Opening File: Project Azure Samurai
Inspired perhaps by the legends of the Guardian who make up the Six-Founding Spiral a group of scientists came up with the idea of creating a powerful battle suit that could naturally the fighting skills of anyone who wore it as a way to improve Huntsman fighting skills and prevent more casualties. The Azure Samurai suit's servo mortars give wearer superhuman strength, agility, and endurance by allowing the actions of the wearer to be amplified without extraneous effort, amplifying their physical abilities at least tenfold. In addition to the added strength and speed the suit has significant resistance to water, electricity, heat and radiation.
The suit was then donated to Shoji Fuzen who financed the project but the scientists later disappeared much like Professor Mizuki.
Close File
Xxx
"The purpose of symbols is to serve as inspiration to the people, bringing them courage, strength and hope. However for every symbol meant to be an inspiration there are others meant to inspire fear, terror and despair. Sometimes they can be villains, monsters or look like simple ordinary people but you know there is something wrong about them." TOM lectured, closing the file. "And one more thing, you can find a symbol just about everywhere."
Xxx
'UN-BELIEVABLE! HOW COULD THAT HALF MEATBAG PUSH ME OUT?!'
He was not mad.
He was not upset.
He was FURIOUS!
It was a simply job. Fuse with the kid, take out the peanut gallery and then go and unleash that big fusion and let it go on a rampage.
It wasn't supposed to be this hard!
'I thought I'd keep him as a toy when I was done but forget it! I'll grind that kid's birthstone into dust when I get my hands on him!'
He'd have to change his plans because of this.
If he couldn't rely on the gullible little gem to help him he'd have to find someone else.
'This isn't over, kid. You just made my list alongside Pine Tree and Shooting Star.'
He'd have a fun time, torturing them for an eternity.
Xxx
Steven Universe woke up feeling very sore.
Actually he might have been sore when he had been asleep. He was wondering where he was when he woke up on something soft.
"Ugh…" His eyes opened, looking up at some sort of wooden ceiling. "Where? What?"
"Steven?"
A blurry figure came into his vision and after a moment it cleared up. "Dad?"
"Oh Steven!" Greg sighed in relief. "You had me worried."
"Where am I?"
"In…A friend's house."
"A friend?"
"I see he is awake."
Steven sat up, looking around and seeing his friends, even Lion in the same room with a man he did not recognize. He wore a brown trench coat over a tan shirt and blue jeans, a red scarf around his neck, had twin pistols around his waist and brown boots.
What stood out about him though was the fact his right hand was missing two fingers.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Roland Deschain and you are in my home." The man introduced himself. "Come, let us eat and then talk."
Roland led them to a table with home cooked food that smelled good and he provided milk as drinks.
"I found you all following several blasts that I heard and followed to your location. I did not expect to see find travelers this deep in the Darklands." Roland explained once everyone was seated and eating.
"Yeah? Well why are you here?" Amethyst asked with crossed arms.
"To keep a close eye on the enemy." Roland answered, standing up and walking to the nearest window. "Tell me, why was Moloch the Beast of Eternal Darkness hunting you?"
"You know that monster?" Carl asked.
"There are many monsters than just Grimm that exist in our world. Moloch is a creature that hides in the darkest of places and feeds on despair." Roland answered, turning away from the window. "The Darklands is one of places he frequents."
"How can you survive out here on your own?" Garnet asked.
"Carefully," Roland said, "Once there were more of us who wandered the Darklands, those who took the battle to the house of the enemy. Now there is only me."
Carl's eyes widened. "Ohhh! Oh! Oh! You're a Gunslinger!" He said ecstatically.
"Gunslinger?" Johnny sounded skeptical. "C'mon Carl those are just stories for kids."
"Not so." Roland grumbled and wiped his chin.
Johnny looked between the man and Carl. "Wait, for real?"
"The last of them," Roland clarified. "It has been as such ever since the fall of Gilead."
"Um…what's a gunslinger?" Steven looked around helplessly.
"An ancient and mythical order of elite huntsmen from the fallen kingdom of Gilead." Greg explained for his son. "It's said they started out as knights, but as the years passed they changed over to guns. There's always been evidence of them, but they vanished over a century ago."
