Bio-Booster Armor Guyver is Copyrighted to Yoshiki Takaya and Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co in Japan and is trade marked to VIZ Communications Inc.. I am using the characters and ideas without permission but am not making any money from this. This fictional work does belong to me.
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Note: Hyper Zoanoid Gastal : 222cm, 189kg, long nose and tail, shoulder and shin spines, with the ability to turn invisible. First appears in Volume 18, chapter 109. Abilities, name and small biology (I think) in Volume 19.
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The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter XVI - The Earth Resistance
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I know Sho found the return to Earth to be something more than a mere psychological salve. It did something else for him and while we were in sight of Earth and on our world he slept far more soundly that he had been. I only learnt later that since our encounter with the Tekki he had been dreaming of Guyvers fighting each other for all eternity. Of infinite colours locked in infinite battles... of war without end and without hope.
Shizu later confided in me that Makishima was having similar dreams and now that I think about it, I recall that Aptom showed unusual signs of stress around that time so perhaps he too was affected. I do not know who else may have been affected and I will not go so far as to say that all their dreams were the same but they did share the same connotation: infinite colours locked in battle until one colour dominates the rest. Agito took comfort in the dominance and slept well once his dreams reached that point. Sho abhorred it and it was many, many months before he could sleep properly again. If Aptom was truly affected by these dreams, I can only surmise that he eventually accepted the dominance but only with some reluctance since it was not until after we left Earth that he seemed to return to normal.
We approached Earth carefully, Mirai and Eternity put on their most arrogant air and we simply bluffed our way through the Advent blockades. That was the easy part since the Advents never really expected anyone to want to get through their forces. The blockades were mostly to keep any human craft from escaping and to provide early interception for any Tekki forces. Once we landed the problem then was keeping the loading crews away, and once again Mirai and Eternity displayed their skills, although Alkard remained with them as a guard since he could hardly move unnoticed through human gatherings. After that we had to find Maxwell and that proved to be an interesting task since finding a man who is in hiding from an entire world that wanted to kill him meant that he didn't exactly advertise his address. Proving that we were legitimately here to see him and that we were no threat was an interesting mission that would have been near impossible without Aptom even though in the end, he simply provided confirmation of who we were.
---
The Tekki looked down at Xeo'm. His fellow GuyLord was not what he remembered. The submissive, eager to please GuyLord Healer that lived in his memory was not standing before him and he wondered what it was that had changed the Healer so drastically. It was disconcerting, remembering people he had never met but it was the only way he could achieve his goal. He remembered, he knew almost every Guyver of any rank, save for the One and was now approaching them before they came into their full power.
Most didn't understand the true import of his questions but were following him out of thanks for his 'gift' of power. Others like Iythra understood far too well. The Oranmeira had escaped, despite her connection to her sister. He hadn't bothered chasing her. There was only one place, one group she could seek sanctuary with. The Terrans and he would deal with them soon enough.
They would be last, because he knew, he remembered that even if they never proclaimed their loyalty, they were loyal, and they would fight. Besides, they were the strongest of them all, did his existence not prove that? There was a good possibility that one of them was the One... He suspected but he did not know so for the moment he watched.
"I will give you what you want," he said softly to the Vad'm before him.
Xeo'm already knew her power, had already summoned her rust coloured GuyLord armor and had already shown her loyalty by the inky black lining. She was his but he could accede to her desires, since her healing abilities were far superior to ' Nyataran's and he would need them before he was finished. He doubted everyone would be so willing to listen to him.
The Vad'm Guyver did not bow but her eyes lit with an unholy glow. "I will look forward to it," she hissed and Tsuyosa suddenly knew what had happened to her in the future.
"A word of warning," he murmured, unsure why he felt the need to at least try to change her fate.
"A word of the future?" She questioned.
" Aa ," he agreed, easier to say that than explain his premonition. "Not everyone is indifferent."
Her eyes narrowed and she snorted in a short bark of laughter. "I'd like to see them try!" There was a contemptuous note in her voice.
"Some will match you," he continued the warning.
She hesitated, but only for an instant and he knew the path was set. Even if he won, the arrogant Vad'm before him would still be broken. "It doesn't matter," she shrugged. "Everyone, even you, comes to us in the end."
"Us?" He was genuinely amused.
"Healers."
He could not suppress the laugh. "A warning, consider well your actions for they will stand against you."
Xeo'm shook her head, still unconcerned. "I'll be waiting for your gift," she said as turned away.
Tsuyosa bowed his head briefly before he sighed as he looked around. There were nine Guyver Lords - three Healers, three Engineers and three Warriors. From the future he knew who most of them were. Even then though there was one Healer who hadn't come forth, and with what he suspected he wasn't sure about the Terrans. Shizu and Mizuki he was certain of, but Aptom, Fukamachi and Makishima were unknowns. Two were true warriors, and one was... What was Fukamachi? He wasn't sure. He doubted the boy knew himself.
They were all unknowns and while he was nearly certain he knew who was who, even in the future things had not added up between the Terrans. He had been tempted to stay there, stay in the future until he was certain who was who, until the One had been ready to emerge but he knew, once the One came forth, his plan would have been known and they would have stopped him. He had to leave when he did, even though he didn't know everything.
But that left him with questions. Imakarum had begun to answer them but the Zoalord was currently wandering so there was really only one way to get the answers he needed. He smiled.
He did so hope that Makishima was more accommodating this time, he'd hate to have to hurt the GuyLord Warrior before he could truly use the power.
