Chapter one
"Looks like we're going down, Tiga." A giant alien said to his comrade. "Maybe so, Dyna. But at least we fall defending our home. Now, let's go make our final stand!" The other alien, named Tiga, said. "Right. You charge from the right while I lay down cover fire." "Got it. Attack!" Meanwhile, a smaller alien and his big brother ran, unseen, around the back side of the other aliens' battle. "Taro! Taro!" The younger, smaller alien called. The other alien didn't stop running. "Taro!" "What?" the alien named Taro yelled, finally stopping. "I don't feel right about leaving Tiga and Dyna like that. Shouldn't we help them? I mean, they are our friends. They're brothers." "Listen, Riser. Tiga and Dyna chose to stay behind. They know the cost of their decision. Our mission is to make sure that the plasma spark gets as far from the battle field as possible." "But…" Taro knelt down and put his hand on Riser's shoulder. "Listen, little brother. I understand how you feel. Believe me I do. But, Tiga and Dyna are fighting so that our mission can succeed. They know that they might not survive the battle and that's a sacrifice they are willing to make. So, we must honor their sacrifice and complete our mission. Understand?" "I guess. But, where can we take the plasma spark? We're supposed to take the spark away from the fighting, but how can we? There's fighting everywhere." "I guess we'll just have to take it off planet." "Off planet? But, I can barely fly around the city. How am I supposed to go off planet?" "Don't worry. I know a secret." "What's that?" "Under the healing bay, there's a special portal. It leads directly to earth." "Earth?" "You know about Earth, don't you?" "I've heard stories. Matter of fact, haven't you been there, big brother?" "Indeed I have. And I have an idea on how to hide on Earth. But, first, we need to get to the portal. Come on." "Right."
The two brothers continued running, dodging any scenes of battle they came across. As they ran, Riser began to wonder how his brother could carry the plasma spark, when every story he had heard about it said that merely touching it would drive someone insane. He decided that he had to ask. "Taro?" "What now, Riser?" "I was wondering, how can you carry the spark without being corrupted?" Taro stuck one hand out. "See these gauntlets I'm wearing?" "Yes." "Well, they're part of a special set of armor designed to handled the spark. The funnel the energy of the spark away from me, allowing me to carry it." "Who designed the armor?" "Hikari did. He can make anything." "Guess he's not ranked so high in the science bureau for nothing." "He's surely not." "Where's the rest of the armor?" "Last I heard, it was with princess Yullian." "Best hands to put something like that in." "Definitely. Alright, we're almost there. Let's move it." "Right.
The brothers eventually made it to the healing bay. Standing by the door to greet them was none other than the princess herself. "Princess Yullian? What are you doing here?" Taro asked. "I'm helping with the injured. Come inside, quickly." The brothers hurried inside. "Your father called ahead. He said you might come by here with the spark, but where is he?" "We don't know. He may have been captured, or maybe even…" Taro started. "Don't talk like that, Taro. You know father could never be defeated." "I just don't know, Riser. I mean, every monster that's attacking the planet took ten of our men to capture in the first place. And at least three of them were fighting with father when we left with Tiga and Dyna." "You must have faith in your father like Riser does, Taro." Yullian said. "But, Princess, the monsters even managed to some how seal your father on his private planet. And the king's far more powerful than my father." "I know the stakes, Taro. But, I also know your father very well. I know that, while his combat record isn't spotless, he wasn't made supreme commander for nothing. We must have faith in his skills." "Yes, ma'am." Yullian nodded. "Now then, do you have a plan for what to do with the plasma spark?" "Yes, that's why we came here. We want to use the Earth portal." "I see. You wish to hide the spark on Earth." "Yes, ma'am. It's as far from M78 as we can get, and that's what father told us to do. Take the spark far away from the fighting." "What about the humans?" "I'll protect them if need be." "Hmm, you'll need all the help you can get then. I and some of the brothers that are recovering here will accompany you and Riser." "Um, very well then. Um, but first, if I can ask a favor?" "What is it?" "I wish to protect Riser, even when I'm not around. So could you give him the spark handling armor? I'll give him the gauntlets." "Very well then. Riser?" "Yes Princess?" "Come with me. Your getting some special equipment." "Riser, here. Take these gauntlets." "Are you trusting me with the spark?" "Don't worry, you won't be carrying the spark all the time." "Uh..." "Just go." "Alright. Let's go, Princess." As Riser walked off with the Princess and the spark, another, nearby alien came up to Taro. "Just what are you planning, Taro?" The alien asked. "I know what your thinking, Leo. But, rest assured, I won't let any harm befall my little brother. This is just a little, as the humans would say, added insurance." The alien known as Leo nodded. "So, what happened to Ace and Mebius? I thought they'd be with you." "The last report I heard said that Mebius was still out there fighting, somewhere. As for Ace, well, I didn't have the heart to tell Riser but, the last report also said that Ace had fallen." "Sorry to hear that. Hmm, tell you what. It's been a while since I've been to Earth, so I'll go with you." "Thank you, Leo."
