The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter XXVIII – Hostility

The disposition of the Aptoms throughout the Universe is a problem for now. I'd say it was human nature to blame the ones responsible but that trait is also shared by aliens. They blamed us, forgetting that it was they who had been screaming for Aptom's touch to protect them. I believe they would have turned on us but for one fact: Aptom is loyal to Aptom and then his own species. The aliens of the Universe had no troops to fight with because they'd all been given to the Zoanoid and so when they tried to attack the human settlements that had been established in their territory, their commanders found it was their own throats that got cut.

There were a few exceptions to this of course. Our close relationship with the Kyheenan's ensured we worked together instead of playing the blame game. Alkard has more influence with the Corang-Wesodin alliance than he gives himself credit for and we were clear on that front as well and surprisingly the Jrae never blamed us but then, they had never been infected as badly as other races. Despite the help we had given them, a few Jrae had become Aptom. They actually took the smartest solution and executed those few using overwhelming force. Aptom was philosophical about it.

What happened now was something we should have seen coming, but it was something that took us by surprise. You come to see those who you talk to, those who you have fought beside as your friends. I should have known that friends can become enemies overnight. You'd think with what I had lived through prior, what we had all lived through we'd have been better prepared. But the stab of betrayal, that hurt in your heart, that never changes, never dulls. The pain only varies with the amount you trusted.

At this time, I have the small, vindictive comfort that the Emperor also felt that stab of betrayal. The Rebellion may never have trusted Imakarum Mirabilis, but he did. We should have better guarded against the possibility of a Zoalord attack but with the Advents relinquishing their control over their Zoanoid warriors, and Eternity and Mirai taking up the reigns of Leadership, we naively assumed that any Zoalord suddenly finding themselves with free will again would have been so thankful for that, that they would simply re-join humanity. I think that might have happened for a few, if Imakarum had not been there.

I can speculate on what might have been, but I cannot change what happened. And what happened is that the focus of battle shifted. Humanity could survive now, humanity would survive now and the logistics of returning to Earth were beginning to be felt. But before we could do that, there were a few loose ends to tie up.

Betrayal can take many forms. But what we saw on Merrimu took the truest, simplest form. Some say it was Alkanphel's last strike, and that was the rational provided but I'm not as ready to blame the supreme Zoalord. Betrayal is a choice and no matter how you look at it, it was not Alkanphel's hand that struck. We were caught up in the betrayal of Alkanphel's Hand, and while some were grievously injured and many killed, that betrayal did not strike those of us from the Rebellion as badly as the betrayal that followed. Friendship is a fragile thing, it needs to be grown and nurtured. It requires love and attention but if it doesn't get those for a while, it doesn't always die, it just becomes dormant but friendship can also be pruned at the stem. When that happens, you are best to apply the herbicide then because nothing can save that friendship.

Samuel looked up at the sky. The dawn was just beginning to break and it was cold but he didn't care. If the air was just right on Merrimu when the sun rose, he could almost believe he was on Earth. The sky took on the exact shade of blue and the cold smell of ice seemed familiar. He missed Earth. With everything that had happened he wasn't the only one but he missed Earth more than he ever thought possible.

Natsuki has spoken to him, not unkindly but he still smiled at the way she had phrased it. He had a galactic case of home sickness.

The others seemed to be adapting just fine. There were times when they missed Earth but they didn't seem to pine for the planet. He knew he was pining, he knew others had noted that and they had tried to keep him involved, tried to keep him busy so that he didn't feel his desires as sharply but what they had made here was strong, it didn't really need much supervision. Hayami who had been so over worked in the beginning, doing his best to control the weather patterns slightly could even relax now. They couldn't control the planet… no they'd adapted to the planet, made their shelters stronger, more heat containing and so the Ice Zoanoid was now mostly acting as a Healer to anyone still stupid enough to get frost bite.

Which I might, Samuel thought sillily as he turned to watch the sun rise. Not even the earliest risers usually ventured out until the sun was well above the horizon, though most business was conducted in the long rounded halls they had built. It wasn't as if they were living in the arctic, but it was definitely the sub-arctic. It was like this all the time. Merrimu did not have seasons like Earth and the cold became draining.

It wasn't draining him though… It was his desire for Earth. He could have volunteered to take Maxwell's position but in his heart Samuel knew Maxwell had been the man for that job. And just look at what he had done! He had freed Earth without their assistance! Sure it involved copious numbers of Aptoms, but he had done it! He had done what they all desired. And he would be rightfully remembered as a hero for that.

And in the same time what had he done? Rescued a few stray humans…

Samuel sighed and he dismissed the thought. There was no point in attempting to make himself feel jealous. He wasn't jealous of Maxwell. He hadn't taken up the cause against Agito Makishima because he wanted fame, he'd taken it up because he wanted what was right. And then even that had gone wrong and the Emperor had forced him to become a spy. Yet he didn't always resent that. Maybe some part of him wanted the easier path then…

But all of him wanted to go home.

He was so lost in introspection that he only noticed that the rising sun was not the only light on the horizon until it was too late. Fire! And fire on a planet like Merrimu was never a good thing. Samuel began running towards the settlement, even as he rummaged through his clothes for his radio. The settlements were spaced out so that fire could destroy one, but would not spread to the others. Each of the little settlements spread like satellites around the main settlement though some were getting big enough to be independent.

"Base!" Samuel shouted as he found his radio, and brought it out from the protective warmth of his clothes. "Base!"

"'morning Commander," the radio tech finally responded. Why hadn't it been them calling him? They had monitors now for fire in all the settlements, monitors that were meant to be watched all the time!

"We've got a fire," Samuel said testily.

There was a brief pause and the former Rebel Leader could imagine the radio tech looking over to the monitoring board. "There's nothing on the board," they replied.

"Well the board's wrong. There's a major fire in," Samuel paused as he took in his surroundings, trying to work out which settlement it was. There were so many of them now, all bearing names from Earth. "Tallahassee," he finally identified it.

"Sir, there is nothing going on in Tallahassee at the moment. The board is dead and we are pulling up the visuals now."