---
Aptom frowned... This was exceedingly odd. They weren't answering and that just wasn't possible. Before they'd left Earth, he had carefully planted several seeds of himself around the globe. They had no task but to survive and if necessary they were to help Maxwell, without being caught. He had no desire for the Advents to have his DNA. But at the moment, none of them were answering him, and that just wasn't possible. Those who he took over with his DNA were not completely separate from him. That would be too dangerous because one could never be sure who was the original . They were still a part of him, still shared his desires and thoughts and they could still be controlled by him. They had no choice and when he called they had to answer. But the one's he had left on Earth weren't responding and he was positive that they hadn't all been destroyed by the Advents. He could feel an echo but nothing more.
"They're not answering," he said at the group gathered around him. "They are there," he reassured them as he saw Agito's eye twitch. "But something must be wrong."
"Fine, whatever," the new GuyLord snapped. He had not been in a good mood since encountering the Tekki and he had made sure that everybody knew it, so much so that most of them had taken to avoiding him, even Shizu had made her excuses some times.
"All right," Tetsuro said calmingly. "That just means we have to do it a different way." He frowned slightly. "Although... I think it would be a good idea if you found out why they aren't answering you, Aptom. This would have been the first time you have left any of your clones for an extended period of time, yes? It would be interesting to know how they have adapted to not having the queen bee... err, hive mind here."
"We're not here for a science trip."
"No," Tetsuro agreed with Makishima mildly. "But if they have run amok, wouldn't you like to know before we get back to Merrimu ?"
"Humph!"
"Okay," Mizuki said quietly. "So we just have to do it another way."
"Yeah, but with all the Advents we can't exactly just go around asking, can we?"
"Of course we can," Tetsuro said with a smile. "If we were Advents."
"What!?"
Agito laughed. "Just what I'd expect from the top tactician of the Rebellion."
"I thought you'd like it," Tetsuro said easily. "But it can't be you. You'd be too easily recognised."
"Then who should it be? Fukamachi?"
"No. I'm sorry Sho, I don't think you could pull it off either. I'll do it."
"Tetsuro!"
"What? I'm really the only choice." Tetsuro's voice was deceptively placid. "Aptom will be busy, Agito is too easily recognised, Mizuki is a healer, not a warrior, Shizu is once again too easily recognised and Sho lacks the arrogance to act as a Zoalord." He ran through his logic calmly, eliminating everyone in their small group.
"It's a nice idea," Alkard said delicately. "But it probably won't work."
"Why not?"
Sho nodded. "Because, if we are pretending to be Advents, and the Advents are looking for Maxwell, why should we fair any better?" Fukamachi explained for the Wesodin.
"Ah," Tetsuro nodded with a slight smile. "I wouldn't be much of a tactician if I hadn't already thought of that. Aptom, may we borrow two clones for this?"
The hyper-zoanoid nodded, his scarred face smiling. "I should have been expecting this request. Get two Advent Zoanoids and I'll give you what you need."
Sho suddenly looked cautious knowing that there was more going on here than he knew but after a moment he sighed. "What don't I know about?" He asked in a tone that admitted his defeat on this matter.
"He's getting faster," Aptom joked with Tetsuro. "A few more years and he might even be intelligent."
"I doubt it," Makishima sneered.
"Quit joking," Mizuki snapped, glaring fiercely at Agito. After all, he was the reason Sho didn't know this. "Just tell him."
"It's not that difficult, Fukamachi," Aptom shrugged. "I just give these particular clones heightened senses, like all Zoanoids, except it's pushed to the extreme. These clones can hear your heart beat, assess your temperature, watch the flickering of eyes. They are just biological lie detectors."
"But very, very efficient," Tetsuro finished. "And that is why we will fare better than the Advents. I'm sure they could create such beings but they don't know what to watch for when a human lies to them, we do."
Alkard still didn't look convinced and from Sho's pensive look he shared the aliens disquiet with the current situation. "Well," he said tiredly after a few moments of quiet, "It's not really like we have any other way of trying this."
"Hmm?" Alkard questioned. "You are human, why couldn't you fit in with the general population and seek information that way?"
"You mean use the underground information nets?" Shizu said.
The Wesodin nodded. "It would be the best way if this was either Yarrunga or Corang ."
Agito was about to snap at the alien for his complete ignorance of human society before his Unit whispered to him. : :Wesodin Corang have telepathic links not just between their species but between individuals. They do not fear betrayal because they know where everyone stands.::
It appeared the information had been given to the others as well because it was Sho who nodded to himself before turning to look at Alkard. The alien still had an air of confusion around him, his Unit had not informed him about human capabilities. "It would take us weeks, if not months to gain the trust of the underground," Sho said softly. "We don't have the neural connections that a Wesodin or Corang has. The only real way to gain trust quickly would be to perform some rather spectacular service and even then it could be considered a trap."
Alkard frowned. "Do you mean you have to take an individuals word that they are telling you the truth?" He seemed incredulous at the notion.
Sho smiled tolerantly, giving his affirmation.
"There is only one word for betrayal in my language and even then it implies more accidental misunderstanding than betrayal," the Wesodin said in an almost inaudible whisper, "and no Corang or Wesodin has betrayed another for over a thousand years. How many words do you have?"
"There are a few," Tetsuro said seriously, "which is why we are so careful."
The Wesodin looked around the small group, his eyes troubled as several internal conflicts suddenly became far more than personality clashes. He shivered slightly, flicking his eyes between his chosen mistress, Fukamachi and Makishima as he wondered exactly what betrayal had caused their rift.
"There's still a problem though," Agito said, brushing over the aliens concern. "Tetsuro, how are you going to convince a Zoanoid you're a Zoalord?"
