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The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Interlude VII - Plans for the Future
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Makishima sat and looked at the stars. They were different here, where ever here was. They were the same stars but the constellations were different. None of the shapes were familiar. He didn't like it. It reminded him how far away Earth was. It all reminded him of how much he had lost.
He would get it back. He would get it all back but it was not going to be as easy as he had anticipated. He knew he could battle Fukamachi. He'd known that since he'd left Earth and the new form he could sustain as a Guyver just ensured his domination over Guyver I. It would have been acceptable if he was the only one who had evolved but the universe had brought both new power and new enemies.
He was a GuyLord, a warrior. Shizu was a GuyLord Engineer. Together there was nothing that could stand in the way of their combined power. At least that's what he would have believed if he hadn't touched the armor of the One.
Agito shivered.
The One...
It was power without end. He'd used it but hadn't in any way mastered it. The armor had responded to his desperation and the amount of power he had been willing to give it but in the end it had maintained control of itself.
When he summoned his Unit, its abilities were for him to use. But the armor of the One , it had maintained control and had only given him use of such power that he was capable of using. Just out of reach, where he could only vaguely sense it, something else had been guiding the armor, and it could take away what it had given him in a heart beat. The armor could control the universe, he knew that, and that something that had been behind it, had been controlling everything .
The sense had been hazily familiar. Powerful but patient, strong but yielding and some how old beyond words. It was adult but it knew how to be a child. It was not ready yet though. Whoever it was, whatever it was, like him... or perhaps because it was him, it was not yet ready for the sheer power of the existence that was the One, the Guyver Emperor.
Maybe the Tekki was right... Maybe such power shouldn't rest in the hands of one being. He didn't know. But he did know that there had been a sense of disquiet at his thoughts to contain Fukamachi. There had been nothing on his desire to rule Earth so on that score he knew the One would not object but on the attacking, containing or other interference with another Guyver against their will... The One would not accept that.
Which lead, in part, to his current problem.
On Earth he had told Shizu he knew how to deal with Fukamachi because at the time he had known how to deal with the other Guyver. Now though the GigaGuyver was the least of his concerns. He was a GuyLord but so was Mizuki and despite everything she was still a member of the Rebellion. He could fight, he was made to fight but she could heal. Shizu would not be enough to tip the balance either...
Not with Aptom, Alkard, Fukamachi, Tetsuro, Natsuki and Hayami all working together... And that would be the Guyver's he knew about and he wasn't even sure about all their ranks.
No... He had to find some way to regain control of Earth if not with their blessings then at least with their acceptance. He couldn't fight them all, at least he couldn't until he evolved...
The One could fight them all...
Agito sighed, turning away from the stars. This was not a position he liked. If he became the One the implication was that he won't want to fight them...
: :Of course not, Master,:: his Unit murmured. It seemed sleepy. : :Why fight them for Earth when you can have the Universe?:: It added the question before fading from his mind.
Makishima blinked... It should have been obvious... The One was very powerful. The universe would be his to command... Although... If the One was powerful enough to fight and defeat multiple Guyvers, even GuyLords and he knew this was the case because he had tasted the power, then how was the Tekki going to fight them..?
Or was the Tekki going to strike the One while it was still in a proto form, when... if it answered another call like his? Or was there another plan that he couldn't see? There had to be something.
"Agito?" Shizu broke into his thoughts, placing one slim hand on his shoulder comfortingly.
" Hm ?"
"Come to bed. Fukamachi, Aptom and all the other obstacles will still be there in the morning. I guarantee it."
He chuckled. She was right. There were times when, like all women she was always right. It was one of the mysteries of the universe that no amount of power or wisdom could hope to answer. "Coming," he said. She was right. They would still be there in the morning and while it would take him longer than that to determine a solution to the problems they presents...
Time was something he had plenty of.
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" Ehgk ," Tsuyosa spat shaking the blood from his armor. He'd have thought that by now the Advents would have learnt to order retreat when he fought personally but apparently not and he'd just finished slaughtering waves of controlled Zoanoids .
He wouldn't call it a fight. Such slaughter was not a battle as they had no chance against him and if they had been capable they would have retreated before him. Controlled they could only die. They were no threat to him and the system had been taken with only their blood split. The Advents themselves...
They had gotten away. Not unexpected but it was becoming frustrating. He hadn't found the one he needed to kill yet but he was getting closer and then... Then the Advents would no doubt choose yet another old, venerated ship to lead them and it, and the next one, and the next one... for however long it took would die. He would make sure of that.
