TTGLX: Brothers to the End.
Chapter 13: Final Preparations.
Stars filled the horizon and darkness rapidly cloaked all of the surroundings as the Ark Gurren blasted skyward toward the isolation of space. Simon stood on the ship's command bridge, in the exact same spot he had stood many years ago during his quest to save Nia from the Anti-Spiral.
Nia. She could have still been at Simon's side had he used his vast spiral power to stabilise her DNA. She could have lived and they would both have been happy but instead he had let her slip away from a misguided sense of duty.
Was the world any better because of his sacrifice? War and hatred still existed, people still died pointlessly. Spiral life was booming but at the cost of nature. The flowers and trees that Nia had loved so much were being replaced with concrete and skyscrapers, the pure air tainted by poison fumes.
What would Kamina have done? This question seemed to accompany every thought of Simon since his brothers death. Simon knew for certain that Kamina wouldn't have allowed Rossiu to override his wishes. He wouldn't have allowed the gunmen to be scrapped and he definitely wouldn't have let the people become fat, lazy moaners like they had under Simon's supervision. Some harebrained idea would have formed in his head to prevent the heavy losses during the battle against the Anti-Spiral. Would he have let Yoko die though if he had had a chance to save her? Would he use forbidden power to set the world right? If it was Simon who had died at the battle for Dai-Gunzan, would he have moved on or use everything at his disposal to bring him back?
He pushed these thoughts aside once again. They didn't matter now. He would never have the answers that he sought so why waste time worrying about them. He had a job to do, a purpose in life. That was what mattered now. He had a meaning. He could bring her back.
The bridge doors slid open and the Meta-Spirals entered. They all looked cheerful as they crossed the room to stand beside Simon. Vale offered him a grin as he patted the spiral warrior's shoulder. "It is time."
"Right." nodded Simon. His steely eyes spread across the assembled group. "Can you manage it?"
"We're spiral warriors just like you. We can handle anything. After giving some of our powers to both you and Belfay we will all be at half strength for a while but the payoff will be worth it." Vale replied. "What's important is that your body can take the power boost. I won't ask that though as we all know your answer."
"Good. How long do we have?" Simon asked, the question was addressed to Boota who was stood over a terminal beside him.
"The Arc-Gurren will arrive at the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren in twenty three minutes at our current speed. That should be ample time for the procedure." the ex-pigmole declared. He had donned an official looking uniform.
"Let's do this then." Simon ordered. He swung himself into the command chair then closed his eyes. The Meta-Spirals gathered around him, all except for the woman, Nikkita, who had already given Simon some of her mind and power during his transformation.
Vale placed his hand onto Simon's head and the others followed his lead. Each began to channel energy, their hands blazing with their respective spiral colours. Simon's body rippled with a rainbow of energy that stormed across his skin.
A thud echoed though the ship's hull. Boota tapped furiously on the console. "Five Arc Gurren class ships have opened fire on us. They aren't going to let us get close to the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren."
Simon scoffed wordlessly. "All thrusters to full. Divert power from the shields to the super spiral giga blasters. Blow them out of the sky." Simon ordered without any sign of movement.
More explosions shook the ship but nobody battered an eyelash. Seconds passed then there was the sound of the Arc-Gurren's own guns firing. Though the window dozens of giant drills shot by with streaks of green lightning propelling them forward through the darkness of space.
The drills split and targeted each enemy ship before they impacted with invisible spiral shields but tore straight through them like dirt, continuing to spin clean into the titanium armour of the human vessels. Ragged holes showed the drills passing before an intense green flare reduced every ship into a series of fiery explosions. Only slithers of scrap metal testified to the five ships existence mere seconds before.
"The Super Galaxy is firing!" Boota informed, his fingers a blur of motion across the keypad. "Shifting all energy to the shields."
"No." came Simon's cold voice. "Engage the heaven render."
"But Simon-"
"Now!"
"Heaven render engaged!" Boota confirmed. The spacecraft pulsed slightly as its front morphed into a drill bit.
The Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren released its salvo of lasers, boiling the surrounding sky with its intense brightness. With full thrusters, the Arc Gurren charged straight into the maelstrom of death, each attack easily as big as the Arc itself. With the drill engaged though most of the attacks either glanced away from the sleek spinning surface or was passed straight through.
"Don't stop at any cost! Build up maximum speed and we'll burst straight through its face." Simon grinned. It was his first real movement the entire battle. The Meta were in deep depths of concentration and paid no heed at all to their surroundings.
Again and again the ship was hit, chunks of metal bending and peeling away under the intense strain it was under. Red lights flashed around the bridge indicating critical damage but Simon didn't allow it to ease up. His fighting spirit was flooding the corridors, serving as a bond to keep the ship intact.
Then there was an unholy crash that threatened to shatter the Arc Gurren as the frontal drill hit the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren's face. For a moment it seemed that the drill would not break through but nothing could stand in the way of Simon's willpower. The face gave and the Arc Gurren forced its way inside the planet sized flag ship.
"Weak!" Simon scolded. "We got in without even having to transform into mecha mode. They've had decades to improve yet can't even defend their strongest weapon from a single ship. Pathetic!"
As one unit, the Meta-Spirals moved away. "It is done." Vale announced. "And just in time for some action by the looks of it."
"I doubt it." sighed Simon. "If the internal defences are anything like the external ones, Boota alone would be more than enough to capture the ship." He got to his feet and strode confidently through thee door. Boota and the Meta-Spirals followed him through the corridors until he arrived at the exit ramp.
Without even pausing he typed in the code and the door slid open. Fifty soldiers wielding spiral round machineguns stood outside and greeted him with a hail of bullets. Simon chuckled darkly as the bullets dissipated against his condensed spiral energy, his sheer level of power forming a force shield around him.
Simon flicked his arm and a wave of green energy threw the men aside like rag dolls. He descended the ramp as rockets flew at him from further into to the desolated room. He batted them away carelessly as though they were nothing more than pesky flies. In the following haze of smoke Boota leapt forward with animalistic ferocity and tore into the missile toting soldiers. By the time that the group of spiral warriors had caught up with him, all of the guards were dead.
"Spread out." ordered Simon. "Take the ship. I'm going to pay the bridge a visit." Without waiting for a response he visualised the command centre of the ship and used his spiral energy to teleport himself there. Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren was so large that conventional travel was impractical. Instead a system of matter transporters were used to traverse the ship. Not that Simon needed to use them.
A shocked man in a commanders uniform of plain white that was decorated with multiple stripes and medals to indicate his ranks and achievements. He was a large man with features that greatly resembled someone from Simon's past.
"Simon Jiha, traitor to humanity. My father should have kept a better eye on you." grunted the man in a snobbish voice.
"Hmm, fat, ugly, distinctly sweaty odour, thinks to highly of himself…ah, you must by my old village chief's spawn. The resemblances are uncanny." Simon mocked, instantly angering the commander. "How did a fat slob like you manage to wheedle his way into command of MY flagship?"
"My father did well after you and your misfit companions defeated the Anti-Spirals. The fame of raising the hero of humanity combined with the mass openings in the government since your buddies all got themselves killed. He got into an official position and worked his way up."
"I suppose that's what happens when you leave someone like Rossiu in charge. I think that it's time to rectify this." Simon sneered.
"Ha! You feeling lucky, punk? You should know that this bridge has the best automated defences in the universe. You can't even sneeze without being turned to dust." grinned the commander confidently.
Simon punched him in the face. Hard. The fat man flew back into the terminals behind, scattering the crew like flies. None of the turrets even twitched.
"But h-how?" whimpered the man impotently. Blood oozed down his tanned face.
"Like I said, this ship is mine. It responds to my will and mine alone. In fact, it is you people who are the invaders. It is you lot who probably shouldn't sneeze." Simon said as he towered over the fallen brute. His eyes flashed and the turrets snapped into life, targeting the crew with enough firepower to decimate a squadron of gunmen. He clicked his fingers and the crew was reduced to a bad stain in seconds. The old chief's son screamed but was untouched by the storm of death.
