Chapter 21: A Dark Past's Return
Hikaru and some others were in a Pizza parlor celebrating her latest win. With her were the Steel Angels and Yugi's gang.
"Hey, so congratulations Hikaru," Yugi said. "You made it to the semi finals."
"Yeah, you did great," Karinka added.
"Thanks guys. I just hope my luck holds. I mean, the semi finals are bound to be tuff."
"You'll do great," Yugi said. Tea looked a bit nervous. She was ready to tell Yugi she liked him, she was just waiting for the right moment.
"I hope I get to fight Yusuke in the final round," Hikaru said. "He'd be a challenge."
"Yeah, he'd even be a challenge for us," Kurumi said. "So, you wanna go to the practice dome later and get in some training?"
"Sure, I could use the exercise," Hikaru answered.
"H-hey….Y-Yugi?" Tea stuttered.
"Yeah? Something wrong Tea?" Yugi replied. Tea was blushing deeply.
"Well, I uh, that is, I was wondering if you'd like to-" suddenly a massive explosion came from the front of the shop.
After the detonation faded, Hikaru and the Steel Angels picked themselves up. Their clothing was a bit torn and they were all covered in dust and bricks, but otherwise they were fine. The others weren't so lucky. Joey and Tristan had both been knocked out by the blast. Yugi, however, had taken the worst.
Tea woke up slowly. She remembered the explosion, and Yugi pushing her down. She looked down and found Yugi laying half on top of her, a hand on her breast. She blushed and moved it off. That was when she noticed a chuck of the roof had fallen on Yugi's back, and he was leaking blood from the back of his head.
"Yugi? Are you all right? Yugi, wake up!" Tea said, getting scared. "Hikaru, Yugi's hurt!"
Hikaru didn't answer. That was because she was staring at the source explosion, a Zerevire from Gravion. It was shaped like a beach ball, with eyes lining the middle. The Steel Angels were confused as well.
"I don't understand, how could a Zerevire be were? They were all destroyed before the Gravion realm was connected to the Cross Realm," Kurumi said.
"That doesn't matter right now. We've got to destroy it before it causes any more damage," Hikaru replied. Just as she said that, the Zerevire fired another laser blast, demolishing a row of stores across the street. Bodies flew.
"Come on, let's do it!" Karinka shouted, jumping into the air and launching a kick that sent the Zerevire into the side of a boutique. It fired a laser blast but Karinka dodged. By this time everyone else had gotten out. "Hey, I didn't even dent it!"
"Try hitting its eyes," Hikaru called over. She transformed and flew into the air, carrying Kurumi. She flew at the Zerevire as fast as she could. Once the two were close Hikaru released Kurumi, who flew at the machine, her left fist straight out. She connected perfectly with one of the Zerevire's laser eyes and punched through. She pulled her fist out, trailing wires and blue fluid. "Great, now stand back!" Hikaru poured all her power into her fist and plunged in into the hole Kurumi had made. Then she released it all at once and jumped back. She formed a barrier just as the Zerevire exploded, the detonation demolishing what was left of the local shopping district. Then, finally, police and medical personnel started arriving. They loaded Yugi into an ambulance and sped off. Bloom and Techna arrived a econd later.
"Hikaru, are you all right?" She asked.
"Yeah, aside from some ruined cloths," Hikaru replied, pointing to her shredded shirt and shorts. "Any idea how that Zerevire got here?"
"No. The Gravion realm was cleared of Zerevire before it was permanently linked to the Cross Realm."
"Bloom, Hikaru, take a look at this!" Techna called over from where she was examining the remains of the Zerevire. "I found this attached to the remains of the Zerevire's central processor." She held out what looked like the melted remains of a computer chip. "I ran an analysis and this seems to be come sort of transmitter. Also, there is a microscopic insignia. Here," Techna's wrist device projected a floating image of a black fist in front of an image of the real Earth. Suddenly Bloom held her head as a great pain flooded her.
"Bloom, what's wrong?" Hikaru asked. Bloom was about to reply when a flash blinded her for a brief moment. When it faded Hikaru was facing down five human size Invaders from the Getter Robo reality. "Oh come on!" Hikaru spread her wings and launched herself at the closest Invader, slicing through its neck with her sharpened wings. She moved toward the second, a black monster with writhing mouth tentacles but a clawed hand slammed into her back. She managed to land without injuring herself, but it took all her speed to evade the flurry of blows from the four Invaders.
"Hang on Hikaru!" Kurumi shouted as the Steel Angels joined the fight. They crushed Invader bones and severed limbs, but the invaders simply kept coming through a rift. Every time Hikaru and the Angels killed one Invader two more took its place.
"We've got to close that portal," Hikaru said.
"I've tried but I can't find a way to do that!" Techna called out. She dodged a swipe of an Invader claw but a second caught her in the back and knocked her to the ground. Hikaru rolled out of the way of a foot and rushed over to Techna. She started dragging her away when a blinding light enveloped Bloom and lifted her into the air.
