Grey Snow

Chapter 4: 999 A.G.C.: “My police force is no more!” Ishiza decreed to the gathered police, “Go back to your lives.” She said in disgust, “You are disbanded.” There were shouts of protest from the ranks of the police, but she ignored them. She had four of her heavily armed personal guards standing nearby. Two former police rushed after her as she left, but they were cut down in swift moves from the guards. One group stood separated from the other. The former members of Island Defense stood as one, watching this transpire. They left in silence without commotion. “Where are we going?” Ryza questioned Seig. “We’re going to go to the Dunes of Sorrow.” He replied. “The Dunes?” Yuli asked, “It’s just city now…you know that. Everything is just city now…” “I know.” He replied, “That doesn’t mean we won’t find answers there.” He said. “What answers are you guys looking for?” Ryza questioned, sure that Raiz was in on this, whatever the meaning of it was. “You don’t know much, do you?” Raiz asked. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryza demanded. Yuli put her hand on Ryza’s shoulder, “Come on, just take it and be calm.” Ryza put up with it while Seig explained it to them from the lead. “You guys need to brush up on your history; read some records when we get back to the main part of the city. The Dunes are where Xalcak fell.” 50 B.G.C.: “The Dunes of Sorrow?” Hark moaned as the Toa – without their two Matoran companions, who had since returned home – pressed forward. “Yes. The Dunes.” Clasis said, “Why?” “I’m a Toa of Jungle.” Hark said, “Nothing grows in the Dunes; it’s all desert!” Clasis shook his head, “Look, I’ll cover you if anything happens. After all, Magma is good anywhere.” “Stop rubbing it in!” Hark complained. “Would you two be quiet?” Rakis demanded. “Sorry.” Clasis apologized. “But come on! All of you can still use yours powers so efficiently in the Dunes!” He cast a sidelong glance towards the hunched over Toa of Rahi, “Except for maybe Raiz…but I’m sure he’ll find some lizard Rahi or something! Can’t I stay back in the villages? Deal with Island Defense?” “No.” Veran said firmly, “We’re nearly there, anyway.” They all stopped when Veran stopped. They were walking along a path lined with large rocks going through a plain with sparse tree coverage on their sides. They could see a rock wall rising up in the distance, which covered parts of the Dunes, cutting some of them off from society, but not completely trapping the Dunes. “We’re nearly there. Why stop?” Seig asked. “Because of this.” Sigil muttered, throwing his arm to the side, and then pulling it back. Three Strievers flew out towards them, smashing into the ground as he released his Gravity control. “Strievers?” Seig questioned, “But how…?” “I’m that good.” Sigil said, flicking his right wrist as one of them rose. He delivered a powerful punch, causing the Striever to smoke and vanish. Veran span around, wrapping the inside of his left leg around one’s neck, standing firmly on his right leg. He applied continual pressure until the creature vanished. The third one went down swiftly as Raiz leapt forward, running his arm mounted weapons through it, tearing it apart. “That was too easy.” Raiz hissed, “I want more!” “You’ve got more.” Clasis said, drawing up his double sided sword. He threw his arm out towards the trees, firing concentrated bursts of Magma from the two ends. As Strievers raced out, they were cut down, burning to death. He span around, cutting one down that tried to sneak up on him. The Toa began to scatter as they flooded out of the trees towards them. With this many around, it was evident that they were near something important to Xalcak. They began to cut them down however they could. Hark took full advantage of the trees and used them to strangle or impale Strievers with branches while he could. He span around, cutting one down with his double ended spear. He span it around, running the other end behind him to impale the one coming at him. His spear made contact but stopped. “What?” He hissed, spinning around, spinning his weapon overhead, and slashing down, but it stopped. Then he saw it. It was no Striever. It was larger, covered in thick black and white armor. It had clawed feet, thick white armor overlaying black on its legs, with white chest armor with thick black overlay. It had spikes coming from its arms before the elbow, wrapping around to its own back. Short muscular arms were tipped with claws, wielding large blades in each hand that it might take two hands to otherwise wield. It had a snaking neck, albeit short, with a crimson and white head that ran back and ended in a spike, with many spikes sticking out of it along the way. It kicked Hark, knocking him back. He looked up, taking two slashes from the creature, going down. His armor was darkened from the impact marks. Veran leapt into a Striever, smashing his brace into it, taking it down. He span around, “Hark!” He cast his eyes to Sigil, “Cover me!” Sigil smashed his covered fist into one enemy, taking it down. He span around and nodded, “Got it!” Veran ran forward, slapping his brace with his palm. He leapt up, shouting, swinging his leg out at the thing’s neck. Sigil ran in and leapt forward, sliding and throwing a punch covered in Gravity energy. The creature span around, using one sword to block each attack. It slid back from the power surging from the Toa, but it took no damage. “Someone!” Veran shouted as he landed and threw another kick, only for another parry. Rakis grabbed a Striever in her claw and threw it. She ran forward and opened her mouth, unleashing a Power Scream which rippled over the ground, smashing into the creature from behind. As it slid forward, Sigil and Veran drew their weapon covered limbs back and threw another strike, smashing the kick and punch into the creature’s chest at the same point, causing the armor to crack. “Now!” They shouted in unison. Clasis ran up behind them and