Chapter 7

"We have been back in action for weeks and still they cut our mecha in two like they are carved out of butter…" Count Egobossler fumed as he threw the latest Mecha plans he had been presented against the far wall of his castle, then he walked over and picked them and threw them into the open fireplace. The paper began to grow black as the red and blue tingled flames licked hungrily at paper.

He stared into the flames that burned as brightly as his desire to kill the Science Ninja Team and take total control of the Earth.

He turned to level a glare at his chief engineer. "I want something that can stand up to that lazer Gatchaman uses."

"My Lord…" He fumbled, not knowing what to do since his latest plans had been reduced to blackened embers before his very eyes.

"Why are you not following my orders?" Count Egobossler sized him up- he needed a replacement for this fumbling idiot and fast.

"Get out." Ego spat eventually." And send in Mr Grearer."

The Engineer bolted from the room. Egobossler smirked at his reaction. But he had asked for something that had thicker steel, better aerodynamics. All he presented was designs that could have been sitting in archive from the Katse era.

"Mr Grearer…" Egobossler greeted him like they were having a casual afternoon drink together.

Mr Grearer accepted Count Egobossler's invitation to join him in a drink of Scotch from his liquor cabinet. He handed him the crystal tumbler and sat down in his plush red velvet seat. He indicated for Mr Grearer to sit down opposite him.

"I gave you a task sometime back." Count Egobossler began sipping at his Scotch whisky. "How are we progressing?"

Mr Grearer flinched but he maintained his confident demeanour even if as he ran a hand over his bald scalp. "He is…reluctant."

"Reluctant?" Egobossler freighted surprise at this response.

"Sire, he ahhh didn't accept my offer-"Mr Grearer said putting his glass onto the side table.

Count Egobossler pulled a sour face. "Well, we need him more desperately now. Sosai Z is demanding we step up the campaign and I need fresh ideas."

"My Lord, you said I couldn't just kidnap and force him to work for us like Galactor has done in the past-"Mr Grearer defended his lack of results.

"I know." Egobossler agreed. "You may just have to be more…" He grinned slyly." Convincing… Matt Butler will come readily if he loses something he values..."

Mr Grearer nodded in complete understanding. "I see…He will make a fine Chief Engineer…"

Egobossler liked this man; he could see quickly what he wanted and did everything in his power to make it happen.

"Matt Butler will still come willingly…he just needs more convincing." Count Egobossler said in a blasé manner. "And of course...we will know the identities soon of all of the Science Ninja Team…"

"I will get onto it straight away…and yes sire, I have reliable men combing the streets for clues of who the rest of them could be." Mr Grearer promised and he promptly left the room.

Count Egobossler smiled into his glass as tipped it drink the last swig of his scotch. "Watch out Gatchaman… I'll get you soon and expose your entire team, just you wait and see." He laughed evilly… and looked at the stolen plans again from Matt Butler's office. "And I have just the man for the job designing Mecha's that will bring about your down fall."

Egobossler picked up his cloak and headed towards the door, he hoped his Chief Engineer managed to build him a decent Mecha this time since the schedule for the next attack would begin at midday and he had to get results this time, or Sosai might use that mind torture device on him again.

…From his post close to the door Kempeler observed his leader and the way he delegated tasks to his subordinates. Being the Captain his personal guard Kempeler was rarely away from Count Egobossler's side, except to go in spy missions and assinations for his leader.

His eyes followed Count Egobossler as he left the room and he prepared to follow him so they could discuss some important issues relating to the campaign and his network of spy's. Little did Egobossler know that Mr Gearer's loyalty was really to his Captain. Kempeler trained him to find the best recruits to develop his own loyal network of men.

"Kempeler, I need you to look over these mecha plans again and see if there's any improvements that you can recommend before we launch it against our enemy." Looking over at Egobossler's desk Kempeler knew he always kept a copy of his mecha plans, despite having torched the last lot.

"My lord… I'll see what I can come up with salvage our reputation…after all we have the best Army in all of Europe." His serious tone brought a frown to Egobossler's face but he said nothing and left the room.

The best that is until we joined Galactor which is full of self serving fools that make the army that we spent years building look bad. He thought disdainfully.

Sighing heavily Kempeler walked over to Count Egobossler's desk and he began the task of looking for the Mecha's weaknesses. From what he could see it would a long haul and they didn't have time to make many improvements.

He studied the plans for an hour before deciding to pour himself a glass of Count Egobossler's twelve year old scotch, the rich warm amber liquid sliding down his throat relaxed him and he allowed his thoughts to wander for a while. Of late he had been clouded with doubts- uncertainties that made him work even harder to appear unconditionally loyal to his Lord and master.

He'd served Count Egobossler for years with unquestioning loyalty. Joining Galactor change Egobossler, he had become a servant instead of the driving force he had been when he alone called the shots in his army. Sosai Z had reduced him to it…

Kempeler thought back to the day his life turned into a nightmare….Of late her face had come back to haunt him, he had once cared about human life, his childhood sweetheart had made him feel loved and with he had planned a life and a family content to spend his days coming home to his beloved Helia…

The day he came home early from work to find her making love to another man in their bed his heart was shattered beyond repair, the pain so intense he quickly pulled out his gun and murdered her in her lover's arms, killing them both in an instant of madness.

He crumbled to floor after he did it, crying like a baby as he looked upon her naked bloodied lifeless body with her wavy strawberry blond flowing loosely over the side of the blood stained bed. He'd loved her so intensely in a way that was unconditional and she betrayed him. The loving husband he had been vanished, and from that day on he began shutting down his emotions. He joined the Egobossler private army and every time he drew his gun to kill he saw them together and he pulled the trigger as if to kill them all over again, in his mind she saw her eyes widen in fear each time before the bullet ended her life...He missed what they had together, the pain of her absence in his life drove him insane.

The light flutter of paper brought him out of his thoughts, ignoring the warm useless tears on his cheeks he picked up a crumpled torn piece of paper that had fallen under the table catching his eye, picking it up he began reading it before he realized the full extent of its content.

"Kaseru is refusing to eat…he demands that you set him free…he has already attempted to escape from Ain River Castle…"

"How careless of you Count Egobossler…" He swore reading it over again. Then he smirked, secrets was the life he had led since he was twenty three years old, he knew another persons secrets could buy him leverage if he ever needed it. The spy in him had to know who Kaseru is and why he was hidden away secretly at a Castle, being a master of disguise he knew he'd find a way to get there without his lord knowing. The sound of footsteps alerted him to Count Egobossler's return so he quickly shoved the piece of useful information into his pocket, he'd find a way to break Count Egobossler's alliance with Galactor. His secret at Ain Castle could just be the key to his future ambitions- Take over leadership from a lord that had become a puppet to an Alien creature that cared nothing humans.