Doras walked slowly into a large passageway made of metal, making his way into what looked like a large starship, his heavy breathing echoing through the halls as he walked into a large room in the middle of the ship. There were controls and monitors all around the circular room, as a wide circular platform rested in the middle.
As Doras entered, a door closed behind him, and the platform slowly began to illuminate, a green light glowing through the top. A large rubbery green circle rose up and floated over the platform, as a strange humanoid figure pushed through it, taking its shape in the rubbery material in the circle, revealing an odd being from the computer calling himself the "Neo-Organism."
The Neo-Organism spoke to Doras in a deep, partially distorted voice. "So…the second one has awakened." Doras simply growled in response, as the Neo-Organism had already seen much of what happened earlier, using Doras as his eyes and ears.
"This may be more difficult than I had figured earlier." He concluded from his observations. "The professor obviously knew what he was doing, arranging this within some sort of required time frame." He looked a bit distressed. "I just don't know why it took us so long to locate the first ones until it was too late." Doras simply looked on as he said this, not showing too many signs of curiousness, or emotion in general.
"Well, it doesn't matter now…these things are obviously very strong and clever, judging from how they dispatched my mantis creature. They even defeated you, my finest creation." Doras growled louder as The Neo-Organism chuckled. "There's no need to get angry about it. They took us BOTH by surprise…this just means we will have to find other ways to dispose of these troublesome creatures, and keep any of the others from waking up in the process. Now, go back out there, and keep an eye on these two for now. I will devise another plan in the meantime."
Doras then growled and turned around, heading out of the door as it opened for him, while The Neo-Organism addressed him once more. "Remember Doras, that you are my vessel to the universe. As long as I am here, and fully functional, you can never die." He then disappeared back into the platform on the ship as Doras left.
Meanwhile, back in the valley, Cera, Ducky, Spike, and Petrie were gathered around Littlefoot and Shorty as they were now back in their normal bodies, with the adults watching close by.
Cera just shook her head and smiled. "You know, Littlefoot, we've known each other for a long, long time, and I think now I finally have something to be jealous about with you." She giggled as Littlefoot smiled a bit. "How did it feel to suddenly change like that?" a curious Ducky asked. "Well…it was very strange when it first happened…but then…it slowly became very easy for me to do all that stuff, like it was second nature or something." Shorty nodded softly, knowing exactly what he was talking about, as Grandma came over and smiled lightly. "All right now…let's give Littlefoot some time to rest, and then he'll answer any other questions…he's been through a lot today."
The others nodded and smiled as they walked off, chattering with each other in wonder and awe as Grandma nuzzled Littlefoot softly, while Shorty laid down to catch a quick nap. "So, how's my little hero doing?" Littlefoot chuckled a little. "Kinda achy, but all right I guess…" he looked to her and looked puzzled. "This is odd…I just changed into this…thing…I killed a monster using this form, and you're taking it so well."
Grandma laughed a little as she kept her grandson close. "Well, I won't lie to you, I was rather shocked when you first changed, but I realized something. When I watched you out there in that new body, fighting that ugly creature, I could somehow still see you inside of it…I knew that deep down inside of that strange form, you still had your heart intact, your kindness, and your determination to see that all you care about are safe." She smiled and licked Littlefoot softly. "I knew then that whatever this 'thing' you changed into is, it's still the same you deep inside…the same thing goes for Shorty."
Shorty smiled softly as he rested, while Bron came over and looked over them both. "This is just…amazing. The two boys I care about more than anything have probably just become even stronger than me." He chuckled as Littlefoot laughed and looked up at him. "Ah, Dad. I'd never think of myself being stronger than you." Shorty grinned a bit as he opened his eyes from his rest. "It's an entertaining thought, though, hehe." Littlefoot smiled as he laid down and rested near Shorty, as Bron and Grandma left with the other adults to let them sleep for a bit. Bron looked back as he walked off. "I may not know what's going on really, but it's great to see you dealing with the situation in the best way you can…I'm proud of you…both of you…"
Time passed, and as Shorty and Littlefoot rested, something came flying down into the space between them. It was the grasshopper that had appeared to them before, talking to them in a voice that only they could here. "Awaken, both of you…"
Littlefoot jumped a bit, and looked over at the insect. "It's you again!" Shorty slowly lurched up and saw the grasshopper once more. "Oh…what do you want this time?"
