TTGLX: Brothers to the End.
Chapter 10: Mine is the drill that will pierce the heavens.
Kamina city was full of life, its diverse citizens living their busy little lives. Children played in the parks, people worked, ate and talked, fighting through the rat race like every other day. Humanity was happy and at peace.
The same could not be said within the government building though. Rossiu and has staff were all gathered around a display that was controlled by Leeron. Others rushed through the room in a chaotic bustle.
"So what you're saying is that Simon's spiral signature has reappeared and is heading straight here?" Rossiu asked emotionlessly, his stony features set in a frown. Inside he was worried but couldn't show emotion around his team.
Leeron nodded as his fingers danced across the consol. "It reappeared a short while ago and has been on the move since. Other than a brief detour he has been heading here at an impressive speed. His power is different though, I just can't place it. Other powerful spiral signatures surround him. My guess is that he has some powerful travelling companions."
"Do you have any other information?"
"I'm afraid not. We're just going to have to wait and see." shrugged the scientist. "Although at this rate that shouldn't be long."
000
Simon wandered through the ship, passing the time until they arrived at their target. He had already trained with his new sword to get a good feel for it but had now fallen into the dreaded lull before the action.
The lead Meta-Spiral, Marcus Vale, noticed this. He approached Simon, a knowing smile on his face. "Commander Simon, I have something for you that might pass the boredom."
"Good." grunted Simon. "Any more of this and I'd have to start blowing stuff up."
"Not long now until you can fight like the spiral warrior that you are." Vale smiled. He led Simon through the ship until they came to a door in the private quarters. Vale typed in a code then stood back as the door slid open.
It was a small room beyond with no furniture other than a single bed. Stood beside it was a figure that Simon thought he would never see again. It was a man in an officer's suit with a light covering of fur and a slightly bestial face wearing small shades.
"Boota?" exclaimed Simon.
Vale motioned Simon into the room. "We kept him safe during your transformation. As a present to you, we used some of you're excess energy to trigger his evolution pattern once again. This time we believe it to be permanent."
"Simon!" beamed Boota, his little eyes sparkling. "You're safe. You're looking good too."
"Same. Its good to have you back." said Simon, placing his hand on his companions shoulder.
"It's good to be back." the former pigmole replied.
"I'll need you more than ever over the coming days. You're the only person who has always been there for me."
"I've got your back. Whatever you choose to do, I'll see it through with my life." Boota nodded.
Vale interrupted them with a small cough. "We will be arriving at Kamina City in ten minutes. Do you want a gunman preparing for you?"
"No. I won't need a gunman for this." Simon stated. "I feel like stretching out my muscles a bit."
"As you command." confirmed the Meta-Spiral, a manic grin spreading across his face.
000
The ship landed a short way from the sprawling city. Only Simon and Boota departed. They made their way to the city at a stride, neither paying any attention to their surroundings. The city itself was a marvel to behold, a true feat of humanity. The sights reminded Simon too much of the past, of long ago regrets. The towering government building that had once been Lordgenome's palace and giant gunman. The proud statue of Kamina that had been carved by Simon's own hands. The flowers that graced the once desolate ground, a reminder of Nia's dreams…
They were confronted by two guards as they approached the gates that led into the metropolis. They were on edge, clearly nervous about something.
"Who are you?" asked one of the guards. "What is your business in Kamina City?"
Simon glared at the man. His lips parted to show gleaming teeth. "Who…am I? Who the hell do you think I am! Is this all of the respect that I get! You need a history lesson and the fun thing about history is that it involves lots of violence!" Simon shouted, smashing his fist into the guard's gut. The man doubled over and dropped.
The second guard was about to open fire but was stopped by a shout behind him. Simon looked through the gate to see a group of official looking people heading toward him, headed by Rossiu himself.
By the time Rossiu could catch a glimpse of the men, his stern expression dropped and his swift walk ground to a sudden stop. He stood gaping at Simon through the bars.
