The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter XXVII - Regicide

With the death of Leoben, the Advents went insane and the new treaties we had forged between the races of the universe swung into action. They were fragile, they were weak in some cases and predominantly designed to that humans could spread over the universe to ensure our survival, but for most of the galaxy, those treaties became the only thing standing between them and genocide. Some races would have accepted it, but others would have gone down fighting. But they would have gone down. Against the Advents, no matter how crazed, the different in technological levels really was too great.

There are arguments that advocate that sheer will to survive would have meant that some races lived, and I don't deny that some races might have been able to live through the Advent attacks, but they would never have been the same. They would never have risen to space again and living, trapped on your planet back in the proverbial stone age is survival but is not something most accepted. We Terrans had been lucky that way… very lucky in that when the Advents came for us, we already knew of their technology and we could adapt. That is why we survived, no other race would have had that advantage.

They did however, have the advantage of us. For in the time of fighting Aptom became a legend. On Earth to be touched by Aptom is to be considered infected, though Maxwell made use of that infection with great skill but for alien races, those who were touched by Aptom became known as the elite fighters, revered because their power was capable of holding off the Advents and what troops they had. Aptom did try to deny the inevitable, his actions with the Jrae provide a great example but not even he is capable of ignoring the universe. He's not absorbed them back. At the time he could not, now he could but now because of the fickleness of life had does not have that choice. I think he saw it coming, I think he knew what would happen but I find it ironic that something we had feared for so long became something the universe craved. But like all other addictions, this one ran its course and became considered a curse.

A curse most races had begged for.

But that is an issue for today, not what happened. What happened now is sorrow. Most seemed innocent enough though we were coming to the culmination of the Tekki's plan but others seemed to have gone insane and they struck out while others paid the cost. And as I have said previously, everything began happening at once, because once the spark was lit, there was no way to stop it. It may sound self serving to say that we would have stepped aside, and in this I can only speak for a few, but we would have. If there was a way, we would have stepped aside, but others such as the Tekki, Tyan, Imakarum, the Advents… they were all set on their path and we either had to agree or fight…

And as the universe knew Terrans have never been the most agreeable of races.

"I never thought I'd meet another Artarmon."

'Nyataran was slightly startled when the other occupant of the room spoke with surprisingly little venom. "That makes two of us," he replied easily, keeping his voice soft and pleasant.

"Just a pity it's like this."

"That's true…" The Tekki's Gigantic Guyver Healer could not help the note of sadness that entered his voice.

"But you won't let me go." The other one was still almost playful.

"I can't," 'Nyataran answered with a wry gesture.

"I thought as much… Oh well."

"You are remarkably relaxed about this…"

"We've seen the death of our race, this is hardly such a big deal. Besides, your Master isn't going to kill me," the other Artarmon shrugged and 'Nyataran realised that they truly were completely at ease.

"That's true."

"Now who's blasé?"

"Heh… You came along rather easily."

"I am a Gigantic Guyver Healer, who will take service with the Guyver Lord Warrior Agito Makishima. Against your Master, the Guyver Lord Warrior Heborae, and the Gigantic Guyver Warriors Iythry and Tallowa, what was I meant to do?" The question carried the same wry note that had previously laced 'Nyataran's voice.

"When you put it like that, I see."

"So… what did you want to talk about?"

There was a long pause. "I don't know… Just… I knew I had to come talk to you once I heard there was another Artarmon." The knowledge that there was another Artarmon alive, someone else who had survived the slaughter of the Advents had driven him. 'Nyataran had never spoken to any of the followers of The One, unless you counted Fukamachi but that was because his Master had told him to, so he was slightly nervous about being here. The rest - Iythra, Vesna, Forrinimi and Sylyn - 'Nyataran had kept himself strictly separate from them. But he had to come this time… An Artarmon, one of his own kind, one who knew the pain he felt… He had to talk to them.

"I can understand that. The Advents were very thorough… I thought… I thought it was a mistake that I survived."

"It's no mistake. As thorough as they were, they couldn't have gotten us all… Just that…" 'Nyataran didn't know really how to say the rest. After so many years he should be resigned to it, but he wasn't. The death of your people was not something you really became used to, it was more something you learned to put aside.

"The populations that were left were not viable. I know. I've been through that pain as well," the other Artarmon paused. "So, if we are going to do this, what's your name?"

'Nyataran paused before taking a deep breath and looking up. "Bithrinyataran," he said softly. "And what do you mean, do this?"

"Talk," the other said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I'm Olsynamantra."

"After this is over… Do you think we can…?"

"Be friends? Remain in touch?" The other Artarmon, Olsynamantra took on the same faraway look. "I don't see why not."

"What if it's Agito who my Master kills?"

"Then it is Agito who your Master kills. But while I will take service with him when he calls, I am not a mindless slave. I think we both know how worthless eternal hatred is."

"Yes, I guess we do." They had gone through the same emotions it seemed. Eternal hatred is probably what they had both sworn towards the Advents only to find that hatred withered away, dimmed as the years went on and the reality of the situation set in. They were alone, completely alone and no amount of hate would change that.

"But you know, I don't think it's Agito," Olsynamantra said easily, almost lightly with the lilt of laughter in their tone.

"Oh?"

"I've never met him. I don't know him but I know he is the Guyver Lord I must serve when he calls. Why would I know his name, his attributes if he was not a Guyver Lord? Thus I don't think he is the One."

The explanation made sense, but it did not cover everything that was Agito. 'Nyataran knew things Olsynamantra did not. "Yet he has called forth that power before."

"I don't know about that. I just know what I feel." A typical Artarmon response when they could not argue, but felt that they were still right.

"I don't know whether to hope if you are right or wrong."

"Hmm?" There was genuine curiosity in Olsynamantra's simple question.

'Nyataran sighed deeply. It was a fair question and easily answered, though the consequences would be worse. "One of the alternatives… If it's him, that will hurt my Master a lot more."

"Your Master is going to be hurt either way," the phrase was said as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.

"What do you mean?" 'Nyataran was confused.

"No matter who it is, they won't go down easily," again there was a lilt of laughter in Olsynamantra's voice.

"You don't think they will go down at all."

"I am loyal to them," the other Artarmon said sardonically, "and not even for the sake of another Artarmon can I wish that they will go down."

"Yet you say we can still be friends afterwards." There had been no hesitation in that earlier offer and 'Nyataran clung to the words. Surely there would be at least a little hatred there when his Master killed The One…. Bithrinyataran knew he'd feel it… The death of the man who had given him purpose, who had saved him… oh yes, he'd hate, at least for a while the one who did it.

"Of course we can," Olsynamantra's voice was airy but did not purvey the slightest trace of doubt. "I do not agree with this battle but whether you or I like it, we are a part of it but this is not our battle. I can let go of it, can you? If you can't then when this is over, no matter the outcome, then it's great to know that there is another Artarmon alive but I will go my own way."

