06/09/2013

Okay the battle in this chapter got a little… all right, a LOT over powered. But screw it, I was twelve years younger when I first envisaged this battle, and in the time of writing this fic I feel I have developed significantly as an author both in plotting ability and in writing skill, so while now I feel it is completely over the top, I didn't then. And since I almost always work backwards with my fics, I started with this battle, then worked out the rest of the plot. As such the battle is stupendously and hideously over powered.

Deal with it.

One more thing – FANARTS – I cannot express how happy and humbled I am that a couple of people took the time to draw some fanarts! The links to them are in my profile so go and ogle! I know I did :D

The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter XXXIII – Treason

The events happening in Tsuyosa's stronghold, and beyond were pivotal to shaping the galaxy of today. The irony is that most of the galaxy had no idea what was happening. Some did, but for most, they remained blissfully unaware. Everyone knew that the Advent's enemy had won. With the Advent's general attack on the galaxy in Leoben's desperation, and because of our actions in helping to drive them back, Terrans were well received everywhere. We had forged treaties with the galaxy. But in terms of what was happening to us… to the powered Guyvers, the galaxy was almost completely unaware.

Species had noticed. Those who kept track of their Guyver's knew that some were vanishing. They had no idea that it was only the most powerful who vanished. The Mangaoran for example, knew Tallowa had left them. She had told them as much with her resignation. The Lyusa and Jyt'nr of Dunrossil knew that some of their Guyver troops had vanished but they assumed that Dinshika and Vensa had taken each other out and were still searching for their control medallions. Other races, those who had Guyvers loyal to the Tekki just knew that some of their people were missing. But one thing the galaxy knows, far better than I have ever understood, is that it's criminally easy to make someone disappear. After initial searches, they merely chalked the individual up as missing. The loss of the Unit was mourned, but it was not unheard of for Guyver's to be kidnapped for their Units. It usually required a lot of expendable troops but it was possible.

The race that knew more of course was the Kyheenans. They had been in contact with us the longest and they had seen the Tekki Leader himself. Ceruta had been removed from their Throne Room, in front of the Emperor. Gilroyd had also left with permission from Xenif ib Kyheen but their Guyver Corps noted the absence of three other Guyvers. Sylyn op Kyheen, Ramus xa Kyheen and Tarnsi ib Kyheen.

Sylyn had been missing for months and they had assumed that he had deserted. With the actions of Gilroyd and assumptions they had made listening to Tarnsi ib Kyheen speak of the humans and the Tekki, they were now considering another option. Ramus had been gone only for a month and again they were considering new options. The Empress… that was what worried them. She had vanished after being confronted by two Gigantic Guyvers. They didn't know what had happened to her and as the days dragged on, more and more power plays were occurring. Kyheen could not be left without a ruler. Those days were ugly for the Empire of Kyheen. For most their missing Empress meant nothing, their days went on, but for those in power… It was a terrible time. It was the Empire Tyan would have ruled. They could not declare a new Emperor or Empress without Tarnsi's body and that was not available and the remaining Guyver Corps of the Kyheenan's all reported with certainty that the Empress was not dead.

Gyuya himself confirmed it, stating that his connection to the whole had been restored the instant he understood what Fukamachi had been trying to tell him.

In the end, it was, of course, resolved. Tarnsi's case and claim to the throne was strengthened by the fact she brought back the missing Guyvers Sylyn and Ramus and that she alone knew the details of what would be discussed at the Interstellar Meeting she had called, almost simultaneously with the Corang-Wesodin and the newly established Terran Republic.

But that is what happened after… What happened now is of more concern. Tsuyosa was meticulous with his plans and they came to fruition as he wished. The powered Guyvers had been gathered. All that remained now was to harness their power for his purpose. One might think that he would rush at that point, eager to see the end, but even then, the Guyver Lord Warrior Tsuyosa showed restraint. He rested and he ordered his forces to rest so that all was in readiness for the final stage of his plan.

:Master, we're ready.:

Tsuyosa nodded to acknowledge 'Nyataran's soft call. It was time and his face split into a tight grin at that thought. All his forces were rested, he was rested and all the Powered Guyvers were taking their places in Yisuvac's creation. The Artarmon probably thought he had sat here all night but he had slept a little, going to his quarters which not even his closest servants knew the location of. It had only been a few hours but he did not require anything more. His sleep had been deep and restful and he had awoken without the lethargy that sometimes accompanied such deep sleep.

He rose and turned slightly to gently place the single white Go stone on his seat. It sat there, like a tiny beacon of light in the dark of his chosen chamber and he could not suppress a tiny laugh. "You won't be alone soon," he murmured before turning again to follow 'Nyataran to Yisuvac's creation.

When he got there, he was pleased to see that most of the Guyvers who were loyal to the One already in place. Their armour was not summoned of course, that would come later but they had been secured and the humans looked almost restful. His forces were milling around, waiting for him and he would speak shortly but now he had to check with Yisuvac.

The Guyver Lord Engineer seemed to expect it and was hard at work completing a few last finishing touches on his creation. :Yisuvac,: Tsuyosa greeted him silently.

:Master.:

:We're ready?: the question was superfluous, 'Nyataran would never have come to fetch him if Yisuvac had not requested it.

:We are,: the dark green coloured Guyver confirmed before turning to look up at his master work. It was both delicate and solid and he once again examined the energy conduits with a critical eye. They were the most important feature of the entire design after all. :I've put in as many energy absorbers as I dare in the Null position,: Yisuvac began explaining when he saw where Tsuyosa's gaze was fixed. :They should fill then release the energy.:

The Tekki Leader nodded but then he looked around. :Put Fukamachi there as well,: he ordered almost absently.:

:Master?:

:I'm sure,: Tsuyosa replied to the barely voiced question. :He's the only one who can handle the energy over flow and it would be a waste to have it dissipate. It could be dangerous as well.:

Almost reluctantly Yisuvac nodded. His Master spoke the truth. While the energy absorbers would handle most of the power, they could not handle it all, not if the energy flows were anything like what he expected, therefore it would be best to have something more … elastic there, something that could expand to handle the energy and to filter and feed it back into the whole. No base Guyver could do it. They would be overwhelmed and most likely burnt to a crisp if they tried. That left Fukamachi, who while technically only possessing a base Guyver Unit, could and had successfully summoned and used more advanced forms of the Guyver Armour. The Tekki Leader called him the Free Power, Yisuvac had another theory.

He did not think that Fukamachi was the One. The black Guyver Lord Warrior Yisuvac had given his loyalty to had been clear on his reasoning for that but he did think that Fukamachi represented the future. Not in some abstract idealistic way, but in his abilities. To him Fukamachi represented a state all Guyvers could one day hope to achieve, a state where they all could call the advanced forms of a Guyver Unit, if they needed it. The Terran represented both the Free Power and the Future Power. Not that it made much difference to Yisuvac since his Guyver Lord armour came when he called, but it was something that might comfort those regular Guyvers who were now left at the beck and call of a superior Guyver form.

It was just his theory and perhaps it was just wishful thinking. Whatever it was, it was not a concern for now. Carefully the dark green Guyver Lord picked up Fukamachi and moved him into the null position. The others, those loyal to the Tekki just watched as did the few regular Guyvers who had been captured. Tsuyosa was only interested in the Powered Guyvers but in some cases it had been necessary to capture some regular Guyvers as well. Those not loyal to the Tekki Leader's ideal were being held securely on the level below Yisuvac's creation. Though their energy would not be used, symbolically they were a part of what was happening.

As Fukamachi was settled into place, Tsuyosa frowned. The human was in far better condition than he should have been. :'Nyataran?: the question was implied.

:Not me,: the Artarmon Gigantic Guyver Healer replied, his mental tone almost amused as if expecting the question. :I think some of the closer Units tried something. Though they found out how much energy they need to attempt to heal a human and did knock themselves out,: he added the last with a snicker. :Since they weren't needed for today, I didn't think it mattered.:

Tsuyosa nodded. :It doesn't,: he replied taking one last look around.

Mizuki, Agito and Tetsuro were secured in place. They looked to be asleep and almost peaceful but the Tekki Leader could feel the damage in Tetsuro and knew even with a Guyver's help it would be a long time healing. None of them had their Units but they would come. The rising energy of what was to happen would ensure that.

Beneath them those other Guyver's loyal to the One were in position. Aptom was on the tier below Mizuki and Alkard and Iythra were below him. They would feed energy directly to their Mistress through the chameleonic Hyper-Zoanoid. Vensa was also in position on the same tier as Mizuki's servants, four positions over. On the next face of the pyramid Agito was in place and beneath him were Hayami and Shizu. Either of them could have taken the Terran Emperor's place but for symmetry and for energy balance each position of the top tier was occupied by each different type of Guyver. 'Nyataran's fellow Artarmon, Olsynamantra was below Hayami while Sylyn and Forrinimi were below Shizu. That left the third position under Agito free and both positions under that empty. Only one position under Hayami was empty for the moment but it would be filled soon enough. On the final face, Tetsuro was secured with the Kyheenan Empress and the Alkanphel Clone beneath him. It probably hadn't been necessary to drug the Alkanphel Clone for this but it was thought safest. The man had not tried to run but during the course of his stay with Tsuyosa's forces he had been regaining some cognitive abilities. It made a kind of sense. He was human and he did possess a Guyver Lord Healer Unit, and despite the fact that the Advent Leoben had tried to skew it into a Warrior's Unit, it would do its best for its Host and heal them. It would be slow and Alkanphel's Clone would have much to learn of the nature of the Universe but he should recover. Natsuki and Ramus were in place below the Alkanphel Clone.

For a moment Tsuyosa focused on Tarnsi. The Kyheenan Empress was awake but not strong enough to break the bonds that had been used to place her in position so she was glaring at what she could. Some of the other non-human Guyvers were in place and no matter their alien visages they shared similar expressions. But the Kyheenan Empress would be the focus point for his two Servants. Gilroyd and 'Nyataran would take their places beneath her. He had thought to move them higher, but this device drew on their energy, not on any energy he could provide them with and that was the position they were in. It was a slightly odd arrangement, he admitted since in terms of skill, power and ability many of the Guyvers would rank either higher or lower on the pyramid than their position indicated but this was about their personal energy, not on the strength they might be able to call forth with the aid of a superior form or the skill they possessed.

Natsuki should be higher but she would balance out at least a part of the energy disparity for Tetsuro's side of the pyramid. And all of this would best be explained by the actuality of what he was about to do.

"This is Yisuvac's creation," Tsuyosa said aloud, bringing the attention of his followers upon him. "We will use it now to destroy the One and you will each help. When you take your place, summon your armour and concentrate on feeding energy into the conduits. Initially don't worry about giving that energy direction, just let it flow to power the entire device. As the energy flows, the One's followers will be forced to summon their own armour to handle the energy flows. That's what I want. They will be held in place so do not concern yourselves about that. Once their armour is summoned, then I want you to concentrate your energy upwards. Mizuki, Tetsuro and Agito will most likely need encouragement to summon their Lord Units."

There was a nervous titter of laughter at that but most of his forces nodded. They knew what Guyver Lords could be like. They knew what he could be like. "I will be the focal point," the Tekki Leader continued. "No matter what happens, do not be concerned. I do not know if I can initially handle the entire energy flow. It doesn't matter though. If I can't, it will cascade down through the centre. That's not a problem. As you can see, Fukamachi is there, and he will act as a filter, even if he is unconscious and then the energy will be feed upwards again. Nothing will go to waste because every last jolt of energy must be used and I will get stronger as the process continues.

"The One is partially aware of what is happening. The Unit is at least and the Unit is taking what precautions it can. It convinced Tetsuro not to summon his armour. It was futile of course but it's an indication of desperation. The One knows what I'm about to do and it wants to stop me. It might be able to stop me," Tsuyosa said, making sure he looked around with a soft and gentle smile towards the Guyvers who were hanging on his every word. "But it cannot stop us!" The last line brought him a cheer and the black Guyver Lord smiled tightly acknowledging his followers.