put his blades out, right above his leader’s shoulders. Magma energy generated into them and shot out, slicing the creature through. It roared as it reduced into smoke as it died. “What was that?” Clasis questioned. “A new toy for Xalcak, I’ll bet.” Veran said, “Now, let’s move!” As the Strievers were finished off, the eight Toa moved on, towards the Dunes of Sorrow, where they were sure that Xalcak would be hiding from them. 999 A.G.C.: “What do you hope to find there anyway?” Yuli asked. “Energy.” Seig replied. “Energy?” “Yeah. I’m hoping that some of Xalcak’s leftover energy is still there and can at least give us an indication of whether someone was siphoning off of it or something. Or if he somehow returned and the energy is altogether gone.” “Are we looking for a corpse?” Ryza asked. “No.” Seig replied, “There was no corpse.” “We utterly destroyed him.” Raiz clarified, “We do know that he died. We destroyed his body in the fight to be sure of that.” “Ah, got it.” Ryza said, having thought they may have done a lethal blow or something and he had just vanished, such as into a dune. As they continued on through the streets, they got the vague idea that someone was watching them. Raiz let out a whistle, summoning a winged Rahi to his side. He got onto the creature’s back and flew up into the sky as they continued. Despite Ryza and Yuli wanting to question it, they didn’t. Raiz looked around the tops of buildings as he flew around, and then saw a figure. He leapt down, landing behind the blue and white armored being who watched the Toa. “Who are you?” He questioned, lowering his sword from his shoulder in preparation. The figure turned to face him. He could tell that she was a woman, but a volatile one, if the blades and fangs were any indication. “You’re Toa Raiz, Toa of Rahi.” She said, “You see, I know you. You don’t know me. I like that. I’m going to keep it that way.” “What?” He questioned, “Just who are you?” “I’m nobody.” She replied, lifting her claw weapons up, “Come and face me, Toa.” He lifted his blade to his shoulder once more, “With pleasure.” He said, running forward. He slid across the rooftop, swinging his weapon down at her. She made no moves to stop him. As his blade touched her, she warped. The blade had reached her left shoulder. Her left shoulder had now dropped down to her waist, with a large ‘V’ gash missing in her side. The other side shot back up to her arm, which was still where it should have been, just connected now by a loose piece of body rising from her hip. She had just warped her body to avoid being struck. “You have Xalcak’s power!” Raiz hissed in shock. “I do.” She replied, taking a step back. Her arm reset into the proper location. She drew her blades up and ran forward, slashing him three times with each weapon before delivering a kick, throwing him down. He moaned in pain and rolled over. He came up to his feet, remaining crouched. He drew his left claw up and ran forward, spinning his sword so it was pointdown. He slammed the weapon into the ground and vaulted it, slashing at her with his claw. She lifted her claw weapon to parry. She slashed it out, throwing his arm aside, and then followed up with a knee to knock him back. He shook his head and shouted, taking a wild swing with his right fist, and then an uppercut with his left claw. She dodged both by just dodging her head to the side. She rammed her knee into him, knocking him back, and then the other knee, again, knocking him back. She backhanded him with one of her claw weapons, sending him staggering aside. He shouted and plunged his claw forward, but she fell back, bending her knees and leaving her body running parallel with the rooftop in a very skilful and possibly nearly impossible dodge. He drew his arm back and plunged it down. She plowed her claw weapons into the rooftop and quickly performed a flip, twisting around so that she was now facing Raiz. She had been fast enough to avoid his claw coming down at her. “Just what are you?” He shouted, whistling. The large avian Rahi returned and flew down, talons ready. She cast her arm to the side, causing the rooftop to warp, sending a spike up to impale the bird. As she glanced to her side, Raiz was upon her, sending his claw in for the kill. “Too easy.” She muttered. The rooftop warped again, sending a small burst of its composition up, just directing his claw in the air now, instead of straight. She whipped around, delivering a powerful kick to his side, knocking him towards the edge of the roof. She walked towards him, “Toa Raiz. Toa of Rahi. I expected you to put up a better fight. But then again, you didn’t put up a very good one against Xalcak.” “What’s that?” He shouted, coming to his feet. He swayed. He ran forward, shouting. She flicked her arm out, sending another spike to rise. He leapt over it with an impossibly powerful and high jump. He landed over her, his legs almost shot from throwing that much into his muscles. He slid, grabbed his sword, and ran forward at her back. He drew his pointdown blade to his side and screamed, swinging it forward at her spine. She span around, deflecting it with one claw, and using her other to stop his claw. She rammed a knee into him, sending him staggering back, and then span around, backhanding him towards the ledge. This time he fell. She walked towards it and looked down. She watched him fall, and then waved her hand out, sending a pillar made of the composition of the building out of the side, smashing it into him, throwing him even faster down, and in much more pain now. “That’ll kill him.” She said, walking away. The spike morphed around the avian Rahi, absorbing it, and then settling back into the building as it was before. She walked to the ledge, finding the others out of sight. So she leapt, hovering off after them. Review

Series 1 is by far the greatest of the revived years. Eccleston brought something that 10 and 11 have yet to bring (11's had shades of it, at least).

