Writer’s Note:

Hey all loyal readers,

   You won’t understand what’s going on with Bit and Naomi unless you read my first FanFic: THE NEW ZOID: INTRODUCING THE ULITIMA. I do give a short explanation, but you’ll understand better if you read my first one.

 And since Bit just kinda showed up on the scene and joined the Blitz Team without anything about where he was from or what he was doing except he was a junk dealer, I decided to give him a past.

Email me at edo134@hotmail.com if you like this story. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back to you.

Enjoy…

 

JADE TEMPAR: MEMORIES FROM THE PAST.

By Lady Liger.

 

The Blitz Team was relaxing in the lounge when Toros entered.

     ‘You have your next battle,’ he said, coming to stand in the middle of the group.

 They looked at him expectantly.

     ‘Against who?’ Brad asked.

     ‘A new team. They’re making their way up the ranks and apparently from what I’ve heard no-one’s beaten them, not even Sisco.’

     ‘Whoa, they must be really good,’ Bit said, smirking, ‘but I’m sure we’ll beat them anyway.’

     ‘They’re the Blue Star Team. Their leader is a girl named Jade Tempar.’

Bit coughed, he’d almost choked on his orange juice. Jade Tempar! Bit hadn’t seen or heard from her in years.

   Bit and Jade used to be best friends – and rivals. They were always competing to see which one out of the two of them was better.

   Jade pushed Bit to be the very best that he could be. The thing was, Bit could never beat her at anything. She always had the better of him, and she knew it. Jade was always mocking Bit, saying: ‘You’re not going to let a girl beat you, are you Bit?’

   It made Bit so mad, not because Jade was a girl, but because he didn’t like anyone beating him, not just her.

   Then the day came where Bit and Jade would never be friends again. It was an incident Bit would never forget but didn’t really want to remember or talk about.

   The decision Bit made to leave and find the best zoid that he could had been inspired by Jade. Bit promised himself that he would get Jade back for what she had done to him. He was going to show her that he was not a pushover at everything.

   The day had finally come when Bit and Jade would meet again. But this time things would be different. Bit was determined to beat Jade, if it took everything he had, he’d beat her.

     ‘Bit?’

Bit jumped, he’d forgotten the others were there. He looked at Jamie, ‘What?’

     ‘I said, for the third time, are you OK? You kinda spaced out there for a minute.’

     ‘Yeah, I’m good,’ Bit said.

He decided not to tell the others that he knew Jade. He knew that if he did, they would start asking questions and Bit didn’t really want to bring up some of the other things that were in his past due to his association with Jade. He decided to save them – and him – the trouble.

 

 

     ‘Go Liger!’ Bit yelled as the Liger launched off the ramp and skidded to a halt.

Brad and Leena stood either side of Bit. Their opponents were three hundred yards away, standing side by side. They had the same zoids: Genosaurus’, in three different shades of blue: light, dark and a mixture of both.

   The mixed one was Jade’s. Bit could feel it.

     ‘Genosaurus’?’ Leena asked. ‘How did they get their hands on Genosaurus’?’

     ‘No idea,’ Bit said. ‘Let’s just beat them, OK.’

     ‘The Blue Star Team versus the Blitz Team,’ the Judge announced. ‘Battle mode: 0982. Ready – Fight.’

   The dark Genosuarus in the middle turned and ran in the opposite direction as the other two ran toward the Blitz Team.

     ‘Well that’s something new,’ Jamie said. ‘I think they’re trying to confuse you, so don’t let them.’

   Brad appeared in the Liger cockpit, ‘I’ll take the dark one.’

Bit nodded, ‘Right, Brad.’

   Brad ran between the two advancing Genosaurus’ and ran after the third.

     ‘Let’s go, partner!’ Bit said.

The Liger ran for the left Genosaurus and launched into the air. It scraped across the Genosaurus’ back leaving a gaping tear in the metal. The Genosaurus didn’t even realise the Liger had attacked.

   It ran for the Liger, shooting as it advanced, sending the Liger skidding across the ground on its side. A trail of dust proceeding it.

   A girl appeared in the Liger cockpit, ‘So this is the Liger Zero?’ she asked.

     ‘Yeah, enjoy it while you can.’

     ‘Ah, Jade said you had a contemptuous attitude, Bit Cloud. I guess it’s true.’

     ‘Well you tell Jade she won’t beat me this time.’

The girl blinked off the screen, her face was replaced by one Bit recognised immediately: Jade Tempar. Her jet-black hair was pulled back tightly the way she always wore it, her sapphire blue eyes shone.

     ‘Hello, Bit,’ Jade smiled at him, ‘been awhile, hasn’t it.’

    ‘Yes it has,’ Bit said. All the mixed feelings that he felt for Jade of anger and hatred that Bit had suppressed over the years, came flooding back to him at that moment.

   Jade laughed, ‘What’s the matter, Bit? Can’t believe that I’m actually here?’

     ‘To tell you the truth, no I can’t.’

     ‘I’m going to beat you.’

     ‘You just try.’

Jade smiled again.

   Bit couldn’t believe she was being so calm. If their situation had been reversed and it was Bit coming back after all these years, he wouldn’t be so calm. What was going on with her?

   Bit was knocked out of his thoughts by an explosion that shook the ground from the east. Out of the corner of his eye, Bit saw Jade’s teammate blow Brad’s Fox out of the battle.

     ‘Brad!’ Bit yelled.

     ‘I’m OK. Can’t say so much for the Fox however.’

     ‘I’m out of the battle guys,’ Leena said, trying, unsuccessfully, to keep calm.

