Bio-Booster Armor Guyver is Copyrighted to Yoshiki Takaya and Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co in Japan and is trademarked to VIZ Communications Inc.. I am using the characters and ideas without permission but am not making any money from this. This fictional work does belong to me.

The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Interlude X – As Everything Comes Together

Tsuyosa looked at the image. He currently had the Alkanphel clone in a small cell but the man had been easy to contain. He hadn't done anything since regaining consciousness and the Tekki Leader was beginning to suspect that the Zoalord had really been nothing more than an extension of Leoben. It was almost sad and it made him feel thankful towards his own creators. He didn't necessarily like that feeling. His own creators had never treated him badly but they had made it obvious they had ways to control him and they would use them. Eternity had demonstrated that as well though he was of two minds about that. After all he had challenged the Advent to prove the extent of control. The Tekki Leader thought back and after a moment shook his head. He couldn't specifically remember Eternity or Mirai but that was hardly surprising. During his creation and testing, he had not been moved much and those involved with the project had linked in with the Advent who housed him. With the agony of creation and testing they had been there but it was probably better that he did not remember them.

Eventually Tsuyosa shook his head. It no longer mattered and he had already paid his thanks to the Terran Advents when he let them live. What was concerning him were any controls left within him. When he had left he had found many and removed them. And over the years he'd found others and removed them. Sometimes it was subtle little things, like how he responded to a certain tone of music and other times they were more complex, like how a combination of things affected him but since no Advent had ever tried to truly control him he had never really cared. Even when his future self merged with him, and they had together removed a few more controls neither his older or younger self had cared. To be honest, his elder self had thought he had removed all of the controls but the ease with which Eternity had commanded him proved that to be very wrong.

Though it seemed as if the controls that were left were those that responded to individual Advents and those he would only find if the individual commanded him.

:That's not quite true.:

Tsuyosa raised one eyebrow. It wasn't often his Unit chose to speak to him. :What do you mean?: He asked it.

:It's not quite true that the only way you have to remove command responses to individuals is if they trigger them.:

:So how do you propose I remove them?:

:You don't.:

:And what good does that do me?: Tsuyosa was patient with his Unit. The Guyver's perception of problems different from his own but it was helpful when it could be.

:Without knowing the frequency, they cannot be removed,: his Unit continued. :But all frequencies save those you allow can be blocked.:

He had considered that but had also considered it to be a too overreaching solution to the problem. He needed some mental frequencies open so that he could communicate with his followers.

:No, you don't,: his Unit objected.

The man known throughout the galaxy as the Tekki took a deep breath. :What do you mean?:

:You don't block them, I do.:

Understanding flooded through Tsuyosa. His Unit was with him almost all the time and when it came to communication it wasn't him who anyone spoke to, it was his Unit which relayed the signal to him. If anything was going to block signals or even mediate them it had to be done via his Unit. It could vet all signals to him. :Do it,: he instructed firmly. That was one worry out of the way and Tsuyosa turned his eyes back to the display showing Alkanphel.

The Zoalord was in his human form but he looked ill-kempt and rough. If it was just that, Tsuyosa would doubt but from the way the man moved, it was easy to see that he likely had very little knowledge about personal grooming. The Zoalord was nothing more than a puppet with its strings cut and the Tekki leader couldn't help but feel the slightest trace of pity. The knowledge did however make his job easier. This was not his friend but despite that the Alkanphel clone was not someone he could give to Xeo'm. He'd promised her a human guyver but something had held him back and he could not do it. The idea sickened him. Her entire desire sickened him and if had regrets about changing the past, this was one. Xeo'm was much nicer in the future… after… Well, he really wasn't sure what had happened to her in the future but it had changed the Vad'm Guyver completely. It was something he hoped could be repeated but knew it wouldn't be… at least not yet. Perhaps the summoning, using Yisuvac's machine would do it. He could hope but by then Tekki was honest enough to admit it would be too late for someone… All the human Guyvers would dislike him for killing the One but whichever Terran he gave to Xeo'm, they would never forgive him. And he accepted that. The cost was just.

