These are the words of Hung Nguyen. I just have permission to post them and make it easier to read. Just want to give his stuff the recognition it deserves.
I am scrunching both works into one story, maybe even adding something extra. Any new updates will be told here. Think of this as the "Remastered version". Welcoming new and old readers alike!
Disclaimer: I think we all know the drill now.
italics: Thoughts
Chapter 22 Part 1
Difficulties
"Yaaaaahhhhhh... WHOA!"
THUD!
Slade groaned as he picked himself off the floor and rubbed his sore side. He couldn't understand it. How could he have missed? Lately, his martial arts skills had begun to degrade and he had to keep up his fighting skills, especially during this part of their journey back to Mejele and Tarak. The battles ahead promised to be the most intense.
He looked up at the target he had set up and wondered how he had misjudged the distance. It had been an easy exercise of jump-kicking and knocking off the top of the post. In the past, he could do it in his sleep. Now, he was struggling just to get through his usual training sessions. Just what was happening to him?
It had been several days after Duero and Barnette had been returned to the Nirvana, and things had just started to settle down. The Radam had chosen not to attack since then, which had been fortunate, given the state the ship was in. Parfet's engineering crews had been working around the clock to mend the damage that Tekkadread Carnage had wrought, but it still wasn't enough. The pirates needed a place to dry-dock the vessel and effect more lasting repairs, especially the structural damage to the hull. The Nirvana was just barely holding together, and Parfet was near considering resorting to duct tape and chewing gum to keep the ship from falling to pieces. There was also another dilemma; supplies and spare parts were now dwindling. With the addition of a fifth Tekkaman, the food rations had become strained.
Though Duero was perfectly willing to start eating Tarak food pills again, Barnette would not hear of it and insisted that he was served the same as everyone else on the ship. However, with his hyper-metabolism, this became a problem, especially with having to feed Slade and the other Tekkamen. The only solution was to find more food. Fortunately, Slade knew of a planet close by that could be of assistance. It had been one of the worlds he had encountered during his time wandering the cosmos before meeting up with Magno's crew. The pirates could also make use of the planet's technology to repair the Nirvana.
As they headed toward a gaseous nebula, the first obstacle they would have to overcome was the asteroid field that was in the way. With the Nirvana's protective screens as damaged as they were, they would have been forced to go around the area. Luckily, Jura had discovered a new power with her Tekkaman form.
The bridge of the Nirvana...
"Are you ready, Jura?" Magno asked as she spoke through the communicator to the Mini-Dread that was flying out in front of the Nirvana.
In her fighter, the blonde pilot nodded as she took out her Tekkacrystal.
"TEKSETTER!"
In an instant, Tekkaman Ruby burst from her cockpit and flew forward toward the oncoming masses of rock and ice. The blisters on her armor glowed and then suddenly came off and floated about her like the repulsor discs on her old Tekkadread. They spread about her in a large spherical pattern and extended lines of force which merged to form a huge energy barrier, surrounding the Nirvana and protecting the ship. Chunks of stone and frozen water were pushed aside harmlessly as Jura single-handedly defended the Nirvana from everything the asteroid field threw against it.
Meanwhile, deep within the nebula, a lone figure was buffeted through the energy storms and violent electromagnetic fields. Only the insulation of the capsule protected him from being obliterated, but at this point, he didn't care anymore. Anything, even death, would have been preferable to the living Hell he was now experiencing.
Rabat wished that the torment would end. It had been one misery after another since the day he met with Slade. It was all his fault that he was now in this predicament. If it weren't for him, then he would still be whole, instead of being reduced to the pitiful shell of a human being that he was now.
Then, just as suddenly as he let his anger build, he let it drop. He really couldn't blame anyone, except for himself. After all, he had betrayed the human race to the Harvesters, and who wouldn't have done what Slade did to get payback? And that is just what he did when he alerted all the other human worlds to be on their guard against Rabat and his unholy alliance with the organ-hunters.
Every planet he had visited since then had turned him away, either by denying him refuge or forcibly chasing him off. More often than not, it was the latter. His supplies had eventually dwindled down to nothing and his lack of information to the Harvesters had devalued his importance to them. As a result, he simply became another human to harvest. And harvest they did, while his simian friend Utan had been thrown away to die in the vacuum of space.