Riser soon returned with the princess. He now wore a red and gold colored armor over his normal red and blue, v patterned suit. "You look good, little brother." "Thanks, Taro. Alright, let's go." "Princess, I want to come with you." Leo said. "Very well then. I've also asked Jack and Zoffy to accompany us. They're already heading for the portal. Let's go." The group headed into the depths of the building, eventually meeting up with the aliens known as Jack and Zoffy along the way. They soon reached the portal. However, they were caught off guard when to of the monster from out side crashed through the ceiling. "Did you really think we couldn't detect the energy signature of your little gate?" One of the monsters asked. "But how? You don't have the technology!" taro yelled. "There's a lot you don't, and never will know. Now, hand over the spark!" "Never!" Taro yelled. He then crossed his arms in an l shape and fired an energy beam at the monster. Monster shrugged off the beam like it was nothing. "Everyone, attack!" Zoffy yelled. Despite their best efforts, every warrior eventually fell, except for Taro and Riser. The monsters backed the brothers into a corner. "Give us the crystal!" "Never!" "Then die!" "Riser!" Taro threw himself in front of Riser, which allowed the attacking monster's claws to sink deep into his back. "Agh!" "Taro!" Riser yelled. The monster threw Taro against the wall. "Taro!" Riser knelt by his brother. "Riser, listen. Go to Earth. Find a man named Kotaro Higashi. He should help you. Ngh!" "Your not going anywhere, kid!" A monster shouted and attacked Riser. Taro shoved Riser out of the way with his last bit of strength and took the monster's attack directly to the chest. This was final blow. The monster ripped his claws out and Taro fell dead on the floor. Enraged by the loss of his brother, Riser attacked the monster, but he was no match. The monster threw Riser against the far wall. The impact jarred the plasma spark from Riser's hand. Riser looked at the spark and an idea formed in his head. Riser grabbed the spark and climbed to his feet. "I don't care if it corrupts me, I'm going to use this power to destroy you! Plasma Spark, give me strength!" Riser yelled, before slamming the crystal against the crystal in the middle of his chest. Just then, the armor Riser wore began to glow and began funneling energy from the spark into Riser. Riser began to grow taller and older looking. The armor also began to fuse to his suit. When the process finally stopped, Riser stood reborn in an adult form. He wasted no time in gawking at his new appearance. He charged up an energy blast in each hand and blasted both monsters. The blasts instantly destroyed the monsters. It was then that Riser finally calmed down and looked at himself. "What happened to me? I'm all grown up and the spark didn't corrupt me. What's going on?" Riser then took in the scene. He looked at all his fallen friends. "Everyone, I'm so sorry I couldn't stop them sooner." Riser then looked at Taro. "Taro…" Taro's words began to ring in Riser's head. He remembered Taro talking about honoring the sacrifices of the fallen. "Taro, your sacrifice won't be in vain. I'll take the spark to Earth. I'll find this Kotaro person. I promise I will….Guess I'd better get going. Goodbye everyone. Rest in peace." Riser headed into the portal. He traveled some ways into it, before thinking about the possibility of more monsters using the portal to follow him. He turned and blasted the entrance. There was an explosion and the entrance closed. "There's no going back now. Look out Earth. Here I come."