Dammit...

One minute we were defending the city, next thing we know, we're on the run.

How did this all happen, you ask?

Well, first off, how did we even get here? Simply put, the humans in charge of the Shinkansen Defense Institute. They were the ones who developed Project: SHINKALION to begin with. And as for me, well, I'm not even human.

The name's Railspike. And I'm one of the last few survivors of Outpost Prima, a joint Autobot-Decepticon venture that was at the forefront of Cybertronian efforts to study and analyze the Grimm. The only downside was that we were found out and attacked by the one behind the damned beasts: The Lord of Grimm himself, Sammael. He was the one who destroyed the outpost and killed or forced most of us into hiding. I was perhaps the only one who had any actual combat experience on the expeditionary force, so I rallied the survivors and tried to fight him off. But it didn't work as well as we had hoped.

Sammael found our spacebridge and energon mine, destroying both with ease.

What few of us survived fled through the ground bridge to locations unknown. But in the frenzy, a few of us were killed... and one of those was my former partner and brother-in-arms, Rapid Run. He died taking a blow to the spark from Sammael himself.

Me and Midnight Express fled to a small island that would become our temporary base, at least until Midnight's demise after the failure of his prototype superweapon. Again, I fled, this time to Japan where I lay in stasis for who knows how long.

I awoke many stellar cycles later, and well, the rest is history.

As for how we are on the run, well... that's something I don't like to recall very often...

(Shows a pair of red optics flaring as a shadowy hand reaches out, grasping at the screen before fading to show several wanted posters depicting the Shinkalions, the title appearing below)

GRIMMFALL SHINKALION: DARK DOUBLE DAZE

(The images fade to show a pinprick of light)

Awake and remembering the torn promise (The pinprick of light grows brighter as Railspike is shown looking over the city of Tokyo, his two brothers appearing as ghosts behind him)

Trapped and entrusted myself (Railspike looks up, showing the six young sparklings marching past him in their human forms)

Are you ok with this? Not being able to reach (He slowly reaches out a servo and grasps at the sun, throwing the screen into black)

Opened the door with incomplete condition (A sliver of light runs down the middle of the screen, revealing two doors as they open, showing a young boy staring in awe at the contents within)

Made mistakes, learn, in fear and hide (The boy is shown running before the camera pans to the left, revealing him outside as he holds a device in his hands)

Hesitate, deadlocked, facing myself (The camera pans in on the device, showing the city of Tokyo from above before two sets of orbs are shown facing one another down, colliding in a brilliant flash)

Break through the wall now (The light becomes a thick wall, Railspike standing before it as he drives a fist into it, causing cracks to spread out as it shatters)

Go my way, I'm going to grab the future (The wall crumbles around Railspike as his servo reaches out towards the six children)

I won't let anybody get in my way even if you hurt me (A huge mass of garbage rises up before him, two red eyes flashing in the background)

I'm chasing the continuation of my dream (The six young Shinkalions are shown turning around, brandishing their weapons in their frames)

Because it's still there and that's what I am (Railspike is shown reaching for them as they extend their own hands, reaching towards the middle of the screen before it goes dark)

The word that I used to hear came back again (Railspike stands before the remains of his two brothers, his students gathered around him as they offer support)

I didn't question it I just buried it deep (He bows his helm, optics closing as memories of them march past him in transparent form)

The noises are clouding my thoughts (Memories of their demise cause him to grit his denta and he screams as lightning flashes, rain pouring down around him during a battle)

Plastic melts and turn black when you burn it (The form of Nightstreak looms over him as he holds up a burning spark)

Tied and no freedom, there's nowhere to go (Railspike slumps to the ground as he grips at his helm with his servos, energon tears running down his cheeks)

Trust, betrayal, turning my mind dark (Sammael is shown in the background, wearing the mask of a Grimm as he holds his hands around the shaking Shinkalion)

I have to open the way (The darkness engulfs the screen before an explosion rocks it, shattering it as a winged form flies through the air)

Go anywhere when you spend your days (The form spins around, revealing a shadowy shape reminiscent of a Shinkalion, but with green optics and wings spilling green particles, holding a crossbow of sorts in one servo)

Meeting and findings you call this a fate (The camera pans down, showing the city from above as of on a map, dark purple orbs flashing on the screen)

We're alive and there are sadness and anxiety (One of the orbs flashes, panning out to reveal a pair of purple optics as six shadowy forms resembling the Shinkalions are revealed)

This won't last forever. All this for me to be strong (The forms attack, forcing Inspector Tezuka to fire on them as her men open fire as well)

All of this from the hard works (The gunfire pans over to show Railspike firing his arm-mounted guns to take down the black-clad attackers)

I kept it in me. Now I'm here (His optics flash as he summons a grey, blue, and dark blue Aura to shield himself from the return fire)