"Your board is wrong," he repeated, continuing to run. Even if there wasn't much he could do, and Samuel was realistic about his abilities, he was not a Guyver, he was not even a Zoanoid, so there was little he could do but raise the alarm and help anyone he found milling about. Humans were good at that… very good at that… milling aimlessly. Savagely he shook his head coming up on the bluff that signalled the settlement's depression. Each little settlement was sunk into what were termed the 'craters' to provide them with cover from the wind. Snow fall was turned into drinking water in a system that had been designed by some ingenious engineer so that the settlements didn't get smothered by Merrimu's strong snow falls. The system worked surprisingly well, but it did create a bowl like structure that reflected the light upwards. And right now, Tallahassee Settlement looked much like a lake of fire and Samuel could feel the heat from it, long before he made the bluff.

"Oh my god!" the radio tech finally replied. "Sending everyone now, Sir!" In the distance Samuel heard the start of a droning blare of sirens and his radio clicked out as the tech moved on to other matters.

"Well, well, well…"

It was the tone of the voice that made the hairs on the back of Samuel's neck rise. There shouldn't be someone else here. Or there should only be survivors.

But this wasn't a survivor. Samuel knew that and he vaguely recognised the voice. This was someone else…

"Zektoll," the name dropped from his mouth as he turned and saw the beetle black Zoalord illuminated by the fire. The Advent created Zoalord had come up behind him, silently and now was hovering just above the ground regarding Samuel with shining eyes as the light flickered over him, making the dark shape hard to focus on in the clearing dawn light.

"It's so nice to be known," there was a smug note in the Zoalord's voice and Samuel did not miss the hint of satisfaction.

"What do you want?"

While expressions were hard to see on any zoaform's face, Zektoll managed to look amused. "I want what I have always wanted – Aptom's head on a plate! But since you miserable humans have made that somewhat impossible, allowing him to copy without care, I'm not likely to get that… But there are consolations."

"Consolations?" Samuel knew he didn't want to know, but he couldn't help asking.

"Of course! If I can't have Aptom, I'll just take what he holds dear!" The Zoalord laughed.

Samuel frowned… What Aptom held dear? Did Aptom hold anything close to himself? "I don't… I don't understand."

"Oh, you will." This time it was a more familiar voice that spoke but as agony erupted in his chest Samuel didn't recognise it. He looked down to see a pink smeared shaft emerging from the right side of his chest and around it he could feel blood spreading over his skin. It felt strangely warm and it steamed and bubbled.

Ineffectually Samuel raised his hands to touch it, but the shaft disappeared and he collapsed to the ground, turning slightly as he instinctively controlled his fall, one hand remaining on his wound, the other dropping beside him. The drop shook his insides in a way Samuel knew could not be good and he could feel warmth rising in his lungs. He looked up at the other being who had come up behind him and blinked. The voice was familiar but the form… he did not know them.

They were a white zoaform and it had to be a Zoalord with sharply glowing white blue eyes… The form almost looked like Alkanphel but the colours were wrong and around the Zoalord, pressed into his body, Samuel could see a myriad of crystals. Experienced eyes could tell that they weren't just focusing crystals, they were Zoalord crystals. Twelve Zoalord crystals… Samuel had no idea what that would mean but it could not be good.

"I am sorry Samuel," and the former Rebel Leader could tell that the Zoalord was anything but sorry. Whoever they were, they were making conversation simply for the sake of it. "I had hoped that you would live to see Earth again but you have come across us a mite too early."

Zektoll snorted, and Samuel gulped, tasting blood.

"But perhaps you can be of some use," the white Zoalord continued, bending slightly and hooking clawed fingers into Samuel's clothes to haul him up to dangle from a shockingly strong grip. "Raise the alarm," the Zoalord instructed, the expressionless plates of his eyes narrowing somewhat. "They know about the fire… tell them about us."

There was a note of compulsion in the Zoalord's voice that Samuel felt himself respond to. He was not a Zoanoid, but he had the potential to be one and he'd never had that potential removed… but it should not be possible that mere potential responded to a Zoalord's voice yet he found himself moving weakly, moving one hand to paw at his radio until he got a grip on it. His blood was slick all over it. "Base…" Samuel eventually managed to whisper the word.

"Help is nearly there, Sir," the radio tech replied with satisfying speed.

"Don't send them…" He gasped before giving a cry as the Zoalord skewed him again, tsking lightly.

"Sir?"

The Zoalord had not withdrawn his spine and Samuel narrowed his eyes, gathering himself. He was going to die but while the Zoalord had instructed him to raise the alarm, even without the compulsion in the white Zoalord's voice Samuel would have tried to tell the base. He had too. "Don't send them," he repeated. "Argh!" The Zoalord punched another spine forward.

"I had almost forgotten he was a Rebel Leader," Zektoll commented calmly as his companion raised his free hand and rested one of his claws on Samuel's forehead.

With blood making his lungs heavy and his vision dimming, Samuel raised his eyes to meet the plate eyes of the Zoalord holding him. He shifted the radio slightly and swallowed so that his voice would be strong. "There are enemy Zoalords here," he said clearly into the radio and as the claw sank through bone Samuel smiled, not even feeling it as he saw Earth in his mind's eye and died.

"Heh," Zektoll laughed. "Do you think they will realise?"

"They will soon enough," his companion said, jerking his head towards the sky where 'copters were coming into view.

"I'll go give them a bit more encouragement," Zektoll said, spreading his wings. As a Zoalord he was capable of flight without wings, but he liked the feel of the morning sun on the membranes.

The white Zoalord let Samuel's body fall as he turned and looked up towards the fading stars. As he had predicted Zektoll would be a suitable distraction and all he needed to do was wait for his true target.

"Come to me," he whispered into the morning air so gently that his breath did not frost, "so that I might fulfil Lord Alkanphel's final orders. Come to me Guyver Emperor."

Imakarum looked up as Zektoll took out several of the 'copters that were coming to the rescue of whatever settlement they had attacked. The loss of life was regrettable but necessary and with Zektoll making sure that some of the 'copters saw him before they managed to escape, the news would no doubt be very shortly relayed to the human Guyvers.

That's all he really wanted.

While Alkanphel had been clear on his final orders, he had not provided extensive explanations on how they might be carried out. Imakarum had determined that himself reconstructing what he knew of power from discussions he had had with his creator. He had been Alkanphel's guard, keeper… and friend. It could be argued that Hamilicar Balkus knew more but despite what the Supreme Zoalord had shared with Chronos' Head Scientist, the man had not shared Alkanphel's dreams and memories in the way Imakarum had.

He had seen what he had to do when mediating on the future in the presence of the Tekki.

He had to recreate Alkanphel's Circle of Twelve within himself. He'd originally thought that he might be able to use the other Zoalord's as a distraction while he fought the Guyver Emperor but that was not the case. He needed them, needed their crystals, the focus and symbol of their powers to combine into himself.