"Did they all move out here?" Amethyst looked astonished at the man sitting before them. "To fight Grimm for breakfast, lunch and dinner?"
"Most of us." Roland nodded. "But now is not the time for stories. You all need to leave these lands."
"Aw what?" Amethyst whined. "But I've got like a million questions!"
"Is it true that your order reforged Excalibur into guns?" Carl asked eagerly. "Or-or that you all live for hundreds of years? Oh! Are you one of the actual gunslingers from a hundred years ago?"
"Guys!" Steven stood up, bringing silence to the gathering. "Mr. Deschain said we need to leave, and…I think we should just go home." He looked down towards the floor meekly. "We almost died out here."
Garnet nodded. "I agree." She climbed to her feet. "We'll move out as soon as we can. Do you know of the safest path back to the edge of the Darklands, Mr. Deschain?"
"Out here there are no safe paths." Roland climbed to his feet and beckoned for them to follow. "But there are short cuts."
He pulled aside a rug and lifted an unveiled door that led down into a cellar. For the most part it appeared unassuming, save for graffiti painted in red and black across the walls and what looked like a large metallic door frame with a computer screen built into one side.
"All hail…the Crimson King?" Steven read as they passed some of the graffiti. "Who is that?"
"A dead man." Roland deadpanned. "And the world is all the better for it."
He stopped at the door frame, which led only to a blank expanse of stone and earth wall behind it. After tapping in a code on the computer screen a low hum filled the air.
"Portal uplink established." A synthesized feminine voice toned. "Destination: GrimmFall."
"Portal?" Amethyst shouted as a blinding golden light filled the hollow door frame. "Since when do humans have portals?! Greg?!"
"Don't look at me, I didn't know!" Greg held his hands up defensively.
"These portals were once the secret routes of the enemy!" Roland shouted over the roar generated from the portal. "Now few remain. I've set it to take you to the one place in this world that I know would still have a portal of its own to receive you with."
"GrimmFall!" Steven looked excited. "That's like the Huntsman capital of the world!"
"Well it'll take us a bit to get back home from there, but…definitely better than walking!" Greg nodded and stepped through with a wave to Roland. "Thanks again Mr. Deschain."
One by one the group stepped through the portal until only Pops, who had remained silent at the back of the group, was left. As he stepped up to the portal he stopped and looked towards Roland.
"Thankee-sai." The veteran huntsman said with a nod.
One side of Roland's weathered lips cracked upward in the beginning of what could have been a smile.
Pops stepped through without another word, and the portal shut behind him, leaving the last of the Gunslingers alone in the dark.
Xxx
'Warning: Portal System Online.'
'Warning: Portal System Online.'
'Lockdown Initiated.'
"Move! Move! Move!"
Soldiers surrounded the light coming a door frame in the middle of a large grey colored room and had their weapons trained on the light as people began walking through.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Johnny let out a scream as he raised his hands. "Don't shoot! I'm too pretty to have bullet wounds!"
Amethyst summoned her whip as soon as she saw the guards. "You guys want some of this?"
Lion growled while Garnet summoned her gauntlets, looking as ready to fight as Amethyst was.
"Stand down! All of you!" A commanding voice barked.
The soldiers slowly lowered their weapons as the door behind them opened up and in walked a tall blond haired man with an eyepatch of his right eye. Flanking him was a tall female cat Mobian wearing a pink suit with glasses over her eyes and long blond hair.
"Holy Glob!" Carl exclaimed in shock and awe. "That's Phil Ken Sebben! The mayor of GrimmFall and Headmaster of Nevernest Academy!"
"Seriously?!" Greg looked at the man and instantly agreed. "Oh yeah! That is him!"
"Phil Ken Sebben?" Steven asked.
"One of most well-known Hunters in the world, even if he is a politician these days." Pops explained.
"I see you remember me, Pops. Owner of Pops' Moon Palace and retired Huntsman." Sebben replied, strolling past the guards and stopping to look at the group. "I see you have a rather unique company with you and if you came through a portal that's very rarely activated these days you must have been in some deep trouble."
