The Queen Arrives: The Battle with the Red Phoenix The sun beat down as a young Zoid warrior kneeled down to take a drink from a water fountain. His Zoid, a large white Liger model, sat still and growled as the sun warmed his armor. The warrior stood up, tired from traveling. His name was Bit Cloud, and he had been traveling for eight months. He had seen the world, using his time off from winning the Battle Royal. He would have been gone longer if there wasn't this strange nagging on him to return to the hanger were his team, the Blitz, lived. He hadn't talked to them since his last phone call three days ago. He missed everybody from the area, Jack Cisco, The Tasker sisters, Leon Toros, even Harry Champ, one small time rival. One person he missed was Leena Toros, which shocked even him. He and Leena had some pretty good times together, but that didn't go without the fights, some of them involving fists, from Leena anyway. He sat down for a few minutes, tired and so that his legs could get some more strength from sitting for so long. The Liger Zero, his trusty partner, roared. Bit looked at his partner and smiled. "Alright Liger, I'm anxious to get home too." Liger lowered his head and opened the cockpit, close enough so Bit didn't have to walk far on his leg, which he had injured in a fight. Bit sat down slowly and closed the hatch. Liger shook himself and slowly ran toward the setting sun. Bit looked at the electronic map in front of him. Even though he was skilled Zoid pilot he couldn't quite understand maps, and thanks to Liger's organoid chip, Bit had a clear sight on what the map was trying to tell him. He was lost. "Oh this is just great," he said as he came up to a hanger that wasn't his home, "We're lost." Just then Bit glances down to see a young girl walk out of the hanger's front garage door. She was dead pretty and looked very familiar. She had long blonde hair and blue eyes just like Bit. She wore a Zoid battle uniform like looked like a mix between Naomi Flugal's outfit and a swim suit. The girl was walking over to two mounds on the ground marked with stone crosses. Bit slowly moved the Liger closer, but failed when the Liger let out an excited growl. The girl spun around in surprise to see the Liger Zero standing behind her. Bit opened the cockpit and looked at the girl. "Hey, do you mind giving some directions?" yelled Bit as the girl seemed to calm down. "Uh sure." She said, "Where to?" "The Blitz Team Hanger, know were that is?" "Yeah, if you go about thirty miles North from here you'll find it." "Thanks." Bit called as he closed Liger's hatch. I swear I've seen that girl somewhere before. Thought Bit as he and the Liger ran of.