Bit looked at his screen and saw Leena’s Gunsniper sprawled on the ground, sparks flying from its side. A genosaurus still stood over it.

   Bit shot down Leena’s attacker while it was distracted. It fell on top of Leena’s crippled zoid, crushing it.

     ‘Thanks, Bit. Just what I needed,’ Leena said.

     ‘Bit, watch out. The dark one is coming up behind you.’

Bit turned the Liger around, the Genosaurus blew past him, knocking it off its feet. The Liger got up and pursued after the Genosaurus.

   The Genosaurus fired its main rifles at Bit from behind. The Liger buckled and jerked as the shots hit it directly.

The Genosaurus lead the Liger to a hill, disappearing behind it. The Liger followed, hardly able to keep up. As it ran behind the hill, the Liger was ambushed by Jade’s teammate and Jade herself. The Liger dodged but was still caught in the shock waves and was knocked off balance. It got up shakily; the two Genosaurus’ stood side by side.

   ‘Bit, give up. You couldn’t beat me when we were kids, what makes you think you can beat me now?’

   Bit was infuriated! Jade had gotten the better of him again! How could he still fall for her old tricks?

   Bit took all his frustrations out on Jade’s teammate finally taking her out of the battle. Jade smiled, ‘Just us now, Bit. Beat me, if you can.’

     ‘I’ll beat you, Jade!’ Bit yelled. ‘This will finish here!’

   Jade’s Genosaurus jumped over the Liger’s head and headed out from behind the hill. Bit followed. Jade was only twenty feet in front of him when she stopped abruptly. Causing the Liger to streak straight past her.

     ‘Still as clumsy as ever,’ Jade said as the Liger tried to skid and turn. The maneuvre sent the Liger skimming across the ground on its underbelly.

   Jade laughed mockingly, ‘Oh Bit, you really are very funny to watch.’

Bit never understood why when he was with Jade he acted all clumsy, it must have been because Jade was always better than he was so he tried, too hard, to be better than her.

   The Liger got up and ran for Jade again. Bit didn’t realise that Jade had powered up and was preparing to shoot him. The Liger stopped in its tracks.

      ‘It’s been fun, Bit. But I’m afraid I have to beat you now.’

     ‘Bit, what are you doing out there?’ Toros asked. ‘What’s wrong with you?’

Bit didn’t answer.

   Jade shot. The Liger dodged to the right, the shot just grazing its shoulder. It was engulfed in a cloud of dust as the attack hit the ground. When the dust cleared, Jade had disappeared.

     ‘Bit, look out,’ Jamie warned, ‘here she comes.’

Bit looked around, Jade was nowhere in his sights. ‘What are you talking about, Jamie? I can’t see her.’

     ‘I mean-’ he’d been cut off.

The whole Liger trembled as something landed on top of it. Bit looked, and saw Jade’s Genosaurus perched on the Liger’s back, it’s claws dug deep into the metal.

     ‘You see, Bit. That’s your problem. I’ve been watching your team with interest and I know you haven’t lost a battle for awhile. Until I showed up, you were cocky and complacent – that’s not a good attitude to have. Well, now I’m going to show you what it’s like to be defeated again.’    

    The Liger shook itself, trying to dislodge the zoid, but it didn’t work.

   The Genosaurus powered up again and hit the Liger at point-blank range. Without moving, the Liger fell to the ground, it’s system frozen.

     ‘NO!’ Bit couldn’t believe it! Jade had beaten him again!

     ‘The battle is over, the battle is over,’ the Judge announced. ‘The winner is – the Blue Star Team.’

 

 

Bit walked out of the bathroom after a shower. He sat down on the couch next to Leena with a sigh. It was only then that he noticed Naomi sitting opposite him.

     ‘Finally, Bit,’ Leena said, getting up and heading to the bathroom, ‘took you long enough.’

   Bit ignored her.

     ‘What are you doing here, Naomi?’ he asked, trying to be nonchalant. It wasn’t easy, there was Naomi, sitting less than two metres away from him. He hadn’t seen her for ages and missed her like crazy. He just wanted to kiss her. But he couldn’t with Brad still sitting there.

   They had promised each other when they had gotten together, that they would keep it to themselves until they were ready to tell everyone. Because of an accident on Bit’s part, Jamie already knew so he wouldn’t care.

     ‘I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in.’

Brad got up and headed to the door, ‘I’ve got some things to do in town, I’ll be back later.’

   Bit and Naomi were alone.

     ‘Hey,’ Bit smiled devilishly and jumped off the couch. He landed next to Naomi. She put her arms around his neck and they kissed warmly.

   When they parted, Bit noticed Naomi wasn’t acting like herself. He put a hand on her shoulder, ‘What’s wrong?’

   Naomi turned to him, ‘I came to tell you something,’ she looked into his eyes.

     ‘What?’

     ‘It’s-’

Jamie walked into the room; he stopped when he saw Bit and Naomi.

     ‘Oh sorry, am I interrupting something?’

Bit was about to reply, but Naomi cut him off, ‘No. That’s OK, Jamie, I was just leaving.’

   She kissed Bit on the cheek and got up, ‘I’ll see you later.’ She was out the door before Bit could say anything.

     Jamie looked at Bit, ‘What’s up with her?’

Bit shrugged, ‘I don’t know. But it must be big if it’s got her all worked up,’ he sighed. ‘I’m sure she’ll tell me when she’s ready.’

 

 

Bit was looking in a bakery’s display window thinking about buying a doughnut when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and saw Jade standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. Her eyes sparkled despite her angry stance.

