If we weren't already, we're now in Au territory boys and girls.
"No shit Sherlock! Given you've expanded the roles and backgrounds of the mole people, the sky people, the fishie ones and even created new ones in- mff! mff!"
As I was saying, we are now in Au territory, for depending on if you guys interest lasts that long, I've plans for Boros...
Location: Deep Space Time: Present
"Sir!"
He sighed and swiveled around towards the voice.
"What is it, rookie?"
"S-sir, I've got the data and the telemetry you requested, sir!"
Another sigh escaped his lips as he raised a tentacle and rubbed his face while all around the control room, soft snickers broke.
He let the men do so without reprimand. After all, they'd been traveling nonstop for some time now, and besides, some harmless ribbing at the expense of the newbie wasn't that big of a deal.
It'd help the rookie build character and, Boros willing, start thinking twice before acting in the future.
And it's not like he wouldn't put a stop to it if the others started going too far. He wasn't Melzargard and his bunch of hooligans! Yes, he loved and respected the man just like he loved and respected Groribas, for they'd been through much together. But he could admit, the man had…issues.
Still, that was neither here nor there. For now was not the time to try and help his comrades. That came after their arrival to this…'earth' and after Lord Boros found what he was looking for.
"Rookie," he said, a tired groan leaving his lips, which also served to quieten the snickers. "There's no need to inform me every time you receive no new data, not unless it's important, but whether it is or isn't." He stared with his glowing eyes at the flushing youth. "Just forward it to my terminal, yes?"
"Y-yes, sir. S-sorry, sir!"
"Nothing to apologize for lad, just think before you act and—"
The airlock door hissed and the sound of soft footsteps reached his ears.
"Geryuganshoop."
The voice causing him to tense and stand straight as he swiveled around, the men and women rushing to do the same, all but jumping out of their seats, for at the door, clad in golden armor with purple lines, a red cape stretching out behind him and baggy white pants and golden boots was none other than their lord.
'Thunk!'
"Great going there Rookie!" one of the technician's they'd rescued from Zetallon-5 hissed, helping the Rookie stand before the woman cuffed him on the head.
He twitched and continued staring at his lord, who stood with his arms crossed at the room's entrance, a vacant look in his eye.
"Let's just hope, Lord Boros is in a good mood today and won't vaporize us!"
"S-sorry, Shana! I—"
The pupil in Lord Boros' singular eye widened, but, aside from slightly tightening his grip, causing a slight creak to emanate from his golden gauntlets, the man did not react.
Foolish brats. Lord Boros is not Melzergard. But still, I'll scold you both later, both for your lack of decorum and the fact you continue to pussyfoot around each other!
"Geryuganshoop."
"Yes, my lord? How may I be of service?"
The man uncrossed his arms and closed the distance, staring at the big console screen covering up most of the wall behind him and the figures in it.
"How long?"
Geryuganshoop fought the urge to grimace. Not out of fear or because he feared his answer would not satisfy his lord. No. Nothing of the sort.
But simply.
It was just…
"A little over a week, my lord," he said, and watched as his lord's right arm rose to his chest, hovering, indecisive. "We could be there in less than a week, and apologies if I've overstepped. But I've taken the liberty of allowing the engine crew to relax and slowed us down. Just a bit. Is…is that ok?"
Boros sighed and closed his singular eye, giving a tired nod and, at last, his hand touching and caressing the blood red orb in his chest.
"Yes. You…you've done well, Geryuganshoop, that'll be all," the man said in an empty voice and spun around, and as his lord exited the room, his red cape swaying, he grimaced.
For it would seem that his lord was still stuck in the past.
But then, why would he be?
Himself, Melzergard, and Groribas were all that were left of the old crew, all that were left after…
He shook his head and sighed.
"Back to your stations! No time to stand around gawking with your mouths open, you scallywags!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"S-sorry, sir!"
Geryuganshoop grasped the railings around his seat with his tentacles and fought the urge to bend the metal into pretzel.
