"Say what?!" Tsuranuki's eyes bugged as he staggered back.

Akita's eyes were wide as he stared with his mouth open. "I did not see where this story was headed..." he murmured.

Shinobu was silent, but his eyes too were wide.

Miku on the other hand had a hand to her mouth and her rabbit ears were folded back against her head. "Then... this whole time...?"

Ryuji stood beside the desk of Hokuto as he frowned.

"I see..." Hokuto mused. "That's a real problem."

The cheetah Faunus nodded. "And it has to be addressed," he added.

Hokuto closed his eyes. "I agree. Seeing as how you kids are the only ones who can do this, it makes sense that you'd be targeted when in the pods, seeing as how you're helpless when your souls are inside the Shinkalions."

"Then this means we can't continue?" Miku asked. Part of her hoped that that was the case, because then she wouldn't worry her mother when she went out to fight.

Instead, the director shook his head. "No. You'll still continue to fight. But instead, what we're gonna do is install a measure to keep any Grimm from coming in to try and strike you down," he explained.

"That won't be enough," Ryuji said seriously. "It's best you let only one of us fight. The others-" He gestured to the four teens. "-will only be a liability."

But Director Hayasugi shook his head. "No, Ryuji. They stay on. That is my final order."

The Faunus scowled, but relented and stepped back. "But that does bring up another matter. We will have to have a specialized team slated to only defend the pod room if a Grimm strikes at it," Hokuto continued. "And that means we'll have to bring in some outsiders..." His eyes hardened. "Or barring that... bringing him online..."

"What?!"

(Shows a pair of eyes opening before the eyes morph into optics)

START Kaitei no Orchestra (Precious Time) (ROMI)

(The optics flash as the camera pans out to show six shadowy mecha before they leap towards the camera, brandishing their weapons)

Hiroi aoi kono basho de tokiga nagarete yuku my precious time (The image fades to show a cat Faunus boy with brown hair and magenta eyes walking down a street close to the ocean, looking down at an image of his mother in his hand. He perks up as he spots a rabbit Faunus girl with light green hair and eyes hugs him, making him yelp. A boy with brown hair and brown eyes joins the girl on the cat Faunus's other side, and gives a thumbs up. A boy with dark purple hair and eyes approaches from the left and smiles a bit before a ninja youth leaps down on the right, his dark grey hair and purple eyes standing out with the purple highlight on the right side of his bangs. The five look up at the sky as a shimmering image of a cheetah Faunus with blue hair and eyes appears behind them. The title appears below them all.)

GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING

Itsu no manika kiete shimatte kakegaeno koega (The image fades to show the cat Faunus standing beside his mother's grave, his eyes fixed on her name)

Tsumaranai hibimo sorega sukide ikitetanda (Memories of her and his family march past as he bows his head)

Higa sashiteru tokomade omoikkiri hashitte (A wind blows past and he perks up as he sees something ahead of him, making him break into a run to try and reach the shadowy, winged humanoid shape as it looks back with yellow optics, holding out a hand)

Shinjirarenai koto bakari menomaeni okiru (The two embrace hands and then a flash of light engulfs the screen, fading to show a large Kaiju-class Grimm being attacked by a blue and white mecha wielding a drill before the two clash)

Taiyou no hou wo miagate tachiagaruno tsurakute (The impact throws off a light that engulfs the screen, dissipating to show the cat Faunus, but battered and wounded, looking at the sky, the sun shining down on him as he reaches up a hand, as if grasping at it)

Susumu koto dake omouto (He tries to stagger to his feet, only to collapse briefly before he lifts his gaze, a yellow optic forming in place of his eye as it glows brightly)

Setsunai tabiwo tsuzukeru kawatta me no okuniwa (The light of the optic fades as the camera moves out to show a green and white mecha armed with a sword and wings on its back attacking a porcupine Kaiju-class Grimm in close combat, only for the Kaiju to fire off a slew of spines from its legs and back, making the mecha block with a shimmering tri-colored Aura)

Natsukashii itoshisa wo motomete (On my way) (Behind the mecha appears an image of a cat Faunus woman, and the mecha lunges forward, its sword glowing as it traps the Grimm in an energy cage before slicing it in half)

Kizutsuke attanowa nikui wake janai nosa (The Grimm explodes before a Faunus Ultra gorilla lunges from behind, making the mecha spin to block with its sword, images of a peaceful world appearing behind it before punching the Faunus Ultra and sending it staggering back)

Sokoni kibouga arunonara my precious time (The images coalesce around the mecha's chest as it fires a blast of green energy from a hidden chest cannon at the screen)

Itsukaraka onaji keshikini kakomarete sugoshite (The screen comes back into view, this time showing the cat Faunus as he stands atop a building in Tokyo, his friends beside him as they eye the distant horizon, a shadowy shape behind Mt. Fuji in the distance)

Akinonai koega sukoshizutsu chiri hajimeta (The boy looks down at an image of his mother in his hands, his friends placing their hands on his shoulders to comfort him as tears streak down his cheeks)

Ameni utareta mamade omoku seouno tsurakute (The camera zooms in on his eyes before panning out to show him looking at the window, the same green and white mecha on the other side, both touching their hands to one another before it shifts to show the cat Faunus's mother as a transparent image behind the mecha)

Ushinau koto dake omouto (The camera zooms in on the mecha's face before panning out to show two Faunus, a fox woman and a bull man, standing atop a hotel in downtown Tokyo)

