*Across the scorched earth of the Dark Continent an Iron Kong stands. On the left shoulder, a man is crouched down, his dark coat flapping in the wind. His eyes, hidden behind his ever-present sunglasses, were scanning the horizon. He was looking for something specific.

All the signs pointed to this place. Years of searching were about to come to an end.

He closed his eyes, cleared his mind and sent out a single thought - Ares! He concentrated and focused all of his mental power into this one thought and sent the call again - ARES!

The response came and nearly broke his concentration. It was faint and far away, but he recognized it immediately. Not so much words, but a feeling slipped into the back of his mind.

He focused his power on the feeling and, after several moments, knew which direction to go.

Marcus stood, climbed into the cockpit of the Iron Kong and pulled up a map of the surrounding area. Locating his destination, he closed the cockpit and started the Zoid in that direction.*

"I'm coming my friend. I'm coming."

+ Farther off, about 2 to 3 miles per say, a white phantom charged along the black sea of the earth. It's movements were quick, fast, and the creature seemed to move like an arrow, sharp and percise. It was Archer, the Liger Zero.

Inside the Liger, sat Kelly McElan, her face focused and in a slight frown. Archer was a new Zoid to her, and the first captured Liger Zero she knew of. Captured, not tamed. She really didn't think Archer would ever be 'tamed', it did what it wanted, and when it wanted, but luckly, Archer wanted to go where Kelly wanted to go...for now. But again...Kelly really didn't know where she was going anyway...

Suddenly, a bright flash streaked alongside Archer, like a bolt of lighting, travelling 3 times as fast as Archer, who was maxing out at 307. It seemed to be heading in the direction that Archer was.

Grrr....

' Whoa there buddy...no need to get annoyed..'

But it was too late, Archer saw competition, and focused all it's energy, following the flash of light.

' S*** , Archer...calm down...' But there was no use, Archer had a mind of it's own, and it was now proving that to Kelly..

Following the flash..


But what Kelly and Archer didin't know was that the flash was an Organiod..and it had some buisness to attend to. +

*The Kong moved along, heading for it's destination in the hills ahead, when the sound of an alarm filled the cockpit. Marcus did a quick check of the sensors, which he kept running at all times, and saw that another Zoid was in the vicinity. He quieted the alarm and scanned the sensor readout.

The other Zoid was identified as a Liger Zero. He'd heard of them before but had yet to encounter one in person. Not one to take chances, Marcus activated the weapons systems and turned on an intercept course. He wanted to reach Ares as soon as possible but didn't want company when he got there. So, as he most often did, Marcus went on the offensive.

He was about to open fire on the Liger when a streak of light shot across his field of view. Checking his sensors, the "object" wasn't tracked at all. That, combined with the feeling he had in the back of his head led Marcus to believe that the streak was another Organoid. He knew it wasn't Ares, the feeling he got from this was a lot stronger and different. Checking his map of the area, he used the sense he got of the other Organoid and tracked it's course. A surge of rage welled up inside him as he saw that it was heading for the place he suspected Ares was hidden.

Marcus immediately changed course back in his original direction and pushed the Kong to it's limits, ignoring the Liger.*

"grrrrrrrrrRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" he shouted as the Kong moved in a blur towards the hills in the distance.

+ Sorry, but i'm going to have to pull out of this RP :(

((No problem. Sorry to see you go though . . . ))

*The Kong continued it's charge towards the hills, joints and struts groaning with the extreme amount of stress being put on them from the long period of high speed. Marcus didn't care. He had to get to Ares and if the Iron Kong died in that pursuit, so be it.

As they approached the hills, Marcus slowed the Kong down to about half speed and checked the sensors. The Liger Zero had turned tail and ran off in the opposite direction and the streak of an Organoid had vanished. He stretched out with his mind, probing for the small Zoid but didn't find it anywhere in the vicinity. He did however, get a stronger sense of Ares. It was still weak, but the feeling was definitely getting stronger as he approached the hills.

