Zoalords

Chapter 32

Acts of War

Japan

Apollon doubled over in pain. It was growing within him. Tran. Tran had infiltrated his body with part of his flesh and was now seeking to control him. But he was a Guyver, immune to Zoalord mental control. That did not stop Tran's genetic material from parisitising his body . . . His masters were being slain. They had not heeded his warnings, and now they were paying the price. He was supposed to defend them, but he needed to stop Tran from taking over his body. . .

Silha

They are here! Barcus was shocked. He should have realized that The Ouranos would select Silha as a base. As Kenji carried the broken Archanfel from The Pod, he glared angrily at the ship. He had to get Archanfel into the temple, but the bad guys were in the temple. How could he beat the bad guys without destroying the temple?

Kenji, they have probably taken control of all the creatures here. We may have to fight them.

I won't kill my friends.

You may not have a choice.

Cloud Gate, Japan

Ishi's voice was grave, "The Zoalords are losing control all over the world. Only Japan's Zoanoids are still under CHRONOS' control."

"But, over half the population of Earth has been transformed into Zoanoids!" Tetsuro was horrified, "My God, what have they done?" He muttered to himself, then walked to the window, staring blankly into the distance.

"Ishi, why don't they control the Zoanoids here?" Mizuki asked.

"Because Czyvek double-crossed The Council. He had us all re-processed to be immune to mind control." Ishi frowned, "He was afraid that this would happen. So he had Doctor Nighthawk find a way to protect us."

"If they control the world, it won't matter. They'll just overrun Japan."

"He did all that he could. A few loyal Zoanoids are better than none."

Cloud Gate Command Center

Lord Tran Nguyen struggled to establish a mental hold upon Apollon. He could feel tendrils of his being spreading throughout the alien's body, but control was hindered by the Guyver's protection from psychic forces. Apollon was being infested, but not controlled.

The Skies Over Tokyo

Flashes of light streaked across the sky as the Zoalords, Quetzalcoatli, Guyver I and Enzyme V's battled the Ouranos ships. The Ouranos appeared to have been unprepared for such a response. Two ships had already been destroyed and the other two were being overwhelmed. Guyver I slashed a wide opening in the side of one of the ships and slipped in through the rapidly-closing wound.

Sho was immediately confronted by the image of a giant Eye.

Your world will die for this! The Eye threatened, You and all you love will die in agony!

Sho, in his 'primitive' Guyver armor, couldn't hear the threats as he made his way into the control room, to face The Ouranos themselves.

They were small spheres, about the size of a baseball, smooth and shiny with no features save one unblinking eye. They panicked at his approach and fled the vessel, leaving Sho. Sho linked his mind with that of the ship and saw the great Mothership that hovered in the sky above them. He headed toward it.

A tremendous, bodiless Eye appeared in the skies. Czyvek immediately sent his most powerful lightning attacks into The Eye, only to realize that it was a projection.

You will suffer for daring to attack us!

We will not tolerate rebellion!

You think you have won a victory by making your Zoanoids outside of our mental control.

But you have doomed them!

You fear us, Mikhail Czyvek!

You fear our eyes!

We look upon you Mikhail Czyvek, We are always watching!

Czyvek clicked his mandibles in contempt at the Eye and the voices.

"Go to Hell." Was his only reply. His voice was cold and confident, the voice of Typhon.

A Quetzalcoatli soared into the fray.

The Ouranos wear Guyver Units in battle! You should ready the Unit Remover Zoanoids!

But the flying models aren't ready! Czyvek/Typhon protested.

They can take The Ouranos when they flee their vessels. Without their armor they are utterly helpless.

What do they look like?

The winged serpent placed a mental image in Czyvek's mind, an image he quickly passed on to the ground troops.

I want at least one alive for study. But make them pay for what they have done to Lord Archanfel. Show no mercy once you have a specimen.

Lord Caerleon was only faintly surprised by Czyvek's brutal, unauthorized orders. Typhon was not a merciful being, and he was clearly in control now. Typhon was a fearsome ally, and an utterly terrifying Caerleon almost felt pity for The Ouranos.

Almost.

Edward turned to see Guyver III heading toward them. He had no idea if Makishima had come to help them or destroy them until a beam emerged from the Guyver's forehead and struck the remaining Ouranos vessel. The Creators fled, pursued by an army of their own design.

Silha

"Someone needs to stay with Archanfel. We cannot simply leave him out here." Barcus looked at the pitiful creature in Kenji's arms.

"Put me down, Kenji."

Archanfel stood tall and wiped the tears from his eyes. There was unspeakable sadness in his cat's eyes, and an equally unspeakable rage.

Archanfel stepped back and activated the Guyver Unit.

"We go in together."

The Ark

Imakarum Mirabilis sent out specially designed 'Astronaut' Zoanoids that could operate within the cold vacuum of space to distract the Mothership as The Ark gathered energy to attack. With only one Zoalord aboard it was operating at 1/13th of its capability, and it had already been shaken by one blast. Worse, many of the Zoanoids had fallen under the control of the aliens. Only a handful remained loyal, all from Japan. Mirabilis did not have time to consider the repercussions of Czyvek's obvious, if fortuitous, betrayal. The loyal Zoanoids were trying valiantly to hold off the controlled ones, but it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.

Ali Bin Jamar was angry and frustrated by a feeling of helplessness. Angry over the betrayal of Archanfel, angry over the fact that he was being forced to slay CHRONOS' own soldiers, (those assigned to The Ark were the best of the best), and frustrated that he did not have his full power. But He was still something more than a man or a Hyper-Zoanoid, he still possessed great sonic powers. He made his way to the Control Room and was surprised to find Zoanoids defending it from their rebellious brethren. They allowed him entry.

"Lord Mirabilis."

"Lord Bin Jamar!"

"Not 'Lord' anymore, thanks to Apollon." He smiled, "But I still possess power that may be of use to CHRONOS."

"That's good, we're going to need all the help we can get."

A burst of energy flashed from The Ark to strike the Mothership.

Cloud Gate, Command Center

Zoalord Tran Nguyen sat on the floor, deep in meditation. Mizuki, Tetsuro and Ishi stood at the window, watching the battle helplessly. They had seen Sho enter The Ouranos vessel, but Mizuki was strangely calm. "He'll be alright." She said softly, "He's strong . . ." A noise caused all three to turn and see Apollon staggering toward Lord Nguyen, whose face betrayed extreme mental strain. They were in a battle of minds as well as flesh. An incredibly loud blast sounded throughout the room, and Apollon convulsed as Ishi emptied his Zoanoid Buster into the alien, two shots hit the sphere in the center of his star-shaped head. The sphere shattered, and Apollon screamed in agony as both his Guyver Unit and Tran's tendrils fought to consume him. He opened a dimensional gate and fled, shrieking.

Tran fell unconscious to the floor.

Ishi looked in amazement at the weapon he held. "I didn't expect that to happen. . ."

The Mothership

"We are losing this battle."

"No, we still hold the upper hand. They cannot defeat the Mothership."

"Are you certain?"

A vessel returning from Earth merged with the larger Mothership.

"Did one recall this vessel?"

"No. It has been commandeered!"

"Recall Apollon!"

"We cannot reach him!"

Guyver I floated into the organic liquid that filled the interior of the vessel.

To be continued . . .