Wolf: Forgot to post up chapter 3, im glad to see that people are liking the story so far. I might go ahead and write chapter 4 after this as well. Thanks so much you guys!


Zoids: Liger Zero's Return

Chapter 3: Let's Make a Team

Dr. Toros was walking back to the hanger and saw Bella on the catwalk already. She was leaning on the guard rail, she was looking at Liger. He was happy to see the young girl so happy about the Zoid. He was sure Liger was happy as well.

He walked up to Bella, "Did you enjoy your ride?" Bella jumped in surprise, she didn't hear Toros walk up next to her. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He apologized.

"No no, it's ok." Bella waved him off. "I was just lost in my thoughts so I wasn't paying attention." She looked back down at Liger. "For my first time piloting a real Zoid, it was the best thing I could ever experience." She thought out loud.

Toros chuckled at her. "I have been there before myself. It is amazing." He leaned on the railing as well next to her. "With Liger by your side, I'm sure you'll make an amazing warrior."

"Hey Doc, can I ask you something?" Bella wondered.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Toros said.

"Have you thought about getting back into the Zoids Battle Commission? Being a Manager again?" Bella asked.

Toros took a pause, he was not expecting that question. No, he never thought about getting back into Zoids battling, but he did miss it. "I miss seeing Zoid battles, up close and personal I mean. I watch the championships when they come on tv, but being up close in the action. I will admit I do miss it. Why?"

Bella played with her hands, she was nervous to ask the next question. "Well, I told my dad how I wanted to be a Zoids Piot and be out on the battlefield. He said to follow my dreams and he said that being a Warrior was in my blood." She looked at Liger, "I feel this dream of mine can finally come true since I met Liger. I knew that technically Liger belongs to you even though my grandfather piloted it, but I feel it's my right to have him. To be his new pilot. To bring he back out into the light of the battlefield." She looked at Doc, "What I am mainly getting at is, I want to form a new Zoids team and I want you to be our manager, Dr. Toros."

Toros was taken aback by the young girls question about being a manager. He felt he wasn't that good of one last time around but if this girl had faith in him to be their manager then he knew he couldn't have been that bad.

"Who would be in this team of yours?" Doc asked out of curiosity.

"Zoey and Kano of course. They are my friends and I know they love the idea of battle Zoids just as much. I feel we would be a good team. Plus we all have Zoids now." Bella told him. "Kano has his Blade Liger and Zoey has her Gairyuki. I found Liger and I knew we are meant to be partners. I feel we would be an awesome team together."

Toros nodded, hearing the girl out, "Have you all practiced with each other?" Doc wondered.

Bella looked down at her hands. "Well not in real life. We all have the simulators at school, but I have practiced being with a team. It's just that I am in a different class than those two so we have never fought alongside each other in simulation." Bella admitted.

Toros nodded, "Well I won't give you an answer just yet, but I will give it some deep thought the next few days." Bella nodded in understanding. It was a big decision for him. "Let's go see the others and talk with them."

The two left the hanger and Dr. Toros lead the way inside the rest of the building. A few lefts and a right and they were both in a big room. A screen on the wall with couches in a circle around a table. Some chips and other little snacks sat on the table. Kano was munching away on the pretzels. While Zoey and Bella's dad were talking.

"Sorry for making you guys wait on me. I didn't realize how much time I spent out with Liger." Bella apologized with a bow when she entered the room.

Everyone just waved her off.

"It's ok sweetheart. It's understandable when getting in your first Zoid." Kano said after he swallowed some pretzels.

"Plus liger had to stretch out since he has been locked up these last few years. I can imagine he was excited to get out again." Blake said.

Bella smiled and nodded at them. She went and sat down next to Kano and grabbed some chips. Toros stood in front of the group for a moment.

"Bella has told me that she would like to start a new Zoids Battle Team with the two of you." Doc started as he looked at Zoey and Kano. "She asked me to be the manager of your team but I told her that I would give it some thought first. In the meantime, how about you all bring your Zoids here and practice with each other first." The three young kids looked at one another then back to Doc. "Bella tells me that you all have practiced in a simulator at school. Well if you want to do this, you have to jump out of the simulator and into a real Zoid."

Kano put his hand up to stop him real fast, "I'd love to bring my Blade Liger here sir, but it's not ready yet for battle. I still have a few things to fix on it before he is ready to battle. Let alone practice." Kano told him.

Toros nodded at him, "I remember you telling me about you having to build up your Blade Liger from almost nothing. Tell me where your father's shop is in town and I'll stop in tomorrow to look at him. How does that sound?" Toros asked him.

Kano's eyes went wide and he was surprised at this. "O-Of course. I would be honored if you stopped by to look at him. My dad is always there so I can tell him you're stopping by to look at Blade Liger."