Slowing the Kong to a walk, Marcus scanned the terrain ahead for caves and structures, anything that might be his destination. A blip appeared on the scope and Marcus saw a cave about 300 meters ahead and to the right. He locked in that position on the map screen and turned the Kong in that direction.*

Blue eyes Watch from a Distance as the Kong made for the Cave, They Glowd a soft hue as the Bearer Crept Closer, Carefuly Hiding itslef from Marcus and his mental Abilitys.


Red metalic Skin Flashed in the sun for a second as the Reptillian form Silently Made its way toward the cave

*The Kong came to a stop just below the entrance to the cave. The canopy opened and Marcus climbed out and jumped to the ground. As he made his way up the small hill to the cave, a very subtle feeling crept into the back of his mind. It was a feeling of being watched, but when he stretched out with his mind the only other presences he could feel were Ares deep within the cave and the Zoid core of the Iron Kong.

Shaking off the feeling as simply paranoia, he climbed the rest of the way to the cave and headed inside. He pulled a flashlight from a pocket in his jacket and lit the way.

Inside the cave was as he'd expected. Dark, dank and dirty. The entrance was smaller than the tunnel it led into, but not much. There was just enough room for two average sized people to walk side by side most of the way. The tunnel sloped downward, gently at first, then steeper the farther in he went.

As Marcus neared the end of the tunnel, his pulse quickened as the presence of Ares became stronger. The tunnel opened up into a chamber, about 10 meters high and 20 meters in diameter. As he shone the light around the room, it glinted off dull metal in the center of the chamber. He immediately recognized the object. It was a stasis pod, similar to the one he was imprisoned in for all those years.

Marcus rushed over to the pod, shining the light over the entire thing, looking for the control console. It was positioned near the "back" and Marcus went to it. Dusting off the controls and the monitor, he struggled to recall the sequence that would open the pod. His memory failing him, not for the first time since he awoke, rage began to build and he lashed out, smashing the flashlight into the control console, shattering the keypad in a shower of sparks.

Stepping back, he paused a moment to regain his composure. The cavern was now completely dark, and Marcus was fuming, disgusted at what had transpired.*

"I've searched for years to find you and once I finally do, those bastards who imprisoned us find another way to keep you locked away." he said, every word seething with anger and rage. "I've failed you my friend. I'm so-"

*His words were cut off by a loud snap and the sound of air escaping under pressure. A soft glow started to emanate from the pod, slowly growing in intensity until it lit the entire chamber and Marcus had to shield his eyes. The hissing flow of air faded out as another, more mechanical noise filled the room. The light faded slightly as a deep, low growl came from the pod.*

*The light in the chamber dimmed to a normal level, allowing Marcus to see what was happening. The colored gas that had filled the glass stasis pod was now gone. Through the dirty glass, Marcus could see a large, dark shape beginning to move. He hesitated for a moment, then ran to the pod, frantically searching for the release mechanism that would free the Organoid from the pod. After a moment of feeling around the entire base of the pod and checking the remains of the control console, Marcus moved impulsively and, making fists with both hands, reached back and smashed them into the pod. The glass shattered, sending shards everywhere, including into Marcus' body and face. Scratched and bleeding, he stepped back as a dark blue Organoid slumped halfway out of the pod and fell to the ground.*

"ARES!!!" Marcus shouted as he dropped to his knees next to the large Zoidian creature. "Ares! I'm here my friend. You're free at last. I'm going to get you out of here to someplace safe, so you can rest. Don't worry my friend. You're going to be just fine."

*Marcus kneeled next to Ares, brushing the broken glass off the Organoids metal skin. With most of the glass gone, he reached down and pulled the 'noid up onto it's feet, half dragging, half carrying the Zoid out of the chamber, up the tunnel and out of the cave.*

"Well well...... to think there were ruins here... Right under my Nose.."

Footsteps echos through the camper as A Tall form Seemd to materialize out of the Smoke that filled the room. He wore a Long red Trench over his Black tee-shirt and black leather slacks, His long white hair Flowed over his Shoulders liek a Cape, His Eyes, One green the other blue Scaned the Room Quickly

"And an organoid too... My my... I MUST have been blind..."

Yes you must have..

The figure turend To crack a Half Smile At the Pair of glowing blue eys that were peering through the smoke.