The grasshopper looked at both of them. "I'm sorry for not telling you about this well enough before, but there was no time to do it properly. And now that there is time, I think I should try to clarify a few things." Shorty nodded. "Fair enough…first question, just who in blazes are you?" The grasshopper looked at Shorty. "I am no one really. I am obviously not a common insect. I am merely a machine, like your bike, a data assistant program left behind by the late Dr. Mochizuki."
"Mochi-whatzits?" Littlefoot asked, with a confused look on his face as the Grasshopper turned to him. "Professor Jiro Mochizuki, of the planet Paxeria." Littlefoot furrowed his Brow. "Paxeria?…" Shorty looked on in curiousity as the grasshopper spoke. "Oh, yes, you're probably not aware of this fact…your world, is but one of many planets in the universe, though many other creatures are not only aware of this, but travel to other worlds outside of their own through special means of travel."
Shorty could hardly believe what he was hearing, as Littlefoot suddenly remembered an incident involving the Stone of Cold Fire and…"The rainbow faces!" Shorty turned to him with a stupefied look on his face "Rainbow faces?…" Littlefoot looked to the Grasshopper. "Those two rainbow faces that came here once, they were from another world right?" The Grasshopper sat for a moment, processing this odd terminology given to it. "Rainbow faces…yes. Those were Paxerians, just like the professor." Shorty addressed the grasshopper next. "And who exactly is this professor?"
The grasshopper addressed Shorty in a matter-of-fact way. "Professor Mochizuki was the creator of your new alternate forms." Littlefoot's eyes lit up. "Really? Wow, then he'd know all about this. Where is he now?" The grasshopper fluttered it's wings a bit. "I'm afraid he's dead now…" Littlefoot gasped a bit. "Dead…why? What happened?"
Shorty and Littlefoot were all ears now as the grasshopper spoke, somehow able to understand what he was saying as the change seemed to affect their brains as well. "Well, I will try to explain this as best I can with what information I have." It fluttered its wings some more as it processed the info. "For many years, there has been conflict between the creatures of Paxeria, and the android race of the planet MW-537 known as the 'Impactors'. A few years ago, after activating what he deemed as the perfect computer system, Professor Jiro Mochizuki proclaimed that he could use it to create brand new advanced versions of the combat suits the Paxerians had been using to defend themselves against the Impactors, who had tried to invade their planet many times before.
The Paxerian government agreed to his plans, letting him set out into his own corner of space on his research vessel to begin his experiments. He created quite a few prototypes, using the designs of insects, which are looked upon as being honorable ancestors to all living things in Paxerian culture, saving all the components for each design in small data discs.
But while he was doing his research, something happened; that he never thought could ever happen…the super computer he had created became self-aware communicating with him just like a real being with emotions. It was then that the professor discovered the Paxerian military's intent to use his new designs to launch a full scale assault on MW-537, a term that he had never agreed to, wanting only to use the suits as means of defense.
The computer sensed his distress over the subject, and devised a solution. If the professor would surrender his data discs, and let the computer consume and merge with the new designs, it would be somehow able to leave the confines of the electronic world and become an all powerful "Neo-Organism". It would then capture the irrational minds of the foolish people all through the universe, and bring them all under a new order, ending all conflict everywhere, so it believed.
But the professor wanted no part of this, and did his best to insure that the computer could not take all the designs. But the computer, or "Neo-Organism" as it called itself now, had resources of its own, using it's own programming to create a vessel for itself, the creature you have both seen before, which is called "Doras".