The Harvesters had taken much from him and would have completely cut him apart if it weren't for the re-emergence of the Radam. Not that it was much better under their rule. The Radam had no use for a nearly-butchered, barely alive human. They wanted healthy individuals to control as Tekkamen and further their drive for conquest. All Rabat was good for was for periodic amusement and in their last scheme, as bait.
After Duero and Barnette's capture, Rabat was cast aside and left to die in the endless void. However, it seemed that fate was not yet finished with him as his capsule drifted toward a planet that he had not visited in several years. As the tiny vessel began to heat up as it started to graze the outer atmosphere, Rabat hoped that his end would be quick as his capsule became a fiery meteor.
On the surface of the planet, a lone figure looked up and saw what appeared to be a shooting star. He then felt a kind of presence that seemed to emanate from it and decided to investigate as it was coming down toward an area that was nearby.
On the Nirvana, Duero became concerned as he looked at the readouts on the medical scanner. Though he was supposed to be resting from his ordeal with the Radam, the Tarak physician had insisted on returning to his duties. Though with his enhanced and somewhat uncontrollable powers, he had Paiway handle all of the instruments while he gave advice. Until he was able to touch objects and people without harming them, this new arrangement would have to suffice. Currently, she was running all of the Sickbay's equipment.
"Are you done, Doc?" Slade asked as he sat up from the examination table. He shook his head slightly to get rid of the dizzy spell he was feeling.
"The physical exam, yes." Duero replied. "However, I do not like what I am seeing. Your present level of homeostasis is... disturbing."
"Homeo... wha? Can you give it to me in simpler terms?"
"All right... and the term 'all right' is something that you are definitely not. When you first came aboard this vessel, I had the Med-Scanners recalibrated to measure your extraordinary levels of health and physiological makeup due to your Tekkaman abilities. The same goes for Dita, Jura, Meia, and of course, myself. And lately, your levels have substantially diminished. Your body isn't working as efficiently as before. The cellular structure seems to be having difficulty in sustaining itself. To put it simply, you aren't at your physiological best and this condition seems to be worsening."
"Aw c'mon, Doc. I'm just feeling a bit tired from all the fighting lately, that's all. I'm just having a few off-days." Slade insisted, though the medical man was not convinced.
"This goes beyond a few off-days, Slade. I have been reading the reports on how you've been straining lately and it may have something to do with your evolved Tekkaman form. Your performance in battle has degraded lately and the captain has told me of the problems you've been having in transforming into your penultimate form."
"No! It's just fatigue, that's all! I've been fighting almost nonstop since we've started this trip and-"
"And you've experienced far more than anyone could even begin to imagine." The doctor cut in as he began listing the events. "You've merged and formed Tekkadreads, gone up against Harvester flagships, enemy Tekkamen, Spider-Crabs, dying (and I am STILL puzzled over how you were revived), and most recently... your transformation into your evolved form and the creation of the other Tekkamen. I have a theory that you had something to do with Dita, Meia, and Jura's powers."
"Huh?"
"Think about it. Those three did not undergo the same process as I had with the Radam, yet they achieved the ability to become Tekkamen. The only logical explanation is that you GAVE them their abilities."
"Say what? I didn't do anything to them, so how can I be responsible?"
"I have yet to formulate a plausible rationalization, but I am quite certain that you had contributed, at least in part, to their upgrades. But all of that is beside the point that you are suffering some kind of physiological difficulty. It may be necessary to restrict your participation in any further combat, at least for now."
"No way! You know that we need everyone available to defend the ship, especially now. What if the Radam attack?"
"I believe that the others can handle it. If not, I can always give them assistance. I am a Tekkaman now, and Paiway can handle the medical duties."
"But..."
"Slade, as this ship's physician, I do have the authority to ground you if I feel that there is a potential danger to you and the crew. You have not been fighting at your best and perhaps some time to rest is in order."
"The doctor is right." Paiway said as she deactivated the Med-Scanner. "I don't like these readings either. I think you should follow his orders."
"And doctor's orders are to stay out of the battle." Duero stated.
Later...
"It took some doing, but he finally agreed." Duero said as he concluded with his report to Magno and BC. At this point, the Nirvana had cleared the asteroids and was about to enter the nebula.