"Now, go to your places. Heborae, please take the empty place under Agito. Xeo'm the right most place under Mizuki. Yisuvac, please ensure both of them are secure before taking your place. Rasulmin, Wanyar, please accompany your Lady Heborae. Woorak, please take your place beneath your Lord as well." Tsuyosa gave the instructions and positions confidently, making sure he met the eyes of those he named. He gave each an encouraging smile and the feeling of approval reverberated from his Unit to theirs. It was a small comfort but it should calm them all the more.

The positions had been worked out in theory and altered as time went on as he better understood the energy configuration that would be required. Two sides of the pyramid had three humans, though Mizuki's only had two. He thought that if Fukamachi was to be feeding energy back upwards, the teal Guyver would most likely be favouring his wife so that fact should balance everything out. It shouldn't matter, energy conduits mostly lead upwards but they also were placed horizontally so that any excess energy could be balanced to make the flows even. It was difficult to know how some people would generate their energy. Some would no doubt give everything they had right at first, others would hold back. The device was designed so that it did not matter. Not really. It was a marvel of efficiency. Most energy transference systems had some losses through heat, through resistance, through any number of things yet Yisuvac had designed the conduits to be almost perfect. Energy transference was conducted with minimal losses though the Guyver Engineer had speculated that once near capacity some loss would come through light. It was acceptable.

"Tallowa and Unohan, please take your positions under Yisuvac. Dinshika, please check over them then take your own position." The Dunrossil Guyver Engineer had become one of Yisuvac's best helpers and understood the system almost instinctually. He had been one of the finest workers, diligently ensuring that it was ready on time and even now he flushed with pride that he would be trusted enough to ensure that some were secure. Internally Tsuyosa shook his head. It took so little to make some happy and it cost him nothing. "Jetlene, please take your place as well, though check Vensa." Dinshika might be one of the best Engineers on this project after Yisuvac, but he still believed in the righteousness of Dunrossil's war. It would not do to have him injure Vensa now. "Iythry, please move into position under Tarnsi and finally Gilroyd and 'Nyataran, take your places as well."

All the free Guyvers moved, summoning their Units and moving to their assigned places. It was almost surprising that Xeo'm had done so without complaint but the attack she had suffered from Mizuki and Natsuki had left the Guyver Lord Healer somewhat disoriented. Much of her arrogance was gone and Tsuyosa had found that she was almost pleasant to work with. She wasn't what he remembered but perhaps this was the first step. Or perhaps once she recovered she would return to the creature she had been. It was another consideration for the future that had no bearing on now. She was still loyal to him, not to the One and that was all the consideration he needed at the moment.

With a soft whisper he summoned his own Unit, rolling his shoulders as it settled into place. It thrummed with anticipation and he smiled before moving quickly around pyramid, casting his eyes over everyone. He started at the bottom. Fukamachi was still unconscious but was secured. He looked almost to be sleeping and the conduit lines feed outwards from him. The thickest ones fed upwards on the pyramid's sides, leading directly to the apex while others radiated outwards, tracing their way to the eighteen Gigantic Guyvers who formed the lowest tier.

Next he rose and flew briefly around, stopping at each of the eighteen positions. His forces had summoned their Units and were secure. They said nothing. There was nothing to say at this point. Those loyal to the One were also secure, even if they were in their natural forms. Olsyn was awake and the Artarmon almost looked bored. Forrinimi was awake as well but his expression was outraged. The Mangoran was not like Tallowa and idly Tsuyosa wondered how things might have turned out if their positions had been different at the Interstellar Meeting. Forrinimi was not afraid, he would have stood against Fukamachi, no matter how doomed the action might have been. That would have been an interesting battle to see if Shizu recognised her Healer and moved to help him. He whispered the same message to all of them. Consciously they would never believe it, but the message was to their Units who would hear the truth of it. "You are amongst friends, you can summon without destruction."

Vensa was also awake and the Dunrossil was struggling still. Of all those Guyvers loyal to the One he perhaps knew what was to come. "You won't get away with it!" The Jyt'nr hissed.

"I already have," Tsuyosa gave him the benefit of a reply before moving upwards after double checking Natsuki's bonds, giving her same message as the other Guyvers loyal to the One.

The humans were still unconscious, even Alkanphel's Clone. They wouldn't remain that way for long but around them, binding them into place were the energy conduits as well as the remains of the black tendrils he had summoned to ensure that they could not awaken and teleport outwards. Once the energy flows reached a certain point they would be held there by the power though the Tekki Leader had not discounted the possibility that one of them would attempt to flee anyway. That would be damaging to them, but he knew they would risk that damage if they thought it was for the greater good. Besides, of all the races of the Universe, the humans possessed the best healing technologies. They didn't think of Zoanoidification as that, but it had that ability. Perhaps that was one reason the Units were so strong for them. The ability to change…

They were all secure and after whispering the same re-assurance to their Units Tsuyosa moved to the final level before the apex. Mizuki, Agito and Tetsuro were there. The conduit lines leading to them were thicker because they would bear the brunt of the energy filtering and focusing for him to feed it upwards in a continuous stream. They weren't awake and they didn't know it yet, but they would form an almost perfect triumvirate for him. It was ironic, given their history but they did work well together. The ideas, the paths they forged were strong. "You are all friends, you can summon without destruction and live free." He didn't know why he said that, but it felt right.

Tsuyosa took a deep breath briefly closing his brown eyes as he moved into his position. He spent a moment examining it. Everything was in order and with a final look to ensure that everyone was in position the black Guyver Lord took his spot in the structure.

A moment went by. Another of silence. Total peace with the hint of anticipation. The black Guyver Lord revelled in the feeling before he forcefully shook his head. He was hesitating too much. "Begin," the order slipped from his mouth, sure and firm. Below the Tekki Leader the lowest tier of Guyvers began to push energy into the structure. It… thrummed and the tendrils of energy raced through it, lighting up all the conduits. Greedily his Unit absorbed the trickle that came to him. It was filtered through Agito, Mizuki and Tetsuro and they were still resisting him. Like the other Units loyal to the One, they resisted but the tide was with him and in the end their resistance would be for naught.

Some energy made its way downwards but it hit the stops. Tsuyosa could sense that Fukamachi's Unit was yearning for the energy though the teal armour remained in the Guyver's dimension. The design was not with the Terran Guyver. Energy could flow downwards but Yisuvac had been careful to ensure that there were stops. They were like flaps, energy flowing upwards pushed them to the sides of the conduit but any down flow flicked them out blocking the flow path. Fukamachi would not get enough energy to heal himself.

When the glow from the conduits stabilised, the second tier of Guyvers began emitting their energy as well. The flow through the conduits quickened and brightened as more energy began to pour in and his fellow Guyver Lord's began letting their energy through. This was a delicate balance. Energy would come from the host and Unit. Tsuyosa smiled grimly as he considered that. All the Guyvers loyal to the One were still resisting, the conduit lines around them glowing as energy approached and some was filtered through them but they were acting as dams on the flow. They let some through but the majority was building up behind them. It was brightest behind the humans.

Eventually, no matter how large the spillway, the dam would break. Even if they had decided not to resist him, and had consciously and deliberately allowed the energy to transit through them they would still, eventually have to summon their Units because by their very beings they offered resistance and the energy would burn them and their Units would act to protect them. At that point the energy would pour into him.

Tsuyosa smiled. It was only a matter of time. He breathed deeply feeling the energy flow towards him. It was soft and gentle and it soothed his senses. "Come to me," the black Guyver Lord whispered as the energy built around him.

It built and built and the energy glow coming from the conduits grew until the room looked almost like a giant spider web. But it was not complete. The centre was not defined and the energy was held back, no matter how much he yearned for it. It just needed to break through and in time, it would.

There was a flash from below and Tsuyosa knew without looking that Ramus had summoned his Unit. It began driving energy into the conduits and the black Guyver Lord was pleasantly surprised when he felt Alkanphel's Clone follow suit. The human could have held out much longer but he was probably confused, and in his confusion he had followed the trend. The being known as the Tekki held back a tight grin. The energy from his fellow Terran Guyver had not reached him, but it would put considerable pressure on Tetsuro to hold the energy back, and that Terran was already strained.

The next break in the One's followers were those below Agito. Sylyn and Forrinimi broke almost at the same time. The Mangoran Healer and Kyheenan Warrior released their energy with almost identical screams. The energy flowed through their tier empowering Dinshika, Rasulmin and Wanyar who seemed energised. Dinshika was already giving his all but he seemed to rally. His fellow engineer was giving a more steady power output and Tsuyosa felt the Kintoth's calm assurance of her power. Rasulmin may not have the sheer brilliance of Tetsuro, or the mindless dedication of Dinshika but she was stable. She thought everything through, and it was calming that the slow and steady Guyver was confident of her ability. Wanyar was Heborae's Healer and the Febrin had a similar calm to Rasulmin. The two of them had been placed under Agito to pressure Hayami and Shizu as the other two humans would act as a buffer. Tsuyosa hoped that Heborae would be able to efficiently cycle Wanyar's energy towards Agito. Of all the Terran Guyvers, it was Agito who was in the best condition and his fellow Guyver Lord Warrior would fight from sheer spite. He would lose but he would delay the inevitable.

Iythra gave in next, sobbing her request for forgiveness to her Mistress. Mizuki was in no position to give it but Tsuyosa already knew there was nothing to forgive. Against the energy of Tallowa, Unohan and Jetlene Iythra was just the first to give in. Alkard and Vensa were both still struggling and if Aptom had of been conscious, the black Guyver Lord imagined that the Emperor's Warrior would deign to look bored. The Zoanoid was aware of the importance of appearance in some combat. It wouldn't matter but Tsuyosa could appreciate a good act. 'Nyataran's fellow Artarmon was next and Tsuyosa held back a pleased smile when he realised one layer of one tier was fully powered but he had no time to consider that before he sensed Alkard's energy joining the fray.

Beneath his armour Tsuyosa closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He could feel the energy approaching him and he could feel his Unit yearning towards it. It was just beyond his reach and the three Guyver Lord's beneath him were holding back most of the torrent but even without it he could feel his Unit growing, he could feel it changing as it immersed itself in the whole. Information that had been closed to him opened but always the identity of the One was hidden. He asked but there was no answer and there was nothing he could do but remain patient. He would know soon enough.

Tarnsi screamed her sorrow to the world as her resolve was broken and Tsuyosa could feel the tears the Kyheenan Empress was shedding. She had held out as best she could but only one non Terran Guyver was still resisting and even as Tsuyosa thought that Vensa cried out. The Jyt'nr Warrior did not serve the One directly but the Tekki Leader thought that perhaps the Dunrossil was one of those who had asked the Guyver's mistake to interfere in their civil war. It was a question which no longer had any relevance as the answer would change with the future because the One would no longer be able to answer. After today the Guyvers and the Universe would have to find their own path. It might be harsh but that was the only way they could grow, the only way they could mature and Tsuyosa would bear the burden until the others realised that.

Brown eyes opened and already he could see the brightness increase from the conduits and couldn't help but wonder how bright it would be with the Terran's energy. He could sense them. They were aware of the energy building up but most of them were using methods to hold it back. They were all resisting the energy flow because no matter their previous history, they were doing their best to shield each other. Shizu was fierce in her determination to shield Agito and Hayami's composed acceptance of the situation provided another layer of feeling to that side of the pyramid. Aptom was shielding Mizuki as best he could and for once the two of them shared similar thoughts. Natsuki was doing her best to shield Tetsuro but with Alkanphel's Clone already pouring energy into the Guyver Engineer and her position there was only so much she could do.

The energy provided by each Unit was similar but it was the Host's ability to direct that energy which had determined their positioning. While the other races would try, it was an undeniable fact that humans simply could handle more energy than they could, as was proven by the current state of Yisuvac's creation. The Terrans were holding back the energy, standing up to it while the others had been forced to submit, to allow the energy to flow through them while adding their own. None of the Terrans were weak but he could not allow them to show their absolute power here.

He sensed more than heard Hayami groan, the Zoanoid Guyver gasping at the energy that was being poured into him. The man was a healer and the energy was the wild untamed energy used by a warrior and with a whisper Tsuyosa felt the One's Gigantic Guyver Healer's energy join the conduits. The force of it was too much for Shizu, who had been positioned beside him. She had held back all the others but Hayami almost doubled the energy flow and that overwhelmed her though the black Guyver Lord could feel the Engineer's anguish. This was not protecting her husband.

