Three down, two to go!...though it was a close call for our heroes.

DISCLAIMER: Contra belongs to Konami, whereas Bomberman still remains a property of Hudson Soft as of March 1, 2012. WarioWare, on the other hand, is owned by Nintendo. Any songs "used" throughout the course of this fanfic are properties of their respective owners, along with any characters that aren't within the three franchises listed here, unless stated otherwise.

Chapter 10: The "return" of the Japanese Empire...

[Interlude BGM: Environmental Intrigue (Metroid Fusion)]

Much later after having averted the death of mankind all over Europe and Africa, we had returned to the US to discuss the situation further with Penny Crygor in Diamond City. Upon telling her what happened, she became intrigued. "So...Golem Bomber did manage to summon Nazi zombies of the Afrika Korps, and not just the usual zombie Bombermen he brought into battle as Golem Phantom in Bomberman Tournament..."

"Well, duh," said Ashley.

"Shhh," hushed Bill. "Let the science girl talk."

Penny continued, "Then it all makes sense now. When the Red Falcon Empire revived the Five Dastardly Bombers, they must've injected the alien cell of Red Falcon into their bodies."

"Of course," I pondered. "Why else did Ami and I think Magnet Bomber told us he and his partners served Red Falcon now?"

"That alien cell sounds and looks dangerous," added Ami, "as if there's no telling what it could do! Come to think of it, this seems to bring back memories of Contra: Hard Corps on Sega Genesis..."

"In other words," said Lance, "that thing must have given Golem Bomber the ability to summon all kinds of zombies, rather than just the undead Bombermen."

Bill nodded in agreement. "Same here with Evil Pretty Bomber - she had the power to pollute the seas with that alien cell infused in her body."

Yumi thought momentarily. "Speaking of which, had you guys not stopped those ICBMs, the impending doom might've eventually contaminated the entire planet with nuclear radiation in a few days' time, if not weeks."

"And if we did not kill Evil Pretty," said Lance, "then her vile pollution would've poisoned all of the oceans on Earth permanently."

Blaze Bomber nodded. "Ever since some of us were given Star energy, it seemed Red Falcon now views us as a threat once again. As long as the Four Contras and I are still alive and able to defend us all to the bitter end..."

"Yeah," added Mona, "but we can't forget that he and his army still pose a threat."

"Plasma Bomber and Brain Bomber are still around, but where can they be?" questioned 9-Volt.

"If I recall from Bomberman Tournament," answered Phoebe, "Plasma Bomber froze one of the four regions on planet Phantarion upon his arrival. It's probably no coincidence he's hiding somewhere up north."

Lance suggested, "It's a possibility. Russia, China, Japan, or even Canada. We don't know where he is."

[End BGM]

But Arctic Bomber refused to comprehend our conversation, still bent on her petty revenge. "I don't care where he's hiding! I think I heard Siren Bomber mention his name before Warlock Bomber melted my crystal castle. I'll bet Plasma Bomber's responsible for ordering that indiscriminate attack on MY private property! If I ever find him, I swear to Mihaele I'm gonna rip that antenna ball clean off his helmet, and shove an icicle spear up his ass!"

I raised my voice to interrupt her ranting. "STOP. I know you're still upset about your castle being completely destroyed, but we can't have you going rogue!"

Arctic Bomber raised her hands childishly in response. "I'm not going rogue, stupid! I'm just gonna show him what happens when he and his merry followers defy me! Jeez!"

Bill shouted, "That's enough, young lady! Do you want to help us stop the Five Dastardly Bombers, along with the Chaotic Bombers and your two ex-comrades, or would you rather go directly back to jail?"

Arctic Bomber grumbled at the thought for a moment. "Okay, fine! But only as long as I can get back what I lost, including my precious bowling ball! Like I said before, there's no way I'm going to jail for you nor anybody else!"

"No wonder you always lost when you were still a Hate Bomber," said Lance. "You're too selfish to even think of your own life or the ones you used to fight alongside with! Now, I strongly suggest you be a good Bomber-girl, stop with your tantrums, and help us defeat the rest of the Dastardly Bombers so we can get to Red Falcon. When it's all over, then we can ask the US Government to drop you out of that 'Most Wanted Villainesses' list."

"You guys pinky-finger promise?"

"Yes," answered Cute Pink. "We pinky-finger promise."

Before we ended the long briefing, we were interrupted with a broadcast on Dr. Crygor's computer monitor. When the static cleared, it showed an image of a man in what appeared to be a Japanese stronghold. It was no ordinary man, but rather a Prime Minister. He was standing in front of the logo that represented the Empire of Japan a long time ago during World War II. We had thought the empire itself dissolved for good after both events occurred: the end of World War II in 1945, and the enforcement of the Constitution of Japan in 1947. Even Ami and Yumi, whose home country was indeed Japan, thought the same we Americans did.

