Eden's Zero - The Black Moon

by marcus00721

Cosmic Era, Year x495. It is two years after the Kaede War. Shiki and his friends continue their mission of hunting down Ziggy. Legends speak of an ancient star that can lead one to what is known as the Black Moon. The Black Moon can grant power to those who reach it, be it human or android. A fragmented star can lead those to the Black Moon. But what is the price of this power.

88. Chapter 88: Star Force

Time period: 2 days ago.

Geno was on call with Stella. With the final battle rapidly approaching, he had to let his mother and the people of Delta Ridge know what he was up to. With him were Omega, Cynthia, and Hermit. "So...that's the gist of it." Geno said with a slow nod.

"I see..." Stella said with a slow nod. Obviously she was concerned, but she was trusting the Eden's Zero and her son's strength.

"We also found someone you'd like to see." Omega said with a snicker. Cynthia was standing out of the frame for the moment, but then she stepped in, waving to Stella.

"Hi, Ms. Star!" Cynthia said with a smile.

"Oh my goodness!" Stella's eyes were wide. "Cynthia, is that you? You've grown into such a beautiful young lady!

Medi then barged in through Stella's screen. "You've been taking care of yourself, right!?"

Cue Asuka appearing on the left side. "Geno! Cynthia!?"

And there was Tristan in the background, letting out a small sigh. "It's good to see you in good health, all of you."

"Hi everyone! Wow, it's been so long..." Cynthia rubbed the back of her neck with a sheepish giggle. "It's good to see you all! I heard about what happened. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help..."

"She was too busy being stranded on a beach planet." Hermit remarked. "But most importantly...it's good you got the tower working again, so quickly, too!"

"I was surprised I could call you. I was worried and had to try..." Geno admitted.

"Don't underestimate us!" Asuka said while flexing her arm. "I've been getting a lot stronger while you've been gone. So when you get back...!"

"Hush." Stella shook her head, causing Asuka to go quiet in a comical manner. "Cynthia...how are you feeling about your mother?"

Cynthia rubbed her arm. "I don't know what happened to her, why she's like this. She's hurt so many people. She heard someone on this ship badly. I heard about Dad too, I'm so sorry that happened. I don't...know why my parents turned out like this...they hurt so many people..."

"It's not your fault." Medi spoke. "You are your own person. Their sins do not weigh on you. The only thing you can do is make them pay for it."

"Your mother still loves you. I know she does." Stella said. "You might be the only person in this cosmos that can make her remember what love is like. Don't give up on her..."

Cynthia took these words to heart and nodded slowly. "Okay...it was good seeing everyone again. When this is all over, I'll come home. I missed Delta Ridge..." She smiled softly, and then made her way out of the room.

"Please be careful." Stella looked at Geno worriedly. From what she was told, this battle was going to be dangerous and intense.

"You don't got a thing to worry about, Stella!" Omega said while patting himself o the chest. "As long as I'm here, we're unbeatable!"

Stella giggled a bit at that. "Thank you, Omega. I'm counting on you. And I'm hopeful you can protect my son too, Hermit. I'm relying on you." When she said it like that, both Geno and Hermit couldn't help but blush. "Keep each other safe, okay?"

"O-Okay Mom!" Geno said, embarrassed by her comment. With that, the call ended. Geno took a breath as Omega left the room.

"Are you nervous?" Hermit tilted her head. "I know it was probably for the best not to tell them about the Goldstones being here."

"I'm alright." Geno looked to Hermit with a slight smile. "I am pretty nervous. When it comes to fighting, I still feel inexperienced. I'm just afraid I won't be of any use. You guys have way more experience than I do."

"You're a natural." Hermit said while returning the smile. "You've done a lot while you're here. You're just as reliable as everyone else, so don't doubt yourself, okay? I know you're dependable. I'll be relying on you when things kick off."

"Heh..." Slightly flustered, Geno rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, hey...when this fighting is over. Do you want to...visit Delta Ridge with me?"