It had to be fate. By the time Mirabilis had seen the path to fulfil Lord Alkanphel's final orders, of the twelve Zoalords Chronos had created, only six remained alive, including himself. Imakarum had gone after them first. They had fought him. They resented their servitude to the Advents but they wanted to live just as much as any being. Edward had understood though, right at the end and had told him as Alkanphel's Hand to succeed. And then he had gone after the Zoalords created by the Advents.

Of the nine new Zoalords they had created, two had been removed, leaving seven crystals for him to use. That's why Zektoll was still alive. He had six of Alkanphel's crystals and six new crystals from the Advents. They were currently embedded in his body, slowly merging into one.

He had thought to wait until the process was complete but Tsuyosa was moving too fast. And so to protect Alkanphel's friend Mirabilis had come here, using Zektoll as a distraction to call the Terran Guyvers to him. He would destroy the Guyver Emperor before they could fight Tsuyosa.

While genetically engineered loyalty was not part of the Guyvers, they did respond to certain things. Tsuyosa had shown him that. Gigantics tended to obey Guyver Lords, and while he had not seen it, the same should hold true of all Guyvers towards their Emperor. They did not have to obey, just they would tend to. A Gigantic would hesitate in attacking a Lord, and a Lord would hesitate in attacking the Emperor so he would, if necessary, become that Emperor.

He didn't have a Unit, he couldn't actually become the Guyver Emperor but what he could do would be enough. Guyvers weren't meant to attack other Guyvers. They'd first seen the hesitation from Fukamachi when he faced the fake Guyver Aptom. Much of that was due to surprise, and that's how Chronos had documented it, but Imakarum now knew it was also a deeper response and he'd seen it duplicated in the universe. Some, like Tsuyosa, did not feel the pull of that order much, but Tsuyosa was a Guyver Lord, he was the one giving orders, not taking them and that most likely accounted for his ability to attack other Guyvers with impunity. But some of his followers were not so unencumbered and Imakarum had watched. He had seen their hesitation, slight though it may be and he knew that it would be enough.

He only needed a chance to strike. And this would give him that chance. All he needed to do was wait.

The instant the news came through that it was Zoanoids attacking Tallahassee Natsuki sent her thoughts towards Hayami. They might both be Guyver Healers but they could handle Zoanoids. Merrimu could handle Zoanoids simply by weight of numbers. Despite efforts, very successful efforts to spread humanity through the universe, one of the largest concentrations of non-Advent loyal Zoanoids was on Merrimu. An attack by Zoanoids should not be a problem. Not by itself, but the implications of what such an attack meant, those were much more serious. Were these rogues or were they directed? Rogues would be destroyed and there would be no further risk but a directed attack… That was much more serious.

With Earth free losing Merrimu would not result in the extinction of humans but if would affect morale. To lose the planet that had given them shelter, so close to the end… Natsuki's eyes flashed. She would not let that happen! Zoanoids would not defeat them, not after everything that had happened. She was halfway to Tallahassee when the call came in. It was not Zoanoids… it was Zoalords attacking.

Natsuki prided herself on being a woman of action. There was very little that could faze her but just for a moment, she was transported back to the day Earth fell, to the day humanity had learned about Zoanoids, when Alkanphel with his limitless golden power had arisen. Just for a moment and when her mind cleared, Natsuki blinked; the movement deliberate, careful and calming. She recognised the warning for what it was.

:I heard,: Hayami's voice echoed to her.

:We need the others,: Natsuki replied, her voice tight. :Do we know who it is?: she continued with the question.

Hayami was at the control centre. His pause was telling. :Zektoll.:

Mid-air, Natsuki nodded. Controlled Zoanoids would attack. Uncontrolled ones would have no reason to but Zoalords, controlled or not, they would want power. And it was more than likely that Leoben had given them one final order.

"It was not Leoben."

Natsuki whirled and before she could cry out a white hand slammed into her throat, constricting her airways and holding her tightly in place. :Imakarum,: her mind shrieked as she saw death in his plate like eyes. His spare hand traced its way over her face and she could feel his fingertips, softer than spider webs delicately touching her armour, whispering gently against her skin. One finger came to rest in the centre of her control medallion, just for an instant before he began tracing one claw over the indent at the edge.

"I am sorry about this, Natsuki-san. And while I'm sure you have now told everyone my identity, I cannot allow you to interfere."

Natsuki struggled in his grip, she was not usually an aggressive woman but she could not help it. She clawed at his arm though her efforts seemed futile and she tried to kick but while she felt her blows impact, Imakarum didn't even flinch.

:Natsuki!: Hayami was screaming at her but she couldn't reply, she was too focused on the primeval need to breathe and the rising sense of panic. Her unit replied as best it could, raising her defences but Imakarum was experienced and in his eyes there was a new power and the spluttering energy she had brought to bear was flicked away without a thought. Even her vibroblades where slapped aside.

"Why?" She finally managed to gasp the word as everything fell into place. Alkanphel had left orders and no doubt Fukamachi was the target but Imakarum, like Aptom, would only strike once humanity was assured its survival but unlike Aptom, Mirabilis had no further reason to delay.

"Because Lord Alkanphel agreed with his friend, such power should not exist."

"For you?" Her vision was blurring and the grip on her throat had not relented. Any air wasted was missed but she had to know.

Imakarum shook his head. "It is not my desire."

Something must have told him she did not believe him because the white Zoalord cocked his head slightly, as if seeing her again for the first time. "For me?" he whispered the question before he seemed to smile. "Perhaps I do not wish my Lord to go into the dark alone."

Natsuki screamed, her mental voice echoing through the universe as Alkanphel's Hand struck, driving his claws through her armour into her skull around the frantically pulsing control medallion and pulling it back, ripping it from her body. The hand that had been gripping her throat released, energy coalescing and with a calculated blast Imakarum fired, almost point blank into the falling form of Natsuki's body. Her armour resisted but without the control medallion the conclusion was forgone, and soon there was only the echoing roar of the Zoalord's energy beam.

As the blast faded, Mirabilis calmly looked down at his bloody hand, tapping one claw against the cold medallion, as if daring it to spring to life but it just sat there, the red smeared silver winking up at him, the mental tendrils wafting gently in the chill air of Merrimu. "I did say I was sorry." The white Zoalord murmured before he spread his fingers, allowing the medallion to fall. Natsuki would regenerate but she would not be able to assist in this battle and that was enough for now.

