THE NEW ZOID: INTRODUCING THE ULTIMA.

By Lady Liger.

‘Go that way, I’ll take Naomi.’ Brad said to Bit.

The Blitz team were in a battle against the Fluegal Team, Leon wasn’t there because he had the flu. So Naomi had found two stand-in team mates while Leon recovered.

Leena’s Gunsniper’s system had been frozen by Naomi, and she wasn’t pleased with the fact. ‘But I had her!,’ she complained loudly to Brad and Bit.

‘Right. But watch your six, Brad.’ Bit said, ignoring Leena. He flew off to the left in his Liger Zero, Schneider. The zoid roared. ‘I hear ya, partner.’ Bit said.

The Liger’s spike formed and they followed Naomi’s team mate that was leading them away from Brad and Naomi. Out of the corner of his eye, Bit saw Naomi let loose a longrange assault as Brad sped toward her. His zoid was knocked sideways and it lay on the ground sparking.

‘You OK, Brad?’ Bit asked.

‘Yeah, but the Fox is out of commission.’

Bit smiled inwardly to himself. It’s all up to us now, he thought.

He took care of Naomi’s first team mate with a Strike Laser Claw. Naomi’s other team mate, however, was more skilled and she was stubborn. It took Bit awhile to knock her out of the competition. The Liger roared over the fallen zoid and then went after Naomi. Bit couldn’t see her anywhere. He checked his radar screen, but still she remained elusive.

‘Bit, watch out.’ Jamie appeared in the Liger cockpit. ‘Naomi’s up on that ridge to your right. She’s waiting for you to pass so she can ambush you.’

‘Right, thanks Jamie.’

The Liger stopped abruptly and bounded in the opposite direction. Naomi fired her longrange assault rifle and instantly the Liger was engulfed in a cloud of dust. Bit looked around trying to locate Naomi but she’d disappeared again. ‘Where’d she go?’ He said to himself.

Naomi appeared on the screen. ‘Hey warrior,’ she said in her quiet voice, ‘why don’t you show me what that zoid of yours can do.’

‘How about you show yourself and you’ll find out!’ Bit said loudly.

Naomi smiled.

The dust cleared and Naomi’s Gunsniper was running straight at the Liger. Bit’s eyes widened. He tried to dodge but he was caught off guard. The Gunsniper fired and the Liger was blown backward and it crashed to the ground. It got up shakily. Bit groaned, but showing he wasn’t intimidated, he called to Naomi, ‘Is that the best you can do? I expected better.’

‘As did I,’ she said calmly.

Bit saw a flash of movement coming from behind him, the Liger turned to face Naomi. They stood for a second, tension mounting. The Liger pawed the ground.

‘Be careful, Bit,’ Jamie said. ‘She may have something planned, be on guard.’

‘Thanks for the advice.’ Bit said, he turned his attention back to Naomi. ‘Ready partner?’ The Liger shook itself and growled. Bit smiled. They ran. ‘Seven Blade Attack!’ Bit yelled. The Liger launched into the air and made impact but the Seven Blade snapped when it hit the Gunsniper’s armour. The Liger landed a hundred metres from the Gunsniper. It wheeled around to face Naomi again.

Naomi laughed. ‘I don’t think so, Bit.’

‘I’ll show you!’ Bit said as the Liger ran for her once again. ‘Strike Laser Claw!’ The Liger flew past the Gunsniper and landed. Bit held his breath as he watched expectantly. A second later, Naomi’s Gunsniper collapsed to the ground. Sparks flew from it’s side and it lay motionless.

Bit cheered and the Liger roared. ‘We did it, Pal!’ Bit yelled exaltedly.

‘Not bad.’ Naomi smiled wryly. ‘At least not for an amateur.’

‘I’m not an amateur! I’m an undefeated warrior!’

‘Well undefeated warrior, we’ll meet again and next time you won’t be so lucky.’

Bit entered the lounge of the Hovercargo. ‘Congratulations on another victory.’ Dr Toros said good-naturedly.

Bit smiled. ‘Piece of cake,’ he said airily. He sat down next to Leena and helped himself to a biscuit.

‘We might have won,’ Jamie entered and leaned on the rail opposite Bit, ‘but the Gunsniper and Fox have some damage. It’s going to take awhile to repair both of them.’

‘Well this will be the perfect opportunity.’ Toros said.

‘For what, dad?’ Leena leaned forward and rested her chin in her hands.