But he could not make it easier on himself and give her Alkanphel… no matter that the man was not his friend. Perhaps he feared, because the Alkanphel clone had the potential to level planets, yet when watching him, it was easy to see that he barely had the ability to feed himself. It would never do to give the meddler Xeo'm access to such power, even if all the humans had the potential for that power. But it was more than that, it made him feel uncomfortable on a personal level.

It would be easier for him but he could do it, even if the Alkanphel clone was not his friend.

"Ah, I see you finally worked it out."

"Mirabilis," Tsuyosa greeted the white Zoalord who was currently in human form.

The man looked over at the screen. "He's not Alkanphel and Leoben was too timid to even trust him with a Zoacrystal. He has the form, he has the ability but he does not have the power."

Tsuyosa dismissed the image, looking towards the other Zoalord. "I did not expect to see you." That was the best he could say to fish for information as to why the other man was here.

"I did not necessarily expect to be here but I find myself fast being able to fulfil Alkanphel's second task and thus must complete the first."

"Your message?"

"Your message," Imakarum returned, stressing the word. "I know you have wondered where I have been, what I have been doing. I cannot tell you everything; suffice to say that the number of Zoalords you will have to face has been greatly reduced."

"How many are left?" the brown haired man asked with interest.

"Not many," came the depreciating reply. "But their fate is not your message and is only relevant as passing information. Lord Alkanphel gave me two tasks, my Lord Tsuyosa. The first was to deliver your message and the second …. The Second I have taken every preparation to ensure my victory but I have learned one thing in this universe, and that is that victory is never assured. You are not yet ready for Lord Alkanphel's message but you are more prepared than at our first meeting and so, while my Lord did instruct me to wait until you were ready, I do not wish to find myself unable to deliver it."

"You don't think you will survive?"

"I am aware of my own limitations," Imakarum said matter of factly. "My survival was never guaranteed when Lord Alkanphel gave me these instructions and while I have every intention of surviving, I will be injured."

"I could help."

One hand was held up in denial. "You may not."

Tsuyosa took a deep breath. "What is your message?"

Imakarum seemed to gather himself, standing straighter, throwing his shoulders back. "Lord Alkanphel bade me to instruct you that you should not seek to fight battles you cannot win."

"Still trying to protect me," Tsuyosa murmured before he looked Imakarum straight in the eye. "I only seek battles I must."

"Lord Alkanphel acknowledged that but some you cannot win. Do not seek them out. Walk away, though it burns you to the core, walk away because he did not wish to see his friend die."

"After so long, he asks the impossible."

"No, he asks you to do what is best for you."

"What is best for me?" Tsuyosa snarled the question and despite his sudden anger he was unsurprised when Imakarum simply stood with a stoic expression and watched. "He wants what is best for me? I laugh at that! What is best for me is that he lived! Then we could have fought these battles together. The Advents, the Guyvers, everyone! But no, he goes and gets himself killed."

"He always knew how he was going to die," the white Zoalord murmured.

"I know!" the black Guyver shouted. "But that does not make it any easier to bear! I never rushed the fight against the Advents because I never believed he would die. And now I find myself only a few years too late for a being who lived for millennia. All too easily I could be a friend to the man who killed him and now you are telling me I need to walk away! That he wanted me to simply give up?"

Mirabilis closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. He should have anticipated anger from Alkanphel's friend who, while now older than the Supreme Zoalord, still did not take the long view of things. "He never wished for you to give up, or to surrender. He merely wished that you look at the situation again, that you do not fight in a battle you cannot win. By your own admission, the Advents are the easy fight, the one to come is worse. Lord Alkanphel never wanted you to face that one alone."

"Well I am."

"I know. But stop for a moment and look at the situation, assess with new eyes, not those tainted by the future," Imakarum said, realising that was his best argument, though somehow knowing that it would not work. The two of them were really too much alike. Alkanphel always got his own way and could only ever be persuaded to take a different path to the same goal and Tsuyosa was the same. He was used to following his own lead, knowing what he wanted and how best to achieve it.

"The future opened my vision, it did not taint it."

"Perhaps, but you will always see things with the knowledge of what might happen, which may not be what will happen."

"So what exactly did Alkanphel want me to do?"