" Heh.. just remeber Blaze, you didnt sense this organoids presence either untill you Felt it calling out."

The blue eyes Moved forward through the smoke, revealign there owner, A tall Red Dragon Organoid..

And neither did you..

*Marcus felt them before he heard them. Two beings close by, one felt like another Organoid and the other felt human. His pulse quickened and his senses became more alert as he picked up the pace. Sweat began to pour off his forehead as he struggled to carry Ares to the Iron Kong waiting nearby.

Ares began to stir, slowly coming out of the deep stasis and back to consciousness. A low growl emitted from deep within his throat.*

"Yes, I know. I feel them too. Don't worry, we'll be out of here soon."

As Marcus Draged the Organoid throug hthe smoke filled cave, he contunied to feel the presances.

"Why are you here Zoidian? Just after that Pet of yours?"


As MArcus Reached the door, he found The two figures blocking his path, the Human Smiled a sadistic smile.

"Or do you have some other purpos here?

*Marcus hears a voice, speaking to him from the entrance up ahead. The beings he felt earlier, were flooding his mind with their presence. As they reached the opening, Marcus saw the source of the voice. Standing and blocking the entrance, was a man and another Organoid. He stopped and confronted this person.*

*Looking the man in the eye, Marcus concentrated and focused his mind. He sent a mental probe towards the man, urging him to heed Marcus' words.*

"Out of my way human. I have no quarrel with you." Marcus spat the words out, dripping with animosity and force.

"Human? Heh....That sounds like an insult."

The man Closed his Eyes for a second, as the Scarlike tattoo that ran form his Jaw, Over his left eye, and up under his loing hair, began to glow ever so faintly.

"If I've Learned Anything Over the 20 years Ive been awake, It's that Flaunting your heritage tends to bring Trouble."

He opend His eyes, Loking him Stright in the eyes, " Well Marcus Darkhope, I get the Distinct feeling you've only been awake for a few days now..."

*Marcus stood and listened as the man spoke. Rage was beginning to well up inside him. The only thing keeping him from attacking this person was the fact that he needed to attend to Ares. Fighting with this man, as satisfying as that may be, was not in his best interest right now.

But something caught his attention and he couldn't let it go. There was something vaguely familiar about this man, a sensation he hadn't felt in some time. But Marcus didn't have the time or patience to investigate it at the moment.*

"You know my name, but you know nothing of me, for if you did, you would know better than to cross me. I haven't time for games, child, now clear the way or face my wrath."

*Marcus waited to see how this strange man would answer.*

"Child? Hmph...You dissapoint me... For a Zodian your Preceptive skills are quite....Lacking..."

Walking smoothly and deliberatly He moved out of the doorway.

"Go I won't stop you."

The rued organoid turned sharply to stare at Him.

You must be kidding.

"No. I am Not. Go Marcus We wont stop you."

*Marcus stood still for a moment, listening as the man spoke and moved out of his path. The fact that he knew Marcus' heritage disturbed him deeply. However there wasn't time to deal with that now. Ares needed his help and that needed to be the focus of his energies.

He pushed his way past the man and out the door, speaking to him as he went.*

"This isn't over. We'll meet again, I guarantee it."

*And with that, Marcus headed towards the Iron Kong, placed Ares into the metal container strapped to the Zoids chest and climbed into the cockpit. As the canopy closed he watched the man to see if he would follow as the Zoid moved away from the cave an back out into the wasteland that was Nyx. At the back of his mind, the sense of the man slowly faded away.

Keying his comm system, he sent out a signal. A moment later, a ragged old voice responded.*

"I see you're ready to be picked up. We've got our course set for Olympus and we'll be under way as soon as you get here." the old captain said.

"Silence fool! You're incessant blathering may invite attention that you can not afford. I'll rendevous shortly. We leave as soon as I'm on board and not a moment after, understand?" Marcus replied, his tone gruff.

"Aye sir. We'll be ready."

*Marcus cut off the comm system as the battered Whale King appeared on the horizon.*

The man Grinend as Markus Walked by...


"I look forward to it.."