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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Kyheenan ranks Reminder
ib Kyheen - Emperor
ibs Kyheen - unmarried but within the Emperor's family (When married take the rank of their mate.)
is Kyheen - Heir Apparent
ix Kyheen - used if you don't know the rank of the person you are speaking to
ut Kyheen - normal, non military Kyheen
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The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Interlude VI - Expanding Horizons
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Samuel slumped in his chair looking over at both Natsuki and Hayami . Both Guyvers were arguing about what should be done next. They had enough equipment, food and everything they needed but they had another problem. In the wake of the attacks they had processed many of the refugees into Zoanoids for protection but now, with no further attacks they had lots of bored troops.
They'd run them through drills, they run them through training, they'd run them through every exercise and reconnoitre mission Rodriguez could think of but there was only so much you could do without actual combat. It was frustrating both for the troops and them.
And that's why they were here. They had to find something for the troops to do. Some were happy to forget they had been transformed and to return to a normal human life, others weren't. They craved action but Aptom and Sho and the others had obviously been far too effective during the last attack and no one had come near Merrimu again. That was good because Merrimu was meant to be safe, it was meant to be boring, a haven but it did not help with their problem.
Hayami finally sighed, closing white eyes as he slouched further. There had been fewer storms of late or maybe he was becoming better at controlling them. One thing was certain though, since he had summoned the white Giga-Guyver armor at Aptom's insistence he had been able to feel his Unit all the time, even while in Zoanoid form. It had used to shun that form and he'd always sensed a vague feeling of disgust from it at the Advent's creation.
He'd understood why. Both forms Guyver and Zoanoid competed for his bioenergy and neither liked getting anything less than the lot. They were both designed to use all his bioenergy but now it almost seemed as if his Guyver Unit was helping him while he was in his Zoanoid form. Every now and then there was an extra burst of energy and that was enough for him to truly begin to control the weather.
He didn't know why or what might have happened to cause this or even if it was his Guyver Unit but whatever it was he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
He and Natsuki had finished discussing option which did not exist long ago. Still, at least when the time came they would be ready to fight for Earth.
"We could..." he said slowly, the kernel of an idea beginning to form in his mind. it was similar to what he knew Chronos had done when they were still just a new corporation, when the full Circle of Twelve did not exist, when the Europeans were just beginning to discover the rest of the world. "We could send them exploring."
"What?"
"We could send them exploring," Hayami said again, more confidently this time. "We've got the ships. They can be retrofitted easily enough for that and we can send those troops who want to go out into the universe. We don't have to rely on the Segawas and co. If nothing else, it gets them, the Zoanoids out of our hair. Heck! If we are carefully we could start fighting the Advent's now."
"It would give them combat experience," Natsuki said speculatively.
"No!" Samuel snapped.
"No?"
"You would risk Merrimu itself?" the human asked. "The whole point of Merrimu was to hide, to be safe. If we start sending out expeditions we risk all of that. I know they are bored, and I know it is difficult just waiting but that is what we have to do. That is all we have to do."
"But..?"
"If Maxwell, God forbid, loses Earth, and our expeditions bring the Advents here, then what are we going to do?" Samuel snapped again, eyes burning. "I'll tell you. We die. And we condemn the human race to slavery under the Advents for eternity. We lose people. You know that as well as I do, that our position isn't that strong, no matter how it appears. We can't afford to take risks. Not like this."
"So..?" Natsuki sighed. "What if we send them out, not as expeditions, not as exploration but as colonists, just like here?"
"You mean send them out to other suitable planets?" Samuel asked.
"Yeah."
"We could, but where?"
"I would have thought Agito's spy could answer that himself," Natsuki teased with a smile. " Merrimu was only the preferred planet. We could try some of the others. It would help the overall plan as well. The more colonies, the less chance we can lose them all. We've got the equipment, we've probably got the people, so all we need now is the will."
Samuel frowned. "I'll agree to that over any expedition which comes from and returns to Merrimu , providing that the same restrictions are on these new colonies that exist between Merrimu and Earth."
