Babylon's Guardian
Chapter 3: Enter Morden and the Shadows/Raider Attack
Recap: For 4 months, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki have dealt with the increasing numbers of Hollows on Babylon 5. Meanwhile, an enemy of the Soul Society is about to arrive on Babylon 5.
Ichigo looked at his changed Bankai outfit and the new version of Tensa Zangetsu very closely.
Something happened when he hit that damned marble. His Bankai was now almost as long as he was tall, and his outfit was screwed up. (AN: It's the post-Substitute Shinigami Arc Tensa Zangetsu and outfit, if you're wondering)
"Ichigo..."
He turned to face Rukia.
"Is there a reason you're using your Bankai?"
"Besides seeing what changed? This scares the shit out of me, Rukia. What the hell happened after I used Mugetsu on Aizen?"
Rukia didn't want to think about that.
She was depressed and on the edge of suicide for 20 years after that.
After slightly recovering, she tried throwing herself into her work.
It didn't work.
She only really recovered when Ichigo reentered her life.
"You just disappeared. Maybe the Hōgyoku picked you as its' new master or something."
The thought of that thing picking him as its' new master terrified Ichigo.
Power corrupts, and Aizen was proof of that.
Rukia saw the look on his face.
'Maybe I shouldn't've said that.'
'No, you should not have said that, Rukia.'
Rukia wasn't in the mood for a lecture from her zanpakutō.
Ichigo was more important.
"We did find a few pieces of it after we arrived."
That was not comforting.
Ichigo sealed his Bankai back to its' Shikai state and fell onto the bed.
It was time he, Zangetsu and that damned Inner Hollow had a very long conversation.
Babylon 5: Passenger waiting area
A man in a suit walked into the central corridor.
The first thing he would do was find the mysterious Ichigo Shiba, who his associates wanted to speak to.
His name was Morden, an agent of the Shadows.
Ichigo's inner world
"Oi, Zangetsu! Hollow!"
"Don't yell, King!"
He turned to face his Inner Hollow.
"I was taking a nap!"
"Right. Where's Zangetsu, or did you absorb him again?"
"Technically, Zangetsu isn't here right now, King."
"Hollow-"
The Inner hollow waved his arms.
"Relax! Look behind you!"
Ichigo did that and faced an unexpected face: Tensa Zangetsu.
"I thought I left Bankai. No offense or anything, but-" The younger version of Zangetsu chuckled. "Why am I here? I had the same thought, but then realized I did not care. Why are YOU here?" Ichigo shuttered.
"The Hōgyoku. Did it enter my body after I-or was it we-used Mugetsu on Aizen?"
"I do not know. What I do know is that your power has increased: enough to make your...other self...stay separate from me and to keep him from taking over, if he even desired to."
"WHAT? He always wants to take over!"
The Inner Hollow laughed.
"King, I've already taken over! I'm YOU! Everything you are, I am, even the stuff you deny! Besides, all I wanted to do was make your ass stronger. I just do shit differently then the old man!"
What the Inner Hollow was saying made some kind of twisted sense.
"Ok, now that we've got that out of the way, we still have a problem."
Tensa nodded.
"The Hōgyoku, if it is here, cannot be sensed. We will have to be very careful if Aizen was a sign of its' power."
All three shuttered at that thought.
"Let's just hope it's not like Aizen. One of him was bad enough. By the way, what the hell was the monsoon about?"
Ichigo sighed.
"We're in the future: 2258."
"Damn. The dumbass and your sisters are gone?"
"My sisters had grandchildren, and they're all dead: killed 11 years ago, during something called the Battle of The Line."
The Inner Hollow made no attempt to hide his rage, unlike Ichigo.
"WHO KILLED THEM?!"
Ichigo was confused.
"I thought you didn't care."
"I'm part of you, King! Your family is MY family! WHO DID IT?!"
"Don't you know everything I know?"
He blinked before racking his head.
"We're ten and a half lightyears from Earth on a station 5 miles long called Babylon 5. The people who killed them are called the Minbari."