‘To try out some new weapons I’ve been working on.’

Brad and Bit groaned. ‘I guess that means we don’t get our prize money.’ Bit rolled his eyes.

‘No. But you get to try out some cool new weapons.’ Toros clapped Bit on the back, making him choke on his half eaten biscuit.

‘Speaking of weapons.’ Brad said. ‘I think the Fox needs something stronger, the Vulcan Canon just isn’t cutting it.’

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘So,’ Bit said, changing the subject, ‘who’s our next victims?’

‘We have a battle scheduled in exactly five days,’ Jamie said, ‘against Jack Sisco. Interestingly enough, he’s put together a Team: the Speed Strike Team.’

‘Oh this will be good.’ Leena looked at Bit, he looked like his birthday had come early.

‘We get to go up against Jack Sisco?’ Bit asked. ‘I can’t wait to see his face when I beat him again.’

‘Modest to the very last.’ Leena said sarcastically. She pushed Bit off the lounge. He fell to the floor with a thud. He got to his feet, rubbing his head. ‘What you do that for?!’ he yelled. Leena shrugged and turned away from him.

‘But he didn’t tell us who his team mates are so we can’t come up with a strategy to beat him because we don’t know who we’re up against.’ Jamie said.

‘Well that was nice of him.’ Leena rolled her eyes.

Just then, the group heard a rumbling sound coming from outside. They stood in the Hovercargo’s main entrance and stared at the enormous Whale King that was bearing down on them. It stopped just a few feet from where they stood. The ramp descended to the ground with a low hiss and someone came bounding out.

‘Is that-’ Bit began.

‘Oh Leena, my dear, where are you?!’ Harry Champ called.

‘What do you want, Harry?’ Leena asked uncaringly.

Harry chuckled, ‘Oh sweetie, don’t jest, you know there is only one thing I want in this world,’ he handed her a single red rose, ‘and that’s -’

‘-To be better than me?’ Bit said brightly, interrupting the leader of the Champ Team.

Harry’s gaze snapped to Bit’s smiling face. He frowned, ‘Why can’t you just leave me alone?’ He complained. ‘Why must you durge my life and my love.’

Bit laughed, ‘Get real, Harry, Leena doesn’t even like you let alone love you.’

Leena stepped between Harry and Bit. She parted them with her outstretched arms. ‘Now boys,’ she said, ‘don’t fight over me. Although I can’t blame you, no guy can resist my charm,’ she batted her eyelids.

Bit snorted. Leena sent him a fatal look that made him cringe. ‘I mean of course not, your beauty is too much for me to handle,’ he turned away sniggering.

Harry stepped up to Leena and held her hands. ‘My dear, ignore him. He has no idea, unlike me. Your beauty is the reason I get up every day.’ He kissed her hands and backed away. Leena blushed, despite the fact she had no feelings for Harry what-so-ever.

Harry stepped onto the ramp. ‘Until next time we meet, my love,’ he blew her a kiss. The Whale King cruised off into the distance. Leena watched it go, then she turned on Bit. She shoved him in the back and he fell face first into the dirt.

Leena nodded, satisfied, and walked back into the Hovercargo smelling her rose.

Bit got up and brushed himself off. He looked at Brad who was smirking at him. ‘One rule, Bit,’ he said, ‘ never make Leena mad.’

‘I’ll remember that in future.’ Bit said. Brad laughed and the two of them walked back inside the Hovercargo too.

Bit felt exhilarated as the Liger rocketed through the countryside, turning at the last second as they approached mountains or jumped over huge rocks.

The sun shone on Bit’s face through the windshield, warming him up. It was a pleasant morning.

Bit sighed, ‘Well, what do you say Liger? Should we head back and get some breakfast?’ The Liger roared. ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

The Liger pivoted and headed back to the Hovercargo.

Bit sat down at the table, stretching.

‘Ah Bit,’ Toros smiled at him. ‘Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you all morning.’

‘I took the Liger for a run.’

‘Well, I’ve got something I want to show you.’ Toros could hardly contain his excitement. Bit followed him to the maintenance deck. Toros pressed a button on a small remote control and a compartment opened. Bit gazed at it’s contents. It was a long/shortrange laser missile canon.

‘Whoa, Doc,’ Bit was impressed, ‘where’d you get one of those?’

Toros smiled, ‘Bought it yesterday. Do you like it?’ He looked at Bit expectantly.

‘It’s great. But I don’t think the Liger really needs it.’