"H-Huh?" Hermit blinked taken aback by that sudden request. Omega and Cynthia were now peering around the corner.

"W-Well...I know you were there before...but there was a lot of stuff I'd like to show you." Geno said sheepishly.

Hermit, now flustered as well, only thought on it for a moment. "...Sure. I'd like that..."

"He finally asked her out..." Cynthia whispered to Omega.

"About time..." Omega rolled his eyes. "Now we just gotta make it through this..."

"Hehehe..." Cynthia snickered knowingly. "Did you know he got her a flower on Seven? And that flower means..."

[End Flashback.]

.

.

The space battle above the Black Moon raged on. Hubert was steadily regaining the advantage with his Knight Gear onslaught, but the Alliance wasn't backing down. Justice and Elsie were keeping up a good fight, while the Goldstones were focused on Hubert himself. Kamara and Athena were putting in the most work against the Galactic Elite, while the GIU focused on taking down the Knight Gears. However...

"Excuse me, Ano." Holy contacted the Eclipse Ark. "The Eden's Zero has ceased moving. Furthermore, I cannot seem to get into contact with them. What's happening?"

"I'm not sure!" Ano replied with a sweat drop. "Sister said they were being held up by something. Their communication line has been blocked off, I can't hack into it if it's been severed!"

This was Feather's time to shine. With her Eye of Venus, she focused on the Eden's Zero. Even if it was suddenly isolated from communication, nothing could escape her sight. "I see...it appears that someone has boarded the Eden's Zero in the midst of the fighting."

"Should we go help them?" Cure offered.

"No, we can't afford to turn our forces away for a second." Eraser said. "Besides, the Eden's Zero can handle itself. They have backup if necessary. But..."

"It's going to be a problem if Hermit can't do what she needs to." Ano explained. "We planned to open up a pathway into Hubert's network. With my snakes, they're disguised as part of the mainframe so even he can't detect them. With this path open, Hermit was going to destroy everything and put an end to his onslaught. I've opened the path and can press the button at any time, but without Hermit, this plan is a bust!"

"He'd catch on instantly..." Victory grunted. "So we have to either beat him now, or hold out until they're done on the Eden's Zero. Can't the Goldstones go back?" He asked, only to see Kamara and Athena still focused on fighting Hubert. They were still on an uphill battle. "Guess not..."

"We'll win!" Elsie exclaimed, using Meteor to speed right through a Knight Gear and completely destroy it. "This battle is only getting started. The Eden's Zero can make it out of anything. And if they take too long...we'll already have won before they get a chance to do anything."

.

.

A ring of fire surrounded Geno, Sister, and Waltz. Waltz needed to be dealt with as soon as possible so they could get their plan against Hubert underway and safe Hubert. Geno burst forward, one of his arms turning into a sword as he lunged at Waltz. "Get out of way! Hermit's in danger! Wide Sword!" Geno swung, but Waltz was much faster than he anticipated and leapt into the air. Growling, Geno pushed off and started to follow Waltz, slashing at him numerous times, only for his attacks to either be dodged or straight up blocked by Waltz's own flaming sword. "Gh!"

"This guy's way stronger than the last time we saw him..." Sister grit her teeth. She had to help Geno, otherwise things would quickly turn for the worse. But with them slashing at each other so fast, she couldn't find an opening!

"The androids I've consumed have given me so much power!" Waltz laughed as Geno was unable to get a hit in. He shifted around Geno, kicking him in the back and sending him crashing into the ship's floor. At that moment, Sister leapt into action with her bladed whip, swinging at Waltz. He was able to parry this at the last second before landing on the ground. "Do you wish to be first?"

"Piss off!" Sister growled while slashing at Waltz once more, but he dodged through this effort and appeared in front of Sister, slashing across her torso. His blazing sword left a mark and she was sent flying against the ring of flame, which acted as a solid wall. "Agh...!"

