Fan Fiction / Zoids Fan Fiction ❯ The Boundaries of Parents ❯ Promises ( Chapter 10 )

Before Zeke fused with the Blade Liger, he looked at Fiona. Her eyes met his, and they both gave a slight nod. Van had noticed, but didn't think anything about it.

A small squad of Zoids led the Gustav and the Liger Zero out of the base. Dawn was beginning to break, but you couldn't tell with the dark clouds blocking the sun.

Fiona was with Moonbay in the Gustav. She and her son looked over to her right and kept her eyes on Van and the Blade Liger. Van was doing the same thing in his cockpit. He called her up on the communication's link.

"How's my big boy doing?"

The small child smiled when he saw his father and reached out towards the picture. Fiona looked down at him and then at Van. "I bet he's going to be tired by the time we get to Red River."

"Nah, the son of the greatest Zoid pilot on Zi needs no rest!" He was trying to make light of the situation.

Irvine popped up on Van's screen, "So you think you're that good? As I remember, I beat you in battle a few times."

"Can it, Irvine. I don't recall such battles." Van smirked at his friend.

Thomas hated to be left out, so he decided to join in, "The Dibison is not to be taken lightly Van. You should remember that from the first time we met."

They both smiled at the memory. Thomas had ordered Beak to take out all the targets on screen, including the Blade Liger. Van and Fiona evaded the attack just in time.

Fiona's son was getting restless and needed something to play with. She took off her gold wedding ring and held it in her palm. "Do you see this? You're father gave it to me along with a solemn vow. He promised to always love and cherish me all the days of his life. I made the same promise to him when I gave him his ring. I know you don't remember that because you weren't there!"

Moonbay remembered the wedding distinctly. "I was there, too. So were Irvine, Thomas, Karl, Rob, and Dr. D. Emperor Rudolph and the Madam President of the Republic were also there. Everything was so simple, yet really elegant."

Fiona whispered in her son's ear, "She's only saying that because she helped decorate."

"I heard that."

They both giggled. "And your aunt helped, too. It was fun just having the girls together before Van and I got married. It was also good to see many of his friends from the Wind Colony show up for the ceremony."

Van remained silent as he kept a sharp eye out for trouble. A tear began to roll down his eye as he remembered what else he had promised Fiona.

"Have you thought about kids?"

Her ruby eyes looked into his brown ones. "Yes, I'd love to have children with you, Van."

He was very happy to hear that. He wanted to start a family with Fiona ever since he survived the fight with the Ultimate Deathsaur. "He'd be beautiful if he took after his mother."

"Or she could be just as headstrong as her father."

"Either way you see it, he or she would be lucky to have us as parents."

Fiona looked concerned when he said that. "What's wrong?"

"I just want them to grow up happy and healthy. I don't want them to have to be scared of people like Prozen or Hiltz. They shouldn't have to grow up in a world that is run by people with evil ambitions."

He took her hand in his, "With the rings, I promised to take care of you the rest of my life. I promise you, Fiona, with every fiber in my body, I would do the same for our children."

"Oh, Van! I know you would!" She threw her arms around his shoulders and he held on to her small waist.

Almost a year later, they welcomed their son into the world. He seemed to grow up so fast, that Van could hardly keep up. Now, his promise would be put to the test, and Van refused to fail.

The caravan was making their way towards their destination. Nothing had come up on radar, but they were being followed.

"How's everything look from up there?" Nick called out.

"It's almost time to act. I'll give the signal, then race up ahead. I'll be coming in to fast to be picked up on radar. You and Jaq should go full throttle until you reach them. Take out the Dibison and watch out for the Lightning Saix. I don't want him to get away and grab support from somewhere else. Last, but certainly not least, we have to deal with Captain Freiheit."

"I can't wait for this." Jaq was getting anxious.

"You don't have to wait anymore. I'm going now, GO!"

Angel and Spence ascended into the heavens and raced towards the Liger Zero. She could see on radar that Nick and Jaq had split up like they had planned.

A barrage of fire came from above and landed squarely on the Gustav. "What the hell was that?!" Moonbay couldn't pick up anything on radar.

Van called out an order, "Defensive maneuvers, now! Moonbay, you know what to do!"

"Right!" Moonbay pushed a button and left the trailer carrying the Liger Zero behind as she raced towards the mountains. Van kept up with her as Thomas and Irvine surrounded the Zoid.

"What the hell are they doing?" Spence looked in disbelief at scene below.

"Damn! Something's up! Nick and Jaq, watch your back."

The Shield Liger engaged with the Dibison trying to lure it away from the prize. Nick was doing the same thing with Irvine's Zoid. Neither one of them left their position around the Liger.

"I don't like this, Angel. It's like they knew we were coming." Jaq was dodging Thomas' brutal attack. Nick wasn't having any luck against the Lightning Saix.

"Spence, I need to get you in that cockpit now." Spence was getting ready to make the jump when the Storm Sworder's sensors went crazy.