No. This was not the time to try and deal with all that.
That came after they landed on this…'earth', after the crew had its fun and after…after the spark in Lord Boros' heart was finally reignited.
For if it didn't…
He gulped.
That sounded bad! Shit!
Exploding into motion, Yuha started running, hopping from jutting stone to jutting stone, while at the same time reaching within him and Roshi's technique slapped into place, causing a slight expansion in muscle mass just as he kicked against a gray, moss-covered boulder, causing it to shatter and he crested over the rise of a tiny hill.
The first stage of Kaio-ken slipped into place, and he dearly regretted deciding to not keep it up when Shivara's skill with her traveling technique all but made it unnecessary.
Another agonized scream reached him, a female scream and somewhat familiar.
The second stage slipped into place and by this point, it was all but certain that to any normal human he'd be a blur, at best.
He dashed around a corner, loose rubble and dirt being dislodged as a result, a tiny dust-cloud forming in his wake as he let out a curse, spying a rocky wall leading up to a small plateau and where his Ki sense told him the person, or persons he was looking for where.
The third stage activated just as his leg muscles tensed and he pushed, grabbing against a protruding rock half-way up, pulling and throwing himself upwards in a one arm muscle up while also kicking against the stone wall and letting a burst of ki explode from his soles, giving him much needed speed.
And he finally crested the rocky lip.
His eyes widening.
Shit!
For near the edge of the plateau, close to the lip of the gorge, two figures stood. Or rather, one massive one, which in its arm held a smaller, squirming one while its other arm was in the process of reaching for the woman's neck.
The fourth stage activated and with a valiant cry, a comet like scarlet corona blazing behind him, Yuha flipped around in the air. His shout drawing the attention of the massive lion headed figure alongside that of the bruised Mosquito Girl, and Yuha dived.
Feet first and pointed towards the broad chested monster's ribcage just as the fifth stage slipped into place.
His feet slammed into the massive figure, causing it to grunt and a hiss of pain to escape Yuha's lips, but, at least, the shock of the impact, and the force behind it, forced Beast King's arm to reflexively open, and for him to drop Mosquito Girl, with Yuha hastening to catch her.
"Hello there," he said with a grin towards the big woman in his hand, the woman, whom, despite the pain she was no doubt in, blinked and, glancing at their position. Blushed.
"H-hi…"
"Can you stand?"
Mosquito Girl nodded meekly and Yuha, gently let her down from his bridal carry.
Only for the girl to gasp.
"What is it?"
One hand in front of her mouth, her eyes wide, she pointed with trembling arms at him, or rather, his neck.
"S-sir, Yuha…"
Frowning, he reached upwards with a hand, the adrenaline making him forget about the slight stabbing pain as a result of Beast King's actions.
'Plop'
And, grasping the offending item, his eyes widened as he stared at a depressed gigantic syringe.
His eyes widening further as a low furious growl reached them, and he turned towards the lip of the gorge, over which, an instant later a massive arm with chains wrapped around its forearm appeared, slamming down and into the rock and dirt, followed by the muzzle of a lion a second later.
"You…" Beast King growled as with a grunt, the man heaved himself upwards with the same ease one stands up from their couch. Landing back on solid ground and dusting bits of gravel and roots from his massive chest. "I remember you…" the monster said, and its mouth filled with many sharp teeth flashed him a horrific grin. "First the traitor and now you, bwahahaah!" the monster threw its head back and laughed. "This is wonderful! Not only can I redeem myself in the eyes of my lord, but I also get to keep my promise to you, bug."
"Hrk."
Wait, why was he nauseous? And more importantly, why did the lion have cybernetic eyes? Those weren't there the last time he saw it.
"Sir Zero!"
A couple of days earlier:
He was bored.
Oh, don't get him wrong, his bout with the junior, even if it ended in a tie, had been fine and all.
But, until it was time for their next re-match, he had a lot of time in his hands.
