THE CONVENTION
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, so I make no money of this, please don't sue me, I got laid off a month ago, and need all the money I can get.
********************
CHAPTER ONE.
"This is so exciting."
"You've never been to one of these before?"
"This is my first one."
Leena Toros flung another pair of shorts into her suitcase, itself already overflowing with outfits, from T-Shirts, pants, shorts, and next to it lay a full bag containing a sleek dress.
"Do you need this many outfits, Leena?" Said the young man standing by her door.
"Of course, Bit! This is a big deal! I have to look my best."
"Okay." Bit Cloud sighed, turning his head towards the wall. He had been standing here for the last twenty minutes, waiting for Leena to pick out all the clothes she was going to take.
"This only takes place every four years, all the latest Zoid technology will be displayed, from new guns, to tactical and scanning systems, to new style Zoids! There'll be attractions to go to, there's a huge pool, a beach, and hundreds of restaurants! As a member of an S-class team I need to make a good impression." Leena said, clutching the pamphlet. Bit held up his own, and had to admit, it looked like it was going to be quite a week.
"The Twentieth annual Imperial City Zoid convention." Bit said nonchalantly. The picture on the front was incredibly impressive. It showed a huge hotel, called the "The Royal Sultan," and next to it where what looked like hundreds of buildings and display domes, Zoid test areas, and other exhibits, the hotel was situated right next to a beautiful beach. Leena's father, Dr. Toros, was doing a presentation on his new customized weapon, and thruster systems, and was even getting a friar's club roast.
Actually, Bit was very excited about this himself, or would be, if not for the fact that Leena was taking so long to get ready. He looked down at his own suitcase, and duffle bag. He already had enough clothes for a week, which was how long this was going to last. If Leena didn't hurry, the convention would be over when they got there.
"Okay." Leena said shutting the suitcase.
"Finally, so let's get going." Bit said, taking up his case, and bag.
"Bit, silly, That's just the clothing bag, now I have to handle the cosmetics bag."
Bit Cloud lowered his head and sighed.
********************
"It's about time." Brad Hunter stood near the door to the hover cargo, his own suitcase in his hands. Coming toward him was Leena, carrying only a small duffle bag, behind her was Bit, weighted down with his own suitcase, and bag, along with Leena's two, and a duffle bag hanging around his neck.
"Just making a few last minute changes, Brad, we're all ready to go." Leena said, stepping into the hover cargo. Brad looked at Bit, who had a pleading look in his eyes. Brad took a few bags off of his comrade, and both stepped inside. Bit and Brad put their bags inside a personal storage area, and headed for the lounge. It would take an hour to get to Imperial City, and they had time to kill.
Leena was sitting at the table, looking over her pamphlet again.
"I wonder what new Gunsniper upgrades they'll have there?" She said.
"Doesn't your Zoid have enough guns as it is?" Brad asked.
"Come now Brad, one can never have enough guns." Leena said with a sophisticated air.
"Yeah, if she didn't have all those guns, she might have to actually plan for a battle." Bit said nonchalantly, right before a metal popcorn bowl flew into his face, knocking him and his chair over.
"What do you mean by THAT Bit?" Leena said through her clenched teeth.
"N…nothing, nothing at all, heh heh heh." Bit said, rubbing his forehead. He got up and made for the small fridge near the corner. Brad sighed, and tried to tone out whatever was going to happen here. "I'm gonna go check out my Shadowfox."
With this Brad left the lounge, and Bit very carefully sat down again, being very careful not to shake the table or do anything else that might upset Leena.
*********************
"I am surprised…no no…I am honored to receive this…no no…I can not believe that I of all people is considered worthy of…no no."
Jamie turned away from Dr. Toros, who was currently pacing back and forth at the end of the control room, trying to find the perfect opening for his speech.
"My, my, I just can't believe that…no no."
"Hey Doc." Said Jamie, causing Dr. Toros to turn away from his speech preparation.
"Why don't you take a break, your award dinner isn't until Wednesday anyway. You got four days." Jamie said, not mentioning the fact that his preparing was driving him crazy. The doc had been doing this for the last hour anyway.
"Now, now Jamie, I'm receiving a very prestigious award, and my speech must be perfect. The sooner I get it done the better."
'My thoughts exactly.' Jamie thought.