Bill gasped. "No...it can't be! Hideki Tojo, the Prime Minister of Japan during World War II?"

"The one and only," said Tojo with a Japanese accent. Surprisingly, though, he was speaking fluent English even when we weren't wearing our translator devices.

Then Lance replied, "I thought you were hanged on December 23, 1948, for the war crimes you've committed! The attack on Pearl Harbor, the attack against China, the massacre against civilians and POWs alike, everything!"

"It is indeed true I was hanged, but...when I was dead, I stumbled upon a strange but useful power called immortality. With it, I came back to life, and started rebuilding the Empire of Japan underground. It took many years to do so...Shocking, isn't it? Yes, but is true now. Times change, don't they? The people who made that constitution thought it dissolved the Empire of Japan, but they thought wrong! The moment I began rebuilding the empire, I became its ruler...but not the complete emperor of Japan itself. Hear me out: we, the new-and-improved Empire of Japan are coming for you. Ever since the green-clad man named Plasma Bomber arrived, he gave us the power we need to terminate you. You will bow down before us, or you will cease to exist!"

Ami stammered momentarily before regaining her thoughts. "You...you're not real! You're dead! The Empire of Japan was already long gone nearly 70 years ago! And you're not even speaking your native tongue..."

"That's because the power of immortality gave me the ability to speak English."

"Listen to us," I interrupted, "the Red Falcon Empire is bad news, especially the alien leader himself!"

"My best friend and I are co-leaders of the Four Contras, sworn to protect the innocent and uphold the law!"

Tojo huffed disapprovingly. "You dare defy your motherland by siding with this American man?! You will regret the day you chose not to serve Plasma Bomber, the new and permanent Emperor of Japan! I am his right-handed man! Our soldiers that fought in World War II will obliterate you!"

When "Tojo" finished, the monitor shut off. Since plenty of us know history as well as we could recall, there was something fishy going on, especially when the supposedly "revived" Prime Minister mentioned Plasma Bomber. Blaze Bomber explained, "This man is lying to us. You were right, the real Tojo was hanged for his war crimes back in 1948. It appears someone, or something, might be masquerading as him. And there's only one vile, two-timing being capable of impersonating people, much less the already-long-gone Empire of Japan!"

Bill, Lance, Ami, and I exclaimed in unison: "Metamorph Bomber!"

Mona added, "But we destroyed him last month, didn't we? Then again, it's not surprising Red Falcon probably revived him, too. On the other hand, if the Empire of the Rising Sun itself did 'come back from the dead', then what of its soldiers as well?"

Arctic Bomber suggested, "Either they were cloned, or just the very same Nazi zombies we had to put up with in Egypt."

"But there aren't anymore of them since we killed Golem Bomber," said Lance.

"Well, I don't care how they came back! So, Emperor Plasma wants to give Japan a bad name just like he ordered the attack on my castle, does he?! I'll show him what for! C'mon, fellas! The boys and girls of Japan are counting on us to blow him to kingdom come! And even expose the 'new-and-improved' Empire of Japan for the fraud it really is! After all, you did say it was already long gone 70-something years ago! We must do all this for both America and Japan! Do it for Nintendo, Hudson Soft, and Konami! And...do it for my castle and my Glacier Ball!" She was given a blank stare, but quickly brushed it off. "Erm...I mean, do it for little 9-Volt and his guardian angels! The Mistress of the Cold and Bowling Queen beckons thee!"

Then she grinned nervously. We had never seen her this motivated in doing the right thing, such as stopping Plasma Bomber from slandering Japan's good name. However, we'd have to convince Delta Force of the US Army, that the "Empire of Japan" we're about to face isn't for real. "And most of all, Aaron, I'm gonna do it for you! Since I was nice enough to join forces with you and your pals, I'll teach you how to bowl the right way - my way!"

I muttered, "Um...sure thing, I guess."

"Let's not go around boasting too much, Arctic," said Ami. "We have a big masquerade to expose." And henceforth, we departed for the CrygorCopter to join up with Delta Force, while some of our friends volunteered to stay with Penny and help finish modifying the Contra Cruiser for space combat.

Meanwhile, at a military base in Los Angeles, CA, a pair of robot pilots approached a reconnaissance aircraft, known as the SR-20XX "Blackbird" - a successor to the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird", now piloted by airforce-intelligent robots. The human personnel made certain the aircraft was fully fueled and capable of avoiding oncoming fire from any of Red Falcon's forces above the skies of Earth. As soon as the crewmen cleared the runway, the robot pilots - each with a male voice - took off up high in the sky, and headed towards our position: the "Pacific Theater" itself.