"You don't know the half of it." Pops replied with a smile.
Sebben looked the group over. "I see two of the famous Crystal Gems are here, far away from Beach City."
"You know of us?" Amethyst asked.
"I do." Sebben nodded. "Your leader, Rose Quartz convinced the government to grant your group autonomy from all authority in exchange for dealing with Gem related situations and keeping to your location in the land where Beach City was built. She was rather adamant about not being dragged into political agendas and just wished for equal rights which she was granted by the president, George Washington himself."
"Mom met George Washington?!" Steven exclaimed in complete shock.
"'Mom' you say?" Sebben raised an eyebrow. "That must mean you are Steven Universe, Rose Quartz's son."
"Uh…Yeah." Steven nervously waved. "Hi."
"I think we have much to talk about." Sebben commented dryly. "If you'll follow me, I will have a room prepared and if you are seeking transportation back to Beach City I will have it arranged immediately as soon you explain why you came through a heavily guarded and top secret device."
Garnet dismissed her gauntlets which Amethyst quickly followed by dismissing her whip. "Very well."
"Miss Briggs, have the briefing room prepared. I will join you in a moment." Sebben spoke to the female Mobian who nodded and beckoned the group to follow.
Xxx
"You sure this is the way?"
"Of course I am. I have been down this path many times."
Drew had to resist the urge to take out her sword and see if Miss High and Mighty Genki Sanban would act so smug after scorching blast to the rear side. She only accepted the aid of the so-called Demon Blade of the East because the Japanese government insisted that she'd have a guide and because they don't like scientists from other countries traveling around their land.
Her musings ended when they came upon a beautiful lake giving off a sparkling glow that looked mystical enough that Drew was sure Doc wouldn't have been able to think of any kind of counter argument.
"Here it is." Genki said, stopping just at the beach.
"So how do we get across? Do we swim?" Drew asked sarcastically.
"Only if you want to drown."
Drew raised an eyebrow as Genki unsheathed her sword and swung it, releasing an arc of azure light that froze the ground it traveled over and created a piece of ice in the middle of the water. Just as the ice was formed it suddenly was pulled under by an unseen force.
"What in the world?" Drew was sure she had not been seeing things. "What just happened?"
"To keep yourself from being pulled under the water and drowning your feet must touch the ground." Genki explained as she sheathed her nodachi. "I almost made that exact mistake the first time I came upon this land."
"What brought you here?" Drew questioned, curious about what her guide knew.
"It was around the time I was still a student Yamanouchi Academy. I was rather…confident in myself and my skills and saw little use for staying with the team I had been assigned. I was among the best in my class but felt I could have been better. That was when the Headmaster, Sensei Splinter approached me and offered me a mission which was not often what happened during your first year." Genki explained looking out across the lake. "He said this mission would forever change how I saw the world and me, being the arrogant fool I was back then accepted without a second thought."
"Change how you see the world?" Drew could not help but comment.
Genki chuckled. "Yes. Like I said, I was rather arrogant and damned fool now that I remember. Sensei Splinter saw my flaws and knew how to best correct them."
"And what's out here that would help with that?" Drew wondered.
"You'll see soon enough."
Xxx
"You think the Hibagon is connected to the disappearance of this Professor Mizuki?"
Genki Sanban nodded. "The creature was spotted in the same area as Professor Mizuki's lab when it burned down. I believe the Hibagon is tied to the incident."
"What was Professor Mizuki working on anyway?" Drew asked.
"A special project that is said would revolutionize how to handle disabled people." Genki answered. "I do not have the top details since Mizuki was a very private man. I wanted to hire him on as part of the science division in Sanban Industries but he insisted on remaining in the private sector so I simply offered him funding."
"Why bother if he wasn't working for you?"
"He was a good friend with good intentions. That was enough." Genki simply answered. "When I heard his lab burned down I suspected foul play."
"Did Professor Mizuki have any enemies?"
"None that I know of. Like I said, he was a very private man."
Zak Saturday sat nearby, listening into the conversation. The way his mother and the Sanban woman were speaking it seemed like they were very old friends.
So why didn't his mom ever tell him about it?