"Same way you do."
"What?"
"Do you really think the Rebellion was unaware of your abilities? In the event that you captured any leader and couldn't make them talk, there was nothing stopping you processing them into a Zoanoid and forcing them to talk but if they've already been processed with the select abilities of a Zoalord, not even you could force them. Most of us were pre-processed that way."
"Samuel didn't tell me this."
"I know. It was his test to check that he was loyal. You chose well, Agito, he was smart enough to see it, and not report back the trap to you."
"But not all of you were processed."
"Mizuki wasn't but that's about it. Everyone else was processed to possess a Zoalord's immunity to enforced mental coercion and nothing else. I've been processed to have a little more, no physical ability, but if I will it, my mental presence is the same as a Zoalords... Well, to a Zoanoid it is. That's about the limit of processing you can do without a Zoalord crystal. As well you know."
Sho looked between Tetsuro and Agito before he sighed softly. "All right, all right," he said placatingly , "we'll do it this way." He cocked his head at Makishima, "Shall we go?" He invited the former Emperor.
"Go where?" Agito raised one eye brow.
"To get Aptom's Zoanoids."
Makishima looked both amused and startled for an instant before he smirked "All right," he said easily, getting up and heading towards what passed for the door. "Let's go." He ignored the looks directed at him by the others as Sho followed him quietly, giving them a reassuring wave.
---
"All right Fukamachi, what do you want?" Makishima asked as he and Guyver I skimmed over the still rich forest.
Sho didn't waste time. He could sense Agito's agitation but also his slight willingness to discuss things at this current juncture and he wasn't about to waste this opportunity. They were on their way to a known Advent spot, far from where Mirai and Eternity were grounded so that even if the loss of two Zoanoids was noted, it would be unlikely that the search for the culprits responsible would extend that far. They could have teleported but they had time on their side and the distance wasn't great, to a Guyver. "How do you control it?" He asked.
"Control what?"
"A Zoalord's strength."
"Why does it matter how I control it?" Agito countered. "It's not like you possess similar abilities. You weren't part of the Rebellion, you don't have a Zoalord's ability."
"No, not a Zoanoid's ability but a Guyver Unit can tweak your body to give a similar result."
: :Can you?:: Agito demanded silently.
: :I cannot give you any more strength than what you already possess, Master, otherwise I would have,:: his Unit countered.
"Ah, I see," he returned the answer to Fukamachi, understanding now why the boy wanted to talk with him. "How well do you control your thoughts?" He asked.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because how well you control your thoughts will indicate how well you control it. There is no 'how to' beyond practice."
Sho nodded. He'd suspected as much and wasn't particularly looking forward to thinking about his every movement so as not to destroy something by accident but he had been hoping there was something to make it easier. "How did you start then? I mean, no matter how practiced, right at first you can't think about something like that all the time, especially with a lifetime of normalcy behind you."
Agito was tempted to say that such precise control of thought came naturally to the strong and let the boy draw his own conclusions but for the vague sense of warning that flittered through his mind from his Unit. Even without that though, there were still too many ways for Fukamachi to find out about his first blunders.
"There are some mental exercises you can drill yourself in and I'd suggest for the moment, you take particular care around people. Overkill in combat's not going to matter, we are overkill in our very existence but when you are around Mizuki and Tetsuro you'd best be conscious of your actions, especially when you are intimate." Agito didn't turn to look but he was almost completely focused on Fukamachi through his Unit's sensors as he delivered the line. He was disappointed at the lack of reaction but his disappointment gave him hope. While he never expected to have a full blown conversation about the subtleties of sex with the younger man, the lack of reaction at implied intimacy suggested there was either absolutely nothing happening between him and Mizuki and given the way the two mooned over each other, that wasn't likely, or Fukamachi was mature enough not to be embarrassed about his private life and was composed enough to pursue an adult relationship in an adult world. And if he'd grown that much perhaps his Unit would be able to swing his combat perceptions into the realm of reality faster.
For his part Sho blushed furiously but was exceedingly careful to keep that his only reaction. It wasn't that he didn't want intimacy with Mizuki, the two of them had sought it, it was just with everything that had happened, they hadn't had a lot of time and with this... he had been avoiding her somewhat although he suspected she knew why. She was far too wise sometimes and still far too willing to sacrifice her own desires. I'll make it up to her, he thought as Makishima continued.
"Mostly though, it's going to come down to practice. And a lot of it."
Sho nodded.
"Practice with some delicate items that won't matter if you break them. Try ceramic at first, then move on to other things like eggs."
"Okay," Sho affirmed that he had heard.
They flew on for a few moments in silence. "Is there..." Sho ventured quietly. "Is there anything you wanted to ask?"
Agito was quiet for a very long time but Fukamachi could sense that there was something he did wish to ask. He had been sensing it for some time and that was why he had asked Makishima to accompany him.
"What did the Tekki say?"
"What do you mean?"
"What did the Tekki say to you that he did not say to us?"
Sho frowned. He'd already told them everything. "Nothing, Agito. The only thing he told me was about Ishiikawa. He didn't say anything else," Sho gave the short explanation again, knowing the man needed to hear it again but if Makishima was asking about the Tekki, then it was fair to ask the same question back. "What did he say to you? While you were fighting, I know the two of you spoke but you didn't broadcast. What did he say?"
Fukamachi sensed the Emperor's narrowed eyes, there was no way he could see them under the Guyver Armor but there was from him a definite feeling of irritation. "All right, it's just it must have been important and I was curious. The Tekki, even in the few things to me was ambiguous and I don't know whether we should consider him a friend or enemy. He is very powerful but almost playful."