Imakarum smiled. "Nothing," he said the word as a whisper. "He merely wanted you to consider. You have seen what might happen but consider this; is what might happen, what will happen? Look at what is happening and decide if it is the same, if the same causes are justified because the universe will remember and the universe will know and if you strike at something you should not, you will pay the price. It will be a battle you cannot win, if it's a battle that should not be fought."

Tsuyosa sighed. "It is the same," he said quietly. "I see what you want now, what Alkanphel wanted, but while there are differences, on the points that I cannot compromise on, it is the same. The power rests with one being and that much power should never be in the hands of one. I cannot back away from this battle," the black Guyver Lord said firmly.

"Check that you are seeing what is real and not what you expect to see. Wait until the Universe is sure before you strike, and know that if you walk away, there is no shame. Remember always that he tried to protect you and you were his first friend, and the only one he considered his equal," the white Zoalord murmured before he turned away. He had done what he could for Alkanphel's friend and the message had been delivered, even if it had not yet been properly heard it was all he could do for now.

"Leaving?"

"Lord Alkanphel gave me two tasks. I must attend to the second one."

"Imakarum, should you survive, you would be welcome."

"Thank you," Imakarum said, looking back over his shoulder with a soft smile. Alkanphel's message was not yet heard but if he succeeded in his second task, it would make no difference. The Tekki Leader believed the One to be the Guyver's one mistake and while Alkanphel had not known this is the same way as his friend he had seen far more than he was meant to when he saw his own demise. He had known of the One and his orders were absolute. Walk away, Tsuyosa, because I will destroy that which you believe should not be, that which Alkanphel saw in his demise. Live long and remember.

:You can't keep jumping around this forever,: Eternity sent the message to Mirai.

The two of them were currently flanking the Kasd'n Goa and were in orbit around a small planet while supplies were obtained.

:Not forever,: the other ship replied, :but long enough.:

:He betrayed us,: Eternity shot back.

:I know,: Mirai said, her voice sad.

:Mirai, we called for help because we needed it. If he had not betrayed us, he would not be dead. It's that simple.:

:I know.:

:So why are you feeling guilty?:

:Because,: Mirai returned, :in case you hadn't noticed, this is everything you ever wanted.:

It was Eternity's time to be silent and it was a few moments before he replied. :No, it's not really.:

:How is it not?:

:I never wanted him dead.:

Mirai seemed to nod. That much was true. :So what happens now?:

:We have a choice,: Eternity said. :But I think the choice has been made for us.:

:Hmm?:

:You are right when you said it is what I wanted. I do want to rule and now I don't think we have a choice, we have to take up the mantle.:

:We?:

Eternity shifted slightly in space, moving to face Mirai. :I can't do this alone,: he said sincerely. :I will need you to be with me, to help me, to balance me. Not as my mate, we aren't suited for that but Mirai, without you I will be too harsh. You are more moderate, more compassionate and while a Leader must be harsh they must also know mercy when the situation calls for it. I need balance so I can't do this alone.:

For long moments Mirai was silent, considering, thinking, wondering before she seemed to sigh. :If we are going to do this, we are going to have to move.:

:Leoben kept them on such a tight leash that who knows what stupid things they will do now,: Eternity agreed before reaching out to the Terrans on the Kyheenan ship. :We need to leave again,: he announced.

There was a feeling of surprise but then amused acceptance. :Go towards here,: Tetsuro said, giving them a star map. :There were lots of other Advents there, we think,: he added.

:Lead them well,: another human voice came with the well wishes and Eternity and Mirai shared a private laugh. It appeared their plan had already been anticipated and they felt warm with the wash of feeling that was sent towards them.

:We will call again, hopefully in better circumstances, though let us know where our brethren are if you find them and we will claim our place as their Liege Lords.:

:Fly strong.:

Maxwell looked up at the sky. The Advent ships were burning through the atmosphere with impressive speed and around him the troops who had fought were silent. That was the eeriest part. They shouted and screamed in combat but where they should be crying out their joy in victory they were silent. For the moment the Earth Leader didn't care, he was too busy gulping in great lung fulls of air. It had not been an easy battle and he expected to hear shortly how the others were doing.

When he had asked for volunteers to be willingly infected with Aptom's cells he had been overwhelmed by the numbers. There were so many who would do anything if it meant they could strike back and they did not care about the consequences. He'd had to weed out those who were perfectly healthy and who had a life to come. That still left him with many volunteers and while he didn't want to, he had granted his permission that they all be converted into Aptom.