"That's good to hear, though I am skeptical that Slade will be able to keep himself from any future battles." The aged captain said. "However, I am more concerned with what's happening to him now. Are you certain that he is suffering some kind of cellular degeneration?"
"I'm positive." The Tarak physician said. "I have not yet informed Slade of the entire truth about his condition, but it has been steadily declining in the last few weeks. His body is being strained beyond its limits and I suspect that it is because of his recent achievement of his evolved Tekkaman form. With that much power to control, he is being forced to expend himself at a much higher rate. It should have taken him months to adapt to it, but he's been in near-constant battle since the beginning of this voyage. I fear that in a matter of weeks, perhaps days, he will burn himself out. Even maintaining his normal transformation might eventually become detrimental to him."
"And what about you and the other Tekkamen?" BC asked.
"So far, we haven't felt any of the effects that Slade is experiencing, and that could be due to the fact that we do not possess evolved forms. However, I am still monitoring our conditions and I will inform you of any new developments."
"Very well then. From this day on, Slade shall no longer take part in the defense of this vessel. He has done more than enough to protect us and now it is our turn. We will keep him in the Register for the remainder of the voyage." She paused for a moment then added. "I trust that this information about his condition will NOT leave this conference room, at least for now?" When the two nodded, Magno sighed a bit, then changed the subject as she addressed her First Officer. "Speaking of the Register, since Gascogne is not expected to recover until the end of this journey, we must select her replacement. Any ideas as to whom?"
"I had approached Barnette with the offer, but she turned it down." BC replied.
"She turned it down?"
"Yes. I think that she feels responsible for the attack on Gascogne and doesn't feel worthy enough to take her place. She was extremely adamant against heading the Register."
"I suppose that is understandable, but who should we have to run the Register?"
"Hmm, might I make a suggestion?" Duero said. "I believe that there is another candidate."
The Register...
Slade was a bit surprised to see Ukyo the 17th enter the Register and take her place at Gascogne's station.
"Ucchan? What are you doing here? I thought you were with the Warrior Squadron?"
The okonomiyaki chef smiled as she returned the greeting. "Well, with Gascogne out of commission for a while, they needed someone who was familiar with her station, so I was chosen. It's okay, since I get to spend more time with you. I hear that you were regulated to full-time here at the Register."
"Yeah, well it's only for a while. I'm going to be back into the fight eventually."
"Well then, we should enjoy what time we have together, Slade. I still need to thank you for that time you saved my life. How about I whip up some of my specialty okonomiyaki at lunch?"
"Sounds good to me."
Ukyo smiled as she felt that things were looking up. Slade had been spending so much time with Dita and the other Tekkamen that she hadn't seen much of him outside of the Vanguard operations. Over the last few months, she had developed a fondness for him and her hatred toward men had diminished. He was not at all like the monsters that she had been taught to despise since birth. And of course, it wasn't as if he was the one who had dishonored the Kuonji clan all those centuries ago, right?
At the shooting range, Barnette found it difficult to concentrate as she missed six targets in a row. In her mind, she could still see herself in her Dread as it opened fire on Gascogne's Supply Ship. The memory had been giving her nightmares and was also upsetting her aim. In her mind's eye, she could see Gascogne's face in the center of her targeting display. After another minute of aimless firing, the simulation ended and the score was displayed.
The brunette sighed in depression. She was definitely not at her best today. It had been bad enough that Darkon had used her and Duero as a weapon against the Nirvana, but this feeling of guilt still haunted her. How could she have so ruthlessly attacked and nearly murder her closest friends? She had felt ecstasy and pleasure in destroying her comrades. She had tried to convince herself that it had been that Radam Mind Parasite that had forced her to do such terrible things, and yet she couldn't help but feel that a part of her wanted to do it. Did that thing somehow unleash a primal urge within her? No matter how much she wanted to forget, the guilt was still there and there was always the possibility that it might happen again.
That was the main reason why she had turned down the position of Head Supplier and instead agreed to lead the Dread Squadrons. She did not feel that she was worthy of taking the place of the one she had nearly killed. She was also certain that the other crewmembers still harbored some resentment toward her, despite the fact that everyone on board had already forgiven her.
