Hiya! Wow, I didn't think this fic would be so popular, boy was I wrong! Okay, on we go!
---
D.N. smirked as she watched Nova. The little fool of a monkey would never doubt her existence again now. Things were going better than she could have hoped.
"Perhaps they are", D.A. said from behind her, "But don't get ahead of yourself. We still have a ways to go"
"I wish you wouldn't do that", D.N. snapped irritably, "It's pretty annoying you know"
"You're getting ahead of yourself", D.A. repeated more forcibly this time, "Don't count Nova out just yet, she's strong willed"
"Then we'll just have to break that will, won't we?" D.S. asked, smirking, "Shouldn't be too hard, we've already got her doubting herself"
"D.A. is right", D.G. said, "If we get ahead of ourselves now, we might just loose this battle"
"You sound a lot like Gibson for someone who's suppose to be his evil essence", D.S. said sarcastically.
"Would you all be quiet?" D.N. snapped, "The things I put up with…"
"We need another plan", D.S. said, "We could start messing with their heads"
"Too soon", D.A. said, "You take out the strongest warrior before going for the rest"
"So who's the strongest?" D.O. asked at once.
"It's a tossup between Nova and Antauri", D.G. said carefully, "Nova has strength on her side, but Antauri is more mystic, he could see past any of our disguises"
"You doubt the others then?" D.A. asked, "They all have their strong points. The trick is to break past them and get in their heads"
"So we find their weakness", D.O. translated, "How hard could that be? They where their feelings on their sleeves"
"It's harder than it looks", D.G. said, "Chiro is the only one who could give us real trouble though"
"Would someone explain to me again why we don't have an evil Chiro?" D.O. asked.
"Because, D.O.", D.G. said, exasperated, "The monkies were created by a source of good slowly turning evil. Chiro wasn't. Small seeds of evil were planted inside the monkies. Simple enough?"
"So we're little seeds?"
"Yes D.O." D.G. said, giving up, "That's exactly what we are"
"Oh, okay!"
D.N. shook her head, "You're as dumb as Otto"
"Is there any chance here we can focus?" D.S. asked, annoyed, "We need to find weak points, otherwise we're never going to get anywhere!"
"Right", D.G. said, "We just need to hit each Hyperforce member where they're the weakest. Who should we start with?"
"Start with the hardest", D.S. suggested, "I think it would be Antauri. Any ideas where he's weak?"
"It's like I said before", D.G. said, "He can see through disguises, anything we do won't fool him. Any ideas D.A.?"
"He has a soft spot for the boy", D.A. said carefully, "But I wouldn't call it his absolute weakness"
"It's worth a shot", D.N. said, "But we need to find Chiro's weakness first"
"That's an easy one", D.S. said, "The robot girl, Jin May. Take her, and we've got him"
"Good one", D.N. said, "So that just leaves Gibson, Nova, Sprx, and Otto"
"Otto will be simple enough", D.G. said, "Lets focus on Gibson, Sprx, and Nova for now"
"Sprx and Nova are easy", D.N. said, smirking, "Their weakness? The other. You saw the way they defended each other in that fight with the shadow creature. Nova almost gave her life for Sprx. What would you expect their weakness to be?"
D.S. smirked, "Of course. Get those two against each other, and we've got two down"
0-0-0-0
Nova walked quickly through the halls of the Super Robot. She was trying to find Sprx, to apologize. She felt bad for what had happened last night, and she did want to make it up to him somehow.
"Sprx!" she called as she saw him walking down the hall a little ways ahead of her, "Sprx, hang on!"
Sprx turned around, looking bored, "Oh…hey, Nova"
"Hey Sprx", she said as she caught up to him, "Look, I wanted to talk about what happened last night, I'm really sorr-"
"I don't care"
Nova stopped short, "W-What?"
"I don't care Nova", he said in a clear voice, "In fact, I'm glad we had that fight, it made me realize that you actually don't mean a thing to me"
"Sprx, what do you--"
"Let me put it in a way even you could understand", Sprx said as though he were talking to a five-year-old, "If I wasn't on this team, I'd arrange so I never had to look at you again. Clear enough?"
Without waiting for an answer he pushed by her, leaving the stunned monkey behind.
0-0-0-0
Sprx wandered through the halls of the Super Robot, intent on finding Nova to patch things up with her. He felt truly bad about last night, he hadn't had the right to yell at her, he knew that…
"Nova!" she'd just come out of her room, and was making her way down the hall. She turned around, "Oh…it's just you Sprx"
"Hey", he said, catching up to her, "Look, about last night, I'm sorry, really, I didn't have the right to yell at you, I was just worried, you know, ever since-"
"I don't want to hear it Sprx"
Sprx stopped dead, "W…what?"
"What you said last nigh", Nova said, shrugging carelessly, "I could care less what you meant. To be honest Sprx, I don't care much for you at all. Sorry to break it to you"
She looked at Sprx with a solemn look in her eyes, and turned to walk away without another word.