"You're a monster!" the commander shouted, his eyes wild and his entire body shaking.
Simon shrugged. "Your father was always good to me." he began to the commander's visible relief. The same can't be said though for his actions against my brother." The commander's face fell.
Almost absentmindedly, Simon began to ramble. "Did you know that drills are the physical manifestation of spiral energy? A person's energy can be used to form drills on objects such as gunmen. It can also use the iron in blood to form a drill over limbs like during my showdown with the Anti-Spiral. It is interesting to note that someone such as me could turn someone else's blood into a drill. Imagine that, a raging drill forming within your chest, spinning your vital organs to shreds. Why, all it would take is for me to place my hand over your heart and think about it."
"No! Dear God please! No!"
Simon touched the larger man's chest. The commander screamed, spasmed, then became still.
"Coward!" Simon sneered. "So terrified that you have a heart attack at a touch alone."
At that moment, Vale entered the bridge. He strolled past the bodies without acknowledging their existence. His cocky smile was as prominent as the dripping blood on his hands. None of it was his.
"The ship is now back under your full command, Simon. Only a few final preparations remain before our conquest."
"Good." began Simon. He looked about to continue but was cut short as the entire ship suddenly span violently. As it stabilised, Simon glanced out of the window into the darkness of space. The stars did not greet him though. Instead, space itself was ruptured by a glowing crack that split the surroundings like shattered glass.
Upon seeing Vale's pleased nod, Simon turned to him. "This is part of your plan then?"
"Indeed. As you know, we sent Belfay to the spirit world in order to further our goals. This is a sign of his success."
"You have been very elusive about the details of Belfay's objectives. Care to enlighten me. In my eyes, this looks like a dimensional rift." said Simon, neither his face nor his voice showing any sign of surprise at the shattering of reality.
Vale laughed appraisingly. "You are right. It is a dimensional rift. The universe is a delicate mesh of worlds, galaxies, dimensions and timelines, all of which are held together by the common denominator of the afterlife. The Soul Society. The reason that the Soul Society binds everything together is because of the immense spiral energy that is channelled through the king of spirits."
"So you sent Belfay to kill this king? That was a bit ambitious if he is as strong as you make him out to be." Simon pointed out.
"As ever you are correct. Belfay alone would not be enough to kill the King of Spirits in a one on one fight. That was not quiet the case though. The King of Spirits is not exactly empowered by the vast levels of energy. He is a conduit of the universe's power rather than a user of it. He is burdened by it to the point where he cannot leave his throne. He needs to remain their for the power to flow out across space and create spiral stability. He is his own prisoner." answered Vale, his knowledge on the forbidden workings of the universe far deeper than Simon had ever imagined.
Vale continued. "Add to that the fact that Belfay was not alone and it seems quiet in our favour."
His tone of voice sparked Simon's curiosity. "He wasn't alone?"
"No. I knew that his task would be difficult so I told him to enlist the aid of your dear brother."
"Kamina? He'd never go in for anything like that."
"Coercion isn't the only method of control. Kamina has a dark side that only needed to be forced into the open. Angry people can be tricked into anything."
Simon laughed aloud. "Kamina doesn't like to be used. He will find a way here and fight you. This will be interesting indeed. I always have wanted to have the chance to face him."
000
There was a tense silence that hung heavy in the air of the Shinigami council hall. Several of the usual attendees were missing while others filled their place. Nobody looked happy with events.
"What the hell is going on?" snapped Renji. "First Simon disappears, then we are sent to take out none threatening targets, Kamina is arrested, Simon returns but as a bad guy, Kamina escapes along with the other Dai-Gurren members, This Meta-Spiral turns up and starts wreaking havoc and now giant cracks are spreading across the sky!"