"No…" The Tekki's Gigantic Healer was thoughtful. "You are right. He will be hurt. I just hope it's not too much." There was no thought of his Master losing. His Master could not lose this battle, would not lose this battle, not when so much was invested in it. He was right, even if Olsynamantra didn't agree, The One was the Guyver's one mistake yet only the Tekki was strong enough to change it. But 'Nyataran was honest, while his Master was strong, he should not underestimate his foe… His Master did not underestimate the power of The One, nor of the Terrans and he was prepared. The Artarmon smiled… Injured… yes, that was a very likely outcome… Injured but victorious.

"We all bear the pain of the consequences of our actions… Even Terrans." There was something hidden in Olsynamantra's tone but 'Nyataran didn't know what and before he could enquire further there was a bleep from his side.

Looking down he saw the lights flashing on a little device he carried. The pattern told him what was up and he smiled. His lab tests were finished and now needed him to come and see them. "I have to go," 'Nyataran said gently.

"What are you testing?" Olsynamantra asked curiously.

Bithrinyataran chuckled. "The Universe has just seen the race that the Advents replaced the Monomeeth with and then they saw that race rebel against their Masters. They are now seeing what the Advents are like when they are out of control… so what do you think I'm testing?"

"Ah… Terrans… the current species of interest."

"Indeed."

"It will be very interesting to see what happens next," Olsynamantra mused. "Will they take the place of the Advents or can they do better, be more than their creators?"

"They will be more," the Tekki's Healer said with certainty earning him a look of surprise from the other Artarmon.

"Are you saying that because your Master is Terran or because you know something?"

"Your Master is Terran as well."

"No," Olsynamantra was sharp. "Agito is not my Master. That is the difference between those of us who are loyal to The One and those who are loyal to your Master. I will take service with Agito, but he will never be my Master, just as The One will not be my Master. I am my own Master, no one else."

"We can argue that next time," 'Nyataran said with a smile. There were many forms of service but if Olsynamantra thought that Agito would accept anything less than full service, then the other Artarmon had a lot to learn.

Hosida looked around nervously. He had been on this planet before and the experience had not been one he cared to repeat, but for his species, for their continued survival he had returned. At least this time he wasn't in chains, though he was still uncomfortable. He wasn't even sure why he had suggested this to the High Commission but he had, and after a very short debate they had agreed it may be worth pursuing.

They, the Jraewy already had an agreement with the Terrans and it was helping, just as the mutual defence treaties were helping all over the galaxy but it was not enough. Each race was working together to drive off the Advents, all because that was the price of Terran assistance. Hosida could see the irony even if he didn't appreciate it. The one race so many had tried subjugating… or would have tried, was now the race that saved them. Hosida could also see though, that once this crisis past, the universe would turn to the Terrans for guidance. They were building their empire on the blood of everyone else.

Yet humans were dying as well. He could not forget that, not when they were also the cause of the problems… No, they weren't. Darn his consciousness which refused to blame them entirely. The fault lay with the Advents, the humans were just doing what they could to survive. Just as everyone was.

Which was why Hosida was here. For the Jraewy, with their naturally low bio-energy, fighting was difficult. They had no Guyvers, they had only their technology, which the Terrans had enhanced quite a bit but their death rates were too high. They needed more help. And as sickened as Hosida had been to remember what had transpired on this planet, the planet the humans called Merrimu, he had remembered. He had remembered the way Ealsanav had screamed, he remembered the dispassionate way the humans had watched, but mostly he remembered the cocky smile that had graced Aptom's face and the quiet surety of the man the Hyper Zoanoid called master in everything but name. And so that's why he stood now, with humans coming and going around him as they decided what to do, and he waited.

They'd announced their approach to the planet, and what they wanted and now the humans just had to decide, though Hosida was also honest enough with himself to admit that the look of surprise that had graced the human's features had been universal.

The Terrans had kept them, the Jraewy, honest by such a simple thing, kidnapping their High Commissioner. The threat that Aptom had made was nothing. Most Jraewy didn't know what it meant, and Hosida didn't think the High Commission believed them… but he knew and so did the other survivors, they knew what had happened, they knew the stakes and what the real threat was… though most didn't like to think about it.

It had made him sick at first. He'd been unable to sleep for months after, just thinking about what it would feel like to have the alien invading his body, invading his mind, invading him until he no longer existed. What would that pain be like; that exquisite pain of having your entire DNA over written while you could do nothing to stop it? Morbidly, at first, Hosida had wondered what it would be like but as the months had passed, and the Terrans had kept their word, and had even interacted more with the Universe with the Kyheenans always close, he had relaxed. He had begun to see that the Zoanoid Aptom was honourable, he would not carry out his threat unless he felt it necessary and Hosida had drawn strength even from the memory of the Terran's surety.

And yet here he was, asking for the threat to be carried out. Aptom's whispered words, those spoken in the High Commission were echoing through Hosida's mind. "You can select a new Commissioner but once I infect your race, can you select a new species?" Oh yes, Aptom had been confident and Hosida could still remember the smirk that had laced the human's voice. It should not be possible, but those whispered words were the truth, he'd known that then, he knew that now. And now he wanted Aptom to deliberately infect their race, so that they could fight.

He only hoped the infection that was Aptom could be controlled, otherwise there was little point. Hosida knew his people, they were not so noble as to sacrifice themselves so that the universe's other races could live. That was not an option.

A woman entered the room and Hosida wasn't adept enough to read her expression. He thought she looked mildly impressed but he wasn't sure.

"So let me get this straight," she said, sitting down comfortably. Her Jrae was pretty good all things considered and he knew then that she was a Guyver. Only they could learn their language so quickly. But unlike the others she wasn't as obvious about it. "You want us to call Aptom back here so that you can ask him to deliberately infect your species so that you can fight the Advents?"

"That's about right," Hosida said with a nod.

"And if I do that, what makes you think I'll stop at those who volunteer?" A new voice asked.

It was a voice Hosida knew very well. It whispered to him in nightmares, and haunted his every waking moment. And somehow it was behind him.

"Aptom," the woman's voice was not concerned. "That's not a very nice way to greet our guest."

"Guest?" The Zoanoid questioned. "Since when have those who attacked been considered our guests?"

"Since they announced themselves and their desires to our patrols and have complied with our every demand," the woman replied gently, not intimidated by the zoanoid in the slightest.

Hosida was impressed, but he supposed other humans would know what Aptom was like and so could be more challenging to his face. But still a being who could absorb others… there was no reason he couldn't absorb his own species.

"Natsuki," Aptom growled.

"What?"

"You are entertaining this notion?"

"I'm entertaining the tactical implications."

Aptom appeared to deliberately take a deep breath before he replied "There are already so many copies of myself in the universe that I doubt I will ever be able to absorb them all back. I couldn't sustain that amount of mass and you want me to make more?"

"Well, I don't," Natsuki replied demurely.

"Doesn't matter," the scarred man dismissed the difference negligently. "Once I take someone over they can't ever go back to what they were."

"I am aware of this."

"I don't think he is."

Hosida watched the conversation. They almost appeared to have forgotten he was here and really the information was interesting.