However, Barnette could not forgive herself and had purposely distanced herself from her comrades. She felt that she didn't have any connection to anyone, not after that bastard Darkon had changed her. No one could understand what she had experienced. Well, almost no one...
After her recovery from surgery, Barnette had felt a kind of faint connection with Duero. For some odd reason, she knew how to tie a surgeon's knot, was able identify various parts of the body by their medical terms, and how to set broken bones. She even had a recipe for roasted Shelari meat.
At that moment, she heard the door to the shooting range open and a familiar figure entered. She gave Duero a warm smile as he approached her.
"Hello Barnette. And how are you?" The good doctor asked as she came down off the floating disk and faced him.
"Oh, I'm all right. I've got a little irritation in the occipital region of my cerebrum and some slight discomfort on the dorsal side of my spinal column near the second and third vertebrae, but... huh?" She became confused over her words and said, "Whoa, where did all of that come from? I just meant to say that I have a headache and a slight pain in my neck."
Duero smirked a bit as he replied. "Hmm, it could be that our psychic link during the time we were Darkon's slaves may have transferred some of my memories over to you and vice-versa. You just recited one of the exam questions I answered during my days at the Tarak Medical Academy. For me, I happen to know that you're shooting a 45-caliber Model 1911 A1 with a 7-round magazine."
"Wow. And I thought I was the ancient gun expert."
The two shared a laugh together as they unknowingly began forging a relationship between their two worlds... and something more intimate...
"Slade, what's wrong?" Ukyo asked as her associate began to cough and become somewhat shaky.
Slade waved her off as he cleared his throat, though at the moment he was feeling unsteady and his vision started to blur slightly. He did not want to worry her or anyone else on the ship, though he knew that he couldn't keep his condition secret from the others for long. He just had to hold out until the end of the voyage. He quickly excused himself and headed out the door, leaving a very puzzled and concerned Head of the Register.
Ukyo the Seventeenth knew that something was up. Slade was usually confident and sure in himself. Now he was showing signs of fatigue and lack of coordination. He was also displaying some mental stress and wasn't as gung-ho about things. At times, he was moody and withdrawn. Every now and then, he'd actually come close to losing his patience.
Since he wasn't a female, Ukyo couldn't assume that Slade was having that 'time of the month' that women had. Then again, she didn't know much about men in particular until after she had met Slade. She wondered if he was coming down with some kind of disease. She decided to table her thoughts for a while and hoped that things would get better.
Slade's quarters...
What's wrong with me?
Slade found himself in a coughing fit that sent sharp stabs of pain through his chest and throat. When he put his hand to his mouth and let off a hard hacking noise, he became alarmed to see a wet, warm crimson stain on his palm.
He braced himself and tried to focus, but his vision continued to blur in and out. Finally, he collapsed onto his bed as his head started to spin. He just barely managed not to lapse into unconsciousness as he waited for his body to settle down, though he knew that deep inside, he wasn't going to get any better.
Things had been getting harder for him, and everyday life had become a struggle. Slade suspected that something was happening to him, and that he may not see the end of this journey. He had hoped that it was only fatigue and mental stress, but it had worsened as time went on. He had been hiding his condition from others, but he knew that it was only a matter time before the rest of the crew realized that something was wrong with him.
It was only a day or two before just after Duero and Barnette had returned, when the White Tekkaman began to fear that his life may not last much longer.
The Radam World, formerly the planet Earth...
"I cannot understand these games that you play, Darkon!" Saber stated as he stood before his master in his human form. "Why do you not just destroy the Nirvana and Slade and have it done with?"
"You will NOT speak to your Warlord in that manner, Saber." Darkon replied in a very dangerous tone. "Remember just who made you into what you are now. Those foolish Harvesters believed that they have been in control of the Paksis, when it was really we, the Radam, who had created the Tekkaman from the wretch they had selected. You owe your power, your very existence, to me."
"If you truly wish for me to show my gratitude, then you will give me the power to destroy Slade!" Saber shot back. "The power I have now is nothing compared to his evolved form!"
"Indeed." The Radam Warlord agreed. "He has achieved the penultimate form of the Tekkaman warrior. Tekkamen such as yourself are but one step in the cosmic evolution. He has surpassed you, but not without paying a price."