He looked Ichigo in the eye.
"Let me out."
"No. I won't blame an entire people for the actions of a few! Take a look at yourself! You're a Hollow, yet I don't want you dead!"
"I'm part of you!"
"That doesn't matter!"
Tensa growled.
"Enough. We are going nowhere like this. Your other half, Hollow, is barely containing his own rage at the Minbari, and yours is but a candle in comparison to it. We have bigger problems to deal with." "Well, I still want to kill something! I'm pissed off!"
"Once we find the spirit of the Hōgyoku, you get to fight it first, then."
The Hollow smirked.
"Good enough!"
Babylon 5: Command and Control
"The Raiders hit another ship, and they got out hours before we got there!"
Sinclair and Garibaldi were trying to figure out how the Raiders were getting in and out so quickly, as any jumpgates were at least 4 hours from each attack site.
"How's Ichigo?"
"Last time I saw him, he was still dodging Delenn and every other Minbari on station. He's good at it." "His luck's going to run out eventually. You have to give him credit, though."
Garibaldi chuckled.
"I am. Problem is, he's going to run into a ton of Minbari sooner or later."
"Later is better, especially considering who he is." "Let's hope he's important to them."
Ichigo's inner world
"It's a good thing this place looks like Karakura Town now; otherwise we would be screwed."
The three had searched the place thoroughly: nothing out of the ordinary except the three people who were already there.
"Ok, we can safely say that the Hōgyoku is not here."
"Perhaps it is and it is just hiding."
Human and Hollow shuttered at that suggestion.
"However, we have a bigger issue then that: how to get home."
"Damn right! We can stop the Minbari from killing our sisters' kids off!"
Ichigo was still getting used to his Inner Hollow calling them 'his' sisters as well.
"Ok, let's get started on how we got here in the first place."
The Hollow sat down on a bench while Tensa propped himself up against a wall. Ichigo started pacing. "The Saigo no Getsuga Tensho and the Hōgyoku are the source of our problem, Ichigo. If we never used the attack, we would not be here."
The hollow scoffed.
"And we'd be getting our asses kicked by Aizen! Hell, if we didn't come here, we wouldn't've known what happens to our family!"
All three then looked up.
"You sense that as well, Ichigo? Something comes."
Ichigo got up.
"Sorry about this, but I think we should get ready to fight."
"Get ready?!"
The Hollow stood up.
"I'm ALWAYS ready! Whoop its' ass!"
Ichigo left his inner world and found that someone had broken into his quarters.
"Hello, Mr. Shiba. I'm sorry to have intruded, but-"
"I don't care who you are. I am NOT in a good mood, and you breaking in is making it MUCH worse. What the fuck are you doing here?!" He looked sheepish.
"My name is Morden. I came to ask you a simple question."
'Urge to kill: rising.'
'I do not like this man, Ichigo.'
'Damn right. Let me out and I'll take care of him!'
'He's human. Just because I want him as dead as I wanted Aizen dead doesn't mean-Wait a second, I see something.'
Three insect-like creatures surrounded Morden.
'Ichigo, I believe these are the 'Shadows' of which Kosh spoke of.'
"What do you want?"
"You just asked my question, Mr. Shiba. What do you want?"
"Go away, Morden-san. I'm not interested."
"Is there ANYTHING you want?"
Ichigo gave him a look most people would die from.
"Can you turn back the clock? Can you bring back the dead?"
Morden, who looked like he was going to shit his pants, shook his head.
"Then you can't help me, Morden-san. Now get out before I call security, because, unless things have changed, breaking and entering is still a crime."
Morden chuckled sheepishly and left the room, along with his Shadow escorts.
'I get the feeling he'll be back.'
'When he does, King, let me loose!'
'Only if he becomes a threat. I don't like killing.'
Babylon 5: Yellow Sector
A Hollow died at the tip of Rukia's zanpakutō.
"This is getting out of hand."
