Erin Prazan

aka the Red Phoenix

 

 

 

Red Phoenix Part 8…

 

            Bit and Leena sat in a lone booth in the back of a crowed warehouse.  A woman was standing, singing karaoke in front of the audience as a part of the carnivals singing contest.  Bit and Leena had finally made it to the talent competitions at the fair grounds.  They were scheduled to go on next, well Leena anyway.  Leena was going with Bit’s suggestion and was going to sing “Beautiful Good-bye.”  She had been practicing since Bit got better and was even going into the dance contest with him, dancing to the “Cup of Life” by Ricky Martin.  The music stopped as the woman finished, the warehouse filled with the sound of clapping as the woman got her scores from the judges. 

“So Leena, are you nervous?”

Leena and Bit spun around to face Chris Tasker from the Lightning Team.  Upon seeing her, Bit remembered something.  On the day he was shot, Bit saw Harry getting kicked in the balls by Melanie, but Fiona said that Melanie had gotten sacked from the Amazon Maidens the day before.  If she was sacked, how could she be a member the next day? 

“Uh, Earth to Bit.  What’s up?”

Bit snapped back to reality.  “Oh sorry Leena, I was just thinking.”

“Do you remember when Fiona said that Melanie was sacked from the Amazon Maidens because she was working for the Backdraft?”

Leena nodded.  “Yeah so?”

“Well why is she sitting over with the Amazon Maidens over there?”

Leena and Chris turned their heads toward the Amazon Maidens table in the front.  Sure enough, Melanie was sitting next to Erin at the head of the table.  “That is weird.”  Admitted Chris as she was joined by Jack and his girlfriend and Chris’ sister, Kelly.  But they put the thought out of their heads when the judges announced Leena as their next singer.  “Kiss for luck.”  Bit said as he kissed Leena on the lips.  She Smiled at him and ran up to the stage.  “And now, Leena Toros, artillery pilot for the Blitz Team, will now be performing ‘Beautiful Good-bye’.”  Leena did a slight bow to the crowd and nodded to the DJ.  She took a breathe and began to sing as the music got the right part.

 

Fed up with my destiny,

This place of no return,

Think I’ll take another day,

To slowly watch and burn,

It doesn’t really matter,

How the time goes by,

Cause I still remember you and I,

And that Beautiful Good-bye.

 

Staggered through these empty streets,

Laughing all along,

The night had made a mess of me,

Your confessions kept me warm,

I don’t really miss you,

I just need to know,

Do you ever think of you and I?

And that Beautiful Good-bye.

 

When I see you now,

I wonder how,
I could have watched you walk away,

If I let you down,

Please forgive me now,

For that Beautiful good-bye.

 

In these days of no regrets,

I keep mine to myself,

And all the things we never said,

I can say for someone else,

And nothing lasts forever,

But we always try,

And I just can’t help but wonder why,

When let it pass us by.

 

When I see you now,

I wonder how,

I could have watched you walk away,

If I let you down,

Please forgive me now,

For that Beautiful Good-bye.

 

Baby what can I do,

Oh to get through to you,

And sometime I cry,

It’s a fool’s lullaby,

And sometimes I cry,

It’s just a fool’s lullaby,

Oh I just used to cry!

Yeah.

 

 

            The whole warehouse just went wild as soon as Leena finished. The whole crowd was whistling and cheering; the Blitz, Champ, Amazon Maidens, Flugal, and Lightning Teams gave her a standing ovation.  The judges were very impressed, giving her the highest marks yet.  “Great job Leena, perfect.”  Said Doc as Leena sat down next to Bit.  “Thanks Dad.  I hope Harry isn’t here he’d be all…”

“Hi Leena.”

Leena groaned as she turned to face Harry.  He was looking at Leena with the same look of love he always had, Mary was at his side this time again, looking very cross.  “Hello Harry.”  Bit groaned as Mary took seat between him and Leena.  Harry took a seat on Leena’s other side.  Leena tapped her fingers impatiently on the table as Mary started to flirt with poor Bit. I knew it, she does have a crush on Bit.   Thought Brad as Naomi slipped away to use the restroom.  Harry and Mary didn’t seem to realize that Leena was beckoning someone over to their table, a young black haired man about the same age as Dr.Toros.  He wore a red robe like battle uniform with gold trim, light brown leather gloves, and black boots. 

“Hi Sirius, how’s the girlfriend?”

The others raised their heads at Leena’s guest.  His blue eyes twinkled at them and Leena.  He smiled at them and sat down.  “She’s fine, we still can’t go back to Earth beings I’m still wanted.  I can’t wait until they find that murdering traitor.”

“Don’t worry Sirius, they’ll find him, don’t forget he’s not that smart.”

Sirius smiled.  Bit had seen him somewhere before too, but he couldn’t place him. 

“So Sirius, what kind of Zoid do you pilot now?”  Asked Leena as the waitress brought Sirius a drink.

“Shadow Fox.  I used to pilot a Konig Wolf but after I got arrested I had my brother put it somewhere safe.  Now I can’t go talk to him because I still have a warrant out for my arrest.”

Steve Toros adjusted his weight.  Sirius Black had been a friend of his since his old team had battled the Blitz Team 14 years ago.  He also knew that he was a wizard from Earth that came to Zi via portal and that he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.  Leena must have met him through Fiona.  Sirius also had a god son, the son of a very good friend of his, Harry Potter.  Harry attended the school Sirius and Steve went to.  Sirius and Steve had never met at Hogwarts because they were in different houses, Sirius in Gryffindor, Steve in Hufflepuff.  Steve had never told his wife or children that he was actually a wizard for they never got their acceptance which was a real disappointment.  He was hoping they would have the same training as him, beings there was no wizarding school on Planet Zi. 

“So Toros how’s the Blitz team?”

The team and crew spun around to face Dr.Laon, an ex-member of the Backdraft.  He had created Brad’s Shadow Fox and had once hated Dr.Toros, even though they were best friends in Zoids School, which Steve attended after Hogwarts.   “Hey Laon, care for a drink?”  Sirius asked as Laon pulled up a chair.  “No thanks, but thanks for asking.  How’s life treating you Sirius?”

 

            Laon and Sirius caught up on old times as the last karaoke contestants sang.  “And now for the winner of this years annual Singing Contest,” Cried the announcer.  Leena, Bit, Brad, Jamie, and the rest of the crew looked at the man as he waited for the judges’ scores and votes.  They handed him an envelope, which he opened and read.  “And the winner is…LEENA TOROS WITH ‘BEAUTIFUL GOOD-BYE’!”  The announcer yelled.  The Blitz Team table erupted with cheers and whistling.  “ALRIGHT LEENA!”  Yelled Bit as Leena stood up to get her prize, which was a certificate of ownership for a new Zoid, which they showed on the screen.  It was a Konig Wolf, fresh and new and ready to be piloted.  “This Zoid is a peach to pilot, it even has a built in CD player and air conditioning system.  Have fun Leena.”  Leena was flush with happiness as she took her seat next to Bit; Mary had gone off to the bathroom to freshen up.  “Great Job Leena!”  Came Fiona’s excited squeal from behind her.  “Thanks Fi.  I hope a certain someone I’m giving it to will like it.” As she said this, she looked directly at Bit.