Fangs of a Zaber

[Crimson]

Chapter 3 – The Ring of Red

The stage was set. Jason had to leave this valley to continue his search for a viable team to join and the Fierce Zabers had to retain a little bit of their pride from losing the battle to the Desert Wolves.

“Alright Crimson, how you expect to get past the three of us?” Kirkland said in a snide manner.

“Oh that is simple you dumbass. I am going to blast my way past you bunch of flunkies and get out of here.” Jason said as he prepared his Zaber for battle.

“Ohh...flunkies? We will see about that. Bring it!”

“With pleasure.” Jason said as he started up his boosters and headed towards Lineback. He knew the Fierce Zabers for a while now and he knows that Lineback is the weakest link of the trio. Jason figured that if he could reduce their numbers, he have a significantly better chance of winning this impromptu battle. Jason got to Lineback in no time, and unleashed on him with his Shock Cannon. Lineback didn’t have much time to react due to the speed at which Jason arrived to his position.

“How…how did you get here so fast?!”

“I used my boosters evidently you twit.”

“Aw man, things are looking bad from here.”

“Damn right they are.” Jason said as he struck Lineback with the claws of his Zaber Fang. While Jason was preoccupied with Lineback, Kirkland and Omari got Jason themselves in his blind spot. Jason’s Zaber hit the ground hard. The Trio of yellow Zabers stood confident as the dust dispersed from around Jason. Jason staggered his Zaber back to its feet and shook off the excess dust.

“Think you got me huh?” Jason asked out of frustration.

“Think, oh we know we got you. There is no way in hell you will past the three of us.”

“Okay, we will see about that. I am not called the Crimson Fang for nothing.”

Jason activated his boosters and jumped over the three Zabers, pivoted around quickly and fired his Beam Cannon at Lineback. Jason still wanted to take out Lineback to push the numbers closer to his favor. The thin, piercing beam of energy streaked at Lineback and hit Lineback’s Zaber on the shoulder making the leg all but useless.

“Argh dammit. I am very close to being out of commission guys. I won’t be much help for the remainder of this thing.” Lineback said with some disappointment in his voice.

“It is alright Lineback, you did fine. We will get this guy…he isn’t getting away from the Fierce Zaber Fangs!” Kirkland said trying to reassure his friend and teammate.

“Omari, let’s get ‘em!”

“Alright Kirkland, let’s show him the true power of the Fierce Zabers!”

Kirkland and Omari turned and began to push towards Jason with increased ferocity. They split up in an attempt to catch Jason on both flanks. Jason noticed this and fired his Shock Cannon at Omari to take him off his path, then immediately ran straight ahead to split their offensive.

“Good strategy you flunkies, but you guys aren’t executing it correctly.” Jason said as he successfully split the offensive of Kirkland and Omari. Jason pivoted around and took aim on Omari.

“I got you know Omari!”

“Don’t think so Crimson.” A beam of energy came whizzing at Crimson and came in contact with his Zaber’s hind leg knee joint.

“Ugh, Lineback, you bastard, I thought you were out of commission.” Jason said as he cursed himself.

“I said I was –almost- out of commission. I can still move, but I only have three functional legs.” Lineback said as he came trudging up to Jason. “Looks like you are the one that is near out of commission now Crimson.”

Kirkland, Omari, and Lineback all surround the wounded Zaber Fang, stalking it like it is their prey. They are feeling a great high knowing that they grounded the fabled Crimson Fang. All that was left to do was finish the job.

“We are going to damage your Zoid so bad it will not be recognized by any means.” Kirkland said with his anger increasing. “You will be sorry for costing us that battle against the Desert Wolves.”

“Yea Crimson, time to break your…AHH!” Omari was cut short when his Zaber Fang was struck by a piercing bullet

“What the hell was that?!” Kirkland blurted out.

“Strike Laser Claw!” Just as Kirkland turned around to see what was happening, his Zaber Fang was struck with a vicious attack that ripped his Beam Cannon clear off the body of his Zoid.

“BIT?!” Jason said out of excitement.

“Bit? Ha, I guess you also forgot my Zoid can perform that attack too eh?

“Wait…I know that voice…Brad?”