Toros nodded at him and looked at Zoey. "I hear you just got a brand new Zoid. Are you ready to use it and rough it up a bit?" He asked her.

Zoey was a little hesitant at first but she nodded, "I always told my parents I wanted to be a Warrior and to have the best Zoid there was to help me achieve that. I feel that Gairyuki will help me achieve that. I am not afraid to get her dirty now. She is made for battle, as well as looking pretty." She gave a small giggle at the last remark.

Toros then looked at Bella, "Liger has accepted you as his new pilot. Are you willing to accept that?"

Bella nodded without thought, "Without a doubt. Liger and I were meant to be."

Toros smiled, he saw the same fire in her as he did Bit all those years ago. "Well then that means you are willing to accept all that comes with him? To learn all about the different uses of the Liger?"

Bella's eyes got wide and she slowly got excited. "Do you mean?" Bella couldn't even finish because the words were stuck in her throat.

"Yes. The CAS." Toros finished.

"Jager, Schneider, and Panzer." Bella's whispered, her mouth went agape.

Toros laughed at her reaction, he could tell she was excited. "All three at your disposal. It's been a few years since the armor was used but it should be in working order. I'll make sure to check up on them and do any needed fixing. You need to master Liger first though before I give you this ability."

Bella was so speechless. He dreams of the Liger were to see the full three armors in use and now she gets to master them all. She wanted to jump around and cheer for joy but she was stuck in her spot.

Blake looked at his daughter then back to Toros. "I think you broke my Daughter, Doc." He laughed.

Toros laughed as well. "I can see she is just like her grandfather. She has a lot of energy and spunk. Always ready for a fight and try their best."

"So if we do form a team. What do we call ourselves?" Zoey asked out loud.

Everyone then started to think.

"Zero's Revenge." Bella came out first.

Kano looked at her, "I like it. I feel it's fitting to. It is the return of the amazing Liger Zero. Plus I feel since the team was your idea in the first place, you should be our main leader as well. So Liger would almost be like our mascot."

Zoey huffed, "I don't know about it. I feel we should all think of a name we should all agree on. Plus works for all of us in a group." She stated.

"What's your name idea then?" Bella asked her.

"The Dino Gang." Zoey answered.

"Not all of us have a Dino Zoid, Zoey. Only you do." Kano pointed out.

"Oh...yea...I guess you have a point there." She said. "Fine, I agree with Liger being the main focus then."

They all looked at Toros, "What you think Doc?" Bella asked.

"I like it. Something different I suppose. Blitz Team 2 came to my mind." He chuckled. "I realized that it sounds stupid saying out loud."

Bella then had an idea. "That's not a half bad idea Doc. Maybe to keep the Blitz Team as a memory. We can put it in our name."

"Yea I like it!" Zoey agreed.

"Zero Blitz? Liger Blitz? Blitz Liger's?" Kano suggested.

"I like all those, but I feel we can take time to figure out the name still. Everyone can think about it." Toros said.

"Agreed. This is a big decision." Bella said.

"Well how about you all go home and rest up. Tomorrow we can all meet back here. Then maybe start training a little. Once I see how well you three are then maybe I can make my decision on being your manager." Toros told them.
They all nodded in agreement. The group stood up and bowed to Dr. Toros. "Thank you for your hospitality." They all said.

"It was my pleasure." Toros bowed back. "Let me lead you all out."

The group then followed Dr. Toros through the hideout and back into the hanger. Liger saw Bella and made a small growling noise. Bella smiled at him. They walked down the steps and past Liger. Liger soon started to follow the group.

Bella turned to him, "I'm sorry boy you have to stay here." She told him.

Liger let out a little sad growl and stopped walking.

"Bella." Toros called from up above. "Take him home with you. Just for tonight. I'm sure he'd like being out and somewhere new. Just bring him right back tomorrow." He told her.

Bella got excited. Liger could come home with her! She looked back at her dad and he gave a nod to her. Bella ran to Liger as he lowered his head and opened his cockpit. Bella jumped inside and buckled up.

"Thank you Doc. I appreciate this so much. I promise to bring him back." She looked at Blake, "Thanks dad for letting me take him home."

Blake nodded, "Of course dear. We'll meet you back home."

"Why can't we go with her in Liger?" Zoey asked.

"Liger is a one person Zoid. We wouldn't fit." Kano told her.

The three all got in the car and drove off. Bella waited till they got out of the hanger and down the road a little.

"Let's go Liger." Bella said to him.

Liger let out a small roar and then took off in a run.

Dr. Toros watched as Liger left the hanger. "I see great potential in that girl and I think Liger does too." He turned and walked back inside. Hitting the button to close the hanger doors.

