Episode 27 - Red Saviour
By Scutter
scutter1200@hotmail.com

Being one of the highly fortunate people who has seen the entire series of Teknoman, I always felt sorry for the people who missed the second half. So I thought I'd write the episodes as fics - just as an improvement from the scripts, which can be hard to understand if there's no action going on in between the speaking. I've tried to remain faithful to the real series, but of course, some of the thoughts and actions of the characters are my own interpretation of what's going on.

If you enjoy reading this episode, please let me know. It's a bit of effort to write these (though some fun as well) and I probably won't do any more if people aren't interested.

I don't own the characters of Teknoman, or the script, plot or pretty much anything else in this fic. I do own the fic, though, so keep your hands off! I also own a stapler, but it's broken right now.

And now, for your reading pleasure, Episode 27 - Red Saviour.


The Earth was in a desperate situation. Wave after wave of spidercrabs descended daily from the Space Ring, spreading their evil crop, the Vemonoid spore trees across the planet. Towns were devastated by the invasion, with hardly a scrap of land being seen to remain untouched by the ravaging. And the Space Knights remained strangely absent...

Even the remotest towns weren't spared from the attack, their walls surrounded by the huge red plants. But it was for a different reason that the inhabitants of one town in particular remained in hiding...

Little more than dust dared to wander the streets of Shangli. Wind was the only voice to be heard between the houses. A squeaky door trembled in the wind, fluttering until it, too, was silenced, it's hinges unable to take the strain, as it clattered against the wall and went still.

Then, an unearthly sound broke the awful silence. The unmistakable, cold, almost mechanical clang of a spidercrab filled the air. And somehow, the empty air became thick and heavy.

Hiding in the shadows of an abandoned shop, a small boy gazed at the monster outside, almost as much in awe as in fear of the creature.

"Look!" He whispered urgently. The sight was indeed incredible!

"Rashib, no! Be still." The reprimand was equally as hushed, but the command in it was unmistakable, and the boy went still.

Hushed mutterings passed among the shadows, glimpses of light played over surreptitious movements, until...

"Now!" The cry had barely shattered the silence when an explosion of dust and gravel filled the air... along with the injured screams of the spidercrab.

Unable to contain his excitement any longer, Rashib leapt to his feet. "It worked!"

His grandfather was less easily impressed. "Quickly, to the pit. Hurry," he demanded of the villagers, who cautiously followed, hopeful, but none too eager to face the beast.

Fortunately, luck seemed to be on their side. The spidercrab, immense as it was, was held fast by the sticky resin that filled the pit. It screamed it's anger at the villagers, but they remained impassive, observing the creature with cold, distasteful eyes.

Someone, at least, seemed satisfied. "That should hold it." Moresh allowed just the slightest hint of victoriousness into his voice.

"That is our hope." Kraleb replied, though he remained more cautious than his brother. "The question is for just how long will the beast be held?"

Rashib glared down at the struggling creature. It didn't look so dangerous to him, though he had been warned often enough of their terrible strength... "Why are we using a trap?" He asked impatiently. "Why don't we just destroy the spidercrab, grandfather?"

Mobarak sighed. If only it were that simple... "Our weapons are the reason for this, Rashib," He explained. "These monsters are too strong for mere bullets to harm them. But as long as the creature is trapped here we are safe for a while." Even if just for a while, he reminded himself grimly.

Rashib frowned. "I see." In his young life, he'd never seen anything that could stand up against bullets. These creatures must indeed be powerful, then. How could they possibly be fought? "Then we wait for the Saviour in Red." He quite clearly remembered the tales of the Saviour in Red; all the boys in the village talked about him.

Mobarak turned to his grandson. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"They all talk about the Saviour in Red," Rashib explained, light once again filling his young eyes. "How he can destroy the spidercrabs with help from no one."

"They always tell such stories," Mobarak snapped angrily. "They lie."

"I heard this from someone who saw it with his very own eyes!" Rashib shouted angrily.

Mobarak frowned deeply. Such stories could only lead to more injury, further down the track. "Then this person lied to you, my grandson," He replied firmly. "There is no Saviour in Red or any other colour who can protect us from them. Ever since these monsters came down from the Space-Ring, people have wanted to have a protector, but there is no one. We must ourselves be strong. This is truth, my grandson." It was the only way any of them would survive, to look after themselves.

But Rashib, with the stubbornness of the child he was, would not be swayed. "Yet if there really is a Red Saviour, Grandfather, we wouldn't have to fear the Spidercrabs. The village would be safe." He considered this in his own mind for a moment. "It's true," He concluded, a minute later. "It's as they say. Our saviour is the Teknoman Blade."

