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It was that inevitable time of year when both of the Whitebane brothers would celebrate their bithdays. Nicodemous, the elder of the two, would be celebrating his 25th birthday while Rudolf "Riot" celebrated his magical 21st birthday. Nicodemous usually called Rudolf "Riot" because he was, in fact, a 'riot'. The time they spent together was usually full of getting into trouble, but it was always fun.
Anyways, This was a special birthday in any military family because he was now old enough to take on full enrollment in the Republic military. Not just the training. There was a celebration at the estate as usual, but it was obvious who the favorite was. The parents tried to hide it, but did a very poor job of it. Nicodemous would usually try to slip away from the parties with Riot because a) he didn't like the large gathering of his -parent's- friends and b) he often spited the fact that his parents did that to his little brother. It made everything sour and unenjoyable. Ever since they were very young this has been going on.

This time Nicodemous, a good 6'5" now with quite a solid build (Genetically, he was supposed to have only been 5' 5".. but Dr. Fox is quite the scientist), didn't just merely slip from the party. He announced it.
"I'm taking Riot to the bar." He huffed as he grabbed his gloves and took off for the family's dual seated shield liger. It was now used more for a transport car. He previously told Riot to meet him outside near that ZOID. When the parents protested and claimed that -they- were being rude by abandoning -their- guests, Nicodemous shook his head and laughed.
"No, they are -your- guests, and you are one to talk about abandoning! How many times have you told Riot happy twenty first? How many times have you congratulated him?" Before they could answer Nicodemous cut them off again. "Not enough. Hell, my twenty first birthday you left him here by himself with a bunch of movies and a babysitter. We -share- a birthday."
The father was becoming increasingly annoyed with this insolence and it showed on his red face.

"How dare you say that! We love you both very much-"

"THAN SHOW IT! Stop leaving Riot in the dust!"

"STOP calling him that, it is degrading. His name is Rudolf Whitebane-" The father approached his out of line son with face as red as a tomato.

"Degrading?" Nicodemous laughed. "No, if you knew him well enough you would know th-"

Their dad finally boiled over at those words. He reached up and slapped Nicodemous across the face. The noise seemed to echo in the wide halls of the front room. By now the party guests were being lead into the other room by the mom. Nicodemous didn't even raise a hand to his reddened cheek. He stood firmly with his arms at his sides as if he were at attention.

"Soldier, you are out of line. First thing tomorrow, you are returning to Dr. Fox for some INTENSE training. Maybe a good run will get this disobedience out of your system. As far as -Rudolf- goes, he is not meant for great things such as -you- are. We are spending a lot of time with your training because it-is-necessary." The dad was so furious he was spitting as he spoke. "You and -Rudolf- are grou-"

But at this point Nicodemous was well past the boiling point as well. HOW dare he say that about Riot! Not meant for great things!? The hell. Nicodemous raised his tight fist very ready to strike their father's jaw clean off his face. Every vein seemed to pop out as his muscles tensed up. He would have decked him right there, he wanted to. But he would prove to be the bigger Man. (Even though it was quite literal)
"Forget you." He spoke between grit teeth and lowered his fist. Without another word be begun to walk toward the door.

Before the Dad could peruse them the mother came out of the dining room and stopped him. "L-let them go. They need their space. We'll talk this over later, just let them go." She was nearly to the point of tears after seeing what had just taken place.

Nicodemous didn't even turn to see the look on his parent's face. Hopefully they -did- feel rotten for everything that they have done. Every year they never listened to his protest, but this year it was essential that he make a statement. Riot was so buried under their crap it wasn't funny.

With a huff Nicodemous swung the front door open and made sure to slam it shut. The noise from the slam echoed like a gun shot through the halls of the estate. Both parents jumped in surprise at the sudden burst of noise.

Once outside he dove his hands into his pockets and withdrew a box, shaking it slightly. Than he withdrew a cylinder object with his mouth before quickly depositing the box back in his pocket and withdrawing a lighter.
Now, one would EASILY mistake this for a cigarette, but that was on purpose. It simply smelled of a camp fire however. Truth be told it was another medication Dr. Fox had given him for the nerves and lungs. Over all it helps improve both thought and breath. But Dr. Fox specifically asked that he not mention -this- medication to his parents ( or anyone). Nicodemous respected this, however, he didn't care if Riot knew. He wouldn't tell...

His eyes focused forward on the paw of the liger. Speaking of the menace, where was he? Nicdemous continued forward as he lit the stick and depositied the lighter back in his pocket.

"Bro, no games this time. I can still get you in a head lock... get over it." He called with a chuckle as he walked. Nicodemous tried to hide his anger at what had just taken place with a half smile.

"Ack-" Nicodemous choked as Riot jumped on him. Rage had so much covered his eyes that he did not see his brother at the door and was startled slightly when his neck was victim to a slight headlock as he acquired, for the moment, a little brother cape.

"Yeah... your fist-" he paused and puffed some smoke as he thought. "-legal- drink."

He had to chuckle at his brothers cleverness. If he had not moved he would have swung him over the shoulder with no problem. He'd wait until they were at the bar before retaliating. But setting that whole attack up? Riot was going to be a fine soldier. Nicodemous could not wait for such a day where Riot would become so fine of a soldier it would show their parents up. They would be ashamed for what they have done.