Geno was back in action, his blade slashing against Waltz's. Clearly he wasn't going to be able to beat him in a straight fight, but Geno had plenty of abilities up his sleeve to give him the edge. He had a Lock-On system, and was using Omega's senses to find a weak spot. "Found it!" He located his target and ducked a slash, swiftly moving forward to slice off Waltz's left arm and dash past him.

"Gaaah! You brat!" Waltz howled in pain. Couchpo and Mosco, who were watching from outside, were cheering. But then...the cheers were cut short as wires appeared from the amputated limb, grabbing the arm that was chopped off and pulled it back into place. "Is what I would say...!"

"He can regenerate...!?" Sister gasped.

"I went through so many androids." Waltz said as the arm spun around in place, locking back in. "I've learned to fix myself constantly in order to improve. Your measly tricks won't work on me! FLAME BURST!" Waltz then stabbed his sword into the floor, numerous pillars of flame erupting and throwing Sister and Geno back with burn marks.

"Sister...Geno..." Hermit had one eye clenched shut. She was trying to stand, doing her best to hold onto her fading memories.

Geno slid across the ground, noticing Waltz pursuing him. Both of Geno's arms turned into swords and he started to clash with Waltz, even running along the ring of flame in the process. "I don't care what you've done, you're in my way! So MOVE!" Geno briefly overpowered Waltz and struck him with his swords in an X formation, leaving a deep gash in the android's body. Waltz landed with a grunt before turning around, his sword clashing with Sister's whip.

"So you like to regenerate, do you?" Sister had a wicked smile on her face. "Don't you know what happens when you flood too much healing into the body!?" It was at that moment that Waltz could feel his body healing, but...

"Wait, what are you doing...!?" Waltz took a step back.

"Overheal Destroy!" Sister flicked her wrist upwards, a surge of healing ether flowing through Waltz so strongly it exploded and did more damage! Waltz staggered backwards from the explosion, but he wasn't done yet...

Geno appeared in front of Waltz, his arm cannon pointed forward, already charged with ether. "Mega Buster!" He fired off the spherical blast from the cannon, watching as it collided against Waltz and exploded. "Gotcha!"

"GAAAH!" Waltz let out a frustrated yell. "Who do you think you are, getting in my way like this!?" The damage on his body was real. While he could recover lost limbs easily, lasting injuries did not seem to heal so quickly. Geno quickly moved in, ice appearing on his fist as he slammed it into Waltz's jaw, causing the android to tumble around a bit more.

"Time to get rid of this fire! Ice Impact!" He slammed the ground with his icy fist, watching as the ice froze over the flames...only for the flames to immediately break free, much to his surprise.

"Not enough!?" Omega growled.

Waltz picked himself slowly, grinning at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. "Did you think that would be enough to finish me off? My flames of determination are too strong to be extinguished by your weak willed attacks! HAAAAH!" Waltz swung his sword several times, bombarding Sister and Geno with slashes of flame.

"Shit...!" Sister crossed her arms to prepare to defend. Geno, however, stood in front of her, an emerald shield appearing on his arms. "Geno...!?"

"Ngh...!" Geno grit his teeth, enduring the constant bombardment, but it was clear he wasn't going to last...

"Couchpo!" Mosco turned to the B-Cuber with a serious expression. "This is a dire situation! You have to do the one thing that Sister would kill me for..."

"What's that!?" Couchpo asked frantically. She really wanted to help, but she knew she couldn't get anywhere near that fight without getting hurt, or worse.

"Press the button..." Mosco said.

"NO!" Sister exclaimed from the ring of fire. No matter how desperate the situation was, she couldn't allow that! "We'll get out of this! Don't you dare press that button!"

"Who cares!?" Geno groaned. This was serious!

Couchpo had to weigh her options, but ultimately, she had to press the button. The situation was too dire to avoid a chance of victory. "I'm going to press it...!"

"DON'T!" Sister said desperately, but it was too late. Couchpo pressed the button on Mosco's chest and...

The flames suddenly dispersed, much to Waltz's surprise. Everyone turned to the source of it, only to see an older butler standing in front of the injured Geno and Sister, one hand placed over his chest. "Who...?" Waltz glared.