I can overcome this (He grits his denta as he hefts his shield and fires off his missiles as the other sparklings unleash their own attacks)

Go my way, I'm going to grab the future (Railspike lunges forward, his servo outstretched to catch a glowing spark)

I won't let anybody get in my way even if you hurt me (The spark is caught in his palm as it flashes, showing the boy holding a device in one hand and a visor resting on his head, a shadowy winged shape behind him)

I'm chasing the continuation of my dream (The boy looks out as four Rails of Light streak out from the screen, showing the four Shinkalions on them, heading off into the horizon)

Because it's still there and I have to move forward (The horizon flashes as the camera pans down to show Director Hayasugi in the front of the command center, waving an arm as he gives an order)

Go anywhere when you spend your days (The camera then pans to the left, showing Chief Lee standing in the main server room as he adjusts his sunglasses, light glinting off of them)

Meeting and findings you call this a fate (The chief glances out to the right, the camera following his gaze to reveal Tsuranuki in Townsville as he stands atop a hill overlooking the city)

We're alive and there are sadness and anxiety (His hair blows before the two Powerpuffs streak overhead, the camera following them before panning down to show Shinobu and Miku in the Shiga Highlands)

This won't last forever. All this for me to be strong (The camera then pans up to the sky as a winged shape flies overhead before panning down, showing the six kids and Railspike standing before the city of Tokyo, a young boy and a new shadowy Shinkalion shown in the background as transparent images, the title appearing below them)

Opening Files: Seven Sisters

The Seven Sisters are a group of Huntresses whose origins are shrouded in mystery.

No one knows who or what they really are, but all agree that their purpose is just and noble, for they themselves have been known to sometimes tangle with Kaiju Grimm, primarily in the First Wave. These Huntresses have become legendary within the special operations community around the world, and some even say that the United Kingdom's Special Air Service is outmatched by these women.

But no substance has been proven of these rumors.

The Seven Sisters are known to wear all black body suits and white masks that cover their upper faces, each one resembling a traditional animal found in Japan's culture. Each Sister has a signature weapon and is well trained in martial arts.

Close Files

GRIMMFALL SHINKALION: DARK DOUBLE DAZE

CHAPTER I - DARKNESS RISING

"INCOMING!" a voice bellowed.

The four scattered as a large icy fist drove itself into the ground of Shibuya Crossing.

The pavement flashed white as freezing energy extended out around the impact zone, turning the entire crossing into solid ice. As soon as the ice finished spreading, the huge fist drew back, leaving behind a crater as the hulking mass of ice and snow glanced up, roaring as its prey landed on the buildings surrounding the battlefield.

His golden optics narrowed as he scanned the creature over with a critical gaze.

He could already see that this creature was built to handle icy conditions. And it didn't help matters that the blizzard currently raging inside the city was keeping them from launching a capture field to contain this creature.

"Dammit... This thing just keeps pushing us back!" one of his protégés muttered. "We need to figure out a new plan of attack."

"That's all the more reason you sparklings need to keep an eye on your surroundings," he lectured. "The more aware you are of your environment, the more adaptive you can be." He caught the look of a protest beginning to form in those yellow optics and he glared. "And yes, any time is right for a lesson, Efu!"

The green and white train flushed a bit, but forced his embarrassment aside to focus on the battle in front of him. "Hai, sempai," he muttered.

"Railspike! Are you and the kids all right?" the voice of Futaba asked over the COMMs.

"Yeah, we're fine," Railspike said as he shifted his gaze to the Kaiju before them. "I think we got a code name for this one."

"Then tell me so we can put it into the database," she ordered.

"Codename is Blizzard Turtle," Railspike stated. "Abilities are as follows: can freeze the ground solid and can lower temperatures within its immediate vicinity to near zero degrees. Note the word immediate, meaning we can't get in close. Able to unleash blasts of frozen energy from its impacts to knock out mid range attacks. Can fire energy beams from its mouth to force any attackers back. Long range is our best bet, but a long shot."

He could hear Futaba's fingers flying over the keyboard back in the Shinkansen Defense Institute Headquarters. "Codename confirmed, abilities logged. Transmitting data to Shashot."

The older Shinkalion gave a grunt before he turned his gaze back to the Kaiju as it growled at them.

Like its name implied, the Kaiju was a hulking mass of snow and ice, covered entirely in frozen plates of armor. It resembled more of a turtle than a normal Kaiju. Its eyes were just hollow red orbs, and Railspike suspected those were Seers that were acting as its eyes. That was enough to make him wary, having seen Seers far too often back during the siege. The claws on the tips of its fingers and toes were icicles, and its arms and legs resembled the flippers of a turtle. That also meant that should the need arise, it could withdraw into its shell and cover itself in a protective cocoon of ice that not even the hottest flamethrower could melt.