[Stage BGM: Ocean (Contra 4)]

Mission 4A: The skies above the Pacific Theater
We had just received word that for reasons unknown, the Empire of Japan has returned to power roughly 70 years after World War II.
However, suspicions arose when the supposedly "revived" Tojo mentioned Plasma Bomber, one of the Five Dastardly Bombers.
Like the Four Contras pointed out earlier, it's possible that Plasma Bomber is staging this huge masquerade.
August 31, 20XX
5:13 AM

Deltas Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow. Do you copy? This is Captain Air-Droid Unit 612, codenamed Big-Eye One, speaking.

Major Air-Droid Unit 613, codenamed Big-Eye Two, reporting. What's your status, over?

Mad Dog replied via radio, We're getting close to Japan. According to the Four Contras' reports, the 'Empire of Japan' is actually a huge masquerade, planned by Plasma Bomber himself.

Scorpion added, We don't know for sure whether the Japanese soldiers we were fending off along the way were actually zombies, or humanoid clones.

Air-Droid 612 processed the conversation. One moment...done. According to our advanced radar system, the soldiers are indeed cloned. They are using stolen air and naval weaponry.

No crap, Sherlock, said Mad Dog.

Delta Red, warned Air-Droid 613, you have three Kamikaze and five rocketmen approaching in your helicopters' directions. Exercise caution.

Roger that, Big-Eye, acknowledged Scorpion.

Meanwhile, below the Earth's atmosphere, we avoided the Kamikaze planes and shot them down. Meanwhile, one of the rocketmen latched onto the helicopter Blaze Bomber was piloting, but Lance was quick to shoot him. The damage inflicted, suddenly turned the Japanese soldier into an alien soldier...

"Ah-ha!" surmised Lance. "I knew this was too good to be true."

"A real human being's blood is red, and not green," said Bill.

Ami added, "Then all the soldiers are indeed Red Falcon's brethren in disguise - complete with some kind of holographic belt you shot!"

"Heh. Figures." smirked Arctic Bomber, booting the alien soldier off our chopper, but not before blowing him and his jetpack up with her Bowling Bomb. Your turn, fellas! Report the situation to Big-Eye now!"

"I'm on it, Arctic. Big-Eye, this is Delta Blue! We've confirmed that the supposed 'Empire of Japan' really is just a big group of masquerading aliens working for Red Falcon!"

"Yeah!" said Ami. "They must've used those holographic belts to disguise themselves perfectly! We just took down one of the rocketmen and found it out for real!"

We copy, Delta Blue. All units of Delta Force, be advised: the enemy is not the Empire of Japan. Repeat, the enemy is not the Empire of Japan at all.

Roger that, Big-Eye, said Mad Dog. We're movin' in to show those alien bastards what happens when they impersonate a military force from another country!

Under the Big-Eye Air-Droids' guidance, we flew across the sky to take down more of the fakers, despite some casualties. Cheerful White, Cool Black, Ashley, and Red were still safe within Mad Dog's chopper, while Scorpion's was still up-and-running. Fortunately, for all of us, the stolen Japanese craft weren't reinforced with Super-Titanium alloy, which meant we didn't have to hold back. Still, we had to keep our cool and stay sharp, and not let our adrenaline get the better of us. Of course, that went double for Arctic Bomber as well. Sooner or later, we came across an unusually huge battleship.

"Big-Eye," said Blaze Bomber, "we're going in the huge battleship on the surface of the ocean to take it out!"

That is a highly dangerous operation, warned Air-Droid 612. Scanners indicate this battleship's energy core must be destroyed within.

It is well-protected by anti-air turrets and missile launchers, added Air-Droid 613. Are you sure you want to do this, Delta Blue?

Blaze Bomber nodded. "We will do so, or die trying. Over and out, Big-Eye."

[End BGM]
[Boss BGM: Tunnel Boss (Contra 4)]

We flew downwards, with the other helicopters of Delta Blue following our lead. We avoided gunfire from the anti-air turrets and destroyed the incoming missiles. From there, we managed to get inside the large battleship to fly our way to the core. Along the way, though, a couple of our helicopters were shot down by inner-defenses; only two remained. Still, that didn't stop us from reaching the core.

Just then, we were called by none other than Trigger Bomber, who flew down in his personal UFO. Don't you DARE! I've come to make sure you really die this time!

With that, he fired a barrage of missiles from his ship, damaging our helicopters a little but not on the rotor blades. Besides, if the rotor blades were damaged, we'd be screwed by the time we hit the surface. That's when Blaze Bomber asked Bill and Lance to take over, while he flew out to destroy Trigger Bomber's craft. While the dogfight went on, Bill and Lance focused on the battleship's energy core. Ami and 5-Volt manned a cannon on the left side of our chopper with their makeshift cannonballs: their Thunder Bombs. 9-Volt, Phoebe, and Cute Pink, on the other hand, used a cannon on the right side with their own makeshift cannonballs: Pink's normal bombs. Arctic Bomber wasn't about to let the others spoil her chance, but Mona gave her a firm grip, signaling the Mistress of the Cold to stay put for now. Along with said cannonballs, I used the armor-piercing machine gun, attached to the front of the CrygorCopter (hence the name "nose cannon" when it comes to battle helicopters), to damage the core further.

