Zoalords

Chapter 31

Advent

The Ark

A massive Eye appeared before the four Zoalords. It was longer than a man and looked down upon them. Barcus could not tell if it was a psionic projection or an actual being. It was The Eye of Ouranos. The depiction had been realistic, after all.

We have returned, Archanfel.

I knew that you would return! I have long awaited this day! Archanfel was overcome with joy. I have created a great army for you! I have created twelve Zoalords to lead them, just as you commanded!

So you have.

There was a note in the creature's voice that disturbed Archanfel.

Your Zoalords are unsuitable to our purpose.

What?

You and your agent have chosen poorly. Madmen, weaklings and a child.

No. Please. They will serve you well!

We had forgotten the existence of this world.

Until you called us.

Your agents have done well in creating Zoanoid weapons.

But the rest of the experiment remains a failure.

"NO!" Archanfel screamed aloud, "I have spent eons awaiting you! I am loyal!" Tears formed in his eyes, "Why did you create me? What did I do wrong so long ago."

You were created to lead our armies into battle. Because of the Guyver, our experiment failed. Pathetic creature. You assume an emotional relationship where none is possible. You desire love and acceptance, qualities alien to us. You are, simply put, a failed experiment.

"The failure was yours!" Imakarum shouted angrily, "You put the Guyver on that human! You were the ones who failed!"

We will create a new 'Council'. We will choose new Zoalords. Better Zoalords. And this world will supply us with soldiers for centuries to come. The creature utterly ignored Imakarum's protest. That is why we sent Apollon.

A look of utter horror crossed Archanfel's face.

You are a failure, Archanfel.

"I did it all for you. . ." The Supreme Zoalord collapsed and curled into the fetal position, then he began to weep. Barcus was almost overcome himself, tears streamed down his face. All that Archanfel had strove to create, to achieve was unraveling before his eyes. He was like a child, abandoned and betrayed by his parents. Barcus felt both pity and rage watching the man he had worshiped reduced to a lost, crying child. Imakarum Mirabilis clenched his fists in futile rage. Archanfel's emotional pain washed over every Zoalord and Zoanoid within range of his telepathic ability. The pain, the loneliness, the loss rivaled Imakarum's memory of the terrible day when he had found his son's tent torn to pieces in the forest, his child gone . . .

Kenji spit at the great, unblinking, uncaring Eye. "You'll pay for hurting Archanfel!"

At your hands, child? I doubt it.

The Eye vanished.

Cloud Gate

Ishi took down the protective screen around the window to let the feathered serpent in. He wondered if a creature with such a large wingspan could fit. There was not a chance to find out. A bolt shot down, striking the creature down as more bolts of energy rained down upon the floating vessels, which returned fire, sending crimson beams at an unseen attacker in the sky.

Sho saw it first. He had seen, and operated, such a vessel before, at Relic's Point. The Ouranos vessel rained down fire upon the serpents' ships, before disappearing in a tremendous blast. The blast of a Guyver's Mega-Smashers.

Agito.

Lords Caerleon and Nguyen were horrified. The Ouranos had finally came, and Guyver III had blasted them into oblivion! Lord Caerleon ordered all Guyver-Killers to attack the Dark Guyver. Lord Caerleon rushed outside to supervise the defense personally.

Makishima Agito didn't know if the orange vessels were peaceful or invaders, and, frankly, at the moment he didn't care. CHRONOS had worked for centuries to bring The Ouranos back to Earth, and that was reason enough to attack them. If the others were fighting them, he wouldn't stand in their way.

Sho, however, didn't know what to do. He had no idea who to side with. He didn't know who 'the bad guys' were. They might all be bad guys.

Relic's Point

The serpent turned in surprise, it's yellow-green eyes narrowing to slits.

It has begun. We are under attack!

Something is wrong. I sense great grief.

Archanfel has met his gods, and they have rejected him.

Czyvek burst from the healing tube, sending glass and liquids flying everywhere. His mandibles were clicking angrily, and a fire burned behind his eyes.

"Where are they?"

The Ark

Kenji tried to comfort Archanfel as his father and Barcus raced to ready the ship's weapons. The Ouranos had the advantage of size, but they were not without defenses. "Kenji, take Archanfel to The Pod and to Silha. Go with him, Hamilcar. Archanfel needs you."

"I want to stay here, dad! I want to make them pay for-"

"This is not up for discussion! Go!"

Kenji had not heard his father address him in such a manner in years, not since before. . .

"Yes. Dad." Kenji cradled Archanfel in his arms, "Make them pay."

"I will, Kenji. Take care of Archanfel for me."

The Mothership

A wave of psionic pain pulsed through the beings' bodies.

"Our brothers have been slain!"

"Enact The Plan. Take control of the Zoanoids."

The Pillars of Heaven

A technician suddenly transformed into a Vamore and sent a blast of super-heated plasma at the two Zoalords. To Amniculus' horror, he realized he could no longer feel the minds of the Zoanoids. The entire staff of the Command Center transformed and attacked, forcing the Zoalords outside, where Aerial Zoanoids swarmed them.

Cloud Gate

Every Zoanoid in Japan felt a faint buzzing in their heads. Most of them shook it off. Ishi was surprised to hear Lord Czyvek's voice shouting out toward everyone in Japan. Archanfel has been betrayed!

The warning was unnecessary, as Archanfel entered Earth's atmosphere all of them could feel his despair.

"Sho." Sho turned to see Ishi standing behind him, "Sho, Lord Czyvek was right. The Ouranos have rejected Lord Archanfel. They are attacking Earth even now. They intend to enslave us all."

Outside

Agito was confused. Not only had Edward Caerleon pulled out, The Unit Remover Zoanoids, all the Zoanoids, began to disperse, as if he was no longer of any importance.

A flaming Ouranos vessel fell from the sky to crash somewhere in the direction of Ebisu.

What the Hell?

The Mothership

"We are unable to control the Zoanoids in Japan."

"Czyvek! So, he betrayed CHRONOS. He made his Zoanoids immune to mental control. Very clever of him. I wonder how he concealed this from his fellow Zoalords . . ."

"Japan is small. It matters not. Our Zoanoids will overwhelm his."

"The Zoalords are turning upon our ships!"

"Recall our brothers!"

"It is too late. The Enemy is engaging us. We cannot retreat without ceding our weapons to them!"

Piramide de el Bosque , Brazil

Waferdanos and Vorsted turned their powers upon the descending Ouranos ships. Feeling Archanfel's pain and their sudden loss of control over their Zoanoids had told them more than anything the Quetzalcoatli could say about who the enemy was. Even their vast Zoalord powers were a poor match for the Ouranos vessels, but the serpents ships were lending firepower as well. An Ouranos ship burst into flames and plummeted into the jungle.

The Pillars of Heaven, Washington D.C.

Lord Amniculus was furious, for the fact that he was being forced to slaughter his own Zoanoids and even more so for the pain he now sensed from Lord Archanfel. After destroying their entire contingent of Aerial Zoanoids, Amniculus and de Galenos turned their faces, and attacks, toward the heavens.

Silha

The inhabitants of Silha watched as several small, circular objects emerged from The Creator's ship and entered the temple. One turned toward them, revealing a massive, unblinking Eye, before following its comrades inside.

Moments later a Pod landed beside The Creator's ship.

To be continued . . .