We know he's not Scorpio/Scorpion. He's obviously Alternative Zero. But seriously, in the preview for episode 8, the subs state something along the lines of having lost humanity, and Scorpio is shown as being talked to, or implied to be. This seems to imply that Scorpio/the elite Zodiarts have all gone Last One, and are only Zodiarts now. At least, I believe that theory. As for States, it's rumored he'll obtain a water powered State...but aside from that, no idea. Probably Base, Elek, Fire, Water (?) - Mid Season (FangJoker, Tajador), final (Xtreme, Putotyra). One final note; in episode 7, it's hilarious that the teacher made them write "reflection", considering.

Ditch the bowtie for a scarf; equal, if not greater tradeoff.

Scarves are cool. Period. This is fact. Eleven or Twelve needs a scarf...

So, I found some people and a camera finally. Tomorrow, depending on how long out of my four hour break my Wednesday homework takes, I'm starting to hammer out the finer points of my plot. My project is finally starting to move forward.

Accel is awesome, probably better than Eternal's movie. Anyway, if you're trying to link continuity, ignore Core. It does not fit. No matter what. Nobunaga as Birth could be explained away, along with it taking place throughout the series, ending when Date leaves, hence the ending. However, the Medal count, and every Greeed alive at the end negates it. It's less of a headache to ignore it. Just like the OOO Wonderful, it isn't canon. There is no way for the Medal count to work (that's the most glaring point of discontinuity). Fourze new stuff:

Movie Wars stuff (confirming X's return):

Last fifteen minutes, I kept expecting him to pop up in the house. What better way to make those last fifteen memorable/scar for life (whatever they claimed)? Besides, in 2, it opened everything at once. Slendy? Tentacles to open everything? Makes perfect sense.