A charged particle beam narrowly missed the airborne Zoid. Angel looked in horror towards the direction of the beam. She couldn't see anything and began to feel trapped.

"I can still make the jump. Whoever fired that can't fire another one that quick. Let's go!"

Angel snapped out of her trance and was preparing to drop Spence again. Something bothered her as she looked over at the Blade Liger and the Gustav.

Van opened the cockpit and got Fiona safely aboard. They both looked at Moonbay through tears. "Take him and get as far away from here as possible. I don't want you to stop for anything."

He made out the words through choking sobs. Fiona looked at her son, "I can't bear to lose him, Moonbay. Please protect him."

Moonbay was shaking as she nodded her head. "I promise you two, he'll grow up in a safe home. I won't let him forget who you are."

"You're going to have to, because he can't…" Fiona took a deep breath to steady herself, "he can't know who we are."

Moonbay was completely shocked; this isn't what they had discussed. "Van?"

"Go Moonbay! Take young Bit Cloud and get out of here. Now!"

Fiona looked at Van and attempted a smile. "A new name for a new life."

He nodded. "There's just one last thing. Zeke!"

The organoid separated from the Liger and stood on top of the Gustav. "I want Zeke to go with you. He'll be able to protect him. I know he will."

Fiona looked at the battle far behind them. "Van, let me tell you what I was telling Zeke."

"I don't think now is a good time."

"Yes, I have to tell you know! Please listen."

She had both Moonbay and Van's attention. "Zeke is a very special organoid. Each organoid has certain capabilities that they exceed at, just like pilots. Specula and Ambient had them, and so did Shadow. I was talking to Zeke and he agreed to make the sacrifice."

"What sacrifice?" Van's heart was pounding as he was taking in the new information.

Fiona held on to his hand as she said, "He can permanently fuse with a Zoid. If you want Bit to be protected, Zeke can do it in the Liger Zero."

Van looked over at Zeke who nodded his head. "Just watch, Van."

They squeezed each other's hands as they called out the order for the final time, "Zeke!"

The organoid obliged and went soaring in the air in a brilliant light. The scene stopped everyone dead in their tracks. Angel called out a retreat to the rest of the Ice Daggers.

Zeke lit up the dismal sky and fused with Liger Zero. Immediately, the new Zoid was flushed with different colors and stopped back at white. He gave out a triumphant roar as the eyes glowed crimson red. Everyone saw it from the distance they were at.

Thomas, Irvine, and Moonbay were breathless at the sight. The Ice Daggers began to fear what was happening.

Somewhere in the distance, a young man looked at the sight, too. He shook his head in disbelief. "So he'll never see his organoid again." The giant red Zoid stalked away into the morning.

Van finally stopped staring at the sight when he noticed the Command Wolf coming after him.

"If we can't have that Zoid, then neither will they!" Nick's reticule was right on the Gustav and he began to fire without hesitation.

Jaq didn't know what to do in all the confusion. She followed Nick's lead and began to attack the Gustav.

Moonbay and Bit were bounced around in the cockpit when they heard Van cry out, "I won't let you harm my son!"

He fired with everything he had, and soon Thomas and Irvine joined him. The Storm Sworder couldn't see what was going on in all the smoke and dust. She looked horrified as the Liger Zero took on a life of it's own. It began to take on a golden glow as it streaked towards her. In one lethal swoop, the Liger tried to take out the wings of the Zoid. Angel quickly ascended back into the sky. She looked at the Guardian Force with burning hatred.

She and Spence saw their partners being arrested by Thomas and Irvine. Angel called out to Van, "If you think you've won, you have made a deadly mistake. As long as I live, you're son will never be safe. He'll never know the touch of his mother's care or the love of his father. Remember that!"

Van began to chase after Angel, but was stopped by Fiona. "Please Van, let's have one last moment with our son."

Van's tears ran out of control. He walked the Blade Liger back to the Gustav, beyond the wreckage of a Command Wolf and Shield Liger. He overheard the girl say, "She always keeps her promises."

Fiona couldn't bear to hold Bit, for fear she wouldn't let go. "He'll grow up to be the greatest pilot the world has ever known. He has you as his father."

Van held onto his wife's hand, "He'll know in his heart what is right and what is wrong, just like his beautiful mother."

Moonbay was heartbroken. Bit had a confused look on his face, as if he couldn't understand why his parents were leaving him. He looked over at Moonbay who smiled to try to reassure him, "Or maybe he'll be a transporter of the wasteland." She was too hoarse to speak anymore.

Van and Fiona watched their son drive out of their lives. Thomas and Irvine stared at the back of the Gustav, each silently wishing him luck.

"Goodbye, Bit. I hope you grow up to be just as brave as your father." Irvine thought.

"Good luck, Bit. May the spirit of your mother fill you in your loneliest hours." Thomas silently prayed.

Another person had his own thoughts on the situation. "Why worry, Van? He is the son of the pilot that defeated me. He's destined for greatness."