Somewhere in the crowd of people, a stranger's ears pricked up. So... word of the Teknoman had reached even this remote place...

"Teknoman Blade?" Mobarak mulled over the strange word. Could it really be... "Rashib this is only a story that you heard somewhere. We are alone. This Teknoman will not save us."

"But Grandfather, what if he truly can?"

Mobarak had had enough of this argument. "Rashib, you must not let daydreams govern your life. We depend only on ourselves. That is the only way we shall survive. Understand?" The boy didn't reply. "I said do you understand, Rashib?"

Rashib sighed, defeated. "Yes, Grandfather."

"Then come along," Mobarak ordered. Now the Spidercrab was dealt with, there was work to be done. "All of you!"

The villagers obediently turned from the awesome beast to follow their leader. "Yes, at once, Affendi."

No one noticed the lone figure who remained at the pit's edge, a cloak shrouding his face from the wind-blown sands. For several long minutes, he stared down at the struggling creature. It was only a matter of time before it broke free, he knew. Only a matter of time...


Over at the power generator's underground shelter, the villagers were busy hauling the concrete cover away. The huge slab fell with a resounding thud.

"Let us see if we still have power," Mobarak ordered.

"At once, Affendi," the generator's operators agreed.

Once the dust settled, the two men ventured into the dim tunnel, flashlights cutting a small path in the darkness.

Fortune was on their side, it seemed, as the dials and switches lit up quickly. "We have power once again, Affendi," they informed their leader.

"Quickly, before we attract more spidercrabs." The villagers dutifully lined up to recharge their portable power-packs.


Later, Mobarak sat with his grandson in the shade of a building, as the last of the villagers recharged their packs. The days were hot, and midday lent itself only to resting and naps. At yet, for all his relaxed appearance, Mobarak was watching very carefully the stranger who sat a little way off from them. "I see you are new to the village, my friend." He ventured, after some thought. "You are not the first, nor will be the last to journey here. All who come here come seeking the power we still have, but since the monsters came we are willing to share.

"Excuse me, sir," Rashib wandered closer to the stranger. "Are you thirsty? Would you like to have a drink?"

"Uh huh." The stranger replied, but as his hand reached out to take the water bottle, the ground shook beneath them, and then the air was filled with the unmistakable scream of a Spidercrab.

"Aaahh! What is that?" Rashib screamed, staggering to keep his footing. "Grandfather! Nothing stops it."

Mobarak stared in horror as the huge creature withstood the barrage of bullets as if they were mere confetti. "If that creature destroys our generator, we can no longer live in the village."

Men were sent flying as huge tentacles whipped through the air. Then the spidercrab spotted the small group beside the building.

"We must run for our lives," Mobarak commanded, as he felt the weight of the beast's gaze. "Hurry, everyone."

Though he ran with them, the strangers thoughts were taking a different path. Run? Run where? There's no way we can out-run this thing on foot...

Rashib, too, was aware of their dire situation, and sent a prayer to who ever might be listening. Please, if the Red Saviour is out there, let him come to us now.

Deciding his time was up, the stranger slide to a halt, and turned to face the Spidercrab. "Keep going. I'll cover you!" he yelled to the villagers.

But Mobarak did not want to leave another man to be killed by this monster, even if he was a stranger. "We cannot do that," he yelled back, also coming to a halt.

The stranger lost what little patience he had with the old man. "Do it anyway!" Then he turned away from the pair. They would have to take their own chances in this.

Mobarak heard the determination in the man's voice, and took his grandson's arm. Maybe he couldn't save everyone... but if he could save Rashib, then the stranger's sacrifice would not be meaningless.

Meanwhile, the cloaked man's attention was fixed firmly on the oncoming spidercrab. "Come on, baby. Yeah! Here I am, Come and get me!"

It was an awesome sight, as they watched from the shadows, seeing one man face up to the giant creature, dodging the powerful claws like a dancer. "Come on, you blue blade special!" He goaded the creature on, alternately firing at it, and running to keep ahead of it.

From his hiding place, Rashib cringed. "Watch out! Please, oh please, let the Red Saviour come to help," he repeated his earlier prayer.

Suddenly, out of the sand and dust, came a fiery ball of blue light. It impacted the spidercrab head on, sending one of the huge claws crashing to the ground as the monster screamed in pain. Then a second blast shot out of the shadows, enveloping the entire creature is a furnace of blue electricity, vaporising it in a cloud of wind and dust.