Agito remained silent as he considered. He should have known the others would have worked out the fact that they had spoken; he just thought that it would be Aptom who challenged him on it first.
"He spoke," Agito paused and took a deep breath. "He spoke of the future, what is to come, or what he believes is to come."
"He wanted you to join him?"
Makishima was surprised at the question for an instant, wondering how Fukamachi came to the conclusion so quickly before he realized it was about the only possible conclusion that could be inferred from a private conversation. "No. He asked but it was only in jest and as soon as he asked, he listed the reasons I would not. You are right about him being neither friend nor enemy."
"So why did he want to kill you? The attack Shizu stopped, that wasn't in jest."
"I know and I also know that he wouldn't have objected if it had of worked. He knew I wasn't going to take his side, at least not without proof and while it obvious he is far stronger than any of us, he is still searching for something. Like us, he is gathering allies because he says he needs them to destroy the One."
"The One scares him, doesn't it?"
"Yes." Agito nodded. The observation was particularly astute for Fukamachi.
"Why? What can be so bad about one person?"
"Do you want a list?"
"Huh?"
"Believe me, Fukamachi, it is possible for one being to, not necessarily scare but to so annoy another that all reason is lost."
"I don't understand."
"As I said, do you want a list?" Agito snarled.
Sho remained silent as Agito continued.
"The only reason I haven't killed you is that I need you. I know I cannot defeat the Advents alone and you have no idea how galling that is, having to put up with you and your desires for peace! Why can't you see reality boy?"
"What do you mean?" Sho asked.
" Argh !" Agito was swinging before he thought. Fukamachi was the only one who could do this to him! And that alone was frustrating but right now he wasn't thinking.
He caught the blue Guyver completely defenceless and Sho tumbled in the air, the pain of the blow combining with his confusion. He tried to steady himself but a second blow landed in the small of his back, driving him into the trees below them. Fukamachi felt his Unit guide his movements briefly, twisting around tree limbs to land lightly on a large branch before it moved to heal the bruises, soothing the stinging pain away.
: :Makishima ?:: He cast the thought out through the Guyver link but was met with silence.
The warning flashed across his senses and Sho jumped avoiding another blow from behind. He got a glimpse of the lightning fast black Guyver and his eyes widened slightly as he realised Agito had called his full armor.
: :Makishima !:: Sho cried desperately as he called a Giga unit. : :What do you mean? I have not opposed you.::
The next blow was blocked by the summons of the Giga Unit but the one after caught him across the chest. Sho crossed his arms, pulling back as Makishima continued to pummel him. Thankfully though, the GuyLord was not using his full potential.
: :You have always opposed me!:: The answer finally came.
: :When ?:: Sho asked, desperate to keep Agito talking. The difference in potential was almost too much.
: :Always .::
: :Makishima ,:: Sho said, quietly serious, letting his Unit guide him movements in parrying the enraged GuyLord. It drew forth his true strength but it was still not enough to completely counter Guyver III, he could feel that in the small cuts forming on his arms. : :I said I would help you but I never said I would compromise my ideals. There are things that cannot be achieved through strength alone. You know that.::
: :What I know is that at every opportunity you have tried to thwart me. ::
: :Not consciously!:: Sho shouted mentally, sensing that nothing he said would calm the GuyLord but his blood. No! I won't! He thought fiercely and felt his Unit respond.
If he'd of had the energy he would have shuddered but as it was, every last erg of energy was being syphoned by his Unit and pumped through the Giga Unit in an effort to block the overwhelming attacks of Makishima's Lord Unit. He would have gasped, but his Unit was controlling his breathing. He traded blows with Makishima, feeling his Unit heal his wounds as it moved.
As they continued to move Sho could feel Agito's rising frustration both at the fact he hadn't backed down and accepted the Emperor's words lightly and with the fact that he was now holding his own against him. Well, sorta ... Sho thought as a punch slipped through his defences, driving into his stomach painfully.
Pain that was ignored as his Unit took advantage of the ricochet to retreat into a cloudbank. They had travelled far while battling and had long ago left the forested lowlands, moving now into deep mountains and valleys. It would have been beautiful at any other time. White clouds filled the valleys and only the ridges rose from it, with taller mountains in the distance looming darkly. It was ethereally beautiful.
Cloud meant nothing to their Unit's though, their sensors were only mildly impaired but that was what Sho was counting on. Even a slight pause in Agito's reaction time would help to bring them to a more equal level and he needed all the help he could get on this. Although he sincerely hoped Agito was angry enough not to use his Unit's sensors.
: :What are you doing, Fukamachi?::
: :Trying to get you to calm down.:: He responded easily to Agito's question.
He was met with silence but continued to move. A bolt of energy passed through the air he had been in and Sho couldn't suppress the shiver.
: :Agito , stop!:: He said seriously in as forceful voice as he could manage. They couldn't continue like this, not if the GuyLord was going to use energy like that. To back his words, he dropped down, out of the cloud to land in the deep forest of the valley.
"The Advent's will notice if we continue like this," Fukamachi said as Makishima appeared in front of him. He dismissed his armor. It was risk, he could still feel the anger from the Emperor but it was the only choice to get his point across.
Reluctantly Agito nodded, the anger not fading as he dismissed his own armor, but he wasn't so angry that he couldn't see reality. "Fine, we'll fight it out the old fashioned way."
"Why are we fighting?"
"Because you must accept reality."
"I do accept reality, Makishima, just not the reality you think I should accept."
"And that is the point. You do not accept reality, you only accept your fiction."