     ‘Hello, Jade,’ Bit said.

Jade dropped her hands to her sides, ‘Oh, come on, Bit. You’re not mad that I beat you again, are you?’ she asked, although she already knew the answer.

     ‘You could have given me an edge, you know. The Liger couldn’t even fight back.’

 Jade sighed, ‘Oh well, them’s the breaks.’

She hugged Bit, ‘You know, there hasn’t been a day since you left that I haven’t thought about you.’

     ‘Really.’

Jade stepped back and crossed her arms, ‘Bit, we aren’t on the battlefield now, can you try and lighten up?’

     ‘It’s not about the battle, OK,’ Bit leaned against the bakery wall.

     ‘Then what?’

Bit looked at her. Jade’s face darkened.

     ‘Oh, you mean-’

     ‘Yeah. I thought I was finally getting over it. I thought I could handle seeing you again. But guess what, I can’t. Seeing you again just brings back the memories.’

     ‘Sorry,’ Jade said seriously, ‘I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like this. I was just so excited about see you, I just-’

   Bit put up his hands, ‘Hey, I don’t care because if I remember correctly, you were the reason it all happened.’

   He pushed past her and headed to his truck – he wasn’t hungry anymore.

     ‘Bit!’ Jade called after him, he just kept going. Jade watched as his truck sped away.

When he was no longer in sight, a figure in a dark cloak walked up to Jade, ‘Well?’

Jade turned to the figure, ‘He doesn’t suspect a thing. He’s still mad at me, but he’s been mad at me for years, I don’t think he’ll get over that too quickly. We can go ahead as planned.’

     ‘Good,’ the figure disappeared down a side street.

 

 

Bit was sitting at the edge of a lake he’d found earlier when he had been taking the Liger for a run. He was throwing stones in its calm depths just to see the surface ripple.

   He picked up a flat stone and skimmed it across the glass-like plain of water – five, not bad.

   He was starting to wonder if Jade came back just to battle or if there was something else going on. Bit had to admit, even before the incident where they had stopped being friends, Jade was still the same person. But her attitude did begin to change. Bit didn’t like the change, but he was gone way before he saw what she turned into.

   He couldn’t be sure that Jade was up to something – he’d seen something in her eyes as they talked earlier, but it had passed to quickly for Bit to figure out what it meant.

   He’d have to keep his guard up just in case.

     ‘Hey.’

Bit looked up and saw Naomi standing over him.

    ‘Hey, Naomi.’

She sat down next to Bit. He put his arm around her middle and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

   They were silent, enjoying the lake and its beautiful surroundings.

Bit broke the silence, ‘Are you OK? You don’t seem yourself.’

     ‘I’m fine. It’s just-’

Someone was shooting at them from the sky. Bit looked up and saw a formation of Pteras’ flying overhead.

     ‘Come on!’ he yelled over the noise. He grabbed Naomi’s hand and looked for somewhere where they could take cover. They ran into a small cave and waited for the Pteras’ to fly away.

   Bit sighed with relief.

     ‘What was that about?’ Naomi asked.

Bit shrugged, ‘I don’t know. They could not have missed us sitting down there though.’

  He turned back to Naomi, ‘What were you saying?’

Naomi, all of a sudden, looked like there was somewhere important that she had to be. She headed out of the cave and was gone. Bit, once again, couldn’t do anything but watch her go.

   He shrugged and sat back down at the edge of the lake. He started throwing rocks into the water again.

   Bit didn’t see the attack coming as someone shoved him and he fell in the lake with a huge splash.

   He was submerged in the icy water before surfacing. He shook the water out of his hair and looked to the edge where his attacker still stood watching him and smirking.

     ‘I finally got you, Bit,’ Jade said as he climbed out of the lake, his drenched clothes dripping everywhere.

     ‘Yeah, guess you did,’ Bit said defensively. ‘What are you doing here?’

Jade sighed, ‘What is with you? Every time I try to talk to you, you push me away. Why?’

   Bit was silent.

Jade grabbed his shoulders and forced him to look at her, ‘I won’t bite, you don’t have to be so defensive.’

   Bit worked his way out of her grip and turned away from her. ‘Don’t I?’

     ‘No. Hey, it’s me,’ Jade stood next to him. ‘I haven’t changed, not much anyway.’

     ‘I don’t know you anymore, Jade. You can pretend that I do all you want, but I don’t.’

She turned him around to look at her again; ‘You could if you wanted to.’

   She kissed him. Bit didn’t realise what she was doing until it was too late. He stepped away from Jade, his hands held out. ‘I don’t think so.’

   Jade stepped forward and kissed him again. Bit tried to resist, but couldn’t. He let go and fell into the kiss.

   He was thinking about the past he had with Jade: them being friends, the incident where they had grown apart and now.

   Just then, an image of Naomi swam into Bit’s mind and he jumped away from Jade.

     ‘What? What’s wrong?’ Jade asked.

Bit backed away from Jade, shaking his head. He got in his truck and sped away.

   Jade smiled to herself. Soon, she thought. Very soon…

 

 

As soon as Bit entered the Hovercargo, he ran straight for the bathroom. He needed a shower – a cold shower.

   What was up with him? First he was warning himself against Jade and then he was kissing her? No way, he’d definitely have to make sure that didn’t happen again. What would Naomi say? Should he even tell her? Bit made up his mind, next time he saw Naomi, he’d have tell her.

     ‘Bit!!!’ Leena hollered. ‘Get out!!!’