"Of course that's only the first draft, then I have the proofreading, the second draft, and the final draft." Jamie face-faulted, but got up quickly.
"Do you really need to do all that, Doc?"
"It's how the professionals do it, and with an award as prestigious as this, my speech must reek of pure professionalism. Any thing less would be…unprofessional." The doc said, looking skyward dramatically.
"Whatever you say Doc." Jamie said, hoping the doc wouldn't say "Professional" again.
"Now then, back to the business at hand. I would like to thank…no no, I am pleased to accept…no no…I am shocked and surprised…no no."
Jamie turned around and settled down for the long trip.
********************
"We're here! Imperial City." Leena jumped out of her seat, and rushed to the window. She could see the outer wall of the city now. Over the top of it, where many towering buildings, and skyscrapers. The outer wall stretched for over two miles, with several large gates at various intervals. Suddenly, Jamie's voice came over the intercom.
"Everybody , we've arrived at Imperial City. Get your things, cause we'll be leaving the hover cargo outside the city walls."
Leena looked around and saw a huge hanger/warehouse off to the side. Then, Dr. Toros voice took over.
"Okay everyone, I'll be driving the car into the hotel, but the rest of you will be taking your Zoids in through the Zoid entrance, remember to put them in hanger sixteen, in area 527, it will say "Blitz Team" on the overhang. Remember to tell the guards your team name and number, and pass number."
"Come on Bit." Grabbing her teammates hand and literally dragging him to the storage area. She slung a duffle bag over her shoulder and began to walk off.
"Hey, Leena, what about all this other stuff?" Bit called from behind her.
"Get those for me, would you Bit?"
"But…but…" It was too late, and she was gone. Bit looked down at the mountain of suitcases, and though to himself.
'I should just take my own, let her come back and get hers by herself. Yeah! That would show her.' Bit stared down again for a few moments, before sighing, and picking it all up.
Bit somehow managed to maneuver his way through the halls and into the Zoid hanger. Dumping Leena's luggage unceremoniously in front of her Gunsniper, and carrying his own to the Liger 0. In a few minutes, three land Zoids and one flight Zoid where headed towards a large entrance.
********************
"Bit Cloud, Blitz Team I.D. 5547, Pass no. 2254"
"Jamie Hemeros, Blitz Team I.D. 5466, Pass No. 2255
"Leena Toros, Blitz Team I.D. 5401, Pass no. 2256"
"Brad Hunter, Mercenary class Blitz Team I.D. 5347, Pass No. 2257."
"……All I.D. numbers pass, You may enter." With this, the huge gate opened, revealing a long lined street set against the outskirts of the beach.
"There it is guys." Bit said over the com. The Royal Sultan rose majestically in the air as the four Zoids ran along this walkway. Bit could see another group of Zoids enter the gate behind them. Soon they where in site of the main Zoid hanger. Bit stopped Liger next to the door, and jumped out, hitting a few buttons on a plate by the door, and it slid slowly open.
********************
Now the four of them where riding a visitors cart to the main hotel.
"The minute we get settled in, I'm going to put on my bikini and hit the beach."
"Hey, the convention doesn't really start till tomorrow, right?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah, but Dr. Toros wanted to get here early to set up his own presentation." Brad said.
"What are you looking forward to the most, Brad?" Bit asked.
"I don't know, really, I've been to one of these before. They do have an excellent Zoid fighting arena."
"What happens there?"
"Well, you can challenge another Zoid pilot to a one-on-one fight, you can use any new technology you might have purchased. Sadly, the fights don't get you any points or prize money, it's just to test your skills."
"That sucks. What's the point of fighting if you can't win anything?" Asked Leena.
"Not everyone fights for money, though I know it's strange to hear me of all people say that, some fight for sport, some fight because they feel they have to." Said Brad.
"Me, I always felt a drive, you know, the minute I saw a Zoid fight, I knew it was what I wanted to do." Said Bit.
"Whatever, me, I could never really get into a fight if I wasn't receiving anything for it." Said Leena.
"Whatever works for you, Leena." Bit said, turning his gaze back to the beach.
"Hey, Jamie, check this!" Said Bit.
"What?"
"They're even gonna have a Raynos race! You should get in, man."
"Yeah, you should!" Said Leena.
"I don't think so guys. Those guys go awfully fast." Said Jamie nervously.
