Chapter VIII

Evil Flames, Dark Secrets

Draco stood in the courtyard of his old family home on the orbital space ring. It had been some time sense he had last visited his home. Fire stood a few feet away, recognizing Draco's need to confront his own demons alone. Looking up at the sky it felt odd to look up and always see the stars. Suddenly, Draco felt a presence that was all to well known to him.

"Why don't you go into town for a while." Fire wasn't really surprised at his friend's request. Simply nodding at it Fire walked away. "You know how to contact me, give me a buzz when you need me." Fire replied as he exited the yard.

Walking towards the structure Draco noticed neglect was common on the building. Opening the door of the house Draco's heart sank. The damage was worse inside then it was outside. Walking along the hallways he could almost see what had happened. It was during the second primary body rebellion all those years ago, before he and Fire had joined the Space Knights.

The rebels had some how found out that his family was one of the main supporters of the Space Knights. A small group of the more advanced primary bodies had invaded his home. His father had tried to stop and reason with them but to no avail. There leader just merely punched him threw the wall. Draco and his sister had been away at the time at one of the colonies on the moon of Io. By the time that they had learned of what had happened it was already to late.

Walking into his old room Draco felt as if the demons of the past had been awakened at his presence and had began to torment his being. Walking over to his dresser Draco picked up an old frame with a picture of his family. The glass that protected the picture had long sense been shattered and the photo had aged but he could still make out the image. His father and mother stood behind himself and his sister. It was one of their family photos.

Draco was so lost in thought that he didn't here the footsteps that were approaching him until a soft had tapped his shoulder. "What are you doing here." Draco said coldly with out bothering to turn around to face the person. "I have every right to be here just as you. Don't worry, this is neutral ground. If I wanted to kill you then I would have done so a long time ago." the stranger said slyly.

Draco turned to face her, his eyes were ice cold as he looked into her eyes. His face showed no love towards the woman. Her crimson eyes merely laughed at him. "What do you want." Draco asked, brushing her aside to distance himself from the one he once had known and loved.

"Awe, no hug? No tears from you?" "You ceased being what I knew you were the day you willingly, willingly allowed that thing into your head." Draco stabbed back. She smiled back at him as if this was some sort of game. "Radom gave me an offer I just couldn't refuse. You know that offer is still open towards you my dear." she announced to him. "Unlike you I decided not to sell my soul to the devil." Draco said. She was starting to get to him in the way only she would know. " Isn't funny how I always knows how to push your buttons." she said, walking towards him.

"Cut the crap and get to the point." Draco was not in the mood for this. "Just to let you know, we are coming. And this time, you won't be able to stop the inevitable."

Draco was about to give into temptation and call forth his crystal when before his eyes the stranger was engulfed in red energy and flew out of the room though the window. The thought of chasing after her lingered in his mind before he dismissed it. That's just what she wants me to do, chase after her. No, not this time. This time I'm the one who will set the terms.

Looking around the room one last time before he left Draco began to feel old feeling's steer before he steeled himself against them. A single tear did however drop as he left the room and went down the stairs. How I miss who you were....

--------------DR-------------

Fire couldn't really say that he felt bad that his best friend had asked him to leave. Frankly it would have been odd if Draco hadn't decided to confront his past alone. Walking along the market place in the town, Fire still couldn't believe that such a place could exist on board the space ring. Here under the eternal gaze of the stars was a normal looking community. Here children went to school, men and women went to work, life here were just like life on the planet below. Even plants and small animals now lived on the ring.

Walking down the road something caught Fire's attention. It was no small thing because everyone around him had saw it. If it was fifteen years ago then every one would be screaming and running for the elevators to the planet below. Today its was a common sight. What had caught everyone's attention was a long red beam. At the head of the beam was a Tekkaman.

If he was anyone else then he would just shrug it off. But unlike every one else Fire knew better. Red was a color that only Radom Tekkamen could use. Racing out of the crowd Fire tried to follow it but to no avail. To hell with this. Coming into a clearing in a park that he had ran into, Fire called forth his crystal. Forming in the palm of his hand was a crystal in the form and color of a orange flame solidified in his hand.

Raising his hand high above him Fire shouted with all of his might "TEKKSETTER!!!" Instantly the power of his crystal engulfed his body in a blinding light. In the surrounding power Fires body began to take form.

His armor took on the color of orange, red and black. The armor began to sculpt itself into shapes of fire over his body, the edges sharpened into fixed blades. His lance came forth and formed at the edges blades that held the pattern of dancing flames. Completing his transformation Fire set out to chase the Tekkaman that had only flew by a moment ago. Going into his phoenix form Fire began his chase.

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Down on the planet below a pair of lone figure's watch as the sun breaks open a new day, and a new confrontation.

D-Boy stood alone as he watched the sunrise though his glasses. It was times like these that he had felt alone, even with Aki by his side. The last time that he had felt this way was all those years ago, the Radom forcing his hand to kill off one by one his own family. Now that Jericho had returned, frankly he didn't know what to feel.

