Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.

…

Goro's hands were clean.

(Given how many times he'd washed them, that was only to be expected.)

They didn't feel clean.

If he closed his eyes, he could still feel it.

The blood on his hands.

The stench of vomit and excrement.

The rattling sound of the last breath leaving the lungs of-

Of-

He choked back a sob, hands trembling, eyes watering as blood roared through his ears.

He'd killed-

He'd killed-

HE'D KILLED-

"Goro."

Startled, Goro looked up to find that Captain Kazuta was standing in front of him. "S-sir! I-"

"Don't get up," Kazuta ordered him, sitting next to him on the bed and wrapping an arm around his protégé's shoulders.

Moments later, Goro was sobbing on his shoulder as Kazuta gently rubbed circles on his back. "It's all right, Goro. Let it out."

"Sir," he bawled, voice cracking. "I killed… I killed a kid."

Kazuta nodded solemnly. "I know."

"A kid… How could… How could I…"

"He was a suicide bomber. If you hadn't taken the shot, we would all be dead-"

"I STILL KILLED A KID, SIR!" Goro shouted, eyes red.

Kazuta's face crinkled but he said nothing.

"This isn't… This isn't what I signed up for," Goro stammered. "Oh God… I killed a kid… Dad… Dad would've been so disappointed in me-"

"Goro," Kazuta said abruptly. "I've told you many stories about your father. All of them true. But…" He hesitated, grimacing. "There's… One story you've never heard. His greatest shame."

Goro blinked blearily at his mentor, eyes red. "Sir?"

Kazuta took a deep breath, a pained look in his eyes, then began. "When your father was about your age, his unit was tasked with taking out a group of Gorgom remnants that were trying to crown a new Creation King. They already had a Century King ready to implant with Kingstones to turn him into a God. Their orders were to assault the cult's headquarters and kill the Century King before his ascension could be completed."

Goro blinked in surprise. "Why… Why didn't I ever hear about this?"

"Highly classified. And…" Kazuta hesitated, then sucked in breath through his teeth. "It's not a story your father ever wanted you to hear."

Goro gave him a worried look. "Why not?"

Kazuta hesitated, then continued his story. "It was a hard battle. The cult had a lot of Mutants. Lots of casualties on our part. Godai managed to make it into the inner sanctum where the ritual to coronate the Century King was almost complete…

"And to his horror, he was just a kid."

"…. A kid?" Goro whispered, horrified.

Kazuta nodded. "Yeah. I don't know if he was vat-grown or the cult decided to grab some kid for the job, your dad didn't say."

"What… What did he do?" Goro asked, voice full of trepidation.

Kazuta set his mouth in a thin line and ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, your dad, he… He froze up. This wasn't in the briefing. He expected a grown man, not… Not a boy who hadn't even hit puberty yet. His orders were to terminate the Century King before he could evolve into the Creation King, but… It was just a little boy. How could he possibly countenance that?

"But… If he didn't pull the trigger… The Creation King would take his throne. It was too late to stop the coronation process, and the Kingstones had been successfully implanted in the boy. If he did nothing, a monster would be born who would kill him, the rest of his unit, and lead Gorgom in a new reign of terror across Japan.

"The rest of his unit were all occupied with the cult's forces. No heroes were going to show up to save the day. It all came down to him. His choice. His action."

"… And what did he choose?" Goro asked, already knowing the answer.

Kazuta looked him dead in the eyes. "He took the shot. And just like you, he didn't miss."

Goro was silent for a moment, processing this.

"It was the right call," Kazuta said finally. "He saved his unit and possibly all of Japan. He got a medal for it and everything."

"But he still killed a kid," Goro said hoarsely.

"But he still killed a kid," Kazuta agreed. "And it haunted him for the rest of his life."

Goro clenched his fists. "Was that story supposed to make me feel better? That dad did the same thing I did?"

Kazuta sighed and shrugged. "You always think of your dad as some great, moral paragon. And, to some extent, he was. He was the greatest man I ever knew. But even he had to make tough choices, ones that he regretted for the rest of his days." He gave Goro a serious look. "But if he had to do it all over again… He'd still pull the trigger. Just like you would."

Kazuta was right, Goro realized. He would hate it, flagellate himself for it, have nightmares about it and think it fair re-compounds… But if he were put in the situation again, he would still take the shot.

He would still kill the boy.

"This isn't how I thought it would be," Goro admitted after a moment, softly.

Kazuta nodded in understanding. "It never is." He patted Goro on the shoulder. "We're soldiers, Goro. We don't have the power to change the world. That sort of thing is for other people. Our job is to try and keep the world from falling apart, and our loved ones safe. It's ugly, nasty business that wears away at your soul.

"And it is, unquestionably, regretfully, absolutely necessary."