"He's come," Rashib stated, almost in disbelief. "Finally, it's Blade. Our saviour!" His face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Teknoman's going to save the village!!" Rashib couldn't contain his excitement. "Yaaaay. Red Saviour's come to help us. Grandfather, it's Blade the Teknoman. You see, I said he'd come to help us, and here he is."

They both stared at the tall figure emerging from the dust. But when the air cleared, what they saw was something of a surprise. Before them stood a bulky, blue and white suit. A robust machine, to be sure, but nothing compared to the rumoured invincible Red Saviour.

"Wait. That is not Blade," Rashib muttered, dismayed.

Suddenly, from out of the sky, a voice agreed. "You're right. That's not Blade. Just some pitiful creature dressed up as a Teknoman. It's almost a waste of my powers to use them on such a puny opponent."

Inside his teknosuit, Ringo suppressed a groan. Just when things were looking up, *he* had to show up. He glared up at Axe, calmly taking in the squadron of spidercrabs filling the sky behind the teknoman. "If you fight as well as you talk you might be a challenge, but somehow, I doubt it." This would not be a pretty battle, Ringo knew. But, he thought, as he surveyed the village, what choice did he have? Leave the villagers at the tyrant's mercy? Ah, it was all in a days work, wasn't it?

Rashib's brow furrowed in a look too severe for his young face. "If he's not Blade, he can't win."

Axe smirked beneath his suit. "Look at it this way. At least you have the honour of being destroyed by the greatest Teknoman of them all."

"You'll pardon me if I decline the offer," Ringo threw back, activating his weapons system. He fired several rounds into the air, but only succeeded in pissing off the powerful teknoman, rather than doing any damage.

"Insect. Now you'll see what true power really is. The power of the Tekno-axe." A wall of energy flew from the glowing axe towards Ringo, sending him flying backwards. "Come on, that's all you got?" he taunted. In answer, the next attack came quickly, knocking him off his feet.

Watching from the sidelines, Rashib gasped in concern. This was NOT looking good...

Axe, however, couldn't have liked the sight more. "Where are your pitiful jokes now? Teknoman got your tongue?" He taunted right back at Ringo.

Ringo tried to get to his feet, but failed, the suit having taken a little too much damage for the moment.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" Rashib called from the cover of a building. This man, whoever he may be, was doing all he could to help the village... And Rashib thought it only right that he get some help in return. "He needs help!" He cried, as he saw Ringo fall, and dashed out into the street, slipping from his grandfather's grasp.

"Rashib, come back. Don't go out there!" Mobarak cried desperately.

"What do you think you're doing, kid? Go back!" Ringo yelled. Foolhardy thing to be doing, crazy kid!

Rashib paused in the middle of the street. "No," he replied determinedly. "We are together. And together we will face what is to come." He struggled in Mobarak's grip, as his grandfather tried to wrestle his grandson back to shelter.

"You mean it, don't you." Despite his concern for their safety, Ringo was truly impressed. "You've got a lot of guts, kid, and I appreciate the offer. But this is my fight, not yours," Ringo said firmly, finally regaining his feet.

"But you're not the Red Saviour. What can you do?" Rashib shouted, as he was dragged away from the fight.

"Until this Red Saviour of yours shows up, the only thing I can do. Keep fighting."

"Come meet your doom." Axe called to him from the air.

Cocky as ever, Ringo answered that challenge. "I don't think so."

"What? You still me dare to oppose me?" Axe didn't sound too surprised, instead sending another burst from his teknoaxe towards Ringo... the attack meeting it's mark, knocking Ringo to the ground once more.

Loosing his temper and the laughing teknoman, Ringo sent another round of blasts into the sky. "Laugh this off, Chuckles."

"I'm scared," Axe mocked him.

Suddenly, Ringo found he had a teknoaxe embedded in his chest, as Axe lunged for him. "The game's over, tekno-wimp."

Helplessly lying on the ground, Ringo could only watch as the glowing axe was sent plunging down towards him...

But before the weapon could land, Axe was engulfed in green fire, sent hurtling to the ground some metres from where Ringo lay.

Axe moaned, as he stared at the sky from his prone position. Only one thing could have knocking him about to badly... "It can't be."

Like the proverbial knight in shining armour, a large shadow loomed out of the blazing sun. "But it is," Blade replied calmly, regarding his fallen enemy with disdain. "And so is this." At his command, Pegas went soaring into the sky, both transforming to battle mode as they approached the swarm of spidercrabs.

The villagers watched in awe as Blade and the teknobot raced through the sky, a green streamer of light flying behind them. Spidercrabs were
vaporised as they passed.

"I always loved playing connect the dots." Blade allowed himself just a little fun, as he destroyed the last of the spidercrabs.