‘Who said it was for the Liger!’ Toros laughed loudly.

‘But-’

‘No. It’s for the Shadow Fox. I just wanted to see what you thought.’

Bit groaned. Toros slapped him on the back and went back to the lounge. Bit followed.

‘Like my new toy, Bit?’ Brad asked.

‘It’s cool.’ Bit said off-handedly.

The holovid buzzed and the Blitz Team saw Dr Laon staring at them.

‘Hey Dr Laypon.’ Leena waved.

‘It’s Laon, Leena, Laon. How are you?’

‘I’m good. How are-’

‘Laon!’ Toros said brightly. ‘What’s the occasion?’

‘Toros.’ Laon gave a curt nod. ‘I’m challenging your team to a battle this afternoon.’

‘Sorry, Laon. We’ll have to decline.’ Toros sighed. ‘Our zoids have some damage and they’re not finished being repaired yet.’

Laon leaned in so only his face could be seen on the screen. ‘Are you saying you won’t take up my challenge?’ He said quietly.

‘‘Fraid so, Laon.’ Toros shrugged.

‘Hey wait a minute, Doc.’ Bit said, coming to stand next to him. ‘We still have the Liger... and the Reynos hasn’t been in a battle for awhile,’ he added as an after-thought.

Toros looked at Bit, ‘Sorry, Bit, But I’m not going to send you in there-’

‘I didn’t know you were such a coward, Toros,’ Laon said.

‘You aren’t going to move me this time, Laon. The answer is no.’

‘I’ll give you ten times the money.’

Toros’ eyes widened, ‘Well I guess our zoids aren’t that badly damaged. You’ve got yourself a battle.’

Laon smiled and the screen went blank. Toros left the room smiling to himself.

‘That sure was nice of him.’ Jamie said sarcastically. ‘I don’t know whether I want to battle the Backdraft Group again.’

‘Aw, come on, Jamie.’ Bit said. ‘It’ll be good practise.’

‘But what’s the use? You can’t even win points in an unofficial battle.’

‘So?’ Bit shrugged.

‘So, there’s no point.’ Jamie complained.

‘Quit complaining.’ Leena rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea, but I don’t want to look like a chicken either.’

‘If we’re going to battle the Backdrafts. I’m going to get a slice of that money when we win.’ Brad said. They all nodded in agreement.

‘Ready to launch Liger Zero, Schneider!’ Bit yelled. They launched off the ramp and landed in rank with Leena and Brad. Jamie was already in the air, flying low in his Reynos.

‘The Backdraft Group versus the Blitz Team,’ the Dark Judge spat sarcastically. ‘Ready. Fight.’

The Blitz Team stood in the middle of a clearing. They had only seen one opposition zoid but it had disappeared behind a hill.

“What do they think they’re playing at?’ Bit asked.

Jamie appeared on his left in the Liger cockpit. ‘I’m not picking up any zoids anywhere. It’s like they’re not even here.’

‘Well, they better show themselves soon.’ Leena appeared in the cockpit too. ‘Otherwise I’m going to let loose everything I have and there won’t be anywhere left for them to hide!’

‘Do you guys hear that?’ Bit asked. There was a low rumbling noise that sounded like a stampede.

‘Move!’ Brad ordered. All at once, zoids were coming from all directions in an all-out assault.

‘We’re outnumbered!’ Jamie cried. In the next instant, he had changed. ‘But we’ll never give up,’ he said valiantly.

‘The Wild Eagle?’ Leena asked.

‘The one and only.’ Jamie said. He went careering off after a formation of Sabats. He fired a round of shots and three Sabats fell to the ground smoking. They exploded when they crashed. The other Sabats in the formation veered off and flew out of sight.

‘Brad!’ Bit warned. ‘You’ve got a bunch of Heldegunners on your tail.’

‘Thanks, but I already new that.’ Brad started firing his new Missile Cannon. The Heldegunners didn’t even put up a fight as Brad blew each one up in turn. ‘What’s with these guys?’ He asked. ‘It’s like they’re not even trying.’

Bit shrugged. ‘I don’t know, but it feels like the whole Backdraft Group are out there.’

‘A little help here.’ Leena called.

Bit checked his radar screen and located Leena being attacked by a group of Spinosappas.

‘Brad, can you help Leena?’ Bit asked. Brad was the closest to Leena’s position.

‘I’m a little busy here at the moment, Bit.’ He sounded strained.