Although... things were moving differently this time. He'd told Sho as much but he hadn't indicated how much faster things were moving. He was centuries ahead of his memories and the further he got the less he could rely on them but they did still provide for experiences and more importantly, power. He simply knew more about how to use the power of the Guyvers because he had had a far longer time to learn. That was helping him against other Guyvers and the seemingly endless waves of Advent troops but it wouldn't help him against the GuyEmperor . They didn't need experience, they didn't need memories, they just knew how to use the power because they were the power.
And with everything he had seen he was no closer to working out who it was.
He was almost positive that it was one of the Terrans and while there were still some other contenders amongst the other races they were fast being eliminated. Well... not eliminated but their rate of growth was such that even if they were the One by the time he was ready, they would not be and so he would claim victory. Which left the Terrans and so far, of the ones he had meet and even those he hadn't met the only three he could eliminate were Mizuki, Hayami and Sho.
Mizuki was the First Lord. Her power had been the first to stabilise to that extreme formidable level. Once both her Gigas stood at her side she would be, as any true GuyLord was a force to be reckoned with. But she was so purely a healer that even if she had the power to wield the armor of the One she would reject its combat potential and while the GuyEmperor did not like to fight, when they did, they were unstoppable. Mizuki was not that.
He had never met Hayami but he knew the Ice Zoanoid Guyver was not the One from the future. The man was a healer as well but the white and gold armor that marked him as a GigaGuyver also marked him as one of the GuyEmperors direct servants and for his master he would fight to the death. He probably didn't appreciate or fully understand that yet, none of them did, but they would. Hayami had almost caught him several times in the future, just by never being where you expected him to be.
Fukamachi... He could more than wield the power of the One but he lacked the will. The week spent with him had been educational and he regretted his memories. The Terran was personable and warm but most importantly honest. Tsuyosa was sorry that he hadn't made an effort to meet with him earlier in the future. That was something he would have liked... It wouldn't change anything but... He would have liked to say that he truly called the blue and silver GigaGuyver friend. The boy had the power to wield the Unit of the One but he had seen Fukamachi in full fight against the One. No... The boy was the free power, almost like the joker, free to fight as he saw fit. His will only focused enough when he was fully committed.
It was not weakness. In fact, of all of them Sho understood best what was worth fighting for. He knew the importance of the simple life but it did mean that he would never easily lead others. He wouldn't necessarily follow though, either. It was just one of the things that made Fukamachi unique. The Free Power, free to use the power of the One, or to fight it if his will was strong enough but not free to be the One.
He could eliminate outright three Terrans but that left the bulk of them.
It was unlikely to be Shizu... Agito's Empress deferred too readily to her husband and the One rarely deferred to anyone. They asked advice but then acted as they thought best.
Tsuyosa had never meant Natsuki... He only knew about her from the future where she had manifested the armor of a GigaGuyver Healer. Her Lord was not clear though as she had never publicly sworn her loyalty but it was certain her Lord was loyal to the One. She had fought too openly for her Lord not to have reprimanded her if he or she did not also support the One.
This now left three of them: Tetsuro, Aptom and Agito.
Before the battle with Toki Tsuyosa had dismissed the possibility of the Segawa male wielding the power of the One but it now seemed a much more distinct possibility. The squat silica Guyver had held a defensive position covering the Advents Mirai and Eternity but his shield had been high level and extensive. It had been pushing the power limits for a GuyEngineer and he didn't seem to realise it. The man was very efficient at using all the power he had available to him. And his understanding... Tsuyosa rather thought that the GuyEngineer had already known how to defeat Ishiikawa but lacked the power or a warrior with enough power. Even if he didn't understand everything, what he did understand was impressive. And such understanding was synonymous with the One. The older Segawa bore watching. His development, even if he wasn't the One, would be interesting, to say the least.
Agito too, was interesting. The man had such arrogance. He was, in the future the undisputed Emperor of the Terran Republic ... It seemed odd, that should be the Terran Empire but it was more a confederation with the black and purple GuyLord Warrior at its head. He listened to his diplomats, to the representatives of the races under his control and then issued the orders. It was like the Kyheenan Empire in many ways. Makishima had the power to be the One. There was ample evidence of that, even now with his ability to use the armor against the Senalzar but he seemed to be lacking the humility.
The One was arrogant, confident, powerful but they were at times humble. Agito was lacking there but it was something that could be learnt. The Terran was more than suitable to be the One in every other way and if when the time came Tsuyosa found himself facing off against Makishima he wouldn't be overly surprised and would kill the Terran without regret.
