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"Can't handle it, can't put up with it... same difference." She chuckled as she looked back at Regent. "And Sweetie... trust me, there is no verity of this b***h. She's -THE- b***h." He pat his cheek. "Thought you of all people would remember that."

She took another swig of her drink.

"Oh, speaking of which. We managed to capture the package, again. I think the 'King' might be loosing his touch." He grinned devilishly. "third time you know. I don't think he's even figured it out yet." She chuckled with a tone to match that grin. The last statement amused her greatly, this much was quite obvious.

((I’ve finally given up and decided to BS my way into this here thread with completely unrealistic and contrived circumstances!))

“Well that doesn’t make sense,” Shora frowned and inspected the map again, looking between it and the lonesome town visible on the cockpit’s video feed a number of times to double-check. Nope, there it was, right in front of her, but the map seemed to say otherwise. Well she certainly hadn’t lost track of her position – the Snipe Master’s sensitive array of equipment hadn’t received any substantial blows since its last service – so that only left the possibility that the Zoid’s maps were very, very, out of date. She'd have to make sure to have that looked at when she got back - now that she thought about it, when she had gotten the blue and white mech she had never thought to check that first.

Shora never once considered the fact that the technicians could be playing a prank on her by messing with her Zoid’s navigation systems.

Well, she was here anyway, and probably wouldn’t be back in her own lands for another three days, so it couldn’t hurt to go and stock up on food and water. She had been out here for two days now, performing a routine run around to check the stability of some trade routes before reporting back to the base near New Helic, and was already adequately supplied, but you never knew what could happen. This was her first time out in the territories alone, and as such the paranoia of getting attacked by rogues and bandits had been following her around the whole journey like a drab storm cloud hanging over the cockpit.

Things hadn’t improved much since the Formal, in fact, they had gotten worse with yet another assassination, this time Chase Donnivan, one of the Wing Blade pilots. All of these horrible events and rumours floating around weren't doing much to help improve Shora's mood, and being out alone with her thoughts simply multiplied that. Oh well, at least it allowed her to escape the tightened regulations and people crowding her and asking what medical school she had gone to.

Seriously, medical school? Where on Zi had they gotten that idea from?

Anyway, the Shield Liger next to her own Zoid began to slow down and veer off, it's pilot saying that it would probably be safe enough to split up while in town for a while. The buddy system was being quite the pain to be honest - she didn't feel even the slightest bit more secure with that cadet following her around.

===

The town hadn’t been as small and desolate as it had appeared from a distance, yet Shora still found herself walking out of a cramped supermarket with a dismal haul of dried meat and two carrots. It seemed that the place’s entire economy was run just by the bustling bar down the street, and as she walked around her Zoid to load the rations into the tank she had strapped to the tail, the completely obnoxious idea of actually checking the place out somehow managed to make it’s way into her head.

The redhead let out a barking laugh. Was that really how edgy she was now? To even consider dulling her senses with alcohol? It’s not like it would benefit her if she did get jumped, and besides, she was on duty anyway!

“Pfft, I doubt they’d even be able to make a decent Turkey Sandwhich there!”

That was the exact moment that Shora’s stomach grumbled.

She stood there, silent and fuming at the irony, and then turned back to the tank and pulled her keys back out. Why couldn’t she have realised that she was hungry before locking it? And to add to that, as the keys made their way towards the lock, Shora’s frustration reached a never before felt level - her Zoid suddenly standing up with a metallic screech, hoisting the food tank up five metres and far out of her reach!

“HEY!” the keys hit the ground with a clatter of metal alongside the young Private’s jaw, quickly followed by a long and incomprehensible line of obscenities. Each dagger-like word simply bounced off The Fluke, the Zoid boredly ignoring its pilot’s accusations and frustrations. Man, this one needed to learn how to chill.

Eventually Shora gave up. Picking up the keys and stuffing them into her jacket, she grudgingly made her way over to the bar, figuring that the machine wasn’t ready for its break to be over and needed to cool its systems down more or something. She kept her head low the whole way in just past the door, not wanting to be seen around such a place or to have to grace anyone with her less-than-gleeful expression, and hence missed anything more than the feet of the other Zoids parked outside, and reluctantly tried to peer over the crowd, scanning the counter.

It didn’t look like they’d have a BLT or something at least, maybe she’d have to investigate closer, urgh...

Maelthra continued to watch the other MRZ with mild curiosity and interest. After a little while he glanced up at his pilot and nudged him in the leg.