Chapter 3: 999 A.G.C.: Ishiza’s hate grew as she watched the Island Defense - or rather, former Island Defense – fight through the Strievers, while her other police, who had no background in Island Defense, were losing quickly and pathetically, most being killed by the slow, lumbering Strievers. How was this happening? She had abolished Island Defense because she couldn’t control them. That was a few hundred years ago. Now here they were; back again! They may have been under a different name and organization, but as she lost anyone who wasn’t Island Defense, she realized that the survivors would be only Island Defense. Therefore, Island Defense would be alive again. She cursed them. Cursed the weak, pitiful fools who tried to become police for the island. She cursed them all. What good were they? And what could she do? 50 B.G.C.: “This Island Defense could be a real problem.” Atel said as Seig recounted what he had heard in the village. Veran nodded, “Yes. If they continue to exist here as they do, they could bleed the Matoran citizens out of all of their money; there could be no life left as they know it if this persists. We should deal with it.” “We’re Toa; how do you propose we deal with wily Matoran?” Sigil questioned, “We can’t harm them, that goes against being a Toa!” “Why can’t we?” Rakis questioned, “They have no issues with acting against the natural order of this island. I say we can do what we want to them, as long as it’s for the benefit of the island. That includes harming them.” “Rakis, how could you say something like that?” Hark questioned, leaning against a tree, the firelight flickering across his armor. He had his spear rested between his bent knees, lying against his shoulder and then the tree in turn. He almost looked like a man of wisdom greater than his years, due to the atmosphere. Hark was one of the younger members of the team, with only Seig below him. “If they want to act tough, then why don’t we?” She questioned. “There’s a different between being tough on them and killing them, or even harming them.” Clasis, Toa of Magma, said. “Not much.” She muttered. “I’m with Rakis.” Raiz, the crouched berserker Toa of Rahi said. “Rakis, Raiz, there is no way that we will come to harming these Island Defense members.” Veran said, “That is my order as leader. Now, in the morning we have to set out and find Xalcak, if we can. Rest now; first watch is mine.” The other Toa would settle their differences at another time. They settled down for the night, using the heat of the fire as their comfort in the darkness. Yuli and Ryza also settled down for the night, but couldn’t sleep very well. They saw someone approaching, but recognized the figure as a Matoran, motioning to them. The others, trying to sleep, wouldn’t notice. Veran was looking another way. The two got up and walked away, towards the shadowy Matoran. They followed in silence as the Matoran headed away. As they followed, they realized something. Movement at their side; a Striever. It rushed them, quickly attacking. The Matoran attempted to attack it, but was cut down by the creature’s blade. Another Matoran ran out of the trees nearby and kicked the Striever. He drew his two blades up. Sion ran into battle to protect Yuli and Ryza. 999 A.G.C.: “So, the Island Defense members became the police, for the most part.” Yuli said, “But why would they sell themselves like that? That was completely against their beliefs! They were fighters for money!” Ryza nodded in agreement, “They weren’t even from this island; they just were passing through. I don’t even understand how Ishiza could disband them in the first place…” “Simple; she had the power to keep them from leaving this island in any way.” Raiz said, “She could have had them executed with her well trained personal guardians. They had to submit to her if they wanted to live. I guess they just figured this island would be fine; or they were forced to stay, for whatever reason.” “But why wouldn’t they fight harder?” Ryza questioned. “There were only about thirty to forty of them, right?” Yuli asked, “I don’t think they could have handled a fight against Ishiza’s personal guardians, with how heavily armed they are, how skilled they are.” “I guess you’re right.” Ryza agreed. “Whatever the reason, we have to be wary.” Seig said, “We didn’t trust them very much back then; we can’t trust them now. If they even try to reclaim power by being the only viable police force on this island, then the Matoran are going to be in trouble.” 50 B.G.C.: Sion kicked the Striever multiple times, keeping it at bay. He looked back, “Run!” He hissed to Yuli and Ryza. “Not until we get some answers!” Ryza snapped impatiently, “Who was that Matoran who had us come here? Why did he suddenly get killed? Why were you here? Answer me! Is this a trap of some sort?” “I don’t know any of what you’re talking about.” Sion said, “I was on patrol. I’m a soldier, that’s what I do. Now, go!” He turned back to the Striever, parrying the slashes from both blades. He pushed back and kicked it again before stepping through and stabbing it. It hissed and swung its arm, backhanding Sion, knocking him to the ground. He quickly came back to his feet, not showing any signs of pain. He was a soldier; he was better than that. He drew his blades up and rushed forward, slashing twice quickly, cutting the Striever’s arms. It cried out as it stumbled back, then taking a sword to the chest. Sion dropped the Striever. It reduced into smoke, vanishing upon its death. “Answers.” Ryza hissed. Yuli grabbed her shoulder, “Ryza, we should go. There’s no point to questioning him.” “Yes there is.” Ryza said, “Was this a trap to lure us out here for some reason? What’s going on, Sion?” She demanded. “You remember my name…?” He questioned, then walked towards the corpse. He crouched by the Matoran, looking him over. He rose, “He wasn’t one of ours. He looks like one of the people from the village over there, most likely.” He kicked the body, rolling it over, “He had a knife; he was going to kill you two, it looks like.” Sion sheathed his weapons and crouched, taking the knife up, looking it over. “Or this was all part of an elaborate trap of some sort.” Ryza said skeptically. “What point would there be to that?” Sion questioned, hooking the knife and sheath onto his waist, to use as an additional weapon, “Go back to your camp before I charge you for saving your lives.” Sion said, walking away from them to continue his patrol. “Didn’t he say he would lead this island someday, or something?” Yuli questioned. Ryza nodded, “I think he claimed he would be a good leader and lead us to prosperity. Seems to conflict with what Island Defense is about, don’t you think?” “Yeah, but that’s not it.” Yuli said, “I want to know what his point is. Why does he think this island needs a leader? Or someone to lead us? Aren’t we doing fine as we are?” “Maybe someday he thinks we’ll descend into chaos without one. He’s a soldier, after all. I think he could be raised to think that way.” Ryza said, “Come on…let’s go back to the Toa.” Yuli nodded, “Yeah. We can talk about this later.” “We’re done talking about this.” Ryza said, heading off. 999 A.G.C.: The next day, the four Toa walked through the streets of the city, watching as police walked by on patrol. Some they knew as Island Defense, from the past. Some were recognizable; some they just knew had to be Island Defense, and knew they could only be from the past. “So, about these Strievers…” Yuli said, looking at some slashes in walls from the previous fighting. “What about them?” Raiz questioned. “Well…where did they come from exactly?” Yuli asked. “She raises a good point.” Ryza said, “One we really need to talk about. Have you two been holding out on us? Is Xalcak still alive, or something? Have you just been lying?” “No.” Seig said, “Xalcak is dead. We all saw to that. The Strievers and Slith died with him. And these Strievers being back is a rather new occurrence.” “You think someone else is using them?” Raiz questioned Seig. When the Toa of Air nodded, Raiz added, “I’ve wondered that myself. I also think the same.” “But who could do something like that?” Yuli questioned, “Who would have the power to do what Xalcak could?” “Well, so far we’ve only seen his minions; not any other signs of his powers.” Seig replied. “If it were any more, we would know. Xalcak’s powers weren’t always low key, exactly. Trust me; we’d know.” “Ok.” Yuli said, “But bear with me; why would someone try to learn Xalcak’s powers that allowed him to create the Strievers, but not learn anything else? But granted, the Strievers have just been appearing recently, whoever it is could still be learning.” “We have to hope that that’s not the case.” Seig said. “Why?” Ryza questioned, “The four of us could do it!” Seig and Raiz both stopped walking. They turned to her with anger, with pain and rage in their eyes. Ryza took a step back, just to escape from the looks in their eyes. “How dare you say that?” Seig shouted. “Do you realize what you just said, Ryza?” Raiz demanded. “What…what did I say?” She stuttered. “You think that four of us could defeat another Xalcak? It took eight of us in the past! And three of us didn’t make it out alive!” Seig shouted at her, “You’re a Toa! Don’t take this lightly! Even if it is the past, don’t take things lightly! Do you think you’re better than the others? Than Veran, Sigil, Atel, Hark, Rakis or Clasis? Do you think that the four of us could do it, just because two of us have already? “No! Don’t you dare talk like that, Ryza! Don’t you dare think that the four of us are better than the eight of us were! Ever! Do you understand me?” Ryza was almost trembling in shock at Seig’s words. She clenched her fists and slowly nodded. “What?” Raiz hissed. “I understand.” She muttered. “Good.” Raiz said, grabbing Seig’s shoulder, “Come on; let’s get going. I think they get it.” He nodded back, “If there is another Xalcak, then we can’t handle the problem alone. We need to keep an eye out. If anyone is exhibiting signs of Xalcak’s powers, that we can assume another Xalcak has appeared, or Xalcak is somehow back to the world of life, then we need help. We need help very badly.” The four Toa continued on through the streets. Tall buildings were all around them, cutting off parts of the sky around them, some of the tops keeping out of view with their heights so high. If they could have seen towards the top, they would have seen a figure standing there, watching not only them, but everything else; the entire island that the figure could see. In contrast to the almost decaying, white look of Xalcak, this new figure stood as a lithe, lively figure. Standing in white and blue armor, she watched, looking down at the Toa specifically at this point, having heard them speaking of Xalcak. She had white leg armor, with blue claw-like armor overlaying. She had clawed blue feet, sleek blue armor above her knees to her white chest with some blue. She had a white blade overlying her chest, curling down her front. She had blades running up the tops of her blue arms, which had minimal armor on otherwise. She had white hands which were clutching two blue weapons; one in each hand. They were like her leg armor; curved, with three blades coming out. To conceal her face she wore a blue and silver sleek Kanohi mask. Fangs lined the mouth area, giving her a look of intimidation. She crossed her arms over her chest as she stood on the edge of the roof. She flipped down, her claws digging in as she dropped. As she hand out, horizontal over the streets, she pushed off, vanishing; simply vanishing. Review

