Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Episode 6-

The next day, Hayato was released from the medical ward and returned to duty. As Dead said, he didn't speak a word about Ezekiel being Tekkaman Zero. No point in doing so yet. But why keep it secret to begin with?

"Hey Dead? Earth to Dead?"

"Huh? Oh, what were you saying?"

David looked strangely at him, "I was saying that the Chief was calling us. What's up with you?"

Dead looked away, "Just thinking about our new pilot."

David gave a smirk, "Don't tell me you're falling for him."

Dead glared at him, "Just because I look like a girl doesn't mean I am one. And if you are getting any ideas..."

David put his hands up, "Alright, alright. I didn't mean to insult your manhood, although you do a good job of that yourself."

"Let's just go."

Once again, the Space Knight assembled before the Chief, awaiting their next mission.

"The situation is this. We have discovered that a large meteorite is heading this way. It's not going to hit the Earth so we don't have to worry about collision. But we have reason to suspect that the Radham plan to use it a drop ship to attack. We are to investigate the meteorite before it reaches Earth. If the Radham are there, we are to destroy them and the meteorite. Operation will commence in one hour so you have time to prepare."

"Yes, Chief."

"Dismissed."

The team dispersed and went to prepare. All except Ezekiel, who remained behind.

"Um, Chief?"

Aki turned to him and he continued on, "I need to ask a favor. Is it possible for me to see D-Boy?"

Aki questioned, "Why?"

"It's...a little private. Something I can only talk to him about."

Aki shook her head, "Another time. Right now you have a mission to prepare for."

"Yes, Chief."

Ezekiel left the conference room in silence. He went into the docking area and began to work on Delta. As he did, he thought to himself, What if I never meet him? I can't keep this up forever. If I get stuck, the nightmare will happen all over again.

He stayed in Delta for a long while. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear someone approach from behind.

"Working hard I see?"

He turned around and found Honda sitting behind him. "Yeah. You can say that."

Honda quirked his face, "Well aren't we the social outcast. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were D-Boy."

On hearing D-Boy's name, Ezekiel focused on Honda. "Do you know him?"

Honda smiled, "Of course I know him. Even helped get his powers back at one time."

Ezekiel jumped out of Delta, "Do you know where I can find him?"

"Afraid not. He keeps himself in a hidden chamber somewhere around here. It's funny. I helped build this place, yet I don't know where it is."

Ezekiel lowered his head, "I see."

Honda but his hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry about it. You can ask Yumi about it."

"Yumi?"

"Yeah. From what I know, she's the only other person that knows where he's at aside from the Chief."

Without another word, Ezekiel ran off toward the Alpha ship, leaving Honda behind.

"You're welcome."

Ezekiel reached Alpha ship to find both Yumi and Natasha conversing.

"Yumi, may I talk to you?"

"What is it?"

Ezekiel asked, "Do you know..."

An alarm ran and the Chief voice came over the intercom. "Attention, Space Knights. You are to assemble for action immediately. Take your stations at once."

"Damn."

The Space Knights assembled and were launched out into space. They rocketed straight for the meteor and the Chief began again.

"Remember, you are to investigate first. David and Natasha, you will go first. If there is any sign of Radham, then Yumi and Dead will join you and destroy the Radham."

"Roger."

The four tekkamen transformed and were launched out. Tekkamen Sommer and Vesna entered the meteorite. As they did, Dead spoke privately to Ezekiel, "Do you think Zero will appear this time?"

".........."

Inside, Sommer and Vesna searched the meteorite's interior. They were about to go further when a dim red light appeared.

"What is that?"

The red light grew brighter and it was obviously heading toward them.

"Oh, damn! A Voltekka!"

David and Natasha quickly dodged the bolt just as it flew by. Then other lights began to appear.

"What the…? This whole place is filled with Radham!"

Indeed, that was the case as swarms of Radham flew in to attack them. The two tekkamen fought, but they were severely outnumbered.

"We need some help in here, now!"

Yumi responded from outside, "We're on our way!"

Yumi and Dead flew toward the entrance, but suddenly more Radham swarmed out to fight them. They were separated from their teammates now.

"Dead, can you clear a way in? I'll use the Reactor to back you up."

"I'm on it."

Dead and Delta flew through the Radham, slashing and blasting any that came near. While they had them distracted…

"Reactor...Voltekka!!!!!!"

A brilliant beam of light fired out of her hands and split up into more beams. The beams each hit a Radham and reflect onto another. While that was happening, Dead managed to reach David and Natasha.

