Battle Heroes X Vetera: S01E15

The Last Knight is the fifthteenth episode of Battle Heroes X Vetera. The episode is about Zack's unwilling dive into his past.

Zack unwillingly delves into his past.

## The Episode

As the final bell of the day rang, Zack hadn't felt more uneasy in his life. He gathered his things, but remained in his seat. Furtively, he glanced behind himself. She was just rising to her feet and slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Usually, she would talk to her friend as she left, but not today. As Silas would say, 'time to seize victory from the jaws of opportunity'. As she walked out, Zack got up himself and quickly followed after her. As he entered the school hallway, which was filling up with students, he took a deep breath before talking.

"Carol!" He announced. At first, he was worried she wouldn't hear him. As she turned around however, he wished she did. She was a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes the color of the sky. Her hair was cut to shoulder length. When she saw his face, she smiled. "Hey, Zack, what's going on?"

The black haired teen increased his speed until he was walking next to her. Keep it steady. "Nothing much. Just been trying to make sense of this unit in pre-algebra."

Carol lightly laughed. "Well, you're not the only one. I don't know why our teacher automatically assumes we're geniuses."

Here we go. "I think we could help each other out here. Go over the notes together. Nothing two geniuses can't handle."

She laughed at his joke. Zack almost did a backflip right then and there. "You really know how to flatter someone, Zack. Alright, we could meet at the library after school, go through the classwork together."

"Yeah...yeah, that would be good."

She gave him one more smile. "Cool. See you then, Zack," And with that, she turned around and walked away. Zack lingered for a few more moments, taking the victory in. All the advice worked. Wait until Silas got a load of this story...

1 Year Later...

Zack sat at the dining table, cleaning his katana as usual. As the memory penetrated his focus, he lightly pounded the table. *Great. Start over.* Wrapping the cloth around the blade, he ran it from the hilt to the tip, counting in his mind. Soon, his mind returned to the repetitive task, blocking out all other thoughts.

"Hey, Zack!" Cloud called from the living room. "Come here for a second!"

The teenager set his sword down and walked to the living room. Cloud was playing Melee on the Gamecube with Popple. Playing was a stretch though, as she half-heartedly moved Mario around, occasionally throwing an attack at the CPU. Eventually, they finished the fight and paused. Cloud addressed his friends. "So guys, I was thinking that we could all go out together. Just like the old days!"

Zack looked on at his friend. Cloud was never one to give up. He always gave everything a try, and this situation was no different. The team had taken a serious morale hit, and it didn't look like there was any end in sight.

Popple sighed. "Cloud, I appreciate what you're doing, but I don't feel like going out. At all."

If he was hurt by her declining, there was zero indication of it. "No problem, Popple! But one of these days we're gonna try out Dance Dance Revolution!"

She put a hand on his shoulder and checked her watch. "I have to go now, Mom and I are going to visit Dad."

Picking her backpack up, she walked to the door. "See you two at school."

Zack and Cloud said goodbye and Popple left the house. Shortly after she departed, Zack heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He took a deep breath as Julius stepped into the living room.

"Is she gone?" He asked, darting his eyes around like an animal of prey.

"Yeah, she just left," Cloud answered, turning off the Gamecube.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God, I don't wanna make a bad situation worse.

Just hearing his voice made Zack angry. Taking another deep breath, he suppressed his emotions. "Like you're doing now? With the team?"

He didn't even put up a fight. "I guess so, Zack."

The supressing was starting to crumble. Zack got up and confronted Julius. "What you're doing is very, very stupid. I know I give you crap about being a dumbass, but that's not a green light to prove me right."

"Well, when someone is put in a dire situation, their true colors are shown," Julius stated. "And you saw my colors on full display."

Zack poked his finger into Julius' rib. "Those aren't your true colors, that's your kneejerk reaction," He poked him again. "And if you want that to be what defines you, then go ahead! It's gonna be what everyone sees."

Julius pushed his hand away. "What's your problem, Zack? First you're calling me a sissy baby, now you're trying to motivate me? You've always had it out for me. As soon as we started our combat training, something changed in you."

Zack stared off against Julius. This was the guy who he was supposed to answer to. The boy he befriended all those years ago. And to think he even considered the idea that he could improve. *Knock it off. Block it off.* Zack broke the stare, shaking his head and chuckling. Reaching his hand past Julius, he dismissed his katana. "Stupid, stupid, stupid Julius."

As Julius threw his hands up, Zack turned around, heading for the door. "I'm heading out to SPD Base. Gonna put some training in."

Cloud got up as well, watching his friend leave. "Hey, maybe I'll come with. I need to put some tomahawk practice in!"

"Not today, Cloud," Zack answered as he walked out the door and closed it behind him.

...

It didn't take long to get there. As a pre workout, Zack jogged all the way to the headquarters. Without stopping to talk to anyone, he made his way to the training room, which was empty. The room was massive, every inch covered with dark blue hexagons that shimmered with the technology within. At the center of the room, there was a black podium with a screen on it. Zack typed in his credentials and the room hummed to life. The dark blue was replaced with a brighter shade.