Goro looked down at his hands. He still could feel the blood on them.

He wasn't sure he'd ever stop.

"I know, sir," he said finally, realizing that he did, in fact, know.

"Will you be okay?" Kazuta asked, and Goro could hear the real question behind those words: If I leave you alone right now, will you still be alive in a few hours?

"Eventually. Maybe," Goro replied, offering him a faint smile, communicating the answer Kazuta was hoping for: Yes.

"Good," Kazuta said back, squeezing him on the shoulder, a look of naked relief in his eyes. "Goro… If there's one thing you can take away from all this, it's this: in our line of work, despite your best efforts, you may find yourself in a position where you have to choose between compromising your ideals or letting people you care about suffer. And when that happens, you not only have to be willing to make the right call, but be able to live with yourself afterwards." He tapped Goro on the chest. "But when you do it… Do it because it's the right thing. Do it because lives are on the line. Do it so somebody else doesn't have to. But, most importantly… DON'T do it just because someone else told you to. 'I was following orders' is NEVER an acceptable justification for your actions.

"So if someone gives you an order you can't stomach, one that doesn't NEED to be followed because there's a better way, then it's your responsibility to refuse that order. They say a good soldier follows orders, but that's BS. A good soldier does what needs to be done, and suffers the consequences so others don't have to. End of story."

Goro nodded in comprehension. "I understand, sir. No matter what, I will always try to do what's right."

Kazuta smiled. "And that, Goro, is what makes you a good soldier. One of the best I've ever known."

…

Goro was unsurprised when Mibojin immediately appeared at Hino's throat, blade to his jugular.

He was surprised – although perhaps he shouldn't have been – when he heard the unlocking of safeties as suddenly every member of FX Squad – people he'd fought for, bled for, trusted with his life and the lives of his family –pointed their weapons at him and the rest of his team. "Captain?" He whispered, stunned, the Buzzing reeling in disbelief and anger and betrayal.

"Tell her to stand down, Goro," Kazuta said calmly, an unreadable expression on his face.

"The hell?" Shin murmured in disbelief.

"They're… Defending him? But…" Nushi murmured, her bewilderment shared by at least half the Hive.

Goro's mouth suddenly felt very dry. "Sir," he said slowly. "Ex-minister Akihito Hino is an enemy of the state. He nearly committed an act of terrorism, regicide, and genocide."

"No I didn't," Hino corrected him with disturbing calm, not seeming particularly perturbed by the blade act his throat.

Goro shot him an incredulous look. "No you… We caught you, red-handed, buying an insecticide bomb from terrorists!"

"No, you interfered with a sting operation to obtain evidence that a known terrorist organization had weapons capable of killing Queen Apista, a beloved and trusted ally of the Japanese government," Hino said with a straight face.

Goro stared at him blankly. As did Mibojin. As did the rest of the Bugrangers. After a quick mental check to make sure everyone had heard that, Goro slowly said, "You confessed to me after I caught you running away from the scene of the crime and trying to escape in a helicopter piloted by armed men who tried to kill me that you were trying to assassinate the Queen, went on a rant about how the Hive were plotting to conquer us, and made an extended metaphor comparing their methods to Internet streaming services!"

"I thought it was a little tortured, myself," Formic commented.

"Well, I'm afraid it's your word against mine on that," Hino said casually.

"My word – I caught the whole thing on my body cam!"

Kazuta coughed. "Actually, Goro… About that…"

Goro glanced at him. "Sir?"

"The footage from your body cam was irrevocably corrupted. Your testimony is the only record we have of the events that occurred between you pursuing Hino and bringing him back to us, and Hino's own testimony contradicts that, "Kazuta explained regretfully.

Goro stared at him for a long moment. It took him a while to realize that the emotion he was feeling towards his mentor was fury.

"Sir," he said quietly. "Are you calling me a liar?"

Kazuta hesitated, then said, "I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that-"

"Yes, that's exactly what he's saying," Hino said smugly, causing Kazuta to grimace. "After all, you are a known Hive sympathizer, even before they made you into one of them. You said yourself that you owed them everything for curing your daughter's leukemia, so it's understandable that you had a less than objective opinion of them, so might blow any perceived slight towards them out of proportion. And you are one of those who believes that I caused a Civil War in another country, so of course you're predisposed to think the worst of me-"

"You did cause a Civil War!"

"Can you prove it?" Hino asked mildly.

Goro opened and closed his mouth several times, so angry and confused he couldn't formulate words.

Shin whistled. "Wow. That is some grade-A bullshit."

"Nushi, give the word," Mibojin thought furiously. "And I will silence this liar's wagging tongue forever."

"… Is it bad that I'm seriously starting to consider it?" Nushi wondered.

"If she does, they're going to open fire," Ariel pointed out. "I don't really want to get shot at today."