Bit was dead tired when he made it back that night. He was surprised to see Brad and up so late, but was glad to see one of the guys after traveling for so long. "Bit, my boy, it's been a long time." Said Doc as Bit sat down, gingerly rubbing his leg. "Yeah Bit, you look beat." Brad said "Been traveling long?" Bit nodded. The road had been hard and long, mostly because he had gotten into numerous fights with ex-members of the Backdraft Group, especially Altair, the devoted member who would rather die then disappoint his superiors, the Committee of Seven. Bit had decided that after his fifth battle, he had enough, he was heading home. Brad looked down at Bit's leg, which was stiff and didn't bend really well because it was swollen. "What happened to your leg?" Said Doc, following Brad's gaze. "I went into a café one night and ran into some old enemies from the Backdraft. And believe me they weren't happy to see me." Brad just shrugged. " ran into some old comrade of his at a bar a couple nights ago. They weren't too happy about your win against the Berserk Fury and Vega at the Royal Cup. They want us dead." Bit gulped. He was afraid of this news. He had heard all kinds of rumors about him and his Liger at inn's he had stayed at during his trip. None of them were good and either the Sand Sting Rays or the Backdraft Group were in them. Bit was just glad to be home, were it was safe. He sighed. He looked around. A couple things had been added, mostly pictures of the Doc and his old buddies, and one of Doc and his wife on their wedding day. Leena looks just like her mother. Bit thought. And Leon looks just like his dad. Leon, Leena's older brother, had left the Blitz Team shortly after Bit joined and traveled the world until he found his Red Blade Liger and joined up with Naomi Flugal in the Flugal Team. Leena's mother died giving birth to Leena because of complications. "Hey have you seen Leon, Oscar, and recently?" Asked Bit as Brad poured him a cup of coffee. Doc just shook his head. "Leena saw after he heard those things at the bar, but we haven't seen him since after the Royal Cup when we visited him and Harry in the hospital." Bit shrugged. had been madly in love with Leena's mother and was crazy enough to save Leena from a Charged Particle Cannon assault, destroying his Whale King in the process and injuring himself as well. Bit remembered visiting him and how he forgave Doc about a little mishap that happened when they were in school. Bit drank his tea and yawned. "I'm beat, I'm going to bed. See ya in the morning." "Good Night Bit." Bit painfully made his way to the hanger where he slept so he could be close to his Zoid. The Liger growled a good night and settled down itself. Bit changed his clothes and climbed into bed. He couldn't wait to see the expression on Jamie and Leena's faces when he came up stairs for breakfast. With this thought of seeing Leena and Jamie, he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Bit made his way to the kitchen where the team had breakfast, less painfully then last night since his leg was able to rest in a comfortable bad instead of a sleeping bag. The door slid open and he stepped inside. "Good morning Bit." Doc said a bit drowsily from being up most of the night. Leena and Jamie's head spun around. "BIT!!" Cried Leena happily as she ran forward and threw her arms around Bit's neck. "Welcome back Bit." Said Jamie as he too got up and hugged Bit. "Nice to see you too." Gasped Bit as he tried to loosen Leena's grip on his neck. "Want something for breakfast Bit?" Asked Brad as Bit limped toward the table. (Leena had accidentally kicked his bad leg.) "Hell, why not? I forgot to ask you last night Brad, still an item with Naomi?" Brad choked on his coffee and thought for a moment. Finally after a while he nodded and said, "I went out with her a couple times and she calls me every so often, anyway Bit do you like someone?" This time Bit choked on his coffee. He stared hotly at Brad for a few seconds before replying. "Now Brad, why would you say something like that?" Brad just smiled and said nothing else. Leena took Jamie's seat next to Bit so Brad traded his seat with Jamie on Bit's other side. Brad sat across from Bit, the Doc to his left.

The day went on normally after that, except Leena and Bit actually talked more than chasing each other. Leena seemed to pity Bit for his wounded leg, and had even gotten him some ice for it. The Liger got extra special attention and he seemed to enjoy it. and Jamie were looking it over to see if it needed any repairs, for they decided to get it hauled that afternoon. They had just got word from the Zoid Battle Committee, they had an opponent. The Phoenix Team, one of the toughest and largest teams in Class S. Bit was excited, but he knew he had to relax or his leg would never heal. Liger Zero took what seemed to be a nap in the early afternoon, which Bit joined it. The dream Bit was having was not unusual for him. He was sitting in a field of flowers with the Liger standing protectively over him. Bit turned his head from the clouds he was watching, and spotted Leena standing just off to the side. She, too, was looking at the clouds. Bit just looked at her for a few minutes, until he heard a yell in the physical world. His eyes snapped open. "Who yelled?" Grumbled Bit as he turned toward a scrawny young man in his late teens. He had brown eyes and hair, and he wore the weirdest Zoid battle uniform that made him look as if he going to a disco. "Oh, hell no. Not Harry." Came a groan from the doorway. Bit raised his head to see Leena standing in the doorway looking very distraught indeed. Her eyes were just full of malice and she looked as if she was ready to kill. This was strange because even though she got annoyed at Harry she always kept her head and never did anything stupid. Bit looked back over at Harry who, as usual, looked at Bit with total disgust on his face. "What in the hell his he doing here?" Asked Harry angrily as Bit sat up. Leena looked at him hotly and replied, "He returned from his trip last night, so if you don't mind he was having a nap so leave him be, he got home late and he just so happened he hurt his leg so he needs his rest!" Leena said this in a bitchy sort of tone that she rarely ever used unless Bit had pissed her off somehow. Harry looked as if someone had hit him in the face with a pair of iron knuckles. He stood there for a few seconds, looking first at Leena, and then at Bit, who looked very confused. Then Harry just turned and waked away, sulking. "What just happened here?" Asked Bit as Leena came over to sit by him. "Oh that dork just doesn't know when to take no as an answer. He proposed to me last week and I said no, he started pleading like he was a five year old boy, it was very unnerving." Bit sat in silence looking at Leena, who had turned her attention to the Liger. The Liger gave out a small roar and shook all over, its repairs complete. "Well," said as he and Jamie finished up, "the Liger's in wonderful shape besides being in so many battles." Bit sighed in relief. He was glad his Liger wasn't in pain but he was suddenly aware that he was. Leena accidentally sat on his leg! "AAAAHHHHHH, LEENA!" Leena spun around. "What did I do?" "You sat on my bad leg! Do you mind watching before you sit down?" Leena sighed; looking hurt, and muttered a quick apology before hastily running upstairs. Bit watched her leave, all of a sudden looking very sorry for Leena then he did himself. Doc and Jamie had watched the whole thing. "I think you might want to go apologize to her Bit." Said Jamie as he went to sit next Bit, his face had a look of pity on it. "Yeah you're probably right." Bit replied as he tenderly stood up.

