Building Zoids in a World of Titans

The riverbed stretched ahead like a scar through the valley. Dry stones gleamed white under morning sun, and the Iron Mule's treads crunched over gravel that used to be underwater.

"Smells different up here," Rhian called from the Arosaurer's cockpit. "Like wet rock and something else."

Alex adjusted his grip on the Liger Zero's controls. She's right. Something's been moving a lot of earth. "Yeah. Recent. Whatever diverted the water kicked up a lot of sediment."

Ziya's voice crackled through the comm. "How recent?"

"Days. Maybe weeks." Alex scanned the canyon walls. Fresh scorch marks blackened the stone in patches. "Those aren't erosion patterns."

Rhian's autocannon clicked. "Think we'll find the thing that did it?"

Hope mixed with fear in her voice. "Hope so. Otherwise we're chasing ghosts."

Ziya laughed. "Ghosts don't leave claw marks the size of doors."

The Arosaurer bumped against Alex's leg. She's nervous. Hiding it badly.

"Hey, uh, Alex?" Rhian's tone shifted. "What if it's something really big? Like, way bigger than the Liger?"

Alex felt the Liger Zero's servos tense beneath him. "RRRROO — RROO!"

Translation: bring it on.

"Liger says we'll handle it," Alex replied. "But thanks for volunteering us for the giant monster tour."

"You're welcome!" Rhian's grin came through even over comm static. "Best adventure ever!"

The Mule's engine purred steadily behind them, carrying their supplies toward whatever waited upstream.

Alex nodded, the weight of another promise settling on his shoulders. "We'll rest first. Then we move upstream."

The three of them climbed into the Iron Mule's cabin. Ziya rustled through supplies while Rhian kicked off her boots, her feet dangling over the edge of the bench seat. The hum of the docked Zoids vibrated through the metal floor—steady, familiar.

"We should eat," Ziya said, pulling out ration packs. "You both look like you haven't stopped moving since dawn."

She's not wrong.

Alex found a pot in the Mule's galley and filled it from their water stores. Ziya worked the vegetables with quick, efficient motions—carrots diced, onions sliced thin enough to disappear into the broth.

Rhian stirred. "Like this?"

"Yeah. Keep it moving so it doesn't stick."

The cabin filled with smells—carrots sweet, onions sharp, something that might've been thyme from their stores. Rhian hummed, off-key, while she stirred. Alex watched the steam rise, carrying the kitchen into something almost like home.

She's happy.

Ziya set plates on the fold-down table. Three bowls, mismatched spoons scavenged from Veridia's market. The stew was thick, orange broth with chunks of root vegetable and bits of what might've been meat. Hot enough to fog the inside of the bowls.

Rhian inhaled. "Smells amazing."

"It's just food."

"Just food tastes like home."

Alex ladled his portion. The broth coated his tongue—savory, herbal, with a hint of something that made him think of the river back in Veridia. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until the first spoonful.

"Try not to burn your mouth," Ziya said, watching Rhian shovel stew toward her face.

"Can't waste it if it's good," Rhian mumbled around a mouthful.

Alex caught himself smiling. Just for a second. Then Ziya looked up and saw it.

"Something funny?"

"Nah. Just... good stew."

They ate in comfortable quiet, the only sounds the scrape of spoons and Rhian's satisfied humming. The Mule's engine ticked as it cooled. Outside, the forest waited. Inside, for now, there was enough.

"Alex," Ziya said, setting her spoon down. "What's our plan for the dried river?"

Ziya leaned against the Mule's workbench, arms crossed. "Lakes come from a source. Either a spring or another lake upstream. We follow the riverbed until we find where it stops."

Alex nodded, wiping grease from his hands. "That's the plan. We go upstream until we hit whatever's blocking it."

Rhian perked up. "Like a dam?"

"Could be." Alex's fingers traced the edge of the core shell still warm from last night's synthesis. "Or something that moved in and decided to stay."

Ziya frowned. "A Titan?"

Alex's thumb brushed the blue pendant at his chest. She's thinking ahead again. "Maybe. Could be natural causes too."

"Natural?" Rhian scoffed. "Nothing natural blocks an entire river."

"Point taken." Alex checked his tool satchel. "If it's a big one, though... we might not be the ones to handle it."

Ziya straightened. "You're saying we turn back?"

"I'm saying we look first." Alex met her eyes. "Promise was to investigate, not fix."

Rhian crossed her arms. "But you will try to fix it, right? Those people in Millcross—"

"We'll see what we're dealing with." Alex's voice stayed even, but his jaw tightened. Three Zoids. That's what I've got. If whatever's upstream is B-rank or higher...

The Liger Zero's optics glowed amber in the cargo bay. Alex felt that familiar pull of awareness, distant but present. Not speaking, just... waiting.

Ziya sighed. "So we drive until we hit a mystery and hope it's not our problem."

"Pretty much." Alex shouldered his pack. "Morning after next. We break camp at first light."

Ziya and Rhian headed for their room, but Alex walked toward the stable yard. The Liger Zero's optics glowed amber in the darkness, its head tilted at an angle that meant restless.

"Hey." Alex climbed onto the Mule's loading ramp. "What's got you wired?"

The Liger's servos hummed unevenly, a jitter he could feel through the deck plates. "RRROO — RRROO — RRRROO!"

Strong prey. Big.

Alex frowned. The Liger had been cooped up for days, sure, but this was different. More insistent.

"Upstream?" He touched the pendant at his chest. Rhian's blue stone was cool against his fingers. "Something's up there that feels worth hunting?"

"RRROO — ! RROO — !"

Alex stepped back from the cockpit. The Liger's excitement wasn't just pent-up energy. It was recognition—something that hit different than the Threadwhips or even the Mire-Devourer.

Could be nothing. Alex rubbed his eyes. Three days of travel, bad sleep, and now his machines were reading his nerves. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you."

But the Liger's sensors were better than his own. And it wasn't wrong about prey often.

Alex checked the cockpit seals anyway. Made sure the thrusters were clear. Did the pre-flight inspection twice because it kept his hands busy and his mind off the way the Liger's core thrummed against his palm when he pressed it to the canopy.

"Strong prey."

Tomorrow would tell them what that meant.