"This is preposterous," Formic snapped. "I was there. I recorded the whole thing! It went exactly as Goro said it did!"

"Unfortunately, that footage is inadmissible," Hino said dismissively. "While it's true that I wasn't actually trying to assassinate Queen Apista-"

"NO IT ISN'T!" Goro roared.

"I'm not exactly a fan of her or the Hive either, hence why I was the right choice to be involved in the sting," Hino continued smoothly. He paused, then laughed a little. "Ha. Sting. Just saw the joke in that… Anyway, considering that you, like every other member of the Hive, are connected to the entire species through the Buzzing, how can we trust that your recording is accurate? Memories are fallible, after all – just look at Aori's recollections of our encounter-"

"Are you seriously trying to gaslight me?!" Goro demanded, live in.

"And I imagine that having your memories accessible to your entire society means it's possible, even likely, that a powerful enough intellect… Like, say, your Queen… Perhaps edited a few things to retell the narrative in a certain way?" Hino suggested mildly. "One that perhaps paints someone well known for speaking out against her in a much more negative light?"

Practically as one, the entire Hive screamed, HOW DARE.

"That's… I don't… The Queen would never do that!" Formic stammered, flabbergasted and outraged.

"How do you know that?" Hino queried. "Because she told you she wouldn't? The entire Hive revolves around her. She is in everyone's minds, including your own. How do you know she hasn't altered your memories? Aori, all of you, can you truly say that you are the same people you were before undergoing your metamorphosis? That the feelings, the values you currently uphold are the same ones you had before you became Bugrangers?"

Goro was immediately about to fire back a retort… Only to remember that all of them – and their loved ones – had, on more than one occasion, noted that they had changed on some fundamental level after becoming Bugrangers. Nushi had even mentioned, more than once, that they were going to continue changing until they were no longer entirely human, and she was fine with it. They all were.

Except they wouldn't have been fine with it before.

And he kept trying to convince his wife to join the Buzzing, despite her protestations.

And Nushi had reflected, more than once, that they all had been a little bit brainwashed.

Could… Could Hino have a point-

"Goro," Queen Apista spoke up. "Your mind has indeed been altered, but it was necessary so that you could link with the Buzzing and become a Bugranger. I promise you, your memories, your personality, everything that makes you you have been unchanged. You know I would not lie to you, to any of you. It is not something I'm capable of."

"I imagine right now she's insisting that she hasn't changed anything beyond what was necessary to make you Bugrangers," Hino commented, startling everyone. "Because she can't lie, right? Just like none of the Hive can?"

"Well, yeah-" Nushi started.

"And yet she didn't tell the public about the Swarm," Hino interjected.

"The same government you were a part of insisted on that!" Shin argued.

"And yet she went along with it, despite claims that the Hive doesn't keep secrets," Hino retorted. "And if the Hive can't lie, then what, exactly, was that lovely little performance a few weeks ago you put on with the Arachrangers?"

"That wasn't a lie, that was acting!" Ariel protested. "There's a big difference!… Which… Is kind of hard to explain if you aren't part of the Hive…"

"Also, I'd hardly call what Goro did 'acting,'" Shin snarked.

"Hey!"

"And if the Hive don't keep secrets, why have they still not given us all of their technology? Why do they keep insisting on holding back and refusing to teach us how to use it without their direct supervision unless we join them?" Hino pressed.

"Because just about every time they've tried to teach other species how to use their technology and left them to their own devices, they destroyed themselves," Goro pointed out.

"Also, all of their best stuff requires a link to the Buzzing to operate properly," Nushi added.

"How very convenient," Hino sneered. "You keep defending the Queen, despite all the evidence to the contrary that she isn't entirely as honest as she claims she is. How do you know that she isn't lying to you now? How do you know she hasn't lied to you already, and made you forget about it?"

"Because we can see into her mind as much as she can see into ours!" Nushi argued.

"And you don't think an individual as powerful as her could alter your perceptions so you only see what she wants you to see?" Hino retorted.

"I would never!" Apista angrily cried.

Goro desperately looked to Kazuta for help. "Captain, he can't be trusted. He's lying, and very blatantly at that."

Kazuta looked very uncomfortable, but reluctantly said, "I'm sorry, Goro, but word from on high confirms that he really was part of a sting, and we very nearly ruined it. All the charges against him have been dropped since we have no evidence to prove otherwise."

"Because my body cam footage 'somehow' got corrupted," Goro shot back angrily. "And apparently, my word isn't good enough."

"Or mine," Formic added.

"It probably also helps that they can see into my mind thanks to our own little network, so they know my memory of how things went is the correct one," Hino added smugly.

"You just argued that Apista might be manipulating our minds through the Buzzing," Mibojin pointed out. "How do we know that you are not guilty of the same thing?"