Togirenai omoino nakade hisshi ni tsukamunosa (The two Faunus lunge for the mecha, only to be blocked by a red and white mecha with two guns and a purple and white mecha wielding two shuriken in its hands Beside them is a white and green mecha armed with a sword and the blue and white mecha with the drill is close by)

Dokomademo dokomademo sagasunda (Find your way) (The five mecha charge towards a large shape as it looms out of the shadows of the two Faunus, and behind them is the shape of a white and blue mecha armed with twin energy blades)

Otagaini motomeatte kakera wo tsunagunosa (Shows the six mecha as they stand in a line, each of them holding their weapons at the ready before they charge forward; the green and white mecha fires off its chest cannon as the blue and white mecha spins its drill up, a blue aura engulfing it, the red and white mecha fires its twin guns in a rifle configuration as the purple and white mecha uses its shuriken as weapons, the white and green mecha swings its sword as heat radiates from the blade and the white and blue mecha swipes with its energy blades, releasing a shockwave)

Sokoni kibouga mierukara wow oh wow (The blasts combine to generate an explosion as it hits something before the smoke parts to reveal a scenic image of the city of Tokyo, the tendrils of Satyra retreating from it)

Kimiga tsukutta monogatari saikou no omoide ni nattanda (The image shifts to show the cat Faunus looking down at a photo album of his mother and his friends and family, tears pricking at his eyes before he sees his friends beside him and they hold out their hands, a smile crossing his face as he takes their hands and they pull him out of the darkness into the light)

Bokurano nakani ikitsuzukete soshite arigatou wow (They all hug before a flash of light envelops them, fading shortly after to reveal the six mecha, this time images of the six kids behind them as they charge at a shadowy shape as it looms over them)

Setsunai tabiwo owarasunda miraiwo kaete tsukuruno sa (The image pans to the right to show them all charging, this time transparent scenes of new enemies marching past them - Dr. Robotnik, Sammael, and Moloch - before fading to show the city of Tokyo at sunset, a light shining in this darkening world)

Istumademo akiramezuni oistuzukete (On my way) (The green and white mecha with the wings thrusts its hand out towards an image of the cat Faunus's mother as she reaches out, and their hands clasp before it shows the green and white mecha firing off its chest cannon, the beam this time a shining gold color)

Tashikani kanjitanda kimiga kureta yuuki wo (The blast strikes the enemy before them - Dr. Robotnik - before it shows the mecha with its companions as they join in on the attack with their own moves)

Bokuno subete wo gisei ni torimodosunda bokurano precious time (The image fades to show the six kids standing in front of Tokyo, the title of the series appearing below them)

GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING

OPENING FILES:

CLASSIFIED

DECRYPTING...

FILES DECRYPTED

OPENING FILES: SHASHOT

The latest in SDI technology, the SHinkalion ASsistant Humanoid Operations Tactical Unit, or SHASHOT for short, is designed to operate alongside the Shinkalions in combat against the Kaiju Grimm. Unlike the Drivers of the Shinkalions, SHASHOT is unable to fight in the field, instead remaining behind at SDI HQ in a tactical and strategic role alongside the human directors. This is to ensure they have an edge against the Kaiju Grimm if they start to develop intelligence, as well as to have an edge against Satyra's heavy hitters.

When not in combat, Shashot is capable of inhabiting a small robotic avatar to mingle with the populace outside of SDI Headquarters. Within the walls of the SDI HQ, however, Shashot is able to manifest an avatar in the form of a holographic human male. This is to make it easier to interact with the AI when not engaged in battle. Shashot is still a young AI, so there is much it - or rather, he - has to learn about life and humanity as a whole.

TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE

"When it comes to artificial intelligence, many people have always feared the fact that such an entity could deem humanity obsolete and conduct an extermination campaign, such as the AI found in the Terminator franchise when it struggled to wipe out humankind. But then again, there are those who have optimistic views of artificial intelligence, and see it as a possible ally in fights against dangerous adversaries." The figure narrowed their eyes as they leaned in, their glasses glinting. A male's body could now be seen in the dim light of the monitors.

He waved a hand and a monitor lit up, showing humanoid robots attacking humans as they fled. "But what will an AI truly do when they gain sentience? Will they be bound to their directive? Will they start to learn? And if so... then what? Even now, in our world, there is still a fear of an artificial intelligence takeover. But why? Because we fear the unknown. We fear what we don't know, and that in itself is something we need to learn to deal with. To adapt and venture into the unknown." The figure waved his hand again and the monitor went dark.

"Those who do venture into the unknown... they are pioneers. Pioneers who change the world for the better. No matter what field you are in, if you are pioneering something new and learning about it, don't be afraid to share your progress with others. That could lead to newer ideas, new bonds forged, and even...possibly, a society where man and machine can live in harmony."

The figure smiled. "So what will you seek out?"

CHAPTER XVI - SHASHOT

The team was floored. "You gotta be kidding me!" Tsuranuki shouted. "You actually developed something like that?!"

Hokuto nodded. "Yes." Here his eyes hardened. "We did."

"Hold on. You mean to tell me that you developed a real, working artificial intelligence?" Akita narrowed his eyes. "Pardon me for saying this bluntly, but that is just crazy and downright dangerous! Do you know what could possibly happen?!"

The director sighed. "I do... but to be honest, are the Kaiju Grimm any different? We know so little about them and some people fear they could become intelligent as well. Much like Kaiju Mobians are intelligent."

"They are two different things though," Miku pointed out. "Kaiju Mobians are Mobians whose very physiology was affected by the radiation emitted from the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. They are just like any other Mobian otherwise. Kaiju Grimm on the other hand, are completely separate entities in that they are made up of the Dark Substance and whatever other stuff they are fused with or based off of. They lack souls, intelligence, and therefore life."