"Well, the man in the alley said it was heading to Tokyo Harbor." Drew pointed out.
Genki nodded. "And it boarded a Tokyo bound train."
"So we just head to the harbor and we'll find it." Drew finished but frowned. "But my son's cryptid powers didn't have any effect on it so we'll have to improvise."
"Yeah, about that." Zak finally cut in. "What happened with them?"
"I'm not sure, Zak." Drew admitted. "It's not something we have seen before."
"Your son's powers?" Genki questioned as she looked at Zak.
"Yeah, I can…Talk with cryptids?" Zak said, feeling awkward now that his mom's friend was paying attention to him.
"That is your Semblance?"
"Not as far as we know. He's had it for as long as we could remember but we still have no idea where it came from." Drew answered. "Maybe Doc's run into something like this before. I…" Drew suddenly looked around. "Wait, where is he anyway?"
"Probably back in the lab, looking at the Kur Stone." Zak answered knowingly.
Drew sighed and turned on the intercom, showing Doc in the lab on the main view screen. "Doc!"
The man jumped and turned around with a surprised look on his face.
"I thought we were putting Argost aside."
"We are. I-I-I just…" Doc stuttered as he turned around, trying to look busy. "Do I have to justify my every…" His console beeped, turning his attention away from the screen. "Now I lost my place."
"Dad, dad, dad." Zak said with mock-disappointment. "Do you want some pointers on how not to get busted for stuff you're not supposed to be doing?"
"Darling, could you please focus at least some of that massive brainpower on the problem at hand? We're trying to track a giant here." Drew said.
"I'd start down there." Doc pointed at the screen next to Drew, showing a large trail of broken trees.
"Huh. I'd say he found his stop." Drew commented.
"And we were right. He is going to Tokyo Harbor." Genki said, glancing at Doc. "So, I assume you have yet another conflict with V.V. Argost."
"In a…Manner of speaking." Doc admitted before closing the channel.
"Nice to see your dear Solomon is as charming as ever." Genki commented dryly to Drew who simply shrugged.
"You know about Argost?" Zak asked curiously.
"It's hard not to when the majority here are his number one fans. Some of my staff are fans and I've seen his show. A good show, if not suspicious." Genki shrugged.
"Oh yeah. Evil for sure, but good television." Zak nodded and flinched when he saw the look Drew threw him. "But totally evil."
Genki smirked. "I suppose when you offered your father pointers on things you are not supposed to do, watching Weird World is one of them."
Zak chuckled a bit. "So, do your kids watch it?"
"Actually, no and not because I forbade them from watching it. Japan may be Argost's number one fanbase but that doesn't mean everyone here watches his show. My daughters didn't show any interest in it." Genki turned to Drew. "But we have to get back on task here. I want to be there when the Hibagon gets to the harbor."
"On our way."
Xxx
As the Saturday airship raced towards Tokyo Harbor a white tiger was following the trail of destruction left by the Hibagon and on the tiger's back was a woman wearing a green cloak. The tiger stopped and the woman hopped off, looking down the trail and pulled out a table.
"Shoko to Fuzen, the Hibagon is heading for Tokyo harbor."
"Excellent. Continue tracking."
"There is something more. There's an airship tracking the creature now and I got a glimpse of the people piloting it. Genki Sanban is with them."
There was silence for a moment. "I see. My orders stand. Continue tracking."
"Fine." Shoko ended the call and put her tablet away. "I will be sure to ask for a raise after this is over."
She hopped back onto her tiger and with a simple command it broke into a sprint, following the trail to the harbor.
Xxx
"Genki Sanban."
If there was one person in the entire world Shoji Fuzen hated it was Genki Sanban.
"That woman has been a thorn in my side for years and now I might have the chance to get rid of her once and for all."
He watched as his men prepared the armored battle suit standing before him.
"Is it ready?"
"We've run last minute diagnostics on it. All systems appear to operating at optimum efficiency."
"Good." Shoji Fuzen smiled as he looked over the battle suit. "Then it is ready. The Azure Samurai will ensure my hold on Tokyo and its first victim will be the Demon Blade of the East."