:Let go,: Tsuyosa gave the order, immersing himself in the feeling of his Unit. He could feel himself sinking deeper and deeper into the combined consciousness that was the Guyver Units and he was discovering the Universe through it but there were things he could feel hidden. Each Unit was fighting to hold back something about their Host, something embarrassing, something they cared for, Tsuyosa didn't care. Those little memories they could keep, he had no interest in them because there was only one memory he wanted and it was carried by them all, the identity of the One. But that was firmly hidden and as he reached out with his senses he could not even get a hint of where it was even as he felt more connected to everyone than he had ever before.

He had been created alone, created to be unique amongst the Advent's experiments. He was meant to be a compliment to Alkanphel but never connected. The Zoanoids were to be the Advent's Army, led by their supreme creation, Alkanphel who would join them together by the power of his mind. Tsuyosa had been created almost as a curiosity, as something they wanted to prove to themselves that they could make, but as something which would be called upon if the Zoanoids failed. He was meant to be a last resort, hidden away, never spoken of and never connected. He had breed. He had named his children but he had never known them, never had the sense of family he knew others had and the crush of the Units now, surrounding him, supporting him, moved him in more ways than he had anticipated. There was a tight pain over Tsuyosa's heart and he extended his mind, mentally embracing all the Units and their Hosts. They were now his family. To some extent, even the One was his family.

:Let go,: he repeated the instruction his voice gentle, holding the love of a brother to sister and beneath his armour a soft smile graced Tsuyosa's features. He let his feelings be carried with the words and was pleased when he felt Natsuki give a little. She hated him. The raw emotion burned in her presence but she was a sensible lass, she knew how sterile hatred was and how it lead to nothing at all, so even with the force of emotion there was grudging acceptance. She didn't like it, but she felt it and it was to that part of her he appealed. It warred with her desire to protect Tetsuro and while Tsuyosa knew that in any other situation her protective instincts would win, he knew he had the advantage this time.

He did and she was nowhere near as accepting as Hayami when energy washed through her. Later, much later he would praise her for standing so long against the energy of Alkanphel's Clone. She deserved that much at least but only when she was ready to hear it. Aptom hissed, taking his attention. The One's Warrior had been placed above Alkard and Iythra but the energy from the others was also coming to him. He was no longer bothering to even attempt to shield Mizuki and Tsuyosa could feel the man burning with hatred. But it wasn't all directed at him and that caused him a moment of pause before he resisted the urge to chuckle. Aptom was very elemental. He hated Tallowa because the Mangoran would not acknowledge his superiority. He hated Yisuvac for supporting his warrior in what Aptom believed was suicide and he hated the rest of Tsuyosa's followers on principle. But mixed with the hatred of Tallowa and Yisuvac was a sense of satisfaction and Tsuyosa frowned, reaching out towards them to discover the reason.

Connected to the whole as he was, their Units could not hide the information for long and beneath his armour Tsuyosa's lips quirked involuntarily. Aptom was a consummate warrior but he could also be a monster and he had embraced that part of him when fighting Tallowa. Between her and her Master, Yisuvac, the bond was weak. It had been strong. When it had been formed, it had shone to his senses but now it was a shadow and Tsuyosa could see the broken jagged edges of trust lingering between them. They would rebuild what they had lost in time, but not today. Tsuyosa was almost surprised the One had allowed such an attack but the One supported Aptom and in its own way it could be as vicious as the Hyper Zoanoid Guyver. But right at the moment the One was not supporting anyone and Aptom was an adaptable creature. There was only so long he could hold out against the push of energy before he simply adapted to let it through. As Tsuyosa watched it happened, and he focused his eyes down to the pyramid to see it light up with the Zoanoid's energy.

Now the only bottleneck was at the top, with the three Guyver Lords who lay below him.

:Stop it!: The voice was sharp and lacked the echoing layers of the collective voice of the Guyvers.

Tsuyosa frowned. Who had spoken? He looked down through Yisuvac's device, but could see no one struggling because surely someone who had spoken like that would be struggling. But there was nothing. The humans were still unconscious and the other followers of the One were trapped by the energy flows. They had not spoken and so he cast his eyes wider, seeking the speaker.

There were a few Guyvers who had been captured but they were contained in rooms below where they could watch but could not interfere. Some were loyal to him, or they would be if they thought about it. He hadn't bothered converting anyone who did not already know their loyalties but some were loyal to the One. Had one of them spoken? But while they could watch, how had they known? How had they gotten their voice past his Unit's still active protection?

Fukamachi!

Brown eyes glared at the human but he appeared unconscious. While his Unit undoubtedly knew what was happening, Shō should be blissfully unaware. Yet that had been his voice. No energy had gotten to him, so he could not have used that to revive and the regular guyvers did not have sufficient energy…

After a moment Tsuyosa cocked his head to the side, an almost gentle smile on his lips. Fukamachi was truly a power unto himself. :This is the only way,: he replied, unsure if the boy would hear but acknowledging his request, even as he denied it before the black Guyver Lord turned his attention back towards the energy that was approaching him. His unit yearned towards it, sinking deeper and deeper into the collective but always remaining his. He let himself be embraced by his Unit, opening his arms to return the embrace. They were one, they had been one for a very long time, but he reaffirmed their connection now.

When Tetsuro broke, it was not gentle. The energy that had banked up behind him was rough and raw and it rushed towards Tsuyosa, pulling the Guyver Engineer's energy with it. It slammed into the Guyver Lord Warrior and for the first time, Tsuyosa felt what the others had been feeling. It burned, but at the same time it healed. It poured into him. It was a torrent. It was never ending and his Unit screamed: in pain, in joy, in ecstasy as it grew. It had no choice if it wanted to survive and while there were no physical changes, Tsuyosa could feel the plates of his armour shift, anticipating how they would change.

But it was not enough to accomplish his goals. He needed the others and still denied to him, protected was the identity of the One. The Units who were loyal, even now, were steadfast in their loyalty, in their protection.

Mizuki's energy was next and for once Tsuyosa was glad that the Terrans had resisted him. If they hadn't, if all the energy had been available to him since the beginning, he was honest enough to admit he may not have survived. There was so much! The energy from the rest of the Units was a plenitude but the energy from the three Lord Unit's beneath him… That was almost eclipsing the others. His Unit was accepting and already Tsuyosa could feel it beginning to change. This was what he had wanted and despite the pain, despite everything he smiled. It was only a matter of time now before he stood equal to the One and removed the Guyver's mistake.

And then the long-time of rebuilding could begin. Tsuyosa had no illusions. It would be hard, but he would lead them, he would show them the way, show them the truth so the future could be born, so the future could come around without the controls of the past. Brown eyes closed and Tsuyosa focused on assimilating the wild energy coming to him. Everything was as he had planned.

When the final dam broke, it was all at once. The energy that Agito had been holding back flowed into him and it was greedily sucked up by his Unit. It was far more voracious than he had ever thought possible but without thought and without consciously telling him Tsuyosa knew that his Unit was gobbling the energy because it would need every last mote of power to match the Emperor. He already knew that being was unnatural but seeing the power his Unit was assimilating, he was beginning to understand better.

Tsuyosa felt his Unit change and he felt himself changing with it. Everything opened to him and his connection to the whole, which he had thought to be near complete was expanded and for a moment the information overwhelmed him. He had thought the Units had only been hiding the identity of the One, he was wrong. He drowned in information, useless facts he did not need to know but he could not force from him. They were all connected. All this useless information formed the base of the combined consciousness of the Guyver Units and suddenly he understood that it hadn't ever been hidden, he just never paid attention to it. He preferred to use what the information created, rather than see the information itself.

Alkard's feeling of uncertainty of his welcome with his species warred with the knowledge of acceptance and it was that which connected to Tallow's acceptance by Yisuvac. The Mangoran's exile from her race connected to Vensa and Dinshika who were connected by their racial hatred of each other. Yet they were both tied to Dunrossil and Tsuyosa felt his understanding broaden when he realised every thought was connected to the universe.

The strongest connection was of course from the Lords. Mizuki's underlying love of all things, Agito's drive to succeed and Tetsuro's bright curiosity were obvious and formed just one of each of their connections to the greater whole. Heborae's need to prove herself was almost lost in Yisuvac's simple pride in his workmanship. Shizu was focused on protection but it was protection of a single being and both Xeo'm and Alkanphel's Clone radiated uncertainty. Xeo'm from her injuries. Alkanphel's Clone simply because he did not understand. He had the capacity for intelligence but it had mostly been crushed by Leoben and Tsuyosa felt a stab of rage.

But all those feelings linked back to the Universe, even as they meshed with each other. He could almost see it, a giant network of thought that connected them all with the lattice extending out into the universe. It was beautiful and it contained a power he had never considered but the Units had. They knew the power inherent in relationships, in the very thoughts that defined their Hosts and they had harnessed that.

New born stars were the kernels of ideas, full blazing suns were the plans and beliefs that were held dear. Each Unit connected to a myriad of them, more links that Tsuyosa could immediately see and comprehend. Dying stars were beliefs that were changing, being renewed or replaced and even though they were dying they were beautiful. Tsuyosa couldn't help but smile at everything he felt and he was a part of this. He was connected to his Unit and through that to the Universe, to everyone else. And they were connected to him and for one perfect moment there was no misunderstanding, there was no anger or hatred or resentment, there was only complete harmony, understanding and acceptance. Vikso'u'n in the purest sense.

It was beautiful. It was life in transcendental form and he could lose himself forever. It filled him with power, fuelled his desire and everything shifted around him even as he shifted. They all changed while remaining fundamentally themselves. And that's when he felt it; the Guyver's Mistake, one being who did not change because everything else changed for him, shifted to accommodate his desires, his whims.

It's hard to look around when you are reduced to thought, connected to so many others that their sheer numbers are chains but he did and Tsuyosa was surprised to find things still hidden. He felt and knew the inner most desires of every Guyver, he could hear planets whispering to their children, stars shouting to be heard in their galaxy and everything made sense. He knew why the Guyver's Mistake had only ever insisted that Dunrossil had brought the end to the civil war because he could feel that planet's grief. He could feel Terra's pride in her children, her humans, and he could feel other planets, just born whispering to the life forming on them, telling it to grow strong.

But it was more than that. Tsuyosa could feel the universe shifting around him and to change it, to mould it to his thought all he need to do was pull a string of desire. Change one here, move that one over to there and a star at the prime of its life died. No second changes, no explanations. It just died. Strum along that line of desire there and a race that hated you would now die for you, their love absolute and tweak that line there and one individual would do whatever you desired, without question, without hesitation. They belonged to you and even as you did that, changed everything to your whims, the universe altered so that there was no change, so that there was no difference, no abnormality and no evidence. Everything was as you desired because that was normal.

Except it wasn't! Tsuyosa raged, reaching through the threads, seeking to find the one who could control it all. Nothing should have that much power.

He stepped through thought and desire, ignoring the way things moved around him, driving deeper and deeper into where everything was tightly bundled, where the connections were more dense. There was resistance but he was beyond such and pushed through. He had gathered the power of them all for this and he would not be denied. He kept pushing and with less resistance than he expected he was there, at the centre of it all.

The threads closed behind him and the sphere was complete. He was in the centre of the web, the singular place the universe could be controlled from. It was oddly silent and devoid of any sense. Tsuyosa looked around and saw nothing. He spun again, seeing only emptiness and it was not until the third pass that he came face to face with … himself!

That was not possible and Tsuyosa stumbled back.

His other self remained motionless, brown eyes watching him, their depths expressing an obscure sadness.

No! The thought was pure. It was clear in the cacophony that now resided in his head. No! This was not possible! He was not the One. He did not wield power over the universe. His fight was not against himself!

The being before him, the one just watching smiled. "All men fight against themselves. For some, the battle is easy. For others it is a constant struggle against both their angels and their demons. I wonder which we are for each other?" The voice was not his own and the countenance vanished with the knowledge, crumbling away to reveal the truth.

