The explosions had stopped, as had a lot of the yelling Romama had heard from beneath only moments ago. Kezanstav noticed this, too, and tapped his fingers impatiently against the railing of the balcony. He turned away from the scene before them, and coldly announced to Romama, "I'm going to check on that red fool. Stay put."
Romama shut his eyes and bowed his head; this didn't look good. The Nikolai he'd known years ago wasn't the same Kezanstav that stood before him, this one was a monster….
"Romama! Let's go to India today!"
"India?" Romama lifted his head up from the newspaper he'd been reading; he'd slowly been picking up enough Russian to understand it. "I don't even know what that is."
"It's warmer there! You won't have to stay inside so much!" Nikolai fell onto his knees in front of Romama and grinned. Romama looked at the small fire burning in the shack they shared and then up at Nikolai.
"All right, we'll go," Romama tossed aside the blanket he'd been hidden under and pulled out a metallic ball with an antenna sticking up from it.
"We can spend a few months there, and by the time it's summer and too hot we'll find somewhere even better!" the young teenager lifted up Romama and stood up, and Romama gave a sigh.
"You're going to wear me down," Romama muttered.
"Don't be such an old man! We're all one another has," Nikolai's voice fell a little bit as he said this, and he clutched onto Romama a bit tighter, like he was a comforting doll.
"…I wish I could give you your family back," Romama said, his one hand hovering over the Kero Ball.
"And I wish you I could give you your team back," Nikolai answered. "We… We'll be all right, though! I'll never leave you, I promise! You won't leave me either, right?"
"Right," Romama nodded.
"Hehe, you're like my little Guardian Angel, you know that?" Nikolai returned to his cheery self at this point. "When I write my first book, I'll dedicate it to you! Even if you do hate reading!"
"I don't hate it, I just think time could be better spent. I'm only learning your weird language out of necessity."
"You hate anything relating to school," Nikolai chuckled, and Romama gave a grumble. "Come on, I want to see an elephant!"
"An elephant better be something edible," Romama grumbled, and Nikolai gave another laugh.
"Lookkkk outttttt!" Romama was pulled out of his dreaming by a sudden, shrilled scream, and opened his eyes wide to see Natsumi flying straight towards him, with Keroro clutched onto her. She grabbed onto the chair Romama was tied to with her free hand, and flew straight into the mansion.
"Ojiisama! You're alive!" Keroro called out, and Romama glared upward at him. "Oh, those evil eyes…."
"Would you two stupid frogs keep it quiet?!" Natsumi floated down to the ground and looked about in the empty white mansion. "You, stupid frog number one, work on untying stupid frog number two!"
"Right! That I can do!" Keroro hopped down from Natsumi as she set down Romama on the ground, and Keroro went to attempting to untying the ropes… Then he attempted to bite through them, then he pulled at them. "My, Kezanstav-san knows some complicated knots! One would think he was in the Keron Navy!"
"Hurry up!" Natsumi snapped, and Keroro turned around and shouted back at her.
"Stupid Pekoponian, I'm going as fast as I can! Patience is a virtue!"
"Well, we'll be dead if you don't hurry it up!"
And bickering between guardian of the earth and wannabe conqueror of the planet continued, with a rage boiling in Romama so great at their inappropriate arguing, he felt something churning in his stomach, which worked its way up to his throat, and eventually came out as a booming, "BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!"
"O-Ojiisama?" Keroro finally squeaked out after a few silent moments. From his stunned expression, even Romama had been surprised by this.
"Did, I… Just…"
"Quick! Hide!" Natsumi lifted up Keroro by the head and Romama by the chair once more and took refuge behind a large stone pillar.
Kezanstav sauntered into the room, a smile on his face as Rokiki followed behind him, Kirere struggling underneath one of his arms.
"Knock it off, of you won't stay that cute much longer," Rokiki snapped, following a whap on the top of Kirere's head. "Are you sure this is the one you want?"
"Yes," was Kezanstav's sharp answer. "Hrm… Looks like our guest has left… Or he's still here, but with friends."
"Stupid Frog, what're you doing?!" Natsumi whispered as she noticed now Keroro had taken out a file and was filing away on the ropes that bound Romama.
"A man's never without his Gunpla tools, and this is the reason why!" Keroro returned in a hush as he continued to file through.
"So what's this one do, anyway?" Rokiki set Kirere down on the ground, and she immediately delivered a kick to one of his legs. Rokiki gave a growl in return, and reached for her neck. Kezanstav stopped him short, however, and knelt down, holding out one hand to Kirere and used the other to hold back Rokiki.