Hitsugaya scowled at him. "We've already been over this. The Meta-Spirals are beings that seek to bring about the spiral nemesis. They captured Simon because of his vast power levels. We chose to eliminate those targets as they were disrupting the balance of spiral energy. One of the Meta was sent here to target Kamina, likely for the same reason as they took Simon. Are we all clear now?"
"Where is Ichigo?" Kenpachi grunted, clearly agitated at the thought that Ichigo was out there having fun.
"Captain Kurosaki was dispatched when we got Kamina's spiral signature on our radar. His power was off the charts. He'd gone hollow by the luck of it so only Kurosaki can fight him."
To everyone's surprise, Nemu interrupted the Head Captain. "He was too late."
"What do you mean by too late?" pressed Hitsugaya.
"The cracks in the sky are dimensional rifts, splits in time and space. Do you know about the omniverse theory that every action, every thought or possibility have happened in one universe or other, that every dimension, timeline and galaxy all exist together in a tangle of space? Those cracks are were the different universes are crumbling into one another."
"But what does that have to do with Kamina?" Hisagi asked, his mind clearly working to fit the pieces of information together.
Nemu thought for a second, thinking through how best to word her next statement. "The centre point of all of these universes is the Soul Society. The thing that holds everything together is the King of Spirits. These rifts could only ever occur if our king was no longer with us."
"That is impossible!" blurted out Rukia Kuchiki who had stood in for Ichigo due to being his lieutenant. "The power needed to kill him would be astronomical."
"We all know that Kamina is at captain level strength. If he were to go full hollow then he could easily out power all of us." Hisagi reminded them.
"So we're royally screwed then?" Renji muttered angrily.
"Not necessarily." Nemu smiled. "Every universe in existence are simply smashing into one another. All life will be perfectly fine other than becoming misplaced. Chaos will only stem from the life forms themselves. The strongest fighters that have ever lived will all be gathered on one world after all."
Kenpachi's grin could have killed an army a mile away. "All the strongest fighters all gathered on our doorstep? I'm gonna like this world."
Hitsugaya brought them all back to the problem at hand. "This rift is a moot issue at the moment. Remember that the Meta-Spiral's aim to spark the spiral nemesis and so to destroy all of these universes tat are merging together. We need to act now or loose the chance forever."
"What do you propose then?" asked Shunsui Kyoraku.
Hitsugaya looked each of them in the eyes. "Nemu informs me that these rifts in their present state can be used as a portal into other worlds. In theory, we could all travel to earth without the need of gigai. We can fight against Simon with our full powers. We don't technically break any rules that way."
Kenpachi's glee had a visible aura by this point. "Now you're talking my language! My sword thirst to smash his drill to splinters."
"Wait." Rukia injected. "What about the other Dai-Gurren members? They seem to have fallen off of the radar. Without them we are several skilled officers down."
Captain Soifon cleared her throat. "My agents have been keeping a close eye on those troublemakers. They reported that the Gurren Brigade was defeated by the Meta-Spiral and then captured. They are currently being held in an abandoned mining facility. The place is heavily defended though."
"We can't afford to loose any more time or shinigami to rescue them until Simon has been dealt with." sighed Hitsugaya.
"I'll go." came a determined voice behind the Head Captain. Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto stepped forward, her eyes hard like steel. "I will recover them and drag their backsides straight into the battle. We need every man after all."
"We don't know what defences the Meta will have set up. It's too dangerous for you to go alone." Toshiro said with a shake of his head.
"I can handle whatever is there. Trust me captain."
Hitsugaya was silent for several seconds. After a moment he nodded. "Okay. Everyone, ready yourselves for battle! I don't know what to expect but as soon as the correct rift is located we will face these Meta-Spiral's head on. Move out!"
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A/N: Sorry repeatedly for the delay…again. Writer's block has progressed into life block but I am still working my way through this story.
Please review and tell me your thoughts as they mean so much to me.
On a side note, I've just posted a new Gurren Lagann AMV on Youtube if anyone wants to check it out. It's a decent quality video this time lol. watch?v=g8CIdnk0thA or just type in 'Gurren Lagann Tonight we feel alive' by firewolffred.
-FWF