So, I watched Paranormal Activity 3 last night (and 2 for recap before we went). Is it wrong of me to have been looking for Slendy any time they used handhelds? I don't think so.

I did look into one, not sure if that was it. If it was that one I saw, it was out of my area.

The worlds are linked, based on W and OOO appearing in movies (debatable, but whatever) together, and OOO ending scenes with Fourze characters. That, and W appears in Megamax, linking it all for good. And Foundation X appears in the movie as well. I can't tell from your post, Ultra, if you know that and are hoping it will be good, or don't know that, so I'm just covering the bases. I saw Eternal again today, an edited version to change the story, the Takenoko cut. I like his cuts; I have The Next burned on DVD with his cut. It removes Chiharu's subplot (for the better). Eternal was done as "What if W wasn't the hero, but Eternal was? What if NEVER fought Museum and Foundation X in Fuuto?" and it turned out well. Cutting out all the W scenes, except Mina talking about Heaven's Hall for exposition purposes. It also removes Katsumi going insane when she dies, and gives a text screen about how he went to Fuuto, not wanting to revive her as a monster, etc. I liked the edit, because I hate Katsumi going insane, after the beautiful moment he had with Mina dying. Though in this version, she stays dead (the Heaven's Hall scene is thus confusing).

I thought tonight would be better. Looked better, but it wasn't bad. I quite liked it. I love it when they have those types of situations that are just...you know, I can't describe it.

Caught up on Dark Harvest. Towards the end it got good; too bad it's been so long since an update from them. Though the last (two weeks ago) Kinder (?) video was interesting.

No architecture, unfortunately. When it gets warm enough, I'm heading to the park I had in mind anyway (training a friend, basically, who asked me to help her get in better shape), so jogging there, and I'll work on stuff there, as I intended on. But that's all.

There's literally only a park that I can think of in town. That's about it. A few parks and playground equipment. Can't do some stuff on them, but can do other stuff that falls under Parkour.

I'd love to see Davos as a man of power, but not King. I don't think he'd be a good King, personally. Hand; yes, King, no. I can only see Stannis as a good King without Rh'llor. Otherwise I'm hoping for Dany.

Oh yes, I had forgotten about that, honestly. That was freaky. Though do remind me; where/when was that? It was at his house, right? After he had left it?

I have searched for nearby places, but there's no point with the distance, and because I'm a college student. I do do some stuff where I can, but it's not much, due to limitations. There's just no place to do it, really. Besides, I'd rather not do anything with a lot of people who are lacking and just interested. I'm going into criminal justice, and I wouldn't want to hurt myself because of someone who isn't at my athletic level is trying something that gets me screwed up too.