That was a problem, Railspike noted as he watched the beast as it started to prowl around the frozen crossing.

Off to his side, he could see Matagi aiming his guns at the creature, but he wasn't firing on it yet. At least not until the Blizzard Turtle turned to him and opened its mouth to unleash a blast of icy energy right for him.

And that was what Matagi was waiting for.

His digits squeezed the triggers for his guns and they fired, sending rounds right for the beast's open maw. The ball of icy energy was struck, causing an explosion that blew the icy Kaiju back.

Railspike watched with growing concern as the Blizzard Turtle landed on the ground, skidding on its belly before it got to its feet, shaking its head. Its jaw, which had been blown off by the explosion, began to reform itself from the very wind and snow around them.

"Dammit...! Thing's got regeneration!" he rumbled.

"Ability logged," came Futaba's reply. Then she became serious. "That means that no matter what you do, it can reform its limbs or whatever is damaged or destroyed."

"Doesn't mean we can't try," Railspike retorted. "Every Kaiju, from what I've heard and seen, has a core someplace, right? So we find it and take it out."

"A lot easier said than done!" Matagi remarked as he fired his guns again. This time though, the Kaiju just withdrew into its shell and icy plates closed up the gaps, becoming a formidable defense. The shots from his Fumikiri Guns just bounced off the icy armor, making him growl as he lowered his weapons. "Shit...!"

"That's not good..." the older train muttered under his breath.

His optics narrowed as he scanned over the Blizzard Turtle for any sign of a weakness. He had no idea as to where the core was located, but from what he had seen in the video footage of the sparklings' prior fights, the core was always located in a place where it would suitably be defended. And in this case, he suspected it would be hidden within the belly of the beast.

He shifted his vision from normal to thermal, trying to pick out the glowing orb of a Kaiju core. A blue targeting reticle appeared in his sight and began to dance around, scanning left and right for any sign of the orb. Cybertronian glyphs appeared in his vision and he frowned beneath his faceplate. The core was clearly hidden, he mused as he shifted his gaze a bit more to the right. But he knew it had to be there. It just had to be!

Then, he saw it.

It was faint, and glimmered briefly, but it was there.

A faint, pulsing red, so faint it was hard to see, even with thermal and infrared vision. But the pulsing it gave off was enough to confirm to him that there was indeed a core there within the belly of Blizzard Turtle. Railspike frowned though. In the beast's current state, it was close to impossible to get to the core. So the best bet was to try and draw it out somehow. But how?

That was the issue.

"Dammit... we gotta figure a way to draw it out so we can go for the core," he rumbled.

"Gee, ya think?" came Efu's snark.

Railspike snorted, but brushed the snark aside as he gripped his shield and looked down at the ensconced Kaiju. He shifted his gaze to the left, returning his vision to normal parameters and pondered a course of action.

It was just as well, too, for then the Kaiju began to shift, slowly extending its head and limbs out of its thick, icy shell as the wind continued to howl around the four trains. He could already see that despite the internal heaters that had been installed a few days ago, their internal temperatures were starting to decrease. So they had to act and fast before their systems froze.

The Blizzard Turtle finally emerged from its shell, getting on all four flipper/feet and it roared, making the four trains shiver.

Efu gripped his sword and looked down at the Kaiju as it began to make its way towards the edge of Shibuya Crossing. "Guys! It's trying to make its way to the edge of the crossing!" he exclaimed.

"Dammit!" Nozoma's optics flashed as he raised a servo to his helm. "Director, we've got a situation! The Kaiju is trying to escape the crossing!"

"And we can't fire the capture field due to the cloud cover!" Director Hayasugi shot back. "You know that!"

"Then how are we supposed to contain the damn thing?!" Nozoma roared.

"ENOUGH!" Railspike bellowed over the COMMs. "We can argue later! Right now we need a plan to contain it!"

Matagi's optics dimmed a shade as he looked around, searching for a way to disrupt the Kaiju's escape path. The only thing he could think of at this stage of the game was to tear up the streets and isolate the Blizzard Turtle in the middle of the crossing. But given its abilities, that was moot. So they needed to find a way to... His head suddenly snapped up as he gazed up at the clouds. "Wait a minute..." he muttered. "I think I have an idea!"

Not even waiting around for Railspike or his friends to comment, Matagi scrambled to his feet and leapt off the building he was on and ran for the edge of Shibuya Crossing. The huge building towering over the city's major street tourist attraction loomed above him as he drew closer, the thick snow seeming to make the structure even larger. Matagi crouched and leapt up, landing atop the roof. The red and white train then gripped his guns and spun them a few times before throwing them into the air and activating their cannon mode. His Fumikiri Cannons landed on his shoulder guards as his Namahage Goggles snapped down over his optics. The green targeting reticle danced across his line of sight as he aimed his guns directly at the clouds. His tri-colored Aura began to swirl around his frame as it shifted to a brilliant burning red. Twin suns flared to life deep within the depths of his guns and he kept them aimed at the sky. The red Aura surged into his weapons, making those orbs glow brighter until they filled the entirety of the barrel's width. Then he tensed his frame. "FUMIKIRI BARAGE!"