Could he really count him as his brother? They both shared the same substance that made them what they were. But was that all they shared? There was that small time on the Argos that they 'grew up' together.

Aki walked out onto the balcony over to where D-Boy stood. Coming over to his side she watched the sunrise with him. She didn't say anything. Times like these were rarely shared between the two of them. D-Boy was the first to break the silence. "You saw the file, didn't you." D-Boy's tone was full of apathy. Aki only nodded in reply. "We sent that file out about three days before the Radom came."

Aki collected her thoughts and tried to sum them up into one question. "What do you think all of minds that make Jericho who he is do?" she had to admit that her question was not the best way the phrase it but it was already too late. Pulling in breath, D-Boy gave her his answer "I honestly don't know, it's been close to fifteen years sense then. In the beginning it was easy to see what part of him came from who, but know, after fifteen years I don't know what he will do."

Aki was about to ask him something else but at that moment the alarms began to scream. Instantly both of them ran back into the command center and down to the briefing room to see what was happening. As they left the balcony a bright blue beam rocketed off towards the heavens towards a group of beasts floating off in space.

--------------DR-------------

Passing though the glass harmlessly, Fire now in his Tekkaman form, was racing though space chasing after another Tekkaman. He couldn't help but feel that he knew this being. Continuing his chase after the enemy Fire slowly began to gain group on the other. Finally getting close enough, Fire shot out an energy whip towards his prey. Latching on to its leg he managed to pull the Tekkaman out of his energy form and back to normal.

Floating there in front of him was someone he had once known. The wearers armor betrayed the fact that its wearer was a woman. The armor was mostly black with elaborate designs of scarlet. Her legs resembled talons and her arms were outlined with defense blades. She wore a thin red cape. Her helmet looked like a cross of Blades and Aki's. Long flowing raven hair floated around her head in the blackness of space. Her lance was drawn and she was ready in an attack stance.

"Jessica what are you doing here, you have no business with this race anymore." Fire growled, unlike his friend Draco, he considered her dead, and therefore had no problem with a fight if one were to arise. Jessica giggled softly "you two are just the same, Draco and yourself. Ever think of hitching up?" that was all Fire needed to be pushed over the edge.

Flying towards her lance ready, he attempted to land a hit in her leg, but missed. Jessica laughed as if it were just a mere game that they were playing. "Your sick you know that!" Fire yelled at her, he had separated his lance and threw the first blade in her direction, only for it to be blocked by a sideswipe with her leg. Casting his whip to retrieve the weapon Fire connected with the weapon but was electronically shocked by a blast that came form another whip that had connected to his. "Oh I'm so glade that you noticed. Now, let me show you something even sicker!" taking another lance from her armor and separating them into four blades, Jessica threw all four of them into his direction. As they flew towards him beams of energy formed a web between the blades. The net caught hold of Fire and pulled him along for the ride, finally stopping in the wall of the space ring, pinning him.

As Fire struggled to free himself Jessica took her time to come in closer to him. Smiling seductively behind her mask Jessica produced a long jagged sword. "You know, a few years ago you would have thought this would have been great in bed my darling." lining up her sword to his neck, Jessica pulled back and prepared to swing. "Of course it doesn't have to end like this, and maybe we could pick up where we left off. All you have to do is forsake the earth and join us, just like I did."

That was it, the last shred of control Fire had evaporated and his eyes began to glow red. With dormant primal strength finally awoken, Fire activated the energy cells around his body and unleashed an awesome wave of Voltekka energy. The wave consumed the net the held him and burned out of existence the sword and part of Jessica's arm away. Screaming out in pain Jessica backed away in fear at what she had just unleashed in the form of her lost lover.

What stood before her was no longer a man. But a cold weapon of death and destruction. There was so much energy from Fire's body that it bled off him like flame's eating away at a dry log. Calling forth his lance Fire began his attack.

Charging towards her with such speed that the human eye could hardly keep up with Fire began his attack with renewed strength. not being in any condition to fight Jessica used her good arm to block most of his attacks with her heavily armored arm. How can this be? Where is he getting all of his power? She had no choice, she called forth her fleet to come and protect her.

--------------DR-------------

Draco was walking about his families' yard when he felt it. It was a war between two forms of energy. He recognized both of them instantly. It was Jessica and Fire. Looks like they found each other. As he continued to feel the energy he felt something happen to his friend Fire, somehow something had pushed him over the deep end. For a moment he felt that he should go and stop them, but it was just for a moment and no longer.

Why should I go to help her, she's the enemy, she's the reason Fire and I join the space Knights. She is going to get what she deserves. Continuing his walk around the yard Draco suddenly stopped. Shit. Pulling out his own crystal, Draco once again took on his Tekkaman form. Wasting no time, he took on the form of a dragon and raced out to do the one thing he never wanted to do.