A few hundred yards away, Bit saw Jamie’s Reynos plummet to the ground in flames.

‘Jamie!’

‘Ow.’ Jamie said stupidly. He had returned back to his own ego.

The Liger ran to where the group of Spinosappas trapped Leena. The Liger roared, but the Spinnosappas loped away without even putting up a fight.

‘What is up with these guys?’ Bit wondered again.

‘Look out your window,’ Brad said, ‘we’ve got a new problem.’

Bit looked out his window. The Liger stopped in it’s tracks.

‘What the-’ Bit couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was huge! At least three times as big as the Liger. It’s entire body seemed to be covered in giant armoured spikes and it had a sought of swept-forward shield forming a five-foot spike above it’s eyes. It’s tail, long and whip-like, could be used as a weapon in it’s own right. The monstrous zoid had an array of weapons on it’s back and it had assault rifles on it’s hind legs pointing outward so it was covered in every direction. The zoid had been painted in shiny black paint which in the right light, showed a blue sheen.

‘Where can I get a zoid like that?’ Leena sounded impressed.

Laon appeared on-screen. He smiled sinisterly. ‘Well, young warrior,’ he said, ‘Do you like my newest zoid?’

‘What is that thing?’ Bit asked.

Laon chuckled. ‘The whole point of this battle was to properly try out my newest creation.’

‘But what is it?’

‘It’s a hybrid. With speed and power that surpasses even that of the Lightning Saix and the Elephander and an arsenal that has the most powerful weapons of any zoid.’ Laon smiled. ‘It is unbeatable and unstoppable. It is the king of all zoids, it is the Zenith Ultima!’

‘Bit!’ Leena yelled. ‘Why are you just standing there? Shoot!’ Brad and Leena stood side by side, shooting everything they had at the Ultima. But the Ultima’s spikes absorbed the fire like lightning rods. It roared loudly.

‘This is useless!’ Leena shouted.

They heard an evil laugh and a man they had never seen before, appeared in front of Bit. ‘This is the famous Blitz Team?’ He said in a deliberately quiet voice that dripped malice. His eyes were hidden behind black glasses and his mouth had a permanent smirk at the corners. ‘You might as well give up. You’ll never defeat me,’ he said.

‘Brad. Leena. Distract him, I’ll be right back.’

‘Bit! Where are you going?’ Leena demanded.

‘Just trust me.’ The Liger turned and bounded back toward the Hovercargo. ‘Doc, ready the Panzer.’

‘Right.’ Toros sounded excited. Bit entered the maintenance deck.

The Liger stepped out the side panel, equipped in the Panzer. ‘Let’s see if he can stand up to you now, partner.’ Bit said. They bounded back to the Zenith Ultima.

Bit fired the Liger’s Hybrid Canons at the powerful monster, but again, it’s spike absorbed the attack.

The Ultima fired a beam from the spike above it’s eyes. There was a blinding light and the Liger was caught in a thunderous explosion as the beam hit the Liger squarely in the chest. The shock-wave from the explosion caused the Liger to be blown off it’s feet and it sprawled on the ground motionless.

‘Come on Liger, don’t quit now.’ Bit urged. The Liger didn’t move.

‘Bit, what’s wrong?’ Brad asked.

Bit checked his computer display. The Liger’s system had been frozen. ‘No!’ He yelled. ‘Don’t do this, Liger! Get up!’

The mysterious warrior laughed. ‘I was actually looking forward to battling you, Bit Cloud, but like all the rest, you’re not even a challenge.’

‘Come on, Liger, get up!’ Bit commanded. But still, the zoid didn’t move.

After a tense few minutes, the Liger got to it’s feet, shaking itself.

‘Yeah, that’s more like it.’ Bit said. The Liger gave a roar that rivalled the Ultima’s. ‘Let’s do it, pal.’

The Ultima blew past Bit and rocketed away, leaving a trail of dust in it’s tracks. The Liger bounded after it. The Ultima stopped and turned to face the Liger again.

‘I must admit, I’m impressed.’ The warrior said. ‘After all the tests I’ve done in this zoid against other’s, none of them ever got back up after I’d hit them with the Solar Laser Spike Strike, but that Liger really is something else.’

‘I’m so glad you realise that.’ Bit said contemptuously.

The Liger stopped a hundred yards from the Ultima. It fired three shots at the powerful monster. But it dodged each one easily.