Brown eyes once again met with brown and there was an instant of shocking familiarity before recognition dawned and a lance shot through Tsuyosa's soul.

"I've been waiting, Tsuyosa."

Shō didn't usually remember what happened to him when he was unconscious, and this time he wasn't sure he could truthfully say he remembered. He had no idea what was happening to his physical body but at least some part of his mind was aware. There was some gap in his perception but for the most part he had been aware but only within his mind.

His Unit was there too and they had started at each other for a few moments. :You're early,: it had said eventually and internally Shō had blinked. He was early for what?

:Come along Master, you can watch from here.: His Unit had ignored the question and had instead lead him through a myriad of threads to a central point. Everything came together at that point and the threads were densest there.

:I'll be ready soon,: Shō heard his Unit say before it disappeared again, leaving him before he could ask anything.

Brown eyes blinked and he looked around, examining what he could see. It didn't take long for Shō to realise that was he could see was far less interesting that what he could feel. The threads around him were weaving themselves in a perfect sphere. They were constantly in motion and they felt familiar.

Mizuki seemed to be standing there talking to her brother. Agito was to the side and Aptom was at his back. Shizu stood with her husband and she felt content. Hayami was listening to Mizuki and Natsuki was watching them all. Those were just the feelings he recognised immediately but there were others. His father was above him, watching with a gentle gaze but when Shō turned to look, there was no one there.

A voice that could only be his mother sang and Shō knew, even as he turned that once again there would be no one there but he did not feel frustrated. It felt like home and he took a moment to appreciate the peace the feeling invoked. It was safe and it would always be safe so long as he willed it.

Beyond, he could feel the others. Their threads seemed to clash but Shō knew the conflict was essential. Their ideals were not his but they were necessary. There had to be differences for life to evolve. There had to be differences for the universe to continue. They all built upon the whole. Heborae was there, so was Hosida and Alkanphel, and Imakarum, Valkus and everyone. Shō's eyes widened when he realised he could feel them all. Everyone he'd ever met and millions, billions he had never seen, would never see. They were all there.

Everything was.

The universe sang to him and through the threads he watched as stars coalesced, their fiery hearts just becoming alight. He saw them die, the graceful dance of their lives ending. He felt no fear, he felt no grief, instead it was a revelation, it was uplifting and Shō could feel himself smiling at the beauty that surrounded him. Everything came together because everything was connected and he stood now at the centre of it all.

His soul rejoiced and embraced everything and the lethargy which had been creeping in his mind fell away completely as energy filled him. He knew where he was, who he was and exactly what he had to do. His sense of purpose was complete and comforting yet it yielded to his desires and Shō closed his eyes as eternity spun around him.

:Watch Master.: The voice of his Unit came to him and Shō instinctively turned towards it.

His gaze fell straight into the realm of the Units and he watched on as they worked. His Unit was there, the armour shifting and reforming. The Control Medallion glowed and Shō watched as tendrils extended to the Zoalord crystal he had taken from Murakami. But those tendrils did not just hold the crystal, they moved through it, they merged with it and Shō watched as the white armour opened to accept the crystal and the two became one.

Involuntarily he stretched one had out, seeking to run his fingertips over the smooth form of the white armour but Shō smiled to himself ironically when he realised it was not here. He was seeing everything so clearly but the armour, his Unit was still in the boost dimension. He understood now why his Unit had said it needed time. This was what it had been working on and as the armoured plats shifted back into one seamless whole, and the golden tendrils began aligning themselves over its form Shō sighed.

:I can come to you Master. All you need do is will it.:

Shō shook his head, wordlessly replying to his Unit that while he would welcome it, he did not require its presence with him at this stage. It was already so close. Everyone, everything was already so close.

He looked aside and he could see Maxwell on Earth. If he looked down Uryal'ng was on the bridge of the Kasd'n Goa directing it though some part of space. Mirai and Eternity were to his left, consulting with each other as they plotted a path to the future. He could see Rodriguez on Merrimu loading the first transports back to Earth. They were victorious! And Shō felt his hear soar with joy before it quietened and he looked through the threads for something, someone more specific.

Where was she? Where was Mizuki? Tetsuro? Aptom, Agito or Shizu? Where were Hayami and Natsuki? Surely they would be watching the ships return to Earth. It was what they had been waiting for, what they had hoped and prayed for. What they fought for. Where were they?

He spun once, looking everywhere.

:They are with you,: his Unit comforted him and Shō spun again, looking closer. He could feel them but he could not seem them and the sense of their presence was odd. It was as if they were miles away, as if they'd travelled away from him. He reached out but could not touch them and Shō frowned, his eyes narrowing with his focus as he concentrated on his friends. They were close and his willed his vision to clear, to show him and when he saw them he remembered everything.

This was Tsuyosa's plan. This was Tsuyosa's desire and his friends were held captive for it. They had fought, they had struggled, and they had done everything they could to avoid it but the black Guyver Lord Warrior had planned well. He knew the cost of his desire and while he was haunted by a few regrets he would pay the price of his desire. They all would because he needed them.

Unconsciously Shō growled. They were still held captive, their power was still draining away and all he could do was watch.

No! No! He would not let that be and unknowingly Shō curled his fingers akin to claws and reached out to break the bonds that held his friends in place.

:No Master! Not yet!:

:But..? They are suffering, their power is sliding away.:

:They are safe there.: The words made no sense and Shō frowned. His friends were in pain. :Tsuyosa will not let them go and the battle lies ahead,: his Unit continued and the instant the human's name came to him Shō's focus shifted to the Guyver Lord Warrior. He was the focal point and his already not inconsiderable power was growing as the energy from the others poured into him, augmenting his abilities. Shō watched as Tsuyosa seemed to transcend the others and his black armour shifted, almost reverting to its parasitic form but never leaving its host.

Almost instantly Shō's eyes flickered back to the white Guyver form he had seen earlier, the armour of the One.

:He's coming to challenge you.: The words were obvious but Shō said them all the same.

:He's coming to challenge you.: His words were returned and Shō frowned. Tsuyosa wasn't challenging him, he was challenging the Guyver's Emperor, he was challenging a being who could bend creation to his will.

:I will kill for you. I will die for you. I will make this Universe bow to you. I did not lie, master.:

Shō stumbled back, remembering the conversation with his Unit that seemed an eternity ago. His Unit had said that but it had also said many other things.

:My power?: Shō made the words a question, much as he had done then.

:It has always been your power,: hit Unit's answer came quickly and surely and their meaning was unchanged.

He blinked, looking back at the gleaming white armour of the One before Shō closed his eyes, seeing again the pain his friends were going through. He could save them but they could never back away from this final step. Once taken it would define the Universe and everything would be within his grasp. His Unit was silent, though Shō sensed it wanted to speak, to reassure him but he already knew it believed in him, it trusted and loved him. It would never betray him and if he was to take up that power and destroy the known Universe his Unit would support him, no matter what it thought of the action.

It was a sobering thought that something could trust you that much and Shō's lips quirked as he realised he trusted Mizuki that much. He trusted Tetsuro, and Hayami and Natsuki and Shizu. Not to the extent he trusted Mizuki but he trusted them all. He trusted both Aptom and Agito as well. Not in the same way as the others but he trusted them to fight, to hold true to the promises they made and he trusted Aptom to protect his back. He trusted Tarnsi, Iythra, Vensa, Alkard, Ramus, Sylyn, Olsynamantra, and Forrinimi, Uryal'ng, Hosida, Mirai and Eternity. He trusted them all in ways he hadn't even recognised until now.

They would be his guide. The power was his, it had always been his as his Unit had proclaimed and he could accept it. The universe would bow to his will but the Universe itself would contain him, would control him. It would keep him human.

Brown eyes opened and there was a soft smile on Shō's face has he reached out, summoning his armour. It flowed around him, forming around him from his feet upwards and as it wrapped him in its embrace Shō heard his Unit in his mind for possibly the last time. :I will kill for you. I will die for you and I will make this Universe bow to you, for that is your power and I am your power and I will be for all of my existence, my beloved Master.:

The last plate shifted into place and the last golden highlight draped regally around him and Shō was suffused with power. He looked around again and where the threads of the Universe had sung to him before, now they were reaching a crescendo, billions of voices all singing their own song. There were discordant notes and there was harmony and it was and always would be the way of the universe.

Almost reluctantly Shō turned his attention back to his physical location though his mind remained in the centre of it all. He saw his body lying still on the ground. His wounds were healed and he knew without knowing how he did that the Guyver Healer Lil-itu had done her best for him. His body seemed to be asleep but the others around him were not so relaxed. They sagged, exhausted but held in place by bonds that sapped their energy, feeding it upwards and his eyes followed the lines of power. Shō hardened his heart, forcing himself to look over those he knew as his gaze shifted upwards. He could help them soon but first the creator of this mess had to be dealt with. Perhaps he lingered on Mizuki for a moment but then he looked to Tsuyosa.

The already trim armour of a Guyver Lord had been refined further, much like the armour that graced him and Shō could feel the Tekki's consciousness approaching. Shō almost laughed at that.

He was unconscious but this was the most unusual form of unconsciousness that he had ever experienced. He felt more aware, more alive than ever. He could reach out and touch the stars and this moment in time, it wasn't just a figure of speech.

Shō waited. He wanted to move, to rescue his friends but he held back knowing that if he shifted too early all would be lost. The black Guyver Lord Warrior continued growing and in any other circumstances Shō would have been proud. He would have praised Tsuyosa but the other Guyver Warrior's efforts were born on the blood of others.

:So are yours,: a part of his mind said and Shō turned to face himself, his eyes downcast with sadness. What had he told Tallowa? He had gained power over the bodies of three others. That fact had not changed. His Father. Alkanphel. And himself, the man he would have been if nothing had changed.

But things always changed.

The universe was ever shifting as the cycle continued. Shō sighed and looked back at the self who blamed him, the self that held all his hatred. The self that was afraid.

:They are,: he agreed. :And they will always be.: Shō reached out in acceptance and his other self wavered.

:But I will never take more than they are prepared to give and my blood will be with theirs to form the foundation.: That was the truth and it was all he could give. It had nothing to do with his Unit and everything to do with who he was and his form reverted to human and Shō smiled. Everything came together and settled within and he felt that he was one with the Universe, as if there was nothing more that could be done.

Tsuyosa was fast approaching and the wave of his hatred, of his desire pushed everything aside. The black Guyver Lord Warrior was pure in his goals but he did not understand everything he was asking. He thought the power was the Unit, never realising that it came from within. Tsuyosa himself was pure. He may not understand but he carried the strength of his convictions. He did not cower afraid at a greater power, he saw it as a challenge, as something he needed to rise to, something he had to match. He was powerful but he bore his power comfortably and was not afraid to speak his mind. For someone who was created to never think, to never question, Tsuyosa had come a long way and Shō watched as he came through the threads of the Universe to stand with him.

In another time, another place they would have been friends but today they were enemies and Shō felt a passing regret that this is what would be. But Tsuyosa, like everyone who reached here had to get through the final barrier. It would not be an issue Shō realised as the other Guyver Warrior entered. For Tsuyosa the final test would merely be confirmation of his purpose, confirmation that his path was just.

The other human looked confused for an instant and Shō knew that Tsuyosa was seeing himself. A perfect mirror that knew all his thoughts, from whom nothing could be hidden. Shō smiled at Tsuyosa's denial, and for once the thoughts of the Leader of the Tekki were clear to read.

"All men fight against themselves. For some the battle is easy. For others it is a constant struggle against both their angels and their demons. I wonder which we are for each other?"

He did. Shō truly did wonder and only time would tell who was the demon and who the angel and in that instant Shō resolved that he would not influence history. He could do it now… He could reach out and pluck the threads so that no matter the outcome history would remember him as the angel but he would not and he knew that Tsuyosa would do the same. History would be recorded as it was but neither of them would influence it from the path it was to take naturally. Recognition dawned on Tsuyosa's face as he saw the truth and Shō looked over at the man he could have called friend. The words slipped from him, their noise loud in the silence of the centre.

"I've been waiting, Tsuyosa."