--------------DR-------------

All around him were hundreds of Radom warships. It didn't matter to Fire. Just as long as he made her pay. He would make her pay for what she had done to him and his family. The rage he felt consumed him. It was more powerful then any mind parasite could have ever hoped to have over their host. What separated him from the animals of the earth had been encased deep in his mind, leaving only a cold and collected predator with the blood lust of a wronged man.

Floating there in space Fire began to build up energy around his body. With a thunderous roar deep within his being, energy encased his armor in flames. Solidifying on top of his armor now floated a warrior that would even match Blade. Though his rage and hatred of the one that had betrayed him, Fire had activated his unique ability. He was no longer a mere Tekkaman. He was now death to all that he touched.

In the time that it had taken him to transform, the Radom had sent out their own warriors. Smiling under his armor Fire's eye twitched, within seconds hundreds of Radom corpse's floated in space.

--------------DR-------------

Brother are you that blind that you must rely on machines to tell you that the enemy comes to our door? Jericho had spent fifteen years of his life being twisted and tormented by the tools of the Radom. Now he was ready to make them pay. As he left the atmosphere, his armor covered his body rapidly. Once again he became Sever, a man created with the purpose and the will to defend his home, his people, and what was left of his family.

Arriving at the far end of the Radom fleet, Sever felt at the edge of his mind that Fire was also there as well. He can handle himself. Fire is not the kind of man to have problems in a fight. At last, I will be able to live! Pulling his sword, Sever raced to the first of the coming Radom warriors.

--------------DR-------------

Fire couldn't control himself. Not that he wanted to anytime soon. It was like he was watching a movie.

Grabbing the first of the Radom by the head, Fire flew towards the next enemy. Batting at the enemies' comrade with one of their own brought Fire a sense of Irony. "Let me return your friend to you!!!" Hitting the other Tekkaman with so much force that it killed the target as well as decapitated his 'weapon', Fire moved on to the next target. Flying towards the next one he intentionally over shoot. As he passed the enemy he elbowed him in the back with a jagged spike that was mounted on his arm. The force sent the other Tekkaman wheeling out of control and smashed into one of his comrades.

With a twitch of his wrist, two long blades slid down past his hands. Picking out his next target, Fire raced over and stabbed the Radom with such speed and force that the alien was dead long before Fire finished his attack on his being. Throwing off the carcasses Fire flew a short distance away from the main force. Focusing with his mind on his hands, energy cells began to form in his palms.

Taking aim Fire unleashed a wave of horrifying power. The wave ripped though each of Radom's bodies with such power that it was as if their bodies offered no resistance to the onslaught upon their bodies. The blast continued on and destroyed several of larger ships before it began to dissipate. With a voice that would make enemy and allies blood run cold Fire shouted at the to of his lungs the name of his tormentor, the name of his wife. "JESSICA!!!! I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND MAKE YOU PAY DEARLY!!!"

--------------DR-------------

Kicking off the body of the impaled enemy off of his sword Sever looked towards Fire's direction. Not bad for a being not bred to fight Sever chuckled. Turning towards his enemy once again he had noticed they had backed away several hundred feet. "What's the matter, can't handle a simple solder?" Sever smirked.

As he began to move towards them the closest Radom unleashed a wave of Voltekka towards Sever. Flying in front of the blast, Sever aimed his sword toward it. As the wave washed over him the color of the blast turned from blood red to ice blue as it passed over him.

Taking control of it with his mind he turned it towards the fleet of ships the enemy was pathetically protecting. The blast wasn't as strong as Sever had hoped for, it was obvious that these tekkamen were weak.

As the wave crashed onto the enemy fleet the skin of their organic ships boiled and dripped off the ship's bodies. After a second that seemed to feel like an eternity the ships exploded with such a force that the after shock took the last of the tekkamen out in the area.

"Well that was easy...." pain began to pulse though Severs body as another mind began to surface. As the mind of Jericho lost control of his body his armor began to reflect of the new mind. His being began to form what looked like battle ravaged armor, sharp edges formed all over his body, a tail shoot though the base of his spine and grew forming a nightmarish look, his helmet look on the look of an old enemy from the past. All that remained was the color of ice blue.

--------------DR-------------

In the Space knight command center the other Knight's had assembled and now watched in amassment as the watched and old friend as well as a new brother disembody an entire fleet of Radom capital ships with ease.

"My God, I knew the Fire was powerful but look at what Sever has done." David said. As they watched, one of the technicians had managed to get a view of Sever. "Oh God no...." D-boy and Aki said unison. What they saw was a nightmare from the past. Trying to keep a normal tone Aki quickly ordered them all to the Blue earth immediately. As the Knights ran towards the ship Aki and D-boy stayed behind for a moment as they watched Sever race towards Fire, destroying each and every battle ship along the way.

"It's not him Aki, he's been dead for nearly fifteen years. It maybe just an echo deep with in Jericho's mind." D-Boy said, trying to reassure his love. Trembling as she still looked at the screen she whispered to herself "but why, why does he look like Saber now?