"Bloom, Phoenix Form!" Fire enveloped Bloom's body, hardening into a suit of blood red armor. Her fairy wings vanished and were replaced with black wings the size of Hikaru's. A large sword materialized in her hand and a shield appeared on her other wrist. Hikaru felt Bloom's power skyrocket. It was at least three times as strong as her own.
Bloom turned toward the Invaders, a look of hatred on her face. She drew her sword and it ignited in her hand. "Phoenix wave!" She called out, and a jet of fire flared from her blade, immolating a dozen Invaders. She then landed in the middle of the other twenty which had come through the portal. "Come on, bring it!" She slashed the first five Invaders, their bodies turning to ash at the touch of her blade. The rest the killed with a combination in spinning kicks and punches. As she finished off the last one the rift grew and expelled a thirty foot Invader. Bloom smiled and raised her hand. A massive blast of black flame erupted from her outstretched palm and enveloped the Invader. It screamed and writhed as it burned. Bloom kept smiling as its movements became more and more feeble until, at last, it dropped to the ground and died.
Hikaru slowly walked over to Bloom. She was firing a stream of fire into the rift and it was slowly closing. "Are you all right Bloom?" Hikaru asked. Bloom turned and fixed Hikaru with a dark smile.
"I'm just fine. After the rift is closed you and the Steel Angels should come with me to the castle. It's time I told you something I hoped would never be revealed to anyone."
Two hours later Hikaru, the Steel Angels and Bloom were gathered in the lowest level of the castle where Hikaru had made her home. Bloom tapped ten stones in a sequence and a panel slid off, revealing a computer terminal. She placed her hand on a reader panel. "Recognize Bloom, Commander. Leader of second rank forces. Authorization code Crimson Delta 447293."
"Command code and DNA accepted. Welcome Commander Bloom," a female computer voice replied. The wall slowly opened, revealing a large chamber of silver and black metal. Computer stations ringed the edges of the circular room, with a large holographic projector surrounded by seats in the center. Already Washu and Ayeka from the Tenchi realm and Yurika and Akito from the Martian Successor Nadesico realm were present. A few moments later Sandman from the Gravion realm arrived as well.
"Ah, Commander Bloom. Good, you're here," Washu said.
Bloom turned to Hikaru. "Hikaru, welcome to Cross Realm Strategic Command."
"What is all this?" Hikaru asked.
"Something I'd hoped would never have to be used again," Bloom replied, sadness creeping into her voice. Just then, Washu finished what she had been doing on her console and turned to the others.
"I'm glad you all could make it here this quickly. I trust that your memories have already been unlocked?" The others nodded, except for Hikaru.
"Unlocked. What are you talking about Washu?"
"Oh yeah I forgot. You weren't around before. If everyone doesn't mind I'll give Hikaru a brief history lesson. Hikaru, take a seat in that chair would you?" Washu asked, pointing to a chair with what looked like a motorcycle helmet mounted above it. Hikaru complied and the helmet lowered over her head. A second later she was seeing a virtual projection of the Cross Realm. It looked different, a bit more primitive. "This is the Cross Realm as it was twenty-three years ago," Washu's voice explained to her. "This was around the time the first transition from the Cross Realm to your Earth accidentally took place. Minmay from the Robotech realm was sent through. So Derek was actually lying when he said he was the one who met Minmay. In reality Minmay was found and captured by a group of people who wanted to rule the world. They tortured her. They took everything she knew and used drugs to force her to create technology that allowed them to reach the anime realms. We managed to get her back, but the group, they called themselves the Global Shadow, used what they'd forced Minmay to create to take control of some of the strongest and most destructive forces in the anime realms: The Zerevire from the Gravion realm, the Invaders from the Getter Robo realm, and the machines of the Jovians from the Martian Successor Nadesico realm. They used these forces to attack the other realms with the intent of seizing total control." Hikaru saw video footage of Invaders, Zerevire and Jovan Grasshoppers and Goliath units destroying entire anime cities. She saw millions die and many more herded into labor camps.
"Why did they do this?" Hikaru asked, tears streaking down her face. Since she had become Shadow Hikaru she had experienced some dark urges, but she had never done anything like this.
"Humans are capable of things beyond our imagination when their drive fore power takes hold. After they began their attacks, the leaders of most of the realms met here. We made the decision to fight back. We pooled all our knowledge and technology and created our own army." Washu's voice began to get angry and sad at the same time. "We created terrible things. Things that should never have existed. Look." Hikaru saw legions of Steel Angels and Ryokos marching into battle against hordes of Zerevire and Invaders. In space, Nadesico and Earth Defense battleships fought alongside Juria tree ships and
Ryo-oki cabbit cruisers.
"Did you win?" Hikaru asked.
"The war dragged on for years. It took most of our strength to just hold back the Global Shadow's armies. Then we created the next generation of warriors."
