HomeEpisode 6 - Ambush in the Wasteland
We're in Mach Storm's hangar at maintenance time, the perfect place to be if you want to watch Matt polish the Leoblaze and RD read comic books. He laughs like a loon, Matt cheerfully proclaiming he's finally lost it before wandering off to fanboy the Boldguard. Its laser cannons are like, totally wicked! He pats its foot, Sigma agreeing with his assessment. "Look, pirates!" Matt says, and Sigma says they won't get past him. And Matt better have done a good job on the Leoblaze, he continues, miming his finger-gun the Zero's way, 'cause he's gonna check it himself and RD's gonna help. Bang!
That's not his job, RD snaps back (he really must not like his comic-reading being interrupted) and the two start arguing. Sweet shows up to interrupt before things get too silly, betting they're hungry. RD asks her when lunch is ready, and she scolds him for only thinking about food. Hey, she brought it up!
A bit later, Matt is helping out Hop: bringing him tea, finding files, and answering the door. Sweet and Hop comment how helpful he is, unlike other people (Hop's not naming names). RD and Sigma both point at each other anyway. The guy at the door needs his Gustav escorted through the treacherous wasteland, and pronto. Hop thinks it seems a bit rushed, but before he can say any more, Helmut walks through the door-it seems the guy, Haldo, is an old friend of his.
Haldo and Helmut are outside talking about old times, Haldo noting that Helmut is the only one on Mach Storm he recognizes-it's been ten years at least. He wants Helmut's help with the cargo. Hop's called a meeting in the meantime, everyone assembling in the TV room. They don't need Helmut's help, say Sigma and RD, "because I'll be in charge!"
I sense tension.
Needless to say, Hop is a bit nervous with the idea of leaving Haldo's important Gustav in their hands. Haldo, on the other hand, seems to trust the two, and tells Helmut as much. RD is Harris' (Eris'? Something like that) boy, after all, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It seems RD's father made quite an impression on a good number of people before making like an anime parent and vanishing. Helmut walks back in, declaring they're taking the mission and RD and Sigma are going, and Hop wonders why he even called the meeting...
Out in the desert, the Gustav trundles along (it's pretty cool-part grey and part blue with white trim), with the Boldguard at the rear and the Liger out front. Sigma and RD exchange insults the whole way in the way only friends can:
"Hey, if anybody tries anything, we'll be all over 'em like ants at a picnic."
"Man, that is the lamest thing I've ever heard, RD."
"Speaking of lame..."
"Yeah, yeah. Talking about yourself again? Hey, you're just jealous."
"Jealous, of you? Gimme a break."
"Oh, someone's a little testy."
Before RD can get tetchy, which would be far worse, Haldo's Gustav picks up something Not Nice, its antenna twitching. It's Guysacks (pronounced "guyzack" here, as if it'll do anything to stop the bad jokes), and RD takes the Zero bouncing after them, which Sigma doesn't like. "Trust you?" he says. "That's how we always get into trouble!"
It seems the Liger's run cycle was enough to scare the little scorpions off, though, much to Sigma's chagrin. He tells RD to make himself useful and get them some lunch, then muses that he's got a bad feeling about this trip, dooming the team to run into something before the episode's end.
The lot are now hanging out in some desert bar...thing...and drinking orange juice. No, really, orange juice. Some wannabe thug walks up to RD, grabbing his arm and making him break his glass. Poor juice, it never did anything. So this is what passes for a Zi Fighter these days, the thug's buddies chime in. Looks like an itty bitty momma's boy. Sigma buts in before things can get any worse, trying to diffuse the situation and only succeeding in making the thug crew think they're nuts as RD messes up all his attempts at a tough retreat.
The bartender approaches Haldo (who's drinking something neon pink. really.) as if concerned, finding out he's hauling something fun to steal in the process. Suspicious, much?
Sure enough, next scene his buddy Nathan is telling an ominously tough lady (who goes by Angelie) all about it-fun to steal, transported by Gustav, et cetera. And they're heading straight for the bandits, just to make their "surprise party" all the more convenient. The boss, apparently named Bone, looks back at two funky Zoids and cackles. Those up on weird Hasbrocritters will know them by name. Oh yes. It's Brachio Zilla and Missile Tortoise, and it's time to get this party started-Bone's words, not mine.
Back at base, Sweet fusses over RD's fate. Matt thinks he'll be okay, but Helmut's sudden arrival tells otherwise. He didn't think RD and Sigma needed him, but apparently the Dark Forces (our bandit friends) have spotted them. Woo, scary.