Which left Aptom... Tsuyosa shifted as he considered the Hyper-Zoanoid Giga Guyver Warrior. The man was powerful, ambitious and strong; everything that combined to make a great warrior. He was also adaptable. Of all the Guyvers Aptom's chameleonic Zoanoid heritage, even more than Hayami, allowed him to adapt to any situation. The mergence of his Zoanoid form with his Guyver Unit had lead to some interesting and unexpected results, not the least of which was his ability to have converted his Guyver Engineer Unit into a Guyver Warrior Unit and then to further summon a Giga Unit.
Tsuyosa could detect direct interference from the Units themselves with that but there was nothing he could do about that now. The Zoanoid was a warrior, it was not right that he use the armor of an Engineer so the interference was appropriate in this case. But if the Zoanoid could will such a change in his armor then wielding the armor of the One was but a small step forward. That could explain why he, if he was the One, and Fukamachi had been fighting. He knew what Imakarum had said, and while so far his words relating that the Zoanoid would not kill Fukamachi did seem true, the Zoanoid-Guyver was recorded on numerous occasions to have claimed Fukamachi's death for his own. The two of them had an interesting relationship, and maybe that had come to a conclusion...
Tsuyosa shook his head... thoughts of the future were not helping. Aptom, like both Tetsuro and Agito was a prime candidate to be the One. They all bore watching and he would watch them all.
He flicked a small mote of power out, watching as it coalesced into a shadow. "The Terrans ," he ordered. "Watch them."
There was no indication of ascent, he didn't need one but the shadow vanished, pulling on his power to remain hidden. It would report back to him on anything that happened. The Terrans bore watching so he would watch and once suspicions were confirmed he would act, and one way or another, things would come to an end.
"Master," ' Nyataran's voice came to him.
"What is it?" The black GuyLord asked, recalling how the Artamon had come to serve him. In the future the Artamon had eventually sought him out but it had been reversed this time. He had found Bithrinyataran , rescued him from several Advents that the Artamon probably didn't need rescuing from since he had obviously survived the attack. But he had just arrived in this time and had needed the reassurance of a familiar face.
"We've acquired Dinshika , Vesna and Rasulmin ."
"'Nyataran, just say captured, it's easier since I know they didn't come of their own free will although Rasulmin and Dinshika would have in time. Still... it is a shame but necessary."
"They do not know their own power," the Artamon continued without breaking rhythm. It was unfortunate that many of the Guyvers that should stand at his Master's side did not. But Tsuyosa's will was not to be denied. He knew that. Since the moment he had seen the Guyver Warrior, he had known that the GuyLord's will was the one the Universe should bow to. And while he knew he would have survived the encounter with the Advents, there weren't many who would have bothered to rescue a failed experiment like him.
"I will see them then," the Tekki Leader said easily. He was so early with his schedule that he wasn't surprised that most did not know their true power yet, thus it was up to him to introduce them to it. "Later though. Right at the moment I've had enough of hopeless battles," he added, indicating to the blood still staining his armor. The Zoanoids ' bodies disintegrated but any blood split remained.
"They didn't allow retreat?" ' Nyataran asked.
"They never allow retreat against me. It's pointless but that seems to be their way."
"Some things will never change."
"I know. Just put the Dunrossil and Kintoth into storage for the moment. I will deal with them tomorrow, although please have a facility read to store Vensa when I'm done, as the Jyt'nr Warrior is loyal to the Emperor."
"Should I separate Vensa and Dinshika now? Jyt'nr and Lyusa may both be native to Dunrossil but, as I recall they don't get along that well."
"No, leave them be for the moment. Shared captivity should annul any feelings of conflict."
"Ah... Master," ' Nyataran spoke carefully. "Is everything all right? You weren't injured?"
"Everything is fine, ' Nyataran . I've just been thinking."
"Everything will be as you desire, Master."
"It must be," Tsuyosa said firmly. "Or else everything will be lost."
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Mirabilis sat as he watched the settlement. The former Resistance Leaders were doing well keeping everything contained. There were problems, as to be expected with anything of this sort but they were dealing with them swiftly, logically and compassionately. Everything was running as smoothly as could be expected.
For them... and that meant things were not working out for him.
When Lord Alkanphel had called to him it had been more than a desperate cry. The Zoalord of Zoalords had given him orders, had instructed him in the way of the Universe, had shown him the power Tsuyosa feared, and had transferred as much power and knowledge as he could into his servant.