"True," Hokuto admitted, "but some people are fearful the Kaiju Grimm could evolve to become intelligent. We're just preparing for that day."

"By making a freakin' AI?!" Tsuranuki snapped. "That is as close to suicidal as you can get! We don't know what will happen!"

"I know that!" Hokuto shouted, quieting the five Drivers before they erupted into shouts. "I know that, dammit! This is dangerous, but it could also be our best bet if any of the Kaiju Grimm were to become intelligent! We need that edge. And we need it soon. Who knows when the next Kaiju Grimm could become intelligent...?"

His voice trailed off, leaving the kids and Ryuji to consider the implications.

And none of them were good ones.

Tsuranuki pursed his lips as he sighed. "Well, you do bring up a good point..." he mused.

The team was not too keen on having to deal with this just a mere three days after the Misertree attack. Following the attack, Bugs Bunny and Lola had returned to America, but the Blazing Light had remained behind to explore Japan a bit more, on account of him being a tourist and a newcomer. The Dragon of Denver left as well, flying back to whatever place he called his roost, and Seph had retreated back to Tokyo Station for some recouperation after that battle. And Team Shinkalion needed to go over the recently unveiled risk as well.

But it was all necessary to try and keep them safe during their missions, Hokuto told them. All in all, the kids weren't too thrilled about possibly becoming Grimm food, but then again, the SDI needed them and so did Japan. So the director put out a call to the commander of the SDI after the battle and he was still waiting for a reply from them. When the kids asked about the contents of the call, all Director Hayasugi said was that it was a matter of their safety.

His eyes were hard as he faced the kids. "That I do, Tsuranuki," Hokuto said grimly. "So, what will happen is you all will be trained alongside the new AI as soon as it comes online. This way, we can gauge what needs to be improved or worked out to make it more efficient as a team member and a tactical expert."

Now Akita's eyes went wide. "Hold on. You mean you developed a battle AI?!" he blurted.

Hokuto shook his head as he leaned forward a bit, his hands tented in front of his mouth. "No. Not a battle AI. A command AI, so to speak. It was designed to oversee and work alongside the combat operations director by offering suggestions or even coming up with tactical plans when the human component fails. It's meant to work as an ally, not a superior intellect," he explained. "The reasoning was that we would one day need someone to offer tactical and strategic advise when we could not. And that led to the AI being created."

Shinobu wasn't too thrilled about one day working alongside an artificial intelligence, but he did see the director's point. They did need all the help they could get. He shifted in his seat. "What is the AI called?" he asked. Best to ask before it slipped his mind.

Hokuto smiled. "The SHinkalion ASsistant Humanoid Operations Tactical Unit. Or SHASHOT Unit for short," he said.

"Shashot..." Shinobu muttered the name, his eyes narrowed. Then he perked up. "The name... it's a play on shashō. Which means 'conductor.' And since we can become shinkansen mecha..."

The director gave a wry smirk. "Good catch, Shinobu. That is the other part of the reason we named it that."

Akita frowned. "So you circumvented Tamiko's Folly," he remarked.

The others all looked at him in shock, then back at the director.

"You could say that..." Hokuto admitted. "But it's not a true AI in the sense of the word. It has the ability to learn and adapt, yes, but... we hope to make it as human as possible so the law won't apply to it."

Tsuranuki knew of what Tamiko's Folly was. It was the set of rules that had been written down after the last artificial intelligence to have been developed went on a rampage and almost wiped out the city where it had been made. The scientist who developed it, Tamiko Kita, had been wounded in the attack and the United Nations, in the aftermath, had condemned her publicly and exiled her to a remote island where she had died in infamy. The subsequent consensus following the scientist's exile had agreed that any artificial intelligence had to have some kind of remote shutdown function, or barring that, a self-destruct sequence. The rules also stated that any AI had to meet certain requirements to be even considered for military use, like being unable to fully think for itself and to be fed certain data as the mission required. This was to prevent any attempted overthrow of the world's population.

Of course, there were those who insisted that the AI Tamiko had developed was flawed. But no one had the evidence to prove that.

But to actually develop an AI that went against the laws written after that day in 1962?!

That was downright crazy.

And he was not that crazy to work with something as untested as an AI.

"Look. I get where you're going with this, Director Hayasugi. I really do," Tsuranuki said. "But... frankly, I just... feel uncomfortable working alongside an AI that we have no idea on yet. So... I'm sorry to say this, but... even if it does come online, we're going to be doing things on our own." Here he gestured to his friends, save for Ryuji. "I'm sorry, sir."

The director sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand. "I understand, Tsuranuki. But... at least keep an open mind to this. We're going to bring it online soon though. Just so you kids are aware."

The four kids nodded, still feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing.

As soon as they filed out of the room, Ryuji glanced back at him. "I'm in agreement with them. I don't like it, either," he said. "So keep this in mind. We'll be doing things on our own, despite that AI's recommendations for victory."

Hokuto frowned as the cheetah Faunus exited the office as well.

The whole project, despite moving along, was still lagging in several respects, the biggest one being trust.

Without trust, the whole program was in jeopardy. Whether they knew it or not.

MARUNOUCHI SQUARE

Tsuranuki growled as he slumped back against a bench just outside the Marunouchi Building. "Can't believe he had the audacity to go against Tamiko's Folly!" he grumbled.

"You're not the only ones who feel that way," Miku snorted. "The whole idea... is just asking for trouble."