"Sixth level encrypted communication and then only to communicate only when necessary."
"Okay," Samuel said. "How about we try Palmyra first?" He added casually.
Natsuki blinked. Hayami grinned. It wasn't often that someone out manoeuvred Natsuki but by the slowly spreading smirk on Samuel's face it was obvious now that colonising was what he had been aiming for the entire time.
"I... you..." Natsuki fumbled. "How could you?"
"Easy," Samuel said. "It's the obvious step for us. And as difficult as this sounds, even if we lose some, you are right Natsuki , even if we lose some, it is unlikely that we will lose them all. In an absolute worst case scenario for Earth and Merrimu , they will be our seeds for the future."
"All right, we'll ask for volunteers. And maybe Rodriguez could suggest some leaders for our new colonies although this does mean more places we have to protect."
"Not really," Samuel said easily. "They should be mostly hidden and self sufficient so that will mean they have less chance of being found by supply convoys being tracked. They will have Zoanoids with them for protection, that's the whole point after all, so even if they are attacked, they'll at least give as good as they get and if we explain that this will be like European colonies then there will be no illusions about what to expect from our new colonists. They can expect set up equipment, some limited communication and support but for the most part they must look after themselves. We can't afford to protect them all, I know but at the same time I can't see how we can afford not to do this."
Natsuki nodded, the Guyver Healer agreed. "Ah..." She sighed. "Whoever thought we'd ever spread throughout the universe like this?"
"No one," Samuel agreed with her smiling. " Palmyra first sounds okay from what I can remember of Agito's scientist's reports. How about Dunrossil , then Cygul and Uij'm ?"
"That seems okay. I wonder how the others are doing? "
"Getting lonely, huh?" It was Samuel's turn to tease. "Bed cold at night?"
"Humph!" Natsuki growled.
"I'm sure they are fine," Hayami said. "You could ask them you know."
"Hum?"
"You've got a Guyver Unit, Natsuki , reach out and ask him."
She blinked before frowning, stretching out her senses. "How?"
"Fukamachi showed me how," Hayami said with a smile as he rose, preparing to return his own quarters. Samuel rose with him. " It's secure ," the Ice Zoanoid assured the human. "After all it's telepathic communication over the Guyver network and it will be a cold day in hell before the Advents get access to that. A very cold day indeed."
"Try to get some sleep," Samuel added as Natsuki grinned, her expression indicating that she had reached Tetsuro successfully.
"Shut up and out," she commanded, pointing but laughing at the same time. "I'll tell you how they are going tomorrow."
"Thanks."
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Maxwell sat back looking at the map. They hadn't had an attack from Ishiikawa since the others had left so he guessed that even though he'd heard nothing, they had succeeded in at least containing the Zoalord . Or perhaps they were still chasing him. Either way Earth had not been troubled by the time Zoalord for a while. It helped but the planet was still swarming with Advents and Zoanoids... And Zoalords ... And refugees....
There were always refugees...
The twelve transport ships were running non-stop and still they couldn't keep up, not that that surprised anyone . They were trying to evacuate the entire Planet, they were never going to be able to cope. That's why he'd put the refugees to work building more Arks... And why when the thirteenth Ark had been destroyed he'd moved them over to sabotaging Advent ships, except... except now he knew they weren't just ships, they were Advents so they couldn't continue with that plan.
He always was going to have too many refugees but now he couldn't even offer them hope. He had nothing! And that was frustrating him.
The only mercy... and it was a small one... the only mercy was that the Advents seemed to have slowed down their rate of transportation.
It was hard to tell.
It was possible they, his assistants, were just keeping track of everyone better now... but he wasn't sure. He hoped the Advents were slowing down but he wasn't sure what that meant for things in space in their war. Whatever it meant though, it didn't solve his problems. He still had thousands of refugees...
Unless...
They were shipping humans from Earth to Merrimu to protect them from the Advents but Merrimu was not safe from the rest of the universe so they were also processing humans into Zoanoids for protection which Mizuki had rather spitefully murmured defeated the whole purpose of evacuating people in the first place. Why rescue them from becoming Zoanoids only to make them Zoanoids?