"You want to be stronger, don't you?" Kezanstav smiled from underneath the bandages. "Be…. Not so clumsy… Not told that you're in the way anymore. I think we got off on the wrong foot, but I think we might be able to work together. You're just some toy for their amusement… And yet you know you're meant for something important, you can feel it. You know it. Wouldn't you like to reach your full potential?"
"I… I want… I… N-no…" she attempted to sound brave, but this came out incredibly weak. Kezanstav sighed and stood.
"Put her in a room, she shouldn't be too much trouble or much of a threat," he sighed, and Rokiki grumbled, but drug away the child once more. Keroro, at this point, had finally finished cutting through Romama's ropes, and Romama stood up from the chair, grateful to have his mobility back.
Rokiki returned then, shutting the door behind him and holding a hand to his cheek, "That little brat kicked me in the mouth."
"She'll learn to settle down," Kezanstav reassured him. "Soon we won't have any of them to worry about."
"We'll have a full army at our disposal," Rokiki answered with a sharp-tooth grin.
"Why even have them around?" Kezanstav's words made Rokiki's head jerk over to him.
"What?" there was a tone of surprise in Rokiki's voice. "What do you mean?"
"Why have them weighing us down?" Kezanstav turned to Rokiki, and the red Keronian took a step back from him. "The fewer chefs in the kitchen, the better, right?!"
Natsumi took a break from this to look down at Romama and Keroro, and noticed Romama gone. She looked up just in time to see him slipping out through the doors behind Kezanstav and Rokiki.
"Wait, you—" Natsumi placed a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Keroro jumped back in horror, against Natsumi's legs, as both were noticed by the other two in the room, and both Kezanstav and Rokiki approached them.
"Still no signal, creepy eyes?" Chunini bent down to look over Kururu's shoulder, and he remained silently typing. "I get it, you're still mad at me, is that right? Well, you shouldn't be! I was just acting, and I happen to be one of those actors who really gets into her role!"
"You have a hard time talking about things that aren't you, don't you?" Kururu muttered, and Chunini gave a huff and turned her tail to Kururu, walking away from him with her usual proud, haughty look upon her face.
"Who knew Gunso had so many other friends on this planet?" Fuyuki said in amazement as he looked over the numerous Keronians at work. Along with them were Momoka (dressed in her power suit), Koyuki, Miss Lee and himself, all of whom had gotten in with the help of Mahihi… Natsumi had gone in search of Keroro, while Mois was perched outside of the dome field, waiting for a signal. Lupapa was working on re-bandaging the wound she had inflicted upon herself when Koyuki smiled and knelt down beside her.
"Let me give you a hand with this!" the ninja girl offered, and Lupapa hesitated for a moment, then handed her the bandages.
"I really wish we had more time for introductions, but I've got a really bad feeling, and my feelings are rarely wrong," Mahihi stood next to Fuyuki and looked up at the young boy. "We've been real rats tricking you guys like this, but you just have to trust us that we're on your side. I like to think this is something your Keroro would do if it were you on the line."
"Gunso's not always the clearest thinker, but he does what's right," Fuyuki answered. "Mahihi Chui, is there anything we can do to help?"
"At this point, stay safe, stay out of the way of Rokiki, and keep what I know you brought with you safe," Mahihi answered, and Fuyuki looked a bit surprised at this last part of the lieutenant's warning.
"No sign of either of them," Giroro muttered as he came through the clearing, looking a bit concerned now. "I've scanned this entire area twice… They've got to be inside somewhere."
"What about on that ship?" Fuyuki pointed up towards the golden-colored ship, and Mahihi looked skeptical.
"That'd mean that they were getting ready for an escape from here… They could be there, but I doubt it."
"Then it'd have to be the main house," Lupapa started to stand, but fell back down again. "Damn it!"
"You're out of the game, Lupapa," Mahihi said to her. "You'll hurt yourself if you go to fight."
"That's all right. I don't have much else to live for, the way things stand," Lupapa muttered.
"Don't be foolish," Giroro turned to her. "You have your family. They don't want to see you hurt, just like you don't want to see them hurt. Don't injure yourself for our causes."
"It's my cause, too," Lupapa snapped. "Rokiki won't hurt me if I go up against him."
"But that other guy would. I'm siding with Aka Baka. Let us take care of this one," Mahihi said sternly, easing the purple Keornian back down onto the ground.