"I am Cosmo." The man formally known as Mosco, said with a curt bow.

"W-WHAT!?" Geno and Omega's eyes went wide.

"Well...this is interesting!" Waltz said with a twisted grin. "A new challenger has entered the fray!?" He swung his sword at Cosmos, but it was halted by his arm. "Huh?"

"I am not here for pleasantries. You have done something unforgivable...and you have damaged that which belongs to me." He shot Sister a look, and she practically melted on the spot. Geno, Omega, Couchpo, and the dazed Hermit were all confused at what was happening. "I do not take kindly to people who damage my property." In the next instant, he threw his free hand forward, a bolt of lightning colliding against Waltz and throwing him into a wall.

"WHOA!" Geno gasped.

"Holy shit." Omega looked at Sister, who had hearts in her eyes. "This chick is even freakier than I thought."

"GAH..." Waltz pulled himself from the wall, growling at Cosmo. "YOU!" He went to attack again, but a bolt of lightning dropped down on him from above, paralyzing him. One more bolt of lightning was fired, which struck Waltz directly though the chest, causing his body to explode, pieces of him flying in every direction.

"...That was brutal..." Omega blinked.

"Wow..." Couchpo gulped.

"...Is he gone...?" Geno panted. Waltz's remains were scattered all over the bridge, but they weren't moving. Good! "So why didn't we have this kind of power at our side the whole ti-!?" Geno was about to chastise Sister, but...he saw that Cosmos had her bound and struck her with the riding crop, and she was loving it. "..."

"..."

"...What are you waiting for!?" Couchpo exclaimed, pointing to Hermit! "Go save Hermit!"

"Oh, right!" Geno nodded. Even if he couldn't beat Waltz without help, he could save Hermit! "Okay, Hermit! Hang tight, I'm gonna fix you!" Geno took a few steps forward, only for a massive hand to grab his torso and limbs, completely restraining him. "NGH!?"

"GENO!" Suddenly, everyone turned to see that Waltz was still functional. He regenerated his limbs much faster than anyone could have predicted, and now he was squeezing the life out of Geno, a ring of flame blocking all else from interrupting him.

"This android..." Cosmo made sure Sister was safe, but glared on as now it was just Hermit and Geno, trapped in the flames.

"G-Geno...!" Hermit couldn't walk. She could only weakly reach out to him. "Geno...Omega..."

Waltz was crushing the life out of Geno in his arms, grinning as the fused warrior was unable to break free of his grip. "I didn't come this far to be stopped! I'll slaughter you pathetic humans one by one! And then I'll reach Alexei, and finally earn his approval! You're not going to stop me! I'll become the strongest android in the cosmos for the sake of my master!"

"Geno!" Omega exclaimed with a grunt of pain.

"Ngh...I...I can't...going...dark..."

.

.

Geno's eyes opened slowly. Everything around him was pure white. "...Hermit? Omega...? Sister...?" He wandered around for a moment, but he couldn't see anything. "What happened...? Oh...wait. I remember...we were fighting that android and then...I lost..."

"Are you giving up?"

"Huh?" Geno blinked at that familiar voice. He looked around, only to see Sarisse standing in front of him. "S-Sarisse...!"

"Are you giving up, Geno?" Sarisse asked while tilting her head. She wasn't alone...Geno's Father was there as well.

"Dad..." Geno felt his eyes water. "I..." He knew what this meant. He was on the edge and close to meeting them. "I...I wasn't strong enough, was I? I couldn't save either of you. I couldn't save Sister on my own, and I can't save Hermit or Omega! When everyone relies on me, I just...I can't..."

"Hey." Geno's father approached, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't talk like that. You're a brave kid. Even while I've been gone...you've fought so hard for the people around you."

"If it weren't for you, Delta Ridge would've fallen a long time ago." Sarisse said with a soft smile. "You're much stronger than you know, Geno. You have the will to fight. Can't you hear them...?"

"Geno!"

"...I..." Geno looked down.