In the Tekki's stronghold, where Yisuvac had made his creation, Tsuyosa's armour shifted around him, compressing and lightening. It filled him with power. The black plates became white, shining with energy but he retained a reminder of his purpose, a piece of himself. The highlights, which on the One were gold, remained black on him. It was a distinction he paid no heed to as his brown eyes opened and looked down.

Tsuyosa was not surprised when his gaze was met by another's and for an instant the two of them simply stared. Then they moved.

There was no time for denial, no instant to lament. The black Guyver Lord Warrior had learned the truth and he could not step back from the abyss. He could not turn from his path.

The blindingly white and gold armour of the One flashed into existence instantly around its master and Tsuyosa could see that where before the armour had been incomplete, this time it was whole. He would face the Guyver Emperor at the peak of his power.

In the very instant before they joined in combat the two control medallions flashed in perfect harmony. They knew each other. They knew themselves and they knew that only one could be right. Dominance would only come with submission and submission would only come through absolute defeat. There was no other way.

The two of them met in the centre of Yisuvac's creation, two small white forms intent on destroying the other. Gold and black flashed for a moment before with an inrush of air they vanished.

Left behind, unconscious and drained of all power were the powered guyvers. Their units remained with them, supporting life but the battle that was to come would be over before they recovered.

In space the two white Guyvers appeared, locked together in combat. The light from their lasers flashed and pressure cannons clashed against each other. Neither spoke because they both stood at the centre of it all and there was no need to speak. They knew the other, they knew everything there was to know and when they touched the knowledge, the understanding passed between them.

They flickered again, to reappear in another part of space. Their battle ground was the galaxy and it would bear witness as the future was born. A thousand places they appeared in and neither gained an advantage in an elaborate game of tag where neither was it. They zipped around dying stars, chased through new born solar systems, danced through nebula, churning the gases wildly in explosions of colour. Sonic oscillations rippled then, creating shapes that would be observed on planets in millennia to come, leaving primitives to wonder how such patterns were made. They'd know in time but only when the questions were forgotten.

Both Guyvers had the power to change the universe with a thought, to make things happen with a gesture but both white forms shied away from their power. It was too new, it was too much, yet as the battle continued they embraced it; a gesture here, a token there until they were both integrated and whole. Then the universe truly answered their call. Planets rose to do their bidding and suns careened through the galaxy in a whisper of energy. It was brutal and ephemeral because neither could gain the upper hand.

In any other circumstance there would have been praise or jokes between the two. They were friends once but there was no place for that now. Though neither hated, not once the heat of the moment passed, and while understanding was absolute there was no longer any friendship.

The battle could have lasted a minute or millennia and neither was closer to victory when they separated. No words were spoken, nothing could be said and for a moment they shifted, looking at the other across the abyss. Space was silent with a pregnant pause. A shift was taken for a feint and countered before the movement was made. The silence grew and tensed. Waiting… But for what was not known. They were equal and like. White forms pristine and black and gold highlights settled back into place.

Tsuyosa would have thought that in this situation he would be frustrated but instead he was energised. He was excited and though he'd made no progress to defeat the One he felt confidence in the surety of their battle. This was something he'd never feel again. Despite that, there was not even a moment of hesitation. He had come too far for him to turn away, though he knew with certainty that the man before him would allow it. Not out of cowardice or sympathy or pity or guilt but because that was the man he was. Some would call him the better man, others would call him weak. It all depended on the point of view and from where he stood Tsuyosa could not discern Fukamachi's thoughts.

It made sense now, everything made sense and a thousand hints and clues fell into place. His reasoning had been skewed and it had always been but the Guyver Lord Warrior did not feel cheated. Shō had never lied to him. He, Tsuyosa, had lied to himself. He'd lied because he had not wanted to know because knowing might have broken his resolve. Shō was the free power because he was the one power who could not be cowed or threatened or bribed or coerced into doing anything he did not wish to. He was the Guyver Emperor because only that being had that much supremacy. Shō knew his place, he knew his desire, he knew his power and the rest of the galaxy struggled to keep up.

The thought had once brought Tsuyosa anger, now it brought resolve.

:I know what I want,: Tsuyosa thought to himself, fiercely, his eyes narrowing as he considered his options.

They were equal. Both units were refined as much as they could be and neither had power over the other. Bioenergy or lack thereof would not decide this conflict. Fukamachi was more skilled than Tsuyosa remembered but in the Guyver Emperor's movements, the formerly black Guyver Lord Warrior could see the tutelage of Aptom and Agito. Both had drilled the boy and the results were obvious. On the other hand he had extra ability fall back upon, Tsuyosa realised. He had every power of a Guyver Lord, he had the full power of the Guyver Emperor but so did his opponent. The Advents had created him to be fast and strong but they had not bothered to give him formal techniques in combat. He had no need for them. Until now he had been faster, stronger, better than all his opponents. Until now there had been nothing that could stand against him.

No! Fukamachi would not stand against him. He would not lose, not this close to the end. Not when he'd come so far. :I know what I want!: The thought was repeated and Tsuyosa reached out, harnessing the galaxy as he leapt forward again. The Advents had made him to host a Unit, he had a full suite of telepathic abilities, abilities the Unit could use and it was time he made use of them. He knew what he wanted. He'd always known. There was no place for the power of the One. Not here. Not now. Not ever. He would set the Guyver's free.

The battle was joined again.

In Tsuyosa's strong hold, those Guyvers who had been captured were the first to move. They'd been put in position where they could watch what was happening but they could not interfere. Tsuyosa's cells were too strong which just awoke the ire of many and they worked together in ways they never thought were possible to free themselves.

It was almost too easy and with the feel of guilt they realised there had been so much they could have done. Tsuyosa had kept them caged. He had kept them ignorant. He had known that they could break free but none of them had ever considered it. The implications made none of them happy but the task at hand was too serious for them to contemplate that. A concentrated fire of gravity globes opened the way to the chamber Yisuvac had created and once there they were dismayed.

The powered Guyvers were there, all in position and all unmoving. Tsuyosa was gone but so was Fukamachi and they could only imagine the battle that was happening. Their Unit's refused to say, the echo of fear strong in their voices.

"We've got to get them down." It was unclear who spoke but the words got everyone moving and the captured Guyvers launched themselves upwards. Engineer Guyvers took the top tiers, gently disentangling Agito, Mizuki and Tetsuro from the bonds that held them in place before lifting them down to the floor to where the Healer Guyver's had gathered.

"These are human!" one objected. "You saw what happened to Lil-itu!'

"Then we will just have to be stronger than Lil-itu!" another countered.

"It wasn't that bad!" the mentioned Guyver Healer spoke. "You just have to make sure you control how much energy to give them, or they drag it from you."

"What about those loyal to him?" someone else asked the question before the rest of the Healers could get into a debate with Lil-itu.

"Get them down as well. This is not the time to worry about that. Besides," the speaker's voice took on a drawling tone, "they aren't in any condition to do anything."

That was true. Both the powered Guyver's loyal to the One and those loyal to Tsuyosa were unconscious. They'd all been drained in his bid to topple the Guyver Emperor and no matter the outcome they were all equals now. Slowly all the powered Guyvers were cut lose and tentatively the Healers began. They held back from the humans, preferring to deal with any of their own species first and then the other aliens. Eventually though, once the others were out of danger though still unconscious, it became apparent that they had to deal with the humans. "Which one should we try first?"

"One of their healers. If we revive one maybe they'd be able to help." The thought was logical and without further consultation the Healer Guyvers surrounded Mizuki's form. Her apricot armour was still in place but her breathing was laboured. Unlike the other powered Guyvers, the humans had visible wounds. Tsuyosa had needed to anchor them in place in the event that they awoke and blood was seeping sluggishly from their hands and feet.

"I'll take the lead," Lil-itu volunteered. "But I need you to pull me out if it goes too far. I'll heal the bleeding first then we'll see."

The others nodded, the gesture not quite hiding their nerves as Lil-itu reached out to place one hand over Mizuki's injured palm. The tip of her Guyver armour glowed with healing energy and the other Guyvers and Healers watched. Nothing happened. Or at least nothing spectacular occurred. The blood seeping through Mizuki's fingers slowed then stopped and before their watching eyes they saw the skin on her palm knit itself together. Lil-itu moved to her other hand and then to her feet. Each time the energy flowed and each time her body healed and never once did Mizuki make a grab for more energy than Lil-itu was prepared to offer. Perhaps Fukamachi was different?

"What the?" The startled cry broke the silence and Lil-itu wasn't the only one to trip backwards with what she saw. Mizuki's Unit… over her palm's the tendrils which formed the Unit were wriggling, surging towards each other, covering her skin and as the gathered Guyver's watched the tendrils met and merged and smoothed to become whole. "She's still got energy?" the question was rhetoric.

"Yeah…" The voice harboured exhaustion but came from the side. "We still got energy," it said making the statement obvious and the gathered Guyver's were shocked when the white form of a Gigantic Guyver Warrior sat up, shaking his head slightly to clear the cob webs away. Aptom. The Guyvers recognised the form as the Zoanoid seemed to sag. He held up one hand and as everyone watched his skin became whole and his Unit healed itself.

Tiredly Aptom struggled to his feet before he looked upwards. "So it's you Fukamachi." In the chamber where the beginning of the end started, surrounded by those loyal to the One and those not, the words were odd. They were held understanding and acceptance and even though he had no energy to spare, the watching Guyvers felt Aptom's presence. It was shockingly strong, almost infinite in strength and they realised then, that this was the power of one of the Emperor's direct servants. Most vowed then and there never to get on his bad side. Aptom didn't seem to notice them, instead he stumbled over to the prone form of Hayami and knelt down to shake the other Zoanoid. The slight stumble did nothing to shatter the illusion of strength. If anything it reinforced it. Even exhausted, Aptom seemed like he could take them all on.

"Wake up, Toshiaki," the white Gigantic Guyver Warrior muttered. "You're needed."

The other Zoanoid groaned but roused, following Aptom's lead as he slowly sat up, shaking his head before peering around. Hayami hissed, holding his hands up as the wounds healed themselves. "He really did a number on us didn't he?"

"Yeah, but Fukamachi's dealing."

"Heh," there was volumes not said in the short laugh Hayami gave as he rose. Aptom steadied his fellow Zoanoid slightly.

"See if you can wake up Mizuki. We're gonna need her to work on Tetsuro," Aptom said the last sadly looking over at the elder Segawa's form. Even unconscious it was easy to tell that Tetsuro was in pain. His breathing was more laboured than the others and the effects of energy burns were not helping the injuries had had already sustained at Xeo'm hands.

With so many unconscious Guyvers, the Unit's should have been running amok. They weren't. They were just as exhausted as their hosts and nothing short of something life threatening would active their automatic defences. Hayami realised that, so did Aptom and the white Guyver Warrior moved to stand guard as Hayami treated Mizuki. Thankfully the One's Gigantic Guyver Healer was quick to treat the energy burns Mizuki suffered and with a pained groan she awoke.

Her sensors looked around for her and it was obvious she was disoriented. "We call got captured, Miz-chan," Hayami said gently. "Are you well enough to heal?"

For a moment Mizuki said nothing and her movements betrayed her pain. They were stiff and lethargic but as she moved further they became more fluid. To the watching Guyvers it was unsettling that her sensors never stopped moving but after a moment she gasped and they settled, all pointing towards her brother. "Tetsuro!" With a flash she was up and at his side, hands glowing with energy. "Hayami, wake up Natsuki then come and help me!" Her voice was firm with the order and the Zoanoid Guyver nodded, already moving towards Natsuki's prone form.

Natsuki was a Guyver Healer. Though her interest was not in healing, her energy would be invaluable. "Get as many of the other healers awake as you can," Mizuki continued.

"That's going to be difficult," Lil-itu wasn't sure what made her speak. "They aren't as resilient as you." They'd healed the others as best they could but the humans were now capable of healing themselves. The others though, while they were out of danger would need a lot of rest before they were functional. Whatever Mizuki needed, they would not be able to provide.