The Gustav trundles onward, Sigma thinking they should radio Hop since they're running late. But then he picks up trouble-Zoids at twelve o'clock. Haldo detects over fifty Zoids headed their way, and that definitely qualifies as an uh-oh. It's a Guysack swarm, all chittering and making squeaky hissy noises. "Maybe they're on our side," Sigma says, in an unusually optimistic moment. "Yeah, right," RD replies. "And I bet they're here to give us coffee and doughnuts!"
Man, I could go for some doughnuts about now. Glazed or chocolate frosted...
Sigma tells the Gustav to take cover behind the rocks, the Boldguard gets to blasting, and the Guysacks get to explodin'. RD follows in on the shots' heels, the Zero tearing through Guysacks in a pretty impressive display of animation for cannonfodder-smitage. Chomp! Claw! Stomp! BITE! Sigma shows off a bit too, shooting neatly to either side of the Liger to blast a few more. "That's what you get for messin' with Zero," RD says, the camera focus switching so that the Liger's waving its arse at us, much like a cat blocking a computer screen.
It seems the Brachio Zilla doesn't like this. Kerboom goes its long-range beam cannon, narrowly missing the Zero as RD jumps aside. He charges, only to get the Liger toasted by the 'Zilla's flamethrower. Sigma moves to help him, getting blasted by the Missile Tortoise for his trouble.
Hop, meanwhile, is concerned, but Helmut says RD and company are in very good hands.
"Come on, you can do better than that!" RD taunts the Tortoise and Brachio.
So they do.
Fuzors...combine! Parts swirl around in evil unholy ways, combining to form...BRACHIO TORTOISE. Fans with both models immediately try to make their own, only to find that the "real" Zoids lead to a fusion with the missile launcher pointing suicidally at the Brachiozilla's head. Such is life.
RD can't believe it either, but Haldo isn't impressed with the Dark Forces' darkness or forceness. As the Guysacks head for the Gustav, Sigma grumbles he's had enough of this-he's getting out of here. The Boldguard plods off, leaving the Gustav alone. RD, meanwhile, is trying not to get blown up, the Zero doing a little bounce-dance.
The Guysacks close in on the Gustav, clicking happily.
"If they steal just one bolt," Haldo threatens the sky, "Then I am holding Mach Storm responsible!"
Fire Phoenix must hold concern for the team's finances, as it takes the opportunity to swoop in to the rescue, shockwaveslamming Guysacks and screeching. The Brachio Tortoise has the brains to blast at it before it can combine with the Zero, and it dodgerolls around, avoiding all the fire as it comes. But it can't exactly fuse at the same time...
Sigma's retreat was just a trick, though-he pops up by the Brachio Tortoise, planning to blast it at close range. But his laser cannons are out of ammo somehow, and he's got to resort to playing Gamera. "Crazy spike attack!" he yells, the Boldguard jetting up and spinning like mad. There's no fire involved other than the Brachio Tortoise's flamethrower, but he flies like a turtle all right, slamming into the Brachio Tortoise and sending it reeling. (And Luke didn't even need to sing a song...)
That gives RD time to call for the Phoenix-his words are rushed, but the transformation isn't. This is Fuzorspace, after all, where the Liger runs on an endless plain and time is relative.
The Brachio Zilla blasts away as the Liger takes to the air, but it dodges easily. So Bone fires the missile, which is animated just like the model one, only more detailed and not bright red. It's even got the little bit at the back that holds toy missiles in their launchers. "What's with the missile?", RD says, echoing my thoughts, as it breaks apart into lots of ickle baby missiles that all converge on the Liger and make a pretty explosion. But the LZP won't be downed that easily, coming in fast and slinging a laser claw the Brachio Tortoise's way. Its armor proves to not be insured against laser shockwaves, and it drops quickly, looking decidedly roadkill once the dust clears.
RD lands, asking Sigma if he's okay. Sigma begrudgingly admits that was pretty impressive, and Haldo watches the Phoenix fly away. "Nice job, Liger Zero Phoenix," he muses, "but my search still continues...for now."
Everybody watches the sunset, the Liger Zero's tail sticking straight out for some reason (what's up with that, animators?). Sigma comments Haldo never said what the cargo was, and RD thinks he was using it as bait. "Do you ever remind me of your father..." Haldo says, RD asking him what the deal was with them. Haldo says they were both looking for the legendary Alpha Zoid and RD wigs out, asking him what he knows. He's got to find the answers for himself, Haldo says, just like his father did.
RD grows quiet, watching Haldo's Gustav drive off and pondering the Alpha Zoid as the Liger Zero further defies perspective.
Previously: The Kid Called Matt
Next up: The Unseen Enemy
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