Across the universe, every Guyver, regardless of affiliation, type or rank paused when their Unit screamed. Most shrugged, not knowing what the sudden noise was before they went back to whatever task had been consuming them. Some probed, seeking the source of the disturbance while others began a conversation with their Units, seeking answers. Only one knew. Only one had felt this shuddering pain before. But others understood.

Mental links between the Terran Guyvers flared as the same question was asked. :What is happening?: The Terran Emperor's voice demanded, though his concern was overwhelmed by the pure burst of feeling from Tetsuro.

:We are under attack,: Hayami began, attempting to remain calm.

:I'd say it's a bit more than that,: Tetsuro snarled with uncharacteristic venom. :Natsuki is dead! What exactly is attacking you?:

:Zektoll and from Natsuki's report, Imakarum.:

:What?: There were various cries of surprise. :Why are they attacking?: The question eventually resolved as the one thing people wished to know.

:It doesn't matter why,: Tetsuro rumbled over the mental connection. :Shō, Aptom, Agito, you will have to defend Merrimu.:

:I'm in the middle of clearing Jrae space,: Agito objected and his annoyance was plain to all. Tetsuro had practically ordered him to accompany Aptom here so he would finish this job first. What had happened to Natsuki was regrettable, but not permanent.

:I'll go,: Aptom said and the sheer delight in his mental tone was impossible to ignore. :I've been wanting to destroy Zektoll for a while,: he added, mostly for the benefit of Alkard and the other non Terran Guyvers who were connected to the conversation via their mental links with their commanders.

:I will follow,: Agito added. :It shouldn't take long to finish up here and if 'Peace' is attacking then he needs to answer to Zeus!: The Terran Emperor cared not one whit for Merrimu or Zektoll, though he wouldn't mind seeing that Hyper Zoanoid brought low, but there were things about Imakarum's actions that weren't making sense and he wanted to talk to the man. He had made a powerful Lieutenant once, perhaps he could do so again.

:Just get there!: There was no arguing with Tetsuro and those in the mind link knew that if he could, he would have been attacking personally. Natsuki's absence from their collective feeling was unsettling but none felt it more keenly than the elder Segawa and while his relationship with Natsuki had never been hidden, perhaps the depth of that relationship was only now becoming clear. He was distraught but he maintained sense enough to realise that against Imakarum and Zektoll he would have no chance. But while Tetsuro may realise that, and he knew that Natsuki was not truly gone through the way his Unit was singing comfort to him, no one said he had to like the situation. Even Mizuki's words of comfort fell on deaf ears.

Tentatively Shō reached out, across the sea of space, on a private frequency to Tetsuro, not saying anything, just offering his support and what strength he could to the man who was like a brother to him, to the man who had been through so much. Beneath the strength and the silent show of support there was the knowledge that Fukamachi would be on Merrimu shortly and his first concern would be retrieving Natsuki's control medallion.

Beyond all that, and something that was felt by every Guyver in the Universe was a rising sense of rage. Somewhere, unseen but not unfelt, the Guyver Emperor was infuriated that someone had dared to touch one of his children. The sensitive shivered and tried to hide, the loyal bowed their heads, sharing the grief, knowing that they were protected and the Tekki smiled as he felt his enemy awaken.

On Merrimu another smiled, though his face allowed no expression. Imakarum was attuned enough that he could feel the shift in the air and he knew it was only a matter of time. He was tempted to call Zektoll back but the other Zoalord would still for fill his function as a distraction.

In fact, it probably would be best of he let Zektoll take the attention. He had only one target and while the former Hyper Zoanoid could not hope to win against Aptom, Agito and whoever else they called in to assist them, he was determined and stubborn enough that he would not go down quickly.

As if summoned by this musings, Imakarum looked upwards as Aptom appeared. The Lost Number Zoanoid appeared as an odd combination of Zoanoid and Guyver and the white Zoalord shook his head. Aptom had always been adaptable. His ability to camouflage himself based on the situation was a skill long recognised by Chronos but there were times, and now was one of them, when he opted to appear as pure power, and then… Then he sent ripples across the world.

The former Hyper Zoanoid had claws and vibroblades and almost beneath Imakarum's hearing the hum of the weapons resonated through his bones. Aptom had no wings in this manifestation but his gravity globe was glowing as it held him aloft. From his back two tendrils extended and Mirabilis almost laughed as he recognised them as Elegen's. Aptom really did have a sense of the dramatic.

For a moment the two of them just hovered, glaring at each other. Imakarum could well imagine the conversation between the former Hyper Zoanoids but today they weren't interested in talk. Today they wanted to destroy and so they quickly closed with each other and blade met blade as they fought, spinning and flipping in the still cold morning air of Merrimu. No quarter would be asked, no quarter would be given and the two fought with a savage viciousness that few could match.

Imakarum watched, holding his position as he continued to wait. His target would come… in time.

"I was expecting more," Aptom snarled, delivering a roundhouse kick that Zektoll ducked under. Before the former Hyper Zoanoid could retaliate, one of Aptom's tendrils whipped in, the end crackling with energy. Zektoll growled at him but jumped back. Elegen's attack couldn't hurt him. The Advents had kept that much of his design but there was no point in letting Aptom know that just yet. Besides, he didn't know what else the Zoanoid Guyver may have developed in the time since they'd last fought on Earth… Years ago now.

"As was I," Zektoll replied. "For a planet that is supposed to be well protected, your response time sucks."

Aptom said nothing. If he actually cared about planetary protection, he'd be agreeing with the Zoalord. He didn't though. He, of all Terrans, had done more to ensure their survival. He deserved this indulgence. Fukamachi or Makishima could find and deal with Imakarum… if the other Zoalord was even still around. Aptom wasn't convinced but he also didn't care.

"Ah… As silent as ever," Zektoll snorted, flinging his arms open. "So this is what we have come to?" the Advent made Zoalord questioned, his voice laughing. He and Aptom amounted to one thing – war – and nothing in this universe would change that.

Aptom laughed. "As if we would come to anything else," he muttered, looking over at the former Hyper Zoanoid. Why was he stalling?

"Of course not but are you content to fight here?" Zektoll asked, his eyes shining.