"Price?"
"It is a gift that requires much from he who receives it... great physical and spiritual strength... and ultimately his very life, for no one can survive as the penultimate Tekkaman for very long. The surveillance footage from our previous battles have shown that he is already having difficulties and it is only a matter of time."
"Master, are you saying that Slade will not survive?" This information alarmed Saber as he made a decision. "Give me these powers now before it is too late!"
"What?"
"I demand them, Darkon! I will not be CHEATED out of defeating my greatest foe because of some cosmic twist of fate!"
"YOU demand me?" The Warlord said incredulously.
"I will not be silent this time! You owe me this! Even if Slade does not survive, he STILL wins! After all that I've done, that's just not fair!"
"And what HAVE you done, but fail me consistently?" Darkon pointed out, then decided to punish Saber for his insubordination. "And now you defy me? So be it, Saber!"
The Crimson Tekkaman was suddenly engulfed by a jelly-like substance that sprang up from the floor and dragged him down, screaming and struggling. Saber shouted out in protest and anguish, but then disappeared from sight, leaving the Radam leader to contemplate.
Darkon sighed as he considered his next move and what to do with the rebellious space warrior. Though Saber was his most powerful warrior, he was also the hardest to control. His obsession with defeating Slade had both been an incentive and a liability in their plans to conquer the cosmos. However, only Darkon knew of the underlying reasons to Saber's drive to destroy his rival.
Darkon was well aware of Slade's origins since he had the records of the pod which had landed on Earth centuries ago. He also knew of the genesis of Saber as well and suspected that the link between the two may be what was causing such animosity between them.
Hmmm, if only Saber knew of his true connection to Slade... speaking of which... I think it is time to hurry his destruction along...
"DARKON! DON'T LEAVE ME DOWN HERE! I WILL GO MAD!"
Saber continued to pound against the crystalline prison in which he had been transported to. However, his pleas went unanswered as he was left in silence in the bowels of the planet.
As he was left to consider his rebellious words against Darkon, he continued to see in his mind's eye his greatest foe, Slade. He just had to defeat him, once and for all. He wanted to achieve and surpass all that the White Tekkaman had. He wanted to be recognized as the best and he would not be in anyone's shadow, least of all his!
Though he wanted nothing more than to destroy him utterly, he couldn't help but feel that there was some connection between them. In a way, they were two-of-a-kind and that infuriated him even more. He was not going to be compared to him! He would be known as a great warrior and not some second-rate version of Slade!
"Slade, are you all right?" Meia asked as she and the Tekkaman ate in the cafeteria. Normally he would be wolfing down his meal, but today he was just picking at his food.
"Oh, well I guess I'm not too hungry." Slade replied. "Sometimes I've been skipping meals."
This statement surprised her. Knowing the high-energy requirements of a Tekkaman, eating less or skipping meals was not advisable. She had made certain she had been eating enough, for there was no telling when the next battle would occur. For Slade to turn down food meant that something was definitely wrong, and after all they had been through together, she had started to open up more and became very concerned. Though she wouldn't admit it openly, Slade had become very important to her.
"Slade, are you sure that you're all right?"
"Hey, it's okay." Slade said as he got up and heading for the exit, leaving his uneaten meal on the table.
However, the former Dread leader was unconvinced as she followed him out into the hall. She placed her hand on his shoulder and stopped him. She blushed a bit when she felt the hard muscle under her palm, then quickly took her hand back. When he turned to face her, she felt a bit young and unsure, then composed herself. "Slade, I'm... I mean, we're all getting concerned about what's been happening to you lately. You've been avoiding people, you haven't been leading the training sessions as much as you did and... well, I've haven't seen you as much, especially now that you've been grounded from battle for a while."
"It's all right, though I appreciate the concern. I'm just tired okay?"
"No, it's not okay!" Meia insisted. "Slade, you can't just shut yourself out from us, and from me! We're friends, and I... well..." She started to twiddle her index fingers and her cheeks became pink. "I mean, we're supposed to help each other when we're in trouble. You've always helped us out when we needed it, and I think it's time we started to return the favor. If there's something wrong then you should let me know. I'll always be here for you when you need me!" She immediately became very embarrassed as soon as those words left her lips. What made her say such a thing?