Bit walked down the hallway to Leena's room, having looked for her everywhere else, this was his last hope. He walked over to a door marked "Leena's Room: KEEP OUT" when he heard the unmistakable sound of sobbing coming from inside. "Leena? Can I come in?" A small timid reply came from inside and Bit opened the door. Leena was sitting on her bed sobbing quietly, and Bit went to go sit next to her. She looked over at him and tried to calm down. Bit sat next to her and looked into her eyes. They were wet with tears and very red. Bit looked at her and said in a calm, quiet voice. "Leena, what's going on?" Leena just looked at him. "Well, I wanted your day back to be perfect, no flaws, and no problems. Plus, I got sick of yelling after Harry and me got into a fight and Brad and Dad arguing about money and Jamie sometimes got into the fights. I just hoped you'd be someone to talk to, without the fights." Bit just stared at Leena. Leena Toros, the trigger happy daughter of Steve Toros who loved to be invincible, hates fights? This was too much to handle, but he decided that this was going to be a good thing if Leena didn't want to get into any fights any more. Bit was beginning to think that maybe Leena was beginning to mature. They sat for a bit as Leena began to calm down. Bit had apologized and now they were talking up a storm. Leena was telling about things that had changed while Bit was gone, like Brad and Naomi had started dating, Vega Obscura went into coaching Zoid pilots, Leon was thinking of rejoining the Blitz Team, and had decided to join them. Bit smiled. It had been a long time since he had even gotten into a conversation with Leena, and it felt really good. But just as he was walking to the dining room for dinner, one thought that had haunted him for those eight months that he was gone came in to reality. Bit was in love with Leena.

The days wore on until their Zoid battle with the Phoenix Team. Bit had gone to the doctor and found out he had torn a few ligaments and cracked his tibia, (lower leg bone). He was subscribed to a cast and some medication for it and had to stay off it for a few days, including no Zoid battles. The good news was he was able to fight in the battle in the coming week. Leena came down everyday to talk to Bit and bring him cookies and milk. Brad usually went off to be with Naomi, Doc had started dating, (much to the disgust of Leon, who thought was replacing his mother.) and Jamie took his Reynos out for test runs. So Bit and Leena were usually left alone to talk. Bit was too chicken to admit his feelings for Leena thinking she would just resent it. But sitting in that hanger all day soon got tiring and Leena started taking her Gun Sniper out for runs. Bit missed the feeling of sitting in Liger's cockpit and running toward the sunset. Liger seemed upset for its pilot, who had never before failed to pilot it during the day or anytime.