Aptom looked around. They were hovering in the air over Merrimu. One of the settlements was on fire and beneath them he could feel Zoanoids running back and forth as they fought the flames. Other settlements were visible in the distance, the thin morning light making their coating of snow sparkle. It was no better and no worse than other places he had fought in. "You have somewhere you'd prefer?" the chameleonic Hyper Zoanoid asked, humouring Zektoll now that they were so close to the end. He wanted to sink his claws through the Zoalord's heart and he'd wanted to do that for a long time but now that the opportunity was before him, Aptom could feel himself basking in the glow of anticipation and he could not bring himself to hurry the moment.

"I believe we are both optimised for space combat," Zektoll shrugged. "But if you want to use a shield of other Zoanoids, I won't complain." The last was said as a goad. Killing Aptom clones was fun but when presented with the original they did not compare and this was one occasion where killing an Aptom clone would not make him happy.

Aptom snorted at the Advent Zoalord's presumption. Zektoll might very well be optimised for space but he well knew Aptom was optimised for whatever conditions he found himself in. Still, it would be best to humour the former Hyper Zoanoid Team Five Commander so that when he ripped his heart out, no one could say that it had been an unfair fight. Though anyone who did would find themselves destroyed.

"If it pleases you Zektoll, I'll humour you that far. It will make no difference to the outcome. Though perhaps I can take advantage of the silence of space, so that I won't hear you beg. It will preserve your dignity."

"Most likely it will preserve your memory," Zektoll retaliated. "Your clones can console themselves with the lie that their creator did not scream as he died." The former Hyper Zoanoid snarled as he flicked his wings down, angling upwards through the atmosphere. After another snort, Aptom followed, casting his eyes around briefly but unable to spot Imakarum. If the other Zoalord was still present one of the others would have to deal with him. It was long past time for Aptom to indulge himself.

Tsuyosa chuckled when his warriors gathered without his call. They could all feel the anger from their Units and while most did not understand they knew he would have instructions for them. And he did. The time had arrived to gather the last of the powered Guyvers and to make his strike against their mistake. He had spent the last few days marshalling his strength. The strike would be quick and decisive because he was realistic about his ability to hold Terrans against their will. He could hold them long enough but unlike the other powered Guyvers he could not hold them indefinitely. He doubted he could contain them all in one battle, but he would have to try.

"'Nyataran, you will remain here to provide containment and healing. The instant a Terran is brought here you are to sedate them, regardless of their rank or if they have activated their Units. Then place them in the highest security cells we have. No one is to have any further interaction with them. Gilroyd, you and Woorak will go to Kyheen. It pains me but I need to borrow your Empress for a time. Fukamachi may be there. There is very little feeling of his presence so be careful. If he is present, do not attack, report back to me and wait. Do not damage her and be wary. The Empress may only be an Engineer but she is the servant of the Guyver's Mistake. She has strength, even if it is not her own. The rest of you will accompany me. The objective is capture. While any attempt to kill will be futile, it will also be met with punishment. I will not tolerate it.

"I need them all alive and in reasonable condition. But everyone needs to be cautious. The Terrans are not like the Advents or the Zoanoids. They are far more. I will suffuse those who require it with such power that they need, as will your Lords. The Terrans may be tough but they will fall, though it is most likely to be a difficult battle. If you are injured retreat. If you are outnumbered, retreat and I will find another way." I need all of you alive, Tsuyosa added silently to himself.

In the challenge that capturing the humans provided, the fact that he needed all of his troops alive was not something he thought of often. All the Guyvers were important to him and while killing a Guyver should be impossible, this was not the time to take chances regardless of the fact that some of his followers did not expect to survive. Only a few had asked the sensible question. The others either assumed it or did not consider it important. He wasn't sure which was worse. But for those who had asked the simple question 'Would they survive?' the answer was easy. 'Yes.'

Yisuvac's creation would leave all the powered Guyvers drained but it would not kill them. It was not designed to kill, instead it would harness their energy focusing it towards him, to give him, temporarily, the power to match the One. He was not afraid of that temporarily. It was the flash of an instant in the time of the universe but it would be more than long enough, no matter how protracted their battle was. But that would not be for a few days yet. First he had to collect the Guyvers.

"There is already something happening. You have felt it but the Terrans have either learned to keep their communication contained or consider this an internal matter. Whatever is happening does not concern me and is of no consequence to us. We will move in and capture the Terran Guyvers and their helpers. I will take on their Warriors, though Heborae, Tallowa and Iythry will provide support. The rest of you will focus on your fellows. Take them by surprise and strike hard. That is all the advice I can provide. If one of their warriors slips free, run. It is not your place to fight.

"Am I understood?" The question was pointed. This was not the first time all Guyver's, regardless of type had gone into combat for the Tekki, though this would be their most dangerous battle.

There was a chorus of assent and Tsuyosa nodded his own agreement before closing his eyes and focusing his senses, stretching out to see if he could locate the Terran Guyvers. 'Nyataran had told him where their planet was, and the general area they thought the others were in with the Kyheenan's but he wanted to be sure. With them screaming over the Guyver's mental pathways, albeit on their private frequencies there was every chance that they had moved. He smiled to himself. They had moved and all the Terran Guyver's appeared to be on the planet. This would be easy.

"Yisuvac, please link in with Tallowa. She will need your strength," the black Guyver Lord said gently before he looked up, his eyes half closed as he considered the battle to come. "Deploy," he finally gave the order and smiled as there was an almost deafening noise of summoned armour. His own black bioarmour appeared on him and he stood, flicking black tendrils out to all his followers. They needed to conserve their energy for the fight so he would teleport everyone… And then the battle would begin.

Right before Shō teleported to Merrimu he stretched his senses out, seeking the very faint feeling of Natsuki and so he was well pleased when he appeared on the icy surface of the Planet and looked around to see her control medallion close by.

"Oh, Natsuki," Shō breathed picking up the medallion.

Gently he cupped his hands around the silver disk focusing his senses again but this time sending them out into the space Guyver Unit's occupied, seeking to locate Natsuki's consciousness. He wasn't sure if he found it, but he found something that was scared and fighting. The sensation he was getting was almost ticklish. After he convinced Natsuki's control medallion that he was not biological material it could use to remake its host, he carefully soothed Natsuki, and while it seemed a bit ironic, he let his Unit calm the other Unit, gently giving it instructions on what it should do.

Of all the Guyvers he was the only one who had been in this position before so he could see the irony and Shō reminded himself to spend some time with Natsuki in the next few days. She would most likely have questions and would probably appreciate the fact that he knew exactly what she was going through. His control medallion glowed while he spoke with Natsuki's and beneath his armour Shō smiled as he raised his consciousness back to his surrounds.