Time in which he'd grow stronger, punish a few of the fake heroes infesting this planet…and figure out a few of the techniques his kouhai had so graciously shown him before improving them and returning the favor in their next fight.
After all, it was his duty to teach his junior as any good senpai ought to.
Still.
That last trick Yuha used.
He growled and as the exhaust of a car hit his nostrils, making him gag, followed by the ferrari's horn, he glared at the rich prats in the car.
"Out of the way loser!" the driver said, laughing alongside his friends as they sped haphazardly, swerving left and right and scaring a lot of the passerbys.
His scowl deepened, but with a force of will, he swallowed his anger and made to cross the street—
"Eek!"
Before the sound of a terrified woman's shouting reached him.
"Bastards…"
For the driver, swerving left and right had caused the blonde woman to freeze in place, not knowing what to do. Wondering whether the driver would hit her, or, judging by how the idiot had stretched out one arm to the side, whether he'd grab her.
Spying a loose tiny pebble by his feet, Garou took aim and—
'Thunk'
"Aahhh!" his hit caused the driver to lose control for a moment and then, frantically trying to correct, crush into a street sign, with the sign wobbling in place before falling atop the groaning idiots.
"Tsk," scowling, and as the sign turned white again, he crossed the street, intending to keep wondering through the streets of Z-city until something caught his eye but—
"S-sir!" a soft hand reaching out and grasping his arm, caused him to turn, but his scowl and the scathing retort both died on his lips, only to be replaced by a faint sensation of heat on his cheeks.
That's odd. Am I coming down with something?
For the woman smiling up at him with blond-hair and garbed in a white sun-dress was a very familiar figure.
Even if he'd never met her personally.
"T-thank you for helping me out? Are you a hero? I've never heard of you before" Kiiro the yellow ranger asked, frowning as she looked him up and down, tapping a finger against her chin in thought, and Garou's face contorted through a series of expressions, the woman missing them as she shrugged and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Oh well, it doesn't matter, I guess!" she said with a giggle.
"Kiiro…"
Eh? Why did I mumble?
"Ah? You know of me?" the woman asked, her radiant smile widening as she raised a foot behind her and clapped her hands. "Are you perchance a fan? How wonderful!" the girl said, jumping in place with joy, and, despite himself, not-a-smile formed in his face.
She reached out with her hand, grasping his.
"Woman, what are you—"
"Here!" she said with a grin, reaching into her purse with her other arm and slapping a tiny picture of herself on his palm. Making him goggle just as the woman retrieved a pen, popping its top off with a flick of her thump and in a practiced movement, capturing it on the back of the pen. "What's the name of my brave hero?" she asked and Garou stared.
Mistaking his stare, the woman blushed and lowered her gaze.
"I know, it's a tad weird…b-but, not every fan I meet happens to carry a picture for me to sign on, and even though I personally don't mind signing on most anything, from what I've gathered people prefer actual pictures of me for some reason and so…"
She shrugged, and Garou sighed.
"Garou."
"Eh?"
"My name, Garou."
"Eh? Just that?" she asked, and his eyes narrowed. "N-not that there is anything wrong with wanting to keep your surname private or anything it's just…ah, I'm making a fool of myself aren't I…sorry!" with a quick flowing stroke, she signed it and, with darkened cheeks she quickly raised the picture to her lips and planet a kiss. "T-there! For my brave hero!" she said with a giggle, and before Garou could say anything in response, darted off with a giggle and a wave.
He stared.
And stared some more before sighing and, carefully tucking the picture in his wallet, continued wondering aimlessly.
With a blink, he realized that his feet had brought him near the outskirts of the town before the sound of a trash can falling over caught his ears and he turned.
Stumbling around and into an alley was the form of a monster.
Well, perhaps not exactly a monster, for the tall, tall gray-haired woman might not seem like a monster at first glance, but, Garou could tell.