"What are you talking about, man?" Said Bit.
"Yeah, like you can't handle fast speeds, eh, Wild Eagle?" Leena teased him, elbowing him lightly in the arm.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jamie said.
"Fine, if you wanna keep your identity secret go ahead." Bit said, smiling. Leena chuckled under her breath, and Jamie stared at both of them, and sighed. He liked his friends dearly, but sometimes he had no idea what they where talking about.
*******************
"We're finally here." Said a robotic voice, as a limo pulled up to the hotel entrance.
"My but it's been awhile since we where last in this city."
The door opened and a pair of robots left the limo. They both stepped aside, and unrolled a red carpet from the limo's door. Out stepped a young man, and woman.
"Ah, I suppose it is good for us to come and mingle with the common folk every once in awhile." Said Mary Champ. Behind her, a young man had a pamphlet clutched in his hands.
"She's here, her father is receiving an award so she has to come!"
"Whatever, Harry. It's a long way to come just to be near some girl."
"No distance is too great. She is my only love, and soon she will be my queen. The queen of Harry Champ, he who is destined to be king!"
*******************
Elsewhere, inside the one of the huge show domes set up for the convention, a man stands before a huge viewscreen, the scene reflected against the entire inside of the dome.
"Everything is set up?"
"Yes sir. The Striking Stars team just arrived." Said the man on the screen. The man in the dome wore a white coat, covering up a shirt and tie, and a pair of slacks. He had the look of a scientist. The man on the screen was a young man, no older than Bit, he had long dark black hair, tied in a ponytail, with sharp crystal blue eyes. He wore a tight pilots uniform.
"Excellent. This will be the ultimate exhibit. Let's see any of these other new model Zoids match up to the StarFlare, the first space Zoid!" The image of the man widened, and revealed a huge machine behind him. A zoid built in the image of a stylized bird of prey. It had a hawkish face, and wings that curved forward in a crescent shape, along with a pair of clawed feet underneath and near the end. No guns could be seen on it.
"Not just the debut of the Starflare, sir. Also the debut of me, Darren Solar, the White Phantom!"
TO BE CONTINUED.
Well, what do you guys think of it so far?
By: Matt Taylor
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, so I make no money of this, please don't sue me, I got laid off a month ago, and need all the money I can get.
********************
CHAPTER ONE.
"This is so exciting."
"You've never been to one of these before?"
"This is my first one."
Leena Toros flung another pair of shorts into her suitcase, itself already overflowing with outfits, from T-Shirts, pants, shorts, and next to it lay a full bag containing a sleek dress.
"Do you need this many outfits, Leena?" Said the young man standing by her door.
"Of course, Bit! This is a big deal! I have to look my best."
"Okay." Bit Cloud sighed, turning his head towards the wall. He had been standing here for the last twenty minutes, waiting for Leena to pick out all the clothes she was going to take.
"This only takes place every four years, all the latest Zoid technology will be displayed, from new guns, to tactical and scanning systems, to new style Zoids! There'll be attractions to go to, there's a huge pool, a beach, and hundreds of restaurants! As a member of an S-class team I need to make a good impression." Leena said, clutching the pamphlet. Bit held up his own, and had to admit, it looked like it was going to be quite a week.
"The Twentieth annual Imperial City Zoid convention." Bit said nonchalantly. The picture on the front was incredibly impressive. It showed a huge hotel, called the "The Royal Sultan," and next to it where what looked like hundreds of buildings and display domes, Zoid test areas, and other exhibits, the hotel was situated right next to a beautiful beach. Leena's father, Dr. Toros, was doing a presentation on his new customized weapon, and thruster systems, and was even getting a friar's club roast.
Actually, Bit was very excited about this himself, or would be, if not for the fact that Leena was taking so long to get ready. He looked down at his own suitcase, and duffle bag. He already had enough clothes for a week, which was how long this was going to last. If Leena didn't hurry, the convention would be over when they got there.
"Okay." Leena said shutting the suitcase.
"Finally, so let's get going." Bit said, taking up his case, and bag.
"Bit, silly, That's just the clothing bag, now I have to handle the cosmetics bag."
Bit Cloud lowered his head and sighed.