The pressure building in his shoulders fired skyward, separating into several smaller shots, each one piercing the thick cloud cover, giving some brief respite from the freezing cold and letting the sunlight in.

Nozoma instantly caught onto his plan. He pressed his servo to his helm.

"Director, do you see that?" he asked.

"Hai! Nice work, Matagi!" the cat Faunus exclaimed. "Futaba, fire the capture field before those holes close up again!"

The frantic typing of a keyboard echoed in his audios and Railspike looked up to the sky, his optics zooming in as far as he could get them. Unlike the sparklings, his optics were a lot keener and could zoom in farther to allow him to see more details. But he did have his limits. And he could barely see the capture field satellite as a tiny metallic dot against the blackness of space.

But he didn't need to see it fully as it gleamed. He reeled his focus back to its default viewpoint.

And just in time, too. The laser struck the air above the Blizzard Turtle, and within seconds the capture field extended up and out, lifting the Kaiju out of the crossing.

"All right, everyone! Move in!" Railspike ordered, leaping up into the air with a burst from his thrusters.

"Hai!" came the reply. The three sparklings jumped into the air as well, and beneath their pedes transparent nanomachine platforms appeared for them to land on. The platforms continued to materialize in an ascending pattern much like a staircase. Railspike had to admit that using the platforms was a good idea, but he wondered why the transparency for them. He shoved that aside though as the four of them landed on the last platform outside the now cloaked capture field.

The four trains steeled themselves as they entered the capture field. The sensation of rain washing over their frames overcame them briefly, but they brushed it aside as they emerged onto one of the supporting pylons that connected the platform to the field's walls.

Within the center, they could see the Blizzard Turtle as it waited for them, its eyes fixed on all four of them. Its mouth opened slightly and misty cold air emerged briefly. Railspike's optics narrowed as he gripped his spear and brandished it. Behind him he could sense Efu clenching a servo on his sword while Matagi gripped his guns tightly. Nozoma's energy blades hummed to life as he crouched behind the other three Shinkalions.

The Blizzard Turtle didn't even hesitate to attack. A blast of icy energy lanced out of its mouth, arrowing right for the foursome.

"MOVE!" Railspike bellowed.

The four Shinkalions scattered in every direction just as the beam slammed into the side of the field, icing it over. Railspike glanced back just as the alarm began to blare inside the field and his optics flashed in frustration. "Dammit! That ice is compromising the field's structure!" he growled.

Matagi shot a look in the direction of the field and his engine hitched in his chest. "Kuso!" he swore.

"All the more reason for you to take that thing down!" Director Hayasugi remarked.

"And we will!" Railspike rumbled as he broke into a run, sprinting across the platform, his spear held off to the side, his shield held in his other servo in front of his frame.

"WAIT! Don't do it!" cried Nozoma. He dashed after the older Shinkalion, his thrusters humming in his audios.

But Railspike whirled around and tossed his spear at the younger sparkling, making him back off. "Stay put until I give the signal!" he barked.

"But-" He was cut off when the veteran soldier spun back around and leapt to the side as the Blizzard Turtle got to its feet and planted its claws on icy streams as they formed off to its sides. His optics narrowed a bit as he pondered what their next plan of action was. He knew they had to get it on its back somehow, but seeing as how there was no real way to, they were in trouble. After all, he mused as he looked around, it wasn't like they could... just... Wait. His optics landed on the rails, and he followed them around the capture field's interior.

The rails...

That was it, he realized as his optics flashed in realization. With the rails running throughout the field, it was easy to avoid the attacks of this thing, and they could also be used to attack from! His gaze then drifted down to the platform they were on, and he scowled a bit. The only way to knock that turtle onto its back was to use an attack from further down lower. And the only way they could was by using the rails. And it would require impeccable aiming. So that fell to only one of the sparklings. He turned his helm to look at Matagi who was crouched on one of the rails, guns aimed at the ground in front of the Blizzard Turtle.

A plan was now starting to form in his processors, and he also had an idea on how to carry it out.

It was tricky, but doable.

Now the only thing was to carry it out.

"Matagi!" he barked.

The sparkling jerked and he almost squeaked in shock. "Y-Yes?" he asked.

"I got a plan. But we need ya to be down below on the rails to take this thing out!" Railspike relayed.

"What kind of plan?" Efu inquired. Railspike didn't even reprimand the other sparkling for butting in. That was the furthest thing from his mind right now. Nozoma glanced over as well, confusion in his own optics.