Bit stumbled out of the bathroom before Leena got a chance to hurt him. He sighed as the door slid shut.

   The shower would have to wait. He sat down on the couch and rested his head against the back of it.

 

 

 

The next day, Bit was wandering around the city. He was starting to get hungry so he headed to a small café across the street.

   Bit saw Naomi walking down the street past the café; she was facing away from him so she hadn’t seen him. Bit crossed the street and grabbed Naomi’s arm.

   Naomi smiled at him, ‘Hey, Bit.’

     ‘I’m grabbing some lunch, want to join me?’

Naomi nodded, ‘Sure.’

   Bit lead Naomi into the café to a corner table to give them some privacy.

When they were half way through their lunch, Bit decided it was time to tell Naomi about the kiss.

   He grabbed Naomi’s hands and took a deep breath.

     ‘Naomi, I have to tell you something.’

The tone of Bit’s voice got Naomi’s attention immediately.

     ‘What?’

Bit took another deep breath, ‘OK. You know yesterday when we were at that lake?’

     ‘Yes.’

Bit looked her straight in the eye, ‘Well after you left, a girl I used to know showed up and-’

     ‘What, Bit?’

     ‘We talked for awhile and then-’ he sighed, ‘she kissed me.’

Naomi knew it. She wasn’t angry or sad. She knew what was going on.

   A few weeks ago, Naomi had been in a diner minding her own business. There were two people sitting in front of her, talking. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but when one of them mentioned Bit, she knew they were planning something.

   They didn’t see Naomi so they talked freely about their plan to kidnap Bit and steal the Liger Zero by way of persuasion. Naomi knew that the girl Bit used to know was luring Bit into giving up the Liger – or so the girl thought.

   Naomi knew that Bit would never give up the Liger to anyone, not even her if she asked.

   After they left, Naomi knew she had to get to Bit before they did and warn him about their plan, so she followed the Blitz Team to the city.

   But for once in her life, she was scared. She didn’t know how to tell Bit without him getting hurt or killed. She knew that if she told him it could make the situation better, but she wasn’t willing to take that chance.

   Naomi made a split second decision: she would tell Bit. They would work this out together and if he got hurt, she’d know who to blame.

     ‘Naomi?’ Bit was watching her.

     ‘I understand, Bit.’

Bit was surprised, ‘What? You’re not mad?’

     ‘No.’

Bit sighed with relief, ‘Are you sure?’

   Naomi nodded, ‘Yes.’

Bit sighed again.

     ‘My turn to tell you something,’ Naomi figured sooner rather than later. ‘A few weeks ago, I was in a town a few miles down the road in a diner. I was listening to two people talking.’

     ‘About what?’

     ‘About-’

The front windows of the café blew in and glass flew everywhere. Bit looked and saw a Pteras landing outside. Others were still in the air, flying high.

   The landed Pteras started firing into the diner through the empty window frame.

People were screaming and running around looking for somewhere to hide – the smart ones hid under the tables.

   Bit got up from the table.

     ‘Bit, where are you going?’ Naomi yelled over the noise of the Pteras fire.

     ‘I’m going to see what this idiot thinks he’s doing,’ Bit yelled back. He hugged the wall as he made his way to the window.

   The firing stopped and a person jumped from the Pteras cockpit.

He was wearing a black jumpsuit and his face was hidden under an almost opaque face shield.

   Bit stormed up to the Pteras pilot, ‘What do you think you’re doing, firing on a place like that?’ he demanded.

   Through the shield, Bit saw the person smile evilly. He sprayed something in Bit’s face and instantly Bit felt the ground spinning under his feet. He thought he heard Naomi yell his name, but then lost consciousness.

 

 

Bit blinked his eyes to focus; he was in a darkened room. His head was pounding, he didn’t know what that stuff was that the Pteras pilot sprayed in his face, but whatever it was – it was strong.

   Bit tried to get up but couldn’t, he’d been tied to the chair he was sitting on. His hands behind his back, tied with thick ropes.

     ‘Bit?’ Naomi called through the darkness.

Bit hadn’t realised there was anyone else in the room.

     ‘Naomi? Are you OK?’

     ‘I’m fine. Are you? You hit your head pretty hard.’

     ‘So that’s why my head is pounding.’

Naomi chuckled.

   A light shone through an observing window high up in the wall they were facing. A dark figure stood at the window. Bit could see the figure watching them through the darkness.

     ‘Who are you?’ Bit demanded. ‘What do you want?’

The figure laughed evilly, ‘My name is Sotar, Bit Cloud. And I want your Liger Zero.’

     ‘I don’t think so.’

Sotar nodded, ‘I thought you might have that attitude, so I’m going to convince you to give up the Liger.’

     ‘Really? And how do you plan on doing that?’

Sotar motioned to the guards that were standing behind him by raising his hand; they left the observation window and entered the darkened room. They grabbed Naomi roughly.

     ‘Naomi!’

Naomi struggled against the guards as they left the room and stood behind Sotar once more.

     ‘Bring me the Liger, Bit Cloud. Or your girlfriend-’ he smiled sinisterly, ‘well, you know the rest. You have one day.’

   Bit was helpless to do anything as the guards left the room followed by Sotar.

 

 

 

An hour later, Bit was taken back to the city by Sotar’s men, warned not to do anything stupid and left by himself.

   Bit ran to where he’d left his truck earlier, and got in and sped back to the Hovercargo.

     ‘What’s up with you?’ Jamie asked as Bit ran into the lounge area.

