Zoalords
Chapter 25
Modifications
"The situation has been altered. Archanfel now possesses a Guyver Unit. How should I proceed?"
"Proceed according the original plan, Apollon."
"The Unit Remover Zoanoids so foolishly produced by the Zoalord Czyvek can be used to aid us."
"They could also be used against us, if The Enemy gain control over them."
"If necessary, we will send you one of our Units."
"There is another complication. They made contact with The Enemy before it died." Apollon admitted.
"We know. Only Zoalord Ali Bin Jamar heard it speak."
"He suspects."
"I will deal with him." Apollon rose, "I will not fail you."
The Dead Sea Plant
Zoalord Ali Bin Jamar was lost in thought. So much had happened in so short a time. Archanfel had a Guyver Unit. Lord Yentsui's Zoacrystal had been stolen from The Ark. An alien spacecraft had crashed and an alien snake had died in his arms. Archanfel had the Unit Remover Zoanoids, yet he did not use them on Guyver I.
It made no sense.
"It makes perfect sense." The Zoalord turned swiftly to see a tall, black cloaked humanoid in silver armor. The being's head seemed to be star-shaped. The creature from The Ark. "Archanfel believes that Fukamachi may prove useful in the coming battle."
"Who are you?" Bin Jamar swiftly assumed his Zoaform, a graceful, slender being, tan colored with large sonic emitters on his shoulders, chest and palms.
"I am Apollon. I believe that you have heard of me."
"What do you want?"
"Your Zoacrystal. Don't worry, you're young, you'll surv-"
Bin Jamar blasted the being with a wave of pure sound, sending him flying and disintegrating half of his office. He telepathically called for help as the creature emerged from the dust. Its cape had disintegrated, revealing the now pitted, tarnished armor beneath. Its left arm was gone. "So you wish to fight?" It asked, "Very well." Bin Jamar blasted him again, but the sound rippled visibly in the air before the creature, then turned back upon its creator. Lord Bin Jamar was blown backwards through the wall and fell several stories before crashing into the reinforced floor of Zoanoid Testing Area 16.
"You should not have fought." Apollon chided, but Bin Jamar could not hear him for the blast had deafened him. He did see, to his shock, that the being's arm was almost completely regenerated. Apollon reached down and pulled the Zoacrystal from the prone Zoalord's forehead. Ali Bin Jamar retained consciousness long enough to see the creature holding his Zoacrystal in his armored hand.
Zoalord de Galenos arrived moments later. Apollon was gone.
The Ark
The Council was in a state of collective shock. Ali Bin Jamar was currently in a healing tank. He would survive with relatively minor injuries, but without his Zoacrystal, most of his power was gone. He was well liked and well-respected by the entire Council, and this attack was an open act of war.
Judging from the alien's warning, it appeared to Czyvek to be the work of an agent of The Ouranos. He had the decency not to point out that he had warned against this all along. Ali Bin Jamar was a friend, and he wanted vengeance as badly as anyone on the Council.
"From now on no Zoalord will act alone. We will work and travel in pairs. Those who cannot fight will travel with our strongest. And we will find this creature, ascertain its nature, and exact our revenge." Archanfel was furious. It seemed that for every step forward, they were forced back two. The success of X-Day was followed by the rebellion of three respected members of the Council, the murder of Friedrich and the death of Li in battle with Guyver III. Fukamachi's surrender was followed by the destruction of Star Tower, and the retrieval of a Guyver Unit from an Egyptian tomb was followed by this attack upon Ali Bin Jamar.
"Do you think it could have been a Guyver?" Lord Nguyen asked, "The armor certainly resembled that of a Guyver, judging from the memories of the Zoanoids and Lord Bin Jamar. And its regenerative abilities . . "
"We have no way to be certain, Lord Nguyen. But it would appear so." Archanfel turned to Czyvek, his cat's eyes glaring, "It would be most unwise of us to make assumptions about this being's affiliations. We know neither its source or its motivations."
"Every CHRONOS base has a heavy detail of Guyver-Killer Zoanoids, but if this creature can control them, they are useless." Lord Vorsted snarled in frustration.
"Why do you think I chose to allow Fukamachi to keep the Guyver Unit?" Archanfel said.
Cloud Gate
"What happens to us, now?"
Ishi sat behind Lord Czyvek's desk. He'd been appointed sector head, but found the timing unpleasant. "I don't know. But I think Lord Archanfel wants you both as a Guyver and someone independent from Zoalord control. This creature is able to control Zoanoids like a Zoalord, and defeat a Zoalord in combat."
"But since I'm not a Zoanoid or a Zoalord, I stand a better chance against him?"
"That's my theory."
Sho laughed bitterly. CHRONOS, after years of making his life a living Hell, after murdering his father, was now expecting him to jump to their defense.
"What makes him think I won't ally with this Apollon?"
"Because you are an honorable man."
"If Archanfel has a Guyver, why does he need me?"
Ishi shrugged, "He can't be everywhere at once."
Tetsuro smiled grimly, "So Sho's been drafted?"
"Yeah. You could say that." Ishi admitted, "And you're not the only one. Doctor Nighthawk and her team are working on a way to control the Guyver-Thing they grew from Agito's arm."
"So 'Agito's' been drafted too."
"You have to understand, this Apollon could take control of me and make me fight you, Lord Czyvek, or anyone else he wanted. We need people he can't control."
While Sho had no love for CHRONOS, the thought of being forced to kill Ishi, their friend, was agonizing. Especially after he had been forced to kill his own father. There were more lives at stake than simply Archanfel and The Council. And who knew what this creature intended to do with the Zoacrystals?
Which was the lesser evil?
Once again, he had no choice.
Lord Czyvek had been assigned to protect Lord Nguyen. Nguyen's full powers, derived from Khan's Zoacrystal, were so terrible that he would rather die than use them. Cabraal Khan had possessed the ability to absorb living Zoanoids into his own mass, devouring them until he reached monstrous size and power. The gentle scientist would not resort to cannibalism in order to defend his own life. Besides, Lord Czyvek would kill him. Lord Czyvek, and possibly Guyver I, would have to protect him if things became too dangerous.
Elsewhere
Apollon knelt before his masters, "Instructions, my Lords?"
"All are dangerous. Czyvek is so paranoid that it may be necessary to deal with him next. "
"Is it paranoia when your fears are based in fact?"
"Do not mock us, Apollon!"
"Forgive me, my Lords." Apollon said smoothly, "There is yet another problem. The Enemy has been sighted in Mexico."
"We are aware."
"We will deal with them soon."
"But first we must have the Zoacrystals. Barcus has chosen foolishly, of his Zoalords, four were traitors. Amniculus and Nguyen are too soft-hearted, as was the dead Purgstall, for their purpose."
"Archanfel has chosen little better, a child and a madman. We will choose more wisely."
To be continued . . .