"Efu, you and Nozoma will go in and take that thing on in combat to get its attention. Once you have its attention, try and lure it to the edge of the platform where Matagi can snipe at its lower belly. Then, once it's knocked on its back, I'll finish it off," Railspike stated.

"You sure?" Efu asked, feeling nervous.

Railspike gave a firm nod. "Yeah. That's an affirmative, kid!" he remarked.

The three sparklings glanced at one another, then back at Railspike and gave a firm nod. "Hai!"

With the plan in place, Railspike gave the order for Nozoma and Efu. "Go! Take it out!" he cried.

The two younger trains broke into a run, Nozoma's energy blades humming to life as Efu's sword flashed in the light from the field.

Nozoma's optics flashed as his Aura began to seethe over his frame, its tri-colored light shifting to a beautiful snow white as he ran. The energy began to wrap itself around his energy daggers, coating them in a snowy white fire, eerily reminiscent of the fiery ice that the Ice Elemental used. He sprang into the air, his thrusters humming as he spun around. The Dust dispensers on his forearms slid open, spilling wind Dust into the air in greenish particles. A roar escaped him as he swung those blades, unleashing a pair of shockwaves comprised of pure air at the Blizzard Turtle. "AERO DOUBLE SLASH!"

For his part, Efu thrust his sword into the air as the blade gleamed a brilliant pink color. He brought it down and turned it so the closed symbol was facing the Kaiju. "Turnstile Sword!" The symbol flashed and expanded out, just as two green lights formed on either side of the Blizzard Turtle. It looked around as the lights extended into an energy cage, like that of a turnstile in Tokyo Station. The Blizzard Turtle made to exit, only for the front and rear 'gates' slammed shut, trapping it.

That was all that was needed. Nozoma's energy waves struck the Turtle, causing it to flinch under the recoil. But, as the energy cage vanished, Nozoma was already using the cover of smoke to run in, his blades disengaging into his wrists. His fist clenched and he sprang up, a nasty surprise in store for the Kaiju.

"CHANGE! ADVANCED MODE!" Nozoma bellowed.

As he said those words, one of the cars from his shinkansen form came streaking through the air, called by the command. The car glowed brightly before it split into three components, each one aiming for Nozoma. His optics flashed as his very frame began to change. His pedes and lower legs bulked up a bit, and his shoulder guards extended out a bit, becoming more streamlined. He held out one servo and the first component, what looked like a bulky right forearm latched on to his right arm. The servo within it flexed out and he clenched it into a fist, golden dragon-like claws folding out. The backpack component attached itself to his back, various thruster ports opening on it. The large shield attached itself to his left forearm, a black and white square visible on a metallic plate as it slid out at the top of the shield. His left servo clenched around the handle for the shield and he brandished it, a set of extra armor points coming into position on his helm. The white components on his command fin turned a brilliant golden color and his optics flashed brightly. "ADVANCED MODE - CHANGE COMPLETE!"

"Advanced Mode online and within operational parameters!" Futaba's voice relayed over the COMMs. Railspike was not even about to question the necessity of that.

Nozoma thrust his right fist out, the enhanced limb connecting solidly with the Kaiju's jaw and causing it to reel back. But he wasn't done yet. He whipped his left leg out and connected his pede with the Kaiju's lower torso, making it recoil even further.

Efu saw what he was doing and reacted as well. He tensed his shoulders and frame, clenching his hands as his own Aura burned a beautiful green color, focusing on his chest as the nose coupling cover slid open to expose his chest cannon. He crossed his arms in front of his chest before thrusting them out to the side, a shining beam of greenish energy firing from the mouth of the cannon. "GRAN CROSS!" The blast slammed into the Kaiju, forcing it to stand up on its rear flippers...

And Railspike saw his chance. "MATAGI! NOW!" he bellowed.

That was all Matagi needed to strike.

Matagi held up his guns and flipped them into cannon mode, letting them land on his shoulder guards. Once they were securely attached, he clenched his fists, his Aura seething over his frame as he channeled it into his guns. His Aura shifted from tri-colored into a brilliant blazing red, the energy coalescing into the barrels of his weapons. He flipped down his Namahage Goggles over his optics, allowing him to target at the Kaiju's chest. The targeting reticle danced in his vision before turning green, and he tensed his frame as he focused more of his power into his cannons. The pressure in his shoulders was building, and he finally released it. "FUMIKIRI BARRAGE!" The blasts fired, arcing right for the icy Kaiju. They split into six smaller shots, each slamming into the beast's body, finally causing it to flip onto its shell.

The Blizzard Turtle roared as it flailed helplessly.

And that was Railspike's cue to deliver the blow.

He ran forward, his pedes pounding against the platform as the Kaiju wriggled and squirmed, trying to get upright.