"Not fiction Agito, just a more optimistic view. I will not bow to you, Makishima, no matter what happens but I did say I would help."
Guyver III said nothing so Sho continued.
"If you do not wish or need my help any further, Agito, tell me and I will leave and I will fight in my own way because there are some things, upon which, I will not compromise, even if a GuyLord is asking, even if the One was asking, I will not compromise." He spoke softly but with passion. Some things should be held sacred and he already knew he would die for them.
: :I will not let you.:: The assurance came from his Unit.
Agito and Sho stared at each other for long moments before Guyver III trembled, shaking his head. This was as serious as he had ever seen Guyver I and while the view was frustratingly naive, he knew the boy meant every word and was backed by his Unit to a point that surprised his own. : :You cannot fight him, not yet,:: came the quiet warning and the frustrating reminder that he still needed Fukamachi. : :There is...:: It fell silent and Agito felt his sensors refocus themselves. : :There is something not right here.::
"When the time comes to retake this planet, do not stand in my way," Makishima finally snarled the warning before jumping, resummoning his armor and speeding away.
Sho blinked, wondering what had changed Agito's mind. He could still sense that the Emperor was angry but right at the instant he had been expecting the attack something had warned Makishima away and he didn't think anything really held that much sway over Agito. Once his mind was made up, he did what he thought was best and damn all others.
: :Master ,:: Sho's Unit whispered quietly.
: :Did you?:: He asked.
: :I cannot change his mind, Master, but I can show him the consequences. He needs you Master, and he knows that but he also knows that he needs your mercy or all will be lost and that he does not wish to admit.::
: :Mercy ?::
: :Optimism . Openness. You can do things Master that he cannot and no matter what he believes, mercy is required in a warrior but equally Master, so is strength.::
Sho nodded, resummoning his own armor before following Makishima. He considered his Unit's advice. : :I will not be mindless, when one can gain through negotiation one should not fight.::
: :But when you should fight..?::
Fukamachi nodded. : :I will fight,:: he confirmed, rising through the mist like clouds into the bright sunshine. : :I will fight .::
---
Aptom hovered, his wings moving in long lazy strokes as he watched two of his clones. Around him the air shimmered slightly but it was nothing that could be detected by human eyes and using the stealth abilities of a Gastal the slight shimmer was the best he could manage while flying. On the ground, he could properly bend the light.
The two clones were sleepers. They didn't look like him and if anyone captured them, his cells would lie dormant until the most opportune moment.
Before he'd left Mirai and Eternity , he'd extended his senses, seeking answers from any of his subordinates but none had replied. He'd felt the echo from all but a few of them and assumed the one's he didn't feel had been destroyed but the rest all should have answered him. He'd chosen these two because they were meant to be on opposite sides of the world, but they were together and even if one had been moved by uncontrollable circumstances they should have unconsciously sought to be as far away from each other as possible. They most definitely should not be meeting with each other!
The two of them were talking quietly, so softly that he couldn't hear them, even with his advanced hearing and after a few moments they nodded to each other before continuing down the road. Together.
Aptom growled softly as he landed, transforming himself back into a human form as he let his camouflage fall after he'd checked that nothing was watching. With an arrogant, 'don't mess with me' attitude he walked out, following his two clones. They continued to speak quietly and Aptom lengthened his stride drawing closer to them. Since he didn't look like his usual form, even if they saw him they would have no reason to think he was anything but another refugee of the situation.
"...happening..."
Not close enough.
"...don't know..."
The Zoanoid moved closer still.
"They're in the seventh segment now."
"Can we hold it?"
"You're in charge of the warrior section, can we hold them?"
Hold what? Aptom frowned. Why where they talking about combat? None of his clones consciously knew about their combat potential. His cells lay dormant unless they were needed but even if they went into combat, his consciousness retreated afterwards, leaving the host confused.
"We'll have to go underground, but we will hold them. We're getting close now and we must find the solution."
"I'll tell the others. You'll get your results transmitted soon."
"With everything else that's happening, if I ever find the one responsible for this..."
"I know your feeling. I'm not a warrior but I will become one. I don't need my DNA contaminated, not with the Advents trying to kill the lot of us."
Aptom froze, understanding what they were talking about. The host knew about him. That wasn't meant to happen. It wasn't possible. And from the sounds of things, they were trying to be rid of him. It's not that easy, he snarled in his mind, extending his senses.
While it was true he was mentally blocked from Zoalords, that didn't mean he had no telepathic abilities. On the contrary, he had many abilities but only between himself. Without pausing to think, he sent a direct inquiry to his cells in the two men, watching in satisfaction as both of them froze, glancing around in panic as they felt the intrusion.
: :Why aren't you answering me?:: The question carried its own force, the demand that he must be answered.
"No!" One of the men shook his head savagely, "No! I won't answer," he said struggling. The other man fell to his knees under the mental assault, foam forming at his mouth.
: :You will answer,:: Aptom sent telepathically, moving closer as if he was nothing more than a concerned bystander. : :And you will tell me everything.::
Beneath his mental attack the weaker of the two had already fallen, and was now unconscious, their eyes glazed as they looked up, small white bubbles of foam popping softly as they twitched slightly. The Zoanoid exerted his influence, controlling his clone, making him stand up so as to avoid the wary questioning glances from other passers-by.
"No!" The other ground the word out, the one who said he would become a warrior, continued to struggle as Aptom moved still closer.
With a gentleness that belied his true meaning, Aptom reached out, touching skin to skin and as soon as he connected with the man he struck, forcing his cells into the pores, driving into the mans being as he pounded his mind into theirs, seeking his presence.
