'm sure we'll see each other again."

Enough being polite. She took her glass and her wine bottle-

"Your friends need to lighten up." Bit spoke from behind her, eyeing something on the opposite side of the room. Two young men, with similar jawlines and the same shade of light brown hair, were watching him. Glaring at him, to be more precise. One had his sleeves rolled up, revealing a black lizard tattooed on his forearm.

Naomi pursed her lips. She turned until she was facing Bit, putting her back to the Viper pilot. "Bruised a few egos?"

"Looks like." Bit set an empty glass down on the counter. He looked over her head, toward the Viper pilot, a predatory look in his eyes.

"We don't lose very often." Geetz's voice was even. "Figured we were unstoppable." They very nearly were, with all that firepower on such a massive zoid. Destined for Class A, the Salamanders had to be the heavy favorite.

The bartender returned, setting a fresh beer in front of Bit. She glanced between the two men, and left without a word.

"You guys should have a drink." Bit's lips quirked slightly. "Watch some TV."

Naomi clinked her glass against his. "I'll drink to that." She pointedly ignored the Viper pilot as he made his quiet exit.


Their hotel room door slammed shut behind them. Bit pressed her against the it, his hands working at her top. "Easy, Tiger." Naomi breathed, as his mouth scorched her neck. He paused, hands settling on her hips. She wasn't a flirt or a zoid groupie, wasn't ruled the moons or the tides. She stared up at him, her teammate, into his bright green eyes. She slipped his jacket off his shoulders. He released her to shrug out of it. She took a fistful of his shirt in each hand. It joined his jacket and she sealed her mouth against his.


A/N: This is it for the year. The holidays are going to get pretty crazy. When I pick this up again, the structure will be different. Fewer battles, less emphasis on technical details. I know some people really like the "technical details" and others hate them because they're incorrect. Full disclosure: I have no interest in discussing the ideal position of Liger blades. Maybe I'll just use the X CAS and be done with it. That being said, I do appreciate that if the details are incorrect it can break the immersion in the story. That was a valuable lesson. If I write in any other sci fi or sci fi-like fandoms I'll keep that in mind. Problem is, I spent too much time trying to confirm things like the Shield Liger's missile pods fold down or the proper weaponry. Time that should have been spent on refining the story. I know there are some very rough sections.

The story I wanted to write is one where the Ultimate Xs influence their pilots. The Liger Zero makes Bit more confident, more proud, arrogant, and even possessive. You can imagine Vega would be in a far worse situation. Maybe I should have put an AU warning in the summary. I tried to throw in hints, the way he feels the Zero's excitement, the presence in his mind. His eyes are dark green vs light green when being more influenced. But it got overshadowed as I tried to get all the pieces in place. The section in italics is Bit relieving the crash from the Zero's perspective. In short, I'd rather focus on character development than combat. I don't know if I'll do another chapter or start a sequel. Don't expect Bit and Naomi's relationship to be off to a perfect start. I hope everyone has a good holiday.