Chapter 2 The Host
Summary: After successfully making the weapon, Belial finds the perfect guinea pig.
Zero: The author doesn't own anything from either the Ultraman franchise or the Godzilla franchise.
"Hey Leo, we're getting a distress call from where our planet used to be." Astra said. "That's weird, nothing lives there now." Leo said. "They say that they need us to save them from some monsters attacking them. Should we tell the others?" Astra asked. "Nah, it's probably something minor. We can handle it." Leo said. "I guess so- Now they're saying that we should hurry." Astra said. "Well let's not keep them waiting." Leo said as he walked out the door. The 2 Ultras flew towards that area of dead space.
About 2 hours later…
"So where are these beings who contacted you?" Leo asked. "I don't know, they stopped talking an hour ago. You think they were killed?" Astra asked. The 2 continued to fly through the shattered remains of their former world. Astra held back some tears & tried to find the source of the cry. Unknown to them, Belial was hiding behind some of the debris. He had found a section of debris that would be the perfect spot for an ambush. The 2 Ultra brothers continued to fly through the area. "Do you sense anything?" Leo asked. "No," Then Belial shot his new weapon & it landed on Astra's back. Astra didn't feel a thing. "Apparently it was a false alarm." Astra said. The weapon carefully made its way into his flesh. "Great, more- Never mind. Let's head back. I can see you tearing up again." Leo teased. Astra huffed & the 2 returned to The Land of Light. "Once they get there, my weapon will wreak it's havoc." Belial thought.
At the Land of Light….
Leo & Astra had returned from the Deathly Debris. The 2 were resting in their home. Astra was studying star maps while Leo was taking a 'Shower'. He would do this to reduce the risk of space parasites & to keep his Ultra Armor at full strength. Leo soon finished his 'Shower' & noticed Astra slumped over his desk. "Hey Astra, wake up. You know how touchy Xenon gets when you drool on his maps." Leo said as he gently nudged his younger sibling. Astra weakly lifted his head. "Oh you don't look so good. What's wrong?" Leo asked. "I- D- don't- MPH!" Astra groaned. "You what?" Leo asked. Astra covered his mouth before he vomited up a-lot of his inner light. "Astra!" Leo cried. Astra slumped to the floor & began to breathe loudly. "Astra what's wrong?! Astra!" Leo cried. If there's one thing that would make Leo cry, it was to see his little brother suffer. Astra began to make choking sounds, like he was trying to get air out of oil. "Come on Astra wake up! Wake up!" Leo shouted. Astra continued to choke on some unknown thing. Leo, knowing about the practice called 'CPR', tried but Astra wouldn't hold still long enough. His body began to tremble & he looked like he was shivering. Leo ran out the door & flew at top speed to find Cosmos.
At Zero's house…
Cosmos & Zero were playing an Ultra variation of Chess. Then Leo burst through the door. "Jeesh Leo I just replaced that-" "No time Zero! Cosmos! I need you to come with me quickly! It's Astra! He's vomiting & shaking & I- I don't know what to do!" Leo screamed in a panic. "Calm down Leo, take me to Astra & I'll see what I can do. We'll have to cut our game short Zero." Cosmos said. He soon left with Leo & rushed back to their home. Leo opened the door & screamed. Astra was coughing up inner light forcefully & in a greater amount. "Astra!" Leo cried as tears welled up in his eyes. Cosmos used his heal ability but it seemed to make it worst. "S- Stop!" Astra gasped. Cosmos retracted his hands & gently felt Astras' temperature. "His chest is unusually cold. We may need to get him to Mother of Ultra." Cosmos said. Leo nodded & the 2 took the unusually sick Ultra to the hospital.
At the hospital…
Leo had handed Astra to Mother of Ultra's care. Meanwhile, he & Cosmos waited outside. "Ooo! I can't stand this!" Leo groaned. "We just put him in there a minute ago." Cosmos said. "I know that! I just hate seeing my brother like this!" Leo groaned. "Look, maybe staying here might not be a good idea. Why don't you go home & try to calm down while they cure Astra?" Cosmos suggested. "I can't! I need to be here in case my brother needs me!" Leo snapped. "Ok! Ok! We'll wait here." Cosmos sighed.