Goro blinked, startled. That… Was a very good point, and would certainly explain a lot, especially how Kazuta seemed to shrug off losing Katsutoshi squad again!

Hino chuckled. "I'm flattered you think so highly of my mental prowess, but I'm only human. My mind isn't anywhere remotely powerful enough for something like that."

Desperately, Goro glanced at Nushi. "Is that true?"

Nushi chewed her lip, uncertain. "I'm… Not sure? As far as I know, he's a standard human, so he shouldn't have the brainpower necessary to do something like that… However…"

"However nothing! Our minds are our own," Fukiyami insisted.

Kamiya nodded. "Yeah, I think we'd know if they weren't!"

Goro narrowed his eyes. Somehow he found that hard to believe. "Nushi?"

Nushi's eyes darted about, glancing at the headbands everyone was wearing, before focusing on Hino's. It was larger, almost like a crown. "… If he really is administrating their network, it's possible, but I need a look at one of those headbands to know more."

"Too bad I doubt Dr. X will let you anywhere near them," Shin muttered.

"We'll start investigating as soon as you return to Hive City," Apista promised. "If there is foul play at work-"

"Oh, there DEFINITELY is," Ariel said firmly.

"Then we will uncover it," the Queen promised. "For now, however, I don't think there's anything we can do for your friends, Goro. I'm sorry."

She was right.

He hated it, but she was right.

"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, giving in.

Hino smirked, clearly recognizing that he'd won.

"Mibojin, let him go," Nushi growled.

Mibojin grimaced, but reluctantly withdrew her blade. The FX Riders lowered their weapons and relaxed.

Dr. X cleared his throat. "Well, this was all very exciting, but I do believe we are finished here."

Hino nodded, grinning at the Bugrangers. "Yes, I do believe we are."

"Hino," Goro spat. "Exactly how much involvement do you have in this project?"

Hino raised an eyebrow. "Beyond being the administrator of the network? The whole thing was my idea, actually. After my name was cleared, Dr. X approached me and offered to help me use the FX system to create heroes capable of saving Japan without having to rely on Hive technology. The military was intrigued by the concept, and Katsutoshi squad, as the best of the best, were nominated to become FX Riders, under my command."

"And I suppose the fact that they're the same unit that humiliated and arrested you had nothing to do with anything?" Nushi asked skeptically.

"Nothing at all," Hino said with a friendly, open smile that rang false to every last one of them.

"Can a civilian, even a politician, be in charge of a military unit?" Shin wondered.

"Actually, I used to be in the JSDF myself," Hino suddenly revealed. "I knew Godai Aori, in fact. I served in the same squad as him for a while."

Goro blinked in surprise. "You knew my dad? That's funny, he never said anything about you." Nor had Kazuta, for that matter. "And I don't remember seeing you at the funeral…"

"Yes, well, your father and I didn't necessarily part on the… Best of terms," Hino said vaguely. "I had nothing but respect for him, though. It's good to see his son following in his footsteps."

When most people said that, they meant it as a compliment. Somehow, Hino made it sound like the worst of insults.

"But regardless, while it's been fun catching up with you, Goro, our mission here is over," Hino continued, waving him away dismissively. "Fungus Extermination Squad, move out."

"Sir, yes, sir!" They chorused.

"Goro, it was great seeing you again," Takeshi said, putting her helmet back on.

"Yeah, sorry we had to point guns at you back there," Hebishima apologized. "No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings," Goro told him genuinely.

"Sorry we've been out of touch for so long, and for that little… Unpleasantness," Kamiya said through his helmet, having already put it back on. "But now that we're ready for field ops, I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of us."

"Maybe we can team up in the future," Fukiyami suggested hopefully. "It would be nice working with you again."

Goro smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, it would be."

Kazuta nodded at his former protégé. "Let Kari and the kids know we're okay, all right? I promise we'll visit as soon as we can."

"They'll be looking forward to it," Goro replied, shaking his hand. "Captain. Be careful, okay?"

"I will be," Kazuta assured him.

Goro somehow doubted that he understood what he was warning him about.

"We're going to help them," Nushi promised Goro once the squad and their "benefactors" were out of earshot. "I promise."

Ariel nodded. "Whatever Hino and X are up to, we'll stop it."

"And save them," Mibojin vowed. "Whatever it takes."

Shin nodded fiercely. "Whatever it takes."

"I know," Goro told them gratefully, heart rising at the upswelling of support he sensed from his friends and from the rest of the Hive. "Thank you… My friends."

Hang on, Captain, Fukiyami, Kamiya, Takeshi, Hebishima. I'll see you again soon.

And then…

Many years ago, a soldier had reached out to help a boy in need.

Now, finally, it was time to return the favor.

I WILL save you.

Whatever it takes.