Zoalords
Chapter 9
Diversion
Despite what he had told Fukamachi, Agito had no intention of attacking Cloud Gate. Even had Czyvek been there, it would have been a waste of time and energy. No, what he wanted was somewhere else.
Czyvek was not a complete fool, he knew enough to disguise his processing center in a place no one would think to look. In the abandoned husk of Takeshiro village. After he'd slain it's Zoanoids it's people had either fled or been processed to ensure their silence. The eruption of Mount Minakami had left the place coated in a thick layer of volcanic ash.
After his ascension to Zoalord of Japan, Czyvek had paid generous reparations to the survivors. The processing of the unknowing, 'innocent' people of Takeshiro was one of the greatest points of contention between Czyvek and Barcus. Czyvek was as weak and soft as Sho. No wonder he sought to protect him.
It wasn't even a ghost town, just a jumble of burnt timber and soot blackened stone, There was no life here. Or so it seemed. Czyvek didn't want to place a target where civilians would be in the line of fire.
He opened his Mega Smasher and blasted the ground beneath the ruins of an old shrine.
The Ark
"I want to help, dad."
"Not this time," Imakarum Mirabilis put a hand on his son's shoulder as the Zoalords rushed toward the Pods and Japan. "Stay here and protect The Ark for me, alright?"
Ingriam knew that The Ark did not need protecting, "I can help . . ."
"Agito could use you to get at me. You have to stay here, for both our sakes." Imakarum's voice was firm.
"Okay. Be careful, dad." They hugged.
"I will, Kenji." He kissed him on the forehead.
Then Imakarum walked to the waiting Pod.
Lord Czyvek was ready to leave the Pod and fly himself down, vacuum or no vacuum. He was already in his battle form, a lithe black beetle with glowing red eyes. He was pacing the Pod as if it would help. Seven Zoalords in two Pods sped toward the island nation. They all knew what Agito was after.
The supposedly secret lab.
The Unit Remover Zoanoids.
Czyvek's Typhon persona was beginning to emerge. In battle, that was a good thing. Aboard a closed shuttle it was quite another thing entirely.
Angela.
Please, calm yourself. You will damage the Pod. Lord Waferdanos thought soothingly, Dr. Nighthawk is a strong woman, she survived Aptom, she can survive Makishima.
If she is harmed in any way . . .
Waferdanos felt pity for his friend. He was in love with the woman. Waferdanos, a unique entity, had never felt such an emotion, at least in a romantic sense, save through others' minds. Despite the gravity of the situation, the elder Zoalord's words soothed Czyvek's nerves, somewhat. He had a way with people, a calming influence born of eons of solitary reflection. Perhaps the fact that he was not human helped as well. Archanfel had told Czyvek on Silha that he distrusted human beings. That was why the Supreme Zoalord had assigned Fenris, a roughly humanoid wolf-creature, and his tribe to care for the mentally fragile Zoalord as he recovered from his traumatic battle with Aptom.
Zoalord Johnatan Vorsted watched the insectoid Zoalord carefully. He wasn't convinced of Czyvek's fitness as a Zoalord. He did not doubt the man's loyalty, just his capability. He was too emotional, had too many attachments. What would he do if this woman he cared for died? Considering that he had suffered a near mental collapse after Aptom's attack on Cloud Gate, the loss of his beloved could drive him truly insane. And a mad Zoalord could be far more dangerous even than a traitorous one.
Something had to be done.
Ingriam Mirabilis remained aboard The Ark, he was not yet ready to fight such an opponent as Guyver III. Lords Nguyen, Barcus and Archanfel remained behind as well, unable to offer much assistance.
Takeshiro
Agito was surprised by the reception, his spy had not told him that the base was heavily staffed with Enzyme V Guyver-Killers. Slender, fast and powerful, Enzyme V combined the agility of a Scout with the strength of a Power-Type. In keeping with Czyvek's obsession and Guyver-Killer tradition, their forms were insectoid. Like Enzyme II they possessed four long, pincered, spider-like limbs sprouting from their shimmering ebon backs, their bodies resembled a cross between a Galvak and, ironically, a Guyver, while their heads tapered to long, thin, flexible tubes used to spew Guyver destroying acid.