Curious, and with nothing better to do, he approached with silent feet, as the panting woman stumbled, and, her arm flashed to the wall to the side of the alleyway, digging into the concrete a bit as she managed to arrest her fall.
He scoffed and prepared to finish the weakling.
For she was half dead already by the looks of things and he was bored.
So—
She gasped unaware as he raised his hand for a soft welcoming strike.
"Gkh! I n-need to be better," the woman mumbled. "S-sir Z-zero wouldn't let something like this put him down!" she panted, tensing her muscles as she tried to stand, and Garou's karate chop stopped barely an inch after it started its descent.
She knows Junior?
"Pain is irrelevant. My weakness is irrelevant. A hero should protect," the woman growled and Garou lowered his arm, curious.
"Kakaka~! Where are you, little traitor~" somewhere from outside the valley a loathsome voice echoed, and Garou, with a silent series of kicks against the alleyway's walls, climbed up to the lip of one of building's roofs. Kneeling down on his haunches, watching, as a toad like monster, and there was no doubt about this one, crested the sides of the alleyways' entrance just as the sweating, panting woman rose on unsteady feet, turning to glare at the intruder.
"Ah~ There you are~" the toad said. "Come, we've wasted enough time playing with you, little traitor. So," the monster made a beckoning gesture. "Come along now, and if you're lucky, after King tears you in half, the good Doctor might even let you live! Kekeke~"
The woman glared and took a deep breath, sinking into a combat stance despite the obvious pain of her wounds.
"I'm never going back," she said with a hiss. "Not unless it's to destroy it all and kill that monster, for he is no doctor."
"Kekeke~ bold words from a failure," the creature sing-songed and then darted forward, the two engaging in a brief scuffle.
Garou rubbed his chin. For despite her wounds, the woman could fight. She lacked experience, he could tell, what with how stiff her movements were, but, nonetheless, her motions, her guards and her jabs were all rather familiar, and they reminded him of—
What's your relationship with my kouhai, woman?
He continued to ponder that with a frustrated expression before, at last, the woman managed to defeat and knock her foe to the ground. Standing over him with tiny, ribbon thin tendrils—
That's the same as Junior!
"You're beaten, surrender."
"Kaka-gkah!" the toad cackled. "N-never!"
"You don't have to do this," the woman pleaded. "Surrender and we need no longer be enemies. Join me and together we can bring that monster to justice for his crimes. Defeat that tyrant, Beast. Please!"
For an instant, the toad was silent, musing before it shook its head.
"Keke…no, can't do. We'll never succeed. They're too powerful, little traitor."
The girl's shoulders slumped.
"So be it. Know that I take no joy in this and…I'm sorry."
With a burst of renewed strength, the toad lunged, or at least tried to. For the woman was quick, her punch shooting forth and spearing through the creature's chest.
"Kaka…avenge me…avenge us…Mosquito Girl…avenge us all…" the monster croaked with its dying breath and the woman, Mosquito Girl, nodded with wet eyes.
Garou, still unnoticed, pondered this, and a slow grin stretched across his face.
For he had an idea, and this had the potential to prove most interesting.
Present day: A few minutes earlier:
He'd been right. The last couple of days had proved quite interesting indeed.
For one, his personal challenge, a challenge which he'd succeeded in, namely in remaining unnoticed by either Mosquito Girl or her many, many pursuers had helped him improve on his stealth skills as he dispatched those strong enough to defeat the woman, or strong enough after she'd been wounded too badly to fight back.
Something which happened with an almost distressing frequency.
Still, if nothing else, she, alongside all those monsters hunting her, had been mostly quiet when his junior match took place.
Giving him the opportunity to attend and observe some very interesting things.
Chief among them one of his kouhai's old teachers, King was indeed a monster. Still, he gave him a couple of ideas. And despite having some half-formed ideas and guesses as to what it was the man was doing…that was not the path for Garou. No.
Both King and Yuha seemed to revel in their emotions.