"Aptom," Hosida recognised the name but knew by the way that the woman, Natsuki pronounced it that she had just changed languages on him. "How many copies do you have?" she asked.

"I'm not entirely sure," Aptom answered honestly. "I just know that Maxwell has been making copies and I have seeded a few planets… sparingly I assure you. But more that's more copies than I would like to have."

"But they remain loyal to you?" Natsuki objected.

"They do, but you're smart Natsuki. They are all me, they are all independent. Do you think they have to?"

"What?!"

"I can control them, and as the original, they can't subjugate me, but if they run amok, I can't always stop them remotely. And why the hell am I even telling you this?"

"Probably because I already know most of it," Natsuki replied matter of factly. "I go on the shuttle run, Aptom. I know what Maxwell has been doing, even better than Samuel and Rodriguez. I can't say that I approve of his solutions but I don't judge him. I'm not in Maxwell's situation. I'm aware of the problems that can arise with your clones which is why I'm here, talking to you or rather, talking to Hosida before you decided to show up. Given what happened last time with the Jraewy, is it even worth considering this request?"

Aptom snorted. He remembered. He remembered the primeval group mind the Jraewy possessed and he knew what that meant, even better than Natsuki did. But she was right, did that change this request? Was it even possible for him to take over that many Jrae? Actually that was something they should have considered. Aptom looked away from Natsuki to spear Hosida with a glare, changing back from Terran to Jrae. "You do know that I might not be able to do it?"

"Why not? You didn't give Ealsanav a choice. The ones who volunteer know what will happen... As much as we can explain it anyway."

"Not that," Aptom sighed. As he had thought, the Jraewy hadn't detected the problems he'd had absorbing their companion. With a small flash of malice he allowed his voice to change, becoming Ealsanav's as he addressed Hosida. "The process you saw wasn't the usual one."

Hosida's eyes opened wide at the new voice speaking to him from the fearfully familiar visage. He gulped and tried to school his features back into something neutral but he was pretty sure he failed.

"I fought back," Aptom continued using Ealsanav's voice. If the Jrae wanted this, and if it was even possible, they had to understand what it really meant. He would know everything about their race because he could be their race. "But I didn't do it consciously. How could I? I didn't even know what was going on. All those ribbons, you remember them? That was my liquid body and his liquid body fighting it out. Our mental presences vying for dominance, but that wasn't me. That was us. We Jrae are connected, always connected and that was our race fighting back.

"And you saw how well that went," Aptom switched back to his own voice with the last sentence, giving Hosida the same superior smile he had given him in the High Commission.

The alien closed his eyes briefly in a gesture that was strangely human and Natsuki and Aptom could see that he was gathering his thoughts. "I do not want to be here," Hosida said softly. "I am very much aware of the risks of what we ask… unlike my Government. They see you as a weapon, Aptom, nothing more. They don't truly realise what it means. They don't realise that if we allow you to infect us, within a decade, shorter probably there won't be any Jrae, because we will all be Aptom. But what they do realise and what I know, is that if we don't find some way of fighting against the Advents, within a year, there won't be any Jrae!

You Terrans have never faced the extinction of your race. You've faced the death of all you knew, but not true extinction. Yet facing what you did, you tried everything you could. Facing extinction can you blame us for attempting everything we can?"

For a moment Natsuki and Aptom were silent before Natsuki sighed. "This is not a matter of blame," she said, motioning the Hyper Zoanoid beside her to silence. He would be too forceful here. "I'm surprised your race even conceived of the idea. Not because I think you are stupid, far from it but because it is a potential solution so far outside the bounds of your experiences that it shouldn't have been something you considered. Your race seeks technological solutions, Aptom is a biological one."

At that the Zoanoid snorted softly.

"That is not what concerns us though," Natsuki continued, ignoring her companion. "What concerns us is the effects this will have on both your people and on Aptom. Do you truly sit there and think he is an unfeeling automaton? A machine that will do your bidding? You know that's not true, but I'm not sure if your Government knows that. And what of your people? They see this as a possible solution. Do they know that their loved ones will be aware until the end of time but trapped? Unable to speak, unable to think, unable to live?

"Do you truly wish to condemn some of your race to that? To the fate we consigned Ealsanav too?"

"I don't!" Hosida snapped angrily. "I have no choice here. My Government ordered me here, so I am here."

"Yet who suggested the possibility to them?" Natsuki asked, the sharp tone of her voice giving evidence to the fact that she already knew the answer.

"I did," the Jraewy replied without so much as missing a beat. "I do not know if this is the way forward but I had to do something to atone for my failures."

"What failures?"

"I'm meant to be dead! Anyone of my rank who did not go down with their ship is a failure."

"Natsuki," Aptom said softly, his inflections gentle. "Leave it be," he added before she could begin to argue with Hosida about the morality of his words. The Jraewy had their own set of standards and Hosida had violated them. The Zoanoid knew that because he knew what Ealsanav knew and their code was strict. Fair but strict. Usually Hosida would have been cast aside, but with the events in the universe, this mission had come up and he had a chance not usually given to a Jraewy, the chance to atone.

"But…"

"Leave it," Aptom repeated, his eyes watching Hosida as the Jrae watched them both in return.

"All right," Natsuki sighed, obviously reluctant to let the matter go. "But what are we going to do about this?"

Aptom snorted with a half-smile as he realised a far simpler solution to the Jraewy problem. "Hosida," he said formally. "Despite Jrae objections, your race has fulfilled and continues to fulfil your obligations under the treaty your Government signed with us. Your request for additional aide is just and in my opinion, warranted. However, I will not infect your species."

"But…" This time it was Hosida's turn to object.

"I offer instead an alternative."

"What?" The word was sharp though the sarcasm that might have laced a human voice was absent. Hosida was genuinely interested in hearing about any alternatives.

"I will not accede to your Government's request that I infect and therefore create soldiers from Jraewy tissue, however I propose that we sweep Jrae space, all of it, for Advent presence and where we find Advent presence we will destroy it."

For a moment Hosida was stunned, thinking about the firepower required to do that, then he remembered that Aptom was a Guyver and that these were Terrans. That amount of firepower was what they considered normal. But they couldn't do what Aptom had just proposed. No one could do that. The space was simply too vast. "You can't," the objection left his mouth before he truly thought about it.

"Of course I can."

"You can't cover that much territory," Hosida clarified his objection.

"Not by myself I can't, but I never said I would do it alone."

"Huh?"

"We will clear out the Advents, which will give you a breather. And by that time I doubt the Advents will be interested in you further. They are about to be brought under control."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do."

"Not everything obeys your will," Hosida said abruptly.

"On this, they do," Aptom replied with that mocking smirk he had used on the Jraewy so long ago.

The alien fell silent and Natsuki and Aptom could both see that he was thinking. He didn't look comfortable but then the entire situation was abnormal. At length, Hosida spoke again. "All right," his voice was soft. "That is not the solution my Government wants, but it is a solution I like better. I do not want you anywhere near our race but if I want to have a race then we need to do something." The Jraewy looked up. "When can you start?"