"...you..." the man gasped brokenly as he fell, instinctively recognising him but unable to fight against the reinforced Zoanoid presence. He knew. He knew that he was defeated and that before him was the one who had infected him originally and he knew he could not fight. All was lost now. But he was going to make sure he was remembered.
: :Yes ,:: Aptom soothed him, blanketing the pain. : :I am the one responsible.::
"... jere ... jeremiah ... kinsington ... I am Jeremiah Kinsington ," the man gasped.
"I will remember," Aptom promised.
The man was dying, like Elegan , Gastor and all before him, he was being assimilated into the whole, but unlike the others, Aptom felt a tiny node of respect. The others has all had better mental shields, were trained to avoid this, had expected to die in combat, this man had neither but had still fought better than them all combined, and dulling the pain of assimilation was the only mercy he could grant.
Heh ! Makishima would call me weak, Aptom thought.
But Fukamachi would call it strength, another part of his mind reminded him.
Bemused he shook his head, before looking back to his two controlled clones. They still resembled the men they had been but mentally, they were him.
"What happened?" He asked, the question conveying a myriad of desires.
"With what?" A question was returned to him, with a sassy look.
Aptom raised one eyebrow at the implied challenge. "Why were your hosts aware of me?" He could have just assimilated one of the clones completely to find his answers but that would reduce his numbers on Earth. Only by one, but he didn't know when he might need the one.
"ID tagging," the other clone replied.
"Maxwell initiated ID tagging on every civilian and despite our unconscious efforts, we couldn't stop our hosts from participating, especially not when anyone who refused the tag was considered Advent, and that went directly against your orders, Master."
Aptom sighed heavily. Maxwell... They were designed to help him but the man never made things easy. "Okay, so why didn't you just take over?"
"Couldn't do that, too many of Maxwell's people around and even you know, Master, after two years, without reinforcement, we can't do a lot, especially when we've been lying dormant. No matter how much we want, we simply can't replicate your cells properly after that long, unless of course, we were in complete control the entire time."
"Two years?" Aptom questioned. "I've only been gone for a year and a half."
The two clones looked at each other. "Master, it's been two years."
"A year and a half," Aptom insisted.
His clones shared a look. "Is there a point to this, Master? It has been two years since you left. Two years, give or take a week or so," one of them stated firmly, clearly becoming annoyed with the original.
Aptom growled, reaching out to touch one of his clones. Once he felt them, he leeched further cells into the body, mingling with the cells that were already there. It hadn't been two years. He knew that, and his clones couldn't lie to him but he could not sense the jest. There was something very wrong here.
With a hiss, Aptom jerked back. The sense of time he got from the clone showed the full two years, just as they had stated. When compared to his own sense of time, there were discrepancies. He had lived for a year and a half, his clones had lived for two.
"What's going on here?" Aptom questioned, desperately wishing for things to once, just once not be like one of Tetsuro's twisted stories, but knowing deep down, that the explanation for this, was probably beyond anything he even wanted to know.
He took a deep breath. "All right, two years," he acceded. "Let's go see the others," he ordered. "I still need the lot of you."
---
Tetsuro blinked, aware of even that movement as the sound from the slight movement of the guns trained on them seemed painfully loud. How they got into these situations he still did not know but with a wry smile he concluded it had to be something with Fukamachi. Nothing like this had ever happened through the Rebellion or Resistance, and he didn't think it would have been possible even throughout Chronos' reign. There was something about Sho that just attracted the impossible.
Not that he blamed his friend, but it did seem when Sho was present that things never went according to plan.
In hindsight, he supposed he should have known better. He was acting like a Zoalord, chasing down the one man the Advents would love to kill, he should have treated such a promising lead with more suspicion. If it had of been this easy then Maxwell would have died a long time ago.
But that was the problem, the lead had been too good and while he had been slightly suspicious the Aptom Clones with him had told him that they could sense Sanchez close by and with that extra information he had thrown caution to the wind, eager to meet with his fellow freedom fighter once again to find out exactly what the man had been doing.
And then one thing had lead to another and now he and everyone else were standing in a slight depression, blindingly strong spotlights illuminating them from every angle, guns tracking their every movement.
Now if he'd been truly a Zoalord he wouldn't have cared, hell, unless the guns were far more than they seemed, and they weren't - Tetsuro had seen, had even developed enough weapons to know when they could hurt advanced Zoaforms - they wouldn't even make a scratch on a Zoalord, but as it was, he did care; he didn't have the defences of the ultimate Zoaform and surrounded by the others, he couldn't call his Guyver Unit not without severely injuring everyone.
But he could bluff.
"I thought you humans had at least developed some weapons which would be effective," Tetsuro said with as much quiet scorn as he could muster.
As expected safety locks were thumbed off en mass.
"How bothersome... They are going to try to play."
"Quiet!" The order was harsh and in the glaring light Tetsuro couldn't tell who'd spoken. The Aptom clones could though and while their eyes were useless under such assaults, they turned instinctively towards the voice.
"Or what?" Tetsuro dared, following the 'line of sight' of the clones. "You'll shoot? Don't make me laugh."
"You're in human form, Zoalord. You're just as vulnerable as I am."
Tetsuro blinked, the explanation was close enough to the truth that if he'd truly been a newly processed Zoalord, he would probably have believed it but unfortunately for the man speaking, he knew better.
"You'd like to believe that wouldn't you?" Tetsuro questioned, his eyes hard and cold, as he submerged further into the persona of the being he was pretending to be. "It's a good lie, but it's not true. I am designed for combat, no matter which form I am using. Your weapons will not hurt me."