"Time to go."

The three then began to fly out, but suddenly the rock around them began to move. Several pods ejected from out of the surface and they burst open to reveal Radham Tekkamen!

"What?! They been holding them back!"

The  Radhman Tekkamen attack with fury and the Space Knights fought desperately. Yumi flew in to help them and together they attacked, but hopelessly. Yumi tried to use the Reactor again, but it was no use. It would take time for the energy to replenish. But it trying, one of the Radham tekkamen hit her in the head core and she screamed.

"Yumi! No!"

Luckily, Natasha was there to grab her, but she herself was barely able to fend off the Radham and defend Yumi at the same time. David and Dead were too preoccupied with the other Radham to be able to help them. And the pilots were still fending off the Radham soldiers. The Space Knights were trapped, being pressured into the meteorite where more Radham awaited them. Ezekiel continued to fight along with the other pilots, but it wasn't enough.

"Alpha, come in."

Hayato answered, "Alpha here. You have a plan."

"Listen to me carefully. I want you to time me. If I fight for more than 30 minutes, you are to destroy me, understand?"

Aki heard the transmission between them. 30 minutes? That means...

"Destroy you? What are you talking about?"

"I can't explain right now. Just do it if it happens."

Alpha came close to Delta, "What are you going to do?"

Ezekiel pulled out his crystal and shut his eyes, "Help them the only way I can. Tek-setta!!!!"

A streak of light flew out of the Delta ship and headed toward the battle. The light dispersed and the black and blue Tekkaman appeared. Hayato gasped, "You! You're Tekkaman Zero?"

Tekkaman Zero flew into the battle and began to attack the Radham. Meanwhile, Aki was already heading into the dock of Pegasus to start her own transformation.

On the surface of the meteorite, Natasha stood watch over the still unconscious Yumi while David and Dead took on the Radham. However, they seemed to come from both above and below and they were getting swamped.

"They just don't know when the stop."

Another Radham Tekkaman lunged at David when a blade shot out of the creature's chest and it ripped in half, revealing the dark tekkaman behind.

"Tekkaman Zero!"

Zero zoomed toward the next group of Radham and glowed in blue energy. The energy flared out like birds wings and he fried every Radham that he came in contact with. The Radham focused their attacks on him and he fought back. One of the Radham managed to get close to him and grab him and another one fired a Voltekka at him. He managed to break to hold and move out of way, the blast hitting the Radham, but Zero was caught in the aftershock. Other Radham Tekkamen charged their Voltekkas and aimed it at Zero. But before they could fire, they were sliced themselves. Behind them, David and Dead had resumed the fight and attacking back. Zero turned to the back and saw the Radham coming out of the meteorite at him for another strike. Dead and David flew beside him and David spoke.

"We need to combine our power. Let's link up."

Dead and David moved beside him. David opened the Voltekka cells on his shoulders while Dead formed his sword into a lance and cells formed around them. While they charged the cells, David yelled.

"Natasha, you and Yumi have to get away from the meteorite now!"

Without hesitation, Natasha grabbed Yumi and swooped away from the meteorite. Zero pointed his sword forward and cells formed around them. Then they cried in unison.

"Voltekka!!!!!!!!!!"

The three blasts combined into one and smothered the Radham with an incredible force of power. The blast continued to the meteorite where it struck it and caused it to slowly explode from the inside out. While that went on, everyone else watched the incredible power and Hayato was so into it that he didn't look at the timer he set.

28:29

The trio ended their attack and the entire meteorite was destroyed. They floated there for awhile before David turned to Zero.

"Zero. Who are you really?"

Zero turned to him and suddenly clutched his head in pain. David and Dead watched in confusion as he began to writhe.

"Zero. What's wrong?"

"Aggghhhhhh. Dark....side....kill......me....NOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

They stood there unsure of what to do when sudden a streak of light wrapped around Zero's arm and pulled. Zero flew backward and came face-to-face with a lancer before blacking out.

"Chief. Why did you do that?"

Aki didn't answer; rather she inserted the unconscious Zero in Pegasus's interlock chamber.

"Pegasus. Reverse transformation."

Everyone headed back into the Blue Earth 2 where Pegasus docked. Aki ordered Pegasus to open the chamber and Pegasus complied. The chamber opened and a human form fell out. Natasha, David, and Dead came in the docking bay and David and Natasha were surprised by who it was.

"What? It's Ezekiel. He's a Tekkaman?"