"Oh, what a twisted fate is this…" Fujuju sighed to himself as he polished the soot off of the mask her wore, and sat a little further away from the rest of the camp. "…Tamama-chan? What're you doing over here?" he asked, noting the young Keronian's eyes scanning about the woods as he walked absently near Fujuju. "Worried for your Superior and your little sister? Don't be, they're in capable hands. They'll be fine, I'm sure of it. They both seem quite intelligent!"
"You don't know them like I do if you honestly think that," Tamama muttered, his shoulders slumping a little.
Kirere pulled at the doorknob, but to no avail. She had no tools to disassemble it with, and the only window in the room was too high up and too heavy for her to lift. She kicked at the door, but only gave a groan of pain and fell back onto the ground, hitting her head and giving another pained groan. She shook her head and sat up again, groggily, and glared at the door. She stood and positioned herself in front of it.
"Tamama… Impact!" she yelled out, and waited for something to happen…. Nothing….
"Assassin… Magic!" she called out this time, and waited again. Again, silence. She gave a moan and fell back down to her knees. "How come I don't get any cool powers!? What would Dad do… Shoot it down, because he has guns…. Papa would… Use his head…"
She sat there for a moment, then stood, and ran, full force at the door. She bounced back off it. Romama, from the other side, gave a jolt of surprise at the sudden bang against the door he ran past, and cautiously opened it to see what had just happened. Kirere was passed out on the floor, and there was a mark on the other side of the white door, he noted as he pulled it back to look at it. He snapped his fingers a few times in front of her face and she slowly came to.
"I don't think he meant it like that," she mumbled.
"Eh?" he blinked a few times, and then shook his head and stood her up. Not a smart one in the bunch, he thought with a sigh. He gave a grunt and lifted up the little girl, and then continued his run down the hall, pulling down an old sword that decorated one of the hall walls along the way. He about used this when at the first story a blue flash jumped down in front of him. Dororo quickly drew his own sword to stop Romama's blade, and both relaxed as they realized the identity of one another.
"Romama-dono! And Kirere-chan?" Dororo looked back over Romama's shoulder to Kirere. "Have you seen Teicho-dono?"
"Ugh… Make the spinning go spot," Kirere mumbled from behind Romama. He handed the little girl off to a bewildered Dororo, then turned back to the stairs. "W-wait! Romama-dono, where are you going?!"
He gave no answer, but only vanished.
"Afro Gunso… Gunso's got the afro…" Keroro sang to himself to occupy the time as he lied down on the floor of the otherwise bare room. During all of this Natsumi was attempting to open the lone door of the room, and then kicked at it.
"I could bang up against it with my head and it wouldn't budge! Just what are these made out of!? And stop singing, it's annoying!" she sat down on the ground cross-legged and sighed. She was back in her normal civilian attire, having had the pendant she wore to activate it stolen by Rokiki, as had Keroro's Gunpla-building supplies. "You Stupid Frog! This is all your fault!" she turned around and snapped at him, and Keroro gave a jolt, and sat straight up at this accusation.
"My fault!? Don't go passing the buck so quickly Natsumi-dono!" Keroro shouted in return, shaking a fist at her.
"Your Stupid Frog Uncle brought all of these weirdos out, and now they're out there doing who-knows-what!" Natsumi shouted in return. "…Who knows what they could do to the Earth if they got strong enough."
"You're mistaken if you think I'm going to let them take my glory!" Keroro laughed. "It's only a matter of time before Giroro or Dororo comes in and saves us like always!"
"If I remember, Giroro's brother couldn't take out that Kezanstav guy, and now he's got a friend who's just as mean and just as powerful as him and who's on his side."
Keroro's face looked worried now; he hadn't considered these things, clearly, "W-well I have faith in my men. They'll pull through, just like always! Whether it be by wit or dumb luck!"
"I'm going to die before I even get my date with Saburo Senpai," Natsumi laid her head against one of the walls and bemoaned aloud. There then came a banging on the door, and Natsumi stood and backed up, while Keroro gave a smile.
"Gero gero gero! See, what did I tell you, Natsumi-dono, you—"
"You're too damn loud," Rokiki growled as he alone stood in the doorway. "I brought you some lunch. It's not much, but I'll be damned if you're dying from something as preventable as starvation."
He tossed a small bag, which Natsumi caught while looking a bit puzzled, and Rokiki then slammed the door shut again. The disappointment was written all over Keroro's face. Natsumi opened the bag, and took out an apple, studying it, while going over Rokiki's actions. There were also sandwiches in the bag, and bottled water.