Quirking a brow, Blade glanced down at his dragon MRZ before looking at the other one in the area. Figuring that the little robot wanted to meet with the other, he nodded to let Maelthra do whatever. And as he expected the MRZ got up and slowly headed towards the energy winged dragon.

Fox was quite amused by the reaction she got. She placed her hands on both of his shoulders and begun to massage them gently. "And I recall stealing it back every time as well.

She giggled fiendishly. This one must have been very close relation to the king bandit. A good friend perhaps? Thought made her giggle more, it was fun to toy with someone like that... "Oh he might figure it out eventually... hmn, oh you seem so tense. Perhaps I should take you back to my camp and loosen you up a little."

Of course she already knew the answer, but it was fun to pick on Regent. Always had been.

She did glance to the angry new comer and made note of him. Perhaps she should invite him back to camp as well? The aggressive ones always had the most fun.

"uh oh... looks like someone's having a worse day than you." She leaned close to Regent's ear than whispered.

The little zoid staggered out of the way as the man entering more or less walked into him. Letting out a growl, he turned towards the guy, looking as if he was ready to try and bite him.

"Easy Maelthra," warned Blade as he saw what was going on. He raised an eyebrow as the dragon was referred to as trash but kept a fairly neutral expression about. It seemed today he was taking in a good amount of hostile energy. Though considering everything that happened recently, he supposed the 'rogue-hate' would be somewhat expected.

The dragon MRZ acknowledged the command and stopped growling. However, he stood his ground.

"He wants you to say please. Or maybe an 'excuse me'. Something along those lines," added the thief.

Lifting his head as new conflict arose, Shun shot a glare towards Blade as well. He didn't recognize the new guy, and he wasn't certain if he was Imperial or Republic, but it didn't matter a whole lot.

Blitz looked over his shoulder uncaring when he was growled at by the smaller creature. If he would have seen it coming more the result might have been a punt, and being growled at, the man regretted not doing so.

his icy gaze moved back to the 'owner', Oh really? Master's tilted his head dark haired head a little to the request. His face neutral and cold, he turned a little as he feet remained forward, as if not amused to waste his time to shift them.

"Right. Right." Blitz mused in a sarcasm, letting his words float a little-toying with the idea- he let his hands slip from his pocket. "Apologizes'..." He rolled his eyes and raised his gloved hand, letting the middle fingerless one stand alone to the small Zoid and it's owner. The republic soldier flipped off Blade effortlessly over his shoulder and started back in his stride to the bar front.

The man wasn't about to apologize to any rogue, or it's belongings. Not after they had done. It didn't matter, they where all the same....

Only honor among damn thieves-even then, stab you in the back if they had a chance. Didn't care who's life they would take-Blitz was even willing to assume, the rogue only got it's mini from another dead rogue...'stolen' was a better word

Blade's left eye twitched at the gesture, but he let it drop. It wasn't exactly worth stirring up trouble here, and if anything doing anything hostile would probably prove whatever connotations the guy had of rogues. At least the guy didn't punt his MRZ across the bar or anything like that.

"And I thought the military were supposed to have better manners than us," he mumbled to himself before glancing towards the door as a newcomer came on in. He too, had an MRZ, though it was a model he hadn't quite seen before.

The little dragon let out a metallic snort as the soldier walked on towards the front of the bar, then looked over to where the other dragon was once again. Forgetting about the little confrontation, he started to head on over once more, pausing only when he noticed the presence of another MRZ in the area. Maelthra's tail swayed from side to side in anticipation. It wasn't often that he was able to run into others like himself. It was always the big Zoids that were around.

While things had seemingly cooled down, Blade couldn't help but still sense some tension or hostility aimed towards him. Though, he figured it was just because of the other soldier he nearly got into a fight with upon his arrival to this bar.

Blitz's hand found them back to his pocket, as nothing came of the insult, but then the mumble didn't fall on unheard ears....

Blitz halted in his steps at Blade's mumbled words, oh that is right...he had heard him. His right eye unusable, his other senses picked up what sight he lacked.

"Manners?" The man growled slowly turning his head with his words. He turned his step and scoffed a laugh looking at Blade.

"We have regulations, boy scout." He added with a arrogant tilt of his head, looking upon the other man as if he was better then him.

" Nothing about needing to be mannerly to a lesser breed." Blitz informed, tilting his head a little upward looking down even more to Blade.

Blitz turned his head sharply to the woman that approched, she was easy on the eyes..though he only narrowed his eye at the offer. Another Rogue. Pth...

"Piss off..." He growled with a calm sharpness.