"So... finally all six are gathered."
Hokuto stood before the director of the entire organization, Subaru Azuma.
The cat Faunus nodded. "Yes, sir," he replied.
"And I take it you have the second phase in the works?"
The director of Project SKL nodded. "Yes. We have the best teams working on training right now for the implants' insertion."
"Good." Azuma turned to face him.
Subaru Azuma was a young man at thirty five years of age, possessing dark purple hair with light purple highlights in it, and his eyes were a purplish grey color. He was of average height, at around five foot ten, with a lean build. He wore the same uniform as Hokuto's immediate superior, but with a difference in that he had a longer coat than Shinpei Izumi. His came to the middle of his knees, and it was open at the bottom.
"I assume that you also wish to ask me permission to tell them about him?" Azuma asked, his eyes hardening.
Hokuto nodded. "Hai!"
"Given how the project was designed to combat the Kaiju Grimm he sends our way...they do need to know. So you have permission," the commander said.
"As well as for any subsequent members if we expand our numbers," Hokuto added.
"Granted."
(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: HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION NETWORK
A network designed for improving combat planning and operations, the Holographic Projection Network is set up throughout the main SDI offices across Japan. This enables coordinated planning and tactical operations on a level that matches the SDF and any UN forces sent to assist in Kaiju attacks. It also can be used to project three dimensional images to showcase certain parts of the plan as needed.
Shashot can also use the network to materialize his human avatar in the Tokyo Branch of the SDI.
CLOSING FILES
TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE
"When it comes to planning, many things have to be taken into account. Mostly things like terrain, population density, enemy activity, and even things like weather, wind, or even fog. In operations for war, contingencies must sometimes be prepared. And in times of humanitarian crises, sometimes planning can go horribly wrong."
The man adjusted his glasses before he leaned back. "Like my colleague, Hokuto Hayasugi. He works for the Project SKL, and is in command of that unit. He often gives the members of his team the mission, but the plans sometimes have to be adjusted accordingly during the missions, like with the Misertree attack."
"My name is Shinpei Izumi, and I am the overall commander of the Tokyo Branch of the Shinkansen Defense Institute." Izumi then became serious. "So, if plans go awry, how will you react to it? Will you throw a tantrum and try to use the plan regardless? Or will you adapt and use the situation to your advantage? That is the thing. No one can tell what the future holds. So, to think on one's feet is perhaps the best skill in such a situation. Don't you agree?"
CHAPTER XXI - REVELATION
The meeting room was very quiet as the six kids sat around the main table.
It had been a full month since Hayato joined the team.
Hayato's training had actually gone a lot smoother than with Tsuranuki and Akita, that was for sure. (Ryuji, Miku, and Shinobu had done very well on their training, so it didn't really could in his mind.) For one thing, he had taken to his new frame like a natural. Sure he had had some trouble adjusting at first, but he learned quickly what he could and couldn't do, which lead to a surprising boost in his confidence again. Well, not as much as one would think. He was more sure of his abilities in combat, but not leadership. Tsuranuki could recall when Hayato had been a much more outgoing kid before his mother's death, being a natural leader.
But now, he was lacking the confidence to be a leader. And Tsuranuki felt that was something that had to be righted. So for now, he was stuck as the team's leader.
And honestly, Tsuranuki could hardly believe it had been such a short time ago he and his friends had been given this chance to fight. It was almost eight months since he had first stumbled into that hidden pod room.
Yet it seemed much longer to the boy.
'Has it really only been eight months?' he wondered. 'It seems a lot longer than that...'
He could recall those carefree days as he looked at the others all chatting and expecting the director to show up any minute. Hell, if he just imagined them out at the park instead of in the SDI's meeting room, he could swear that they were just normal kids having a great time hanging out together.
But that was not the case anymore. And Tsuranuki felt nostalgic for those old days...