“Yup Brad, in the flesh. We were passing through and we heard gunfire and was came to see what was going on. We saw you were in trouble and decided to help.” Brad said after he successfully disabled Kirkland.

“We? Who this we you are referring too?” Omari said out of fear and bewilderment.

“He meant me…goodbye.” That was the last thing Omari heard before his Zaber was shot down from a considerable range. The bullet pierced straight through the Zaber without much effort. Omari and his Zoid hit the ground with a great impact that caused dirt to scatter.

“Oh God no…Naomi Fleugel, the Red Comet?!” Omari uttered before he collapsed in the cockpit.

“Heh, those guys are chumps.” Naomi said as she took her Gun Sniper out of sniper mode, and gazed upon the battlefield. “Brad, there is one more Zaber Fang to your right. It has only three good legs; you will make short work of it.”

“Gotcha Naomi” Brad said as he turned his Zoid around and chased down the injured Zaber and took it out with a combination of his Gatling Gun and claws. Brad turned back and approached Jason and his downed Zaber. Brad got out of his Zoid, as did Jason.

“Jason, long time no see man.”

“That it has been Brad, glad to see you know though.” Jason said with a good laugh.

“Yea, exactly why were Kirkland and crew attacking you in the first place?”

“Long story short, I am looking for a team to join and I accepted to help them to get my feet wet in the ways of team battle, but they got defeated so fast that I was outnumbered three to one against the team we were facing and I forfeited. I wasn’t risking my Zoid for them.”

“I see, so they attacked you out of revenge?”

“Exactly, but that is in the past.” Jason said as he gazed up to check out Brad’s Zoid. “What exactly is that Brad? It looks like the Shadow Fox, but it is different.” Jason said out of bewilderment.

“Well essentially, it is the Shadow Fox, but it is improved now. I upgraded the armor and gave it an improved Gatling Gun on the back. I decided the color the armor Red because of Naomi. She insisted…” Brad said glancing back at Naomi up on the Cliffside. “I would like you to meet my new Zoid, the Fire Fox”

“That is very cool Brad.”

Naomi came skidding down the Cliffside to join up with Brad and Jason. Her Gun Sniper was a dinosaur type Zoid that specialized in long range combat. Back in the day Naomi Fleugel was referred to as the Red Comet because, much like Jason now, she was a solo pilot and was well versed in 1-on-1 battles. Now she has a team, the Fleugel Team, which is very successful. At first it was her and Leon Toros, son of Doc, but now it is her and Brad.

“The Crimson Fang, fancy seeing you here” Naomi said hopping out of the Gun Sniper.

“Hey Naomi, thanks for the help back there. Things were looking grim.”

“Looks like even the greats succumb to the numbers game eventually”

“Heh, I guess so…” Jason said feeling a little embarrassed.

“Anyways, I saw your bulletin about you looking for a team to join, and based on what I see before me here…looks like the Fierce Zaber Fangs just couldn’t cut it for a man of your stature. So how about you come join me and Brad here on the Fleugel Team?”

“Seriously?” Jason said in a state of confusion.

“Yes, with you on the team I know we will soar through what Rank A has to offer in preparation of the next Royal Cup.”

“I will be honored to join up with you and Brad. Is that ok with you Brad?” Jason asked looking for both of their approval.

“Yea, it’s cool with me as long as I get paid of course.” Brad responded in a way true to his mercenary ways. Brad was a mercenary when he joined up with the Blitz Team a long while back. He will only accept battle challenges that have a good payment involved.

“Alright cool, now that that is settled, let’s get Crimson’s Zaber to the transport.” Naomi said in an approving manner.

“Please, Naomi, call me Jason. All my friends call me Jason. Also, my Zaber Fang is fine to walk to your transport. It will be at a much slower rate though.”

“Ok Jason, hop in your Zaber and we will meet you at the transport. It is just at the end of the valley. Go though this gorge here and you will see it. We are going to go up ahead and make space for your Zoid in the holding space of the transport.” Naomi said while she pointed to the specified gorge.

“Ok, see you there.” Jason said with a huge smile on his face.

“The Fleugel Team eh? What you think of that Zaber?” Jason said looking up at his Zoid. The Zaber Fang let out a mighty roar that echo through the valley.

“Heh, I will take that as a ‘yes’…good. Looks like things are looking up for us.”