Aptom laughed, the sound genuinely amused. "In about three hours," he replied. "Once I convince either Agito or Shō that it's in their interests."

"Take Agito," Natsuki said suddenly, switching to Terran as she added an explanation. "He wants to rule, so tell him that helping his subjects is a good way to gather support if he doesn't see it already."

The Hyper Zoanoid snorted. If Natsuki was saying that, then Tetsuro and Agito had no doubt come to some sort of deal for the future. It didn't matter to him. As always he would follow the path he wanted and if anyone got in his way, that was their problem, not his. "Natsuki, can you deal with the rest?"

"Of course," she replied to Aptom's question and as anticipated the Hyper Zoanoid summoned his armour and vanished an instant later, leaving a slightly confused Jraewy staring at the position he had been standing. The display of power that had effectively been the Jraewy's defeat was no doubt startling but it was not her concern. "Hosida," Natsuki said softly, "Would you like to see your High Commissioner?"

"I don't have the rank," the alien broke out of his reverie.

Natsuki smiled and winked conspiratorially at him. "Neither do I."

"Sir..?" 'Nyataran said softly so as not to startle his Master.

Tsuyosa was sitting quietly, as he was prone to. Since the destruction of the Elder Advent Leoben he had been rather pensive. The Artarmon didn't think it was regret or fear. He seemed almost preoccupied or meditative. It was sensible. 'Nyataran didn't even want to think how long his Master had been devoted to his causes. And now both were nearly at their ending. It was… If it made 'Nyataran feel awed, he could barely understand what his Master must be feeling. "What is it?"

"The tests are complete."

"And what are the results?"

"You are related to Fukamachi Shō… Though it's very distant."

"After so many generations that's to be expected."

"I can't even say he's a direct descendant but you share some unique DNA tags. From what Shō told me, if I had to speculate, I'd say that it's your genes that result in what he called Lost Numbers."

"What were they?" Tsuyosa sounded genuinely interested.

"Chronos processed their soldiers into Zoanoids, but there were some they could not properly transform. Some died but some became unique Zoanoids but they were unique in that they could not be copied."

"That would make Aptom related to me as well."

"It would," 'Nyataran said with a chuckle. "I'd guess you are the progenitor to anything from 1 to about 5% of humans. Without knowing how many failures Chronos had, I can't really say. It could be as low as 0.1%. The traits are recessive, probably because humans were designed to be Zoanoids, while you were designed to be something else. Shō has them from both his Mother and Father."

"It doesn't matter," Tsuyosa dismissed the speculation. "Though it does explain a few things," he added with a smile. "Thank you for looking into it for me."

"It was my pleasure."

"Have you deleted your findings?"

"I've deleted all the research. The results are still on the system. Yisuvac helped destroy the data chips."

"Good. It would not do for someone who does not understand to get a hold of your studies."

"Those were my feelings as well."

Tsuyosa looked towards the darkened ceiling. It was quiet in his room, it was always quiet but lately the silence seemed to be deeper and the shadows darker. He was nearly at the end of his journey and what happened after… that was unknown. That's why he thought the shadows were darker, because soon everything would be unknown to him. After knowing, in a general sort of way what was to come, the thought of the unknown was exhilarating. He'd take a few more jabs at the Advents, but for the most part, the alliances the Terrans had forged through the aliens of the universe were sufficient. The Advents would soon be facing a choice to either fight to the death or to learn to live with the rest of the Universe. With the Terran Advents most likely taking control of the others the choice was rather obvious and the black Guyver Lord felt that his battle with them was over. He'd at least killed the one responsible for Alkanphel's pain.

It was the battle to come that now consumed his thoughts. Tsuyosa had every confidence in his ability to fight and win but he was not about to underestimate the Guyver Emperor. His memories from the future were nothing to be laughed at. While the Guyvers had made a mistake with creating the position and the power, they had chosen someone who could use that power and he respected that. No matter what, he did respect the Guyver Emperor but that did not change his beliefs and feelings on the matter.

"How are we going with the Guyvers?"

While it did not look like the black Guyver Lord was paying attention, he did detect the flash of guilt that crossed his Healers face. "And is there something you should be telling me?" There was the hint of amusement in Tsuyosa's tone.

'Nyataran gulped before he started. "With the exception of those Guyvers with the Terrans, we have captured every Gigantic Guyver and Guyver Lord."

"And?" The question was leading despite being the single word.

"And one of them is an Artarmon. I'm sorry, Master, but I have spoken to them."

Tsuyosa laughed, the sound carefree. He waved one hand disregarding his Healer's concerns. "I'd be more surprised if you hadn't spoken to a fellow survivor. Do I have to attend to any of them?"

"Sylyn and Ramus don't know about their power yet. The Healers seem to be more accepting."

"It does seem to be that way. I wonder what that says about the Guyvers?"

"My Lord?"

"Nothing 'Nyataran. It's just interesting that the Healers seem to have embraced their power while the others have held back. Doesn't it suggest which type of Guyver Unit is the most in tune with their hosts?"

"My Lord, I am somewhat biased this sort of discussion."

"I know. I'll attend to those two tomorrow. How did the Kyheenan's take it?" Tsuyosa asked suddenly.

"Gilroyd is your Engineer. He is loyal."

"Not Gilroyd, the Kyheenans? I was present to capture your fellow Artarmon but I wasn't needed for the Kyheenans. How are the rest of the Kyheenan forces taking our aggression?"

"Ah," 'Nyataran understood the question now. "They aren't exactly caring right at the moment."

"Oh?" the black Guyver Warrior was surprised. The Kyheenan's had been accepting when Gilroyd had left and when he had taken Ceruta but taking others by force should have caused some outcry.

"They are having successional problems."

Tsuyosa frowned. "I thought their current Emperor was fairly robust."

"He was until his son stuck a knife in his back."

"Oh, that explains it. I suppose Tyan had more ambition than sense."

"I can talk to Ceruta if you wish?"

"No, it doesn't concern us any further. And I need to focus on what is to come. Do we know where the Terran's safe planet is?"

'Nyataran smirked. "Which one?"

"The one that has their Guyvers on it," the black Guyver Lord Warrior clarified with a small smile.

"Yes," his Healer confirmed, "though the current location of their scouting party is not completely known. We are fairly sure we know what area of space they are in though."

"That's enough," Tsuyosa replied. "They will act to protect each other so finding them will be simple."

"Do you want to go now?"

"No," the Tekki Leader said gently. "I'll see to Sylyn and Ramus first. Then, I think we will need a plan to take the Terrans."

"And it's taken everyone else long enough to realise that."

"Yes, after the battle with Leoben, I think they finally begin to see what is to come. But I won't wait too long. Yisuvac is finished, the testing is done, so there is no reason to pause."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Don't regret," 'Nyataran began gently. "I know what is to come will be painful and that the other Terrans won't agree with you but in time they will see that it was the right course of action. It will hurt them as well but I know how hard hatred is to sustain. It cannot keep you forever. It might take a while… it will take a while but I know that in time you will be able to talk to them, to interact, to possibly even call them friends."