‘Bit, be careful.’ Toros warned. ‘That Zenith Ultima looks dangerous.’

‘No.’ Bit said sarcastically.

‘The Liger is starting to heat up, Bit.’ Jamie said. ‘It’s amazing it didn’t start to heat up sooner.’

‘I’ve got one thing to do before I lose the Panzer.’

Bit launched the Burning Bigbang. The Ultima was lost in a cloud of dust a mile high. Bit tossed the Panzer and the Liger shook itself. When the dust cleared. the Ultima still stood, it didn’t have a scratch on it. Bit felt dejected. If that didn’t work, he’d run out of ideas. In a last desperate effort, the Liger launched into the air. ‘Strike Laser Claw!’ Bit yelled.

The mysterious warrior hadn’t been expecting the attack and he didn’t have time to react.

The Liger turned and landed. The Ultima shuddered and crashed to the ground.

‘Yeah!’ Bit shouted. ‘I won!’ Brad and Leena appeared in the Liger cockpit. They looked at Bit. ‘I-I mean we won,’ he amended.

‘That’s better.’ Brad said.

The mysterious warrior appeared on-screen. He no longer looked cool and calm. He was breathing hard and sweating. ‘That’s impossible!’ He shrieked. ‘The Zenith Ultima cannot be defeated!’

Bit smirked. ‘Obviously, it can.’ The Liger roared.

‘NO! No no no noooooooooooooo!’ The Dark Judge went nuts. The way he always did when the Backdrafts lost. ‘The winner is- the Blitz Team.’ He said deflatedly.

‘Phew. A few more seconds and we would have been toast.’ Bit said. ‘That was close.’

‘You’re telling me.’ Leena said.

Bit watched as Laon’s Whale King flew away into the distance.

‘Hello.’ Naomi sat down next to Bit in the diner.

‘Naomi? What do you want?’ Bit said. He took a sip of his coffee.

Naomi chuckled. ‘I just came to say hello.’

‘OK, hi.’ Bit went back to filling in the order form for Toros.

‘There is one thing. I heard you encountered a zoid, the Zenith Ultima?’

‘Yeah we encountered it.’ Bit shrugged. ‘What’s it to you?’

‘Do you know where it is?’

‘Nope.’

Naomi got up and left without saying another word. Bit shrugged again. When he’d finished filling in the order form, he went next door to the parts supplier. Bit handed the form to the old man behind the counter.

‘Is that everything?’ The man asked when he’d read the list.

‘Yeah, and can you get those parts in as soon as possible?’

‘I’ll have these by tomorrow.’

‘Right. See you tomorrow.’

Bit walked back into the diner and sat down at the same table.

A battle had just started on the holovid between the Champ Team and the new Fluegal Team. Bit wondered how Naomi got out to the battlefield so fast. He watched, interested for awhile. But he knew Harry was no match for Naomi and Leon.

The battle ended quickly after Naomi and Leon completely annihilated the Champ Team. Bit wasn’t surprised.

As he watched, a new zoid appeared on the battlefield. Bit sat up straight when he recognised it as the Zenith Ultima. The whole diner started to buzz as everyone began talking at once. The zoid advanced on Naomi and Leon, then the screen went blank.

‘Oh no,’ Bit said to himself, ‘they’re in trouble.’ He ran out the door to his truck and sped back to the Hovercargo.

‘Let’s go, Liger!’ Bit yelled. They launched off the ramp and sped in the direction of the Fluegal Team and Zenith Ultima. It had cornered Naomi, her Gunsniper backed up against the rocks. Bit couldn’t see Leon anywhere.

‘Nice to see you again, Bit,’ Leon said, his Red Blade Liger bounding up to stand next to the Liger Zero.

‘You too.’

The Liger Zero and the Blade Liger fired at the Ultima, but it wasn’t even a hindrance on the monster, it’s spikes absorbing every shot.

The mysterious warrior appeared in front of Bit, his face was that of a snake. ‘So, we meet again, Bit Cloud,’ he practically hissed.

‘Leave Naomi alone!’ Bit shouted.

‘What are you going to do about it?’

‘This.’ The Liger ran at the Ultima, it sailed over the top of it’s spiked head. The Liger bounced off the rock face and ran sideways until it reached level ground. They hurtled back toward the Ultima again. But the Liger never got to attack the Ultima. Someone, Bit couldn’t see who, was firing on all of them. The unseen zoid shot at Leon and the Blade Liger was blown back into the rock face at least thirty feet. The zoid then fired on the Ultima. it’s spikes, as usual, stopped the attack from having any affect, but the mysterious warrior decided to get out of there anyway. Bit watched his retreating back until he was out of sight before returning his attention back to the unseen zoid. ‘Leon, you OK?’ Bit asked.