"No. This can't be possible. How?" stuttered Rossiu dumbly. His usual composure had already crumbled.
Simon offered him a casual wave. "Long time no see, Mr President."
Rossiu tried to pull himself together. Many of the men around him looked on in confusion, obviously too young to know Simon. "Is it really you, Simon?"
"Who else could I possibly be? Nobody could ever hope to replicate Simon the Digger."
At the mention of that name, every face perked up. Every head turned to him with new found interest.
"Why have you returned here now? You've not shown yourself in nearly fifty years and now you come marching into the capital city looking like you haven't been gone a day. We know you disappeared so where did you go?" Rossiu questioned incessantly.
Simon offered him a smile. "It's all very simple. I've come to get my core drill back. After all, the universe can't change itself."
Rossiu seemed genuinely surprised. "What? Your core drill. That hasn't been yours since the day you gave it to Gimmy. You know more than anybody that you had to give it up or risk creating the Spiral Nemesis."
"Exactly. I made a mistake. Now I've come back to rectify it."
"You can't be serious!" Rossiu said, taking a step back. "That would bring about the end of the universe. We fought against that!"
"It is the birth of new universes. Don't you remember, the old give way for the new, spend their lives to give room for those that follow. The spiral of life and death applies just as fittingly to the universe as to a man." Simon explained, speaking to Rossiu as though he was a child.
"No! This is crazy. I don't know what has happened to you but I won't let you carry out your plans. We will fight you!"
"Sounds fun." laughed Simon. "Shall we begin then?" he asked, drawing his sword and slashing across the gate. Both the gate and the still standing guard were cut in half like simple paper rather than steel and bone.
Rossiu and his entourage turned and ran, signalling all the guards in the area to engage. Hails of bullets fired at Simon as he stepped over the ruined gate. The rounds merely disintegrated against a faint green bubble that surrounded him. Boota remained behind him, shielded by Simon's spiral barrier.
Simon shot forward, slicing up guards left, right and centre. Boota darted away as all attention was on Simon and powered through a group of armed men. His animalistic strength made him more than a match for the men, his clawed hands and super human speed, power and reflexes making him unstoppable in melee.
Soldiers filed into the plaza carrying rockets and more advanced weaponry. Simon laughed in their faces. A missile flew at him but with quick movements he swung it around and threw it back at it's firer. The Spiral rounds were more effective against his shields but his speed ensured that they didn't pose a problem.
Civilians ran screaming, completely unused to battle. There was no order. Simon was disappointed by the display. He'd lost so much for these fools.
The building beside him exploded, nearly knocking him over with the force of the flames. He glanced up to see a squadron of Grapearls flying toward him, Gurren Lagann leading them into the fight. Simon couldn't help but smile broadly at the sight of the mecha.
"Simon, surrender yourself." came a voice that Simon vaguely associated with that of Gimmy. "We have full authorisation from President Rossiu to destroy you should you resist."
Simon nonchalantly stepped up to Boota. "Twenty one mecha. I'll go in fist, you take whatever I miss."
He bent his knees then sprang up into the sky, spiral energy pushing him forward. Rocketing toward the first grapearl, Simon angled his katana straight ahead of him. It began to glow green with spiral energy. Without slowing he hit the first mecha. The blade ripped straight through the machine's chest, skewering the pilot and exiting through the back. Simon passed through the hole then was further propelled up by the ensuing explosion.
The second tried to move away from him but Simon manage to grab its foot. No amount of shaking could throw him off. He clambered up its leg them move up its back. Smashing his fist through the armour he tore out a handful of wires that gut the power to the grapearl. Its lights dimmed and its thrusters cut out, falling back to earth without control.
Laser beams from the grapearls' guns zipped toward him, each easily as big as Simon's entire body. His sword cleaved through them like butter, making a complete mockery of the super weapons.
