Zoalords
Chapter 13
Of Two Evils . . .
Agito sat up, tensing his muscles in case the ex-Zoalord attacked. "And why would you want to help me, Guyot?"
"Because in doing so I will help myself. We are both selfish creatures, Makishima. We both want the same thing, The fall of CHRONOS, but for different reasons. You want to overthrow Archanfel and rule the world. I want to crush Archanfel and his Council of Zoalords. I want to destroy everything he has created. I want to hear him scream. I want vengeance!" Guyot's scarred face twisted in hatred and purpled with rage, "I want to bring him down from his precious Ark and crush his face into the dust! I want to break him. I want him to know that he is nothing before I allow him to die."
Agito smiled, "When last we met, you wanted both the Guyver and control of CHRONOS. I have no doubt you want vengeance," He stepped down from the bed and stood naked and defiant before the ex-Zoalord, "But you want power. Just as I do."
Guyot laughed, there was an odd gleam in his eyes, "I did want power, once. But I have been to Hell and have returned. All I want now is to make Archanfel suffer as I have suffered."
Agito found street clothes on a nearby table and began to dress. Guyot was lying. Oh, he wanted to break Archanfel's spirit. He wanted to drag the angel down from the Heavens and cast him into Hell. But he wanted power. People don't change. Guyot was probably mad, but that hadn't stopped Hitler or dozens of other Agito could name.
"How did you avoid capture by CHRONOS?"
"They believe me dead. I have kept out of sight, consolidating my power. Waiting for my opportunity to strike." He smiled, "Czyvek has sent out men to look for me, he suspects. I have been seen more than once. But his people think me dead, and didn't bother to actually investigate. With his telepathic dampener, Czyvek was none the wiser." He laughed, "The fool is right in one way, Zoanoids are humans, and, like humans, they are lazy creatures. They will avoid work if they can get away with it."
"What can you offer me, Zoalord?" Agito cut to the chase.
"My intelligence. My knowledge of Zoanoid, and Zoalord, processing. And other things . . . Things that could help you hit CHRONOS where it will hurt the most."
"Such as?"
"How to bring Imakarum Mirabilis to his knees."
"Murakami cares only for Archanfel. That creature has stolen his soul."
"Perhaps Archanfel stole his soul. But I stole his son."
Relic's Point base
"Obviously, we cannot test a Unit Remover Zoanoid under controlled conditions. 'Agito' is a Guyver in it's totally organic form. Whatever results achieved by testing on him would mean little against a full Guyver Unit. The whole purpose of the Unit Remover is to shut down the Control Medallion, and 'Agito' has no Control Medallion."
"Then they will have to be tested in the field, Dr. Nighthawk." Lord Barcus had to admit that the Unit Remover Zoanoid design looked impressive. The thick, sturdy body of a Power-Type with a dozen Sonic Emitters, (specifically tuned to the closest possible proximity of the original Unit Remover), and Arms that opened to reveal even more Sonic Emitters. But, in his centuries of scientific study, Barcus had learned that experiments often failed, especially where Zoanoids were involved. Dr. Nighthawk was young and idealistic, she had not yet suffered crushing failures as Barcus had with Aptom and others.
They would know soon enough.
'Agito' had proven a most interesting subject. Entire worlds of scientific knowledge had been opened by his capture. Barcus was somewhat annoyed by Dr. Nighthawk's naive ethics and sentimental attachment to her subjects, she was as bad as Czyvek in that regard. Her lack of resolve and unwillingness to sacrifice lives hampered his studies.
"Lord Barcus, something has been troubling me."
"What is it, Doctor Nighthawk?"
"Once the Guyver Units are safely in CHRONOS' hands, what will become of the Unit Remover Zoanoids?"
Cloud Gate
Lord Ingriam Mirabilis had never met anyone as good at hide-and-seek as Ishi. Rocies were designed not to be seen, they were small and stealthy, hiding in the shadows. But Ishi was really good at hide-and-seek. He'd been a thief before he was a Zoanoid, and Ingriam figured that thieves had to be very good at hiding. He was tempted to reach out with his mind, just a little. But that would be cheating. He checked Mr. Czyvek's personal quarters, he didn't mind, and Ishi's personal quarters. He searched closets and under consoles and even in the bathrooms. He should be able to see all those funny metal rings Ishi wore. As he stood in the Command Center of Cloud Gate, he crossed his arms and tried to think of where he'd hide.