"Geno..." That softer tone belonged to Hermit. Geno clenched his hands at that one.

"That girl is relying on your right now. You're the only one who can save her. Isn't she important to you?" Sarisse asked softly.

"She's...really important to me." Geno admitted.

"Hahaha! Watch as I crush this savior of yours into nothing!" Waltz gloated to everyone.

"He'll win...his heart is...too strong to be beaten by you..." Hermit said defiantly. That was something that made Geno snapped to attention.

"H-Huh...?" Geno was shocked. "She still believes in me..."

"C'mon, kid..." Omega appeared next to Gen now, his hand on his shoulder. "You should know better than anyone."

"Geno...what is it you want to do?" His father asked.

"I..." Geno looked up at the white void. "...My heart was scarred by the androids that attacked my home. I never thought I'd trust them again. But here I am, fighting side by side with them. They're my friends. If it weren't for Hermit, I don't know where I'd be right now. And Sister...she's a bit much at time, but she means well. I know that now. I want to help them...no...I want to PROTECT them!"

"...Heh...hahahahaha!" Omega started to laugh.

"W-What's so funny...!?" Geno turned to Omega, annoyed at his sudden laughter.

"Y'know, kid? That's the first time you've actually said those words." Omega said with a smile.

"Ah...!" Geno realized it himself. He wanted to protect Hermit. He wanted to protect everyone on the Eden's Zero. He felt his body beginning to glow in the process.

"Kick his ass." Sarisse said with a smile.

"Show them how brightly a Star can shine." Geno's father said gently.

"LET'S GO, KID!"

.

.

The Eden's Zero began to rumble with Geno being the epicenter of the shaking. Everyone was shocked at this suddenly display. Waltz felt himself losing his grip on Geno with each passing second. "W-What is this!? Where is this power coming from!?" Waltz growled.

"I...I'm going to protect her!" Geno roared out with his heart and soul. "JUST YOU WATCH MEEEEEEEEEEE!" There was an explosion of ether coming from Geno, and in that instant, the flames around everything completely froze over. Geno's body shifted, brilliant wings appearing behind him, and his helmet shifted to that of a Pegasus. This was his Overdrive! No... "Star Force: Pegasus!"

"Geno..." Hermit's dull eyes had some life to them as she stared at Geno.

"Whoa! You go!" Sister cheered.

Waltz slid backwards. He glanced at his now frozen ring of flame, and watched it shatter before his very eyes. "I won't be bested by the likes of you!" He drew his flaming sword once more, but Geno flicked his wrist and ice swirled around the weapon, completely freezing it over and shattering it. "H-How...!?"

"I WON'T LOSE TO YOU!" Geno pointed his hand forward, charging ice ether within his palm. "Pegasus Magic!" Icicles formed in the air around Waltz, beginning to bombard and impale him from multiple angles. Waltz was trying to free himself, but he couldn't, and his body was slowly freezing over. "If you won't go down like a normal android, then I'll make sure to exterminate you in one shot!"

"Wait! Stop this! You can't do this!" Waltz begged and pleaded, but Geno wasn't listening to him.

"ELEMENTAL CYCLONE!" Geno darted forward while spinning around, ice, fire, and lightning swirling around his body. He became a rocket, piercing through Waltz's completely frozen body in an instant, completely shattering the android in the process. This time, there was hardly anything for him to come back from, and Geno slid to a halt, taking a few heavy breaths in the process.

"Excellent work." Cosmo gave Geno a respectful boy.

"You did great, Geno! Omega!" Couchpo cheered.

Sister was still bound, but she had a look of approval. "Nice job...but you're not done yet."

"No, I'm not." Geno nodded and looked to Hermit. She was fighting the virus hard, but she was clearly on her last legs.

"I knew...you'd win..." Hermit gave Geno the slightly smile she could muster.

Geno shifted his state into data, and went inside of Hermit's body. Waltz was a distraction, but now that he was dealt with, Geno could finally save Hermit like he wanted. "Hang tight, Hermit. I'm going to save you!"