He though...
He loved the Healer dearly but he couldn't be as noble with his morale's as her... Survival was his main goal, it was hers as well but there were some lines she would not cross... It was a personal decision and she had always lived with the consequences but others didn't have her fortitude or conviction on Zoanoids and becoming one... And he could use that.
The Advents were winning because they could make Zoanoids... but he had the means to make his own. Merrimu was important. They Advents could potentially make Zoalords without crystals and so if they - the Emperor and Rebellion - had remained and fought without a back up plan they might have won but at a cost that would have been too high. But they could have lost, destroyed by so many Zoalords that they couldn't hope to fight.
But Maxwell was willing to bet - now that they had a back up population on Merrimu at least - that the Advents didn't really want to make innumerable Zoalords and so it would be, if he carried out his plan, human Zoanoid versus Advent Zoanoid .
It was a risk but they could also incorporate some of Aptom's DNA and that should keep the human Zoanoids loyal to themselves...
Actually...
Maxwell frowned... Since Aptom's brief return to Earth the infected humans had been much more active and while they were Aptom , most of them, the one's Aptom hadn't touched personally retained their original identities. All the better to hide with Aptom had said jokingly but...
They were completely immune to Advents, capable of transforming into numerous Zoaforms , as strong as a hyper Zoanoid and telepathically linked. As soldiers they were near perfect... And they didn't require processing.
Maxwell smiled... He'd have to set limits, and it would probably annoy Makishima, sadden Mizuki and... he wasn't sure about Fukamachi or Tetsuro ... but it was an option and right now he needed options...
He'd have to talk with one of them first though, set the rules, make sure Aptom wasn't going to take over everyone and ensure that he only merged with those who allowed it.
Even if one tenth of the refugees agreed to it, he'd have a formidable fighting force. Combined with the continuation of evacuation to Merrimu they might be able to deal with everything. And perhaps... he chuckled... when the others returned to free Earth from the Advents they might find it ready to welcome them back.
Probably not but he could dream.
" Aptom ! Aptom , get in here, I've got a question!"
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Tyan is Kyheen sighed softly. It was becoming intolerable. He was meant to be the heir but his father never listened to him, never let him act on his own. He was more than of age but had never been allowed to spread his wings. His sister, Tarnsi on the other hand... it seemed she could do no wrong.
It was unprecedented! No female had ever been off planet but not only had their Father ordered her off planet but it was on a vital mission for potentially the very survival of the Kyheenan race.
It should have been him!
He was the heir. Not his sister. She should have remained here and been groomed for a marriage that would benefit Kyheen and the Dynasty of Poeuh .
"Troubles is Kyheen ?" A smooth voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned blue eyes and found himself looking up at the ageless eyes of one of his father's Guyvers. Ceruta wa Kyheen . "Yes, there are always problems, Ceruta ."
"This seems more than the usual," the black and orange Guyver said. his colouring was odd because he was almost completely black with a brilliant orange lining. It was starkly different from the green and blue hues that defined Kyheenan's and the Kyheenan Guyvers. "Did the Terrans impact your Father that strongly?"
"I don't think it was the Terrans ," Tyan said, leaning back. Ceruta had been a friend for a long time. "I think it was the fact they were Guyvers and that they are fighting the Advents."
" Heh !" Ceruta snorted. "Of course they are fighting the Advents. Everyone is. I'd be more worried about the fact that the Advents are using Terrans , Zoanoids to fight. How do we know that this isn't just a trap? The Advents have existed for eons, they made the Guyver System, they are capable of planning and plotting schemes which take centuries to come to fruition. So how do we know these Terrans aren't really on the Advent's side?"
"We don't! That's the problem!" Tyan snapped, his tail flicking rapidly. "We've only got the Terran's word for it and the deaths of a few Zoanoids but everyone seems willing to accept that! And the Terrans are hardly going to reveal their true selves this early."