********************
"It's about time." Brad Hunter stood near the door to the hover cargo, his own suitcase in his hands. Coming toward him was Leena, carrying only a small duffle bag, behind her was Bit, weighted down with his own suitcase, and bag, along with Leena's two, and a duffle bag hanging around his neck.
"Just making a few last minute changes, Brad, we're all ready to go." Leena said, stepping into the hover cargo. Brad looked at Bit, who had a pleading look in his eyes. Brad took a few bags off of his comrade, and both stepped inside. Bit and Brad put their bags inside a personal storage area, and headed for the lounge. It would take an hour to get to Imperial City, and they had time to kill.
Leena was sitting at the table, looking over her pamphlet again.
"I wonder what new Gunsniper upgrades they'll have there?" She said.
"Doesn't your Zoid have enough guns as it is?" Brad asked.
"Come now Brad, one can never have enough guns." Leena said with a sophisticated air.
"Yeah, if she didn't have all those guns, she might have to actually plan for a battle." Bit said nonchalantly, right before a metal popcorn bowl flew into his face, knocking him and his chair over.
"What do you mean by THAT Bit?" Leena said through her clenched teeth.
"N…nothing, nothing at all, heh heh heh." Bit said, rubbing his forehead. He got up and made for the small fridge near the corner. Brad sighed, and tried to tone out whatever was going to happen here. "I'm gonna go check out my Shadowfox."
With this Brad left the lounge, and Bit very carefully sat down again, being very careful not to shake the table or do anything else that might upset Leena.
*********************
"I am surprised…no no…I am honored to receive this…no no…I can not believe that I of all people is considered worthy of…no no."
Jamie turned away from Dr. Toros, who was currently pacing back and forth at the end of the control room, trying to find the perfect opening for his speech.
"My, my, I just can't believe that…no no."
"Hey Doc." Said Jamie, causing Dr. Toros to turn away from his speech preparation.
"Why don't you take a break, your award dinner isn't until Wednesday anyway. You got four days." Jamie said, not mentioning the fact that his preparing was driving him crazy. The doc had been doing this for the last hour anyway.
"Now, now Jamie, I'm receiving a very prestigious award, and my speech must be perfect. The sooner I get it done the better."
'My thoughts exactly.' Jamie thought.
"Of course that's only the first draft, then I have the proofreading, the second draft, and the final draft." Jamie face-faulted, but got up quickly.
"Do you really need to do all that, Doc?"
"It's how the professionals do it, and with an award as prestigious as this, my speech must reek of pure professionalism. Any thing less would be…unprofessional." The doc said, looking skyward dramatically.
"Whatever you say Doc." Jamie said, hoping the doc wouldn't say "Professional" again.
"Now then, back to the business at hand. I would like to thank…no no, I am pleased to accept…no no…I am shocked and surprised…no no."
Jamie turned around and settled down for the long trip.
********************
"We're here! Imperial City." Leena jumped out of her seat, and rushed to the window. She could see the outer wall of the city now. Over the top of it, where many towering buildings, and skyscrapers. The outer wall stretched for over two miles, with several large gates at various intervals. Suddenly, Jamie's voice came over the intercom.
"Everybody , we've arrived at Imperial City. Get your things, cause we'll be leaving the hover cargo outside the city walls."
Leena looked around and saw a huge hanger/warehouse off to the side. Then, Dr. Toros voice took over.
"Okay everyone, I'll be driving the car into the hotel, but the rest of you will be taking your Zoids in through the Zoid entrance, remember to put them in hanger sixteen, in area 527, it will say "Blitz Team" on the overhang. Remember to tell the guards your team name and number, and pass number."
"Come on Bit." Grabbing her teammates hand and literally dragging him to the storage area. She slung a duffle bag over her shoulder and began to walk off.
"Hey, Leena, what about all this other stuff?" Bit called from behind her.
"Get those for me, would you Bit?"
"But…but…" It was too late, and she was gone. Bit looked down at the mountain of suitcases, and though to himself.
'I should just take my own, let her come back and get hers by herself. Yeah! That would show her.' Bit stared down again for a few moments, before sighing, and picking it all up.
Bit somehow managed to maneuver his way through the halls and into the Zoid hanger. Dumping Leena's luggage unceremoniously in front of her Gunsniper, and carrying his own to the Liger 0. In a few minutes, three land Zoids and one flight Zoid where headed towards a large entrance.
