Chapter 28: Group Discussion & Resting

After a couple of hours, the three friends had made a few modifications to Sonnet's plan, which should, in theory; help draw some suspicion away from her after it had been carried out. It was now getting into the evening, when Mizuki glanced at the clock over the sofa, she realised it was 18.54.

"Sonnet must be working late today."

"Funny, I was just thinking that myself," Ran commented, "Wonder what she's doing?"

Mizuki got up from her chair, and closed the curtains for the balcony doors.

"What are you doing?" Mutaru asked.

"Something Sonnet asked me to try." Came the reply.

Mizuki then activated her armour, without generating a blast field. Guyver 5's head sensors then moved around in their groves for a minute. The Guyver armour then disappeared, and Mizuki sat back down.

"Sonnet's just leaving the Chronos Japan building and heading back here."

"How can you tell?" Mutaru asked.

"She asked me to see if I could sense her using my armour's sensors, since my teleportation ability will be needed to carry out her plan."

"How did summon your armour without the blast field?" Ran asked.

"I'm not completely sure, to be honest. Last night, Sonnet sensed a zoanoid approaching her apartment. For safety reasons, she asked me to teleport to the roof and then bio-boost. When I became Guyver 5, I didn't generate the field, but I couldn't work out how. When we went to the Amazon earlier, I experimented, and found a way that seems to work. Three times out of three, so far."

"I take it you tried this experimenting before you took the Huntress role?" Ran asked.

"Yep."

There was a short silence, before Kyriu walked into the lounge.

"Hello all. Been busy?"

"Yeah, we have." Mutaru replied.

"Where's Sonnet? Isn't she home yet?"

"She on her way. Give her a few minutes."

"Anyone hungry?" Ran suddenly asked.

"Yeah a little," Mutaru answered, "Mizuki?"

"Not at the moment. I'm gonna go back anyway."

Mizuki then stood up.

"See you all later."

"Let us know what Sonnet thinks of your little present." Ran said, as Mizuki opened the door.

"Will do. See you later."

As Mizuki closed the door, she saw Mutaru mouth to Ran 'What present?' She smiled, realising that Mutaru had forgotten about the package she had been carrying earlier in the day. She then returned to Sonnet's apartment and went into the bathroom. The bathroom, conveniently, had a full-length dress mirror on the wall next to the door. Mizuki looked at her appearance in that mirror. To her surprise, she didn't look tired or stressed from the training earlier in the day. Her clothes, however, looked rather rumpled and Mizuki decided clean up and change. She ran a hot bath, took the ties from her hair, and removed her clothes, before spending almost an hour soaking in the hot water, in between washing her body and hair. After her bath, she dried herself with a towel, and then went into her bedroom. She picked out some clothes that she could wear for a couple of hours, and dressed herself, before going into the lounge.

When she entered, she noticed Sonnet sitting in the chair she had used the night before, looking at the picture on the wall over the sofa. The picture Mizuki had bought for her was a large aerial photograph of Wimbledon, the tennis stadium in England.

"Do you like it?" Mizuki asked.

Sonnet turned to her.

"Yes, I do. But where did it come from?"

"I bought it for you. Remember me asking you about decorations in the apartment?"

Sonnet nodded.

"I spoke to Ran about buying you something to decorate the place with, and she mentioned you liked tennis."

"I thought I'd told you that this morning?"

"Not exactly. You said you'd played tennis against Ran, not that you liked it yourself. Anyway, I saw this in a shop in town and Ran agreed with me that you would probably like it. So I bought it and Kyriu put it up before we went out training around midday today."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Mizuki then sat down on the sofa, underneath the picture.

"Don't get the wrong impression here", Sonnet said, "I'm grateful, but why did you buy it for me? I get the feeling that it wasn't just for decorative purposes."

"You're perceptive, aren't you? OK. The other reason I bought it for you was because I wanted to say 'thank you' for letting me live here, and helping us out those times you have."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know, but I wanted to."

"Well. Thank you Mizuki. You're right; it does make the place seem a little more home-like."