He skidded to a stop before crouching and springing up into the air, his servo clenching on his shield's handle as he whipped it around, aiming it right at the chest of the Blizzard Turtle. "Okay! Time to melt this snow heap!" he quipped. He wasn't sure why, but for some reason, it fit. Not even a moment later, he pressed the release switch on the handle of his shield. "MISSILE SHIELD!" The warheads mounted along its sides fired, sending their payload right for the downed icy Kaiju. With a roar, the Blizzard Turtle tried to withdraw into its shell, but failed miserably due to its position. The warheads struck its chest, exposing the core as the icy armor covering it shattered. Railspike drew back his fist as he dove down towards the exposed core. "RAAAAAAAAAAAH!" A loud bellow escaped his vocalizer as he drove his fist home, shattering the core with a well-placed punch.

The Kaiju froze, its body seeming to glow as Railspike leapt off, landing a fair distance away before the beast exploded into a fireball. He threw his shield up as the sparklings summoned forth their Auras to protect from the blast wave. Railspike lowered his shield and stood up straight, eyeing the location on which the Kaiju had once been. He nodded once, seeing the ice beginning to dissipate into the air of the capture field.

"Kaiju down!" Futaba remarked. "Target has been eliminated."

"Good work, minna!" Director Hayasugi exclaimed. "RTB so we can have a debrief. Something unexpected has just come up, and we need all hands on deck for this one."

TOKYO STATION

TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS

MAIN MEETING ROOM

The kids all scrambled to their seats as the director entered the room later that afternoon.

Behind him came Miku and Shinobu, both having returned from the Shiga Highlands when Dani returned as well.

"Good timing. Everyone is here except for Tsuranuki, whom I know you'll fill in next time you contact him," Director Hayasugi said as he ran a hand through his hair.

"So what's the deal, otōsan?" Hayato asked.

"Long story short..." Here Hokuto's eyes narrowed. "...this."

He tapped a button on the table and the holographic imagers kicked in, showcasing the recent events outside of Tokyo. "You can see here that there's been an attack that just took place outside of the ruins of Omiya. The government has started to take action to rebuild the old city, but so far the going is rather slow. But just as the work crews were starting to undertake efforts..."

The screen showed the workers clearing away debris and rubble from where the Omiya Railway Museum was, only for something shadowy and black to move in and attack them. Their panicked screams could be heard as the camera footage from the trucks and other vehicles showed a large mechanical hand slamming itself into one of the vehicles, crushing it. Railspike, for his part, was observing this through the laptop that Hokuto had rigged up to project his image on. "That's not good..." he rumbled.

"I know..." Director Hayasugi muttered. "I'm a bit concerned because the more I look at this footage, the more I'm seeing one of you kids out there."

"But we've never even been near Omiya!" Hayato protested.

"I know that, Hayato," the older cat Faunus assured him. "But that's where this is very both interesting and disturbing. If this is not your actions out there, then someone or something is trying to act out against you kids, making you out to be the bad guys."

"Hold on. How can we even be sure of this?" Railspike countered. "All we have is just some video footage you showed us." Then his optics narrowed a bit. "And from the quality, I'd say it's not very good. And the snow doesn't help matters either."

"You're right on that one, Railspike," Hokuto admitted. "The quality isn't very good, and the snow doesn't help at all. But I'm sure of it."

"Hmm..." Railspike rumbled thoughtfully as he folded his arms across his chest. "Maybe you're right. But who knows what really happened there? Until we know for sure what's really going on, don't assume anything. Got it, Director?"

The director was silent before he nodded. "Right. I understand."

Miku frowned as she watched the image replay on the screen before the assembled group.

"I'm curious." Her statement caught everyone by surprise.

"About what?" Shinobu asked.

The rabbit Faunus pointed to the screen as it showed the black shadowy hand reaching out to crush the vehicle again. "Pause it."

The director seemed to catch on to what she was saying and paused the video feed just as the hand crushed the vehicle.

"Hold on. Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Hayato asked, looking to the video footage. "That it could be that fake Shinkalion, 2B-O?"

Miku nodded.

Director Hayasugi pursed his lips as he recalled the fight with the android. "I do remember that," he mused. "And it could very well be the case. But until we know for sure what is really going on, we have to be extra alert."

"True," Ryuji added, his tail swishing as he leaned back against the wall of the meeting room. "And the mere fact that 2B-O is still out there is very good reason to be on high alert."

The director nodded, his eyes hard. "All the more reason that you kids have to be careful if you deploy."

The five Shinkalions nodded before Railspike cleared his throat. "I do have to admit that this is very disturbing. So I would prefer if we investigate this incident, Director."

Hokuto rubbed his face with one hand. "I understand where you're coming from, Railspike. But right now we need to hold off on deploying the Shinkalions for a bit. Just so we can figure out what is going on here."