Bella ran with Liger, they eventually caught up to her dad and friends. He dad called and his face popped up on the screen in the cockpit. "You better have a good explanation for your mother when you get home." He said to her.

"I'll tell her everything dad. Don't worry." Bella said as she rolled her eyes.

"Good. Plus it's a good thing we have room in the hangar for Liger or I would have said no." Blake pointed out.

"Could have left your Zoid at the station." Bella suggested.

"Then I'd need your car to go to work and I don't think you'd want to take Liger out to school and leave him in town." Blake told her.

"You have a point. Liger needs to stay a secret...for now. I don't want anything bad happening to him." Bella said.

"I'll take your friends home Bella and I'll meet you at home, ok?" Blake told her.

"Are you ok with that dad?" Bella asked to make sure.

"We don't mind Bella." She heard Kano say.

"Well...Ok. If you're sure." Bella said, still unsure. "I'll see you at home." She then activated Ligers boosters and she took off down the road and into the woods.

She felt so free. Liger handled like a dream and him helping her out to understand him better, make it feel so amazing. She was excited to learn more about Liger and I'm sure he would help her along the way.

Soon Bella saw her house in view and slowed Liger down so that he didn't knock the house over. She slowly guided him into the hangar and parked him in between her dad's, Bravejaguar, and her mom's, Orudios. She got out of the cockpit and jumped down. She looked up at Liger with a smile.

"You'll be safe here boy. I promise nothing will happen to you." Bella said up to him.

Liger put his head down and put his nose up against her. She hugged the big Zoid.

"Isabella?" She heard her name being called.

Bella turned around and looked to see her mom coming out of the house, Rider wasn't far behind her. They ran up to the hangar but slowed down when they looked up at Liger

"Bella, what is that and why do you have it here?" Her mom asked her.

"That's Liger Zero!" Rider cheered and ran up to the Zoid. "Wow. He so big."

Bella laughed at her brother's enthusiasm. She knew he enjoyed Zoids just as much as she did. Rider touched Liger's nose that was still down towards the ground.

"Isabella Jade Sky, answer my question." Amanda demanded.

Bella flinched at her mom calling her by her full name and turned to her. "Mom, as Rider said it's Liger Zero. It's the same exact Liger Grandpa Sky use to pilot."

"How can I believe you instead of just assumed you convinced your father to buy you a Zoid?" Amanda asked putting her hands on her hips.

"They don't make this model of Liger anymore. He is a very old Zoid. Plus he has a higher form of AI than any other Zoid. I found Grandpa Sky's old team hangout and met his old friend who still owned Liger. Doc said I could take him home with me tonight so I can get used to piloting him. I plan to take him back tomorrow after school." Bella explained.

"Wait wait wait. Pilot him? As in learning to battle?" Amanda asked.

"Yes! Zoey, Kano and I plan to make ourselves a team with our Zoids. We plan on joining in the Zoids Battle fields after we graduate. Liger is mine now technically. He belonged to Grandpa Sky and now he is my responsibility. Didn't dad tell you where he was going with me today?" Bella told her.

"No, you know your father. He tells me nothing. Where is he by the way?" Her mom wondered.

"He took Zoey and Kano home in the car since I took Liger home." Bella answered.

"I'll talk with your father when he gets home. For now you and Rider both head inside." Amanda ordered.

"Yes ma'am." They both said.

Liger lifted his head up as the two kids walked away and headed into the house.

Amanda looked up at Liger a moment. The Zoid turned his head to her and gave a small growl noise. Amanda was taken aback by the action and ran back inside. Liger was confused by the human but paid no mind, he didn't mean to scare her.

In the morning Bella awoke earlier than normal and she quickly got dressed. She headed downstairs and into the kitchen to eat something before school. She put a bagel in the toaster and when it was done she grabbed it and ran out the door. She ran to the hangar and to her luck, Liger was still there, safe and sound.

Bella heard her dad come home not long after she was in her room. She heard her mom and dad talking downstairs and Blake managed to explain everything to Amanda about what happened. At the end of it all, she believed it all and was happy that Bella was following her dream of being a Zoids Warrior and had an opportunity soon to be on a team.

Bella walked up to Liger, "Morning Liger." She greeted the Zoid.

Liger opened his mouth and let out a happy growl to see the girl. He put his head down to her level.

Bella sat on the ground. "I am actually up early for school but I wanted to come out to see you." Bella told him as she took a bite of her bagel. "I'm excited to be graduating soon." She swallowed her bite, "Hopefully I can focus today. I'm too excited for after school to do our first practice. Hopefully Doc can get Kano's Blade Liger working."

Liger gave out a hum in agreement at the statement.