He, like the Tekki had two tasks. The first was to warn the Tekki, to deliver the message but it seemed Tsuyosa was not yet ready to hear it. Lord Alkanphel had anticipated that and had bid him wait. Wait until Tsuyosa was ready. Interfere if he must to make the Guyver grow but for the most part just wait because the time would come. While he was waiting he could attend to his other task.
The supreme Zoalord understood what Tsuyosa did, that so much power should not, could not be allowed to rest with one being and had given his orders thus. He was to destroy the human Guyvers. There was no malice in the orders, even though they had been given in the moment of his destruction. Alkanphel simply understood that some things should not be and the Supreme Zoalord had known, as Tsuyosa did that the One was most probably a Terran .
Humans were made to be Zoanoids . They did not need the further combat potential as added by the Guyver system. They were in fact the reason it was called 'Guyver - Out of Control'. A human Zoanoid, even one such as Aptom could be controlled. A human Guyver - that was an accidental creation that could not be allowed to continue to exist. Tsuyosa was different because he alone had been made to be a Guyver and like it or not he could be controlled.
His task with Tsuyosa was stalled and currently, with Merrimu still hidden he, Imakarum Mirabilis was no closer to even having a viable plan to destroy the Terran Guyvers. At every point they had grown and adapted. Fukamachi was especially adept at that but they still had weaknesses.
Only, he was loath to use them.
Despite everything he was still loyal to Lord Alkanphel's goal - that the humans should not bow to the Advents - and thus he did not want to see humans completely subjected to the Advents but... he may have to risk that to destroy the Guyvers.
Only a Zoalord could fight them... and only the most powerful could hope to win.
He could get Zoalords . That was easy. Alkanphel had given him the means to command other Zoalords but he had to get the Guyvers as well and they wouldn't come at his call. Well, not the Terran one's anyway. Alkanphel had also given him the ability to appear as the One, the GuyEmperor that all Guyvers were in some way almost instinctually bound to obey. The command wasn't absolute, it could be fought but only those with enough will could, and that would leave more than enough under his command for his purposes. The ability was primarily for his own defence since if he appeared as the GuyEmperor most Guyvers, if attacking him would try to bow but through his Zoalord abilities he could take it further. He would have to take it further.
For the ones who wouldn't answer his command, the Terrans ... that was a simple enough problem to solve. If he wanted to get the Zoalords and Terran Guyvers to fight, all he had to do was tell the Zoalords and the Advents the position of Merrimu and then the Terran Guyvers would return but he couldn't be sure of the outcome of the ensuing battle. The Terran Guyvers might be so filled with indignation that they would win. Or there would be a slaughter of non-combatants and the planet, like Earth, would fall to the Advents, and that directly contravened Lord Alkanphel's desires.
Imakarum sighed as he rose. For the moment he would wait on this as well. He could not afford to risk the Advents completely dominating humans, not even for the fulfilment of his other tasks. Besides the way things were going, it would only be a matter of time before Natsuki and the others started branching out, then he wouldn't need to worry about the freedom of the humans...
Then he could call all the Zoalords and others he needed to so that he could destroy the Terran Guyvers once and for all.
There was a chill on his skin and Imakarum raised one hand to his face and touched moisture. He frowned.
There was no need to cry.
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To be continued...
Next Chapter: Chapter XX - Rescues - The universe appears on the Terran's doorstep all needing to be rescued. But should you bother rescuing those who can't help you?
Note: Thank you to theguyver.net info site for hosting.
Further Note: The species Lyusa and Jyt'nr are native to the Planet Dunrossil , however they are currently engaged in a civil war for dominance over the planet as both species see themselves as the supreme form of evolution on Dunrossil . Thus, even in space they mostly kill each other on sight, hence ' Nyatarin's questioning if it would be okay to have to two of them together.
Guyver Information
Dinshika - Male GigaGuyver Engineer, loyal to the Tekki. Species: Lyusa from the planet Dunrossil . Colour: Guyver: Olive with red lining - GigaGuyver: Olive with red lining and marron swirls.
Vensa - Male GigaGuyver Warrior, loyal to the Emperor. Species: Jyt'nr from the planet Dunrossil . Colour: Guyver: mahogany with olive lining - GigaGuyver: mahogany with olive lining and green swirls.
Rasulmin - Female GigaGuyver Engineer, loyal to the Tekki. Species: Kintoth from the planet Kintoth . Colour: Guyver: brown with salmon lining - GigaGuyver: brown with salmon lining and grey swirls
Jade Tatsu - jade_tatsu@yahoo.com