"Maybe there's more to him," the mumbled.
Dororo landed in the middle of the group, Kirere now fully awake and clinging onto him as they soared through the air. She climbed off, shakily, and was just as soon scooped up by Giroro, who embraced her tightly. His face grew bright red and her released her from this death grip as he realized much to his embarrassment the eyes that were on both of them.
"I… Good job escaping from the enemy," he said, clearing his throat.
"My head hurts," Kirere muttered as she took as seat on the ground. "Romama's the one who saved me… He's back at the house. They've got Natsumi-san and Ojiisan."
"N-Natsumi!?" Giroro choked.
"Natsumi-san?!" Koyuki yelped out in equal distress.
"So they are in the house," Mahihi nodded, and looked over at Fujuju. "We might need to get you a little drunk, Fuju."
"Please don't make me do that again," Fujuju pleaded.
"We'll have lots of backup, don't worry, that won't happen to you again," Mahihi reassured him. "You'll be under control. Your little buddy's pretty good at snapping you out of it."
"Momotchi and I have a lot of experience with that sort of thing, you'll be okay!" Tamama gave a thumbs up, and Momoka in return placed a fist on either side of the young Keronian's head.
"Are you saying I'm unstable?!" she snarled.
"I'm going to go fight with you," Lupapa stood now and looked at Dororo, determined.
"Lupapa-dono, are you sure you'll be all right to fight?" Dororo asked, stepping over to her. She gave a smile and nodded.
"It's not everyday I get an opportunity to fight with my equal. Plus I have a score to settle with Rokiki," she answered. Dororo and she returned the same knowing look, and Koyuki glanced at this a moment curiously before giving a gasp.
"So that's how it is!" she whispered to herself, and Dororo looked a bit weary at this exclamation.
"I'm going to work on getting to that ship, but I'm going to need help," Mahihi looked directly at Giroro. "What do you say? Join forces for the ones we love most?"
"Only to keep an eye on you," Giroro answered, and Mahihi nodded.
Giroro then glanced at Kirere while he reloaded his weapon, "I know what you're going to say, and my answer is you're going to stay with Kururu. He'll make sure you're all right."
"You give me too much credit," Kururu muttered without looking away from his computer screen.
"Lee, you stay and guard Fuyuki Hinata. He's important," Chunini instructed her manager. "Keep him safe like he was me."
Lee answered with a nod and a drawing of her sword. Fuyuki was unnerved at the sight of this, and took a step back from Lee.
Kirere watched as they all then took off in their own respective directions, and then turned back around to Kururu. He now held in one hand her weapon, and she took it up with a gasp of surprise.
"Kuku! You'll be in my way here, so you might as well go with them. Just don't get me in trouble," Kururu answered. Kirere began to hug him, but stopped, and settled on a pat on the back of his head. "Kuku… I'm not a dog," he muttered. She then ran off to go join the others, and Fuyuki crouched down beside him.
"Wow, what is all of that?" Fuyuki asked as he watched Kururu fly through the numerous screens on his laptop.
"I'm finally getting signals. I'm just making sure it doesn't come down to our last resort," he answered, pointing up to Mois, who was floating above all of them with her staff drawn, awaiting orders.
"They've been quiet a while," Kezanstav said plainly as he closed the doors to his balcony and then looked out the clear glass. "At this rate we won't get to play with all of those toys that came with your ship."
"What was that you were saying earlier about getting rid of all of them?" Rokiki ignored Kezanstav's concerns and immediately cut to the chase.
"We don't need them. They're all weak, emotionally, physically, or mentally," Kezanstav answered. "We're the same, however. We'll take one, it's all we need. Easier to control the fewer we have, too…. Don't tell me you think this is going too far."
"I just think it's superfluous," Rokiki answered. "It's a waste of our efforts."
"After what they caused me, there is no such thing as a waste of my efforts when it comes to my revenge!" Kezanstav snapped. "Stop being weak! They aren't your comrades or your friends anymore! They're as useless as the next bunch! We're better than all of them."
He snapped his head in the direction of a speaker set up on the wall of the hall as it gave a blaring noise, "They tripped up one of the sensors on the ship. I have to go see what that's about."
He hurried out, leaving Rokiki by himself. The Keronian took a few steps forward, and placed a hand on the glass, "…Lupapa… Mahihi… Maybe… This is… Too high a price."