His mind was brought back to the present when he heard the door slide open. The six kids stopped their chatter and sat up as Director Hayasugi walked into the room. His eyes were hard as he looked at them seriously.
"Ah, good. You made it," he noted.
"Sir, just what is this meeting about?" Miku asked.
"I'm getting to that shortly." The director set the laptop he was carrying down and opened it up. He grabbed a cable and plugged it into the nearby projection screen for the Holographic Projection Network. The network's projection screen flashed and the images began to play out in the air in front of them above the main table. Tsuranuki was in awe as he watched as a holographic image of the Giga Tusk marched past his sight. Even the other kids were in shock.
"What is this?" Hayato asked in wonder.
"This is the Holographic Projection Network," Hokuto explained. "It was developed long before we had Shashot, but it has been modified over the course of the years to accommodate more powerful computer technology." He pressed a button and the images stopped moving. "It has become our means of planning out operations against the Kaiju since it was first brought online."
The kids nodded. The network was impressive, but the biggest question was burning on their minds: what was this meeting about?
"Now, for the real reason you have all been assembled here." Hokuto's eyes darkened. "To learn the truth behind Project SKL. As well as the next phase of the project."
The group tensed, and Tsuranuki gulped nervously.
This was it. The moment of truth.
Hokuto reached over and tapped a few commands on the keyboard of his laptop and the images vanished to reveal a single form.
A human male, about five foot eleven, lean but strong.
But he had pale skin. Far too pale to be normal.
His hair was long and blood red, coming to the middle of his back.
A strange eye-like symbol was present on the back of one of his hands.
And then there were the veins.
Purple and black seethed over his arms, moving up to his face and his eyes.
The kids all tensed and gasps escaped a few of them.
His eyes were pure red with black sclera. Like those of a demon... or a Grimm.
Tsuranuki felt his muscles tighten and he instinctively clenched his right hand, as if summoning his Wheelset Drill to his grasp. "The hell is that guy?" he asked.
"This..." Hokuto's voice was grim as he spoke. "...is Sammael... One of the most dangerous men alive, and for good reason."
"How could this guy be the most dangerous?" Ryuji asked with narrowed eyes.
"The reason is simple, Ryuji," the director muttered. "He is what we call a Fallen... or a human infused with the essence of Grimm."
Everyone gaped in shock before Tsuranuki stood up, slamming his hands down on the table. "How is that even possible?!" he blurted.
"We're not sure as to how, but we do have theories based on the ruins we uncovered during the project's initial drafting stages," Director Hayasugi said seriously. "Anyway, that's not what we're here to discuss. You are to learn the truth behind the project as well as what Phase II entails."
Tsuranuki sat back down, his eyes narrowed.
"Now, back on track. As I was saying, Sammael is a Fallen, or a human infused with the essence of Grimm. And he is the most powerful Fallen ever to exist." The director glanced at the six kids. "As you all know from history class, the Time of Awakening began one thousand years ago when the Emperor accidentally released the Grimm. But what you don't know is that Sammael was around during that time." Here Hokuto bared his teeth. "And then came the loss of the Emperor's Sword. And with it, went all hope."
The kids all knew what he meant. Ever since then, people had been striving to find any symbol of enduring hope and cling to it like no tomorrow. But each time, they had failed. Yet now...
"That is until now," Hokuto continued. "Sammael was the one who caused us to lose hope and struggle to find a new one. But what he does not expect is that our project, SHINKALION, will be the one to alter the tides of war." Then he looked down. "At least, we hope so."
"Uh... Dad?"
The director looked up, his eyes meeting Hayato's.
"Just... what is Sammael, exactly? If he's not human, nor a Grimm, then... what is he?" his son asked.
"A monster..." was all the director said as he looked at his hands clasped in front of him. "A monster whose ultimate goals are unknown to all of us. We do, however, know he is planning to start a war to end all wars and has been gathering resources for all these years. His end goals are those we need to find out. And so far only a few people can guess what they are."