"They will hurt your escort."
"They are of no moment," Tetsuro said callously as he made a small gesture with his hands, a gesture that if Maxwell was watching, he would recognise as being one from the days of the Rebellion. Around him, Sho and the others shifted slightly but said nothing, perpetuating the belief that they were under his mental control.
: :Are you sure this is wise?:: Mizuki asked through the Guyver link.
: :We don't have a lot of choice, Miz , although they are concerned. We are close to Maxwell, I can feel it,:: he broad sent the reply, giving everyone who could hear a burst of reassurance, thankful that both Shizu and Agito had remained silent.
They were after all in no danger. Even if the guards did fire, it would no doubt hurt, but their Guyver Unit's would respond, and would heal them. It was not ideal but it was better than the certainty of death. Tetsuro wasn't a fool though, he didn't want to get shot so he was sincerely hoping that Maxwell was watching and that the man would recognise the gesture. He was rather surprised that no one had recognised either Agito or Shizu yet.
The Emperor and his wife hadn't changed that much after all.
Maybe they had though. It didn't bother Tetsuro except for the fact that it was an anomaly and those guarding Maxwell should have been more aware of these things. They had to be, or else the Advents would have overwhelmed him long ago. Segawa suppressed a smile as he belated realised what was happening. Sanchez really had chosen well. He was testing them, just as they were testing him.
"If I asked you the names of the Advent Scout ships that went to Merrimu , what would you say?" Tetsuro questioned.
There was a stir as those surrounding them reacted to the reference. It was not something a Zoalord would know.
"And if I asked you the name of the twelfth Ark , what would you answer?" The question was returned.
" Elizabeth Rose. " Tetsuro replied.
"Very good," a new voice responded as several lights were extinguished.
Tetsuro wasn't the only one to blink rapidly with the sudden return to normal light.
"Just what I'd expect from you Segawa ," Maxwell continued as he came into view, an Aptom walking behind him. "Why the pose though?"
Tetsuro shrugged. "How else were we meant to find you? We aren't meant to be here after all."
"My men could have shot you!"
"We weren't in any danger," Agito said languidly, insultingly.
Before anyone could move, Maxwell had grabbed a pistol and fired towards the man. The shot was wide, it would have embedded itself into the floor, but instead it pinged off a shield.
"See?" Makishima sneered his eyes flickering to Fukamachi's hands and the small energy globe contained within them.
The young man shrugged, smiling up at Maxwell, as he let the energy fade. "I don't like getting shot," Sho said quietly to the man he barely knew.
"I don't like having to shoot," Sanchez responded as he nodded internally. He could see why the Rebellion had pinned their hopes on this boy to defeat Makishima. He was more capable than he knew. "Let's go," Maxwell said as he turned away. "I'm sure you've got questions but this isn't the place for them."
---
" What was I meant to do? " Maxwell shouted at Makishima. The others just sat quietly, backing the man. "I had more refugees that I could poke a stick at, and believe me I tried, and they just weren't going away. I had to do something. The numbers we could rescue was pathetic anyway. Building more Arks gave them something productive to do and gave more hope, and in case you didn't notice, that was in really short supply."
"So why not just continue building them?" There was a note in Agito's voice that the others recognised and were surprised over. It was not often that you heard the Emperor admit defeat.
"The Advents would have been on to that in a second. And I lost a lot of people while building. Besides which, isn't it better to take their own ships and to know that they are working for you. How'd you find out about that anyway?"
"We ran into one," Sho said quietly. "They'd been ambushed."
"Ambushed?"
"By Tekki."
Maxwell frowned. He did not understand. "Who are the Tekki?"
"The better question would be what ," Makishima said softly, slightly comforted by this small victory. "They are the Advent's enemy."
"How many..." Tetsuro frowned, searching for a word, "spiked," he decided was as good as any, "Advent ships did you send out?"
Maxwell shrugged. "Ten. I'd of sent more but I think that's too fast for Merrimu to handle. After all, I can't put supplies on these ships."
Makishima felt a new wave of anger hit him. Was Maxwell trying to get Merrimu discovered?
"Don't you dare! " Sanchez snapped, seeing the anger in the Emperor's eyes. "Don't you dare say that was too many. You haven't been in my position, haven't had to choose who will live or die, haven't had to turn people away, knowing that you are sending them straight to the Advents, so don't you dare to condemn me. The Advents have been shipping at least one hundred ships a day. One ship every couple of weeks hardly makes a difference to them."
"It will eventually," Sho said softly, with a note of understanding in his voice. "It's okay," he added, before he continued. "I don't know how many have made it to Merrimu . I hope nine of them did, but you are probably going to have to stop."
"Why?" Maxwell was still glaring at the Emperor.
"Because the ships aren't just ships, Maxwell, they are Advents, and eventually they will notice."
"The ships are Advents?"
" Uhuh ," Tetsuro nodded. "I know , it came as a shock to us too."
The Leader of the Earth Resistance Forces sighed as he assimilated the information, now understanding why, eventually the Advents would notice his efforts in spiking their 'ships'. "All right," he said after a few moments, swallowing hard. "I can still do it," he added, "I just can't send them to Merrimu . Is there anywhere else that will accept refugees?"
He looked around, not liking the expressions he could see.
"There are plenty of places that would accept them," Shizu said, with a lilt in her voice that suggested laughter, "but I don't think we'd accept them. The universe knows that humans are Zoanoids, if we were to send refugees to any inhabited planet, then they'd be used to try to fight the Advents, and that would just lead to greater turmoil and everything would be lost, because eventually someone would find Earth, and then either the Advents would destroy them or they would destroy Earth."