The old train grumbled, but did see his point. His image showed him folding his arms and leaning back against one of the cradles used to house the kids' frames in robot mode.

However, that did not mean he couldn't do it himself...

Regardless, the ex-Autobot looked serious as he pursed his lips. "I still don't like this," he rumbled.

And the kids all nodded in agreement.

Even the director nodded.

Of course, no one was aware of what was going on outside on the surface...

TOKYO STATION EXTERIOR

Unbeknownst to the team currently hidden within the underground headquarters, as the snow began to slow down its attack on the city, the station was close to deserted.

And it was just as well.

That meant that the seven had every right to sneak in.

The seven shapes slipped through the snow like black phantoms, each of them blending in with the shadows around them. The black shapes were, if one looked closely, could be seen to be humanoid in design, more particularly of the female gender. The seven shadows skidded to a stop close to the station's entryway and slowly plastered themselves on either side of it.

A lone patrol car drove by, the bird Mobian at the wheel narrowing her eyes before moving on. As her car passed the station's main entrance, the beams of the headlights projected outwards and swept past the shadowy figures, creeping up one of them before the form in question vanished in a puff of smoke.

The police car continued on and rounded the corner as the other six made their moves.

With their target in mind, the seven shapes huddled around the window as the first shape knelt.

A dainty-looking hand reached out and then slid a single tool out of the sleeve beneath. The shadowy shape looked up, revealing a woman's head. Her black hair swept upwards in a swirl, and she wore on her face a white fox mask with red eyes. But this was no Grimm, nor a Fallen. Oh, no.

This woman was one of a select breed of assassins and Huntresses. She was one of the Seven Sisters, a rumored-to-exist group that had surfaced just days after the First Wave of Kaiju made shore fifteen years ago. And despite the increase in size and power of the Kaiju Grimm, these women were at the top of the list for the government to turn to in the event of a surprise attack or when the Shinkalions couldn't deploy in time. No one knew who the Seven Sisters really were, but rumors abounded about their existence and capabilities, which were said to surpass even the British Empire's own Special Air Service. But no one could confirm nor deny these rumors. Most people assumed them to be just legends due to how little information there was on them. And that suited them just fine. But just as a precaution, they tended to wear white masks with an animal motif to add an air of mystique and mystery to their already otherworldly appearance.

The woman gripped a small ninja tool in one hand as she crept forward.

Her eyes, hidden behind her mask, narrowed as she slowly reached out and grasped the window.

The woman slipped her tool into the window's edge and slowly started to wriggle around the glass until it popped cleanly out of its frame. It could easily be replaced; after all, Neko was skilled in replacing windows after they had been removed.

The seven black-clad figures slipped inside, acting more like shadows than humans. The dark cloth of their uniforms made them perfect assassins and ninja. Kitsune cast her gaze around before she looked to Neko and nodded. A single nod back was all she got. The black-clad women started to spread out, each one inching through the station and looking for any indication that their targets were in the area. But so far nothing seemed to be in the area. Kitsune looked to a third woman, this time wearing a white wolf mask over the top of her face, exposing her nose and mouth.

Around her, a light blue Aura began to glow, and the eyes of her mask flashed that same blue color. She crouched down, and then she placed a hand to the ground. Her Aura pulsed once before it vanished and she looked to Kitsune. A quick nod before the woman pointed to the closest staircase leading down to the basement.

Kitsune gave a nod to her companion, known only as Hokkaido when clad in uniform.

Hokkaido crept down the staircase, followed closely by Kitsune and the woman in the white bear mask, Ussuri as she was known. Her eyes narrowed behind her fox mask as she studied the area.

Everything seemed normal enough. But if Hokkaido was leading them down here, then her Semblance must've picked something up. It was no wonder her Semblance was called Wolf's Scent. It allowed her to pick up the 'scent' of a person's Aura, letting her follow them much like a wolf followed its prey. Hokkaido followed the trail down the stairs, coming to the basement level. She reached out a hand and halted her sisters. Without as much as a sound, Hokkaido reached into a pouch on her uniform, pulling out a small lockpick.

Kitsune nodded to her sister.

Hokkaido stuck her tool into the lock.

She went to work.

SAMMAEL'S CASTLE

DARKLANDS

The leader of the Fallen smirked as he observed the recent fight in Tokyo.

He had to admit that the Kaiju developed for that situation really gave him a new idea on how the Shinkalions fought.

And now that he had everything in place, he just needed to wait for the right time to deploy his new pawns in the midst of the city.

But the only issue was when, and how.

His eyes flicked over to his Seer as he observed the six shapes as they made their way back from Omiya. The ruckus caused by them had really given some people reason to doubt the Shinkalions, but it was not enough to cause their support to falter.