"The Mark 2 and 3 Steel Angels," Kurumi's voice said. She must have regained her memory while Hikaru was in virtual reality. "Washu found a way to use the Demon Kind energy in our Mark 2 Angel Hearts to add additional abilities to us. She was able to fuse us with Diclonius from the Elfen Lied realm and Gatekeeper powers from the Gatekeeper realm."
Karinka's voice came on next. "The Mark 3 Steel Angels were the same as the Mark 2's except we were made to fight the bigger bad guys." Hikaru then saw one hundred foot tall Steel Angels tearing through thousands of enemies. She saw gates of Fire and thunder burn hundreds and Diclonius Vectors slice thousands more apart, their blood coating the Angels, who looked as if they were enjoying it. Hundreds were dead, their bright red blood soaking the battlefield, their lifeless eyes staring up into space where Jurian and Nadesico ships burned.
"With the Mark 2 and three Angels we were able to take the fight to the Global Shadow's home realms. The casualties were unimaginable, but we managed to defeat their strongest armies and kill every member of the Global Shadow. We broke their control over their armies and exterminated them. After that it took nearly ten years to restore the realms to their former states and erase everyone's memories. We did however, leave triggers in a few minds like Bloom's that would restore their wartime memories and powers if the Global Shadow's armies ever rose again." The helmet lifted off Hikaru's head. "And that about covers it. So, any questions?" Asked Washu.
"Questions?" Hikaru replied. "I don't even know where to start. I never knew any of this." Then it hit her. "Derek! You're thinking he's the son of some of these Global Shadow members don't you?"
"Yep," Washu replied. "And he's gathering up the old evil armies, though from where is anyone's guess. All the Global Shadow's armies were destroyed."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Hikaru asked. "I don't imagine I could to help you. After Bloom is three times as strong as me and she isn't even a front line solder."
"Oh we can fix that easily. What we need from you right now though is information."
"What kind of information?"
"Anything you know about Derek."
"All I know is that he has my body and he wants my power. If he is behind this then he must have been able to access my Prism Crystal. It's the only thing that could have given him enough power to open that rift."
"Maybe we could use your crystal to find him," Washu said. "Can you sense it?"
"I've been trying since Derek stole it. He must have something that's blocking it. So Washu, what are we going to do now? If what Derek sent against me was just a scouting force then he must be gathering his main armies."
"I agree," Kurumi said, now wearing a suit of very heavy looking black and red armor. "We have to find him and stop him. In the meantime we will begin reviving the main army. Ayeka, Yurika, both of you will work on assembling the space fleet. Also, have the mecha prepare for battle if we need them."
"Yes First Commander Kurimi!" The Princess and Captain replied before briskly walking out of the room."
"First Commander Kurumi?" Hikaru asked. Kurumi turned to her. Here eyes were harder and she carried herself with a bit more caution, but she was still the girl Hikaru called one of her closest friends.
"That's right. I'm the supreme commander of all Steel Angel and Ryoko forces, and advisor to the mecha legions under General Sagura. Hey Washu," Kurumi asked. "If we really are going to war again shouldn't we give Hikaru the chance to help?"
"But I already told you that I'm not strong enough to fight with you," Hikaru said dejectedly. She knew she was powerful, but she was no match for the likes of Kurumi and Bloom.
"We can fix that. You see, during the war we tried to create a leader for our armies. That was the first experiment with power merging. We managed to create the most powerful warrior the anime realms have ever seen. We called her Shadow. The only problem was that she was TOO strong. We couldn't control her. She fought us almost as often as she did the enemy, simply for fun. Eventually we managed to control her long enough to freeze her in a cryo tube."
"And you think Hikaru is strong enough to fuse with her?" Washu asked.
"Yes. If she can, we can end this war before it begins. We can track down and eliminate Derek before he can raise his armies. It's our best chance."
Washu thought for a long moment. "Do you think you can handle it?" She asked Hikaru. "You were created in the same way as Shadow, so it should be possible."
"If it will help keep the Cross Realm safe, then I'll do anything," Hikaru replied.
"All right then," Washu said and typed at her computer for a few seconds. Then the floor parted and a cryo tube came up from beneath the floor. Within it Hikaru could make out a girl with long black hair and covered only with ice. Suddenly the lid opened and steam hissed out. Washu fired a beam of blue light into Shadow causing her to glow white. "If you want to fuse with her, step into the container." Hikaru did as she was told and as she slid in her body melted into Shadow's. She felt herself becoming lightheaded, then she passed out.
"Do you think she can do it?" Kurumi asked.
"We'll know in a few hours," Washu replied. Inside the now sealed cryo tube energies were mixing and flowing. Only time would tell what would emerge: a terrible monster or an ultimate warrior.
How was that? Well, now you know about Derek's past and that of the Cross Realm. In the next chapter you will learn of Hikaru's fate as well as get a look a Derek's new base. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of the story, and don't forget to review!
ENTILZA