‘I’m stuck.’ Leon sounded frustrated. ‘I can’t get out.’

‘I’ll handle it-’ There was a huge explosion. It had come from Naomi’s Gunsniper. The Liger ran for where Naomi’s Gunsniper lay in flames. ‘Naomi,’ Bit called. ‘Naomi, are you OK?’ There was no answer.

Bit jumped to the ground, the heat of the flames hitting him like a blanket. He shielded his eyes as he carefully walked forward.

Bit heard a groan coming from just behind him. It was Naomi, she had been blown clear from her zoid’s cockpit and had landed a few yards away. Bit propped her up against the rock face. She had a nasty cut above her eye but nothing serious.

‘Naomi.’ Bit said and shook her gently. ‘ Naomi.’

She opened her eyes and looked up at Bit. ‘Thanks, I owe you one.’

Bit touched the cut above her eye gingerly. Naomi smiled at him. ‘Nothing life-threatening.’

‘Come on, we’ve got to get out of here,’ Bit said, looking over his shoulder, ‘that zoid could still be out there.’ He pulled Naomi to her feet.

There was another explosion and Bit was knocked into her against the rock face. She looked at Bit, her eyes sparkling. Bit stepped forward. He leaned in close to Naomi, hesitated for a second, millimetres from her lips and then kissed her softly.

She smiled at him. ‘Thanks for sharing that with me.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Bit kissed her again.

When they parted, Bit’s eyes widened and his eyebrows arched. ‘Uh-oh.’

‘What?’

‘Leon!’ They looked at each other then ran to the hole that had been blown out of the rock by the unseen zoid. Bit stepped in followed closely by Naomi.

‘Leon?’ Bit called loudly.

‘Get me out of here.’ They heard the muffled reply. Bit and Naomi walked over to the Blade Liger, it was jammed against the rock, half of it disappeared into the rock itself and couldn’t get free. ‘Leon?’ Bit called again. He climbed up on the Liger’s side to the cockpit. Bit tried to pry it open with his bare hands, but it was sealed tight.

‘Bit, use that rock.’ Naomi pointed to a good-sized rock on the Liger’s back. He picked it up. ‘Move away.’ He warned Leon. He smashed the window, glass flew everywhere. The three of them jumped to the ground. Leon looked at Bit. ‘You’re going to pay for that aren’t you.’

‘Your dad can pay for it.’ Bit said.

Naomi sighed. ‘Well that’s the end of my zoid.’ she looked back to where her Gunsniper still burned.

‘And I won’t be able to dig my Liger out until tomorrow.’ Leon said.

‘What are you guys going to do tonight?’ Bit asked. He walked over to the Liger Zero and leaned against it’s leg.

‘I don’t know,’ Leon said,’ we didn’t really plan on this happening.’

‘You could stay with us.’ Bit suggested.

‘You sure?’

‘Yeah. Besides I think your dad would really like to see you again, Leon.’

Leon shrugged. ‘Fine by me. But only for awhile,’ he looked at Naomi. ‘What do you say?’

‘Sure,’ she winked at Bit. He smiled.

‘Let’s go.’

Bit was sitting in the lounge stretching, when Naomi walked in from the bathroom wearing a robe. She sat down next to Bit and wrapped a towel around her hair.

‘What are you looking at?’ She asked when she noticed Bit staring at her.

Bit snapped out of it, shaking his head. ‘Nothing.’ he smiled at Naomi. ‘Hey, I’m going into town. Want to come?’

‘Sure. I’ve got to order a new zoid anyway.’ Naomi looked down at herself. ‘Give me a few minutes.’

‘I think you look good like that.’ Bit said to himself.

‘Excuse me? I didn’t quite catch that.’

‘Did I say that out loud?’ Bit asked, embarrassed.

Naomi nodded.

‘Oh. I just said I thought you looked good like that.’

‘Thanks. But I think I should change anyway.’

Naomi got up and the bathroom door closed behind her.

Brad strolled in and leaned on the rail behind Bit. ‘What was that about?’ he asked.

Bit looked at him. ‘Nothing. I was just talking with Naomi.’ Bit stood up and leaned against the wall outside the bathroom. ‘You got a problem with that?’