"Hold on. Guess? You mean they don't know?" Miku asked.
"No." Hokuto glanced at the rabbit Faunus. "It's hard to learn what his goals are because he plans for everything."
"Hence why you developed Shashot," Akita mused as he leaned forward.
The cat Faunus nodded. "Yes. That way we can plan and counter whatever moves he makes on Japan."
The kids were silent as he continued. "And that brings us to the true purpose of Project: SHINKALION."
"Hold on! I thought it was to help defeat Kaiju and bring hope to Japan!" Tsuranuki blurted, leaning forward in his seat. "You mean to tell us that it was all a lie?!"
"No. Not in the sense you'd think," the director said somberly. "It was developed to help in that purpose, but it is all a part of a bigger goal: to find the Emperor's Sword."
"Huh?!" All six kids blinked in shock.
"It is meant to help and bring back hope, yes, but ultimately it is meant to help find the sword of the Emperor," Hokuto explained. "Since Japan is a diverse country in many ways, we needed diverse machines to fight. And since the shinkansen runs cross country, this way we can use it to trace down any leads. As well as try to get there first before a Kaiju Grimm or Sammael does."
"So... if we do manage to find the sword, then the project would be shut down?" Shinobu asked.
"Glob no. That's not going to happen. As long as there are Grimm, then it will be necessary," Hokuto assured the ninja. "Because if we find it - and that is a very big if, mind you - then we will need to find someone who can wield it."
Now the kids understood. Not only were they meant to protect Japan, they were supposed to help find the Emperor's Sword in some way. And now they knew just who their true enemy was.
But there was something bothering Tsuranuki. "Uh, Director Hayasugi? Just..." Here he gulped. "Just what are Sammael's abilities?"
The director was silent as he typed up a command on the computer and the image of Sammael faded to show a list of several of his abilities. "These are only some of his abilities," he stated. "We theorize there could be many more... way more than we expected."
The kids all paled. Such strength and power... and the project seemed insignificant compared to that.
"So... we're outclassed...?" Hayato breathed in terror.
"Maybe... but as I said, the real purpose is to find the sword," his father replied. "So it is not meant to fight Sammael directly. Even the Dragon of Denver had a hard time with him, and he was built for that purpose!"
He then shifted and reached into his pocket, pulling something out in his hand. "And that brings me to the second topic: Phase II of the project."
Hokuto held out his hand and opened it, revealing the object he held.
The kids all gathered around, confused.
"Is... Is that some kind of chip?" Ryuji wondered.
"Not in the sense you might think, Ryuji," the cat Faunus explained. "This... is Phase II. The LinkNode."
"LinkNode?" All the kids blinked their eyes in confusion as one.
"Yes. The LinkNode." Director Hayasugi laid it down on the table in front of all of them. "This is the second phase of Project SKL. It is meant to allow you to link to your unit wirelessly without the use of a bulky LinkPod." He tapped it with a fingertip. "This little guy will enable enhanced operation time as well as allow for travel abroad. But, you have to be in close proximity to your machine to LinkUp to it."
"How will it work?" Tsuranuki asked.
"Basically it gets inserted into your spine, right between your shoulder blades." Hokuto tapped a command on his keyboard and a new image - one of the LinkNode - appeared in the space above the kids. They all looked up at it. "As you can see, the node itself is small, but it packs the latest in advanced technology. Its functions include a life support system to keep your heart going when your soul is out of your body, a GPS unit to track your location, a small wireless receiver for sensor readings from your Shinkalion frames, and even a temporary COMM system, although you can't communicate with it." As he spoke, each component lit up with its description. "The wires around it hook directly into your nervous system, allowing it to keep your body alive for a limited time. Three days is the maximum we were able to get out of it."
"So that's it? Just implant this little thing and we'll be able to fight abroad? Sounds risky," Ryuji noted.