Slade gave her a comforting smile as he gazed upon her flustered expression. She looked really cute at the moment as he replied, "Thanks Meia. I do appreciate the offer and maybe... I'll take you up on it." He then leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, then turned around and left her in an even more embarrassed state.
I wonder what made me do that? Slade thought as he decided to visit the Sick Bay and see how Gascogne was doing as she rested in the Healing Capsule. As he neared the Sick Bay, he met up with Dita, who happened to be carrying a tray of sweet rolls and other pastries.
"Mr. Alien! I've been looking for you! I made these just for you!" The red-haired girl said excitedly.
"Uh, thanks Dita, but I'm not hungry right now..." Slade began, but then stopped as he saw the look of disappointment in her eyes. Why was it that he couldn't stand to see a girl sad? "Oh, okay maybe a couple." He reached out, took a pastry, and quickly gobbled it up. The smile on her face brightened the mood.
"Mmmm, this is good."
His compliment made her even happier. "I'm glad that you like it! Here! Have as much as you want!"
As the two conversed, the tension that Slade had been feeling eased somewhat. It was good to be able to be with people who did care about him. It made him feel less lonely and that was a welcomed change from the life of solitude he had been leading before joining the Nirvana.
Standing nearby, a certain girl was feeling left out. Misty had in her hands a tray of food that she had made for him. However, since the day her rival Dita and the other girls had become Tekkamen, she had been feeling inadequate and not worthy of him. Dita, Meia, and Jura had attained a level of power that set them apart from all the others. Furthermore, though she had been trying to get his attention, it was apparent that Slade only considered her as a friend and nothing more.
Misty sighed and shook her head. The writing was on the wall and it was time for her to accept it and move on. From the time she had awakened from the cryo-pod, she had hoped that she and Slade would get together, since he was the only man on the ship that understood the old ways between men and women. She had been feeling very lonely with only people from single-gender planets around. However, he did not respond to her the way she wanted him to, and she could not force him to love her. But the question was, where could she go from here? The world she knew of no longer existed and she had no family to call her own. It just wasn't fair!
She would have been better off sleeping in that cryo-pod!
Not wanting to be seen with tears in her eyes, she quietly walked off and left the scene.
At that moment, the battle alert went off...
The Observation Port...
Slade sighed as he watched Dita, Jura, and Meia, along with the other defenders of the Nirvana, fight off several swarms of Spider-Crabs. In the lead of the Dread formations was Barnette, with Xian Pu in command of the Warrior Squadron. It seemed that everyone was doing well... without him. He had wanted to transform and get involved in the fight, but Duero immediately stopped him and reminded him of his enforced R&R. He was to stay put and let the others fight. Slade understood that he had to stay on the sidelines, but that didn't mean that he had to like it.
The battle raged on for several minutes and the pirates looked like they were having no troubles. The near-mindless Radam monsters were no match for them and Slade felt about as useful as a burned-out meteor.
Then the tables turned as Darkon decided to up the ante...
The alarms on the bridge on the Nirvana began sounding off as something huge appeared on the sensors. A huge rip in the space-time continuum appeared in the midst of the battle, and from that opening, an old nightmare came into view.
It was a leftover from the Harvesters and had been corrupted by the Radam. The mothership looked like a mutated sea cucumber with strange growths all over its surface. From these growths, thousands of Spider-Crabs were spewed into space like spores. Plasma bolts and organic missiles were released and began raining down on the pirates, threatening to wipe them out of existence. The Nirvana shuddered from the onslaught and was on the verge of collapsing.
Magno's crew was in big trouble...
"Slade! Where are you going!?" Duero cried out as he chased after the White Tekkaman toward the nearest airlock.
"Where do you think?" Slade called back as he began to open up the airlock. The ship shook and shuddered as the vessel's hull was being torn apart. The defensive screens of the Nirvana were being overpowered and Spider-Crabs were getting through. Destruction was imminent and something had to be done.
"You are not going to fight!" Duero insisted as he tried to restrain his patient. However, as the hallway shuddered and panels were blown open, the physician paused in his attempt to stop Slade.