     ‘They have Naomi,’ Bit said frantically, ‘they’re going to hurt her if I don’t obey their wishes.’

   Jamie held up his hands, ‘Whoa, slow down. Who has Naomi? What wishes?’

Bit was pacing from one end of the room to the other, ‘This guy named Sotar. He’s holding Naomi captive, he’s going to hurt her if I don’t hand over the Liger within a day.’

   Jamie stared, stunned. ‘What are you planning to do?’

Bit sighed and stopped pacing, ‘I don’t know. If I don’t give him the Liger, he’s going to hurt Naomi, if I do give him the Liger-’ Bit flopped on the couch.

     ‘Don’t even think about it. We’ll find some other way to get Naomi out of there, we just have to think.’

   Bit looked at Jamie, ‘We? I don’t think so, Jamie. I’m not putting you in danger too. I’ve already got Naomi held hostage.’

     ‘This isn’t your fault, Bit. You didn’t so anything.’

Bit scoffed, ‘Yeah and I didn’t do much to try and get Naomi out of there either.’

     ‘If you keep blaming yourself, you’ll never think of a way to get Naomi out anyway.’

     ‘Yeah, well I have to do this by myself, I can’t drag you into the middle too.’

     ‘I completely understand. Just be careful, OK.’

     ‘I will.’ Bit headed outside to clear his head.

Awhile later, Jade strolled up to him. Bit rolled his eyes, ‘Great, just what I need. You to come and annoy me.’

     ‘You know, Bit your attitude is really starting to get on my nerves.

     ‘I’m so sorry to hear that,’ Bit said sarcastically.

     ‘Why do you have to be like that? Why can’t you just be nice?’

     ‘Nice?’ Bit said. ‘Why should I be nice after what you did to me?’

     ‘That wasn’t my fault,’ Jade said quietly.

     ‘Then whose fault was it? You were the only one there, you were the only one who could have done it.’

   Jade gave him a sharp look, ‘You’re wrong. I wasn’t the only one there. I was trying to protect you from the guy who shot you down, but you were already too far out of it to notice him.’

     ‘I don’t believe you.’

     ‘Why? I know you can’t think that lowly of me to believe I tried to shoot you down. I am – was – your friend and friends don’t do that to one another.’

     ‘Well, believe it.’

Jade sighed, dejected, ‘I don’t know what to sat to you. Just that I would never try to hurt you, Bit, never.’

   Bit saw in Jade’s eyes that she was telling the truth.  

For years, Bit had hated Jade because he thought she had shot him down and betrayed him. Since she was the only one there, Bit believed it. He now saw that he was wrong and he felt guilty that he had ever doubted her.

   It had all started when Bit and Jade entered the annual Pteras race that was held in their town. They always entered; it was like their way of seeing who was truly the best out of them. Of course, Jade always won.

  But one year, Bit was actually winning against Jade. Jade was coming in a close second. Then only a few yards from the finish line, Bit was shot down. He didn’t know who had done it, he had looked around as he plummeted to the ground, saw Jade fly over the finish line and win the race for the fifth year in a row. So naturally, he thought Jade had done it.

   Bit hit the ground at break-neck speed and had passed. He had ended up in hospital for months recovering. When he finally got out, Jade was there waiting for him, but he couldn’t stand the sight of her. A few weeks later he left, never to see or hear from Jade again. And he was quite happy for the fact, except he knew that if they ever met again, he’d beat her, he’d have to. He’d beat her so bad that she would know what it felt like.

   When they’d had their battle the other day though, things didn’t quite turn out the way he wanted. It was the ultimate insult, Bit finally had his chance to beat her, and what does he do? Gets beaten again!

   But now, after what he’d just seen, Bit knew that Jade was telling the truth. She’d been telling the truth all these years and Bit was too angry to listen. But now he was going to make it right.

     ‘Jade, I’m sorry that I thought you shot me down. It’s just that when I saw you up there, crossing the finish line in my spot when I had just been shot down and denied my place – you’ve got to understand, the way it looked, I was so angry. But now I know the truth. Can you forgive me?’

     ‘That’s OK. I know it must have looked pretty bad from your view,’ she smiled at him. ‘I’m just glad it’s all cleared up now.’

     ‘Yeah, so am I.’

     ‘So what are you doing out here?’

     ‘Thinking. I need to come up with a plan.’

     ‘To do what?’ Jade crossed her arms.

     ‘A guy named Sotar is holding Naomi Fluegal hostage. I have to get her out.’

     ‘Can I help?’ Jade asked.

     ‘I don’t think that would be a very good idea. I don’t want you to get hurt,’ Bit said.

     ‘Come on, Bit. It’s me you’re talking about. I think I can take care of myself.’

Bit nodded, ‘OK, fine. This is what we’re going to do.’

 

 

 

Bit and Jade, in the Liger arrived at the Sotar Mansion high on the cliffs and halted at the gates to announce their arrival. The gates opened slowly and they proceeded up the long driveway.

     ‘What happens now?’ Jade asked from behind Bit.

     ‘I guess we wait until they show themselves,’ Bit said tensely.

Sotar walked out and stood in the doorway, the two guards standing behind him, Naomi was held between them. She looked tired and slumped slightly in the two guard’s grip.

     ‘Come down from there, Bit Cloud. Don’t make this more difficult.’

Bit looked at Jade, ‘Ready?’

   Jade nodded.

Bit jumped from the Liger cockpit and stood in front of Sotar.

     ‘OK Sotar, I brought the Liger. Now let Naomi go.’

Sotar sneered, ‘Are you always this impatient?’