"And it doesn't help matters that the AI she developed nearly wiped out the city using a nuclear missile..." Shinobu added.

Akita said nothing as he fingered his guns. "You think we should just quit?"

"What?!" the other three glanced at him like he was nuts.

"Are you serious?!" Tsuranuki cried. "Just up and quit?! We're the only ones who can do this!"

"But... would it be worth being killed by an out of control AI?" the purple-haired boy shot back.

The brown-haired youth paused, being caught off guard by the question. He looked down, unsure of how to answer.

"Thought so," Akita remarked. "It's not worth it for me to risk being killed by an AI that could go on a rampage."

"We don't know what will actually happen," Shinobu pointed out. He looked up from where he sat on the ground. "It is a risk, but if you think about it, Akita, programming and computer technology, not to mention the study of the human brain, has come a long way from 1962. The technology is much better, the programming is much more advanced, and we know more about how the human brain works. So... it actually may not go on a rampage."

"The chances of that happening are close to nil!" Akita shot back.

"But he does have a point," Miku interjected. "Things have come far since that day. So we'll keep an eye on it. If the AI does go on a rampage or even threaten to, we'll leave. Until then... we stay on."

Akita pursed his lips as he considered his friends' arguments. They did have a point... as in they were the only ones who could drive the Shinkalions and that technology was a lot better than in the '60s. He finally huffed and crossed his arms. "Fine. That's a compromise I can live with."

The threesome smiled. "Thanks, Akita," Tsuranuki said.

The youth smiled back and then they leaned back against the benches and trees, observing the people coming and going from the construction site.

"Man... It's still hard to believe that this is even happening..." Tsuranuki mused, looking at the workers. "That... well..."

"The Kaiju Grimm?" Miku asked.

The boy nodded.

"Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later," Miku replied. She shifted her position and her rabbit ears twitched before tilting to the sides. "My father was one of those who got killed during an attack..."

"Like Hayato's mother did..." Shinobu mused. "I wonder how he's doing..."

Here the kids all looked at one another guiltily. They hadn't had much time to spend with Hayato since that day they rescued him. So... would they be allowed to at this point? There wasn't any training scheduled, and there hadn't been an alert of a Kaiju Grimm for the last three days, so... maybe a quick stop by the Hayasugi apartment wouldn't be such a bad idea, right?

The kids all got to their feet and bolted for the complex of apartments not too far from the station itself.

The building was actually very well built, as it had weathered the attack by Mothra with ease, and the only signs of damage had been broken windows and a few gouges in its façade that had been quickly repaired. The Hayasugi apartment was on the fourth floor, and they knew exactly where it was, having been there numerous times prior to the development of Project SKL.

Tsuranuki was the first to knock on the door as the foursome gathered outside the doorway.

Footsteps came to the door and a small peephole opened. Tsuranuki peered in and he closed one eye, sticking out his tongue in a goofy grin.

A cry came from inside and the door was unlocked. The person in the apartment threw open the door and the four kids dogpiled their best friend. Hayato laughed alongside the others as they all landed in a pile on the floor of the apartment. They stayed like that for a while before Hayato struggled to get up. The others slid off their friend and all of them pushed themselves to their feet.

"Man... You don't know how glad I am to see you guys!" Hayato remarked as he stood up. "It's been months since we last got together!"

"Yeah. And those Kaiju Grimm haven't been making things easier," Akita said. "Whenever the K-Alert's gone off, we've been forced to take shelter. And well, whenever we've made plans to see you, our families have been insistent we perform drills. Sorry." He looked a bit ashamed to even be saying this, but thankfully Hayato took it in stride, not even suspecting that it was a lie. In truth, it was a lie, but a rather convincing one, since the Kaiju Grimm attacks had been happening more frequently.

Hayato looked at his friends and sighed. "Yeah. Same thing with me..." he muttered. Then he brightened. "But it's good to see you regardless!"

"Yeah." Tsuranuki gave a grin. "We managed to convince our parents that we needed some time to see you, so they agreed. As long as we stayed safe, of course."

The cat Faunus youth laughed as he draped an arm around him. "Especially seeing as how you've been lonely for the last several months without us!" the boy joked, ruffling Hayato's hair.

Everyone broke into laughter at that.

For Hayato, it was so good to see his best friends again. It had been lonely around the apartment for the last several months, what with his father usually coming home late (at least he was coming home for dinner at a reasonable time now) and his sister spending time with a friend of her own as of late. All he could really do was read, watch stuff on TV or try and make plans for one day traveling on the shinkansen with his father. And he hated to admit it, but he was bored out of his mind.

The kids proceeded to make their way into the main living room where Hayato usually spent a good majority of his time after school and on the weekends.

"So, what have you guys been up to?" Hayato asked his friends.

At this, the foursome tensed. In all honesty, none of them had thought to even come up with a cover story to explain their unexcused absences to Hayato. And there was no way in hell any of them were going to put their friend in danger... at least knowingly. Just being around him at this point was also putting him in harm's way. But they still would fight to keep him safe, no matter the cost.

Miku finally took in a breath and answered. "Besides the drills with our families?" she asked.

The cat Faunus nodded.

"We've been trying to train and get stronger," Akita answered, surprising the team, as well as Hayato. "We may not have Semblances like other Hunters, but we sure as hell don't want to be trounced like we were last time against that woman." His eyes hardened into amethysts as he looked Hayato in the eyes. "And that is something we don't want to have happen again. Especially if she's going to make another move for you."