In his hands, Natsuki's control medallion glowed sullenly and he could see it already beginning to reform tissue. While the control medallion would be able to regenerate her without assistance, having a Guyver Healer would probably help. :Hayami!: Shō called.

:Shō?:

:I found Natsuki,: Shō allowed the notification to be general so that Tetsuro would know that she was safe. :Can you come and help me?:

:Of course!: Hayami replied, teleporting into his location.

"How are we going with controlling the fire?" Shō asked.

"Good, though there still isn't any sign of Imakarum," Hayami replied, accepting Natsuki's control medallion from Shō with gentle hands. The Gigantic Guyver Healer's medallion glowed as it linked in with Natsuki's.

Unconsciously Shō shuddered. In as much as Zektoll was vicious enough to have ripped out Natsuki's control medallion, her mental cries had been clear on the perpetrator. It had been Imakarum, or someone she believed to be Imakarum. He did not have a good feeling about this.

"Protect her," Shō gave the instruction aloud.

"There you are!"

Both Hayami and Shō looked up, straight into the blue white eyes of the Zoalord Imakarum Mirabilis and before Shō even knew what he was doing he had thrown up a shield around them both, his Gigantic Unit flashing into existence without his vocal call.

"Oh! You have developed nice reflexes, Fukamachi. But I am afraid that I cannot allow your little shield to delay what must be." Almost lazily the Zoalord above them flicked one hand and Shō staggered as he felt Imakarum's energy lance into his barrier.

Guyver I looked over at Hayami, the pearl plates of his eyes glowing. His barrier held but it would not last long and his previous instruction seemed insufficient. "Take Natsuki and run," Shō ordered. "Do not try to fight, and leave here if you must. Make the strongest shield you can and do not take it down for anyone! Even if you see someone defeated, do not take your shield down." Shō shuddered under the attacks from Imakarum but he maintained the energy as he spoke to Hayami, not even questioning his right to order the Gigantic Healer. The Zoanoid Guyver nodded at him and disappeared and Shō smiled, at least they would be safe.

He looked up at the Zoalord. "Murakami," Shō said quietly shifting slightly in his barrier and looking up into the expressionless face that he had once called friend.

The assault on his barrier was halted and Shō could almost see the Zoalord heave a sigh. "I thought I asked you not to call me that," Imakarum said, almost automatically.

"That is your name," Shō replied.

"Not for a very long time," the Zoalord insisted and it was Shō's turn to sigh.

"What is your purpose here?" Shō finally asked. The argument of names was pointless.

"You."

Shō blinked. That made no sense to him. If it was for revenge Murakami had had plenty of opportunity in the past. He never seemed to want to kill him. But perhaps something had changed...

"In the instant you killed Lord Alkanphel he gave me his final orders. No matter what you might think, they were not to kill you Fukamachi. They were instead to give a message to his friend. And to make sure that he did not fight the one battle he did not have to. I told him to walk away, just as I have told many to walk away. He will not listen, just as the Advents did not listen. Yet I was not beholden to protect them. I am beholden to protect him. And protect him I will."

"For Tsuyosa?"

"For Lord Alkanphel," the Zoalord corrected.

"For a man who is dead? For a man you would have died to defeat? Murakami, where are you?"

Their conversation came back to identity and Shō dismissed his barrier as he realised it always would. Murakami was his friend. For him, there was no other issue. The being before him had Masaki's albeit augmented form and face and feel but the words were not those of his friend, the actions were not. Yet somehow Shō couldn't help but think that somewhere, deep inside, Murakami was still there. He knew what that was called. Faith. And he had faith in those he loved, even as friends. He knew that his faith sometimes made him a little slower, hit just that bit weaker and it was something that Aptom and Agito despaired of him having when he rescued yet another being. But it was who he was, and Fukamachi Shō would always have faith; in his friends, in species in general and in the Universe, because fighting to protect that faith made him stronger in the battles that truly mattered.

"I have told you many times Fukamachi, I am no longer Murakami Masaki. Accept that man's sacrifice and move on."

If Imakarum had of seen Fukamachi's smile, he might have had doubts. He didn't though, the Guyver armour most effectively hid it and so he misinterpreted the way Shō cocked his head and the feeling coming from the young man. The words though were easy to interpret. "I would accept his sacrifice if he was dead, but you aren't dead, Murakami. You are just absent."

"If you will not accept it, then that should make my appointed task easier. I was not ordered to kill you specifically, Fukamachi, instead my orders are to remove power that should not exist. Terran Guyvers. All Terran Guyvers who can wield that power."

For the resolve of the two, the announcement was one of the immovable object against the unstoppable force. Except… no Zoalord had ever been more… and against a Guyver who possessed a Gigantic Unit and supposedly had access to further power that seemed like a startling oversight. "But… you're a Zoalord." The implication was left unsaid and Imakarum nodded.

"I am indeed a Zoalord," he agreed. "But I have become more. Just as the Guyver Units have become more, so too have I developed."

Shō looked over his friend closely. The way the white of his bio armour traced over the black had always been reminiscent of a Guyver to Fukamachi but Imakarum was not Guyver. He was Alkanphel's last and most trusted servant. The red focusing crystals were still in place on his hips, chest, shoulders, throat and forehead and his eyes, so much like a Guyver's pearl plates glowed gently under his primary green Zoacrystal… That's when Shō noticed it. He should have noticed it immediately but Murakami was his friend and he didn't routinely assess the combat potential of his friends.

On Murakami's legs, arms and torso there were more crystals. They gleamed all different colours and the effect should have been a horrendous riot of colour but as Shō watched their glowing hue shifted, all becoming the soft green of Murakami's primary Zoacrystal.

"Are they..?" The question trailed off. The answer was obvious. They were Zoacrystals. He'd seen most of them before and he'd even seen Masaki collecting some of them, most recently during the battle with Leoben when the white Zoalord had taken on his fellows with brutal efficiency. So this is what he wanted them for. But something didn't feel right and Shō narrowed his eyes as he looked at his friend. Murakami felt… He felt half finished. The energy Shō could clearly feel rising in the Zoalord in front of him was rough. It didn't flow in the way that complete form Zoalords did. It was spurting and stuttering. The levels were far beyond anything he had ever felt. Tsuyosa had a similar feel, though the black Guyver Lord's energy flowed with a smoothness that was almost beyond description, but in terms of sheer amounts of power, Fukamachi wasn't sure that the Tekki Leader would measure up to what he could feel from Masaki. It made no sense.