"One of them will never forgive me, because I will kill them."

"Even the dead do not hate forever," 'Nyataran reassured his Master.

"We will see."

Tarnsi wrapped her tail around herself as she sniffed. The Officers were gathered around her but they could do nothing to give her comfort. They had had bad news from their home world before but this was nothing anyone had ever expected. She didn't know what to do. They didn't know what to do. She had always known that she would outlive her Father. It was the way of children to outlive their parents, but she never thought that her Father would be assassinated. Of all the Kyheenans he was meant to be the most well protected…

But that hadn't saved him.

And what was worse was that it was not an enemy blade or gun that had brought him down.

It was her Brother, his son!

And Tyan now expected Kyheen to obey him as the new Emperor.

She wasn't naïve. She knew her history. It wasn't always obvious but it was not unheard of for the Kyheenan Throne to be taken through Patricide. The difference was, none of the Princes in the past had ever been caught with the knife. Tyan had not only been caught with the knife but had been caught in the act. No matter what he desired now, he could not be the Emperor, the people would never follow him because they knew the truth and no matter his rank, no matter that he had been the Heir Apparent, it was still illegal for him to kill the Emperor.

So that made her the Empress. Her rank had already been altered in the communication bearing the news. It did not say ibs Kyheen but rather ib Kyheen. Regardless of how she felt, the Court had decided.

"Tarnsi," one of the humans spoke and she glanced over to see them gathered slightly aside from the grieving Kyheenans, though they also looked sad. It was Fukamachi who had spoken. "You have to go," he added.

"How can I go?" she whispered the reply.

"Makishima is still clearing Jrae space, but he'd tell you the same. He is the Emperor of Earth so he knows how the people, Terrans or Kyheenans need to see their leaders at such times. Your people need to see you," Shō said, his voice firm with his argument.

It was true. She knew that. They needed to see her. They… Kyheenan needed her to be strong. But… She didn't want to do it. All she wanted to do was curl up and cry… yet she wasn't being allowed and there was a small note in Fukamachi's voice which spoke to her subconscious and she knew he would not let her wallow in her grief. Whether she liked it or not, he would see to it that she did the right thing for her people. He wouldn't make such a bad Emperor himself.

"All right," she whispered slowly uncurling and wiping her eyes. Uryal'ng moved to steady her but paused when he realised her new position. With a regretful smile Tarnsi reached out to him, touching his forearm. In the space of a minute their relationship had just altered significantly but she needed the Commander to remain her friend. She needed that now more than ever… and perhaps she needed him to be more than her friend… but that would have to wait.

"Uryal'ng va Kyheen, in the absence of Crown Presence, as ib Kyheen I hereby grant you the authority to act in the interest of Kyheen. Please provide the Terrans with any aide they may need, and provide any assistance or information you feel may be beneficial. Should further alterations to our existing treaty or opportunities arise, you are authorised to act as you see fit. I will sign off on any action you take once the present crisis is passed." Tarnsi kept her voice firm as she made the announcement, her first official act as Empress. If she didn't think about her grief, and she didn't think about what it meant, she could make these proclamations.

"I don't know if I will be back," Tarnsi added, giving the crew a small smile. "Thank you for taking such good care of me."

"Empress," Shō said formally. "I'll teleport you."

"I can do it myself."

"Not like that you can't," Guyver I said lightly though his voice showed his sympathy.

She looked down at her hand to see it was shaking.

"I'll take you and stay as long as needed." :Sorry, Mizuki,: Shō added telepathically to his beloved.

:It's okay. Tarnsi needs this and politically speaking, we need to do this as well, to reaffirm our allegiance with the Kyheenan's.:

:When did you become so politically astute?:

:It's not politically astute,: Mizuki objected. :It's more I know what she's feeling.. She needs someone she can trust right now. And the Kyheenan's won't let an alien be near their Empress unless they are already known. They know you, so it will be fine.:

:All right. I'll be back as soon as I can.:

:Don't rush things,: Mizuki warned. :Just do what needs to be done. We will be fine here.:

:You might want to decide what we do next,: Shō suggested. :With the Advents very soon to be brought under control, where do we go now?:

:That's easy,: Mizuki said with a laugh! :Back to Earth!:

:You want to live on Earth?: Shō said with a little surprise.

:I don't care,: she replied. :So long as we are together, I don't care.:

:We'll talk about it later,: Shō said with a mental smile towards Mizuki as Tarnsi finished her instructions to the crew. With a mental summons he called his Guyver Unit and a Gigantic Unit before he knelt down and held out one hand towards the new Kyheenan Empress.

Uryal'ng smiled as he saw the gesture. He had been in that situation before and it reminded him of the time Shō had taken him to see Xenif… And that thought brought a new onslaught of grief. What was Tyan thinking? What did he hope to gain? What could he gain? The Kyheenan Commander did not know but could do nothing but watch as his Empress reached out her hand to take Fukamachi's blue armoured hand and the two of them vanished.

Tarnsi wasn't sure what she had expected when she appeared on Kyheen. Seeing two red clothed guards behind her brother, their ceremonial scimitars drawn and held at his neck was not on the list though. And from the way they were holding them, they had every intention of using those swords if her brother so much as breathed out of turn. Her sudden appearance, with the Gigantic Guyver Warrior Fukamachi at her back did nothing to ease tensions.

"ib Kyeen!" Several of the guards cried out, which brought silence to the court.

"I am here," Tarnsi said as she stepped away from Fukamachi. There were certain rituals that had to be observed to ensure succession went smoothly. The people would be comforted by them, even if they meant nothing to her. She ignored the way Tyan glared at her. It appeared he respected his own skin enough to hold his tongue for now, though she could see, by the wild look in his eyes that he wanted to be screaming at her, screaming for his rights.

Shō stepped back, sensing that the Kyheenan's needed this time for themselves and the court parted to allow him to melt into the background, as much as he could as a Gigantic Guyver anyway. He was not about to dismiss his armour until he knew that Tarnsi would be safe. This way he could protect her.

Tarnsi looked up wards and said the final words that would confirm her as the Empress. "I hear Kyheen. I hear the call." And in that instant she almost did hear Kyheen but she wasn't sure if it was just her heart crying. "I will serve."

There was a collective sigh of relief from the court. While females were guarded and treasured on Kyheen, they could hold rank equal to anyone, including Empress so once Tyan had been caught succession was not in issue… Just… Tarnsi had not been expected to inherit and so there was doubt as to if she would even want the throne. The fact that she said the words was a relief and clarified the situation immensely. No one had been looking forward to the possible succession war, especially with the universe at war.

Tarnsi closed her eyes briefly before she turned and mounted the dais to take the throne. Her first duty was clear even before all the rest of the ceremony's that would be required, she had to … attend to her brother. "Tyan."

Once she had entered the guard on her brother had doubled and the swords had not been retracted. They were lifted slightly now so that the other two guards could drag her brother forward. They dumped him back to the floor a good distance from the dais and the scimitars were returned to their previous position. The guards may have failed to protect her father, but they would not make the same mistake.