Mizuki smiled when Sonnet said that. Sonnet then said:

"I take it you were having a bath when I got home?"

"Yes, I must have been in there for close to an hour. How did you know?"

"When I came into the apartment, I heard water splashing, so I presumed you were in the bathroom."

"Yes, I was."

"So I waited out here until you had finished. I'm going to shower myself, in a minute. Then I want to talk to the three of you, find out how your training went."

"OK. I'm gonna make myself a snack while your doing that."

"Right. See you in about 10 minutes."

As Sonnet walked to the bathroom, Mizuki glanced at the clock.

Ten minutes. What can I make as a snack in ten minutes? She thought.

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Sonnet entered the bathroom and shut the door. She pulled the bands, and pin, from her hair and placed them on edge of the sink. After that, she started the shower running, removed the suit she had been wearing, and showered herself. Then, like Mizuki had done, she dried herself off and changed into a pair of dark blue jeans, white socks, and a beige t-shirt, before going into the lounge.

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In the lounge, Mizuki was eating what she had made while Sonnet had been showering. As Sonnet entered, Mizuki said:

"I had another message from Guyver 1 while you were showering."

"Oh?" Sonnet replied, curious.

"Yeah. He's given me a few more details on what he might need your help with. He says that Zeus Thunderbolt operatives within Chronos have found a secret zoanoid production facility, near to Mt Narisawa. It's also a library, for lack of a better term. Sometime after your plan has been carried out, he wants to raid the facility. Gather as much information as possible and then destroy it."

"OK. I'll help him out." Sonnet answered. She then used the organisms on her back to talk telepathically to Guyver 1.

[Guyver 1.]

[Yeah Blue?]

[Guyver 5 has just told me of your plan. I want to tell you that I'll help you in anyway I can.]

[Thank you, Blue. Your assistance will be useful.]

[I want a copy of all information you obtain from the raid though.]

There was a short pause before Guyver 1 replied:

[That's not going to be a problem. Do you mind if I ask why?]

[I wouldn't be surprised if Chronos have spies working within Taron. I want to know as much about them as possible.]

[OK. Fair enough. See you soon.]

The communication then ended.

"You might also be interested to know, that they have finished moving to the ZT base."

"That's good." Sonnet replied.

Sonnet then thought for a minute.

"That explains why those Enzyme II's attacked you at Mt Narisawa. You must have gone too close to that facility."

"Possibly. How do you know that for sure?"

"Balcus informed me of that facility today. He said that my design was being sent there and will be mass produced there if the prototypes are a success."

"Right. Interesting timing."

Mizuki then went quiet for a few minutes. She then asked:

"You don't mind if I stay here a bit longer though, do you?"

"Of course not."

"Thanks. I'll probably rejoin Sho and Agito after we've executed your plan."

"Fine with me. Should we head over to Ran's?"

"You want to learn about our training today?"

Sonnet nodded. Mizuki then went into the kitchen and put her plate and glass into the dishwasher, before joining Sonnet in the lounge. As they left, and headed for Ran's, Mizuki commented:

"I bet your dishwasher won't be used very often."

"Probably not, since I don't eat, and glasses can be hand washed easily enough."

The two women then arrived at the door to Ran's apartment. Sonnet knocked on it, and they entered when Mutaru opened it. The next half an hour was then spent discussing the training events and Sonnet informing them that she would be in the development labs at various points during the development of her design prototypes. After the discussion, Sonnet and Mizuki went back to their apartment. Once inside, Sonnet turned to Mizuki.

"You spent a lot of time learning self defence techniques that could hone your reflexes. How good do you think they are?"

"Pretty good. Why?"

"I'd like to try a one-on-one training duel with you, if you don't mind? I'm curious as to how quick you are, especially after learning how you turned the tables on Ran."

"I was hoping you'd ask. Would it be possible tomorrow morning, before you go to work?"

"Sure. I look forward to it. I'll wake you up around 06.00, OK?"

"Fine. I'd better get some sleep then, if I'm getting up that early. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Sonnet replied.