Orihime cut down another Hollow with the Egyptian-style zanpakutō.
"Should we get Ichigo?"
"No. He's looking for that damned marble."
"The Hōgyoku? But I thought he destroyed it."
"So did I. But that's the only way he could've been sent into the future. That damned thing can do anything its' master wants. I think Aizen finally had the last laugh with Ichigo: torturing him by sending him into this time."
Orihime nodded.
"He paid for his crimes when Ichigo took him down."
She had to agree with Orihime on that. Bastard paid, alright.
Babylon 5: Blue Sector
Ichigo kept an eye out for any and all Minbari before he ran into a Narn.
But it wasn't just any Narn: it was G'Kar, the ambassador of the Regime.
"Sorry."
"It is quite alright, young one. Ah, I know you!"
'King-'
'Relax, Shiro.'
"I have seen you around Green Sector. A friend of Commander Sinclair, I believe."
Ichigo stuck out his hand.
"Ichigo Shiba."
G'Kar took it.
"I am G'Kar, Ambassador of the Narn Regime."
Before Ichigo or G'Kar could speak any further, they both heard a roar.
"Not this again!"
Ichigo tapped the badge and left his body just as a Hollow marched toward them.
He targeted the mask and hacked it in half with Zangetsu.
He got back to it, but he had a problem: G'Kar saw everything.
"In G'Quan's name! You are a Spirit Hunter!"
He got up.
"A what?"
"Those who hunt the corrupted spirits and guide the newly dead to their final resting place! I thought they were simply a myth!"
'Narn shinigami?'
'A soul is simply that, Ichigo: a soul.'
Ichigo thought about that for a second.
'That's true.' (In Command and Control, Sinclair sneezed)
"I might as well tell you everything, G'Kar."
Babylon 5: Command and Control
Sinclair had looked at the manifest for the transport Achilles: nothing worth stealing.
He then realized what was going on: the Raiders were pulling Delta Squadron away to attack Babylon 5 itself!
"Lt. Commander, return to base immediately!"
"Commander-"
"It's a trap: they're luring you away from the station!"
"...Confirmed: we're RTB."
He looked at Corwin.
"How many ships are due to leave in 2 hours?"
Corwin looked at his console and checked.
"Two survey vessels and a Centauri personal liner."
Babylon 5: Green Sector, Ambassadorial Wing
"So you came from the past?"
"I fought a man named Sosuke Aizen, who betrayed his fellow Captains and shinigami-"
"Shinigami?"
Ichigo sighed.
"Spirit Hunters, to you. It means 'Death God' in Japanese. I'm what's called a Substitute Shinigami: a mortal being given the powers of a god of death."
Flashback: April 2008
"Do you want to save your family?"
Ichigo looked at the shinigami midget.
"Damn straight I do!"
She pointed her sword, which he would later come to know as Sode no Shirayuki, at him.
"Then we don't have much time. Put my sword through your heart, and I can give you some of my powers."
'Fight or flight. Fuck flight!'
He put his hands on top of hers.
"Thanks for your help, Shinigami."
She scoffed.
"It's not 'Shinigami'. My name is Rukia Kuchiki."
He smirked back at her.
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."
Both thrust the blade into his heart, starting a journey that only the sun and moon could truly understand.
End Flashback
"Eventually, Rukia's powers were taken from me, but I got my own thanks to a rather...annoying bastard."
In truth, he hated Urahara.
Sure, he owed him for the return of his powers and the training, but being used in a war he had nothing to do with?
Having his Inner Hollow forcibly woken up?
Endangering his family and friends?
Nearing getting Rukia killed on THREE different occasions?
When he got the chance, Urahara was going to pay, as he was just as guilty as Aizen: he made the fucking Hōgyoku, after all.
And if he discovered that Urahara had a hand in his mother's death, unintentional or not, God had better come to his defense, otherwise the cycle of reincarnation would be missing yet another soul.
"So, you must have some stories to tell."