"Tyan," she repeated. The rest of the court was silent.

"What?" Her brother's voice was harsh… insane.

"Why?"

"Because he was wrong. Because we must follow the Tekki if we want to survive, not the Terrans." There was little logic in Tyan's shouts.

"Do you feel the weight of the universe against you?"

"There is nothing against me."

"There is everything against you, and you can't even feel it. I grieve for our Father, Kyheen grieves but we are not the only ones. Can't you feel it? The universe is sad."

"The universe feels nothing. It does not care."

"It does. It feels a grief so powerful it's almost not sure what to do with it, and despite my own sadness, that makes me glad. The Universe loved our Father."

"You're insane!" Tyan screamed at the almost serene look on his sister's face.

The rest of the court had no idea what was happening, but they could see that their new Empress was relaxed and even if her words made no sense, she believed them and they drew strength from her presence.

"Tyan, why?" Tarnsi asked again.

"Because if we want to survive, we need to follow the Tekki, only they have experience in fighting the Advents! Not this new race, these Terrans who would drag us down with them. And the Tekki will only treat with me," the last was said smugly.

"What have you done?" Tarnsi whispered, her voice shocked. What deals had he made with the black Guyver Warrior that no one knew about?

"Nothing, yet, but when he hears, when he knows that I am the rightful ruler of Kyheen, just as he planned, he will come, and he will treat with me."

The scimitars resting at Tyan's throat twitched and Tarnsi well understood the reaction. Her brother might be insane but if he was speaking the truth then had the Tekki known? Had he planned this?

"Then that stupid Ceruta would not go through with it, changed his mind, told me not to worry, that the Tekki had my back if needed. And then he goes and attacks like an idiot, revealing himself. All for what?" Tyan continued and belatedly most of the court remembered to listen. "He said he'd changed his mind. He said it didn't matter because the Terrans were here, because they had made the deal… but I knew… I knew what it was. It was test! I had to show him that I was strong, that I would go through with this, that I knew what I wanted."

:Oh, Tarnsi… I am sorry,: Shō sent to the grieving Kyheenan Empress. He had no idea that their presence here would cause this.

:It's not your fault,: she replied automatically and the instant she said the words she knew it was true. It was not the human's fault. They might have been the trigger but it was not their fault. They had not given Tyan delusions… Ceruta obviously had said something… and maybe the Tekki but she didn't really know. They hadn't killed her Father, so no matter what they had said or implied… it wasn't down to them either. It was all down to her Brother.

"Your Majesty," one of her Father's… no, they were her Advisors now, stepped forward. "While you were absent, the Tekki did visit us. He was quite emphatic that the alliance between us and the Terran's should go ahead. That is why Ceruta is no longer with us."

:He did say that… and then he took Ceruta with him,: Shō confirmed and Tarnsi remembered the time. The orders had been relayed through to the Kasd'n Goa and she had heard from Mizuki, Aptom and Tetsuro what had happened but they had obviously left out some of the details.

"It was a test," her brother shouted. "He would not abandon me!"

:What am I going to do with my Brother?: Tarnsi's mental voice was distressed and Shō could feel the depth of her confusion. He didn't have a brother or sister, but he well knew what she was facing. He hadn't had a choice in the matter, but he had had to deal with the grief of murdering his Father. Tarnsi now had to choose her Brother's fate. In many ways that would be harder.

:You have a few choices,: Shō said to her gently. No doubt she already knew these and he didn't know which were permitted under Kyheenan Law. :There is no doubt that it was his hand that killed your Father but you can also see that he is insane. You can confine him to quarters, a house arrest for the rest of his life. He'll still be dangerous though, and will still be trying for what he thinks is his right. You can exile him, either to some backwater planet in Kyheen territory or to somewhere outside of your territory but again that is dangerous. He could gather followers. While the court seems happy enough with you as their Empress, there will always be dissenters who will think that he was on the right path. That may only be a handful, but a handful can be dangerous. Or…:

:Or?:

:Or you can execute him,: Shō said softly, amazed that he was even voicing the option. There were times when you had to fight, but this was not a fight, this would be murder… Yet there were also times when perhaps it was called for and this would not be murder, but justice… :In many ways, that is the safest option. The act of betrayal starts and ends with him.:

:Kyheenan's don't kill each…: Tarnsi's voice fell away as she realised how lost her logic was.

:In normal society, perhaps not,: Shō agreed gently. :But those scimitars your guards carry are not for wounding. You may not kill but others do. I will take the burden if you wish?:

:No!: Tarnsi almost screamed. Shō could not sully his white hands… huh…. White? Shō's hands were not white but that is the image that had flashed through her mind. He could not sully his hands with Tyan's blood, no matter how much easier that would be on Kyheen. Then any who supported Tyan could blame the Terran. No, this had to be taken care of by Kyheen. :If it is to be that, Kyheen will attend to it.:

:I understand.:

Tarnsi looked at her brother almost sadly. Most in the Court could only read the outer layer of her expression, the soft sad regret. They did not see the turmoil beneath the surface. This one decision, this would define her reign, as allying with the Terrans, bowing to them would now come to define her Father's. "Tyan, do you truly not feel it?"

"Feel what? Your insane insistence that the Universe is against me?"

"You do not understand, my Brother and I see now that you will never understand. Unfortunately I don't think many will but they should take the effort," Tarnsi looked upwards towards the vaulted ceiling of the Throne Room. It hadn't changed for centuries, allowing the natural light of Kyheen to filter into their heart of power and if the Kyheenans had their way, the design would not change for centuries more. They held on to the traditions of the past, but they could adapt and she was proud of her race for that ability. "In one thousand years' time, Tyan, Kyheen will look back on this time, they will look back on what we experienced, and while they will be awed at the changes we faced, the challenges we met, they will see your actions, they will see the death and they too will mourn for the loss of a leader of vision. I can only hope I can stand in our Father's place and see half as well as he did."

"What are you blathering about?" Tyan ranted, ignoring the way the Court glared at him.

With a slight shift, Tarnsi looked back down at her Brother, her entire demeanour changing. "The entire universe is undergoing change at the moment, Tyan. Where destiny did not exist, it is now running, where the future was clouded, it is becoming clear. Everything we knew had changed, all the norms are gone and you killed the one man who could see where we should go."

"I did not! Because he was wrong!"

"Our Father was right, more right than he will ever know, more right that most will ever give him credit for. I can feel it," Tarnsi retaliated and while her voice was soft, even her Brother felt the conviction in her words. "There are powers out there now my Brother, who can control the universe, who can control everything in the universe," she gestured roughly up towards the ceiling, trying to encompass the universe. "Those powers don't impose their will very often, but if you listen, if you feel, you can know what it is. There's something screaming at you now, deep inside, telling you that you have made a mistake. Don't deny it Tyan, I know you must be hearing it, just you are not paying attention to it and for that, you have my sympathy.

"But I cannot, and will not forgive you, because the universe mourns."