"It is risky." The director's eyes were grim as he leaned forward, tenting his fingers in front of his mouth. "The risks are many... from dying to becoming trapped in your Shinkalion frame for the rest of your life... But what other choice do we have?" He sighed heavily, and for once, Tsuranuki could see that the man was exhausted. Not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. But he was still going forward with it. Hokuto's face looked much more haggard than he remembered, with stubble standing out on his jaw and his hair a mess.
"We have to keep going... taking these risks to keep the world safe..." he said softly. "Because Sammael seeks to break the seal beneath Mount Fuji."
The room was silent as he brought up an image of the very mountain in question, except it was split in a cross section. The kids could see the massive Pool of Darkness beneath it, seeming to pulse with life like an entity in of itself. "And that is why we have to stop him from doing so."
"Hold on. This Sammael plans to break the seal... but can't he just do it?" Shinobu asked. "Because if he is as powerful as you claim..."
Here Hokuto managed a weary smile. "This seal is a mountain, and beneath it are runes of great power," he said. "Things like those take time to break. And even if he could, it would alert the world's Hunters and Huntresses. Sammael is not stupid, Shinobu." His eyes regained a bit of their life to them. "And neither are we. We know he's just looking for an opportunity to strike. So we have to be ready to deal with it when he makes his attempt."
"Seems to me like you're confident," Ryuji stated as he shifted in his seat. His eyes locked onto the seal, sweeping up and down the image. "And I can see why you would be."
"Yes. But it's only a matter of time before something causes it to break," the director remarked as he closed down the images.
"So, you see now what it is that has to be done?" Hokuto asked.
The group nodded. "Yes, sir!" they said as one.
The director gave a smile as he leaned back. "Good."
Then his face became serious. "But seriously. This is, despite our efforts to make it as effective and efficient as possible, still a dangerous undertaking. There is still so much we don't know about our world, least of all how this tech even works, since it was derived from ancient sources like the Iwo Jima Metal Man and Life Form MX."
"Wait. That's where you got the idea for this project from?" Akita asked.
A nod was all the boy needed to confirm his suspicions. "I think I see where this story is headed," he mused. "You delved into the past to try and find a method to develop a combat machine to battle Kaiju on an even footing, and therefore came up with Project: SHINKALION as a result of study, right?"
Hokuto chuckled a bit. "You catch on quick, Akita," he said. "Now, I'll answer any questions you may have, whether about the project or Sammael. I'll try to answer them as best I can."
Tsuranuki seized his chance. "Sir, just how is a Fallen created?" he asked.
The director's face darkened at that. "There is no way to know for sure, but there are theories on Fallen creation that go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years, Tsuranuki," he began. "These records detail ancient pictographs showing human females clad in black, giving birth to half-Grimm creatures that look human, but possess the qualities of Grimm. These pictograms were found recently in the Okinawa Ruins and translations only came out about a year or two ago before I conceived the project." He reached over and pulled out a sheaf of papers from the briefcase his laptop had been in. "You can see for yourself."
He set the sheaf of papers down on the table and the kids all gathered around to examine the pages.
Each page was lined with images, and above them were the corresponding words or sentences. Tsuranuki was horrified to see that one of the half-Grimm creatures was chowing down on an innocent babe, and he turned his head away. "These ladies were insane!" he blurted, turning a bit green in the cheeks.
"Yes," Ryuji mused, his eyes hard as ice.
Hayato didn't know what else to say other than he was sick. He clapped a hand to his face and grimaced beneath it.
Miku narrowed her eyes dangerously and Akita pursed his lips in a frown.
Shinobu was the only one who wasn't badly fazed, as he had seen worse during his time training in the mountains. But it did disturb him nonetheless. He gave a small grimace and pushed the sheaf of papers back towards Hokuto.