Some of the clones reported that they had seen the Original so Sanchez knew the others would be updated on what he was doing shortly and while he had misgivings he was proud that he would be able to welcome them back to an Earth free of Advent control. He wasn't sure though he'd be able to look into the face of anyone for a while though, because every time he did he'd think about what he had done to their brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, or son. Almost everyone on Earth would know someone who had made the sacrifice, who had become Aptom and while they may be able to live with it he would need more time to get used to it.

War was one thing, he knew how to fight, how to deal with ordering soldiers to their deaths. This was something else entirely. He took a deep breath and turned to one of the Aptoms who had come up behind him. "Report."

The Hyper Zoanoid closed his eyes for a moment as he communicated with his fellows. "Most of the battles went as expected and the Advents are escaping now. A few needed reinforcement and they are receiving it. By the time we go there, the Advents will be gone."

Maxwell took another deep breath, a pleased smile lighting his features. "Alright," he said, "have the medics start treating the wounded."

"Ahem," the clone interrupted. "We don't get wounded," he added when Sanchez looked over at him.

"Of course you get wounded!" he objected.

The clone blinked and Maxwell got the impression of rolled eyes though the Zoanoid did nothing of the sort. "We do get wounded," he admitted, "but we heal fast enough that anything short of a mortal blow will not affect us," he added the clarification.

"Are there any dead?" Maxwell asked, feeling his legs go wobbly. He didn't want to know all the gory details but he needed to know them.

"Sit down," one of the other clones said indicating to a log. The Earth Leader sank on to it with a thankful nod towards the Hyper Zoanoid.

"There are no dead," the clone who had originally spoken continued.

"How are there no dead?"

"We can heal limited wounds without help but more significant wounds are more easily healed with extra tissue. There are no dead because their tissue had gone to the rest of us."

"I definitely needed the seat," Maxwell murmured beginning to feel very sick. "So there are no dead, no wounded, and in a few hours all the Advents will be driven from Earth?"

"Yes Sir."

The feeling was like a punch to his gut and if he hadn't been sitting he would have been with the news. No one expected this but everyone would welcome it. He had won. They had won.

Earth was free. And they hadn't even needed allies. Not that he thought the mission was futile, just that in the end it had not been called for. The original part of the mission, to transport humans to safety had been necessary and Maxwell was thankful that they would owe no one for the return of their planet.

"Spread the word," Maxwell ordered, "And…" He fell silent, looking around him. There were five clones close to him, all looking at him with the same impassive scarred faces. What the hell was he going to do with the Aptom Clones if there was nothing left to fight?

"We will complete whatever ships are ready and find the original," one of the clones said, answering the question he had not asked. "The battle on Earth is over, but the battle out there is just beginning."

It was only when he got back to the safety of the base he spent most of his time in, and back into the privacy of his quarters, a luxury he was allowed due to being the Leader of Earth that Maxwell began to shake. He sat on the edge of the pallet he used for a bed trying to calm his nerves before he raced for the bathroom, vomiting noisily.

What had he done? What had they all done?

Aptom… so many Aptoms. So many lives lost. So many lives he'd sacrificed, and not into the clean embrace of death but into an eternity of servitude to the Hyper Zoanoid. Maxwell swallowed, not even tasting the bile that burned the back of his throat as the reality settled around him.

How was he ever going to look anyone in the eye again?

"The Corang Wesodin are reporting attacks, as are the Jraewy and Mangoran. It appears to be a general wide spread attack."

"And this means what to us?" The question came from Tyan.

"If our neighbours are being attacked, then it is only a matter of time before we are attacked, my son," Xenif explained patiently. This news meant a lot to the Kyheenans, it meant a lot to everyone. The Advents had only ever attacked races at particular levels of development, yet this time they seemed to be attacking everyone.

Something had happened, and ib Kyheen would wager that it was something Uryal'ng would know about. "Do we have any open lines of communication with the Kasd'n Goa?" He asked suddenly, looking up towards one of the Guyvers who stood as his guard.