"Yes Shō, they are. They are what will give me the power to defeat the Terran Guyvers. My Lord Alkanphel did not agree with his creators about many things. He would allow the presence of Guyvers on non-Advent forms, where they would allow none. But there were some he would not allow existence."

Shō was standing but he still stumbled backwards at Imakarum's pronouncement. "So you are going to try to kill us all?"

Imakarum nodded. "Those with power: yourself, Agito and Aptom."

Shō frowned and while expression did not show on his Unit, Imakarum had been around Guyvers for a very long time. For the most part, he could read their subtle movements.

"Ah… Why not the others?" the white Zoalord voiced the question for Fukamachi. "Because Lord Alkanphel, like his friend, believed that such power should not exist. So I only need to destroy those capable of such power."

"Me first?"

"You first," Mirabilis confirmed. "You do not understand, do you Shō? Only those who can wield that power. You over Agito because while he can wield it, when he calls, it does not always come. But you… when you call, it always responds. Always, Shō, and that is what makes you so dangerous."

"No." The denial was genuine and laced with pain. "Don't. I don't want to fight you, Murakami."

"I'm not giving you a choice!" Even as he said the last, Imakarum was driving forward in attack but Shō wasn't so lost in his grief that he could not dodge. And he continued to dodge as the white Zoalord struck, claws wickedly extended in the hope of making contact.

Tarnsi sat alone in what was considered the Emperor's Glade. Her body guards were at the entrance to the small garden but otherwise she was unaccompanied. She was dressed in traditional mourning attire. Ostensibly it was for her Father but she was honest enough to admit that she wore it for her brother as well. She had banished him, so officially he did not exist but no matter his actions, he existed for her. She thought her Father would forgive her mourning for her Brother. He'd understand the pain she felt. Fukamachi had understood the pain and he had been assisting her for the past week. There was an official mourning period for her Father which would be followed by her coronation.

She was the Empress but the coronation was an almost useless ceremony that excited the commons. It was necessary, it was traditional but right at the moment she didn't want to go through it.

There had been times in the past week when she thought she would break, when in the privacy of her quarters she had curled up and cried, and cried and cried.

Her Father was dead, killed by her Brother. Her Brother was dead, killed by her hand. And she was all alone. Fukamachi had come to her then. Sometimes he had just sat next to her, letting her cry, at other times he had reached out, placing one hand on her back and soothing her to the comfort of sleep. She had slept those times, un-plagued by nightmares because he watched over her.

Officially, Fukamachi, like all the other foreign diplomats, was keeping his distance because he could not be seen to be having an undue influence on the Kyheenan Empress. During the day he had never been seen with her, unless it was during one of the stilted formal Court gatherings where there were one hundred Kyheenan's watching and he did nothing more than bow formally to her. But he was always with her, a comforting presence in the back of her mind, solid, warm and real. He did not condemn her as some had, he did not judge as others did and he only spoke when she needed it.

Which was not to say he was all tender and forgiving. The second morning after her Brother's execution when she had just lain in her sleeping place, looking up at the ceiling, he had been most insistent that she get up, going so far as to threaten to teleport her to the pole to dunk her in the icy water if she refused to rise. The threat may have been almost childish but ten minutes later she'd emerged from her room and allowed her maids to help her dress. Shō was perfectly capable and willing to carry out his threat and she'd felt that in his mind when he made it. Later that day he'd told her he never made threats he wasn't prepared to carry out and it was surprising to her when he appeared that night beside her and placed one hand on her back as she cried. Still, from that day she had been careful not to become so lost in her guilt and grief that she became incapacitated.

It was the only thing that saved her. She'd looked up when her guards had parted to let a foreign diplomat through, one that was accompanied by a Kyheenan translator. Being a Guyver, she didn't need that service, but it was tradition and with races whose diplomats were trusted, the translator doubled as the Empress' Bodyguard, rather than having Royal Guards with live steel follow the diplomat. That was rather… untrusting of them.

It wasn't the fact that she didn't recognise the alien species that aroused her suspicion, her Unit identified them as an Eryp from the planet Spaough, it was the glint in the translator's eyes that caught her attention. They were too bright. Everyone around her had dull, sad eyes but their eyes were bright. There was the glint of victory in them and she instinctively backed away.

Her movement gave them away in the flicker of consternation that passed over their features and Tarnsi screamed a warning, summoning her Guyver Unit as both the diplomat and translator summoned their own Units. The flood of information into her mind from her Unit was intense but she had learned a thing or two and distanced herself from the information before she could drown in it, even as she kept the distance between herself and the attacking Guyvers constant.

"Gilroyd."

"Your Majesty," her Father's former body guard greeted her. "I am sorry about this, your Majesty but my Master wishes to speak with you." A barrier blocked the garden and she could see her regular body guards trying to get through.

"I'm afraid I must decline."

"That is not an option," with a shrug of power Gilroyd summoned a Gigantic Unit and Tarnsi backed away further as the diplomat followed suit. A Gigantic Guyver Warrior... The Tekki really didn't want her refusing his invitation.

Yet she had possession of a Gigantic Guyver Unit as well. True, it was not a warrior's unit, but it was strong and she had learned that strength did not always reside in combat. "Guyver!" Tarnsi called, summoning her Gigantic Unit and she was pleased when the other two stepped back slightly. "As your Empress, I refuse your master's summons."

Gilroyd glanced at his companion and Tarnsi could well imagine the conversation they were having. She took the moment to examine them. The Terrans had postulated that all the Tekki's followers would have some marking of black but the Kyheenan didn't and she could not help but feel slightly pleased at that. He was dark but the colour of the markings of the swirls on his armour was brown, and Gilroyd still retained the forest green and purple lining she remembered. He was loyal to the Tekki but as he had told her Father, he was still loyal to Kyheen. The other was a different matter. Woorak, her Unit supplied the name, was the Gigantic Guyver Warrior loyal to the one who had fought for the Advent Leoben and Tarnsi shuddered. He was loyal to the Tekki. That other had done nothing and would probably do nothing to inspire loyalty for a while, if Tetsuro and Mizuki were to be believed. The Guyver Warrior was predominantly a tan colour and while Kyheenan's preferred blue and green, the colour was pleasing. It was the faded colour of some flowers. His lining was navy but he showed his true loyalty in the jet swirls that traced their way over his body. This particular Guyver probably thought it was supremely disappointing that he could not serve the Tekki directly and she could feel menace in the way he stood, the diplomat pose completely forgotten.

