Running from -->> [Closed]

[Caleb Haus]

< A Temporary Lapse >

His fingers were somewhat numb. He had no idea why running had been such a good idea, and what brought him to the coast. The best question? Why had he gotten in to his zoid? He had a match tomorrow, and he would need to be back soon, no doubt, for a nice long nap. Nevertheless, that didn't help, now, he was standing on top of his Gun Tiger. There was water in front of him, and there was stone and coral to his right.

Tactically speaking, this spot would be rather interesting as a defense. With your back to the sea, one would not be able to attack appropriately at a vulnerable angle. Though, with the rocks to the right, there would be cover enough for a sniper vantage. Close quarters combat would be all but impossible here. The sand made the zoid's footwork tricky, and he was less than interested in seeing what might happen if he overdid it, speedwise.

Still, that wasn't the only strange thing. "Hnn." He murmured, tugging Dmitri's coat tighter around him. He liked wearing it kind of like a cloak - even if it was a little too small. Nudging his chin forward, he let out a sigh. What was it that was such a problem?

"Alright. Open up." He said, the cockpit clicking open. He hopped inside, careful to keep his body straightened as he hit the seat. The hatch sealed itself atop him, and he looked, once more, through the plate window. He sighed, gently, rather confused.

Flicking on the basic sensors, he narrowed his eyes on the display. It wasn't a very good showing. He wanted sonar or something like that, so he could better understand what it was he was feeling. It was something he couldn't quite understand what he was feeling.

Tugging the controls, he turned the Tiger slightly so that the window could show him more of the world out there. The clouds were starting to build up, making the coast somewhat choppy. Muffling a little bit of a noise, he started moving up the beach, turning after only a few steps. He was pacing, like a caged animal.

It was because something was wrong.

"What is it, then?" The Gun Tiger actually made no response. It was the usual, strange silence that the Zoid responded with. Theirs was a steady treaty - they worked together only out of necessity. He was a believer in the link that a pilot and zoid must have.

A link that he did not yet have.

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[Caleb Haus]

< Poor Judgment >

The zoid's metallic pawprints were being etched permanently into the sand. He was not really feeling the idea of simply pacing - but even if he was not doing it himself, it was quite therapeutic. His breathing had slowly become quiet and even, and his heartbeat was a steady thudding in his chest. Dmitri and he - they had done things that he hadn't ever given a second thought to. Their lips had whispered together, and there had been that 'cool fire'. He loved the feeling that raced through his veins like incorporeal ice.

He'd expected love to feel warm. Instead, it chilled him in a way he'd never expected.

Then again, it might not be love.

Biting his lip slightly, he shoved the controls forward. The Tiger started tearing for the stone outcropping. He tugged sharply, and the thing jumped. He bounced, careful to keep the zoid as close to balanced as he could - but he kept going. The stone 'pathway' seemed to run into the ocean, the waves crashing against the stones, and coating the Tiger's legs in a thin sheen of spray. He gritted his teeth.

His target? The coral that seemed to be at a distance - but well within his reach. He flicked the Ion Boosters, and he almost plainly flew.

When he landed, the zoid skidded. He had to try hard to keep the Zoid from crashing. There was a massive failure in his front left leg - he'd came down too hard, and the coral was not nearly as supportive as he had originally thought. It limped forward, and he was almost regretting it.

Turning, he had to gauge the jump back. The Gun Tiger was not an aquatic zoid - too much water would have it giving him a command system freeze, and he'd be done for, with no way to get home.

"I'm such an idiot." He said, aloud. And, without hesitation [ and a moment's worth of aggressive teeth-gritting ] he shot forward as best he could, considering the damage to his leg - and leaped.

The sound of metal crashing was audible, though, he was more or less surprised he'd made it. That frontal left leg display held his eyes. The red flashing was no doubt a major situation - he could see sparks flickering outward; a short of some sort, or at least exposed wires.

He was an unfortunate victim of 'mechanically disinclined'. He couldn't make a zoid work if his life depended on it. It limped, the guttural growl of the wounded zoid echoing in the cockpit. "Shut it. We'll get home, and you'll be fine." he said, taking a deep, irritated breath.

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[Caleb Haus]

< A Common Goal >

"We'll be there soon." The voice came over the communications array - he'd radioed for help, trying to come up with a way to reach Romeo City again. "Fine. Don't take too long. Please." He said, trying to smile as best he could. Perhaps Dmitri was infectious - his mind was somewhat stuck in a rut, figuratively speaking. With the coat still wrapped around his shoulder, he looked at the console. "I'll be back soon." Opening up the cockpit, he stood, once more.