Hayato froze at that, growing pale as he felt the blood drain out of his face. "S-She's going to... try again?!" he squeaked.

Tsuranuki sensed his friend's distress and grabbed him in a playful headlock, ruffling his hair with one hand. "Hey! We won't let 'er!" he said with a grin. "Not since we learned a few new tricks!"

And that was not far off, either.

Hayato glanced to his friends and looked them over. He could now see that Tsuranuki, Akita, and Shinobu were bearing the changes of increased muscle mass and a look at Miku showed some toning to her own shoulders and arms. She also looked to be a bit curvier, not that he was interested in that yet. And all four seemed to carry themselves differently. Like they had seen battle... and come out of it stronger and wiser. Had they been in actual combat already? Or was it just because of the training they were going through?

Tsuranuki finally let go of Hayato and backed up. "So, you wanna go for a walk around town?" he asked.

"Not if that woman is out there..." the cat Faunus whispered.

"Hey. I just said. She will have to fight us to get to you!" Tsuranuki remarked, flicking one of his ears with a finger. Hayato flinched, but managed a grin.

"If you say so," he replied, but deep down he was nervous, and the four could sense it.

Shinobu pursed his lips as he wracked his brain for an idea on how to cheer Hayato up. He knew that his friend still enjoyed the shinkansen, so... An idea bloomed at that point in his mind. Maybe he could explain a bit about the project... as well as give a hint as to what they had been really doing, without spilling the beans.

"Hayato, do you remember your father mentioning a project?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah. He just said it was for Japan's defense. Why?" Hayato wondered.

"Well, we found out what it is," the ninja said.

"Huh?!" All four of his friends gaped in response, but three of them were downright horrified. Was he going to spill their biggest secret?!

"Wait... does it have to do with those aliens?" Hayato asked, his eyes widening. "Those robots?"

Shinobu nodded. "Yep." The ninja was not that surprised, as word had been spreading rather quickly in the news about their alter egos. And with their latest victory at the Sanban Estate against the Misertree, the news had exploded rapidly. Newspapers and news stations on both the SkyWeb and TV networks were clamoring to try and find these alien robots to interview them.

Akita finally seemed to grasp what the kid was saying and smirked. "We think your father has formed an alliance with them," he said.

The cat Faunus whirled around to face the other boy. "What?!" He was surprised. "Y-You gotta be kidding me, Akita!"

The purple-haired boy shook his head. "I'm not kidding, Hayato. He made an alliance with those alien robots and has helped them set up a secret base somewhere in the city. They have agreed to assist Japan in defense against the Kaiju Grimm in exchange for a place to call home," he explained. "Of course, due to how many would kill to get their hands on this, they have to remain hidden... so they've taken the guise of shinkansen in order to remain unnoticed by any potential enemies."

That was all they could say about the matter. They couldn't reveal anything more, lest the truth be found out.

"So that's what he was working on all this time...!" Hayato whispered, shock flooding his features. "No wonder he didn't tell me..."

Miku nodded. "It was to protect you, and all of us as well. We only found out by pure accident when we saw him talking to one of them."

The rabbit Faunus hated lying to her friend, but what other choice did they have right now? The truth would come out sooner or later, and they knew it. But right now they had to keep Hayato in the dark lest Satyra seek to find the truth as well.

Regardless, the foursome were just relieved to have told Hayato something that was true: his father's project was for the defense of Japan. Just not in the way he had thought.

However, no one expected what was to come later on...

SAMMAEL'S CASTLE

DARKLANDS

Sammael sat in his throne room, his hand cupped against his cheek as he leaned against the side of his throne. His red eyes were closed as he pondered what next move to make against the Shinkalions. He had a few new ideas for Kaiju Grimm, but so far the team had always managed to pull through.

At least until recently with the Misertree. A quick check of its memories had revealed an interesting tidbit: they weren't as effective a team as he had thought. So now he sat, trying to think up a new Grimm to exploit this weakness.

Until the door opened, anyway.

The Fallen opened his eyes, but didn't look back as massive metallic footsteps entered the vast chamber. "Ah. I.O.N.E.S.C.O.U. What brings you to my chambers?" he asked.

The massive Gundam rumbled as he joined Sammael on the other side of the throne as it faced the windows showing the Darklands. "Trying to study our enemy, are we?" the Gundam asked.

"Yes. But unfortunately, I have yet to come up with a plan to test them... especially seeing as how they have a weakness," Sammael mused.

"They don't trust each other, do they?" I.O.N.E.S.C.O.U. asked.

"As always, observant and sharp," Sammael smirked as he looked to his companion. "I assume you were observing through your drones?"

"When am I not?" the huge Gundam/Fallen muttered. "But I have a favor to ask."

"What is it, then?" Sammael asked as he stood up and walked to join the Gundam. "I don't just grant favors, as you are well aware."

"Yes." The Fallen-hybrid looked to the man beside him, green optics flashing red for a moment. "But I ask this favor because I have a new Grimm in mind... one that could be used to exploit their distrust of one another."

"Hm?" Sammael cocked an eyebrow. "What kind of Grimm?"

The Devil Gundam waved a hand and a screen appeared in front of Sammael. The Fallen's red eyes widened as he looked to the mecha. "Well..." A smirk crossed his lips. "This should prove to be interesting. And how many do you require?"

"Five is sufficient," I.O.N.E.S.C.O.U. explained. "Also, would it be prudent to generate a smokescreen Grimm, perhaps?"

"Say no more, my friend," Sammael grinned. "I have just the Grimm in mind for the task. And, may I ask how these new Grimm will play a role in their distrust of one another?"