The director gathered them up and put the papers back in his briefcase. "The legends inscribed on those ruins describe an ancient order that gave birth to the first Fallen," he continued. "The order's name was lost to time, but what was visible told of how they had the Dark Substance coursing through them, giving them greater strength and power compared to normal humans. But it was during the Forgotten Age that the Fallen began to proliferate, spreading their 'gene' so to speak, to the normal population of Faunus and Humans."
"And what happened to the order?" Hayato asked, still feeling grossed by the images.
"They were eventually killed by the last of the leaders of the Pangaeic Family line that first founded the Kingdom of Pangaea during the Forgotten Age," Director Hayasugi explained. "But not before their leader did something foolish... and gave birth to a dangerous man."
"Sammael...!" Tsuranuki gasped, finally piecing it together.
Hokuto nodded solemnly. "Yes. As to what they did... it remains a mystery because those runes have been removed or lost to time. But what we do know is that King Ozric, the last of the Pangaeic Family line, decreed that the boy be spared, and educated in the ways of good. And for a while it seemed that it would work. But... it didn't. The darkness within the boy was too great to control... and he succumbed to it."
"Leading to where we are today!" Miku breathed.
A nod was all that was needed to confirm the team's fears.
Now the kids understood the importance of the project. Not only was it designed to help defeat the Kaiju Grimm and bring back hope to a world that needed it, it was also meant to help find the Emperor's Sword. A task that none of them had expected. And they didn't even know if they could find it, or if it was even on Japan to begin with. To each of them, the reality dawned hard. They were now involved in a war. A war against a dangerous man who had lived since the Forgotten Age, who had incredible powers and could create Grimm at will from the Pools of Darkness.
Tsuranuki finally swallowed his fear and licked his lips. "Sir... if there's one thing that I'm sure of, it's that I'm not gonna give up being a Shinkalion," he said. His eyes hardened as he remembered his father's words. "I want to continue to protect the people of Japan, no matter what. Especially since I made someone very proud of me."
Akita and the others gazed at him for a moment before Miku stood up. Her eyes glinted as she squared her shoulders. "I'm with Tsuranuki," she said. "My mother may not have wanted me to fight, but I refuse to back down because I want to protect her, much like she's protected me."
Shinobu stood up, his face set in a determined expression. "It is against the way of a ninja to retreat from a fight. Unless I am ordered otherwise, I refuse to leave."
Akita sighed before he stood up, his purple eyes hard. "My grandfather taught me that you must pursue your prey until it wears out, and that anything we catch is a gift from the mountains. Sammael may be a hunter, but the worst enemy to a hunter is another hunter. And we are hunters as well. All of us."
Ryuji glanced to the kids beside him. "You kids are crazy..." he muttered. "And that means someone's got to keep you in line."
Hayato meanwhile looked down at his hands clenched in his lap. That man... Sammael... he was the one responsible for everything... for the Kaiju, for the war... and his mother's death. His eyes hardened into shards of magenta glass as he looked up. "That man took my mother from me," he said. "And he took so much more from others. I don't want others to go through the same thing!" Hatred for the Grimm began to burn in his chest. "So I'm not backing out, either!"
The director wasn't too surprised, and in fact, he was relieved to see that. He smiled as he leaned back. "That's just what I wanted to hear, kids." Then his eyes hardened. "However, we aren't using this for revenge, but hope. We don't let our desire for revenge get in the way of our mission to bring a better world. Otherwise we are no better than Sammael and his forces."
Hayato knew what he was getting at, but it still felt good to finally take down the Kaiju that dared to destroy others' lives.
He managed to squash that though and nodded. "Yes, sir."
Of course, things were not about to go as planned...
GRIMMFALL
MAYOR SEBBEN'S OFFICE
The day was just winding down as the sun began to set beyond the horizon.
A single figure leaned over to scoop up a few papers from the main desk, her reddish hair hanging loosely over her face. She brushed aside a single strand as she turned to get ready to head out.