So no. Nonetheless, though, it'd been time well spent!
…even if he'd have to reprimand his junior at their next meeting. For didn't the brat know that cavorting with females sapped your energy?!
A scowl spread across his face.
For the woman he'd spent the last couple days helping, even if said woman had no idea as to said fact.
That same woman was currently fighting for her life against a lion-headed monster. Probably that 'Beast King' some of the underlings he'd interrogated had been babbling about.
This was not good!
For by the looks of things, she couldn't win.
Oh, their difference in power wasn't that great, but the lion had a wealth of fighting experience, which Mosquito Girl, despite whatever connection she and his kouhai had, didn't.
He growled, and, keeping his ki hidden—the idea for managing to stay 'power upped' while in stealth had been one of his better ones these past few days, heck, it even took him two whole days to achieve it!—if at the ready, he set about observing, ready to intervene if it came down to it.
For she was supposed to be another test for his kouhai. After all, from their brief encounter a couple days prior, it was evident that despite the two knowing vaguely of each other, they'd never interacted at length.
And so, a test.
Would his kouhai remain true to his ideals and help and protect even a monster? Admittedly, a kind hearted one by the looks of things?
The grin that'd been unconsciously spreading across his lips as he thought of his plan was immediately replaced by another scowl as he glared at the 'Beast King'.
For that big lump of fur threatened to ruin everything!
The lion grasped the woman and he let out a silent curse, preparing to intervene, but, as she let out a harrowing scream, a pillar of power pulsed in the distance.
A familiar pillar of power, one that in the span between heartbeats, started to double and grow and grow.
Garou's cheeks spread wide enough to hurt, just as Mosquito Girl screamed again and right after, a worried Yuha appeared like a rising angel, the man's worry shifting into a frown as he slammed into the lion.
He settled back down, content to watch.
For it might be a little earlier than he'd planned, but, this would do too…
"Hrk!" he fought back the feeling of nausea, opting instead to glare at the lion, even if his power seemed to be fighting back a bit. Something which had never happened before. The sensation bringing to mind a child being difficult before ultimately obeying.
Or rather, if his power had been like Rei before, now it was behaving like Asuka.
He grimaced.
Great, I'm making pointless metaphors in my head. Whatever was in that thing…it doesn't agree with me.
With a snarl and spanking his power, he pushed Kaio-ken all the way to stage seven in quick succession, unable to go higher right now.
"Can you fight?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the grinning lion.
"Y-yes, sir Y-yuha—ah! I m-mean, Zero!"
"Either is fine and drop the sir," he grunted.
"Finished? Ready to die?" the lion taunted, arms crossed, muscular forearms and biceps flexing, radiating barely container blood-lust.
"Good, follow me and cover my six," he grunted, and for a moment his vision span, and his rebelling Ki almost caused him to drop down a stage. But, with an effort of will, he stabilized himself and, kicking against the ground, propelled himself towards the roaring lion who rushed to meet him.
At the very least, whatever that was, wasn't meant for me. Still, why does it affect me so?
Their forearms clashed and Yuha ignored the stab of pain racing up from his arm, while the lion grunted, its eyes widening a tad.
"You're strong…stronger than I expected you to be."
He smirked despite the vertigo.
"What can I say? Unlike you, I never skip leg day," he taunted, and the lion scoffed.
"You miscreant—"
"Hiya!"
"Gkh!"
Only for the monster to grunt as his head was pushed forward, towards Yuha by a diving kick from Mosquito Girl. Clearly the monster had dismissed her, rightly assessing Yuha as the bigger threat.
Idiot.
That may very well have been the case, but outright dismissing a combatant, even if weaker while still in an active warzone? What a fool.
Yuha's mouth opened wide and a brilliant orb of gold spun into existence before detonating into a radiant beam, smashing into the wide-eyed lion's head.
"Argh!"
The monster roared, leaning back and clutching its burned face with its right hand, even as its left swept towards Yuha, who, despite seeing it, was unable to move for the nausea, made his head spin.