He looked up.
Ishi gave a toothy smile. He had been in the Command Center the whole time, clinging to the ceiling like Nightcrawler. "Always look above you, Lord Ingriam. You never know what might be hiding there." He lept to the ground, a man-sized chameleon with body piercings. Ingriam lightly punched his shoulder, "You're good. And you can call me Kenji."
Kenji liked Ishi, he was funny and didn't mind playing with him. Mr. Czyvek was very nice to him, too, but he and his dad didn't get along. And he really didn't like Doctor Barcus. He didn't really understand why Czyvek and his dad fought, but he knew that Czyvek blamed Barcus for killing Sho's father instead of recruiting him and for creating Aptom. When Kenji had told him that Doctor Barcus didn't mean to create Aptom, he looked surprised, like he'd never even thought of it before.
He was a strange man.
"Are you up for checkers?" Ishi asked.
Cloud Gate
Council Chamber
Czyvek had said surprisingly little since Lord Mirabilis had arrived. Perhaps he was saving his insults for Lord Barcus. He went to the window. A thick fog obscured the lower levels of Cloud Gate. "It must be difficult," He observed, "To be a weatherman in Tokyo these days." Czyvek looked up from his rapidly cooling coffee, "Yes, I suppose so." The last few days had been difficult for Czyvek, losing his position as head of the CCI and nearly losing both his life's work and the woman he loved to Guyver III's attack. "What would you say I think of Lord Barcus?" The question caught him off guard, but he answered honestly, "You think he's a fool and a murderer. You disrespect him, insult him at every turn. You hate him." Czyvek stood and walked over to the window, "Without Lord Hamilcar Barcus there would be no CHRONOS, no Council of Twelve, no Zoanoids, or Zoalords, for that matter. He is responsible for all that I hold dear. He made a mistake, a terrible one. He's done awful things to innocent people. But I don't hate him." Czyvek shook his head, "Does that surprise you?" "Yes, it does." Czyvek sighed, "Doctor Barcus is not evil. He is amoral, he has moved to a point in his existence where mortal life means nothing to him. Yet, he still has a soul. He cares about Lord Waferdanos, he mourned the losses of Lords Purgstall and Yentsui." Mirabilis looked curiously at Czyvek, who gazing out across the horizon, "Why are you telling me this?" Czyvek shrugged, "I don't know." He paused thoughtfully, "Is it possible for a Zoalord to survive having his Zoacrystal removed?" Now Mirabilis was becoming concerned, "Yes. If he is still young. If I were to take your crystal, you'd lose your power, but you'd live. If I were to take Lord Barcus' or Caerleon's, they would age to death very quickly." "Does Lord Archanfel's body still produce Zoacrystals?" "Only if he wishes it." Mirabilis began to wonder, "Being immortal can be a terrible burden. To watch all you know and love wither and die. You've begun to understand that, haven't you?"
"Yes." He said tonelessly, "Yes I have."
Guyot's base
"It would be difficult to leave now, Makishima. It appears you did your job too well. The news networks are reporting that Czyvek has stepped down as leader of the CCI, and been replaced by Johnatan Vorsted. I know the man, and he is dangerous. Unlike Czyvek he doesn't care about such things as Civil Liberties. Martial Law has been declared here and in The United States. Checkpoints have been set up on every major road. We could, of course, simply blast our way through, but that would be counterproductive, as Zoanoid deaths will alert the Zoalords to our presence."
"Zoalords? How many?"
"My agents say five. Czyvek, Barcus, Mirabilis, probably Nguyen, as he's working on the Unit Remover Zoanoid project. And Mirabilis' son."
Agito allowed himself a smile. Finally, a chance to avenge his defeats at Mirabilis' hands.
To be continued . . .