‘No. Why would I?’

‘I don’t know.’ Bit shrugged.

Naomi walked out of the bathroom fully dressed. ‘Hey Brad,’ she said and looked at Bit. ‘Are we going?’

‘Yeah. Come on.’ Bit lead Naomi out of the lounge, smiling to himself.

‘Hello again.’ The man behind the counter said.

‘You got the parts in?’

The man nodded. ‘I’ll go get them.’

He went into the back room and came back struggling under the weight of three large boxes. He put them on the counter.

‘What are you doing, building a new zoid or something?’

Bit laughed. ‘No. These parts aren’t for me, they’re for Doc Toros.’

The man shook his head and smiled. ‘Should’ve known. That man is always fixing up zoids. It’s like his hobby or something.’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean.’

‘Tell him Jonas says hi, OK.’

‘Will do.’ Bit left the store and loaded the boxes into his truck. Then he went to the diner to wait for Naomi.

After a few minutes, Naomi walked over to him looking pleased.

‘Did you order your zoid?’ Bit asked when she sat down.

‘It will be ready by tomorrow.’

Someone bumped into Bit.

‘Hey, watch it!’ Bit said irritably.

‘Oh sorry,’ the guy said sarcastically,’ didn’t see you down there.’

Bit jumped to his feet. ‘Hey pal, you got a problem?’ He asked.

The guy had brownish, spiked hair and a skull earring. He was about three inches taller than Bit.

He smiled. ‘ Nope, just wanted to wish you luck against Sisco today. That’s all. Oh and kid, you better watch your back.’

The guy shoved past Bit and walked out the door laughing.

Bit sat back down.

‘You know that guy?’ Naomi asked.

‘Never seen him before in my life.’ Bit shrugged. ‘He sure was cocky though.’

‘So you’re battling Sisco.’ Naomi said.

‘Yep and I’ll beat him again.’ Bit said with contempt.

Naomi looked at him.

‘What?’

‘Your so cute when you act like that.’

She brushed Bit’s arm. His heart skipped a beat at her touch.

Bit sighed. ‘I’ve got to go. You can stay if you want, but I’m not being late for Sisco.’

They walked out into the sunshine.

‘When is the battle?’ Naomi leaned against Bit’s truck.

‘This afternoon, why?’

‘Just wondering.’ She smiled at Bit. He bent down and kissed her.

‘Bit?!’ Jamie sounded shocked as he walked up to them.

Bit stepped way from Naomi. He looked at Jamie, embarrassed. ‘Uh-we-I-er-um,’ he stammered.

Naomi glanced at Jamie.’

‘You mean you and Bit are-’

‘Mmhm.’ Naomi said. Bit nodded.

‘Since when?’

‘Yesterday. After Leon’s and my battle with the Champ Team,’ Naomi said.

‘But I thought you liked Brad.’ Jamie was slowly recovering from the shock.

‘I did, for awhile.’ Naomi said dismissively. ‘But there’s something about Bit, I can’t explain it. It just intrigues me.’

Jamie rolled his eyes. ‘I didn’t really need to know that.’

‘Don’t tell anyone.’ Bit said. ‘We’re keeping it to ourselves for now.’

‘The way you two are acting, it wouldn’t take much imagination.’

Bit looked at him.

‘OK, OK. No-one will hear it from me. Doc sent me to get you, Bit.’

‘Why?’ Bit leaned against the truck next to Naomi.

‘The battle. You didn’t forget, did you?’ Jamie asked disbelievingly.

‘Of course I didn’t.’

‘Well come on then.’

Bit got in his truck. ‘Coming, Naomi?’

‘Why not,’ she said and got in the passenger side.

Jamie stood at Bit’s window. Bit wound it down. ‘How are you getting back?’

‘I brought the hover-bike, I’ll follow you.’

The Blitz Team were standing opposite Jack Sisco. The rest of the Speed Strike Team were taking cover in the mountains of boulders that littered the battlefield.

‘Ready. Fight,’ the Judge motioned for the battle to begin.

Bit, in the Liger Zero Jager, fell into pursuit behind the Lightning Saix while Brad and Leena covered him from behind. But, of course, the Saix was too fast for them to hit.

‘You won’t beat me this time, Bit Cloud.’ Sisco said.

‘You sound confident,’ Bit said, ‘for someone who’s been beaten by me before.’

Sisco just smiled.