3 hours later…
Leo was nervously pacing back & forth. Finally, Mother of Ultra herself, came out of the hospital. "Leo? I'm not sure you'd want to hear this but, we weren't able to cure Astra." MOU said sadly. "WHAT?! But where is he? How is he?!" Leo asked as tears began to build up in his eyes. "If you wish to see him, follow me." MOU instructed. Leo followed MOU and nearly fainted at Astra's sight. His skin had multiple tears, like he was mauled by a tiger; there were large blisters on his chest that were mostly around his color timer, his breathing sounded labored & he was shivering. Leo burst into tears & wailed by his brother's side. "Do you know what's causing this?" Cosmos asked. "No, we have absolutely no information on it. I fear that he may die anytime between tonight and tomorrow. Is there any way to find out where he got this strangeness?" MOU asked. "I'm not sure. Leo? Where was the last place you & Astra went to?" Cosmos asked. "We- Went to where our planet used to be. Please, can I be alone? I don't know how much time Astra has left." Leo sighed. Cosmos & MOU nodded before they left the room. Leo gently ran his hand over his dying brother's blisters. Astra groaned softly & Leo retracted his hand. "Oh Astra, why did this happen? I wish there was some way to help you. I wish I could take your place!" Leo sniffled. "L-Leo..." Astra groaned weakly. "Yes, what is it Astra?! Do you need me to get the nurse?" Leo asked. "No, I- You to- me..." Astra groaned. "Could you maybe repeat that? I couldn't fully understand you." Leo asked. "Pl- Please- (Coughs) St- Stay" Astra groaned weakly. "Ok Astra, I won't move from this spot. Just please, fight this! I- (Sniffles) I don't want to see you go!" Leo whispered while holding one of Astra's hands.
3 hours later…
Leo had drifted off to sleep while sitting near Astra's possible deathbed. Unknown to him, one of Astra's blisters that was near his Color Timer began to swell. Astra began to gasp loudly as the swelling continued. "L- L- LEO!" Astra shouted. Leo snapped awake & saw the blister grow larger & larger. "Astra! What's going on?!" Leo shouted. Astra groaned as the blister's swelling continued. "Nurse get in here! NOW!" Leo hollered. He could only stand there & watch as the blister grew huge. The other nurses rushed in but it was too late, the blister burst & squirted it's contents on everyone & everything. Leo rushed back to Astra's side & held his right hand. Astra weakly turned his head to look at Leo. Leo gently hugged Astra around his neck. Tears were making rivers down his face. "Get this place cleaned up stat!" said one of the nurses. "Are you ok?" Leo asked. "Not really, but that- Blister popping, made me feel a little- Better" Astra groaned. "Excuse me, Leo? Can you please leave so we can clean this room up?" one of the nurses asked. "Do I have to?" Leo asked nervously. After that blister popping, he was still skeptical of Astra's status. "I guess you can stay." the nurse said before she left to get some towels. "Why did one of your blisters pop?" Leo asked. Astra shrugged & fell back to sleep. "Please, keep fighting Astra." Leo whispered.
1 hour later…
The nurses had finished cleaning up the strange residue from the blister. Astra was still sleeping & Leo was watching him. "What do you think this stuff is?" asked one of the nurses who was cleaning the towel used. "I'm not sure, even Mother of Ultra doesn't know." said another nurse. "Whatever it is, it's a tough stain to get out." the first nurse commented. "Ick, it's all over my hands. I'm going to go disinfect them. I'll be right back." the second nurse said. She walked to the disinfecting room & noticed that the residue was making blisters appear on her skin. She began to feel very cold & nauseous….
Leo: Please tell me that Astra will live?!
Me: …..
Leo: WHY YOU-
Me: Unless you want to watch Astra DIE you'll sit down & shut up!
Ultraman: This author can be cruel to work with. R & R