The Gundam's optics flashed bright red and a chuckle escaped his vocalizer. "Oh, you'll see soon, Sammael. You'll see soon indeed..."

TOKYO, JAPAN

MARUNOUCHI CAFE

For Hayato, to just spend time with his friends was well worth the risk of going out again.

The five kids were currently hanging out in the Marunouchi Café, which had recently been reopened following the Mothra attack almost a year ago. The entire building was still undergoing renovations, but the majority of the first floor had been completed and the remaining floors were to be reopened as time went on. The cafe's reopening also allowed the workers to take breaks and have a quick bite to eat or something to drink before they resumed their shifts.

Right now, however, it was close to as quiet as it could get, but a few workers did linger near the middle of the shop. The kids sat more towards the front of the café, just so they could make a quick getaway in case the K-Alert went off.

Hayato broke out into laughter at one of Tsuranuki's jokes, something he had missed doing. The boy always managed to make him laugh somehow.

Akita finally took a sip of his drink before he spoke. "All right, Tsuranuki. I think that's enough of the jokes," he remarked with a shake of his head, though a smile graced his lips as he said this.

Tsuranuki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly before he nodded. "Yeah. Besides, we're here to spend time with Hayato anyway. No good making him tired of my jokes, now, right?"

The other kids broke into laughter briefly. "So, how's it going with kendo, Miku?" Hayato asked.

"The kendo studio I go to is supposed to reopen in a few weeks," the rabbit Faunus said with a grin. "Its renovations are complete as of this moment."

"Just a matter of getting things moved back in?" Hayato joked.

Miku smiled. "Yes," she replied with a nod.

"And how about you, Shinobu? Your parents still insistent on training?" Hayato asked the ninja.

Shinobu took a bite of his donut and nodded. "We have one such session scheduled for today later this afternoon, actually. Given the status of how things are now, it's best to be prepared." He fingered one of his kunai knives a bit before stuffing it back in its storage case. "Especially given the Kaiju Grimm."

There was an uncomfortable silence in the shop at those words. Hayato looked down at his hands clasped around his own drink. He gazed into the contents of the mug, seeing his own eyes filled with worry for the safety of those who fought... and his own fear. He felt a bit unsettled by the fact that ever since Satyra had made their base of ops in Tokyo operational, he had been targeted for recruitment. And so far he wasn't being hunted down, but that did little to ease his worry. In fact, it seemed to make it worse. He was now paranoid, unsure if any Faunus he met was actually a recruiter or member. In fact, the only real Faunus he could trust were Miku, his father, and his own sister, he felt. He just wasn't sure about any others now...

Tsuranuki saw the gaze in his friend's eyes and he frowned to himself. Something had to be done and soon, or else he wouldn't be able to get over his fear. He pursed his lips as he folded his arms and looked down at the ground beneath his feet. 'Man... just how are we gonna help Hayato...?' he thought. 'It seems like that woman had more of an impact than we realized...' His teeth gritted as he clenched his hands on his arms. 'And Mr. Jones didn't help, either. It seems like they're after something else besides just the knowledge Hayato possesses... But what?'

"Thankfully there hasn't been a K-Alert for a few days now," Miku said, trying to bring up a more lighthearted subject.

The others nodded. "So, you guys up for seeing a movie later this week, if we're all available?" Tsuranuki asked, surprising the others.

"Hey, isn't there supposed to be a new Gundrazer film coming out this month?" Shinobu asked.

Hayato's eyes went wide. "Oh, crud... I forgot all about that!" He slapped his forehead with a hand. "I'm such an idiot!"

"Well, this one is supposed to involve a mecha that can become a shinkansen," Akita said, surprising even himself. He shot a hurried look to Miku who nodded once before she slipped out her phone and started looking up the name of the movie on the SkyWeb.

Hayato on the other hand practically squealed with delight. "You gotta be kidding me!" he blurted.

"Geez! Calm down, will ya? You're starting to attract attention!" Tsuranuki remarked with a slight grin.

The cat Faunus looked at the workers close by and his face flushed a nice shade of red before he looked back down at his drink. "Sorry..." he muttered.

Akita meanwhile looked to Miku who shifted and showed her phone to the other boy. He narrowed his eyes as he took it and examined the mecha shown in the title. It did bear a slight resemblance to their frames, but only in the chest. It looked like it was only the first engine of the shinkansen, which made it smaller than their frames' full height. And on top of that, the helmet was much more ornate and covered the entire head, while underneath it possessed a full face.

He sighed in mild relief before he turned to Hayato.

"Anyway, the film is set to come out at the end of the month, so if you're free, we can go see it together. Like old times," Akita said.

The cat Faunus smiled. "Yeah. It's been ages since we did anything like that together."

Tsuranuki smiled a bit to himself as well, surprisingly feeling a bit nostalgic for the days when he was just a normal boy. His eyes widened at the thought. Had combat and his time as a Shinkalion already changed him that much? In just a few short months, to boot? He shook his head. No. He had other things to worry about. Such as trying to make sure that no more Kaiju Grimm showed up or that Satyra failed to get his friend.

"What's the movie called, anyway?" Shinobu asked.

Miku checked her phone (again) and showed them the title. "It is called Gundrazer: Rise of Light," she said. "It is supposed to be about a young man who discovers that the Dark Substance is alive and seeks to call upon the might of Gundrazer to save the city."

"I am so in to see it!" Hayato exclaimed.

"Hey. We all are," Tsuranuki reminded him with a laugh. "But right now, let's just chill and hang out, huh?"