"I'm afraid I must insist, your Majesty," Gilroyd said gently, his voice almost persuasive.

Her Imperial Guard were still pounding on the barrier and while she was thankful that they were not being injured by it, they were not going to get through it. Even the Guyvers weren't having much luck, they lacked the power. Tarnsi had learned a few things with her time with the Terrans and how to discretely call for help was one of them. :Shō!: Her voice was insistent.

:Tarnsi?: Shō's voice carried to her across space.

:Tekki Guyvers,: she summarised the situation for him.

:Let me see,: he was equally brief and Tarnsi got the impression that the Zoanoids on the planet Merrimu were not such a small issue.

She wasn't exactly sure what Fukamachi did but she had the oddest moment of double vision, as if she was seeing from Shō's eyes while he looked out of hers. He saw two Gigantic Guyvers confronting her. She saw a humanoid figure, whose form was accented in white. Zoalord, Shō's mind provided the identification for her and a wealth of other information which she could not heed now.

:Run!: His instructions were explicit. :Remember the place where we first met? Run there and hide. Do not call for anyone. Wait for my signal.:

Tarnsi blinked at the fierceness of the instruction but she obeyed, not even thinking of why it was so easy to obey him. It would have been nice if she could have told her guards where she was about to disappear to but that would just leave a trail. Fukamachi's sense disappeared as his attention refocused on his present.

"I said no, Gilroyd," Tarnsi replied in her most regal voice. She gathered her power and gave the command to teleport. For an instant she felt as if she was stretched out, as if her Unit was reaching out over the billions of miles to her destination and then everything snapped back and she felt a shudder of power go through her.

"And I must insist," Gilroyd repeated. "We are both Gigantic Engineer's, your Majesty. You will not be able to break my barrier."

Beneath her white and gold armour, Tarnsi's eyes flashed at his presumption. Woorak was approaching though he was cautious and she let out a very out of character snarl. He should be cautious, because no matter what she had told the court, she was not about to go with some Guyvers just because the Tekki wanted her. She didn't care what his plan was, she was no part of it but she decided to ignore the Gigantic Warrior in as much as she was able to. Her shielding should be able to keep him off.

It was almost childish the way she spoke next but she didn't care. The Kyheenan Empress reached out again, pulling power from within herself but this time reaching towards her Unit and asking it for power. While she was completely enveloped in her armour, the sense of it on and within her became tighter and warmer, as if it welcomed not just accepted her as its Host. That sense might have been her imagination, the power jolt was not. From her Unit there was a massive inflowing of energy, hot and wild, but somehow completely under her control and as she reached out again, seeking the spot she could teleport to she shook her head at Gilroyd. "I said no."

And with a flash she vanished, her enhanced Unit completely over whelming the barrier the other Gigantic Engineer had raised as if it wasn't even there.

There was a moment of silence from the two Gigantics before Gilroyd huffed. "So that's what the One's Unit can do for his servants," the Kyheenan muttered.

"And what the Tekki would have done for you if you were serious about capturing her," his companion replied menacingly.

"Don't even think about it," the Tekki's Gigantic Engineer replied, keeping his voice even. Woorak's frustration was obvious but pointless. The escape of the Empress was always a possibility and was a certainty if Fukamachi was here. They had not failed, just their mission had not come out with the optimal outcome for them. "I am interested in capturing her, but not at the cost of Kyheen and he knows that. This just proves that the One isn't as inattentive as first thought."

"That's not surprising. Whatever happened with the humans would wake the dead," Woorak replied as he calmed down, referring to the burst of pain that had flashed across all their senses a while back. The Eryp looked upwards, not even seeing the garden he was surrounded by and paying absolutely no heed to the Kyheenan Guards who were continuing to attempt to break the barrier. "We'd better get going. If they are going up against the Terrans, they will need our help."

Gilroyd nodded, casting one last look around. This may be the last time he was ever allowed on Kyheen and if the Empress chose to banish him… he would honour her choice. No matter how much he had proclaimed he had loyalty to Xenif is Kyheen, in the end, he had made his choice.

And his Master had won.

Alkanphel's last strike was bad enough, and really, we should have anticipated deceit from a Zoalord. Shō mostly viewed Imakarum as his friend, but as much as I love him, he never faced that Zoalord during the Rebellion, he never truly knew what it was like to be pursued by one you once relied upon. Alkanphel did send his Hand against us during Chronos' rule but we always managed to win free.

This time no one could escape. And we swung from one battle to the next without pause for rest. Imakarum had always had his orders and he struck at the time he thought best to execute those orders. That strike of course, opened up the path for the very events he was hoping to avoid. It's been said that Alkanphel knew about the Guyver Emperor. We do know that the Supreme Zoalord possessed some pre-cognition abilities though they were limited, or we'd have all been dead. I believe that Alkanphel may have had a vision of the Guyver Emperor but I find it very hard to believe that the golden Zoalord would have understood what he was seeing. How could he? He'd only seen the Unit on a human, how could he know that over time they would escape to the other species in the galaxy? He couldn't. So while I believe that Alkanphel may have seen the Guyver Emperor, I do not put stock in the belief that he truly was trying to kill that being to protect his friend.

It is here we start to wonder if the reasons are more important than the actions. Some would argue that they are equal, that why you chose to do something is just as important as the deed itself. Others argue that only outcomes matter because reason is lost to time while the deed is remembered. I do not claim to know but it is the deed which is felt, the deed which is seen and it was the deeds of Imakarum and the Tekki Leader that we were forced to deal with.

Imakarum tried to stop the battle between the Tekki Leader and the Guyver Emperor, but in his attempt he opened the path for the Tekki's plans to go forward. I do not pretend that Mirabilis was the only cause. He was not. The black Guyver Lord Warrior would have found some way, just that Imakarum made the choice easier, made the choice faster and we were the ones who were left to fight.

So fight we did, but against the weight of the future, and all the promise that lies there, this was a fight we could not win.

Note: I know I cut a bit out of Chpt 37 and put it here, but upon reflection, it was better in this chapter. And this chapter is the way it is because when I was typing it, it was going to 25k words with no end in sight so I decided that it should be made into a few chapters. When I'm writing this, the sequence of events is still not quite finished but at about 30k words, we are getting closer.

Anyway, I hope this chapter was enjoyable. Lovely e-cookies are available for anyone who reviews :D