The trigger-happy Chaotic Bomber was outraged, but even with the machine guns and missile launchers at his disposal, he could not get far as Blaze Bomber was already destroying his craft with the thrown Molotov cocktails. Sooner or later, Trigger Bomber was shot down.

Dammit! Beaten by punks like Blaze Bomber...I've gotten rusty lately, haven't I... His last words were cut off as his ship crashed into the energy core and exploded, killing him instantly.

"Now to get back on board with the Four Contras," said Blaze Bomber. "That core looks ready to blow!"

[End BGM]

With the core damaged to critical overload, we stopped firing and retreated from the doomed battleship. We were able to make it back out and back in formation with the rest of Delta Force just before the unusually huge battleship detonated in a nuclear-esque explosion. Afterwards, Blaze Bomber got out the chopper's communicator. "Big-Eye, this is Delta Blue reporting. Two of our helicopters were gunned down along the way...but we took out that huge battleship along with Trigger Bomber."

Roger that, Delta Blue, answered Air-Droid 612. The enemy clones piloting the stolen Japanese aircraft have been confirmed as wiped out.

You are clear to move in to Plasma Bomber's confirmed location, said Air-Droid 613. Be advised: there is an unusual cold weather in Japan, when it is actually summer.

After a rather rough dogfight, we had reached Tokyo, Japan, safely. Arctic Bomber, on the other hand, was motivated by her urge to exact revenge on Plasma Bomber for having planned the attack on her castle and the theft of her bowling ball. In fact, she was still dead-set on destroying Mosquito Bomber and Siren Bomber. But before we went any further, we wanted her to tell us all about what she had done last month, still concerned about how she single-handedly broke into King Billy Bling's castle in Hollywood.

"Okay, I'll explain everything just so you can stop being so damn paranoid." Arctic Bomber took a deep breath for a few seconds. "There's this greedy king, named Billy Bling, who rules the so-called 'kingdom' in Hollywood, CA, known as the Money Dynasty. Whenever he's not so busy gathering all sorts of treasures, he's often attending casinos as a millionaire playboy (mainly for the sake of getting girls). For years, however, he kept getting robbed all the time, so he hired a mad scientist to build him an army of robots to patrol his kingdom, as well as protect his riches from anyone daring enough to loot 'em. His three loyal robots, called the Rich Bombers, are known as Bling Bomber, Heavy Bomber, and Fashion Bomber. Here's what I know so far: Bling Bomber was modeled after the king himself, Heavy Bomber was based on that 'Heavy Weapons' guy from Team Fortress 2, complete with a thick Russian accent...and finally, Fashion Bomber was simply King Billy's spoof of an everyday female supermodel. And yes, I willingly broke into their castle so I could get the treasures I wanted for my very own winter castle. There, I explained everything! Happy now?"

"Yeah, we are now," I said, "but we're still keeping an eye on you for your own good, and ours as well."

"Whatever..."

Meanwhile, aboard the Death Falcon above Earth's atmosphere, Purple Basilisk's henchmen came in with pleasant news, hoping it just might change the outcome of World War III in their boss's favor.

"Sir, I know we probably should have told you this earlier, but my group had been secretly working on our own assignment throughout the past week. We came across some distant world called Video Game Dream, and even found something interesting in its underworld region, the so-called Video Game Nightmare."

"What are you blabbering about?" questioned Purple Basilisk.

"They say Video Game Dream is a kingdom-like world where a benevolent king judges a video game's worthiness before it's ever released to his people for a down-time entertainment. But if it was bad, then it's banished instead to Video Game Nightmare. We found some kind of prison cartridge and took it back here for some research. It turned out this cartridge houses what used to be known as Crasher and Blaster, said to have been killed by Wario, and later decimated from existence by a small group of kids. I know this may sound like pure blasphemy, but they're no slouches even in a pinch."

"Hmm...I think I've heard a bit about Crasher and Blaster, mainly the part about them posing as space pirates when in reality, they're the last pieces of what was known as Zeromus. But unless this has something to do with the fact that we lost three Dastardly Bombers in just two days, I don't see the point in using them as the next phase of our plan!"

Regardless of such, Purple Basilisk reluctantly decided to take the request to Red Falcon, Sniper Bomber, and Axe Bomber.

TO BE CONTINUED...

The battle at the Pacific Ocean may be over now, but Tokyo remains frozen at Plasma Bomber's hands. With the ruse exposed, he'll be going all out to make certain nobody lives to tell the story, but not if our heroes have anything to say about it - obviously.