Ceruta chuckled. "I can confirm that the Terrans Uryal'ng saw aren't on the Advent's side. In fact they will never be on the Advents side. That much we can be assured of."
"How do you know?"
"I am a Guyver. That means there are certain things we can learn. As Gyuya can read the universe, so can other Guyvers."
"So why should the Terrans come to our side?" Tyan continued to object. "And why shouldn't we seek someone with a better fighting record?"
"Oh... Who?"
"The Tekki ! They've fought the Advent's for centuries. That's a better record than these Terrans who lost their planet to the Advents and who kill their own in the battle."
"And what would you offer the Tekki ?" Ceruta asked shrewdly, "Assuming he would even talk to you."
"What would I offer?" Tyan blinked his inner eyelids. " Kyheen ," he said softly. "What else is there to offer? We are a rich nation but I would not offer to pay for the Tekki's warriors," Tyan held up his hands to forestall the question he could see forming in Ceruta's mind. "I'm not about to insult someone who could wipe us out by treating them like a mercenary. But my Father is prepared to practically give Kyheen to the Terran's so why shouldn't I be able to offer the same to someone else? We can't really fight but we can offer resources and information and no matter how powerful you are, everyone needs them."
"Indeed," Ceruta murmured. "Resources are always useful although I doubt Kyheen's ability to relay useful information since our methods are too slow, but an open offer of resources might get you to the bargaining table."
"You know something?"
"I told you. I am a Guyver, is Kyheen . I'm meant to know about these things."
"No... There is something more."
"There is nothing more than the fact that I agree with you and if the opportunity arises I would be happy to act as a mediator between the Tekki and you..."
"And what good would that do? I have no power, no authority to deal for Kyheen's benefit and I doubt what I can personally offer the Tekki would be of any interest or worth... No if you are going to treat with the Tekki then it must be under my name but also in the name of Kyheen ."
"That is a dangerous suggestion."
"This is a dangerous time," Tyan returned. "It is not that unusual."
"It has not been done for centuries."
"Because there has been no need. There is now..."
"No," Ceruta objected. "There is no need, not yet," he said, arguing down the young prince. "But soon..." he added, indicating his support . " Soon it will be time to act because then there will be both need and the public perception can be manipulated favourably."
"You care too much about that!"
"You care too little, is Kyheen ! You are not god, you lack the personal power to maintain control so you will need public support and for the moment, that is not forthcoming. Patience... that is required here. Look to your histories and you will see that all successful coup etat's we conducted by is Kyheenan's that waited, by those who bided their time until everything was in their favour. Only then did they strike. Patience..."
"It better be soon," is Kyheen snarled. "I only have so much patience and you , my dear Guyver, with loyalties you will not announce, do not have forever. If my sister finds the Terrans first, we're both out of time."
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To be continued...
Next Chapter: Chapter XVIII - Ishiikawa Toki - Agito , Aptom and Alkard are about to learn that catching isn't defeating, and they are about to find out how dangerous a time Zoalord is when trapped. With Agito unable to resummon the Emperor's armor, the call is broad sent throughout the galaxy to any who can help.
Snippet from next chapter:
' Fukamachi blinked at the sudden new presence with him, his mind shuddering away from contact with the now manifested GuyLord, before he reached out, almost automatically obeying the instruction that had been issued from a superior Guyver form. Black armor with sky blue lining and highlights surrounded him as his eyes narrowed. It was easy to obey a superior Guyver form but the absolute compulsion that Aptom and Hayami had described between a Zoanoid and Zoalord appeared to be absent between a Guyver and a GuyLord. He knew some how that a GuyLord could force his compliance if their will was strong enough but he was not genetically bound to obey. Sho sighed softly. It was an important difference.
"That's good," Tsuyosa said , settling back into his chair as his inky soldiers, those detachments from himself appeared. "Now, no matter what I say, or what I imply, say nothing. What my forces believe is their own choice. Have you locked on to Mizuki?"
"Yes."
"Good, we'll follow you then, just as soon as I give them some instruction." Tsuyosa mentally summoned his followers. : :My warriors, attend me!:: '
Jade Tatsu