Slade shook him off and faced him. Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a firm tone as alarms rang and circuits sparked. "Doc, I know what you're trying to do, but you don't have to hide or deny it. I know what's going on."
This statement took the healer by surprise. He took a step back. "What?"
"Doc... I'm not ignorant. I know that I haven't been feeling well. It's been going on for some time now and I finally figured that it might have something to do with my Tekkaman powers. That's why you had me put on the Register, wasn't it? To keep me from transforming?"
"Slade, I..."
"You don't need to explain what's happening to me. I know... I'm... dying."
"No, you're..."
"You don't have to sugarcoat it, Doc. And right now, we don't have time for this. If we don't do something now, then my condition won't matter, would it? WE'VE got to fight them, NOW!"
"WE?!"
"You're a Tekkaman, aren't you? And we need all the help we can get."
"Yes, but-"
"But nothing! Doc, if we lose now, we lose EVERYTHING! You can plan my funeral later, but we have to deal with this problem now. If I'm going to bite the big one, then I'm going to make sure that I take as many of those Radam bastards with me! Now are you going to help me, or stop me?"
Barnette gritted her teeth as she made her enhanced Dread swerve away from attacking Spider-Crabs, then swung about to counter-attack. The fighter was far more maneuverable than the others, thanks to the Radam, but it was still not enough to hold off the enemy. The pirate forces were losing ground and the Nirvana was taking a terrible beating.
However, in the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a flash of emerald green light and knew that Slade had joined the fray. What caught her by surprise was an additional flash of gray-blue light that followed. She then recognized the second figure as...
"RAZOR!"
"TEKSETTER!"
In unison, Slade and Duero transformed into their Tekkaman forms. For the doctor, this was a new experience as they charged at the formations of Spider-Crabs that were ripping up the Nirvana's hull. He was somewhat unsteady and figured that he had been fighting on instinct when he was under Darkon's control. He also noticed that Slade's movements were sluggish and he was straining hard just to keep going.
However, now was the time to focus on the task at hand, and the physician had to master his new abilities quickly. As they came down on a pack of Spider-Crabs that were about to tear open the top of the Nirvana's bridge, he looked down at his armor and wondered if the sharp protuberances were more than just cosmetic. Extending out with his right gauntlet, he concentrated, and was surprised when the armor stretched out and formed a blade. Swinging the blade in a wide arc, a beam of energy was let loose and cut a huge Spider-Crab in half.
Interesting. This armor is able to re-shape into any type of surgical instrument I can imagine. I was just thinking of my scalpel and a laser cellular divider.
Tekkaman Razor sped forward and let loose a series of energy slashes that reduced dozens of the monsters to shreds. One Spider-Crab tried to blindside him, but he turned about and his gauntlets let loose with twin long spikes with beveled points. Driving the points deep within the brute's head, he focused his power and 'injected' a blast of quantum energy into it, causing the beast to explode.
"Wow! Look at Mr. Doctor go!" Tekkaman Sapphire exclaimed as she and her comrades watched Duero 'operate' on his opponents.
"He's doing well for his first combat." Jura remarked.
"Yes, but Slade isn't!" Meia pointed out as she sped down to aid her comrade. The others followed her into the thick of things.
Slade winced as another Spider-Crab landed a direct blow. With his reflexes down and the enemy attacking en masse, the White Tekkaman was finding it hard to keep fighting. Deep within him, he could feel his body burning as flashes of pain stabbed hard at his very being. His heart threatened to explode from the intense pounding and he started to become disoriented. He didn't know how much longer he could hold out before his body pulled itself apart.
The majority of the Spider-Crabs began to focus their attention on Slade, biting, slashing, and crushing, sometimes tearing each other apart in their assault on the Nirvana's prime defender. It was as if he were in the center of a maelstrom and with every bit of damage he sustained, he could feel himself falling deeper and deeper into oblivion.
Darkon smiled as he watched the battle from his monitor.
Yes... keep pushing him... push him over the EDGE! Isn't it marvelous, Slade? The power you had gained as the Penultimate Tekkaman is nearly beyond comprehension, but it does come with a price. Now, it is only a matter of time before that gift destroys you! And I shall relish each and every moment as I watch you die! You will not be able to win this battle without that power, and that shall be your ultimate downfall!