It was difficult to tell if Mizuki heard. Her healing energy was focused on the silica coloured Engineer Guyver Lord before her. Even his armour was slightly misshapen and the furtive looks sent towards Xeo'm unconscious form spoke volumes. But none of the Terran Guyvers made a move towards the Vad'm. Hayami continued moving slowly waking up the others with a bit more grace than Aptom had shown him. Agito and Shizu embraced with the stilted formality of an Emperor to his Empress. They had displayed affection in public on Earth but it was always rehearsed. True affection in their relationship was shown only in private. No one commented and as the floor space filled, no one asked the question everyone wanted to know.

Lil-itu was sure that at least some of the humans could feel how the fight was coming but none of them commented. Watching their interactions with each other, it was hard to tell if they were even thinking about it but they were calm and that calm was spreading to the other Guyver's present.

It was shattered a moment later by Mizuki's startled cry. "Don't you dare do this to me Tetsuro!" Even for aliens the anguish in her tone was clear to hear and it struck a chord with the humans. Natsuki, who had just been woken up leapt forward, her outstretched hands already glowing as she knelt opposite to Mizuki with Tetsuro between them.

Silently the other humans moved to stand behind Mizuki and Natsuki. Agito and Shizu reached out, each placing one hand on Natsuki's shoulders as their control medallions flashed. The gesture was mimicked by Aptom and Hayami with Mizuki. There was no glow to betray the transfer of energy but it was felt by everyone and slowly Tetsuro's form appeared to become healthier. The other guyvers watched though there were whispers from those who did not understand. Those who had been captured the longest explained what was happening as best as they could. Tsuyosa, while usually happy to inform his prisoners of events, did not relate everything.

Lil-itu watched. The level of energy flowing through the humans… It was insane. They shouldn't have that much energy. She could tell that they were tired but they did not suffer from the absolute exhaustion that Tsuyosa's followers did. It made no sense. Yisuvac's creation had been made to drain them all equally and Tsuyosa himself would have known what a human could do. He would have ensured the Engineer knew and accounted for that. How had the humans recovered so quickly? Why did they silently know what to do?

The humans were not interested in answering such questions and all Lil-itu could do was watch as eventually the glow faded from both Mizuki and Natsuki's hands. The two women pulled back though Natsuki moved to cradle Tetsuro's head in her lap. The others remained standing, almost as if they were guarding their fallen comrade.

"How is it going?" Natsuki broke the silence as she looked up.

"It's hard to say,"Agito replied after a moment. Aptom nodded, confirming the Emperor's words.

"Ano…" One of the other Guyvers murmured. The noise was enough to bring attention and the six humans turned towards the speaker. The humans had known the other Guyvers were there but since they posed no risk, they had been absorbed in their own dramas. Lil-itu watched as the humans seemed to communicate with each other with a few looks and odd gestures.

:Look at them! They are like sheep!: Aptom snorted to his companions, secure that his Unit would keep the communication private.

Shizu took a slightly gentler tone. :I don't think they planned what to do after getting free.:

:It's not like we did either,: Hayami returned mildly, his statement lacking the sharp sarcasm that accompanied Aptom's.

Mizuki said nothing. The look she was directing towards Agito spoke volumes. 'You wanted this, Agito Makishima. You wanted to lead, so lead.' To Aptom, if it had been on Earth, before God's Ascension it would have been funny. Now it merely signified that the Rebellion had come to an arrangement with the Emperor, probably through Tetsuro. For all that he had been a leader of the Rebellion, Aptom knew he was a fighter first.

The black Guyver Lord Warrior stepped forward. These Guyvers weren't human but they no doubt held positions of power within their Governments. It would be well that they deferred to him.

Agito stretched his senses out. They confirmed what he already knew. Fukamachi was still locked in combat against Tsuyosa and neither had gained the upper hand. "There is not much we can do now, but wait," he announced.

There was a snort from the side, where Aptom had almost instinctually moved so that he could watch everyone while protecting his back. His blades flashed. "The outcome is determined," he said, his entire posture radiating confidence as his pearl plate eyes glowed. "All that remains is to find out what he wants done with these others."

Lil-itu shivered. Ominous only began to describe the white Gigantic Guyver's tone but she knew well enough that in the battle being fought at the moment the winner took it all and Aptom had no reason to believe that his Master would not be the one to take it all.

Shō ducked under a jab from Tsuyosa, spinning to avoid the follow up before he sent his own punch towards the white Guyver. Tsuyosa was good. His movements were fluid though Fukamachi could see the development in human abilities since the Advent's had created him. It did not give him an advantage. If anything humans had sacrificed instinct for technique. That made Tsuyosa's reaction time faster. Shō wondered how he'd fair against a true martial artist but the question was irrelevant. Tsuyosa, like him, would simply use his Unit to compensate or they would use the knowledge of the Universe. Everything was linked, so if you knew what to look for you could anticipate or counter anything.

A sudden scream pulled at Shō's attention and automatically he cast around, his senses spread out to locate the source of distress. He moved without thinking, vibroblades lancing out to attack the white form and Shō let his mind tangle with the threads of reality driving Tsuyosa away from some while the former Guyver Lord Warrior dug in at other positions. The scream stopped and Shō was thankful for the quiet as the planet whispered its thanks.

Even as they clashed again, in brief but vicious slashes blocked and returned, Shō felt the threads of reality quiver. He plucked some, feeling their vibrations aid him before Tsuyosa slammed down, cutting the harmony. And again they clashed, this time neither of them bothered with reality as each fired their weapons, then deflected the incoming energy. Unity, synergy, they drew from each other but neither consciously gave and neither authorised the taking. It was instead born of absolute understanding because they both knew the other perfectly in the instant their weapons clashed.

Gravity globes met and merged and died. Lasers splashed up against each other and in nebulas waves of vibration cancelled each other out. Neither white form gained the upper hand, and as one they both closed on the other. Shō jabbed forward with a right hook before he leaned back, flipping over to try to catch Tsuyosa with his feet. The other white guyver raised one arm to block the movement before rocking back, avoiding the kick. He rebounded, thrusting one leg towards Fukamachi's back but the Guyver Emperor anticipated that and spun, twisting out of the way. Shō made a move to grab at the white Guyver's foot but Tsuyosa was too fast and drew back even as Fukamachi righted himself.

They were in space, orientation was relative but important and neither paused before they closed again. Tsuyosa teleported, trying to come up behind Shō to land a blow to the other's head but Fukamachi turned, raising his arms to block the double fists of the other white Guyver. It left his abdomen exposed and the former Guyver Lord Warrior took advantage of it, driving his knee into Shō's guts. The hit hurt, but so had previous blows and Fukamachi was fast to recover turning his block into a downward hit of his own as he scampered backwards. He connected solidly with Tsuyosa's thigh but did not remain in close quarters to follow up the blow. Tsuyosa had the advantage of height at the moment and had he to negate that.

The other Guyver followed him, attempting to press his advantage but Shō was well versed in fighting at a disadvantage. It was his entire life. As Tsuyosa punched at him, he twisted to the side, bringing one of his arms over the hit to drive the other Guyver's arm down. If he'd used his vibroblade he could have potentially cut off the limb but Tsuyosa was wary of that. For the moment this was a fist fight of unbelievable power and speed. Even as he drove Tsuyosa's arm down, Shō's other arm rotated in to drive away the follow up punch before he raised his leg, much as Tsuyosa had done to him and drove a solid kick into the white Guyver's abdomen.

As he had pulled back, so did Tsuyosa and as Tsuyosa had Shō followed, driving his advantage as the other warrior instinctively curled slightly to protect themselves. Shō brought one hand down, hitting the back of Tsuyosa's head but before he could do anything further, the other Guyver teleported away. Shō followed him instantly and they reappeared together in another part of space. Asteroids floated gently around them varying in size from almost planet sized boulders to tiny specks of dust. There was a gas giant of a planet beneath them, the swirling patterns of its winds always moving.

They barely noticed the quiet beauty. A gravity globe appeared in Tsuyosa's hand and Shō teleported to his side, bringing a chop down on the arm. The other guyver dodged back and fired the missile anyway. It missed but an instant later Fukamachi realised it was always intended to miss when it slammed into one of the larger asteroids. The rock disintegrated, flinging particles everywhere adding a new dimension to their battle as they dodged each other and the rocks. The rock could not truly hurt either of them, but it was distracting and that distraction could create openings.

Shō soccer kicked one of the shards of rock at Tsuyosa before he teleported behind another to kick it and another. The other Guyver blocked them easily but when he expected another rock this time he got Fukamachi and the two of them began again with their battle. Vibroblades flashed and for a moment they glared at the other, as their elbows locked. Neither tried to kick the other as both expected it. The lock was broken when Tsuyosa twisted to the side disengaging one of his vibroblades before he grabbed Fukamachi's wrist pulling the other white Guyver with him. It looked almost as if they were dancing, but their dance had a deadly purpose and Tsuyosa flung the other Guyver towards one of the asteroids firing, three gravity globes at him with head beam lancing through space to follow them in short order.

Fukamachi teleported away, flicking himself into position behind the asteroid but the weaponry of the Guyver Emperor, while similar to a regular Guyver was far more powerful. The three gravity globes hit the large asteroid successively impacting to make a larger and larger crater, then the lasers hit and the asteroid shuddered and shattered, breaking apart. Tsuyosa charged in the wake of his own attack pushing through the asteroid to confront Shō and was immediately glad that he did when the other guyver dived away from what he recognised as a forming focusing point for the Mega-smasher. The golden highlights which had been spinning to create the circle broke apart and drove themselves like spears towards the oncoming Guyver form and with his vibroblades Tsuyosa swatted them away but his pre-occupation with them meant that he missed Fukamachi teleporting away again this time to his side to fire his own gravity globe.

A snap of shield protected him but it signalled that they were once against escalating the battle. Shō appeared to be in twenty places at once as he teleported but Tsuyosa could play that game and as the images of Fukamachi began kicking the asteroids towards him, the former Guyver Lord Warrior began dodging and kicking his own asteroids towards the versions of Fukamachi he could see. To the side, hiding behind a particularly large rock he formed the focusing circle of his mega-smasher. It was delicate work because between every teleport he returned to the ring. It would disintegrate without his attention but he had to keep Shō occupied and that meant appearing to be dodging and returning fire with the asteroids. In any other period, the energy drain would have left him gasping, this time, Tsuyosa merely shrugged it off. The galaxy was his energy source and it was infinite.

The power grew and it seemed an instant later that Tsuyosa gave up the charade as he teleported for the final time into position behind the asteroid. He reached out one hand, gently touching the focusing point made by his dark highlights. Now all he had to do was find the true Shō. It didn't take long, the asteroids the other was kicking thudded into the one he was hiding behind but even Fukamachi realised there was something wrong when Tsuyosa made no move to attack.

He only heard it because he was listening with all his senses. There was no noise in space, but in the realm of the Guyvers there was instant communication, though with the powered Guyvers exhausted it was mostly silent until there was a startled gasp. It shouldn't have revealed a physical position but it did and without even pausing, Tsuyosa spun turning upwards, dragging his focusing circle with him as he fired his mega-smasher.

The energy beam was met by another and it was with a startled pleasure that Tsuyosa realised that Fukamachi had had the same thought as him. The two white forms poured energy into the beams and heat travelled outwards. Neither of them noticed, nothing short of the full power of a sun would cause either discomfort. Even then it would be a simple matter to persuade the sun that it wouldn't hurt them. Resolutely Tsuyosa reached out, touching the threads of reality but as he was about to strike Shō's presence flared and the boy poured more energy into the beam. The former Guyver Lord Warrior mentally shook his head and let his mega-smasher fade, dodging as Fukamachi's energy beam lanced through his position before he teleported away. Resisting the urge to growl Shō followed letting his energy fade as the gold highlights forming the focusing point disintegrated.

What neither knew or cared about was that in the future, three of the asteroids that they had carelessly flung at each other would impact on planets. The effects of this battle would echo through time for more than just the Guyvers.

