"It... can't be." For a moment, Agito's heart almost went out to
Akane Tendo as she suddenly grasped Ranma's hand. He saw the HIbiki boy cast
a quick glance over at that, the shadow of something unreadable crossing his
face before his stony expression returned.
"It is. Time is running out, we must go *now*!"
"But where will we go, if what you say is true?"
"What I say is true. There are several uninhabited islands in the
South Seas, Cologne. We can hide out there until we come up with a plan."
"I ain't hidin' from those freaks!"
"Ranma," Akane said, turning his head so he stared directly into her
eyes. "They said they wanted us alive. I don't want to find out why."
"That's right, Saotome," Mousse added. "Going with Guyver Three may
be our only choice."
Agito could see the struggle Ranma was having with himself. He began
charging the megasmasher to full, hoping that it would not leave him
completely helpless afterward. If they didn't decide soon, he would
disintegrete them and leave. Dead or alive, his goal was to keep them *out*
of Halmical Balcus' hands. God only knew what abominations he would create
with them.
"We'll go," Ranma said at length. Agito immediately powered down the
weapon, glad for the fact that they didn't know how close to death they had
just come.
"Good. Let's go. Quickly!" Agito led the ragtag group out of the
remains of the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and towards the
designated manhole cover. As they all descended, the roars and howls of
exhilarated Zoanoids rended the heavens with the sounds of human resistance
all but inaudible.
====================================
Doctor Halmical Balcus reclined in the padded throne as the
sensations of thousands upon thousands of activated Zoanoids coated his
telepathic receptors. Their triumphant joy washed over his consciousness
like a silky tide as he closed his eyes to personally see the devastation
they caused to the human world. Many of the body types had, after all, been
his creations, and he revelled in the damage his genius had caused.
"Doctor Balcus!" He opened his eyes reluctantly, annoyed at the
sudden intrusion.
"What is it?"
"Sir, we have confirmed Guyver sightings."
"WHAT?!" Balcus came to full attention, his raptor's gaze sweeping
across the oval-shaped control room. White-garbed technicians manned the
various stations, taking reports from the field and monitoring Zoanoid
activities.
"If you'll look on the monitor, sir," the senior tech said,
indicating the screen that occupied most of the north wall's space. The
image, currently a map of Japan, focused down to Tokyo, then to Nerima Ward.
Nerima Ward. Why was that so familiar?
"Guyver Three has been spotted here," the man went on, indicating a
point in the ward. "And here." Another, only a few blocks away. Balcus tuned
out the monotonous drivel, his mind suddenly attacking the new development
with gusto.
Why had Agito been there? What was he planning?
"Have the target humans in that area been recovered?"
"Two of them are already on their way here, sir. Our forces are
still on the lookout for the others."
Agito, Balcus thought with rising fury. You son of a bitch. Data on
target humans was highly classified, only those with the highest clearances
even permitted to know the files existed. It wouldn't do, after all, for a
Zoanoid to suddenly acquire a consceince and warn a friend or relative that
Kronos was preparing to turn them into a monster, after all.
Apparently, the stringent security clearances had not stopped Agito
Makashima. Damn his traitorous hide!
Hear me, my Zoanoids, he broadcast, feeling their minds turning to
his. Seek out and kill Guyver Three. He has target humans with him. I want
them brought back alive if possible. Kill them if you have to.
He immediately returned his attention to the main screen. Had Agito
gotten them all? How could he have not forseen this?
Wherever you are, Guyver Three, he thought, you know you cannot win.
===========================================
President Duncan didn't bother to read the reports his aides brought
to his seat. He knew what they said. Thousands dead. Units lost. Monsters
everywhere. Armageddon.
He stared blankly out the window, down toward the soil of the nation
he once led far below. Sand, endless miles of sand, stretched beneath Air
Force One as it banked toward SANDALWOOD. At least here he could pretend, if
only for a short while, that Kronos had never existed.
"What rough beast, its hour come 'round at last, slouches toward
Bethlehem to be born?" he muttered. What rough beast, indeed?
=====================================
I'd like to take a moment to thank those who offered their
assistance. I appreciate it!
This fic was written to the songs:
Awake -- by Godsmack
Civil War -- by Guns N Roses
Anthem for the Year 2000 -- by Silverchair.
Thanks for reading!
Knight Writer