Chapter 2: 50 B.G.C.: “You plan on making an island that will be prosperous?” Atel questioned the Ta-Matoran with the two swords. Before he could speak, the Onu-Matoran in charge barked an order, “We have our payment; Sion! Stop talking and come along!” The Ta-Matoran nodded, “Understood.” He muttered, following the Onu-Matoran and the rest of this troop from the Island Defense off. “A Matoran mercenary force…” Veran muttered, shaking his head, “What are things coming to?” “What do you mean?” Seig questioned. “It just seems…useless.” Veran said, “Here we are, a team of eight Toa, and we’re supposed to be protecting the Matoran. But then, they go out and form a group like that. It makes me feel like we aren’t doing our jobs!” “We’re doing our jobs.” Sigil assured Veran, “But part of our job involves tracking down and defeating Xalcak. Until that is done, the Island Defense is a good idea. It helps to keep them safe while we cannot.” “But can they actually be trusted to do their jobs?” Atel questioned, “I mean, they fight for money. What if someone can’t pay?” “Can they fight Strievers?” Hark questioned. “Look, right now, we should rest.” Veran said, “We’ve had a long day, and we have to continue after Xalcak in the morning. Shifts as always. Yuli, Ryza, what are your plans? You’re going back to the village in the morning, I trust?” “We came out here for a reason!” Ryza said, “We’re here to help you guys navigate and find Xalcak!” “That won’t be necessary. You’re only Matoran, and this is our greatest enemy. Please, for your own sakes, leave in the morning.” Veran said. “But…!” Ryza started, but Yuli grabbed her shoulder. “He’s right, you know.” She told her Matoran of Electricity friend. “But…” “No.” Clasis, Toa of Magma, said, “Veran is right. You’re better off being safely away in the village. Go.” “If you were Toa, it would be different, of course.” Rakis, the female Toa of Power Scream said, “Come back then!” She laughed. 999 A.G.C.: “Too bad about Island Defense. That guy, Sion, sounded useful.” Yuli brought up. “Sion? That Ta-Matoran soldier?” Ryza questioned. “Yeah. He sounded like he could be a good leader.” Yuli said. “There’s a difference.” Raiz said. “What difference?” Yuli questioned. “Between sounding like a good leader and being one.” The Toa of Rahi clarified, “You see, I remember him. He was obnoxious, cocky, and always ready to fight. He had good qualities, too, and he was a good fighter, but there’s more to being a leader than that. He had no reservation. He always found attacking and defeating the foe to be the best thing he could do. Even though he was just a soldier every time I met him, he always wanted the money. He was only in it for that. He wouldn’t be much better than our current rulers.” Seig nodded, “I always got that feeling from him, now that you mention it.” There were shouts down below. The Toa glanced out the window, watching as Strievers moved in slowly at the new police force. The way the Strievers moved was offsetting, with a sickening swaying or lurching, constantly. They lifted their blades as they moved in. The police Matoran only had staffs. How would they win, especially as afraid as they were right now? “We have to go.” Seig said, stepping onto the ledge of the window. He pushed out, manipulating the sky around him with his powers of Air, creating enough wind to carry him on his small wings. He shot down, redirecting all of the wind down at the ground. He drew his blade up and slashed one Striever as he skidded to a stop on the ground. It instantly vanished into smoke. Raiz leapt down, unleashing his powers. A large hawk-like Rahi swooped down, landing beneath him, helping his descent. He released his powers of control and leapt off, slashing a Striever on his right with his sword, while one on his left was plunged through by his claw, both vanishing. Ryza and Yuli ran down the building from the inside, getting into the street and rushing out, finding some of the police fighting back, and fighting very well. Some were clearly former Island Defense members, with their levels of skill. Some even defeated their Strievers. Yuli lifted her weapon – a large shield-like weapon with a blade inset along each side, as well as the top and bottom – and Ryza lifted her sword, while preparing to use her arm mounted propeller weapon to store Electricity for a burst release. As they cut down Strievers on all sides, Ryza span around, spinning her propeller. A large burst of Electricity flew through, leveling three of them and wounding four more, which the police quickly overtook. Former Island Defense members. Ishiza watched and clenched her fist. Things weren’t going as well as she had planned. She wanted these police to remove the dependency on the Toa, and yet most of the police could do nothing! The Toa were doing most of the fighting, while only a few members of her police force were actually fighting back, and winning.She knew those were former Island Defense. She cursed. She had disbanded Island Defense for a reason. Anyone still fighting as it would be put to death, she had declared. They had disbanded under her promise of death, and she had allowed them to be recruited into her police. But that they were the most skilled disgusted her. The normal citizens, who were to be the bulk of this wide force, would be useless. They were to maintain order between the classes who would likely revolt at some point, yet these foolish police could do nothing! What happened to the promise they had shown? And what would happen if they ever actually faced against groups of angry Matoran? They would be useless! 