The cat Faunus nodded as they resumed their idle chitchat, unaware of what was to come later on down the line...

TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS

COMMAND CENTER

To Hokuto, the final pieces were in place.

They had five of the six candidates.

They had the AI programmed and ready.

They had the second stage ready to be implemented after the final candidate was brought aboard.

Now all they needed was the last candidate.

He shifted a bit as he looked at the command center staff personally selected by the head of the organization, Subaru Azuma himself. His immediate superior, Shinpei Izumi, was also present for this. He cast his gaze over at the other man, taking note of his serious face and his crossed arms. The cat Faunus was half expecting his project to go awry, but also some part of him had anticipated the problem that arose a few days ago, just hours after the Misertree had been taken down. So now all he could do was watch and wait to see what happened.

Izumi looked to the director of Project SKL and gave a curt nod. "Start it up."

He nodded and turned to a technician close by. "Begin startup sequence."

The man nodded and pressed a few keys before a low hum was heard throughout the room, computers flickering as slowly coding began to stream across the main command monitor in one corner. The coding began to coalesce and shift, taking on a humanoid shape, and then features began to form: a male face, with sharp green eyes and a shock of thick, messy black hair. The skin tone was tanned, and on the head was a conductor's cap, while the clothing was a uniform, much like what they wore when in the SDI Headquarters. The eyes were half open and half closed, with a sort of glazed look in them before they brightened and opened fully. The eyes flicked around, and curiosity colored those virtual features before seeming to become more focused and clear. The avatar opened its mouth, and then a deep, male voice issued from the speakers in the room. "Greetings. I am the SHinkalion ASsistant Humanoid Operations Tactical Unit, but you may refer to me as Shashot," the voice said.

Izumi glanced to the AI and spoke. "It is a pleasure to have you with us, Shashot," he said. "I assume you know much of what you are and designed to do?"

"It was programmed into my memory banks by Director Hayasugi, sir," the AI replied. "And I am also fully aware of the risks involving my creation due to Tamiko's Folly."

"I see. Then you realize that should you ever go rogue, you will be shut down," Izumi noted.

The avatar nodded. "Yes. But... Director Hayasugi has a theory as to why all my predecessor AIs went on rampages."

Now that threw Commander Izumi for a loop. He looked to Hokuto who shifted nervously.

"However, until more data has been compiled, he has instructed me to not reveal this theory to anyone," Shashot continued. "I hope you can forgive him for withholding something like this."

The man didn't even bat an eye. He merely nodded once. "If he can confirm his theory, then I expect it to be presented to the CIC when he gets the chance," he said, looking at the cat Faunus directly, despite addressing Shashot instead.

Hokuto gulped and nodded. "Hai!" he said.

Izumi smirked. "Looks like your project is paying off," he noted.

The cat Faunus nodded. "Yes. But right now, we're still down one candidate. So it's not fully complete," he admitted.

"No, but it is almost complete. So, to me, that shows your plan has potential," Izumi stated. He perked up as his phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out. A frown crossed his face before he turned and looked to the team assembled in the room. "I expect all of you to do your best regarding any subsequent Kaiju attacks. And I expect this team to become a formidable force to be reckoned with. Together, we will show the Fallen why we shouldn't be messed with. That is all."

The assembled personnel all saluted sharply. "Yes, sir!"

Not even a minute later, the alarm began to blare.

The klaxon began to wail as red battle lights began flashing, signifying the alert of a Kaiju Grimm.

"Oh, shit... Not now!" Hokuto blurted as he bolted for one of the consoles and took a seat. He patched into Futaba's console outside the command center. "What are we looking at?" he asked.

"It's bad, sir! We got a serious Grimm coming in! It's a Kaiju type, class is Mega," she said. "It's got properties consistent with a smokescreen, and it's engulfing the entire area surrounding Tokyo Bay Bridge! We got people trapped there and no signals can get in or out, save for communications signals, and even then they're badly garbled."

"Dammit...!" the director swore.

Izumi was silent as he observed the director's actions. How he handled this would prove if the project was going to be viable after all...

MARUNOUCHI BUILDING

Hayato looked at his friends just as their phones rang.

"Guys?"

Miku looked at her phone before a frown appeared on her face. Then she looked Hayato in the eyes directly. "I'm really sorry," she murmured. "Our parents just called. They want us home."

At those words, the K-Alert began to blare, a klaxon wailing in the distance. On the wall above the main entrance, an electronic sign depicting the image of Komozilla on it flashed on and a female voice began to speak over the speakers as the music shut down.

"Attention all residents of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. A Kaiju Alert has just been issued for the surrounding area near Tokyo Bay Bridge. All roads will be diverting traffic to the detours recommended on your phones and tablets. Attention all residents of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures..."

"Dammit... and just when we were having fun..." Hayato moped.

Tsuranuki walked over and patted the Faunus's shoulder. "Hey. Be glad we even got this chance," he said with a smile. "And once this is over, we can go see that movie. Sound good?"

The cat Faunus looked his human friend in the eyes, and seeing that familiar glint he knew all too well, managed a smile back. "Heh. Yeah. See you."

The four kids broke out into a run, vanishing out the door as whatever patrons frequented the café began to stand and file for the entrance to the local Kaiju shelter.

Once Hayato was safely out of the building, Tsuranuki and his friends burst back in through the main entrance, running past the lobby and down to the elevator shafts that were still undergoing renovations. The four grabbed onto the cables and slid down them, reaching the basement and ducking into the room leading to the SDI HQ. They managed to reach the main office where Futaba and Director Hayasugi were waiting for them. Ryuji was already there, his arms folded across his chest.