********************
"Bit Cloud, Blitz Team I.D. 5547, Pass no. 2254"
"Jamie Hemeros, Blitz Team I.D. 5466, Pass No. 2255
"Leena Toros, Blitz Team I.D. 5401, Pass no. 2256"
"Brad Hunter, Mercenary class Blitz Team I.D. 5347, Pass No. 2257."
"……All I.D. numbers pass, You may enter." With this, the huge gate opened, revealing a long lined street set against the outskirts of the beach.
"There it is guys." Bit said over the com. The Royal Sultan rose majestically in the air as the four Zoids ran along this walkway. Bit could see another group of Zoids enter the gate behind them. Soon they where in site of the main Zoid hanger. Bit stopped Liger next to the door, and jumped out, hitting a few buttons on a plate by the door, and it slid slowly open.
********************
Now the four of them where riding a visitors cart to the main hotel.
"The minute we get settled in, I'm going to put on my bikini and hit the beach."
"Hey, the convention doesn't really start till tomorrow, right?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah, but Dr. Toros wanted to get here early to set up his own presentation." Brad said.
"What are you looking forward to the most, Brad?" Bit asked.
"I don't know, really, I've been to one of these before. They do have an excellent Zoid fighting arena."
"What happens there?"
"Well, you can challenge another Zoid pilot to a one-on-one fight, you can use any new technology you might have purchased. Sadly, the fights don't get you any points or prize money, it's just to test your skills."
"That sucks. What's the point of fighting if you can't win anything?" Asked Leena.
"Not everyone fights for money, though I know it's strange to hear me of all people say that, some fight for sport, some fight because they feel they have to." Said Brad.
"Me, I always felt a drive, you know, the minute I saw a Zoid fight, I knew it was what I wanted to do." Said Bit.
"Whatever, me, I could never really get into a fight if I wasn't receiving anything for it." Said Leena.
"Whatever works for you, Leena." Bit said, turning his gaze back to the beach.
"Hey, Jamie, check this!" Said Bit.
"What?"
"They're even gonna have a Raynos race! You should get in, man."
"Yeah, you should!" Said Leena.
"I don't think so guys. Those guys go awfully fast." Said Jamie nervously.
"What are you talking about, man?" Said Bit.
"Yeah, like you can't handle fast speeds, eh, Wild Eagle?" Leena teased him, elbowing him lightly in the arm.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jamie said.
"Fine, if you wanna keep your identity secret go ahead." Bit said, smiling. Leena chuckled under her breath, and Jamie stared at both of them, and sighed. He liked his friends dearly, but sometimes he had no idea what they where talking about.
*******************
"We're finally here." Said a robotic voice, as a limo pulled up to the hotel entrance.
"My but it's been awhile since we where last in this city."
The door opened and a pair of robots left the limo. They both stepped aside, and unrolled a red carpet from the limo's door. Out stepped a young man, and woman.
"Ah, I suppose it is good for us to come and mingle with the common folk every once in awhile." Said Mary Champ. Behind her, a young man had a pamphlet clutched in his hands.
"She's here, her father is receiving an award so she has to come!"
"Whatever, Harry. It's a long way to come just to be near some girl."
"No distance is too great. She is my only love, and soon she will be my queen. The queen of Harry Champ, he who is destined to be king!"
*******************
Elsewhere, inside the one of the huge show domes set up for the convention, a man stands before a huge viewscreen, the scene reflected against the entire inside of the dome.
"Everything is set up?"
"Yes sir. The Striking Stars team just arrived." Said the man on the screen. The man in the dome wore a white coat, covering up a shirt and tie, and a pair of slacks. He had the look of a scientist. The man on the screen was a young man, no older than Bit, he had long dark black hair, tied in a ponytail, with sharp crystal blue eyes. He wore a tight pilots uniform.
"Excellent. This will be the ultimate exhibit. Let's see any of these other new model Zoids match up to the StarFlare, the first space Zoid!" The image of the man widened, and revealed a huge machine behind him. A zoid built in the image of a stylized bird of prey. It had a hawkish face, and wings that curved forward in a crescent shape, along with a pair of clawed feet underneath and near the end. No guns could be seen on it.
"Not just the debut of the Starflare, sir. Also the debut of me, Darren Solar, the White Phantom!"
TO BE CONTINUED.
Well, what do you guys think of it so far?