   Bit smirked, ‘When it comes to guys like you, yes I am. I don’t have time to waste on your sought of people.’

   Sotar flinched angrily, but composed himself and smiled, ‘I don’t know if I like your attitude, Bit. But you’re right, you kept your end of the bargain,’ he nodded to the two guards. They released Naomi. She walked to Bit and he embraced her.

     ‘Are you all right? They didn’t hurt you, did they?’

     ‘I assure you she is fine,’ Sotar said. Naomi nodded.

     ‘Well in that case,’ Bit turned to the Liger. ‘Jade, shoot!’ he yelled.

Nothing happened. Bit called again, ‘Jade, shoot!’

   Jade jumped from the Liger cockpit and looked at Bit. She walked past him and stood next to Sotar.

   Bit’s jaw dropped, ‘But-’

     ‘You didn’t really think she was actually helping you, did you, Bit Cloud?’ Sotar mocked. Jade smirked.

   Bit looked at her, ‘I knew it was a mistake to trust you. I can’t believe I fell for it.’

     ‘Well, I’m a good actress.’

     ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,’ Naomi turned to Bit. ‘That girl was setting you up. That man and her were the two in the diner.’

   Sotar looked at Naomi, ‘So you heard our conversation, did you? I’m afraid that won’t be good for you.’ He motioned to the guards, ‘Take them to the holding room until I decide what to do with them.’

   The guards grabbed Bit and Naomi and lead them into the mansion. As Bit was lead past Jade he said ‘Thanks for nothing. For the first time in years I trusted you, and you prove me wrong once again.’

   Jade watched them being taken away. She didn’t know why, but seeing Bit like that made her feel guilty.

 

 

Bit and Naomi were in the holding room; the guards hadn’t bothered to tie them to the chairs. Bit was pacing back and forth, trying to think of a way to escape while Naomi sat on the floor against the wall.

   He turned to Naomi, ‘Why are you just sitting there, don’t you want to get out of here?’

Naomi looked up at him, ‘Of course I want to get out of here, but pacing around the room, tiring myself out isn’t going to help is it?’

   Bit sighed and sat down next to her, ‘I guess you’re right. So got any ideas?’

     ‘Well, I was thinking we should trick them.’

     ‘Trick them?’

     ‘Yeah, one of us pretends to be sick or something, we call the guards in here, knock them out, and escape before they know what’s going on.’

      ‘Great plan. Which one of us is going to pretend to be sick?’

      ‘I was thinking you.’

      ‘Why me?’

Naomi smiled, ‘Because I need to release some tension, hitting one of these idiots over the head might just do it for me.’

     ‘Fine, I’ll be sick.’

Naomi nodded and got up. She walked over to the door and banged on it loudly.

     ‘Hey!’ she yelled, ‘I think you should come in here, Bit’s looking kinda bad.’

A narrow slit opened in the door and Naomi could see one of the guards that were standing at the door peer into the room. He looked at Naomi, ‘I don’t think so,’ he said nastily.

     ‘I’m not joking, he looks really pale and he’s sweating pretty hard.’

     ‘Oh yeah?’ the guard tried to see past Naomi, but she deliberately blocked the way by standing in front of the door.

     ‘Yeah. Look are you going to come in here and have a look at him, or do I have to call your boss?’

   Naomi could see the guard’s eyes showed fear in them at the mention of Sotar. He closed the slit and a second later opened the door.

     ‘OK, where is he?’ the guard walked past Naomi into the darkness. Naomi hit him over the back of the head before he knew what was happening. He slumped, face down, on the floor.

   The other guard entered the room. When he saw his colleague lying on the floor he turned to Naomi, ‘What’s going on in-’

   Naomi hit him over the head just as she had the first guard; he lay on top of  him.

   Bit and Naomi stripped the guards of their uniforms and put them on just in case they met anyone while they were trying to escape.

   Bit took Naomi’s hand, ‘Let’s go,’ he said and led her to the door. They looked out into the hall and made sure no-one was coming. They made their way down the many long hallways. Trying, if they could, not to run into anybody. It wasn’t easy; it seemed to be rush hour at the Sotar Mansion. Everywhere they went, people were rushing around in two’s and three’s, all heading in the same direction.

   Bit thought that maybe they knew Noami and him had escaped, but if they knew, why wasn’t there an alarm or something?

   After another three guards passed them and headed down the hall after the last group, Bit stopped.

     ‘What?’ Naomi asked, coming to stand next to him after she realised he wasn’t following her anymore.

     ‘I’m going to see what’s going on.’

     ‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’

     ‘No, but I’m going anyway.’

Bit and Naomi followed the three guards down the hall, around the corner, and down another long, dark hall to the left.

   They finally came to a stop outside a huge steel door. There was a large group of people standing outside the door; most of them were dressed in guard uniforms.

   One of them opened the door and it was like a small thunderstorm was taking place in the room beyond. The noise echoed out into the hall, almost deafening Naomi and Bit.

     ‘What’s going on?’ Bit asked a man in front of him.

The man turned to Bit, ‘That zoid is going crazy.’

   Bit smiled to himself. So, the Liger was causing trouble for Sotar and his men. Bit knew the Liger would never co-operate with any of them.

   The guards, Naomi and Bit entered the room. The Liger was in a cage made up of laser bars and it was not happy.

   The laser cage was surrounded by people trying to get the Liger to calm down. But the Liger wasn’t co-operating. It tried to rear up and roared loudly.

   If the cage hadn’t been attached to a platform, the Liger would have knocked it over in it’s attempts to get free.