"So what are you going to do?" Perhaps the reality of the situation was beginning to sink in. "You can't kill me."

"Don't you get it Tyan?" Tarnsi asked, her voice cold. "I don't have to kill you. All I have to do is leave you here and the people will kill you."

"They won't. Unlike the murderous Terrans, Kyheenans do not kill…" Tyan trailed off at the look in his sister's eyes. It was a look he had never seen there, a fire burning deep within her.

"There is one situation where the death of another Kyheenan may be ordered. Our Grandfather considered it. Our Father thought he had raised us well enough that he would never consider it. I thought he had raised us well enough that it was not an option, yet here I am, finding it the only choice I have but comforted by the fact that the Universe agrees."

"The universe, or your precious Guyvers?" Tyan spat. "I know you Sister. I know you are not loyal to Kyheen. You haven't been since you got that Unit. You have hidden it well but you have always been loyal to it. And nothing has changed. The Terrans accused the Guyver Corps of being loyal to others. The Tekki has taken some of our Corp for whatever purpose and no one cares, no one sees, but I do. I know. You are not loyal to Kyheen Sister, you are loyal to them, to whatever power they have. And it does not matter what you do to me, that will always be true."

For long moments Tarnsi was silent and the Court shifted nervously. They may not trust Tyan but his words had a certain amount of truth to them and with their Empress' silence, that truth grew. Finally she spoke and the court hung on her words while beneath his armour Shō smiled. "My brother, do you know of the being the Tekki hunts?"

Tyan seemed confused. Most of the universe knew of the being the Tekki hunted. The black Guyver Lord Warrior had made no secret of his wars, though his quest to destroy 'the Guyver's one mistake' was not something most understood. "I only know what's said," he eventually replied, bringing nods from the Court. Most of them only knew what was said.

"It might seem arrogant to you then when I say, I know more. I know the power they will wield, I know the universe waits for them and I can feel the ideals they hold. I know that I will oppose the Tekki in his battle. I may not win, but I will not go without a fight, I will not stand with him as he attempts to destroy a power that has a place in this universe, just like all the others.

"I know that the Guyver's did not make a mistake."

At her words the court became silent again. Most had no idea what was meant, most didn't care, so long as their little games and privileges went undisturbed, but all could hear the power in their Empress' voice, her conviction. Even Tyan could hear it.

"Then you will doom us," the former Heir said.

Tarnsi actually chuckled. "No, I won't. You are misguided if you think the Tekki will destroy Kyheen for my belief. He may destroy me, but he does not care about our race. I do care for our race though, my brother, that is why I am here, and why I have already re-confirmed Kyheenan commitment to our allegiance with the Terrans."

"No!"

"Silence!" Tarnsi commanded her brother before he could begin ranting. "It is done, and it was witnessed. Your attempt to disrupt our alliance will not work. Our Father wanted this, and I will honour his choice."

"You would put us with the humans, who cannot even fight."

"I would put us with those who have already won. My brother, you are sadly misinformed. The Terrans have freed their home world, they opened the path to destroy the ancient Advent Leader and they have provided the Advents with new Leaders, new hope that they can live in this universe with all our races. They have provided forces to most races to drive off Advent incursions and even now they are sweeping through Jrae space destroying any disruptive elements.

"The one we know as Aptom has provided the key and many races have accepted his gift so that they can fight. No, my Brother, our Father was right, our path lies with the Terrans."

"I will never agree."

"It is not your decision to make."

"And what of your path?"

The Kyheenan Empress smiled. "My path lies with the one the Tekki calls a mistake, but I will provide for Kyheen. I will give her an Emperor to rule beside me and strong heirs to follow, but while I will serve Kyheen, I will also serve the Universe, in the name of the One who could control it all but who chooses not to."

"So you are not loyal to Kyheen!" Tyan said it as a victory cry.

"I am. I will always be loyal to Kyheen but I am also a Guyver. You know as well as I do my Brother, that I was given my Unit to save my life, and it has. What no one knew was that it comes with its own responsibilities. I would be less of an Empress if I denied those.

"The one the Tekki calls a mistake, is not a mistake, though the power is almost beyond comprehension! I am angry with you Tyan, and a part of that anger is my own, but a part of it is theirs. They are so angry because they, the Guyver's Emperor did not want our Father, Xenif ib Kyheen to die."

"Humph! What does it matter? They aren't Kyheen, whatever they are, their opinion is not my concern."

"You don't understand. It is the reason the Tekki feels they are a mistake. The Guyver Emperor potentially has a say in everything but because they recognise that the Universe should be free to choose its own path they do not often express that opinion. It is for our own unity they hold back. The Universe listens to them. The Advents created something far greater than themselves when they made the Units, and that was not their intention." For a moment Tarnsi closed her eyes, allowing all her eyelids to slide closed to give her an illusion of peace before she opened them again, to look directly at her brother. All this discussion was nice, but it was not what she was here for and she could not waste further time.

The court saw the change and were comforted though there was much they did not understand. They knew well enough that the issue of Tyan had to be dealt with now.

"Tyan is Kyheen," Tarnsi began formally and even her brother heard the change in her words and looked at her more carefully. For a moment he saw not his sister but the woman who was Empress and in that instant he knew fear before his logic clouded his judgement once more. His sister had not used the pronoun that banished him. She did not have the courage to execute him. "Your crimes are abhorrent to Kyheen. To have ambition is a good thing, to commit regicide and patricide in its cause is not.

"From this day forward you are hereby banished from Kyheen and all our territories until the star burns out on the world of our birth. Yet you are still my brother and you are still a member of the Poeuh Dynasty and as the Head of our Family, I cannot over look your crimes. By the ancient law, in sight of witnesses I hereby pronounce your death. Your execution shall be dawn tomorrow so that our honour may be restored. Goodbye, my brother. May the next life grant you peace."

"No!" Tyan screamed as the guards took his arms. "You can't do that!" He continued to rant as they dragged him out and the court looked on in stunned silence.

They had been expecting to hear their Empress pronounce Tyan's execution but they had not expected this and many looked upon Tarnsi with new eyes, assessing the woman they had thought to be soft. With the one order she had shown herself to be anything but and the courage it revealed gave them pause for the future. If Tarnsi could be as wise as her Father, then Kyheen had a very bright future. If she was just reckless courage then … Then eventually she would make a mistake and they would all pay for it.

:Tarnsi,: Shō said gently. :I don't understand.:

Without looking over at him she replied and somehow Shō knew Tarnsi was comforted by his presence. :It hinges on the title I gave him,: she said her mental voice controlled almost to the point of fragility. :By naming him Tyan is Kyheen, I kept him a part of our family even while I banished him from Kyheenan Territory. And what that means is that notification is going out to all my family and our retainers to gather at our ancestral home where for tonight Tyan will be held. With his banishing, my brother is dead to Kyheen, and tomorrow at dawn, as the Head of the Poeuh Family, I will execute him so that he is dead to us as well.:

:What? You have to…?:

:I am the Head of the Family,: Tarnsi said gently, comforted by Shō's outrage. :It must be my hand or I forfeit the right to rule.:

:I understand,: Shō said and he could see the logic behind the system. :Is there anything I can do to help?:

Tarnsi was silent, though it was only for a moment and the court hadn't even noticed her silent communication with the Gigantic Guyver Warrior who was standing on the outskirts. :Just… stay with me please.:

:Of course,: Shō replied without even thinking and he blushed slightly at the mental smile the Kyheenan Empress flashed him.