"Good evening, Zack," The computer chirped.

"Yeah, hi," He responded dismissively.

"Will you be attempting to break your previous record on Scenario Six?"

He scrolled through all the different options the control matrix offered. Scenarios were simulations rangers could use that created locations and enemies based off data collected in the field. Zack made his selection, picking on a slower exercise to begin. "We'll see."

Instantly, the room began to change and shift around him. The walls lights began to blur and the tiles shifted. Finally, the lights in the room adjusted themselves before being surrounded by holograms. Suddenly, Zack was on a rooftop at night. Large crystals were floating above him. He stretched his arms and legs in preparation, then took out his morpher, transforming into the green ranger.

The computer voice returned. "Scenario 47, begin."

In front of Zack, a holographic alien appeared, brandishing a sword. It screeched as a battle cry and swung the sword in an overhead motion. With reflexes befitting his status, Zack summoned his katana and blocked the strike. Behind him, he could hear the whirl of the training room as another alien appeared. He turned around and raised his katana to block another attack, this one aimed at his neck. Two more appeared on his left and right sides. The one on the left raised its sword first, going for an overhead attack. Zack blocked one, then another. Behind him the other alien lowered its sword for a thrust attack. Zack fended off the first one, then turned around to see the sword coming for him. Swingning his sword diagonally up, he parried the strike. As the aliens continued their varied attacks, Zack felt him going into auto-pilot. *Block, strike, ripsote.* He loved it. No thoughts to handle, no feelings to confront, just the clanging of swords.

"Good work!" The computer cheered after Zack blocked a fatal strike. "You know what you're doing!"

You know what you're doing. *Ah, crud.* What was up with this brain of his? Is it because it happened so soon, that even the slightest reminder would cause the memories to flood back in. Against his will, Zack's mind wandered once more. *You know what you're doing...*

...

"You know what you're doing!"

Now he was walking home with Silas, the two friends having just finished a day of school. Julius, Cloud and Popple were busy with something that day. Silas had his arm around Zack, lightly shaking him in a friendly manner.

"Yeah, I know what I'm doing. Exactly what you told me to do," Zack replied, smiling wide.

Silas might have been smiling even wider. "So it was just one little innocent kiss? Or was it more like one...after the other?"

Zack playfully pushed Silas away. "It's not like that, man! She's a good girl."

Silas calmed down and got his arm off Zack. "Yeah, I can see that. You two make a good couple. When're you gonna make it official?"

"Not anytime soon," Zack answered. "You think I'll hear the end of it from the others?"

It had been a month after he offered that they study together. As time passed, they grew closer. Zack had never really been close to anyone like he was with her. His parents were always too busy to talk to about anything. And as much as he loved his friends, he could never go deep with any of them. Not with Carol. After they got their work done, they would talk a little before saying goodbye. Slowly, they talked for longer, about different things. School, friends, life, their futures. She wanted to be a doctor, to help people. He was already on the path to being a ranger, for the same reason. They grew closer and closer as the days passed. One afternoon, he just went for it. It was raining as they were leaving the library after a good session. He had just made her laugh with one of Cloud's goofy jokes.

"So then he said, 'whoever's finger that is, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but now's not the time!'"

Carol snorted as she laughed, another trait Zack found cute about her. "Oh, Zack!" She leaned forward and put her hand on his chest. They both looked at her hand at the same time, then looked at each other. She had the most beautiful smile. And as her eyes looked into his, he knew what he wanted to do. Gently pulling her in closer, he leaned in and planted his lips on hers. Feeling the same way, she gave no resistance and put her hands on his cheeks, holding him close. It was the most magical moment of his life.

...

A stinging pain in his arm cut Zack's memory short. It felt like he had suffered a mild electroshock. One of the aliens had finally scored a direct hit. As soon as it arrived, the pain stopped. At this point, Zack had lasted so long that the aliens were spinning around him while attacking. They stopped attacking and bowed before fading away. Zack's score appeared in front of him.

"Play again?" The computer asked.

He shook his head and walked back to the control panel. His heart was beating fast. Was it because of the sudden blow? Or the memory? *Come on, focus.* But something was off, the memories kept coming in. Silas congratulating him on kissing Carol. That afternoon in the rain. The look on her face after they had stopped kissing. Something was building up inside of him, and he hated it. He selected Scenario Six and ramped up the difficulty higher and higher. He felt nothing, even as the computer released a preprogrammed message.

"Warning, enemy cunning and aggression have been multiplied by 7. Are you sure a--"

"Set it up," Zack snapped. He confirmed his settings and got back into position. The room changed again until he was back in a familiar locale. The M. Tea underground facility. The place looked like it did after the Negative Ranger attacked. The damaged lights were flickering on and off. From out of a corner, the Negative Ranger appeared. Zack got into his fighting stance, awaiting the first move. The Negative Ranger charged at him and Zack somersaulted into the air and over the enemy. Swinging his katana, he slashed his back before he had the chance to turn around. The monster threw a backhand strike as it turned around, but Zack ducked under and went for another slash. Up ahead, Zack saw another Negative Ranger spawn in. This one bent down and jumped at Zack. The green ranger jumped back to avoid the slam and was now facing the two Negative Rangers. In the back of his head, the memories were swarming to the forefront. And like those other times before, there was no shoving them away. As strong as he was physically, it wouldn't help him now. The Negative Rangers circled around him like predators.