The fist bigger than Yuha's head collided with him, sending him spiraling to the side and over the gorge's lip.
"Hiya!"
Just as Mosquito Girl, lowered herself to the ground and performed a sweeping kick on the lion's feet.
'Crack'
And Yuha did not need to see the girl's moist eyes or her pained grimace to know that even as she successfully managed to sweep the monster off its feet, she paid a price for doing so.
Still, she'd given him a grand opportunity.
'Thump! Woomp!'
His necklace glowed.
One he intended to take advantage of!
For unlike before, when it would have been a dice roll, and even if poisoned, now, the lion could clearly feel his blows. It could be hurt.
And so, fighting through the nausea, the blaring senses and his blurring vision, ki exploded around and below Yuha, the man flying away from the abyss below and zipping above Beast King.
The monster only just about managing to put its arm on the ground and about to start rising, while behind him and on her back with her foot broken and grimacing, Mosquito Girl could be seen.
Gritting his teeth, he raised his arms, forming a triangle with the left while with his right, he pointed at Mosquito, the gestures needed in his current state, and—
"Eep!"
Pushed her away from the monster and further towards the center of the Plateau before his right arm joined his left just as the lion glanced at him.
Yuha roared, his power flaring and beating his power like a redheaded stepchild, pushed all the way to stage eight.
The lion's pupils dilated.
"Shin! Kikoho!"
And an aborted roar was the last sound out of its lips as it vanished into a flash of golden square light.
'Slam.'
Before Yuha slammed down onto the rocks and tiny plants and vines atop the plateau.
"Y-yuha!" Mosquito Girl let out a cry as she rushed to his side, cradling him in her arms, heedless of her broken foot.
"Mmh, tired now…nighty night…" he mumbled and his eyes closed.
Garou's smile felt painful.
So, that's what I was doing wrong!
As the feed from the failure's cybernetic implants failed, along with the winking out of its pathetic life, Dr. Genus continued to stare for a few moments longer.
Tapping his arm against his chair's armrest as he did.
So…it's true. He really has broken his limiter.
For no other explanation made sense.
Zero's growth in power was meteoric, and it didn't seem it'd be slowing down anytime soon.
And even if the failure hadn't been his strongest creation, it was, or rather had been, amongst the strongest in the world, nonetheless.
Not that it mattered.
His eyes glanced at the vial the next room over, the vial that would soon be ready. A smile split his face as he raised his arm and flexed. Muscles which weren't there a couple days ago now popping into view.
For the stable primer he'd already injected himself with had already improved his strength so much! When the full serum was ready…
A dark cackle escaped his lips before he calmed down and gazed at the last data sent over by the failure.
The fact that Zero had intervened was unexpected, as was the fact, that apparently the man was partially susceptible to the serum designed to deal with Mosquito Girl. Still, this presented an opportunity and a problem both.
For with confirmation that the man's limiter was gone? Well, he no longer could afford to delay his dealing with him.
But given the strength displayed…
He tapped against his armrest, a scowl on his lips before he blinked, and a devious smile spread.
Activating the correct channel on the intercom, he spoke. "#57."
"Yes?"
"We have a problem. Prepare to release Kabuto."
"Fuck!" his clone said, and he agreed. "That bad?"
"Yes," he said with gritted teeth, before he smiled. "But, if all goes to plan, we'll get rid of two problems with one stone…" he cackled, and his clone joined him.
For even if it was not yet time for their reunion, the primer had already started the process of syncing their quantum signatures…
And here she is! Everyone's favorite blood-sucker! Here to suck your-
What do you mean this is a family friendly show and we can't say stuff like that? Have you seen where we are? No, screw you and-
Also, don't worry, the poison won't have permanent effects or anything of the sort, you know how I feel about nerfs after all.
(for those of you who don't and tl;dr. FUCK NO. Fuck nerfs with a rusty shiv.)