Chapter the Third: The Zolord

"WHAT?!" Tetsuro wasn't taking the news very well. "Another Guyver?! But- but they said there where only three units!"

"Heh. We already knew you could never trust what Chronos says. I never believed that there were only three, just like I don't believe that Riechman is dead."

"And so this . . . friend said to keep a close watch on your father?" I confirmed with my silence. "And he knew who Hajime was?"

"That doesn't concern me as much as his knowing that Agito calls himself Zeus."

"Would you let me finish?! I was going to say that if he knows that, then maybe he's working from inside Chronos. We can just ask Agito when you ask him about Hajime—"

"We can't ask Agito anything! Didn't I tell you I can't contact him now?!" I shouted wiping the triumphant look from Tetsuro's Face.

"I. . . Oh."

Mizuki just sat on my bed silent. Her eyes were vacant. Terrified. She didn't need to be afraid. Sho Fukamachi, a disembodied arm in the woods was powerless to help her, but Guyver would protect her.

"Mizuki . . ."

"Sho. Don't let them kill Mr. Fukamachi." Even when her own life was in danger she still put my father first. I wrapped my arms without thinking. It was the first time I had touched her since we embraced in the rain of fire and glass, as Chronos Japan sank into nothing.

Tetsuro didn't care that his best friend, the armored protector and his sister, the damsel in distress were in love. He simply smiled his gentle smile and said, "I'm going to go check on Mr. Fukamachi. I think he's got the game on . . ." He walked out of the room muttering run stats, leaving only her and me.

"Maxwell! What is it you wished to speak with me about?" I nearly winced when he used my real name. I hated it when that name was used by people who I don't consider a friend. It was the only thing my father gave me before Chronos took me to be trained as a Hyper Zonoid. A gift I guarded as selfishly as a child with a favorite toy. I always used a pseudonym wherever I went. Hajime here, Joshua in America. Those were the only two I still remember.

"Err, Sir it's a my position as a hyper Zonoid. As you know I'm scheduled to go through the bio-treatment during the three weeks the school is closed."

"And?"

"Well Mr. uh . . ."

"Valkus. And that's Doctor not mister." So this was the famed Dr. Valkus. Not exactly the way I imagined him. He was robed, though I didn't find this strange for someone who probably thought he was a living embodiment of god. He was balding up top, but the hair he had along with his beard was white and long enough to make him look more like a sage than a doctor. By far the most outstanding part of his features was the jewel. The chicken egg-sized ruby orb sat in the middle of his forehead, wreathed by tangled veins. The skin was stretched so tightly over this blood vessel trim that it was possible to see them throb as they transferred vital juices to and from his brain. I noticed all of this, of course, only after I thought of three ways to kill him on the spot. An old habit of mine.

"Dr. Valkus, then. What I was going to say was—" I was just then cut off by The doors to the office whipping open. It was Agito Makashima. He was dressed in the field uniforms of the foot soldiers. As he removed his helmet a bloody bandage around his forehead became visible. What really amazed me was that he was able to keep that pretty little head of hair of his slicked back despite the helmet and the bandage.

"Ah yes, Agito!" began Valkus, turning from me.

"Why was I called back?!" he spat. There was so much loathing in Makashima's voice that I could almost taste it.

"Well Agito! An elite like your self shouldn't be out commanding foot soldiers! I have another assignment for you. Just allow me to finish up with our greenie here," he said wheeling back to me. Did he call me green?! I know Valkus's reputation, and I could kill that old fool without even sweating. Zolord or not.

"Sir. I just wanted to say . . . I should be a Zolord, not just a goddamned hyper." His expression immediately changed from tired old man to just plain pissed.

"A. . . Zolord . . . All of our Zolords have been with us for at least forty years and have proven themselves worthy at every turn. You have only been with Chronos a little over sixteen years and—'

"I'm only seventeen! And in those years I've eliminated more and bigger threats to the company than any of those dodery old fools! Yes, Doctor. The only reason I was never promoted to Elite was because I killed my commanding officer. Even then I would have been courtmarsheled and sentenced to death, but I was too valuable. I was the one put in charge of the Rocky Mountain excavation project, did you know that Doctor?'

"So. That was you." There was nearly a minute of silence in which the only thing in the room that moved was the pulsating veins in the good doctor's forehead. "Fine," he said "I will give you a chance. I will put you in charge of capturing the Unit G. If you succeed you will be promoted to Zolord. But if you fail," he grimaced "You will be the test subject for the Enzyme II project."

He went to his huge oak topped desk and took a seat. "Oh and Agito, it looks like I don't have another assignment for you. You may go. Both of you."

A/N: They're short, don't be pissed! To all those waiting for action, don't worry. The bio-boosting will come!

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