Shō landed in another part of space. Neither had spoken but they seemed to agree that planets would be too damaged by their battle. But Tsuyosa had used the slight moment of his hesitation to prepare and Fukamachi found himself within a greatly enlarged, atmosphere filled gravity globe being bombarded by sonic oscillations. Pain lanced through him but instantly he released his own, quickly matching the frequencies Tsuyosa was using. The white and black guyver form had never underestimated the damage sonic oscillations could do and was not shy about using them. Shō said nothing as he slashed his vibroblades forwards, trusting their own oscillations to protect the cutting edge from the fading sound waves. The gravity globe vanished and the atmosphere scattered but Fukamachi recognised the usefulness of the tactic and even as he closed with Tsuyosa he planned his own variation.

Shō dodged upwards, letting his blades match Tsuyosa's as he moved. So far the battle had been about strength and wits. Most would have said that the two of them were immortal and in other circumstances that would be true. Wounds were healed with ease and even if a limb was lost that would only be cause for pain before it regenerated. But that's what they were trying for. All the manoeuvring, all the destruction was merely to gain advantage because the first one who could close with the other, truly close with the other would have victory. There was only going to be one victor and there was only going to be one guyver walking away from this battle. The medallion of the other would either be destroyed or inactive. It was time to show Tsuyosa his own gravity globes.

The other guyver dodged, nimbly moving away from the gravity globes Fukamachi was firing at him intermittently while they clashed though to Tsuyosa's sharp eyes there was something not quite right about these gravity globes. Even in the silence of space they hummed as if the other white guyver had infused them with something extra. As one brushed against his side and he heard the echo of a scream he understood. They were filled with atmosphere and resontating through them were sonic oscillations. Now that was a very interesting use of weaponry in space but nothing he had the time to be impressed with. Instead he moved their battle again, teleporting away, trying to see if he could use the same trick twice but knowing that it was highly unlikely. As expected, Shō followed him closely allowing Tsuyosa no time to set the trap but before he could consider, Shō teleported away again, leading the other white guyver on a merry chase across the galaxy while forming a new plan. Fukamachi grinned realising that the core of his plan was speed. That and prodigious use of energy. This plan would use more energy than anything he had ever done.

Just for an instant, a moment in the boost dimension between jumps into real space Shō closed his eyes sending out a silent prayer. It seemed sacrilegious to call upon Alkanphel to help him devise a method to kill the Zoalord's friend but it was worse to pray to himself, yet he was the only one he could rely upon here. He was sure his Father, even Alkanphel agreed with his desires, but it was only his strength, his ability which would carry the day. It was a humbling thought. :Father… Alkanphel… Me… Please…: There wasn't much more he could say. His Father loved him and would support. Alkanphel would be split but had warned Tsuyosa that this was a battle he shouldn't undertake. And his will was set. There was no turning back.

Shō teleported to five positions, assessing them instantly, before moving to one last location. They'd only ever run forwards in this battle, never backwards. Even as he thought that, his mind altered the positions, picking out other locations for his plan. And then he clashed with Tsuyosa. Shō moved close, trying to lock the other Guyver into position before he flickered. One. A left hook flew above his head as he ducked instinctively, throwing a kick out before he flickered again. Two. He changed the kick into a sweeping motion before dancing backwards as Tsuyosa loomed over him and then Fukamachi flickered as he rose up to meet the other white guyver. Three. He leapt forward sending a series of fast jabs towards the other Guyver's face forcing Tsuyosa to raise his arms in defence. A moment of obscured vision was all Shō needed to flicker again. Four. A backflip and he could feel the brush of his toes against the white of Tsuyosa's armour but it was not enough and even as he moved through space Shō launched himself while perpendicular to Tsuyosa. It caused the other Guyver to shift to meet him and he flickered again. Five.

Now for the hard part. Five anchors were in place in the five locations he'd chosen and teleported to. For this to work now, he had to feed them all energy, and feed them as evenly as possible before he drew each together. Five mega-smasher blasts should incapacitate even a guyver as powerful as Tsuyosa. It didn't have to be for long, just for a moment. That would be enough. If he was fast enough. Tsuyosa knew he'd teleported but he'd always come back which was no doubt confusing the other man but now Shō had to do it faster but while he was fighting.

They faced off again and Shō let his mind travel out, locking on to the positions he'd established as he flicked his hands out. His armour shifted with his thought and on each fingertip a tiny blade formed. Aptom had shown him how to do this, how to fight as if he was a zoanoid and he needed it now, that advantage. With a snarl he dove forward, swinging his new formed claws aiming to eviscerate the other guyver. Tsuyosa moved to block and Shō flickered before following his first slash with another, one aiming upwards. He flickered again and this time didn't bother to reappear exactly where he had been. He reappeared behind Tsuyosa but the other man turned to meet him and Fukamachi flickered again.

They continued the dance. Shō knew it was frustrating the other man but the strike had to be perfect. He flickered again and this time it was Fukamachi's turn to feel frustration when he reappeared to find Tsuyosa gone. It took less than a heartbeat to find the other Guyver and Shō was thankful that the other man hadn't followed in his wake but had moved forward again. He gave chase. It was challenging to split his attention but this was what had to be but the instant Shō hit gravity he knew what Tsuyosa planned. The other white Guyver had done it before but in this battle, repetition didn't matter if the tactic worked.

He screamed as the oscillations pounded into him. Instantly he thought of a solution. If you could fill a gravity globe with atmosphere then there was no reason that you couldn't remove that atmosphere but Fukamachi wasn't sure he could devote the attention to it. He couldn't just teleport to a new location either since that would allow Tsuyosa free reign and Fukamachi knew that the other Guyver had located where he had been. There was no choice, he had to try. Even as he flickered again, maintaining the energy feeds to the focus points, he reached out, touching the rim of Tsuyosa's globe. Blood pooled in his mouth as he reversed the feeds, expelling the atmosphere. As he did that, the vibrations dissipated and Shō dived headlong to engage once again in close quarters combat. His Unit healed him as it always had.

It was an odd battle. Shō drove his new formed claws at the other white guyver. What the attacks lacked in style they made up in speed and ferocity. There were times when Shō would have connected with Tsuyosa but the flickering of his teleportation meant that he missed, and there were times when the former Guyver Lord Warrior successfully blocked but Shō managed to get passed his guard. The wounds were superficial and healed before Shō even reappeared but they were annoying to the other Guyver.

Tsuyosa growled and lunged forward attempting to grab Fukamachi but the other white form was too fast and he was left grasping at empty space. He knew that Shō was working on something. The obvious flickers of form screamed that but Shō was keeping such a close quarters battle that it was difficult to focus. Whatever Fukamachi was working on was big and that caused a flash of worry but he was confident. So far they'd been equally matched. Differences came in their fighting styles and he recognised that the other guyver had come a long way. His technique was not perfect but against any other warrior Fukamachi's speed and strength would be overwhelming.

The black and white guyver swung for the form of the Guyver Emperor but his fist passed through the flickering form. Belatedly Tsuyosa realised he was making it easy for Fukamachi and with a snarl he teleported again. He didn't bother set up a trap this time, rather he'd let Shō come to him. If the other Guyver wanted a close battle, he'd give him a chase and when Fukamachi was ready to chase, he'd engage in combat. Wasn't that the essence of victory? Never do what your enemy wanted.

He teleported again, trying to lock on to where Fukamachi was going but the boy was moving too fast and his half attempts at conversation met with silence. There was nothing to say and Fukamachi knew that. Conversation would be a distraction and neither could afford that. It was the gathering pressure in his mind that screamed the warning to him and Tsuyosa looked up in time to see a brilliant flash of light. Without thought he snapped up a shield but a flash from his right took his attention. Brown eyes widened incredulously as Fukamachi's plan became clear. Mega-smasher… but more than one. Another flash from his left and the energy from the first beam hit his shield.

Tsuyosa groaned, energy being syphoned from him to reinforce his shield but he already knew it would not be enough. Another shield appeared, layered within the first, and another, again layering. He didn't know how many mega-smasher beams Fukamachi's had but the reason for boy's flickering fighting style earlier now became obvious. His first shield vanished the instant the second beam hit it, and the second vanished when the third beam hit it. The fourth, fifth and sixth barriers held and Tsuyosa made a seventh, hovering his final defence literally a millimetre above his armour.

In the brilliant light of the energy he felt more than saw another beam join the others and the black and white Guyver did not have a chance to think but it would be questioned later by many exactly how Fukamachi had made so many beams. The theory was easy, the practice… impossible. The same with Tsuyosa's shields. The most advanced Guyver Healers and Engineers could create multiple shields but usually only on the small scale, when they were concentrating intensely on a project, never in combat where those shields had to stand up to the force of a Guyver's mega-smasher.

The fourth shield gave off heat but Tsuyosa didn't care. It cracked though and the energy poured into the fifth shield and it began to heat up. He couldn't see anything. The light was too bright but he could feel the energy pouring around him, parted somewhat by his shield but it wasn't enough. The fifth shield broke as yet another beam joined the others. The noise was incredible. The Guyver units seemed to be screaming but he couldn't hear for the roar of energy around him. The thin barrier of vacuum was not enough. Somehow, beneath it all, he could feel Shō's determination, his cry of effort. The black and white guyver willed his sixth shield to hold. He had the seventh but if it broke, even with his ability to teleport, Tsuyosa knew he'd most likely be burnt. Fukamachi had staked a lot on this attack and it was becoming a battle of wills.

He'd always known Shō had a strong will. Others might have disregarded the boy as being weak because of his preference to talk. Tsuyosa knew it was strength. His preference for negotiation did not negate his ability to fight. Anyone examining Fukamachi's history would come to that conclusion. But even if Tsuyosa had known it, he had never thought, never imagined that his will was this strong. Even knowing the history he did, seeing what he had, he had underestimated the usually relaxed Guyver. :But it is not a mistake I will pay for with my life!: the thought was clear and as he felt the sixth barrier begin to crack as it overheated, Tsuyosa reached out, gathering the threads that controlled the galaxy to himself.

The energy hit the seventh barrier but it was already too late and Tsuyosa had to give full credit to Fukamachi for acknowledging the fact. Others would have tried to maintain the blast. Shō spun away, letting the energy fade when Tsuyosa's barrier was reinforced by something more than his Guyver Unit. The white and gold Guyver copied his opponent's example, gathering control to himself and once more the two of them faced off, watching the other across the void of space.

Tsuyosa took the moment to blink. The light from the mega-smasher blasts had been intense but he could see well enough even if there were extra stars. Some things a Guyver unit could not change. He realised, almost instantly, that they could not continue fighting for long. If they fought, connected to the galaxy, controlling it to enhance their attacks and if they were not very careful they would destroy far more than they meant to. Brown eyes narrowed. That was a risk he would just have to take and it was the very reason he had opposed the One.

It appeared Shō shared his concerns and simultaneously they vanished to reappear over an old star. It was dying but it had several million years left to it. There was no solar system in the vicinity though a few comets would be destroyed. The radiation from death of this star might even help surrounding star systems but that was something for another day. As one the two white forms flicked a limb towards the star, their minds immersed in the galaxy.

The old star groaned but replied and at any other point in his life Shō would have been awed as two solar flares majestically arched upwards. They moved far faster than they should have and the two slammed into each other merging together as they danced across the aging surface of the sun. More flares rose and the star continued to groan but it had no choice as energy bled into the void, the particles dancing travelling millions of kilometres in an instant before they fell back down. Two minds fought for dominance, both of them driving the star for their own purpose. His human body would have been vaporised but his armour barely even felt the heat and pressure of the grasp of gravity. Shō's eyes were closed as his mind twisted and turned, directly the huge plasma streams as they joined with Tsuyosa's. But this was not enough for victory. He knew that. They had to go further and with a shake Fukamachi drove forward, one part of his mind controlling the star while the other focused on combat.

Tsuyosa was surprised but adapted quickly so that Shō missed the second punch when the other white Guyver ducked. By then the two of them were joined in combat and they skittered back and forth while plasma rose and roared around them. Fukamachi used one of the few kata's he knew, driving Tsuyosa back but the other guyver was quick and ducked around him, dodging almost a complete one hundred and eighty degrees so that they were soon locked in combat going in the other way. A flurry of kicks ended with the two of them locked against each other, shins crossed to block. They should have been breathing hard but they weren't. To break the dead lock Shō arched back flipping to drive his other foot at Tsuyosa's chin. The other white guyver rolled his already upraised leg in a block bringing his other up to trap Shō's leg but the boy spun quickly and a moment later they were staring at each other.