Her gray-blue eyes widened as she heard footsteps. Fiona turned to face the newcomer, only to drop her papers in shock as Mayor Sebben himself exited the elevator. "Ah. Heading home for the day, Fiona?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," she said with a small bow. "I hope you have an excellent evening, Mr. Mayor."
"Please. Call me Sebben. It's better than Mr. Mayor," Sebben said with a chuckle.
The secretary nodded with a light blush. "Y-Yes, sir!"
The woman continued to gather her stuff as the mayor exited the building. Already lights were coming on within the city, and he could see people coming and going back to their homes or workplaces. A few people stopped to say hello and he waved before he continued on his way.
As he walked, his eye narrowed in thought.
His right hand went to his eye patch and he touched it briefly. Beneath it he felt a slight pulsing. That pulsing he knew all too well. He stopped walking, but he didn't dare to lift it up in public. Not when Sammael could have a Seer in the area. Instead, he closed his visible eye and focused on that pulsing.
Several images flashed by his mind's eye. He could see six mecha, each one built like a shinkansen, but with differing colors and weapons. He saw snow falling off something... A flash of red... A gleaming emblem... A portal leading to worlds unknown... and then the same logo he had seen several months ago during that strange broadcast to Satyra: a pair of wings behind a globe with the countries on it, and a Z on the front.
He didn't know what these images meant, but the fact that that same emblem showed up again meant that whomever it belonged to had a role in the coming fights.
But were they friend... or foe?
That he didn't know.
And it worried him.
Sebben let his hand fall away from his eye patch as he opened his eye. He continued walking, intent on making his way home for the evening.
Just as a new day was starting to dawn in Japan.
TOKYO, JAPAN
DAIMONYAMA HOUSEHOLD
A soft beeping echoed in Tsuranuki's room as he lay huddled under his covers, drool coming out of his mouth as he slept.
A low groan came from him as he turned over, covering his head with his pillow. "Dammit... Five more minutes, Mom..." he whimpered.
The beeping came again, and he groaned as he pried open an eye, partially uncovered. It was his phone vibrating.
"Dammit..." Tsuranuki reached for the device and pulled it close to his face as he pressed the talk button. "What is it?" he muttered.
"Tsuranuki! Where are you? We got training today!" Miku shouted. The boy winced at her loud tone.
"Miku... It's only five in the morning..." he grumbled.
"Well, the director wants us to be prepared in case a Grimm strikes. It's been almost a month, remember?" the rabbit Faunus pointed out.
Tsuranuki's eyes went wide as he felt adrenaline kick in. He was out of his bed in a flash and grabbing his clothing to throw on. "Shit! Why didn't you tell me, Miku?!" he exclaimed as he hurriedly threw his shirt on over his head. He stuck his arms through the sleeves before he pulled it over his head and donned his pants.
"I tried to," Miku stated. "But you were too sleepy."
The boy groaned as he slipped his shoes on and grabbed his backpack. "I'll be there shortly!"
He broke out of his room, startling his mother as she was coming out of the kitchen. "Oh! Up early, I see," she noted.
"Sorry! Training!" Tsuranuki blurted as he grabbed his coat and threw it on. He rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a muffin from the fridge before heading for the door. "See you!"
"Be careful, though!" Mizusu called. Tsuranuki gave a wave as he ran out towards the station and the nearby Marunouchi Building.
The trip down the elevator shaft to the basement was easy, as the construction workers were off for the night. The night guard was also easy enough to avoid since he fell asleep at this time anyway. The boy exited the elevator shaft and bolted for the main generator room before ducking down the hidden staircase to the main corridor underneath the Marunouchi Building. From there it was a straight shot to the main office for the director.
The others were already there when he arrived.
"About time," Ryuji scoffed as he folded his arms.
"Hey! I had no idea we'd be training this early!" Tsuranuki shot back as he sat down.
"And for good reason," Director Hayasugi said as he leaned forward in his chair. "You would be right, Miku, in that it's been a full month since the last Kaiju attack. And that means one could come at any time."