-0-0-0-0-
"Ooh, harsh D.N." D.O. said as she appeared in front of the waiting group.
"I did my job didn't I?" D.N. asked, looking coldly at Sprx through their looking glass, "Him and Nova won't be much trouble anymore"
"Perhaps not", D.A. said, "But we should count them out yet"
D.N. smirked, "Don't worry", she said, "I've got a plan that will at least keep Nova out of our way for a bit. You got the girl, right?" she shot at D.O. and D.S.
They nodded, "Good", D.N. said, "Before long we'll have Chiro down as well. Everything, is under control"
-0-0-0-
Nova was getting ready for bed. She hadn't said much all day, she'd been too shocked. She'd spent most of the day in the gym, and no one was idiot enough to bother her there. She'd made sure to leave only when she was sure everyone would be in there rooms getting ready for bed. She still couldn't believe Sprx would say those things to her. But she'd heard with her own ears, hadn't she? The only explanation was that he was telling the truth, unless it was all just a cruel joke, in which case she would be likely to kill him. But the look in his eyes…she could tell it was the truth.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" said a mocking voice from behind her. She whirled around.
"You!"
Dark Nova was standing near her door, smirking, "Surprise", she said cruelly, "Did you miss me?"
"Not in the least!" Nova snapped, "Now what do you want?"
"I'm just here to watch the show", D.N. said with a shrug, "I did start it after all"
"What do you--" Nova's eyes grew wide as she remembered her last dream, "It was you!" she cried, "Or your…your evil Sprx, whatever, it was him I was talking to!"
"And it was I who was talking to Sprx", D.N. said, shrugging, "What's your point?"
"What did you say to him?" Nova snarled, gearing for a fight.
"Not much", D.N. said with a shrug, "Just enough to loose footing with you"
Nova's fist tightened. She'd have liked nothing better than to wipe the smirk off that look alike's face.
"It was quite easy, really, messing with him", D.N. continued, "Never once noticed-"
Before Nova knew what she was doing, she was attacking. D.N. was quicker than her though, and moved left. Nova slammed headlong into her bedroom door. Before she knew what was happening, she was being lifted into the air, and thrown backwards. She hit the ground with an amazingly loud crash. She tried to pick herself up, only to find that she couldn't move. She shifted her eyes up to D.N., who was standing above her, smirking.
"What did you do to me?.!" She yelled furiously.
"In time Nova", D.N. said as footsteps approached, "Sounds like your friends are coming. I best be off. Just remember Nova, this isn't over"
There was a resounding crack, and she disappeared. Nova dropped her glare to the floor as she tried to pull herself up, but it was no good. She was completely frozen. She was starting to feel drowsy and out of tune with everything. Chances were she'd overdone in it the gym, she hadn't taken a break all day, and she'd just taken a hard hit…
"Nova!" she heard her bedroom door open, and a second later she felt her self being grabbed and pulled up. A second later, Chiro's face swam into view, with the rest of the Hyperforce standing around him. "Nova?" Chiro repeated softly, "What happened?"
"I-I…I dunno", she said finally, trying to push herself out of Chiro's grip, not that it did any good. Gibson stooped down next to her and ran a scanner over her.
"Most of her systems have been completely frozen", he said after a second. Nova could feel herself starting to loose touch again, and tried to pull back. Her head was pounding, and her entire body was starting to ache.
"Will she be okay?" she heard Chiro ask.
"I think so", Gibson said, "It would be nice to know just what happened though. I'd say she was attacked, but the security system should have stopped any intruders. Unless of course Otto forgot to activate it again--"
"I didn't forget!" Otto protested, "I forgot once, so what?"
"Stay on track you guys", Chiro said sternly, "Come on, lets get her down to the Infirmary--"
"What?" Nova heard that part loud and clear, "I'm not going back in there--"
"Yes you are", Gibson said firmly, "Just for a bit, long enough to get your systems fixed"
Nova made a disgusted face but was helpless to do anything as she was lifted up and carried down the hall to the Infirmary.
--
"And you're sure you don't know what happened?" Gibson asked for the millionth time.
"No", Nova said crossly, "I told you, I was hit from behind, that's all I remember"
"I know what you told me", Gibson said, "I'm trying to jog your memory"
"Well it isn't working", she said, "so try a different tactic"
"Nova I'm just trying to help", Gibson said a bit angrily.
"I know", Nova said with a sigh, "I know you are, sorry, I'm just…I dunno, but I'm still sorry"
"It's quite all right", he said stiffly, "Well, as far as I can tell there's nothing wrong with you, so if you want to leave- and I'm sure you do- you're more than welcome to"
She was at the door before he had finished his sentence. She looked around as she prepared to leave and felt guilty as she watched Gibson start to shut down the computer. He had been only trying to help, she didn't have to snap at him…
"Thanks Gibson", she said quietly as she left. She didn't stick around to see if he heard her.
