Zoalords
11
Treason
"So what does this mean for us?" Sho was straight and to the point.
"Nothing, for now. The Council has known you were here for over a year, and have yet to move." The Zoalord was clearly nervous. He had a right to be. Mikhail Czyvek was breaking several CHRONOS laws and committing Treason by giving information to the 'enemy'. They, of course, already knew. CCI, under Czyvek himself, had bugged the Fukamachi's home several months back, "I currently retain power in Japan, Lord Vorsted remains in Russia."
Sho crossed his hands. Now what? How long until we have to fight again? How long until I have to fight you, Mikhail? He looked Czyvek in the eye, "Agito said you were developing a Unit Remover Zoanoid. Is that true?"
Czyvek swallowed hard and flinched. "Yes. It's true. It's the only way I can think of for you to survive. Lord Archanfel truly needs the Guyver Unit. If it is not in his possession and he is successful in the other thing. . . It could be the End of Everything."
"How?" Tetsuro asked, "What is he afraid of?"
"Lord Archanfel is not afraid. I am." Czyvek looked at the floor, "He seeks to bring The Ouranos back. He seeks to reunite with The Creators. That is why he needed thirteen Zoalords, to supply full power to The Ark so that he might call them back."
Tetsuro's eyes widened, "But last time they were here, they tried to kill him and destroy all life on Earth."
"Do you see, now, why I'm afraid?" Czyvek stated wryly. "The Creators attempted to destroy Earth because of the threat posed by a Guyver Unit falling into human hands. If they arrive and find two Guyver Units in human hands . . ."
"It's been millions of years since they left," Sho pointed out, "They may have gone extinct, especially if they were fighting a war."
A look of hope briefly flittered across Czyvek's face, then vanished, "No, if they had the power to create all life on Earth, to guide it's evolution . . . No, they're out there. Waiting."
"What about the rest of the Zoalords?" Mizuki spoke up, "Don't they know what The Creators tried to do? Waferdanos has to know, he was there when it happened, wasn't he?"
"Yes, he was. But he shares Archanfel's beliefs. Or he is so loyal that even such a threat as this cannot dissuade him. It is probably a combination of both. But most of the Council fully believe that The Ouranos, The Creators, will accept us. As long as the Guyver Unit is in Lord Archanfel's, and therefore his Masters', control. If not, they might view us as a threat and history would repeat itself. And this time Lord Archanfel might not have the strength to stop them."
"Do you know anything about The Ouranos?" Tetsuro asked, "Anything about what they are like? Physically?"
"No. I don't even know if they were one species, or an alliance of species. Even Lord Waferdanos knows little about what they truly are. Lord Archanfel might know, he must know, but he does not confide in me, for obvious reasons. I know that they wanted to create weapons for a war, and they then tried to destroy their experiments." He pointed at the Symbol of CHRONOS on his jacket. Sho had never really noticed it before, but it looked like an eye curving upward, "This is called 'The Eye of Ouranos'. Archanfel designed it himself. I do not know if it is realistic or stylized, but is the closest thing to an image of them that I have ever seen."
"And what happens if they come, and you have the Guyvers, and they accept Archanfel? They created humans and Zoanoids as weapons for a war. If they're still fighting that war, Earth might become nothing but a giant weapons factory." There was a strength in Sho's voice Czyvek had rarely noted. "They need thirteen Zoalords to call these Ouranos back . . ."
Czyvek laughed, but it was utterly joyless, "I can be easily replaced. We are all expendable. Lord Archanfel or Lord Barcus would simply find a new Zoalord." His face turned grim, "We didn't know. None of us knew what Lord Archanfel had in mind until well after X-Day. Lord Purgstall was working to bring peace and unity to the world." He shrugged, "I don't want you to misunderstand. Lord Archanfel is not evil. On the contrary, he is a noble being. Many, many years ago his 'parents' abandoned him here. All he wants is to reunite with those parents. He cannot understand our mortal concerns, my fear. What child will admit that their beloved parents might be dangerous?" He turned his head slightly, "They'll hurt him. They'll crush his hopes, betray his love and destroy us all."
"Then why are you helping call them?" Tetsuro asked.