He then looked over the entire team. "So today's training is going to involve working alongside Shashot to give you more effective teamwork with him." His eyes narrowed at Ryuji. "As well as with each other."
The cheetah Faunus narrowed his eyes, but nodded.
"Uh, sir, any idea as to when or if a Kaiju will show?" Miku asked.
"Miku, we can't just tell when a Kaiju shows. The only thing we know is that it will show. A Kaiju always does after a limit of time has passed." Hokuto's eyes hardened as he looked down. "But as to what kind and where... we don't know that, either."
Silence filled the room before Hayato finally spoke. "So, what kind of training are we doing, sir?" he asked.
Here Hokuto looked at the group. "This time we'll be tackling teambuilding drills." He pressed a button and the main monitor flashed behind him, showing the ruins of another town. "Here is where it will be taking place."
Hayato's breath caught in his chest as he stared at the town. It was familiar, because he had seen it in photographs in his family's photo albums. He may not have lived there, but he knew it from those pictures.
"Omiya..." he murmured.
Hokuto nodded. "Yes." His eyes softened as he gazed at the town. "Omiya was demolished in a Kaiju attack three years ago... And it's been in a ruined state ever since. So it's perfect for training since no one is there anymore."
The kids all nodded. "You'll mobilize right away to begin-"
However, their plans were cut short just as the K-Alert went off.
"Ah, shit! A K-Alert!" Tsuranuki exclaimed.
The director narrowed his eyes as he keyed the comm on his desk. "What are we looking at, Futaba?" he asked.
"It's bad, sir! This has got to be the biggest Kaiju that we've seen!" Futaba exclaimed. "It's way bigger than a Coal Walker in its unfused form, that's for sure!"
"What kind?" Hokuto repeated, his teeth bared.
"It's a Hydra!" Those words sent shivers down Hokuto's back. His eyes widened as he let his finger fall from the button.
A Hydra Kaiju class Grimm?! That was bad news...
"Shit...!"
"A Hydra? What's a Hydra?" Hayato asked in confusion.
"A rare kind of Kaiju Grimm. Only twice has it been seen before this," the director said, his voice shaking. "It is close to impossible to defeat... and for good reason. It has the ability to regenerate its heads every time one is cut off, so it's almost impossible to find the true head and kill it. In truth, the only two times they surfaced we had to resort to bombing the hell out of them. And that caused enormous amounts of damage and destruction. The government in power was seen as pariahs for their actions back then."
"And they were taken down, I hope?" Miku squeaked.
Hokuto nodded. "Yes... but at a cost in lives and damage. We've never seen another one until now..."
"Then we'll take care of it!" Tsuranuki said. "If there's a way to take it down, then we'll find it!"
Hayato nodded, his eyes hard.
So did the others.
The director nodded. "Okay. Get to the LinkPods and initiate LinkUp."
The kids saluted. "Hai!"
LAUNCH BAY
The six Shinkalions revved their engines as they waited for the signal to launch.
"So, where is the Hydra?" Esebu asked Futaba.
"The Hydra has surfaced near Tokyo Harbor. We'll fire a capture field and try to contain it, but I doubt it will work for long, given how strong these things are," she said. "But it's better than nothing."
"Right." Esebu couldn't nod, but he did agree with her on the plan.
"You six be careful. This thing is unlike anything you've faced before," Futaba cautioned.
"Hai!" the six said.
The signal turned green and the team disengaged their brakes, putting more power to their wheels.
"Esebu, E7 Kagayaki..."
"Haifu, H5 Hayabusa..."
"Fumikiri, E3 Tsubasa..."
"Matagi, E6 Komachi..."
"Nozoma, N700A..."
"Efu, E5 Hayabusa..."
"Shuppatsu shinkÅ!" the six declared.
Esebu was the first one to pull out. His engine revved as he put more power to his wheels. 'Okay! I just hope we can win this one...' he thought with a nervous gulp.