Boota had sprinted into one of the many nearby skyscrapers and had taken to the stairs on all four limbs. One hundred flights later and the emerged on the roof of the structure. Simon and the grapearl were visible just below. Without hesitation he bounded over the railings and freefell onto the shoulder of one of the mecha. With straining muscles he began to rip metal away from its head, carving a hole that he could climb into to reach the important insides.
Simon was falling again now. He angled himself to hit one of the buildings sides and used it to launch himself across the clearing to repeat the process on the opposite building until he had zig-zagged himself back into the action.
A spinning sound behind him caught his ears so he turned in time to dodge a drill attack from Gurren Lagann. Another grapearl swooped at him but Simon swung his sword, a rippling wave of green energy emerging from the metal to tear through the mecha's armour.
"Give it up Simon! You can't holdout forever. Reinforcements are on their way as we speak. Nobody can fight our entire army!" shouted Gimmy, clearly trying to reason with the former commander.
Simon snorted. "You're underestimating me."
Darry's softer voice spoke next. "We have to stop you. Sorry, Simone. You've forced us to do this."
Gurren Lagann raised up its arm and the signature drill formed upon its forearm, growing by the second. "Giga drill break!" the sibling pilots roared out.
"You really believe that using my own attack will work against me?" scoffed Simon. "Just how dumb are you!" he bellowed. Metal started to form around his own arm until he too held a miniature version of the giga drill.
The two drills clashed and struggled against each other, their varying sizes not impacting upon the power they exerted. Then with a crack, Gurren Lagann's weapon shattered like glass. It reformed and attacked again but was this time cloven in two by the katana. The mecha had no time to react before Simon was inside its defence and wedging his giga blood drill into the teeth of Gurren.
Another grapearl tried to remove him from its leader but Boota leapt onto its face and began to lay waste to it with his claws. The remaining mecha couldn't shoot when the enemy were so close to their companions. Their numbers were rendered useless.
Gurren Lagann's armour was tougher than the average mecha but against Simon's onslaught it was only a matter of time. Drills emerged from its armour as an extra layer of defence but even they did little to delay the spiral warrior.
Simon's drill finally pierced the metal, causing a pained female scream from within. Thrusting his sword into the gap he sliced away more teeth until Darry was visible. She was clutching her side, blood pouring from the wound without signs of slowing. Simon stabbed his katana through her shoulder and leaned inside.
He was violently knocked away from behind. Lagann had detached itself and had come to the woman's aid. Simon could just imagine the fire in Gimmy's eyes at that very moment. The mini mecha came at him again, twin drills baying out for Simon's blood. He blocked both with his blade, easily matching the machine's strength.
"You'll pay for this Simon!" roared Gimmy. "Tyrants are always overthrown. You taught me that!"
Simon laughed. "Maybe while I was at it I should of taught you how to fight!"
He span away from the drills and smashed the sword at Lagann's head. The metal was too tough though even for the spiral enforced blade and the weapon bounced away uselessly, loosening itself from Simon's grasp and hurtling to the streets below.
Simon paid now heed to this though. He slammed his fist into Lagann's face, the impact visibly shaking the entire gunman. Like a pro boxer Simon let rip, pounding the face with all his force. The impacts did little to damage the mecha but they shook the pilot violently, each punch feeling like a car crash within the small confines of the gunman.
The attacks stopped momentarily. Simon's right arm began to glow with green energy. He held out his open palm and slammed it into Lagann's roof. The energy rippled through the machine, damaging several internal components. The canopy flicked open.
Simon reached inside and grabbed a bloody Gimmy by the throat. He pulled the man out of the machine. With a final burst of energy Gimmy lunged the core drill at Simon's chest but he swatted it aside without effort.
"I've told you, you can't beat me with my own moves. Did you really think I would allow myself to die in the same manner that I killed Lordgenome?" scolded Simon. He grabbed the core drill and took it from Gimmy's hand. "Remember. Mine is the drill that will pierce the heavens. It all makes sense now. I will pierce the heavens, tear them down and let them crumble to make way for new ones. I have a purpose once again."