...

Their training was almost complete. A year's worth of work to becoming fully fledged rangers was about to come to an end. They had learned how to utilize the tools at their disposal, forensics and more. But as their final task, there were to travel to the future for their combat training. SPD had given them alibis for their extended leave. School trip studying abroad. Silas, Julius, Cloud and Popple were spending the last few days with their families before they left. He wanted to be with Carol, it would be a while before he saw her again. Finally, the last night arrived. He had to spend the day going through preparations, but that night, he was going to--

One of the Negative Ranger's hands glowed purple and he threw a punch at him, a projectile firing out of his fist. Zack came back in time to side step it. The other one wasn't in view, so Zack correctly turned around and swung his katana, hitting him in the chest.

--take her to the forest so they could shoot some firecrackers. Everything was normal, he was walking over their. Then he saw--

This time, Zack wasn't so lucky. He caught a punch to the chest that was strong enough to send him flying into one of the tables. Focus, Zack. Deep breaths, whatever you do, do not let this memory fini-

The first thing he saw were lights. Lots of them. In front of her house. He remembered running as fast as he could, knocking pounding on the door. Her mother answered it. She was crying. Why? What happened?

Both Negative Rangers were upon him now. Before he could even get up, he was punched back down. The punches kept on coming

She wouldn't couldn't answer. She put her arms around Zack and hugged him tightly. He kept on looking, confused and worried. Her husband passed by the door and saw Zack.  He gently guided his wife away and let Zack in. Tears also streaked his face, but he was a little more composed.

"Mr. Garnier, is everything alright?" He asked.

"Come in, Zack. Please," He urged. Mrs. Garnier let go of him and with her husband, walked with him into the living room. The first thing Zack noticed was the presense of two police officers. His father introduced him as Carol's boyfriend, then the policemen began to speak.

Zack felt himself getting lifted off the ground. One of the Negative Rangers was lifting him on his back, prepared to slam him on the ground. He was still caught in his mind, a new voice joining the medley. *Let go. Stop fighting, let the feelings flow through you.* And as much as he wanted to beat that voice away, he found it impossible.

An absoulte tragedy, they called it. Really sorry, they said they were. No one should have to go through this. He just wanted to know what was going on. Why everything was like this.

Zack raised his hand up, dismissing his sword from the ground and making it reappear in his hand in a reverse grip. He then brought it down, plunging the blade in the Negative Ranger's stomach. The monster dropped him on the ground and Zack wasted no time preparing for the other one to attack. Yanking the sword out of his chest, Zack watched as the second Negative Ranger cocked back and threw a punch. Zack put everything into his next swing, slicing its arm clean off. He made no sound, but clutched what remained of his arm. Zack got to his feet and turned back to the other one. He aimed diagonally downwards and sliced his chest. Then another. And another.

...

She was walking back home from her friend's house when someone ran a red light at an intersection. *Slash slash slash.* Someone who shouldn't have been anywhere near the road. *Cut tear slash.* He had just left a bar, his blood alcohol content at inexcusable levels. *Rip tear slash.* Carol was crossing the street when the man ran the red light. They said she died instantly, as if it was some condolance. He felt himself hyperventilating, the news setting in. Carol, his Carol, had been taken away from him. The tears flowed freely from his as he howled in agony. Mrs. Gardier held him close again and he cried on her shoulder.

...

Zack stood over his two opponents. One was on the ground, curled up with its fatal wound. The other, a mess of torn flesh. Purple mist flowing from every cut on their bodies. The training room shifted back to its original state, his handiwork fading away. His mind had settled down significantly, now that the dam had been broken. For once, he didn't know what to do with himself. That same voice from before spoke once again. *Let it out. It's okay to react. It's okay to feel.* Slowly, every sense in his body seemed to urge, beg him to let something out, to not hide how he was feeling. Zack took a deep breath, and walked to the control panel to shut it down. All those thoughts drained out of him like a full bathtub with its plug pulled. He walked out of the training room and SPD Base, the cold, dark night greeting him. Without another thought, he began his trek back home.

...

It had taken some time, and a lot of talking, but he managed to make it. It was awful what had happened to Popple's dad, but he did what he had to do. It was too important. Julius' behavior worried him, but he had heart. And if anything, Cloud was there. Standing out in the cold, he reached into his pocket and took out a picture from a photo booth. It was him and Carol, beaming with happiness like there wasn't a problem in the world. He looked up at the sky, then sat down, right next to her gravestone.

## Trivia

* Scenario 47's location is a reference to the first episode of Battle Heroes X, where Zack faced off against Bane at the top of a building with crystals floating above it.
* According to Julian Fonteno in an interview, the alien from Scenario 47 is based off data from the duplicating alien mercenary who appeared in Another Story.