Maxwell nodded slowly. "Okay. You can still help me though. The Advents have taken the Zoalords from Earth but there is one that keeps coming back. He's doing damage, more damage that I thought possible."
"If he's a Zoalord, I would have thought you would know when he's going to strike. It's not like they can really hide their presence."
"I know, I know. It's not that we can't sense him, it's just that as soon as we sense him, he seems to disappear and then things are just damaged. I think I know how he's doing it, at least, my researchers think they do, but it's just too incredible. It's almost as if he appears once the damage is done. Once or twice I could accept it. Hey, every body misses things sometimes, and our sentries are over worked but not all the time and never once have we managed to catch him before the damage is done."
Tetsuro's eyes narrowed, his face a study in curiosity. "So what do they think it is?" He asked.
"Time."
" You're not serious! " Tetsuro was flabbergasted.
"Unfortunately, Segawa , I am. It is the only thing that even begins to make sense."
"But that's... that's..."
"I know," Sanchez said quietly. "Believe me, I know."
"What is his name?"
"I don't... We've never gotten close enough to exchange names, but he has crystals embedded in his chest. Six crystals surrounding another, almost like a flower and a whole lot of spines on his back. At least he does in battle form."
"His name is Ishiikawa Toki," Sho said. "We've already run into him. If he's got power over time, then I guess that explains what his very 'particular' power is."
"So what drove him off?" Maxwell asked, curious to know what the best fighters from Earth had done against him.
"The Tekki Leader."
"Oh."
"But now that we know, we can try a few things," Sho had no idea what they could try but he could sense the man needed to hear some reassurance. "And we can see if we can't find somewhere else that might accept humans simply as humans. Since everyone knows, it's not like we can't barter."
Sanchez nodded. "That would help."
"Sanchez! We've got a problem!" An aide shouted as they skidded to a halt in front of the man.
"What is it?"
"It's him ," the aide said softly. "Quadrant four one."
"We'll go," Makishima said, standing. "I'd like to meet this Ishiikawa personally," he added ominously.
Maxwell nodded briefly. "If you catch him, don't let him get away," he said seriously. "I don't care if that means you don't check in again, if you have to chase him half the length of the Universe, don't let him get away. He's done too much damage. Pass messages to me as you can, and try to get me somewhere else to ship people. I need that just as much as I need Ishiikawa gone."
Sho nodded seriously. "We'll find somewhere," he said by way of leave taking, following Makishima into the open, summoning his Giga Armor and teleporting to where he could feel the Zoalord and GuyLord.
Tetsuro looked at Maxwell. "It will be okay."
"I hope so."
Mizuki smiled slightly. "It will be okay," she backed her brother.
"We'd better go. Agito will expect us to be ready."
The other Guyvers nodded, taking their leave from Maxwell, leaving the man standing, looking at the place where they had been. An Aptom came up behind him. "My original was here as well. Our plan is... err... aborted. I'll tell you everything they didn't get time to say."
Maxwell nodded, wondering when control left him.
---
No matter what was said, Maxwell was doing his absolute best in a bad situation. He kept the humans together, kept their moral high and gave them hope that there was a way around the Advents. Around, between, through, it did not matter. Sanchez would say or do whatever he had too to ensure that another could survive and that was why he was so effective against the Advents. He remained on Earth all through it all, although to avoid any more surprises we did keep more or less constant contact between Earth, Merrimu and our mission to find allies against the Advents.
In the end we did actually make arrangements to get another safe refuge. It was one of those times when things just seem to go your way. Coincidences of almost cosmic proportions, all working for us. Not that at the time we were complaining since we needed all the help we could get against the Advents. Developments Merrimu had taken to avoid the possibility of loosing it all were of especially helped here once a second refuge was found.
We found Ishiikawa Toki easily enough. A Zoalord doesn't exactly blend with the general populace of Earth, especially not with a populace that was under attack from the Advents. It wasn't hard, despite his Zoanoid shield, faced with an angry Makishima and a strangely energise Aptom and Sho, he retreated. One Guyver Lord and two GigaGuyvers are enough to handle any Zoalord.
As Maxwell had indicated that we should, we chased. Tetsuro, Shizu and myself returned to Mirai and Eternity , launched easily, following the trail they had left. Despite being a new Zoalord Toki was experienced and with Imakarum's help managed to elude us.
Alkanphel's hand assured us that he had not betrayed us to the Advents, and given the lack of ambush we were inclined to believe him. When asked why he let Ishiikawa get away, he simply responded that it wasn't time. Murakami always did have a way with words. We did though, rather quickly catch up with the Time Zoalord and with help from a rather unexpected source we contained him but not before we learnt that no matter how settled the universe appeared to be, it could always surprise you.
Things were about to go our way, of course we didn't know that then but equally a lot of things were about to go against us. The Advents, no matter their desires had not destroyed all the ancient races, like the Artamon or Mithrel . There were others who weren't in conflict with the Advents but who instead lived quietly. That is until we disturbed them.
To Be Continued...
---
Next Chapter: Chapter XVII - The Other Powers - There are more races in the Universe that just those being downtrodden. What does one who could stand equal to the Advents think about their fellows creations: Guyvers and Zoanoids? And what happens when the Tekki decides to come by for another visit?
New GuyLord Information:
Xeo'm - Female GuyLord Healer, loyal to the Tekki. Species: Vad'm from the planet Uij'm . Colour: Guyver: Rust with green lining - GigaGuyver and GuyLord forms: rust with black lining and green swirls.
Jade Tatsu