Mobarak stared in disbelief as the legion in the sky was destroyed. "Such power, all from just one man," he muttered to himself.

"That is because he is the real Teknoman, Grandfather." Rashib spoke with admiration, though no small helping of awe filling his own voice.

"My grandson, I am sorry for doubting you."

Rashib forgave him easily, though he didn't take his eyes of the spectacle in the sky "You have said, grandfather, living is learning."

"All right Axe, it's time to answer a few questions," Blade declared coldly, finally turning his attention to his most formidable enemy. "I hope I like the answers."

"You're a big talker," Axe sneered. "But I noticed you took your time in getting here."

"Well, I'm here now," Blade brushed off the intended insult, and launching himself at Axe.

Opening the hatch to his shattered teknosuit, Ringo muttered to himself. "I don't believe it." After all this time, after so many months of wondering where he could be... It was hard to believe that Blade was really standing before him now.

The air shook as the two warriors clashed. "I'll never forgive you for what you did to Shara," Blade muttered coldly. Time had not dulled his skills at all, as he and Axe threw everything they had at each other. Wrapping his arm cord around Axe's leg, Blade managed to send the huge mecha tumbling to the ground. And he followed up the move with a swift downward plunge of his lance... only to have Axe counter the attack, and send his fist into Blade's abdomen, severely winding the red warrior.

"Having fun Blade?" Axe taunted from beneath the injured teknoman. "I know I am. And we've only just started." With that, he sent Blade tumbling off him, and leapt back into the sir, boarding his hovercraft as he shot away.

"Come back here Axe!" Blade demanded. "We're not finished!"

"Yes we are, Blade," Axe called back, dismissively. "But don't worry. I'll be back again. You can count on it."

"I'll be waiting," Blade told the empty sky. He was none too steady on his feet yet, but, as in the past, Ringo stepped up behind him with a steadying hand. "Thanks Ringo," Blade acknowledged him, not sure himself whether he was grateful for the support, or the attempt Ringo had made in battle, to save the village.

"I have not ever seen anything like that!" Now they were out of danger, Rashib's enthusiasm was once again uncontainable. "You saved our village. You saved our power. You saved us. This is my grandfather, Mobarak," he introduced the man to the Red Saviour. "He is the leader of our village."

"My grandson," Mobarak smiled, placing his arm around the boy's shoulders.

"The village is safe," Rashib continued. "We thank you, Teknoman."


Later, in a secluded spot outside the village, Ringo smiled at his friend as they shook hands, finally able to have a private word with each other.

"It's good to see you, pal," Ringo said, relief as well as warmth in his voice.

"And you," Blade replied, laconic as always, but genuine in his affections.

Ringo hesitated a moment, unsure as to how to broach the subject of Blade's absence. He was dying of curiosity, but on the other hand, some things were best just left unsaid... "After all these months, we weren't sure any more," he tried. "We didn't know where you'd gone."

"Yeah," Blade agreed ruefully.

Seeing there was no apparent discomfort in his friend, Ringo continued, "None of our contact points got any messages. Why didn't you leave us some word?"

Blade frowned. "The truth is, my friend, I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going. I was lost," he admitted helplessly.

Ringo regarded him in astonishment. "I don't understand. What... What were you so confused about? What happened?"

Blade glared at him. "I lost my family, Ringo." Nothing would let him forget the sound of Shara's voice as she had met her end at Saber's hands... or Saber's cold, callousness as he turned against his younger sister.

Ringo nodded, ashamed of his insensitivity. "I'm sorry, buddy. We all liked her a lot."

Blade was silent for a moment, regarding the ground as he was lost in thought. Then he lifted his head again. "We've got to find a way to get the aliens off this planet." His voice held a determination Ringo had rarely heard from him. "We're the only ones who can ensure the survival of the human race. I've got to destroy Darkon. I've got to get up to the moon."

"In what?" Ringo asked, slightly concerned about his friend's apparent plans.

"Don't you worry about that, Ringo." Blade looked sideways at the blond pilot. "I know where the base is and I know how to get there.

"There are no space ships. They were all destroyed. So you're not planning to fly there," Ringo countered practically.

"Yes, that's exactly what I plan on doing, by redirecting the quantum energy power of a Teknoman crystal. That's why I've been travelling. I need to find another crystal," Blade explained.

"Listen, you're one taco short of a combination plate," Ringo murmured in exasperation.

"You listen, Ringo," Blade snapped back. "The last thing my sister gave me was Darkon's base coordinates."