They were upon him in an instant. Despite their apparent frailty, these bugs could not be easily crushed, and the swarm began spewing acid into his face. He was quickly blinded but not out. He opened his Mega Smasher again, vaporizing about a dozen of the defenders. He regretted now having sent his Libertus against Cloud Gate as a diversion.
Cloud Gate
It was a small group, but powerful. Ishi squinted but he could not see the Libertus trying to gain access to Cloud Gate. Several Enzymes had been sent against them. The older models hadn't seen much action since Enzyme V came out. In fact, none of them had seen much action for almost a year. Things had been very quiet since Aptom's suicidal attack. Ishi knew that the Libertus were merely diversions. They were trying to tie up the Zoanoids stationed at Cloud Gate and prevent them from aiding the Takeshiro base. He wondered if they knew of the secret tunnel that ran from the subbasement of Cloud Gate to Takeshiro which even now was shuttling Guyver-Killers to the battle.
How the hell did he find out about Takeshiro base in the first place?
One of the workers must be a spy. Czyvek could not read their minds, and many were human scientists. Czyvek had researched every Zoanoid, every scientist, even the construction crew for ties to Zeus' Thunderbolts. How had a spy been able to slip in? Perhaps they had switched alliances after being stationed there. Perhaps someone had slipped up.
It didn't matter right now. There was something more important to Mikhail Czyvek than even his brother Zoanoids at Takeshiro.
Who was it who said He who loves gives hostages to fortune? Nietzsche?
That didn't matter, either. Not at the moment. All that mattered was dealing with the threat to Takeshiro.
And praying that Dr. Nighthawk survived.
Ishi went over to his desk, opened a compartment, and pulled out a large gun. Based on Murakami's original design, it could take down a Gregole, or a Libertus. Rocies were not combat Zoanoids, they were scouts with almost no offensive or defensive capabilities. If a Libertus somehow got past the army of Zoanoid defenders, the gun would be his only means of defense. Of course, if a Libertus reached the Control Center, that would mean that Cloud Gate had fallen to the enemy. And he doubted he had enough ammunition to deal with that . . .
Takeshiro
Agito's entire body was burning. The acid was more powerful than he'd anticipated. He couldn't see, his sonic swords were melting like putty. It was time to pull out. Unfortunately for him, the Enzymes disagreed. Strong hands held him in place, pulled at him, dragging him down to Earth. Claws tore into his flesh as acid continued to destroy his armor. Long tubes spit more and more acid onto his body. He couldn't see, he had to rely on the electromagnetic images granted by the Guyver itself. He had only one chance.
He entered Gigantic Mode.
The Zoanoids around him vanished as he activated the Gravity Ram, decimating his opponents and the last remnants of Takeshiro village. He still couldn't see, and was in horrible pain. Then he heard an ominous sound. Thunder . . . His Hyper Sensory Spheres went haywire as the electromagnetic field surrounding him went mad. Jolt after jolt of lightning pummeled the wounded Guyver. Gravity began to press upon him, pulling him down to his knees, threatening to crush him like a tin can. All of the natural forces seemed to press upon him. A sonic blast blew off his right arm as both intense heat and crippling cold ripped into his body simultaneously.
Something struck Lord Mirabilis, latched around his body and exploded. Libertus! Flying Libertus! The swarm of Libertus fell upon the Zoalords in a confusion of strikes and explosions. More Enzymes poured from the compromised base to aid their masters as Agito fled in the confusion. By the time the Libertus had been dealt with, he was gone.
Lords Vorsted, Bin Jamar and de Galenos went looking for him.
Czyvek didn't pursue, he rushed into the base. It was largely intact, thank God, The Unit Remover Zoanoids rested safely in their processing chambers. With the mental confusion of battle removed, Czyvek could sense the Zoanoids hurrying the scientists through the secret tunnel to Cloud Gate.
Angela was safe.
Imakarum Mirabilis looked down at the smoking, badly damaged arm lying in a pool of Agito's blood. He recalled that when Sho's arm had been ripped off, it had generated an entirely new body, a clone of Sho that rapidly degenerated into a vicious creature. He wondered what this one would do. He ordered the nearby Zoanoids to quickly retrieve the limb, clean off the acid before it could do any more damage, and safely contain it.
Dr. Barcus should find this fascinating.
To be continued . . .