Using his thumb and pointer finger he extinguished his "cig" (Circulatory Improvement Gad. ). Than put it back in the box. They could be used more than once and store quite nicely. He took a deep breath as he opened the cockpit to the liger. Smoke rolled from his nostrils as he exhaled. The liger lowered its head so the two could jump in. The old ZOID purred as they both approached, it was happy to get to get out again.

Nicodemous lept into the ZOID with some amazing distance in his spring. That was the focus of last visit to Dr. Fox. There was always a theme to the visits. They worked every muscle in his body, but still focused on a certain skill. Nicodemus was glad that his brother had not been sent to the Dr. The tests were, usually, painful. God, the tubes and needles. He rubbed his shoulder as he waited for Riot to leap into the ZOID was well.

Once he was in the ZOid stood to it's feet and closed the hatch. Screens popped up everywhere inside the two seat ZOID. It was almost like Nicodemus went into some kind of military mode as he checked each screen and begun to move the ZOID forward.

"Dad says he's going to ship me away tomorrow, again-" He laughed. It was their version of "grounded" sometimes. Though he knew his dad was always going to look for an excuse to do so.
"So, I'll leave the keys to the liger in the same spot as always..."

Nicodemous knew that Riot would want to get away while he was out being tested and trained. Their parents always wondered how he always managed to take the liger out... but cared less to presue it most of the time. They never could find it. Nicodemous removed the tracking device when he found out that his brother used the ZOID to get away.

Nicodemous kept the ZOID at a slow pace at first, but as they got far enough from the house he urged it on into a full out sprint. Best not let this night get away. The bar Nicodemous had in mind was one on the outskirts of the territory, a common ground between both military sides. It was indeed the best place for busyness and there was always the best kind of alcohol being served. It was also a place that would be unfamiliar to his little brother... It was to be the first surprise of the night.

"Tch, course this is going to be the best night of your-" He caught himself before he could say 'little'. Though physically his little brother was small, he had an enormous spirit. "humongous life."

Nicodemous kept his focus forward as he charged through the changing terrain.
"Hey, person not as hammered as the other gets to drive on the way home...." He chuckled, KNOWING that it would most likely be Riot that got smashed first.

The ride would last quite a bit, but the best bars were no where close to where they lived, and there was a good reason. Mr. Whitebane was not a fan of bars at all. Even before the two were born he despised them. (( Odd enough he meet his wife in a bar ))
The ZOID lot was full of many ZOIDS from any side of the military. Red, black, blue, white, silver, and gold colors were everywhere. This was the one bar that everyone no matter the side loved to visit. It was the best in the nation. Nicodemus eyed the spots carefully so that he could remember where they had parked later. Even if both got ridiculously drunk...

Nicodemous found a spot next to A GunSniper and a Shadowfox. The Sniper had obvious markings that it was a trade ZOID and on the side of the empire. Its pilot was still there standing between the two ZOIDS. She looked to be too young to get into the bar and was waiting for someone to come out of the bar. Nicodemous recognized the young pilot immediately. Her and her mentor were often at the labs when he went in for training.
"Yeah, the red guys have some pretty good soldiers too... but ultimately blue wins." He laughed as the imperial cadet waved at them.

The shield liger lay down so that the two could exit the cockpit safely. It groaned a bit as it waited for the two to leave so it could take a rest.

Before Nicodemous could say another word his little puppy of a brother was already out of the ZOID to put the moves on the young soldier. He let out a long drawn out sigh. Not because he was disappointed, but rather he knew that would happen. He jumped out of the ZOID casually and approached his brother. There was the possibility that he would have to intervene.

Nick watched in amazement as the young Riot pulled his fancy cockpit exit. She blushed a bit. "wow..." She gasped. This pilot was amazing! He must have been Nicodemus' little brother that she had heard so much about. What a looker. It was an instant crush for the young imperial cadet. She brought her right hand to her mouth for a moment as her face turned slightly more red with blush.
"Y-you're amazing. Just l-like your brother said." It took everything not to trip over her words. She than got a thought that she had said too much. They had not been introduced! What if that was not the brother Nicodemous had talked about? The blush deepened yet again as embarrassment jumped into the mix.

"Cadet Nick, Sir." She saluted, remembering what Capt. White said about military courtesy. They were not on the same side, but it was still a good thing to do. "It's a pleasure to fi-" she coughed and hopped that they didn't catch the 'finally'. "-meet you".

Nicodemous walked behind Riot and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Hoping to prevent his advance. He could see the imperial captain approaching. For the sake of Riots life, he formally introduced his brother.
"Yes, this is my little brother Riot. Or Rudolf as he is known formally as." Nicodemous knew that Riot hated that name and used it more as a punishment for advancing on a miner.

John White was just coming from the bar on a non official mission of greeting an old friend of his. One who is on the opposite side. He also promised his cadet that he would get her some of the famous food that was found in this bar. He approached with a bag in hand with a box in it. The older man looked content as he approached the two. He knew Nicodemous well, and might as well have known Riot well too. With all that he has heard about him...