Their control medallion flashed for a moment. "I'm not sure I understood that," the Kyheenan Guyver muttered before turning towards the Emperor. "The Kasd'n Goa reports that there was a battle against some Advents but I'm not sure what they meant. There was something about it being an important Advent. Do you want me to ask them to come here?"

Xenif considered for a moment. "No," he said finally. "If it was an important Advent then I think I know what happened. If they destroyed one of the Leaders of the Advents, then these attacks are the rest running rampant, trying to show that they have lost nothing, that they are still strong." He took a deep breath. "Put all our settlements on alert and send what aide we can to whoever needs it."

"Father!"

The Emperor looked over at his son, his eyes sad. "Part of the agreement we made with the Terrans, part of the agreement everyone made with the Terrans is that we would help each other when needed."

"And where is their help?" Tyan asked viciously.

"Right here," a new voice called and the Court parted as a group of Terrans walked in. "We are yours to command, your Majesty," their leader said bowing.

Tyan snorted. "And what can mere Terrans do?"

The leader smiled one of those sad smiles you give to someone who doesn't understand and who will probably never understand and then he looked up towards the Emperor, silently asking permission. Xenif nodded, not really sure what to expect.

"Change!" The Terran Leader gave the command.

All the humans began growling and the Court retreated from them further, while the Guyvers present tensed but the Terrans where they were, though some bore expressions of pain. It wasn't until the first one sprouted long sharp teeth from a mouth that was elongating into a snout that there came screams from the gathered Kyheens. There was the sound of tearing as the Terran clothing shredded

It was one thing to have seen the vids available of this phenomena it was quite another to actually see it and while Xenif looked calm, he could feel the back of his throat going dry as he watched. He'd seen Aptom do this, he'd seen other humans do this as demonstration for him after they had agreed to a settlement on Sadaadeen but it still shocked him every time, it still made him quiver as something primeval reacted but for the sake of his court he appeared calm and he was thankful when the frightened screams abated as his courtiers drew strength from his calm.

"We are ready to serve," the now hulking Terran said, as he flicked one tendril over his shoulder. Claws sparked but did not gouge into the stone.

"I am honoured by your service," the Kyheenan Emperor said formally. "But I do not wish you to fight, for the moment. Information is more important. I wish to know who is being attacked by what strength and how often. If you can, I wish you to track the attackers. Once we know their patterns, we can anticipate and if they are blindly striking out we can try to help them understand their pain."

To the side of the Kyheenan Emperor, Tyan mentally shook his head. He was skilled enough not to show disagreement with his Father in public but inside he seethed. Why did his Father care more about aliens than their own kind? That went against his duty as Emperor yet the entire court seemed complacent and happy just standing there, watching aliens come and go, watching their own forces being ordered to help those aliens, these Terrans!

What had the Terrans ever done for them?

Besides potentially bring the wrath of the Advents down upon them all. Could the Terrans fight the Advents? No, they had lost their own home planet and now they needed help, and ib Kyheen was blithely giving them that help, no questions asked, no promised, no treaties of re-payment. Tyan would grant the humans were very good at one thing, getting what they wanted. In fact, they might be the best species in the galaxy at that but that did not mean he would give them what they wanted, that he would do their bidding when the cost was measured in Kyheenan lives. No, he was not his Father, he would not blindly follow those who appeared so flashily but who had such a bad track record.

No, he had wanted to ally with the Tekki but even that path was now uncertain. The Kyheenan Prince felt his insides churn as he remembered. Even the Tekki did what the Terrans wanted and for the brief moment the Tekki was here, Tyan hadn't been able to even approach him and his one contact had been removed. It was so frustrating!

"Are you troubled, is Kyheen?" a soft voice asked from his side, and Tyan quickly schooled any trace of concern from his features. Ceruta was no longer there to help him but his will was not so weak that the loss of a helper would deter him from his plans.

"Always, Gyuya," Tyan replied with a fake smile. The old man was a Guyver and unlike Ceruta his loyalty was not known. Before the visit of the Terrans and the stay of the one called Fukamachi Sho, Tyan would have sworn that Gyuya's loyalty lay with them, or at least with the Guyvers, now though he wasn't so sure, but caution was still called for. Until he knew, he would say nothing.

"Such a heavy burden, is Kyheen, to be troubled so young and so much."