He threw Gimmy to the floor with contempt and hopped into Lagann. Nostalgia hit him like a tidal wave, the familiar layout and feel of the gunman feeling like an extension of his own body. He inserted the core drill and felt the power flow through him, the green light bathing his skin.
Lagann moved at his command like the two had never been parted. He turned the gunman on Gimmy, his drills already spinning. There was a white flash then Gimmy was gone. Simon whipped around and a grin formed across his features. Before him was a tall, white gunman with four arms. Both Gimmy and Darry were held in its hands.
"Viral." he laughed, cracking his knuckles. "Long time no see."
"How the mighty have fallen." sneered Viral. He placed the siblings on the ground behind him and drew four swords. "I've been waiting for this opportunity for sixty years."
Simon directed Lagann to the prone figure of Gurren and combined them together. Viral just stood by, waiting for the process to be completed. "Sixty years is a long time to get your ass kicked by every opponent you've ever had. I'd have looked forward to it too if you could actually fight. Bro won you, I've won you and Gimmy and Darry won you. Not a lot of victories to your name are there?"
"Shut your mouth!" snapped Viral angrily. "I've been fighting on the front lines all the time since you left. My skills have increased tenfold since the last time we fought."
"So…you can last more than one hit now?" chided Simon smugly.
"We'll see who's smiling soon!" snarled Viral, launching into the attack. His four blades lashed out in a flurry of slashes that would have reduced any other mecha to ribbons. Gurren Lagann parried them all with its wrist drills.
Enkidu released a barrage of missiles from its side that smashed into the crimson gunman with fiery explosions. They did little more than rock the mighty machine. Before the smoke had cleared, the four blades were at it again, swinging with more vigour than ever before. Viral's mastery with his swords was nearly unmatched.
Simon began to laugh manically, Gurren Lagann's defences dropping away. Viral struck, driving home all of his weapons into Gurren's face and arms, pinning the machines movements. The laughing didn't subside.
"Snap." boomed Simon. Viral realised too late the trap he had fallen into. He tried to pull free the blades but they wouldn't budge. Gurren's mouth opened and a giga drill plunged out of it into Enkidu's centre of mass. Viral screamed as the drill ripped through his immortal body.
"Let's see you stand up from that." Simon chuckled darkly. "Still nothing but a weakling."
"You bastard!" roared Viral, fury taking over his ragged body. He might not have had spiral energy but he had fighting spirit by the barrel load. Enkidu struggled to its feet and swung again at Gurren Lagann. The mecha kicked the weapons aside with ease. Enkidu didn't stop though, lunging straight in and tackling Gurren Lagann to the ground.
Hundreds of drills shot up from the crimson gunman, skewering Enkidu with each. They retracted and Gurren Lagann slid the now useless white mecha off of it.
"You missed." coughed Viral shakily. His voice was pained but defiant.
Simon snorted. "I hit where I aimed. Watching you try in vain to get stronger amuses me. It is so much crueller to let you live with the knowledge that you will always be weak. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I'll kill you!" howled the beastman but he could no longer move.
Gurren Lagann turned its back on the wreckage. "Step one completed. Now to take the Arc Gurren."
A voice echoed into his head. "Your personal battleship has already been cleared. It awaits your command." Vale's voice informed him.
Boota hopped onto Gurren's shoulder. Simon opened its cockpit and allowed his friend to enter. "Are you ready to take to the Heavens?" he asked with a grin. Boota nodded. "Then let's get going. Onward to a new tomorrow!"
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A/N: Yay, Simon super fight scene with mecha and Gurren Lagann characters galore! I quiet enjoyed writing this. Super strong bad boy Simon is pretty fun to portray. Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Also, You may have noticed a small change to the names of this series. I am rebranding them as TTGLX to differentiate its name from the show. This way my stories can be referred to without confusing them with Gurren Lagann.
On a side note, people were very unreceptive of the 'interactive' omake. Shame. So much for involving the community…
Regardless, enjoy you week one and all!
-FWF