Sitting on the edge of the lagoon, watching Kenji splash around playfully in the warm water, Imakarum felt perfectly content for the first time since X-Day. Truly, this was what he fought for: the chance for both his Lord and his son to be able to enjoy these peaceful moments. The fact that Lord Alkanphel was still in a state of hibernation put something of a damper on the pleasure that Imakarum felt at the moment, but as there was nothing he could do about that, he chose not to dwell on those thoughts.

Lord Alkanphel would awaken in his own time, but for the moment he still had his son to look after. He had sworn to himself that he would never neglect Kenji again, and he was determined to hold to that.

XxXxX

When he had tried to enter young Ingriam's personal office, one of the Hyper Zoanoids on duty had attempted to dissuade him. As if a Zoalord of his stature could be rebuffed by mere underlings. Seeing that the boy-Zoalord was nowhere to be found, however, Jearvill turned and left.

Apparently, he would need to speak with the child's Hyper Zoanoid aides if he wished to know where exactly the child had gotten himself off to.

"Tell me, Zektor: where is Ingriam?"

"You'll have to ask his dad about that," the Hyper Zoanoid muttered, obviously absorbed in the ream of paperwork on his desk.

At least he was diligent, even in spite of the man's clear lack of respect toward his superiors.

"Thank you," Jearvill said airily, concealing his annoyance with the ease of long practice.

Dealing with the boy was one thing, but if young Ingriam was indeed staying with his father then that was an entirely different matter. Imakarum Mirabilis was fanatically loyal to Alkanphel, and furthermore he was not the type to be placated by such simple things as candy or kind words. And if Supreme Overlord Alkanphel was ever to become aware of just what it was that they were planning… The consequences did not bear thinking about.

"Contact me when the boy returns," he ordered, leaving the Hyper Zoanoid's office.

It was a bothersome situation, that Imakarum could so blithely decide to spirit one of his fellow Zoalords off for his own incomprehensible reasons, even if that Zoalord did happen to be his only son. Aside from the fact that it was frustrating the plans that he and Kaburaal had worked out, the disappearance of one of Chronos' own Overlords from his territory would eventually prove detrimental to the running of the facility, especially if the humans were to become aware of the situation. He may not have cared about the day-to-day operations of Chronos insofar as they did not affect his and Kaburaal's plans directly, but in this case it did have something of an effect.

As he wanted to maintain the appearance of legitimacy for as long as possible, he needed the boy to sign the waiver one last time; it was a mild annoyance at worse, but the situation would most likely be resolved soon enough.

XxXxX

They had gone to visit Lord Alkanphel at his temple; it had been Kenji's idea. The fact that Chronos' Supreme Overlord had still been in the grip of his hibernation had not deterred Kenji from sitting at the side of Lord Alkanphel's stone bed as any loyal child would have done for a sick family member.

He was such a good boy.

Still… the fact that Lord Alkanphel had not yet returned to full health and hence consciousness was troubling, even moreso for the fact that Agito Makashima had to be planning something. Lord Hamilcal had reported that Dr. Alfred Hekkaring – one of Chronos' senior scientists, and one of the few who had outright refused to be processed – had been taken captive by the Dark Guyver. All of the knowledge that Hekkaring possessed could, hence, be put to use by that traitor Makashima, especially given the fact that Lord Hamilcal had plainly stated that the boy had also stolen enough of the anti-virus to keep the human alive for an indeterminate amount of time.

-So, where are we going now, Dad?-

-Remember how I told you that there were creatures on Silha that you would never be able to find in the outside world, Kenji-chan?-

-Uh-huh. You told me that we could find all kinds of neat animals on Silha. Are we going to go see them now?-

-Yes. Though I'm afraid I don't know of any catlike creatures here, but I think you'll find the Wolven rather cute.-

-Oh, neat!- Kenji exclaimed, hugging Imakarum's left arm as they both continued to walk.

He certainly hoped that Kenji enjoyed meeting the Wolven; given what Lord Alkanphel had told him, the Wolven were just the sort of beings that Kenji would find agreeable. They were furry, and the fair majority of them were gentle. Save for the fact that their people were not based on felines, Kenji would probably enjoy meeting them a great deal.