Ichigo started telling him about his time in the Soul Society, the Bount Incident (AN: Not touching that with an Omega-Class Destroyer) what happened with Senna, the Diamond Dust Rebellion, the Fade to Black Incident and the Hell Incident, (AN: The first, second, third and fourth Bleach movies, for those who are Babylon 5 fans and know almost nothing about Bleach) the Zanpakutō Rebellion and its' aftermath and finally the Orihime's kidnapping, rescue and the battles in the fake Karakura Town and the Soul Society.
During Ichigo's recounting of the Bount Incident, G'Kar took out a pen and paper to write it all down.
It took Ichigo 4 hours to give G'Kar an abridged version of the entire thing.
And it was all true.
"It's getting late, G'Kar: I can tell you more tomorrow, but I really need to get back to my quarters." G'Kar nodded.
"Of course. I will not stop you."
Ichigo shook G'Kar's hand and left the Narn's quarters.
He checked a map that he had brought of Babylon 5.
He would have to take a shortcut through the Cobra Bays-more properly known as the Starfury Launch Bay/Hangers-to get back to Green 1, as G'Kar's quarters was at the far end of Green Sector.
He barely made it to the bays when he ran into Garibaldi, who was wearing a flight suit.
"Ichigo, come on!"
"What the hell's going on?"
"Commander thinks the Raiders are about to attack the station, so I got to get out there with Alpha Squadron. There's a flight suit and Fury waiting for ya! Come on!"
'Today isn't my day, is it?'
'At least we get to kill something!'
Ichigo ran into the bay and found the Starfury.
The model number was N7242C, and on top was a black version of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force roundel.
'Someone's sending a message.'
'Yeah: 'Don't fuck with me!''
Outside the station
The plan was going smoothly: they had the Eye, Sinclair let them go and they were home free.
The computers started yelling something in Centauri.
"What's that?!"
Kiro, his hostage, widened his eyes as he looked out the window.
A Starfury was coming at them.
And it was firing at them.
The shots connected to the thrusters on the prongs, making the shuttle unable to stop.
"Damn you, Sinclair!"
Ichigo's Starfury
"That was too damn easy."
'You're a natural at the art of war, King. You kicked Pineapple Boy's ass before you lost the Queen's powers, you beat that giant and whooped Zaraki's ass before you got Bankai, you kicked the Prick's ass after getting Bankai and finally you killed the Asshole!'
Ichigo translated that as Renji, Rukia, Byakuya and Aizen, in that order.
'Asshole is a perfect description of Aizen.'
"Nice shot, Ichigo. Damn, you're good."
"Alright, Garibaldi, bring him back-"
"Commander, there's a jump point opening in Sector 3!"
Ichigo turned the Starfury to watch two stars form and give birth to a blue vortex.
'That's a jump point?! It's looks like a Garganta with colors!'
It spat out a ship that carried 20 triangle-shaped fighters on a rotational section and a rectangular engineering section with one tiny thruster.
'No weapons. It's an aircraft carrier, like the Shōkaku and Zuikaku from World War II.'
'Ichigo, even an aircraft carrier has point defense batteries. This thing has nothing.'
Ichigo watched as the fighters launched from the ship.
'King, these bastards threaten Babylon 5 and the Queen! Let me out! Please!'
Ichigo sighed, then laid down a simple rule.
'Try not to kill them. If you can't disable them, then you can take them out.'
Ichigo's eyes turned from white and brown to black and amber.
Poor bastards would never know what hit them.
The Black Sun was back with a vengeance!
Garibaldi's Starfury
"Back him up, Alpha Wing. I'm not losing that kid."
"On it, Alpha Lead."
20 on one was insane and suicidal, even for Ichigo.
The Black Sun Starfury charged in and opened fire, taking out two fighters and disabling three more. "Holy shit."
The SA-26E Aurora-Class Starfury was better at space combat then standard Raider fighters, but Ichigo was outnumbered twenty to one!
'Looks like Ichigo was the mold for his entire family.'