50 B.G.C.: Strievers stood in the way of the eight Toa, Yuli and Ryza, whom had refused to leave after some consideration. They were going to lead the Toa through, and that was all they would settle for, after some discussion between each other. “Let’s make this quick.” Veran said, igniting his brace with some Plasma. He ran forward and threw a kick into one before spinning and striking another with his brace.Hark unleashed his powers of Jungle, constricting a few of them with snaking vines. While he held them down and killed them, the ones who wouldn’t die were burned to death by Clasis and his Magma powers. The two Matoran were staying back, while Seig and Rakis remained back, using their powers from a distance. They were tasked with defending the Matoran at this point. Raiz leapt onto a Striever, using his clawed feet to tear into its body. As it vanished, he leapt at another, slashing wildly with both of his claw weapons; ripping it apart and making it vanish in smoke. As the battle continued, Sigil and Veran both struck the last one, dispersing it. But as they were about to move on, more appeared, and then screams were heard not too far away in the distance. “There’s a village up there!” Yuli realized. “Protect it! Seig, Rakis!” Sigil shouted back at the two Toa. He leapt forward, punching one repeatedly until it was destroyed. The two Toa nodded, and with the Matoran in tow, ran up the hill, through the trees, and into the small village. Some Matoran were being killed, some were running from the Strievers, which moved quickly towards them, running. Always at a fast pace, these things moved. “I’ll fire from here.” Rakis said. Seig nodded, “I’ll move in, then.” He ran down the slope towards the village, leaping off and slashing at a Striever from behind, cutting it down. As he ran into the village, he could see some more falling in front of him. But when he looked back to Rakis, she was attacking them on another side of the village. “What…?” He muttered. He saw more fall and disperse into smoke. Then he saw the Island Defense, the same squad from the night before, fighting the Strievers. They used spears, impaling these creatures, while some used swords and cut them down. A few used shields, sometimes for defense, sometimes switching and using them as bludgeoning tools.Seig knew it was the entire force. He even saw Sion, parrying against one with one sword, while using his other to slash at another, then reverse, parry and slash the other ways. He was good, but too overconfident. Another blade came at him from behind. Seig threw his hand out, smashing the Striever with a concentrated hurricane from his hand, using his vortex of air to smash it around. “What did you do?” Sion hissed, turning towards him. “Saved you!” Seig shouted at him, slashing one down. “Saved me?” Sion muttered, “I won’t thank you.” “I didn’t think you would.” Seig replied, running off and parrying a blade as it nearly killed an innocent Matoran. He kicked it back, but two Island Defense members came upon it, stabbing it through both sides, killing it. “Stop getting in our way, Toa.” One of them hissed at him. “In your way?” Seig questioned, “I’m a Toa. It’s my job to help the Matoran!” “It was your job.” He countered, “Now it’s our jobs. They pay, we defend them. Stop trying to cut in on our business!” “Your business?” Seig was disgusted, “Do you really think that life and death is a business venture for you lot?” “It is, because we’re skilled enough.” The other one told Seig, “Former Soldaat members. All of us. It’s a business venture to the Soldaat, fighting for money, defending for money. Why not us?” “You’re all in the wrong, here!” Seig shouted, “This is a Toa’s job! A Toa’s duty! And exploiting people, making them pay for defense…you just sicken me!” “If they can defend themselves, then let them.” The second one said, “But oh, wait, they can’t. So what’s the problem with them paying for some protection?” “You’ll bleed this island dry; you know that, don’t you?” Seig demanded, “Then what? When they need help, and are low on funds, you’ll refuse, right?” “No. We’ll kill as many as they can pay us to.” He replied, “Then we’ll leave. We do our jobs, even if we can’t get all the money we want. We just work for that much. Simple as that, rookie Toa. Now, stand aside; you’re interfering.” “We are not to be taken lightly!” Seig shouted, “You do this for greed, we do it for what is right!” Sion slashed one down and rushed over. He stopped in front of the two comrades of his and Seig, “Toa, there are eight of you, and many villages. We do this for a reason other than money.” “Money is only the primary reason.” One said. “You’re not helping.” Sion hissed. “You three!” The commander shouted, “We’re done here!” The Onu-Matoran commander shouted. He headed over and glared at Seig, “Get out of our way, Toa. We do a job here, one that you can’t comprehend.” “I may be a rookie, but I know when the people are being used!” Seig shouted at him. “Are we using the Matoran? Is that what you think? For greed? Money? No. We protect them because you Toa can’t be everywhere.” “And what happens when they run out of money? Then what? Will you protect them out of the kindness of your hearts?” Seig demanded. “That’s their problem, then.” The Onu-Matoran said. More men gathered behind him. He threw his arms out, “As you can see, Toa, we’re very capable. How many wounds do you see on my men right now? How many losses? “Few minor wounds, no losses. Look at how good we are, Toa.” Seig watched as they left. He clenched his fists in anger. He swore that he would never allow people like that to return to the island. He swore to do something about them. 999 A.G.C.: “Island Defense members.” Seig muttered, watching as the group fought through Strievers. He went back to the fight, helping to cut down more of them, alongside his Toa comrades. “What is it, Seig?” Yuli questioned their leader. “They’re Island Defense.” He hissed. “I swore I would never allow these people back. And now, here they are…back in some semblance of their former selves…” He hissed in hate. Review