   The men that entered the room with Naomi and Bit ran to help the existing men. Bit and Naomi ran too so as not to raise suspicion. They took positions at the back of the laser cage.

   A few minutes later, the intercom buzzed and Sotar’s voice echoed around the room and, Bit suspected, the entire mansion.

     ‘Attention all personnel, the prisoners have escaped. Repeat, the prisoners have escaped. All guards are to be on the lookout for them, they must not be allowed to leave the premises.’

   Bit and Naomi looked at each other, ‘Just act natural,’ Naomi whispered. Bit nodded.

The guards ran from the room, leaving Bit and Naomi alone with the Liger, unguarded.

     ‘What do we do now?’ Bit asked.

Naomi shrugged, ‘We’ve got to get your Liger out of there.’

     ‘How?’

     ‘There must be a switch or something that deactivates the laser bars.’

Bit looked at the Liger, ‘Don’t worry, Liger,’ he said, ‘we’ll get you out.’

He walked around the cage, searching for anything that could have been an off switch. He found a small lever on the side of the cage and pulled it down. Instantly, the laser bars disappeared.

 The Liger stepped off the cage platform and Bit and Naomi climbed into the cockpit.

     ‘Let’s go, Liger!’ Bit yelled.

Bit shot a giant hole in the wall and the Liger bounded out into the hall.

   Guards were running in all directions, looking for Naomi and Bit. They didn’t seem to notice that the Liger was loose until a guard tripped over its claw.

     ‘The Liger’s out!’ she screamed.

The halls were silent as the guards stopped to look.

     ‘Uh, Naomi,’ Bit said, ‘we have a problem.’

     ‘Then go!’ Naomi yelled.

The Liger streaked down the hall; they were too narrow for the Liger to maneuvre properly so the Liger almost took out the far wall as it turned the corner.

     ‘Very smooth,’ Naomi smiled.

     ‘Thanks.’

The Liger ran down a maze of corridors then skidded to a halt.

     ‘Dead end!’ Bit yelled. ‘Now what?’

     ‘How about you turn around and go the way we came?’ Naomi said. ‘Either that, or you could blow out the wall.’

   Bit nodded, ‘I like that idea better.’

Bit blew a twenty-foot hole in the wall. The Liger jumped over the rubble and through the hole. The hole lead to the outside and the Liger landed on grass.

   Bit saw the tall, brick boundary wall and guided the Liger toward it.

     ‘Bit, we have another problem,’ Naomi was looking through the window. She saw five Borigators pursuing after them; more were coming from all over the grounds.

     ‘Almost there,’ Bit said quietly.

The Borigators were catching up fast. They started shooting at the Liger; it shook as the shots made impact.

   Sotar appeared on-screen, ‘Stop! I command you to stop! You won’t get away!’

     ‘That’s what you think,’ Bit said.

The Liger was less than twenty yards from the wall and launched in the air. It hit an energy field and fell to the ground sparking.

   Sotar smiled, ‘Just a precaution to make sure you didn’t escape. You must understand, when I work so hard for something I’m not one to let it go very easily.’

   Bit glared at Sotar; ‘The Liger wasn’t yours to begin with.’

     ‘Well it’s mine now. And if you want to disagree with that, I’m afraid you won’t come out of it faring very well.’

     ‘I’m not going to let you take my Liger,’ Bit said angrily.

     ‘You’re like a spoilt little kid,’ Sotar sneered.

     ‘At least I know the difference between mine and someone else’s.’

     ‘I’m not going to argue with you any longer. Give up the Liger or I will order my men to shoot.’

     ‘Let them shoot,’ Bit said.

     ‘As you wish,’ Sotar blinked off the screen.

The Liger got to its feet.

   The five Borigators surrounded the Liger, the other zoids advanced behind them. The Liger was trapped on all sides.

   Bit shot at the zoids until the Liger was out of ammunition.

     ‘I’m out of ammo,’ Bit told Naomi; ‘I can’t do anything.’

Naomi was silent.

     The zoids advanced and stopped two feet from the Liger. There was no way they would miss from such close range. They powered up, ready to fire.

   A Pteras and a Reynos flew overhead, firing at the Borigators. Jamie appeared in the Liger cockpit, ‘Hey Bit, need some help?’

     ‘How’d you know where we were? I never told you where the Sotar Mansion was.’

     ‘Jade Tempar told me.’

Bit was surprised, ‘Jade? She told you?’

     ‘Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised?’

     ‘I’m not surprised,’ Bit lied.

Jade appeared on his left, ‘Bit, listen to me, I’m sorry for what I did. I don’t even know why I did it now, I was stupid.’

   Bit held up his hands, ‘OK OK, Jade. I believe you.’

     ‘Really?’

     ‘Yeah,’ Bit said sincerely.

     ‘How do you know you can trust her?’ Naomi asked. ‘She tricked you before, how do you know she isn’t doing it again?’

   Bit shook his head, ‘I don’t know, but we don’t really have time to argue.’

Jamie and Jade shot a path through the zoids for the Liger. The Borigators fired toward Jamie as he flew low overhead.

   One of them hit him and he veered to the right, smoking. He crashed to the ground, taking out a few enemy zoids in the process.

     ‘Jamie!’

     ‘I’m OK.’ Jamie said.

     ‘Bit, I’m going to blow up the gate,’ Jade said. She dodged a few shots from the remaining zoids, then flew low and shot the gate. It blew up, the explosion took out half of the boundary wall aswell.