The jumpgate activated and spat out Delta Squadron, but they were redundant: Ichigo was kicking the Raider's asses.
The reasons were simple: Ichigo was a natural at the art of war, the Raiders didn't have good enough fighters and Ichigo's spiritual pressure was still leaking out, enhancing the fighter.
It was more agile, boasted more powerful weapons and was twice as fast as a regular Aurora.
The Raiders were screwed, as Ichigo's superfighter turned circles around the Zephyr-Class ships, forcing them to tunnel vision on Ichigo, allowing Babylon 5's defense grid and her fighters to pick off the fighters.
One Raider managed to evade the fire and towed the Centauri liner to the mothership, which opened a jump point.
"Damn it!"
Ichigo's Fury opened fire on the ship, punching holes in her hull.
"Ichigo, back off! You'll get caught in the backwash!"
The Aurora turned on a dime (almost literally) and kicked on full afterburners to get away from the ship just as it entered hyperspace.
Babylon 5: Green 1, Level 5: 2 hours later
Ichigo opened the door to his quarters and found an angry Rukia sitting on his bed.
"Where the fuck were you?!"
"I was..."
He fell on his face.
He was clearly tired.
Hiding from a ton of Minbari and fighting in a fighter for the first time while staying up for 18 hours was tiring in and of itself.
'He's been busy.'
She dragged him to the bed and covered him up before going to her cot.
Just as she put her head on the pillow and tried going to sleep, her pager rang and she opened it.
It read 'Fleet Division flagship IK in Sector 919, Grid Alpha, dealing with Gillian Menos'. 'That's close to Babylon 5.'
The Omega-Class ship wasn't known by anyone in Earthforce, and Rukia prayed that no one was there to see her.
Sector 919, Grid Alpha
The Gillian was twice the size of the future Victory-Class White Star Destroyer, but unlike the aforementioned ship, it was weaker then an Earth Alliance Olympus-Class corvette.
So when a jump point opened and spat out an Omega-Class Destroyer, it stood no chance.
This was no normal Omega, either: this was the flagship of the Gotai 13's Fleet Division, the Soul Society Destroyer Ichigo Kurosaki.
In command of the IK, as she was nicknamed, was the former Espada Coyote Starrk, known now as Admiral Anton Stark, Commanding Officer of the Fleet Division.
It took him 60 years to return to the spirit world, and when he came back, he showed his leadership skills in organizing the more rundown parts of Rukongai into something better.
After that, he was recruited into the infant Fleet Division as its' commander in chief, reporting only to Captain-General Yamamoto.
"Target in range, Admiral."
The former Arrancar shrugged.
"Fire at will."
The 57mm pulse cannons fired, punching holes in the mask, but only the plasma laser batteries could kill it. The IK locked on and fired the beams of death, cutting the mask in two and killing the Gillian. "Target destroyed, Admiral."
"Thank you, Commander. Take us back to Sector 315 and-"
The alarms started blaring.
"Jump point forming 200 kilometers off our stern."
"Oh, hell. Please tell me it's not another Earthforce ship."
"No, sir, it's a Raider vessel: looks like the one that attacked Babylon 5 two hours ago."
The sensor console then sent out another Hollow warning, and the position was barely a hundred meters from the Raider command ship.
Then something appeared in front of the Raider ship: a black spider that was as big as death and twice as ugly.
It fired a purple beam into the raider ship and cut it in two.
"Oh, fuck me."
"Battle stations. And here I was hoping I could take a nap later."
The IK turned toward the vessel and targeted her.
This would be the first time the Shadows and the Gotai 13 would clash and it would not be the last.
I enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the last part.
The IK will survive, but she'll be pretty banged up.
After all, she's engaging a SHADOW Attack Vessel. You don't engage one of those without the support of an entire fleet!
Next up is the Minbari episode 'Legacies', where everyone's favorite 11th Division Captain enters the fray.
Next time on Babylon's Guardian: IT'S ZARAKI TIME!
Ja Ne!