One day, as Bit was playing Zoid Battle Arena with Leena, a kind of chess game played with virtual Zoids on a round screen, a large Liger came running from the desert which surrounded the base. It was different from any other Liger Bit or Leena had ever seen, it looked almost like Liger Zero. Liger roared, and the approaching Liger answered back. The Zoid stopped outside, and opened its cockpit. Out stepped a girl, the same exact girl that Bit had met when he was heading home. The wind whipping in her hair, she looked even more beautiful in the day. She walked over to them, slightly swaying her hips. "Are you expecting company?" Bit asked as the girl came closer. Leena didn't answer, but stood up and yelled, "Hey Fiona! I'd like you to meet somebody." Fiona walked over; she had stopped frequently to look at the Blitz Team's Zoids. "Hi Leena." Said Fiona as she neared them. Leena introduced them. "Fiona, this is Bit Cloud, the pilot of the Liger Zero. Bit this is Fiona Prazan of the Phoenix Team. She pilots the Liger 009." Bit looked at Fiona. She still looked like she had when they had met a few days before, when Bit had asked for directions. She wore the same outfit, her hair was still in its messy ponytail, and she still wore her sunglasses, wrap around dark ones. Come to think of it, Bit had never seen her eyes before. "Bit Cloud, nice to meet you." Fiona said as she extended her hand to shake his, as she did this, she removed her glasses. Her eyes looked like Bit's! In fact, everything about her was like Bit. She had the same hair color, same height, same weight, same eyes color; they held themselves up the same, even their Zoids were the same. "Hey, you look kinda like Bit, Fiona." Leena said as Fiona sat down. "I get that a lot from my mom. She always sees Bit on the news and always says how I look so much like him."

Leena sat down next to Fiona and they started chatting away, leaving Bit to listen. Even as he did, he noticed that they didn't really talk about girl stuff. Instead they talked about Zoids and about the upcoming battles for the Blitz Team. Fiona told Leena and Bit that the Phoenix Team had so many pilots and Zoids that Fiona's foster mom, the owner of the Phoenix Team, had divided them up into squads. Fiona was the leader of the Liger Squad and a member of the Amazon Maidens, a group of female Zoid warriors who kept the peace between the continents and kept the Backdraft Group at bay. They really didn't have much to do these days because of Bit bringing down the Backdraft during the Royal cup, so they usually scouted around for trouble, even though trouble usually happened on their Whale King that they traveled in. The leader of the Amazon Maidens, Melanie, was hot headed and didn't like it when people disobeyed her. She was the gothic queen wearing everything black including her battle uniform. Now that the Backdraft was gone she got even worse because there was nothing to do, she put her frustration out on her crew. She wasn't afraid to beat them up and she absolutely hated men, she wouldn't let them set foot on the Whale King. Once, Ashley, Fiona's cousin, got her butt chewed by Melanie just because she was dating some guy from school. Most of the girls had decided to gang up on Melanie and toss her out of the Amazon Maidens for her rough behavior. They haven't yet gotten enough courage to do it yet.

Fiona looked at her watch. "Holy Shit! Mom's going to kill me if I don't get home! See you guys later." She dashed out to her Liger and ran off. "Interesting girl, that Fiona Prazan." Said Bit after a few minutes silence. "Yeah, she's got a mind of her own and she's not afraid to speak her mind. Kind of like me." Replied Leena as she stood up gingerly, her leg had fallen asleep. Leena and Bit and dinner together and hit the sack. Bit drifted off into his little dream world. The moons were full in his dream, casting an eerie glow on the desert. Bit was standing on a cliff underneath his Liger. Just then out of no where, the air erupted in screams and the sound of heavy fire. Suddenly he found himself in his Liger, racing toward the screaming. He found himself outside of a hanger, the same hanger where he had met Fiona. Three Zoids, a Zaber Tiger, a Blade Liger, and a Gun Sniper were fighting against at least fifteen Zoids at once. Bit looked on in horror as one by one the fighting Zoids fell. He then was suddenly standing next to a young girl, she was crying and looked very familiar, like a face from long ago. In her arms she held a black haired baby boy; a six year old boy clutched her leg, while a seven year old girl clutched the other. At her feet lay a black haired man. He was lying in a pool of blood, dying. The man opened his eyes. "Erin," he croaked, "take Bit, Vega, and Fiona away from here. Go." The Girl didn't say anything. Instead she herded the little boy and girl in to the hanger and reemerged in a white Liger exactly like the Liger Zero. They ran off, with older boy screaming, "Papa, Papa!" With that, Bit bolted upright, drenched in a cold seat.

To Be Continued...