He hopped out, in a very literal sense, using various handholds to get himself all the way to the ground. He wasn't the kind of person to leap from the cockpit and expect to land perfectly every time. It was simply smarter to take a few seconds to be safe. The tactician in him wouldn't let him take a stupid risk like that. Nearly slipping on the sand, he started walking back towards the rocks he'd dashed his machine on.

Climbing them would be stupid - as stupid as jumping from the cockpit. His hands were slipped quietly into his pockets, as he let the scent of the sea inundate his whole being. It was a nice smell, too, not exactly rough, but certainly enticing. Mint was okay, this... was... different. A grin touched his face, at that point. Dmitri --

Stop it, idiot. He'd run. Not meanly - in good spirits. But now his mind was somewhat plagued with thoughts that he couldn't get out of them. Dmitri was not his whole focus. He still had a mission. An idea. Something he needed to do. But at the same time, he knew if he kept only focusing on that, he'd become completely sullen and remorseful.

Fingers traced along stone.

Then metal.

Brow quirking, he turned to see what it was. "What... what's this?" He asked, fingers touching the strange plating. A button. A button which he pressed. He yelped, slightly, as the plate screeched, and tore itself open, loudly.

Dim light was vaguely illuminating the darkness - must and rust was something he could smell, even over the smell of the ocean.

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[Caleb Haus]

< A New Force. A New Companion. >

A rush of steel, and the door slammed behind him. The lights intensified - though not quite enough to make him happy. From his pocket, he produced a small, thin rod of plastic. With a crack, and a simple shake, the hallway becoming quietly and simply illuminated. He took his steps cautiously and carefully - knowing full and well the potential danger that this barely-lit hallway might present.

He was no Indiana Jones, or Tomb Raider. He was a regular thief. He stole things. He didn't break in to homes...

Well, not often, at least. Eyes closing for a second, he finally came up with a different idea. Distance was a big factor. A slight twitch of his arm, and there was a knife in his hand. A turn, and he released the knife. It took several seconds for the sound of metal on metal. "Way too far..." He murmured.

Taking a deep breath, he continued downward, his padded soles keeping the noise of his footsteps completely silent. Holding the glow-stick high above his head, he wondered, vaguely, what could possibly be down this seemingly hidden shaft. Another knife slipped to his fingers - just in case. He wasn't one for leaving himself open, and after all, there was the possibility of danger that he was not going to avoid.

He reached the end of the hallway - and his knife was lodged firmly into a door. Placing the second blade back in the proper projector at his wrist, he tugged the first one from its current resting place, gripping it tightly in a reverse-thumb grip.

He pushed at the door, and felt the same kind of metal as the first door. It swung open as though it had been oiled - not neglected, like the first hatch.

As he stepped into the room - light flooded his senses. He winced, bringing up the hand with the glow-stick to cover his eyes. At the center of the seemingly abandoned place, was the strangest looking Zoid he'd ever seen. Or perhaps, not the strangest - but certainly... the brightest.

It was white. All of it. Several bits were a darker green - no black in certain places. Command consoles around the room were flickering to life - the only visible words being on a screen above the beast.

Glow Fox

The dust in the room was the only indication of abandonment - it made him curious. What could have left such an amazing looking Zoid here? Up he went, his fingertips tugging him upward. "Glow Fox, eh?" He asked. On top, he looked down at the cockpit. "How do you feel about getting out of this place?" He asked, quietly, kneeling at the hatch.

The sound was temporary - a growl that sounded somewhat uncertain.

"I'll let you decide. If you open up, I'll get you out of here." He said, smiling the same sort of smile he gave Dmitri when he spoke of ice cream.

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[Caleb Haus]

< Time to Run >

The cockpit opened.

He stepped inside.

Looking around, he spotted the bay doors. The door lock was still absolutely sealed - which was fine. He stood, in the still open cockpit , and threw a knife. His oldest knife. It was perfectly balanced, and the bay began to open. Water began to rush in, and he sealed the cockpit. "Let's get out of here, then. Hyperion."

A name? That was not something he'd done before. Why not?

Who cared. This Zoid... had a name. It was different. It was his. Not like the Gun Tiger. This was his. He pushed the controls.

What a Rush.

Exit ]]

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