Ringo decided that now was a god time for a strategic withdrawal. "Sorry Blade. I know how you felt about Shara and I didn't mean any disrespect."

"I know. I know you didn't," Blade apologised.

There was a pause.

"Blade, what are we going to do?" Ringo asked quietly. "What's this planet going to be like?"

"It's going to be better," Blade replied, without the slightest hesitation. "After we rebuild, it's going to be better.

"Hmm." Ringo was decidedly non-committal. "Well, you'll get no argument from me there. No way it could get any worse.

Blade turned to Ringo with impatience. "Ringo, it could be a lot worse."

Ringo almost managed a smile. "Yeah, well, I gotta admit it, you've got a point there all right. After all, we're still alive and kicking aren't we? Somehow I never thought of you as a cock-eyed optimist." Ringo smirked, his usual sense of humour returning quickly.

Blade stared at his friend for a moment, as if considering his words carefully. "Did everyone get out all right?" He asked finally.

Ringo's smirk deepened. "Are you asking about everyone in general?" He
asked teasingly. "Or are you asking about someone in particular?" Blade didn't reply. Ringo smiled a little less teasingly. He may be a prankster, but he was not insensitive. "Come on," he urged quietly. High time his friends got themselves sorted out, in his opinion.


Back at the landcruiser, a less amiable conversation was going on.

Maggie picked up a limp strand of potato, regarding it like it would crawl up her hand and bite her. "What is this," she asked finally, "an ammunition belt or fried potatoes?"

Tina glared at her, and stuck her hands on her hips. Okay, so it looked strange, but it was bound to taste fine! "If you don't like the way I cook why don't you do it next time?" It would serve the bossy technician right!

Maggie held the thing a little further away from herself. "Listen, I'm a mechanic and in my professional opinion, this is beyond repair."

Not to be outdone, Tina bit back, "Oh yeah? What would a grease monkey know about cooking?"

"More than you do, Button Pusher."

Watching from a little way away, Star smiled to herself, as she washed the dishes from dinner. She would admit that sometimes the squabbling got tiring, but tonight, she somehow didn't mind the pointless chatter. It had been a lonely day. Long roads and little company... the sort of day where she had far too much time to think. Thinking about the war, and how far off the rails her life had gotten, and where Blade might be... She mentally scolded herself. Those kind of thoughts only ever made her feel worse. Oh, but how much she longed to hear his voice...

"Is than sink private or can anybody wash dishes?"

Star froze. She would know that voice anywhere... But no, it couldn't be. She was just hearing things... For a moment, she didn't dare turn around. Then curiosity finally got the better of her.

Oh, but he looked almost ethereal, standing there. Star felt she should say something, welcome him back, but an intelligent "uh" was all she was able to manage.

Blade seemed similarly affected. And for a moment, it seemed they would stand there all night. Ringo smiled wryly to himself. Obviously, these two love-birds needed a little extra help. He clapped his hand down on Blade's shoulder. "What are you waiting for?" He asked impatiently, giving his friend a none-too-gentle shove forward.

Blade stumbled, but managed to right himself, his eyes still fixed to Star's face.

Star finally found her voice. "It's good to see you." Mentally she kicked herself. Could she sound any less enthusiastic if she tried? Suddenly, an attack of klutz hit, just at the wrong moment, and she sent one of the mugs she had been washing tumbling to the ground as she stepped toward him. "Oh!" Great, what a terrific way to impress the guy of your dreams...

Tina and Maggie heard the cup clatter to the ground, and paused in their squabbling to look round. Both looked stunned at what they saw.

For once in his life, Blade decided to hell with pride and caution, he was tired of waiting. "You look... beautiful," He fumbled, with touching honesty. "I've been wanting to tell you that. I've been wanting to tell you..." Words failed him, but fortunately, it was enough.

"How much you care?" Star asked, forgetting all about her attempt to stay calm. Her heart was in her throat as she waited for his reply.

Blade nodded. "Uh huh." Not the most eloquent reply, but with his heart racing, making it so very hard to breathe, it would have to do.

Star faltered for a moment. This couldn't just be another dream, could it? She'd dreamt of his return so often, and each time awoken to cold tears and a bigger void in her chest. Then, she decided she didn't care. She just wanted to be as close to him as she could be right now. Tears brimming in her eyes, she ran the last few steps, and threw herself into his arms. "Oh Blade. I care about you too. I care so much."

Blade pulled her close, revelling in the feeling of her arms around him, at last, her warm breath against his neck. "I'm here," He told her emphatically. "I'm here. And I won't ever leave you again."



To be continued... if you want it to be? It's in your hands. Write a review if you care.