"Because it's too late. The signal began when The Ark first took flight, two and a half years ago. The Zoalords serve only to keep the peace, now. To hold the world until The True Masters arrive."
"What will happen to you when they find out you've been talking to us?" Mizuki asked, genuine concern in her voice.
Czyvek forced himself to smile, "I don't know. They may not care. You already knew most of what I've told you, and the rest is simply my personal opinion. I am not against CHRONOS. I believe that, generally speaking, the world is a better place with CHRONOS in power. You have good reason to disagree, very good reason." He looked down at his hands, "But I'm afraid of The Ouranos, and I thought you deserved to know why we want the Guyver Unit." He was silent for a moment, "Lord Archanfel has agreed to spare all of your lives if we can take the Unit."
Sho wondered what kind of personal risk on Czyvek's part had helped them reach that agreement. Most of CHRONOS wanted him dead. Convincing them to spare his life . . . Perhaps that was why Czyvek held such a poor position in CHRONOS relative to the other Zoalords. It was probably a lie, but if it was, they were lying to Czyvek. He was completely sincere. "I, we, appreciate all the help that you've given us. But, I can't understand it. Why? Why do you, a Zoalord, a ruler in CHRONOS, care what happens to us?"
"Lord Purgstall felt you had been wronged. He never condoned harming innocents, and that is what led to his murder . . . I, too, feel you have been wronged. 'Wronged' is so inadequate a word for what was done to you. To your father. To the people of Takeshiro. To so many people. I also know what it is like to fight to protect those you love. And to lose some of them."
Sho wanted to know something else about their ally, to help further gauge his motivations, "Did you . . . Know anyone that I killed fighting CHRONOS?"
Czyvek paled, then sighed, "Do you remember the Zoanoid who posed as Mizuki to lure you into a trap? His name was Kenishiro. Tora Kenishiro. And he was a good friend of mine."
"I'm sorry. I had no choice."
"I know. Had you not killed him, he would have killed you. It was not that he was cruel or evil, he wasn't. But he was a Zoanoid, and as you know all too well, a Zoanoid cannot act against his masters. Guyot and Barcus killed him by sending against you. That is one of many reasons I can't stand Barcus, even when he does good things. Another is the fact that Barcus was controlling your father . . ." He cut off quickly. He really had said too much this time.
"Barcus was controlling dad when he turned into . . . Into . . ." Sho had not known who among the Zoalords present at Relic's Point had actually forced him to kill his own father.
And Czyvek had just put a bull's-eye on Lord Hamilcar Barcus.
Cloud Gate
He was expecting someone to be waiting for him back at Cloud Gate, and he wasn't dissapointed. He could almost feel Lord Imakarum Mirabilis' gaze through his dark glasses.
"Consorting with the enemy?" He asked casually.
"Sho isn't the enemy." Czyvek replied, unrepentant.
"Neither is Lord Barcus. Or Lord Archanfel."
"I have nothing against Lord Archanfel!"
"You question his judgement."
"I . . . I just can't bring myself to believe that The Ouranos are benevolent. They created us for war and then attempted to destroy us. They left Archanfel, who was faithful to them, behind to die with the rest. Does that sound in any way indicative of a friendly people?"
"Lord Archanfel believes that they will embrace us. He and Lords de Galenos and Waferdanos are the only living beings who have actually encountered them. First hand knowledge against irrational fear. Which sounds more logical to you, Mikhail?"
"I don't know what to believe, anymore." Czyvek went over to a window and looked out over the city.
"Do you think Sho will allow you to take the Guyver?" Mirabilis mercifully changed the subject.
"If he can be convinced of how important it is. There may still be hope to recruit him, if we play our cards right."
"I would like to see him fighting side by side with Lord Barcus, now that you told him who was responsible for his father's death."
"If the threat is great enough, if innocent people, much less humanity itself, is in danger, Sho would fight beside Lord Barcus. He fought beside Aptom, even after he brutalized Mizuki."
Mirabilis nodded, he was right. If it would save innocent lives, Sho would help CHRONOS. He might hate them, but his honor and compassion were too strong to allow him to let revenge get in the way.
The conversation was interrupted by a telepathic message from Lord Barcus.
Agito's arm had transformed into . . . Something.
To be continued . . .