Later that night, Shō didn't really care how many traditions he broke when he teleported into the Empress' bedroom. Tarnsi was restless and her mixed thoughts were keeping him awake.

"No one ever said it was easy," Guyver I said so that she knew he was there.

With a startled yelp, Tarnsi turned and saw that her friend was standing in one of the darkened corners of the room, his armour dismissed for the moment though how he had managed to get in silently she did not know and did not care. Instead she clung to the words. "Said what was easy?"

"Killing," Shō replied simply.

"That is why as the Leader of our House, I have to do it myself."

"Oh, I understand that," Fukamachi said waving one hand to dismiss that concern. "But it's not just the fact that it's your brother is it? This is the first time you will have to deliberately kill."

Tarnsi looked down and then moved to a chair, to sit carefully. She curled her tail over her feet and looked down at her hands which seemed to be wringing each other. "This won't be the first time I've killed. I've killed Zoanoids in that fight where I first met you. I've killed other beings who were attacking…" she trailed off.

"But this is the first time you will kill when it's not in self-defence."

The Kyheenan Empress gulped hard and nodded.

"And this is your brother, someone you grew up with, someone you know intimately," Shō added needlessly.

Tarnsi nodded again.

"I've killed, you know," Shō said.

"You've always killed in self-defence," Tarnsi dismissed his words.

"Mostly, but not always."

"The time in the tournament does not count," the Kyheenan Empress clarified, remembering how Shō had killed the Mangoran with a single blow.

"I'm not even thinking of that," Shō said, looking down. "On Earth. I've killed there."

"What happened?" Tarnsi was interested but a part of her wondered if she was wanting Shō to speak so that she had something to distract her.

For a few moments Shō was silent before he moved to another chair. If anyone came in, it would look like the two of them were simply chatting, though the guards at the door had most certainly not let him in. "When I first got the Unit, I had no idea what it was, or what it did. You must understand, that at that time, we Terrans were confined to our own planet, we had no idea we were designed to be the Advent's soldiers, that our race had even been bioengineered. We thought we had evolved… We thought a lot of things that don't matter… I didn't know about Chronos, I didn't know about Zoanoids or anything…. And then I was thrust into the middle of a fight against them. It was a fight we lost too… But on the day I got the Unit, that was the first time I killed. It wasn't the last though and while most of the time I killed Zoanoids who were attacking me, they were still human, they still had families waiting for them. Especially after Zoanoids became public. But I did not always kill in defence… There were times when I had to kill to pre-empt or for some other reason that probably wasn't as important as I thought it was at the time.

"But through all of that, what really shocked me was how easy it was. It should be harder to end a life, but it wasn't."

"I know," Tarnsi said. "And your race is one of the hardest to kill."

After taking a deep breath Shō continued. "Now I know I was at war, and even if it was a war we lost, and even though I wasn't prepared, I know now that I had to kill then. I could be classed as a soldier, even if I don't think of myself that way… But while I remember those I killed, and I have for the most part forgiven myself… there is one death… I have not forgiven myself for. I don't think I ever will."

"Who?"

"My Father," Shō whispered, ignoring the pulse from his Unit denying his guilt. He might not have been aware of his actions, it might have been his Unit in control but it was still his hand that had killed his Father. He had forgiven his Unit for it as well… but somehow he could not yet fully let go of the guilt he felt.

Tarnsi was silent for a very long time, her breathing shallow. Shō could sense the way she was looking at him, shocked. She truly did not know what to say but eventually she stuttered and ultimately got the question out. "How?"

"Chronos," the brown haired Terran said simply. "I can't explain without a long story but my Father had been changed into a Zoanoid designed to kill Guyvers and he had disabled me… but not my Unit. My Unit responded to the threat and I woke up, crying over what remained of my Father's arm."

The Kyheenan Empress hissed as she continued to focus on her breathing. She could feel the sorrow lacing Fukamachi's voice and knew that he still grieved. "How do you…?" Tarnsi couldn't finish the sentence.

"How do I live with myself?" Shō asked, almost quizzically and smiled ironically when the Kyheenan nodded solemnly. "You learn to move on. You learn that there was no choice and that you can't change the past." Fukamachi let the words sink in before he continued. "I'm not suggesting that you spare your brother. On many levels you made the right choice and I won't second guess that because it was not my choice to make. All I can do is confirm part of what you already know but I can give you hope…

"It will hurt, you know that," Shō said a gentle smile on his face as he looked over to the Guyver Engineer who had become the Kyheenan Empress. "But the pain will lessen over time and I would hold on to the memory of your Brother… not as he is now… not for what he has done, but rather to the boy you grew up with, to the Brother who no doubt chased you through the palace, who played with you when you were younger." Shō didn't know everything about Kyheenan society but there were some things he figured were safe enough to assume had happened between Brother and Sister and childhood play was one of them.

Tarnsi gave a flash of a smile as she no doubt remembered something from her childhood.

"In the future, think of those memories and for tomorrow, banish them," Shō said seriously. "And for now, get some sleep. I'll watch over you tonight."

"Thank you."

"Just rest. You are going to need to be strong tomorrow."

The sequence of events I tell is true and looking back, unless you lived it, I can see how people become confused. So much happened at once, and so much had been always happening, ticking away in the back ground, that you forgot about them until the time came to act. Copies of Aptom did not just instantaneously appear in the universe, the process was slow, though as more copies appeared it did accelerate. The original copies came from Earth, those troops Maxwell had made. They burst into the Universe like a gift from on high and most of the races were entranced by that option. They created other copies, under similar guidelines to those Maxwell had established and the process was well entrenched on some planets before we even became aware of it.

There's a turning point on these things, and we had passed the point of no return. Most accepted it as a gift and I do not know if it was the reason so many survived. I'd like to think so but I cannot know for sure. Maybe it accounted for the speed of the Advent defeat, though Eternity and Mirai's contributions there cannot be overlooked. In the end, I don't know and I'm not like my Brother, I won't calculate the possibilities.

We did not have much choice in the matter because our attention was taken up by other things. The survival of other species against the Advents was something we were interested in, but it's been said by some races that for us Terrans such battles were mundane and that we were involved in the higher war. I don't like to think of it as that. I prefer to think that we were involved simply in a different war.

Terran survival had been ensured, and Terran treaties were ensuring the survival of the other races. But with the war of the Advents raging yet destined to end with the emergence of Aptom troops and Eternity and Mirai creating control in the chaos, the war of the Guyvers became the only thing we could focus on.

The Tekki had his plans and unbeknownst to us, Alkanphel had one last strike to make.

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