0-0-0-0-0
"Very subtle D.N." D.S. said sarcastically.
"I didn't see you doing any better", she shot back.
"I thought we agreed to go ahead with our plan for Chiro before we did anything else?" D.O. asked curiously.
"We would have if someone-" D.S. jerked his thumb at D.N., "Hadn't decided to go ahead with something else and leave us all in the dust. Now the Hyperforce will be better on guard and we won't be able to get in again"
"Says who?" D.N. shot back, "It's not like we had to work to hard to get around their pathetic security system anyway. Just do your job an we'll be set, no one will be of the wiser"
0-0-0-0-0
Chiro flopped down on his bed, exhausted. His mind was reeling with what had just happened. Obviously Nova had been attacked, but who could get by their security system? It didn't make any sense. He yawned widely and closed his eyes. He could just sleep on it and think about it more in the morning, he supposed. What he didn't realize at the time though, was that his mind was no longer a safe place.
---
"Where am I?" Chiro asked. His voice echoed around the empty cave. For that was where he was. A cave. He looked around cautiously, as though he expected something to jump out at him. He listened for a second, and finally decided to try and find an exit to get out of the creepy place. It was only then he noticed eh was in Hyper Mode.
"What the-"
"Chiro", his head snapped around, his eyes wide, "Chiro…"
"Who's there?" he asked, "Antauri? Nova? Gibson, Otto, Sprx? Somebody?"
"Come and see Chiro", the voice taunted, "We have something of yours, come and see"
"Something of mine?" Chiro asked, "What?"
"Come and see", the voice repeated. Chiro's eyes narrowed. His sensible side was telling him this was all one big trap. But his curious side wanted to know what was going on, and, as always, curiosity over came sensibility. He took off farther into the cave, closer to wherever the voice was coming from. He could still hear it taunting him, always saying the same thing: "Come and see Chiro"
He ran faster and faster, looking around, looking everywhere but in front of him. "Ah!" he yelled as he finally noticed he was fast approaching a dead end. He skidded to a halt and stopped about two inches before the wall.
"Come and see Chiro", his heart nearly stopped. The voice was coming from right behind him. He whirled around, but no one was there. Suddenly, he was thrown into light. His hands flew up to his eyes, and when the light finally died away, he found he was no longer in the cave. He was in a forest. Not that you could tell at first glance, none of the trees had leaves, and the only animals were ravens, cawing away on the bare trees.
"Hello Chiro"
He whirled around, and saw, to his great relief-
"Antauri!"
But something was wrong. This wasn't the Antauri he knew. His swift, silver-white skin had been replaced by black, and it wasn't even the black he had once been, just pure black. And there was something different about the air around him. It wasn't as calm and peaceful, but evil, and full of hatred.
"You're not Antauri…" he said slowly
"Very good boy", he scoffed, "Very good…"
There was a flash of light, and Jin May appeared on the ground in front of him, tied and gagged. "Jin May!" he dove to grab her, but there was another flash of light, and she was gone. His head snapped up to face 'Antauri'. "What'd you do with her?" he asked furiously.
"Don't look at me", he said, pointing to an area behind Chiro. The boy whirled around and saw Jin May hanging from tree, being held by- it caught Chiro by surprise- Nova.
"Not Nova Chiro", she said gleefully, "Good try though"
"Who are you?.!" Chiro yelled, "Why are doing this?"
"You sound just like Nova", another voice said. Chiro looked around and saw what looked like Sprx standing next to him. His brain was telling him not to trust his eyes anymore though.
"You should have seen the look on her face when she thought Sprx didn't care about her anymore", he went on, "I felt a little bad about doing it to her…actually, no I didn't"
"You mean Nova knows--?"
"Of course she does", D.S. snapped impatiently, "But all of you have been so dim you accept all her pitiful excuses--"
"So it was you that attacked her!" Chiro snapped, realizing.
"Of course it was", D.N. spoke up from behind him. He turned back around and saw that she was still holding Jin May, "Don't try talking to her about it though", she went on, "She'll deny it all, she wants to forget everything, I guess we're not making it too easy for her, but then again it isn't our job to make things easy"
Chiro barely heard a word she was saying. He was too busy focusing on ways to get Jin May free.
"I wouldn't bother", D.S. broke through his thoughts, "D.N. can move faster than you can blink, you wouldn't get two inches before she'd be gone"
"Let Jin May go!" he said angrily.
"Let her go?" D.N. repeated, "Well okay…"
Chiro realized what she was going to do about a split second before she did it. D.N. was holding Jin May a good fifteen or twenty feet in the air.
"No!" he yelled D.N. released her grip on Jin May. But he was too far away to catch her, too far away to do anything…
"AAAHHH!" he bolted up in his bed, breathing hard and sweating. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and tried to forget about what he had just seen. It was a dream, he told himself, It had to be.
0-0-0-0-0
"As stubborn as Nova, innit he?"
"He'll break. He'll break just like Nova did, you'll see"