After Mizuki had gone to bed, Sonnet decided to go on another zoanoid hunt. She went into her room, and retrieved the bodysuit from her wardrobe. She then changed into it, putting her other clothes onto the back of the chair that was in the corner of the room. She then had to go to the bathroom to retrieve her hairpin, and activate it before she teleported herself near to the Chronos building.

Ready or not, here I come. Blue Sonnet thought, as she began hunting for active zoanoids.

She wasn't expecting to find many around, since most of the time they go around in their human forms, but there might be a few around somewhere. Blue Sonnet then concentrated her ESP abilities and tried to detect a zoanoid, or two.

After several minutes of hunting near the Chronos building, Blue Sonnet decided to move some distance away. She turned towards the northeast and began searching in that direction. Almost half an hour must have passed, before she faintly detected three zoanoids about 5 metres away from her current location. She decided to make use of her cyborg-enhanced legs, and started running. Thirty seconds later she arrived at the area where she had sensed the zoanoids, only to find that there was only one left, and it was wearing a hood that covered its head and face.

What happened to the others? She wondered, before deciding to attack the remaining one.

She charged at it, and drew her left arm back, her hand clenched into a fist. Just before she could hit the zoanoid, it turned around and grabbed her fist in a tight grip that, if she were still human, would be painful. As a cyborg, however, Sonnet felt very little pain. The zoanoid then pulled the hood off its head, and said.

"I wouldn't advise that. I don't want to accidentally break your arm."

Aptom! Blue Sonnet realised.

"Your probably the only person who could, without taking on a zoanoid form," Blue Sonnet replied, "I take it you were hungry?" She indicated the remains of the other two zoanoids.

"Yep. I've gotta feed. Besides, those two Ramotith were too cocky anyway. They don't realise how much power I posses." Aptom replied.

"OK. I wont attack you. I just felt like killing a few zoanoids."

"As did I."

"You said you were feeding?"

"Yeah, but they die after I've fed off their zoanoid life-force."

"Fair point." Blue Sonnet conceded, while thinking 'Smartass'.

"I've heard about your new role," Aptom suddenly said, "Aren't you taking a few risks?"

Blue Sonnet quickly scanned the area for any zoanoids, people or recording devices, using her infrared eyes. Her scan turned up negative.

I don't want anyone else hearing this. She thought, she then indicated a nearby apartment block, about 10 floors high. Aptom turned to look and then, before he could react, Blue Sonnet crouched, and then jumped up to the rooftop of the building. She quickly scanned this rooftop as well; to make sure it was clear, before Aptom landed next to her.

"Care to elaborate?" She asked him.

"Simple. You're working as a Zoanoid Developer, under the command of Dr Balcus. At the same time, you're doing your little vigilante act, wearing a very enticing outfit," He gestured at the skin-tight bodysuit she was wearing, "And you're working with the Guyvers, as Guyver Blue, to destroy Chronos."

"So?"

"Look, my friend, I know you're not stupid, so don't act it now. Sooner or later, someone in Chronos will discover one of those extra roles. When that happens, you, and your friends, who are also Guyvers, will be in trouble."

"I'm aware of that, Aptom. I'm setting up contingency plans, should that happen."

"It WILL happen," Aptom stated, "Count on that."

"Fine. Is there anything else?"

"No, actually. I'll see you around, Blue Sonnet."

Aptom then turned away from her, ran to the edge of the rooftop, and jumped from it onto a higher one nearby. Leaving Blue Sonnet thinking about what he said.

He should know that I've already considered what he explained to me. I'm glad that he's realised it though. Mizuki has probably thought about it as well, based on some of the things she has said, Sho and Agito have probably had similar thoughts, Ran and Mutaru, however, are a different story. I'll have to discuss this with them.

Blue Sonnet then decided to continue her hunt. After almost four hours of trailing around the city, she had killed seven zoanoids, including an Enzyme II, with her psycho kinesis ability. After that, she decided to return home.

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AN: I thought that it was about time I brought Aptom into this story, since he was briefly mentioned in chapter 21. I'll be bringing Bird, or RX-606, into the story soon as well.