"I worry, op Kyheen. For my Father, for Kyheen, for the future."

"A very heavy burden indeed," the old Guyver said comfortingly and Tyan was hard pressed to keep his pleasant smile in place.

"It is my place," is Kyheen murmured, wondering if he could get away somehow.

"And it is our place to support you, just as we support your Father," Gyuya replied easily. "I understand your doubts. You doubt the Terrans. You doubt the path your Father has put us on. You think we should have gone towards the Tekki."

Tyan couldn't stop a small start of surprise.

"Be at peace, is Kyheen. You would not be doing your job unless you were willing to look at all the options, and that is all you are doing."

"Why do you trust the Terrans?" That was the question. Tyan hadn't had much to do with Fukamachi but it seemed to him that everyone was willing to trust this unknown race with their very future. What was so good about the Terrans that they inspired that much confidence? The Prince saw no reason to trust them.

The old Kyheenan looked thoughtful for a moment and Tyan was strangely comforted by the fact that the Guyver hand not immediately rushed into a reassurance. "I didn't, at first," Gyuya said gently. "I'm still not sure how much I trust Fukamachi but that is my own issue."

"What happened?" The Crown Prince could not help but ask.

"Something to do with the Guyvers. I'm not sure I can explain it to someone without a Unit but I shall try. I was used to using certain sources of information available to Guyvers, information about the Hosts, about the Unit's, about the Universe. I never asked for permission, I just grabbed at the information. Fukamachi blocked that connection.

"I resented it at first," the old Guyver said with a wry smile and Tyan was once again reassured that the Kyheenan was taking him seriously. Most dismissed him as someone who would be important … in time. They barely listened to him, knowing that power lay with his Father. Oh there were those who curried favour, thinking he would reward them when he came to the Throne but their toadying was obvious. He'd need them, but he could not trust them to act in his best interest. No matter that Gyuya was completely loyal to his Father, Tyan sensed that the Leader of the Kyheenan Guyver Corps was taking him seriously and for that he was thankful. His desire to get away lessened but he was still wary. This was one Kyheenan who, no matter how approachable and how understanding they seemed, could not be allowed to know his ultimate plans.

"You resented it?"

"Of course! All the information of the universe was available to me! Who wouldn't resent the loss of that… But I think I am beginning to see why he did that, why…"

Whatever further Gyuya had to say, Tyan didn't hear. The Terran had directly interfered with one of his subjects and his Father had done nothing! Hot boiling rage flashed through him, though the Crown Prince was controlled enough that nothing showed in his expression. This Terran, this Fukamachi Sho had done something to the Leader of the Kyheenan Guyver Corps, without their permission, without any reason and everyone was okay with that? From the way the old Guyver was standing there, an almost whimsical smile on his face, even he thought it was okay! Such a thing was not tolerated! Not against a Kyheenan! Hadn't they fought to establish that, just when they were emerging from the confines of Kyheen? Why did no one think this was wrong? Why could his Father sit there with an almost idle smile on his face and accept everything the Terrans have done?

The conversation between the Terran Zoanoids and his Father had gone on without him but they appeared comfortable with each other. Those Zoanoids were the only solid thing the Terrans had done for them, and even that had been grudging. The exchange was not equal. They had forced the Kyheenan's to come to the battle with the Advents early. He knew the role of the Military, he knew why they were building them up, and that's why he had wanted to ally with the Tekki. To ally with the one being who had experience with fighting the Advents was not weakness, it was sensible. Yet no one seemed to want to pursue that path. They were content with following the lead of some two bit race that appeared with a flashy entrance, some ships that looked like Advents and some Guyvers. There was no reason to trust them, no reason at all when they pulled the Kyheenan's to their doom.

"I am sorry, op Kyheen," Tyan interrupted the old Guyver with a gentle smile. "I must be going," he added, "You have given me much to think on." And so much more to act upon, the Kyheenan Prince added silently. He really did have much to think on, but he knew now where his path lay. He had to wrest control of the Empire from his Father before they were all doomed.

I know I said last chapter that I would keep the politics out of the fic... a bit of them got in anyway... Into this chapter and the one to come. Sorry but at least we are on the home straight now... believe it or not!

Review please? :) Yummy yummy e-cookies await for reviewers.