Then again, it was perhaps that there weren't many survivors left to make it home. He scowled at the thought.

It was such a pity that so few had survived. The more people to spread the misinformation there were, the better the chances of his plan working were. He would have to ask I.O.N.E.S.C.O.U. to make some adjustments to their personality matrices after they returned. Then perhaps they'd be more willing to let more survivors go.

Sammael leaned back in his throne, placing one hand on his cheek as he pondered his next move against the bullet trains.

At the same time, elsewhere in Japan, a new ally was about to arrive...

OZORA HOUSEHOLD

TOKYO, JAPAN

To say it was a normal day was an understatement.

To fourteen-year-old Rei Ozora, it was also the day his father was coming home.

His father was one of the very few who had gone into space to try and study the cosmos, as well as help with a few top-secret colonization programs on other worlds, such as Reach. Of course, that bit was unknown to the rest of the world as a whole. In fact, the only reason such missions were possible was because of reverse engineering some ancient alien technology found in some ruins not too far from Okinawa and the site of the Iwo Jima Metal Man, as well as Life Form MX.

His father, Hayashi Ozora, was a member of the government's latest department under the Ministry of Defense, the Astro Self-Defense Forces. And it helped he had served in the Air Self-Defense Force prior to his reassignment to the new branch of the Self-Defense Forces. His mother, Ino Ozora, on the other hand, worked as a computer programmer, working on the systems used in some of Japan's mightiest war machines. But she had the option of working from home, so he was at least allowed to see her.

Rei's blue-gold eyes glimmered as he dashed towards the front door of the house as it slid open, revealing his father, a well-built man in his late thirties, early forties. He had a very rare condition in his eyes - heterochromia - with his right eye being blue and his left eye being hazel in its color, but his hair was a dark brown color. A smile graced his lips as he spotted his son. He wore a black suit with a blue tie, the only splash of color in his wardrobe, and he carried in his hand a single briefcase filled with all kinds of plans for the first generation of space fighters currently under development.

"Rei!" he exclaimed, kneeling down.

The teen crashed into the man, making him laugh as he rubbed his son's golden-blonde hair.

"Rei? Is that your father I hear?" Ino asked as she poked her head out of her first floor office. Her eyes locked onto her husband, and she smiled. "Oh, Hayashi!"

"Ino. It's been far too long," Hayashi replied as he stood up, giving Rei a pat on the shoulder as he did so. "I just got back from the airport."

"It has been," Ino remarked as she stepped out of the office. Unlike her son, she had brown eyes, but her hair was a golden blonde color, a genetic trait carried over from her Caucasian mother. Her son just happened to inherit her hair color, but his father's eye colors in what was a very rare mix of the two. The genes usually formed into either green or remained blue or hazel. But in this case he got a perfect blend of both, which made him a rarity in his class. People often commented on his eyes, but that usually happened with people he first met. After that, it usually died off.

But if there was one thing that made Rei a standout besides his eyes, it was his genius for robotics.

His father and mother often were complimented by his teachers for having such a smart kid in his class. And some people even said he would become the creator of new combat robots at some point in the future.

And for Ino and Hayashi, they wanted their son to excel, but at what he loved doing. So they helped support his love for all things pertaining to robotics. They bought him books on robotic engineering and mechanical engineering. And he absorbed all the information like a sponge. They gave him paper and pencils so he could make plans for robots. Artwork was displayed in the house in certain rooms to show off his intelligence, but for the most part, they kept it rather quiet. After all, he was still just a kid.

And he not only was a robotics prodigy, but he was also intent on following his father's footsteps in becoming an astronaut.

Rei was about his father's height now, but he was lean and lanky. Yet he was not weak. He was surprisingly strong for his body type.

"How's it going, Dad?" Rei inquired.

"Fine." Hayashi set aside his briefcase and took off his coat and shoes, placing them to the side and putting on the slippers by the front door. "It's just been busy as of late, what with the sudden surge in Grimm attacks and all."

Rei frowned, knowing what his father meant. "Any sign of those robotic aliens though?" he asked.

When the Shinkalions had first made their debuts in Japan, Rei had practically squealed in joy. Not only were they robots, but they were robotic aliens from another world. He wished to learn as much as he could about their physiology, their structure, their inner workings, how they were able to generate Aura, use those special moves, etc. But due to very little information on what he sought, he was forced to study whatever footage he could get his hands on in order to learn how they worked.

But it was not to harm them. Oh, no. Rei was not heartless. The reason why he was studying them was to come up with possible upgrades for them down the line.

And he had a notebook filled with all kinds of ideas for them.

Of course, trying to even find the aliens was close to impossible, given how they appeared and disappeared at will after each battle.

But if anything, it only made him even more determined to find their location somehow.

He had no idea that they were right under his nose the whole time.