-So, when are we going to get there, Dad?-

-In a few minutes, Kenji-chan,- he said, then paused as he heard a soft sound. -Your stomach just growled, my son. Are you hungry?-

-Uh-huh,- Kenji said, putting his left hand over his stomach as it growled again.

Imakarum smiled softly. -There's a grove of mango trees not too far off the path we're taking,- he said. -We could stop there for breakfast and then continue on after we've eaten our fill. What do you think of that idea, Kenji-chan?-

-Do you think they have bananas and coconuts there, too?-

-I think they do,- he said, smiling just that much wider. -Lord Alkanphel told me that the grove was planted by the Zoanoids who lived on this island back in the times before recorded history. It has been maintained by the inhabitants of the island ever since. Every one of the more intelligent of Silha's inhabitants is eat their fill if they desire to, though I rather doubt that the Wolven chose to indulge,- he said, chuckling softly as Kenji laughed.

-Imakarum, what are you doing?- Lord Fried'rich demanded suddenly; Imakarum looked up in surprise. -Jearvill tells me that you removed Ingriam from his territory, and no sign of either of you has been found in the places you usually frequent. Where are you?-

-Kenji and I are staying on Silha for the time being.- For a moment, Imakarum considered apologizing for his actions, but as Kenji's father he had a perfectly valid right to spend quality time with his son. Lord Alkanphel would have understood his reasons; Chronos' Supreme Overlord understood better than anyone else just how much Kenji meant to him.

-What? What could the two of you be doing there? Has… had Lord Alkanphel revived?-

-Unfortunately, no,- he said, putting his left hand on Kenji's left shoulder and steering him toward the grove. -I noticed that Kenji was getting lonely back at the Tower, so I decided to take him out so that he could relax for a time.-

-Are you certain that it was your son who had become lonely, Imakarum, and not merely yourself?-

-What do you mean by that, Lord Fried'rich?- he asked, sensing the Fifth Zoalord's annoyance but unclear about the cause.

-Nothing, I suppose,- Lord Fried'rich said, sounding more resigned than annoyed this time. -Forget I said anything.-

Continuing on his way to the grove, both so that they could sit down and eat and so that Kenji wouldn't worry if he stopped in the middle of their trek and merely stood staring up at the sky. Still, he had become curious about what Lord Fried'rich had been so incensed over, he didn't think it was particularly good for the Fifth Zoalord to keep something so clearly troubling to himself.

-Are you sure you don't want to tell me what's troubling you, Lord Fried'rich? Maybe there's something I can do to help,- he said.

Lord Fried'rich was unfailingly loyal to Lord Alkanphel; the least he could do was to try to ease whatever burden the Fifth Zoalord was bearing.

-You could return Ingriam to his post,- Lord Fried'rich said, sounding more annoyed than Imakarum had ever known him to be.

-Kenji seems to be having such fun here,- he said, handing his son a freshly-picked mango; not sure himself if he was pleading or not.

-Fine! Then let him stay with you!- Lord Fried'rich snapped. -It's not as though the idiot child has ever managed to accomplish anything of value!-

Their telepathic connection cut off suddenly, like a phone being slammed down onto the receiver, leaving Imakarum to stare in silence as Kenji peeled open his mango and began to eat. Lord Fried'rich had clearly been speaking out of anger, not fully considering how his words would sound to the one hearing them. Still, perhaps it would be best if he returned Kenji to the Genesis Tower at the end of this day.

-Is something wrong, Dad?-

-No, Kenji-chan, everything's fine,- he said, reaching out to gently ruffle the boy's fringe and smooth back his long, black hair. -How are you enjoying your mango?-

-It's good, but it's really messy,- Kenji said, smiling around a mouthful of fruit.

-Yes, I can see that,- he said, settling himself down next to Kenji and patting his son's head.

His son had smeared the lower half of his face with the juices of the soft, ripe fruit, and Imakarum smiled as he handed over one of the leaves he had picked for just this sort of occasion. They might have been leaving at day's end, but that didn't mean that they couldn't enjoy the remaining time they had together.