Shō inched forward as his mind grappled with the star and he half growled at its resistance, pushing harder as he threw a punch towards Tsuyosa pulling a solar flare upwards as he moved. The black and white guyver blocked with his forearm and cast jab forward. Fukamachi's hand moved in quick to capture Tsuyosa's hand and the two of them held position while their minds fought. Together they snarled both minds slamming into the galaxy, grasping for control. Behind them the star flared, plasma screamed through the area surrounding them.

Their minds entangled and Shō gritted his teeth as the plasma rose up close behind them. The flare crept towards them but they held in place. Neither would move and the struggle continued. The threads controlling the galaxy quivered as first one then the other plucked them. Discordant jangling musical notes whispered just under the hearing of sentient beings as the two fought. The Guyver Units screamed, their parasitic voices modulating in agony and the two factions fell together. Their leaders were the only two left standing and the two of them were glaring at each other. The void was mere centimetres but it might have been eternity. They forced the star to do their bidding and behind both a plasma coil hovered, waiting to strike if one slipped in the slightest.

Sweet poured off Shō as he struggled. Beneath the grasp of his mind the star screamed its agony. They had already cut its life short but neither could let it die quickly now that they had started. It would obey him! Like everything it would always obey him…

The thought brought Fukamachi pause. Obey him… No… that was not right. That was… He gasped, control slipping for a moment but he felt no panic. Instead he felt sick at his previous thoughts. The sun should not have to obey him… The galaxy would but it shouldn't have to. He was not like this! He was better than this! This was the thought of Chronos, the thought of Alkanphel… it was everything he'd fought against.

Shō took a deep breath and stepped back. Beneath his armour he smiled and closed his eyes as he opened his mind. It was different this time. This time he didn't seek to control, this time he sought to understand and he felt his mind join with the galaxy more than it ever had. It was peaceful. The screaming stopped and for a moment everything seemed to hold its breath. Shō didn't even feel the plasma stream that surrounded his body though Tsuyosa did and the other guyver paused, incredulous as the energy of the star poured into the position where Fukamachi had been. Not even in his mind could he feel the other guyver and for a moment the black and white guyver wondered if Shō had been obliterated but he knew that couldn't be.

Tsuyosa pushed his arms out in front of him, his black highlights swirling, winding together tightly as they formed a focusing point. It took a moment as the energy gathered and without preamble Tsuyosa fired. It was almost point blank and the mega-smasher's beam was wound tight. It flared, brilliantly white piercing through the plasma, cutting the orange red energy as if it wasn't there.

And then it split! The single beam cut into six, each angling off and Tsuyosa felt his eyes widen as he saw the cause. Shō stood there, one hand extended to stop his blast. The energy hit Fukamachi's palm and split, streaming around and through his outstretched fingers. It burned through the plasma and desperately Tsuyosa reached out for the galaxy. He grasped but he could not gain purchase. It was as if the galaxy had become slippery. He had no chance to think because Fukamachi was on him. Tsuyosa had no moment to stare but it seemed in the instant that he had seen Shō that the boy had changed. The white of his armour was still the same but the golden highlights, those points which marked him as the Emperor, they glowed. They were shiny, the rough gold colour now displaying a burnished lustre.

There was no time to consider because quicker than Tsuyosa could follow Shō ploughed into him. The blows were precise and calculated. Each was laid perfectly and pain flared through the black and white Guyver. But pain he knew how to deal with. His mind refused to acknowledge it and he reached out again, trying to grasp the threads that controlled the galaxy. He had the power! He was not out of energy yet but the threads were elusive. They shied away from him. Again and again he reached out but each time he was denied and each time Fukamachi hit him again.

The other Guyver grabbed him and there was an instant of transition. Tsuyosa never felt it when Fukamachi's fingers closed on his forehead. He didn't taste the blood in his mouth, pooling in his throat and lungs. The galaxy whispered a requiem to him, soft and gentle and he felt at peace. Tsuyosa looked up and he saw Shō watching him, brown eyes inexplicably sad.

:You're creating a future I saw you know. After this, only Terrans will have enough bio-energy.: Shō should understand what the consequences were. This was the reason he came back and the statement was the first that came to mind. It was not meant to be comforting.

:Some others will have the power.:

:Only if backed by a Terran.: For all that Fukamachi knew his species was superior he was not humanocentric. He knew the value of others even if he knew they'd need the power of Terrans to fight.

:Why do you think they will bow to me?: There was a genuine note of curiosity in Shō's voice and Tsuyosa mentally shook his head. The boy was still naïve.

:It is the nature of the weak to bow to the strong. Regardless of your desires, you are now the One, the one power in the galaxy.:

Fukamachi was silent. There was nothing he could say to that.

:You're going to do it?: Tsuyosa asked.

:You've given me no choice.:

:You'll remove the Unity of the Whole.: It was a statement. Tsuyosa wasn't afraid but Shō might pause to consider that.

:That is the price that must be paid,: the other Guyver was relentless. Tsuyosa expected nothing less from the One. :They made a choice and then allowed this to happen. There is always a price.:

:They will go back to what they were, you know. Pure parasites, seeking only strength,: Tsuyosa breathed the statement. Fukamachi already knew but there was no time for anything but absolute truth.

:Perhaps,: Shō seemed to shrug. :Though perhaps some will see there is a different path, they'll start looking for different qualities.:

:Yours maybe,: Tsuyosa said. :But I know mine. They will not settle for less. That longing is too much. It is a part of them and they'll leave if the galaxy can't give them what they need.: He knew what the Guyver's who supported him were like. They were parasites in every sense of the word.

:That's not necessarily a bad thing,: Shō was unconcerned.

:The tide will shift to you.:

:Or the tide will shift to where it's most useful.:

Fukamachi would think that. :The healers?:

:They do seem to hold the most power.:

:So you noticed?:

:No…: Fukamachi's voice was quiet. :You noticed.:

:Ah…: the praise, faint though it was pleased Tsuyosa. :Finish it.:

:Are you sure?:

:You always were too merciful,: Tsuyosa chided. :It must be done because I cannot let this go. I'll try again and again until I succeed. And then where would the galaxy be?: He knew what he was capable of. He'd always known.

:All right,: Fukamachi acknowledged. :Are you ready?:

:I'm ready. Just one request…: He felt sleepy. It was odd. He was not afraid but he felt tired.

:Hmm?:

:Remember the beginning and embrace what it means.: So long as the memory was there, perhaps things wouldn't turn out the way he had foreseen.

:Out of control,: Shō murmured.

:Only out of their control,: Tsuyosa said with a small smile.

:Always,: the One replied in a whisper.

:Don't change.:

:I won't.:

The re-assurance was calming. :Good bye, Fukamachi Shō.:

:Good bye, Tsuyosa. May you know peace.:

:I will.:

There was a flash of pain, warmth and then nothing.

In space Shō felt almost no resistance as his fingers dug forward, slipping around the edges of Tsuyosa's control medallion. He remembered what it felt like with Lisker. This was different. The give and the snap of blood and bone was the same but this was completely different. Where before it had been his own force of will, now there were others answering his call. He could feel every Guyver behind him, they all obeyed his will, though some fought him, some resisted. They had no choice to obey. He was their leader, he was the one who would rule and this was his will!

Savagely he pulled back his arm, ignoring the scream of the Unit he held. Without thought he formed a mega-smasher blast, obliterating Tsuyosa's body before the parasite could run rampant. Shō looked down at the Unit he held. In some ways it was the cause. In other ways it was merely the one which had gone along with its owner's desire. It was not blameless. It no longer mattered and Shō stretched his mind out, feeling each Unit. This wasn't like the galaxy he could still feel around him, supporting him. The Unit's had no choice. They had selected him, they had to acknowledge him. He didn't impress his will upon them yet. But soon… very soon they would have no choice.

The medallion glowed and forming around it already were black lines of the inactive tendrils of a Guyver's armour. As he watched, it entered its inactive form and he couldn't help but smirk. Even inactive Tsuyosa's armour was black. It was inky against the dark of space and Shō looked up, looking into the future. He would not let it be what Tsuyosa feared.

No matter what, he owed the other Guyver that much.

Shō gulped. He felt nothing. Tsuyosa was dead and he felt nothing. It was as if his emotions were distant. He should be crying. He should be screaming that he had had to kill the man but he felt nothing. It wasn't right but for the moment he knew he could not force things. He'd felt like this before. After killing Alkanphel he'd felt this nothingness. It was not right. It was not proper but his feelings would return in time. He could mourn then. There was one thing that he had to do. Without a whisper he vanished, returning to the Tekki's stronghold.

In the moment of transition Shō closed his eyes, gathering himself. For the moment he was not Fukamachi Shō, he was the One, the Guyver Emperor and the powered Guyvers that Tsuyosa had gathered had to acknowledge that.

The throne was his, the Guyver's themselves decreed it. Challengers would cause unnecessary bloodshed and could not be allowed. He was the beginning and the end of everything, the only cycle they needed. It was beyond time they knew that in their souls. With the death of Tsuyosa, the Unit's knew it, now the hosts … it was their turn to bow.

Some of what happened is assumed. I have never asked my husband to express his feelings on the battle. I know that it pains him to this day and he regrets that it came to that. He knows, as I do, that Tsuyosa gave him no other choice, that the Units gave him no other choice. He knows that, which is why what happened next was so important. While Tsuyosa had been the driving force behind his attack, he was supported by his Unit. The Lord Unit that had been the Guyver Lord's was now in Shō's hand, but the others had to acknowledge him.

The battle was violent and it spanned the galaxy. I know that much. There is more than enough evidence for that conclusion. Effects from their combat echoed through time. For the most part they were dealt with easily. Certainly the Emperor's power was sufficient to annul most of the damage quickly and when called upon he did and I know that even when the damage was not due to their fight, Shō often dealt with things at the request of planetary governments.

In the end what has caused the most problems for the future was actions taken to drive back the Advents. At that point in time though only one had any idea of the issues but his concern was with other matters. From this point, when I looked into the past, I saw single threads all converging to that point in time. Looking forward… I wasn't sure where the threads would go.

Tetsuro knew. He did not say then. I don't think he could say. The knowledge was too fresh, the damage done to him, even with my best attempts to heal him was too much. From that day forward my brother changed. He was still my brother. He still loved Natsuki. He still cared for humanity and was the Rebel's tactician so it took us a little while to realise what was wrong. And that was the thing… from that point on, he was never wrong. My brother was known to be a great tactician and with Natsuki they were seldom wrong. From then on if Tetsuro said that the government of the Spaough would fall, then sure enough, events transpired that they fell. At first people thought he was manipulating events, but as other things happened, things he could have absolutely no control over happened just the way he said they would we began to see that things had changed. Every restraint on his mind has been removed. He sees everything, and should he wish to know, then he can know everything. It is more than that though… he can see, he can calculate what could happen. It is a gift and a curse all in one.

At the moment though, he was in no condition to calculate anything and we had to make the future ourselves. He had set the foundation for the Terran Republic and Makishima was intelligent enough to realise that unless he accepted Tetsuro's foundation that the Rebellion would continue. I am not interested in interstellar power, though Agito is and he is realistic. Without saying a word he accepted Tetsuro's foundation when he negotiated with the others at the Interstellar Meeting that happened after. But what happened after, only happened because there was acceptance.

Sometimes it is hard to accept the consequences of ones actions. Guilt, remorse… other emotions all stand in the way but reality is cruel and one must accept ones actions. I know that. Shō knows that. Even Agito knows it. But no one ever said that it was easy. I think that's why I still respect Tsuyosa, no matter what he had done, because he did accept his actions and all the consequences they entailed. That is what happened now; acceptance and acknowledgement of the Guyver Emperor. Because only with that could we continue forwards.

I've had this chapter in my head since the inception of this fic. It was bittersweet to write and while I tried, I can't help but think the battle in my head is still grander, more epic, though on the other hand, it's also short!

At the end of chapter 36, I said we were on the home straight… 100,000 words later and we have nearly finished that straight… heh.

E-cookies, consisting of a peek into the next chapter await reviewers :D