"Hey! How long did it take you to get here?!" Tsuranuki blurted, jabbing a finger at him.

The cheetah Faunus huffed. "My mom's apartment isn't that far off," he muttered.

The boy glared, but said nothing as the five took their seats.

Director Hayasugi looked at the team with a serious expression on his face. "Good timing. I wasn't sure if the alert would reach your phones," he said.

"Forget it," Ryuji said, cutting off Tsuranuki as he had been about to speak. "Where do you want me?"

"It's not where I want just you, Ryuji. It's where I want all of you," Hokuto clarified. "We just got word of a new Kaiju attack. This time it's on Tokyo Bay Bridge. A smoke Kaiju Grimm. It's got the entire area covered in thick fog, and it's jamming all communications, save for radio, although that is badly garbled from the jamming properties. So when you guys go, you'll need to be extra careful."

Tsuranuki finally got up. "So we just gotta blow it away. No problem!" he said, slamming his fist into his open palm.

"It won't be that easy, Tsuranuki," Hokuto remarked. "This thing is immune to wind. It can stay in one space and not even drift away."

But the boy snorted. "Then we'll find a way. It'll be like that Coal Walker. We just find its core and blow it up."

Hokuto had to admit, the youth did have a point. He nodded. "Right. Get down to the pod room and Link Up. You're moving out now."

"Hai!" the kids said as one.

It didn't take them long to reach the pod room. Tsuranuki was the first one to get in his pod as Futaba's voice resonated in the speakers. "Okay. The Grimm we've code-named Mistery because no one knows what it really looks like. The smoke always conceals its true form from our sensors and sight. So be extra careful when facing it," she cautioned.

"We will," Akita said as he put his helmet on.

"Also, as an added bit of information, we've brought the AI online," she added.

Akita's eyes went wide and he paused, unsure if he should get out or not. But remembering his promise to the others, he stayed. He only nodded curtly, trying to keep his distrust hidden. "Very well..." he muttered.

Shinobu frowned at Akita's reaction, which made him wonder if he had had a bad experience with such an AI once before. It did seem to be the case, from what he was getting. Or maybe he had had a family member who was killed during a rogue AI rampage? If so, then maybe he wasn't talking about it for a good reason.

Regardless, he shoved those thoughts aside as he donned his helmet and leaned back in his pod as the cover hissed shut.

Miku's voice echoed over the COMM system at that moment. "What else can you tell us about the Mistery, ma'am?" she asked.

"The Mistery is capable of jamming satellite transmissions, so we're not risking firing a capture field this time. So you'll have to fight on the bridge itself," the acting director replied.

"Sounds easy to me," Ryuji remarked.

"Oi! Don't dis us because we're younger than you!" Tsuranuki growled over the comm.

"Enough, you two! The Link is started. You know what to do, guys. And be careful." With that, Futaba cut the line and the team focused on the tendrils linking them to their units. Tsuranuki let his mind drift free and then he was tugged by that tendril, his soul speeding down the tunnel of oblivion.

TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS

COMMAND CENTER

Shashot observed the Shinkalions as they came online within the launch bay, taking them in with calculating green eyes.

He had been programmed with the vocal registrations of their vocalizers and the expressions that the different tones conveyed. He had also been programmed with the data on their human forms, complete with facial expressions. So it wasn't too much of a surprise for him to deduce that the red and white Shinkalion, Matagi, his database informed him, didn't trust him that much. But it also made him a bit... He knew there was a word for it, but it didn't exist in his memory banks at that time.

He was still too new and young to fully grasp the emotions of hurt and betrayal.

His databanks flickered, sending him data on the other four as well. The leader, Esebu, was clearly revving his engine and he shifted back and forth on his wheels a bit, as if anticipating a strike from a Kaiju Grimm.

Then he heard Futaba's voice. "Okay, you guys. Be careful and good luck. Shashot will be communicating with you during the fight once you get there. I will be here if you need extra support."

"Hai!" the Shinkalions said as one.

The tunnel doors opened and one by one they released their brakes.

"Esebu, E7 Kagayaki..."

"Fumikiri, E3 Tsubasa..."

"Haifu, H5 Hayabusa..."

"Matagi, E6 Komachi..."

"Nozoma, N700A..."

"Shuppatsu shinkō!" the five declared.

The five trains exited the station and the doors hissed shut behind them. Shashot steeled himself for the coming fight. His first mission... and already he was scared of its potential outcome.

TOKYO BAY RAINBOW BRIDGE BATTLE SPACE

The trip there wasn't as bad as it could've been. In fact, compared to how long it would take by car or bike, it was much faster to travel as a Shinkalion via the aptly named Rails of Light.

Personally, Esebu wished it could have a better name, like Hyper Rail or something.

Still, despite the lame name, the trip didn't take long. It only came to a halt when they saw the fog was encompassing the entire bridge structure and even above and below it. Esebu was the first to exit the rail and transform into his humanoid form. "CHANGE! SHINKALION!" Once his metal feet touched the ground, he waited for the others to do the same thing. They swiftly joined him and the five of them began to make their way into the thick fog surrounding the bridge. Inside his sensors could already pick up people trapped inside their cars and other vehicles, and he felt worry for them surging through his systems. All they could do now was hope for some sort of victory... so these people could go home and be with their loved ones.

He clenched his fists.

"C'mon..." he muttered. "Let's go..."

And together they ventured deep into the mist to face the unknown.