"Hang on, Mr. Alien!" Dita cried out as she launched her energy arrows at the creatures that were swarming all over him.
Jura, Meia, and Duero also began blasting off the Spider-Crabs to ease the pressure off Slade. When the Tekkaman flew free, the others thought that things would be all right, but that was when the mothership began directing its firepower at Slade, as well as sending out more Spider-Crabs.
As Slade took a glancing shot on the shoulder, his rage started to swell, then finally it peaked.
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"
His body convulsed and trembled as he focused all of his remaining energy. By now, his armor was pockmarked and severely battered. Power began to seep from the cracks and holes and it looked as if he was about to explode.
"Slade! Don't do it!" Razor warned as he tried to stop him, but Slade paid no heed. Regardless of the intense pain he was feeling, he was going to finish this battle, once and for all!
The other Tekkamen were driven back as a huge energy backlash was emitted and in a flash, Tekkaman Blastor appeared on the scene.
At that point, Slade could only see his target as he opened up his Mega-Voltekker units and began charging up. At the same time, the mothership prepared to let loose with one final volley.
Slade felt as if he was about to be torn apart as he primed his strongest attack, then...
"MEGA-VOLTEKKER... AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
In that instant, the darkness of space was dispelled as Slade let loose with a mind-boggling blast that tore through the enemy vessel and vaporizing the hordes of Spider-Crabs. The pirates were astonished at the level of destruction that he had released, but as the mothership turned away and self-destructed, the feeling was forgotten as an insistent voice was heard.
"Mr. Alien! Mr. Alien! Mr. Alien! Why won't you answer me!?"
Floating among the debris and remains of the enemy forces, a lone figure floated lifelessly as globules of red streamed from several cracks in the armor.
Later...
"What?! What do you mean he's dying?!" Jura demanded.
In the Sick Bay, Duero sighed as he read his report to her and all the others who were with him. In an adjoining room, Slade, in his human form, was lying in bed with dozens of medical equipment buzzing and humming about. He had been in a coma-like state ever since he had been brought back to the ship.
"There's... no other way I can say it." The Tarak man stated. "Slade is suffering from a form of hyper-cellular degeneration and I'm afraid that he only has a few hours to live. He may not survive past the night."
"No! You can't mean that! Mr. Alien can't die!" Dita said as her eyes welled up with tears.
Meia, though she appeared to be putting up a strong front, was also deeply affected by the news. "What is happening to him? Tell us!"
Magno sighed as she knew that there was no point in keeping the rest of the crew in the dark. "What the good doctor is trying to say is that Slade has been suffering from a condition that is connected to his Tekkaman powers, specifically his evolved form. We found out that the more he used it, the more he was driving himself closer to the grave."
"That was the reason why we wanted Slade to stay out of the battles. We didn't want him to accelerate the process that was killing him." Duero said. "His evolved form requires far more energy than his body could supply and using those powers would eventually prove to be fatal. I'm sorry, but... Slade is going to die."
To be continued...
Preview...
Dita: "NOOOO! Mr. Alien! You can't die! Not again!"
Jura: "This can't be happening! Someone please tell me this is all a dream!"
Meia: "Slade! Don't die! I won't allow it!"
Duero: "Slade once again is on the verge of dying. However, there is a slim chance we can save him. It is a very risky gamble."
Dita: "Please do it, Mr. Doctor! Save Mr. Alien!"
Duero: "You must understand that the failure rate is quite high. It involves you three girls. If we're lucky, Slade will be saved, and if not, he will die, along with the three of you. Are you willing to go through with it?"
Jura: "Just tell us what to do! I'll do anything if it's to save him!"
Meia: "Same with me! Make the necessary arrangements!"
Duero: "Alright then… no! The Radam are attacking! Not now! I can't stop the process! Next time, on TekkaDread Remastered: 'Second Evolution'."
Dita: "Please… don't go… Come back to us… to me..."
Author's Notes
It's been a long while, but I finally got around to finishing this part of Chapter nine and I hope to see this fic to the end. My life has been taking several twists and turns that have been cutting into my writing, but I'm still cranking out stories when I can. In the next part, Meia, Dita, and Jura may be able to save Slade, but the risk may be more than they could take. See you then!
Please read and review!