   Bit ran for the gate. A zoid stood in his path; the Liger launched off the ground, ‘Strike Laser Claw!’ Bit yelled.

   The Borigator lurched sideways and the Liger ran past it. Bit was almost to the gate, but then he stopped the Liger.

     ‘What are you doing?’ Naomi asked.

     ‘I can’t leave Jamie here.’

     ‘You go,’ Jade said, ‘I’ll get Jamie.’

     ‘Are you sure?’

     ‘Of course I’m sure.’

Bit shrugged. The Liger turned and headed out the gate. Bit looked back and saw Jade attacking the last of the Borigators. Without hesitating, he turned the Liger in the direction of the Hovercargo.

 

 

 

Bit and Naomi entered the lounge. Bit sat down with a sigh.

     ‘I’m so glad that whole thing is over,’ Naomi said and sat down too.

     ‘Yeah,’ Bit agreed. ‘I just hope Jade got to Jamie out of there before he got blown up or something.’

   Naomi looked at him.

     ‘What?’

     ‘How do you know Jade Tempar?’

     ‘We used to be best friends. That is, until the day I thought she shot me down.’

Naomi sat up straight, ‘What do you mean?’

   Bit knew he was about to reveal his secret, to Naomi. He wasn’t sure that he was ready. But if he was going to tell someone, he was glad it was Naomi.

     ‘Years ago, Jade and I were best friends, we were also rivals. We entered the annual Pteras race that's held in our old town together – we were always competing to see which one of us would win and be the best. She always did.’

   Naomi smiled, ‘So there is someone in the world who can beat you.’

Bit scoffed, ‘Yeah, I guess there is. Anyway, we entered the race and I was actually winning, Jade was coming second. There was no-one else in sight for miles.

   ‘We were coming to the finish line and then she shot me down – or so I thought.

I thought that she couldn’t stand to be beaten, maybe even less than me, so she shot me down.

   ‘I was in hospital for months recovering from my injuries. When I got out, Jade was there, but I couldn’t stand the sight of her so I left.

   ‘I went to find the best zoid that I could. I promised myself that if we ever met again, I’d shoot her down.

   ‘I had forgotten about that promise and I started to forget about Jade. I thought I was over it. You don’t know what it feels like to think that your best friend has cheated against you and betrayed you, all so they could win a stupid race. It’s a horrible feeling.’

   Naomi shook her head, ‘I bet it is.’

     ‘And that’s about it, she came back and this all happened.’

     ‘Are you going to be OK?’           

Bit hugged her tight; ‘I’ll be fine,’ he kissed her warmly.

   Jamie and Jade walked in, talking loudly.

Bit sighed and parted from Naomi.

     ‘Hey Bit, Jade’s cool. She could teach us all a few tricks in flying,’ Jamie said smiling. ‘You should have seen the way she handled her Pteras.’

     ‘Yeah, I bet she was great.’ Bit looked at Jade. Jade rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.

   Bit got up from the lounge and headed out the door. Naomi, Jade and Jamie watched him leave.

     ‘What’s up with him?’ Jamie asked.

Naomi was staring at Jade, ‘He probably had some things to do.’

   Jamie shrugged.

     ‘Uh, it was nice meeting you, Jamie, but I’ve got to be going. I have a battle to prepare for by tomorrow.’ 

     ‘The way you battled today, I don’t think you need any preparation,’ Jamie said.

     ‘Well I should go anyway,’ Jade smiled at Jamie and left the room.

As soon as she left, Brad and Leena came through the door.

     ‘Was that Jade Tempar?’ Brad asked; jerking his thumb in the direction Jade had gone.

   Jamie and Naomi nodded.

 

 

Jade caught up with Bit as he was leaving the Hovercargo.

     ‘Bit, wait!’ she called.

Bit turned around and looked at her, ‘What?’

   Jade stood in front of Bit, ‘What do I have to do,’ she asked, ‘for you to forgive me?’

     ‘Forgive you for what?’ Bit looked thoughtful for a second. ‘Oh, you mean for selling me out to that creep Sotar?’

     ‘I thought I said I was sorry,’ Jade said quietly.

Bit laughed, ‘And how can I be sure that you aren’t trying to trick me like you did before?’

     ‘You don’t. But I’m telling you that I’m not trying to trick you, Bit. What I did was a mistake, a mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life because somewhere along the line, I fell in love with you,’ she looked at him with tears in her eyes.

   Bit was taken aback, Jade? Love him? Well she had a funny way of showing it.

And yet, deep down inside, Bit realised that he loved her too. He always had. But it was a different sought of love, a love that he couldn’t describe.

   Bit loved Naomi, but Jade understood him in a way no-one else did, and Bit understood her aswell. Bit couldn’t help but love a person like that.

     ‘Well aren’t you going to say something?’ Jade asked.

It took a minute for Bit to get his voice back, ‘Jade,’ he took her hands, ‘maybe if things were different – but I can’t. I love Naomi.’

   Jade’s head dropped, ‘Oh.’

     ‘But yes, I do. I do love you.’

The tears started flowing from Jade’s eyes, ‘You do?’

    Bit nodded, ‘With all my heart, Jade.’

Jade laughed, ‘I can’t believe it!’

   Bit smiled, ‘Believe it,’ he hugged her.

Jade stepped away from him and wiped the tears from her eyes, ‘I’ve got to go.’

     ‘When can I see you again?’ Bit asked.

Jade shrugged, ‘I don’t know.’ She walked over to her Pteras and waved, ‘See you later.’

   Bit watched the Pteras until it was out of sight.

     ‘Goodbye, Jade.’