"I bet you're excited to. Get back out on the battlefield and stuff." Bella said. "I am still having trouble thinking of a team name though. I was up all night thinking of one. I'm sure one will hit me at some point.

Liger let out a long growl in approval.

"I'll admit Liger. I'm a little scared. I know that sounds weird coming from me but I'll admit that graduating and jumping right into the Zoids battle field is definitely different then it will be in a simulator." Bella looked up at Liger. "I'm definitely confident though, because I have you." Bella chuckled. "I know that sounds cheesy and I've only known you three days, but when I am with you. I feel like I can do anything."

Liger gave a little growl that sounded like a laugh.

Bella laughed with him, "You're definitely interesting Liger." Bella finished her last bite of her bagel and stood up. "I'll see you later boy. I'll be home right after school. You stay here and behave yourself ok."

Liger gave out a hum as an answer.

Bella jumped in her car and drove to school. She already couldn't wait till school was over to get back home.

Dr. Toros got to town and headed Kano's Dad's shop. He looked down at the piece of paper in hand that had the address written on it just to double check. "Delta and Sons Zoid Garage" the paper read. He looked up and soon saw a sign that said the same. Toros walked inside and he was greeted by a green haired handyman that was covered in oil. He had a patch on his one pieces that said, Gino.

"May I help you sir?" He asked.

Toros turned to him, "Yes I am here to see your boss. Mr. Drake Delta."

Gino nodded. "Wait here sir and I'll go get him." He walked back inside the main hangar of the shop.

Soon a middle-aged man wearing an oil covered one piece walked in, he was wiping his hands clean with a rag and put it back in his pocket. "You asked for me sir? Drake at your service." He held his hand out to him

Toros took the man's hand and shook it. "I did, I am friends with your son, Kano. I hope he told you about me and how I was stopping by today."

They took their hands back.

"Ah, Dr. Steve Toros right? Yes my son told me all about you when he returned home last night. I couldn't get the boy to shut up." Drake chuckled at the last part. "Yes come on in and I'll take you back to my son's pride and joy. Or as I like to say, my pain in the ass."

Drake took Toros back into the shop and past a few Zoids that were being worked on. He went through a door and down a hallway. There was some plastic at the end of the hallway. Drake pulled it back and gestured Toros to go inside. Toros walked past him and was soon in an empty warehouse looking area. Drake flipped on the lights and there it was in front of him, the Black Blade Liger.

Parts were scattered around the Zoid and some blue prints sat on a small table.

"It's beautiful!" Toros said as he walked up to the Zoid.

"Oh yes, it was my dad's back in the day. Although it was mainly used for war back then. When he died he gave it to Kano because he knew that he loved it so much. You should have seen the thing before he fixed it up. Almost the whole body was rusted, but that boy has the magic touch." Drake told him. "Kano has spent years fixing this beauty up. He saved money for years. When he had enough he would order the part and have it shipped here. The kid was so persistent. He never gave up."

Toros looked at the Blade Liger and studied it a little bit.

"Do you know what all still needs to be done to it? Does it move?" Toros asked.

"It's needs new blades still." He laughed. "A Blade Liger with no blades. The old ones where to broke and it's the most expensive part because of what they are made of. It can move but not for too long. We think the battery core or something might be bad in it. The double barrel shock cannon needs to be replaced as well." Drake sighed, "Kano is so close but these last few parts make it hard for him."

Toros was thinking as Drake talked, "Do you have the parts here for the Blade Liger?" He asked.

Drake was taken aback by the question, "Oh yes of course, but Kano can't just take them. I have him pay for the parts when he has the money. For a small discount since he's my son."

Toros turned to the man, "Did Kano tell you he wishes to be a Zoid warrior?"

Drake nodded, "Oh yea, many many times. Since he was a kid. Why?"

"Well I plan to help him out a little. If I pay for the parts that is needed for his blade liger can you have your workers put them on before Kano gets out of school?" Toros asked.

Drake looked at Dr. Toros wide eyed, "I-I-I guess so, but that's a lot of money Doc."

"I'm aware. Just tell me the bill and I'll cover it." He told Drake. "I plan to help your son and his friends achieve their goals of being Zoid warriors. First thing's first though, their Zoids need to be in tip top shape. I planned to help Kano when he told me about the Blade Liger and all his hard work. I'll even help your guys out a little with doing this. We can even run the upgrades for it." Toros held out his hand to the man, "We have a deal?"

"Deal." Drake took Toros's hand and shook it. "Thank you Doc. This will mean the world to me boy." He put his arm around Toros. "Let's head back to my office and crunch the numbers shall we?"

Toros nodded and followed the man out back to the main part of the building. Doc was going to help this young team become fighters. He could just feel it. This was the right thing to do on the path to success.