Eventually, The professor was able to manually pilot the research ship near an oncoming meteor shower heading towards earth, and confronted the Neo-organism, using one of the weapon launchers on the ship to send the data discs into the meteor shower, programming them to find suitable hosts in the process, proclaiming to the Neo-organism that these new "riders", as the combat suits are often called on Paxeria, would one day awaken, rise against it, and destroy it.
The Neo-Organism was of course angered, and soon afterward killed the professor by using Doras. It was then that I was activated, and left the ship to go down to earth, so that I could share this information with whoever became a host…"
Littlefoot's eyes were wide open as he heard all of this, as Shorty was laying on his side, looking rather overwhelmed. "That was a lot to swallow there…" the grasshopper turned to him and flicked its wings. "Forgive me, but there was much to say. I'm certain that it will begin to make more sense to you as confront more of the Neo-Organism's creations, and believe me, young sirs, there WILL be more of them." It then fluttered its wings and floated over the two. "Have you any other questions for me?" Both Littlefoot and Shorty shook their heads slowly. "Then I should leave, and keep myself from being seen by your enemies. Good luck, young riders…" The grasshopper then flew away, disappearing.
Out in the deep reaches of Space, a ship rushed along, bearing the symbols of Paxeria, as two special agents on the planet set a course for earth on the inside. At the main controls was the friendly, but serious "Rainbow face" known as Takumi. He looked exactly like the creatures that Littlefoot had remembered seeing before, but this one wore a dark blue uniform with a symbol on the left breast pocket.
The second Paxerian soon joined Takumi in the cockpit, special agent Mihara. "How much longer until we reach the terran solar system?" Takumi looked at one of the screens in front of him. "Just another 15 minutes, and we'll be well on our way to Earth." Mihara nodded as he looked out at the stars. "Do you really think the professor's still out there?"
Takumi shrugged as he piloted. "I have no clue. All I know is that it's where his last transmission came from before he went silent." Mihara looked down at a screen that displayed data on the primitive terran solar system as he thought to himself. "Hey…isn't earth where your old teacher and his wife went to a few years ago?" Takumi looked to Mihara and nodded. "Yes, Dr. Horikuchi." Mihara smiled a bit as he reclined in his seat. "From what I recall, he had quite an adventure there on Earth. Think we'll be in for the same thing?" Takumi kept a serious look as he drove the ship along its course, curious about this himself secretly. "I don't know, Mihara. Even if Earth is the only planet in the Terran solar system capable of sustaining life, there's a chance we may not even have to land there. The professor probably just has a faulty transmitter anyway."
Mihara chuckled. "There you go again, always downplaying every mission we're assigned to. Do you always have to assume it's something mundane that's happening." Takumi grinned to his partner. "Well, I've got to do something to keep our hopes down. If we're not surprised all the time, then where's the excitement of the job?" Mihara laughed and nodded. "You've got a point there…" Takumi chuckled and nodded as the two made their way further into deep space. In a corner, there were two small metal cases, one red and silver, the other black and white, with the words "Faiz" (like the greek letter "Phi") on the red case, and "Delta" on the black case.
Back on Earth, Littlefoot and Shorty were still letting the information the grasshopper gave them set in slowly, as Littlefoot's grandparents, Bron and Sue, as well as Cera's father discussed what had been going on quietly.
"I always somehow knew that Littlefoot was special from his friends when I first saw him." Grandpa mused. "But never would I have imagined him becoming something this powerful when he got older." Bron jumped in "It's the same way I feel with Shorty. I knew he was a tough kid when I first saw him protecting all the other hatchlings. I knew he that he could grow to be a powerful protector when he got older, but this is far beyond anything I'd envisioned."
Cera's father looked on sternly. "Well, one thing I learned in all my years of fighting sharpteeth, is that when you beat one in a certain area, another one's going to come along to replace it soon after. I think it might be the same with these new creatures, like the one that attacked me." He shook his head slowly. "I've seen a lot of strange things ever since I was kid, but nothing, I mean nothing, could prepare me for whatever that thing was. I'm glad those two boys were somehow able to defeat it and protect us all, especially Cera."