The Saix pulled away from Bit, but he caught up easily after gunning the Jager’s Ion Boosters.

The Liger made a half-turn and cut the Saix off. The Saix fired, hitting the Liger in the side. It recovered quickly.

The Saix jumped over the Liger and rocketed back the way they had come. The Liger followed it with it’s guns, then pursued after it again.

‘There are two zoids waiting behind that pile of boulders,’ Jamie said.

‘I’m staying with Sisco.’ Bit said. ‘He’s the one I want.’

‘Hey Bit!’ Leena shouted. ‘Heads up!’

‘Huh?’

‘Those zoids are coming out!’

Sisco’s Saix wheeled around, the Liger almost ran into it but skidded just in time.

The Blitz Team lined up again, one hundred yards from Sisco who was standing in front of the pile of boulders.

The two zoids, still concealed behind the pile of boulders, fired on Brad and Leena, but deliberately made sure none of their fire hit the Liger. Brad and Leena didn’t have a chance to dodge as they were taken out of the battle. It was now three against one.

‘Brad! Leena!’ Bit shouted. He glared at Sisco’s smiling face. ‘What do you think you’re doing?!’

‘Well, we have a score to settle with you, Bit Cloud.’ Sisco never stopped smiling.

‘We? Who’s we?’

‘Think. Who are the two guys, other than me, that you have beaten that no-one else has defeated.’

As Sisco said that, the two zoids loped out from behind the boulders. They flanked either side of the Lightning Saix. The Zenith Ultima and the Beserk Fury!

‘Bit, you can’t take all three of them.’ Jamie said.

‘He’s right, Bit’ Toros appeared in front of him. ‘As much as I hate to do it, I think we should-’ he sighed, ‘-forfeit.’

‘Are you crazy, Doc?’ Bit asked incredulously. ‘There is no way I’m given up this opportunity. I can take them.’

‘Fine.’ Toros said. ‘But I’m not paying for your life insurance when you get yourself killed.’

Bit laughed. ‘Thanks, Doc.’

Toros and Jamie blinked out of the cockpit.

Bit turned back to Sisco, serious once more. ‘I just want to know one thing, Sisco,’ he said. ‘Why’d you team up with these two? I thought you’d never have anything to do with the Backdrafts.’

Sisco shrugged. ‘Well you know that old saying: “If you can’t beat them, join them and beat everyone else. Especially you.”’

The three of them loped toward Bit. The Liger backed up, growling. Bit fired it’s guns, the three zoids disappeared in a cloud of dust.

‘That should give us enough time.’ Bit said. ‘Let’s go, partner.’

The Liger turned and rocketed back to the Hovercargo.

‘Go, Liger Zero Schneider!’

The Liger gunned it’s Ion Boosters and streaked back to Sisco and his team mates.

‘This will be fun.’ Vega appeared on-screen, smiling like Sisco.

Bit thought fast. ‘Hey Vega, I didn’t know you needed anyone else to fight your battles. The Fury is more powerful than the Saix and Ultima put together.’

‘Oh I know,’ Vega said, ‘but we all had a single goal, so I thought we could work together to achieve it.’

Bit realised that trying to break up three wouldn’t work. So he tried something else. ‘I can’t help it if I’m better than you three,’ he mocked. ‘I’m just a more superior warrior. Don’t blame me that you can’t win, blame yourselves.’

‘What are you trying to do, really get yourself killed?’ Jamie asked.

‘Trust me.’ Bit replied.

‘You shouldn’t be so confident, warrior,’ the mysterious warrior spoke up for the first time. ‘You’ve beaten each of us individually. Together, no-one can beat us, not even you.’

‘You wanna bet? You couldn’t beat me, even if you did train with your eyes open.’

That did it. The three of them started firing at the Liger. Bit dodged a few shots then, hoping the Liger would be able to hold out, stood still and let the powerful zoids fire right at him.

Everywhere, it was like a giant dust storm. Bit couldn’t see more than half a metre in front of him.

When he was sure that his three opponents couldn’t see him any more, Bit dodged to the left around them and bounded behind the pile of boulders to give himself some time to think.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work like that. The Speed Strike Team circled around the Liger, trapping it and blocking off any way of escape.

‘Tut tut. You’ll have to do better than that, warrior.’ Sisco mocked. ‘Don’t you think we knew what you were trying to do. Stupid. Our zoids all have infrared scanners.’

Of course! If Bit h