Grandma looked around at all of the group. "The only thing that troubles me is how exactly did they end up changing like this?" Sue suddenly chimed in. "Didn't Shorty say something about it having to do with that time when all those firey balls rained from the sky?" Bron nodded. "Yeah. And he said something about a grasshopper talking to him too."
Just as the group of adults was pondering these details, two figures suddenly came leaping from out of nowhere, bouncing off the trees, and swinging their weapons at the adults as they dodged them. The figures landed, in the form of two ferocious humanoid lizards, hissing from their slimy dripping jaws as they held swords and wore light armor, as Doras stood in the distance, growling as he lowered the two hands he used to create the two monsters.
As this was going on, Littlefoot and Shorty suddenly woke up, somehow sensing the danger in the distance as they got up and ran, going over to the other adults, who were backing away from the two small but swift and powerful monsters. They watched as Littlefoot stopped and turned to Shorty "Well…back to work" he simply said as Shorty nodded, as they both willed their symbols and belts to appear once more, both closing their eyes and stating "Henshin…" at the same time.
The two ran as they quickly shifted into the forms of Agito and Gillis. Littlefoot, as Agito, ran quickly to the first monster and kicked one of the swords from it's hand, leaping and kicking it across the jaw as it grunted and rolled on the ground as it fell, getting back up as Shorty came charging in crying out in rage as Gillis, making claws form on the top of his hands as he swiped them at the other monster, who blocked the swiping with its swords before Gillis took one powerful swipe, cleaving one of the blades completely in two! The monster roared in frustration as this happened, taking a slice of Gillis' arm a bit with the other blade as he fell back and growled in pain, the rage in him growing more.
Agito continued to fight the other monster in more calm and graceful manner as the adults watched in amazement, swiftly blocking every swipe and every kick from the creature, before stepping away and doing something he had never done before. He reached down into the middle of his belt as it glowed, retrieving a double-bladed staff from it as his armor changed from gold to blue, becoming what the professor had dubbed "Typhoon form" He twirled the staff smoothly, making light gusts of wind with the two blades on each end, as the monster simply prepared itself for another attack, charging in with both of its swords, before being met with a swift slice across the chest, and another one over the back as Agito moved behind him, posing with the staff and holding it as the monster simply fell forward onto the ground, it's body coming apart before it exploded!
Gillis, who was too busy to see all of this, pulled off a little trick of his own. He grabbed the claw on his right hand, and pulled it out, turning it into a long, whip-like coil. He swung the coil at the monster, handling it like a nunchaku almost as the pointed tip made a few scratches on the monster as it defended itself with it's remaining sword. Gills soon retracted the coil, and cried out in rage with his arms extended as the two points on his heels suddenly grew into long sharp blades! The monster readied its sword as Gillis took to the sky, putting his hands under one leg as he brought it high above his head, catching the monster before it could react as he brought the heel down, jamming the blade deep into its shoulder! Gillis stood there with his foot on the monster's shoulder, crying out in rage once more, this time in victory, as his mandibles moved on his helmet, before using the other leg to kick himself off the monster, somersaulting backwards and landing on his feet as the monster clutched it's wound, before losing consciousness, falling over, and exploding!
Agito, looked over at Gillis, as the two simply acknowledged each other with the nod of the head, while Grandma looked to Grandpa. "My goodness, dear. They're even more powerful than we originally thought." Grandpa nodded as Bron added. "I just hope they're ready to accept the responsibility that's going to come with it…"
The group watched as the two warriors walked away from the smoldering remains of the monsters, as Agito changed back into Littlefoot, and Gillis became Shorty once more. Doras, who had apparently just been using the monsters to test the abilities of the warriors some more, just turned and left the scene.
But they were all unaware of the figure that was watching them, high up on one of the cliff, dressed in black, gold, and silver armor, with gold inscriptions on the chest plate, and a large red single visor on it's helmet, with black, mantis-like horns rising from the top of it, and carrying a bow in one hand. After watching the battle end, this strange new rider also turned and left, vanishing into the rocks…