I need to find a place to teach this. I have a self-taught friend, but unfortunately, there's no real good place in town, or I'd be doing stuff to teach myself.

That, and right before it, in the house, did it for me. Almost caught up on Dark Harvest. I was hoping for cheap scares; kind of disappointed.

First off, I'm using alumni as the major characters:Ken Sakuma (Zolda from Ryuki)Junko Tama (Kasumi from Hibiki)Joji Yuki (Garren from Blade)RidermanAnd you guys can find the old pictures of the Kaizo Ningen from the V3 series for reference, if you would want to see them. Note, this takes place after The Next's Director's Cut, so Ichimonji is dead. Also, there was originally swearing in this, so it's all censored for obvious reasons. Also, due to sheer length, I'm not double spacing this. It would take far too long. ______________________________ Kamen Rider The Third “What about you? What will you do next?” “I will live. …like you.” It has been two years since Takeshi Hongo, Hayato Ichimonji and the newest traitor, Shiro Kazami defeated Shocker and their plans to use nanobot technology to remodel the Japanese populace. Shocker has attempted to continue their plotting over this time, but thus far, they have been unsuccessful in their twisted and dark endeavors. With the death of Ichimonji, and the reluctance of Hongo to search out and fight the organization, that left the fight to one man; Shiro Kazami, V3. The man calling himself an avenging demon. “If only it were true, Hongo,” Shiro said softly to himself, reflecting back on the words that that man had said to him when they had parted ways two years ago. The last time he had seen the first Hopper, and also the last time he had seen the second, whom he didn’t believe could still be alive, knowing what he knew about the old processes of the Kaizo Ningen that Shocker created. He wanted to live an ordinary life. He wanted to be able to start life anew, as Hongo had done. But Hongo hadn’t had to do what he did. Hongo didn’t have to murder his own precious sister who had been tormented and twisted mostly because of Shocker. He was an avenging demon. He couldn’t have a normal life, not that he hadn’t tried. His mind flashed to Junko Tama, a woman whom had tried to pursue him. Under normal circumstances, he was sure he would have gone after her. If nothing had happened at ExaStream, he was sure of it. But something had happened; things had changed. Now, instead of possibly enjoying the company of a beautiful woman who adored him, he was crouched behind crates at the docks, watching as black suited Shocker Combatmen patrolled the area, waiting for a shipment to come in from a foreign branch of Shocker’s. He clenched his fists as he saw the boat coming in. It was time to act. He stood up; his full height still hidden by the crates, keeping him from view of the Shocker soldiers. They wouldn’t give him too hard a time, but if he wasn’t fast enough, the shipment could get away from him while he would distract himself fighting. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t let that happen. A familiar feeling, reaching down to his shirt and pulling it up to reveal his Double Typhoon belt. He had one chance at this, striding out from his hiding place as soon as a Combatman walked past. This was the gap he needed in their lines. One well placed punch to the back of the neck did it for him. Of course, he used his other hand to secure the head, listening to the snapping of bone. Others heard, some saw as he was doing it. Regardless, Combatmen were shouting out with their “Eey!” sounds as soon as he had committed to his act. As the body fell in front of him, in front of his belt, the two turbines began to spin. As Combatmen rushed for him, he started to run for them, and then leapt up, easily vaulting over them with his augmented body, adding a great deal of power to his legs. He was a Hopper, after all. As soon as he landed behind them, he was suited. His twin green scarves trailed down his back from his jump, dancing over the scratched out remains of the Shocker emblem that had once adorned his back. He rose, spinning around, the eyes of his helmet flashing emerald green in the darkness as he ran forward, giving a ferocious punch to one Combatman’s head, dropping him. He whipped around, throwing a roundhouse kick into another’s, flipping him to the ground. As soon as his foot touched down, his leg was coming back up to parry a punch. He drew his leg away from the blocked fist and lashed it out, catching the man in the side of his chest, right next to his heart, listening to the snapping of bone as he sent he man stumbling aside. As he whipped around to continue fighting, he could see the bodies of the killed Combatmen dissolving around him. The poor warriors; they had no chance. But they weren’t alive, so he had no reason to feel sorry for them. He punched one in the chest, sending it flying back. Without looking, he kicked back to take another down. He span around to give three swift punches to one more, and then mule kicked a fourth. He was a Rider of skill, keeping himself firmly routed to the ground, keeping himself always aware, always ready to counter or block an attack. He was also a Rider of strength; using ferocious, power packed strikes. He balanced them both out by using said powerful strikes with accuracy and planning, launching them at specific spots on the enemy for a quick win. A quick kill. After dropping the fourth from his mule kick, they stopped coming. He could see out of the corner of his eye that the Combatmen on the boat were waiting there, their shipment behind them, waiting to be picked up by a forklift. It was a large crate, contents unknown. Shiro had gotten lucky when he found out about this; he could be there to do something about it. “Is that all?” he questioned the twenty-odd Combatmen who remained, “Is that all the fight you can give me? You’re nothing compared to the Kaizo Ningen. You’re nothing compared to the Hoppers. “To me.” He didn’t know what to call himself; themselves. He collectively referred to Hongo, Ichimonji and himself as the Hoppers for obvious reasons. But that name was the name given to them by Shocker; it wasn’t a name to be proudly worn. It was no symbol or badge of honor to be a Hopper. Rather, it was a reminder of what they were. What they fought for, and why they fought. But a new name was needed; a proper name for what they were. Hopper and Kaizo Ningen weren’t it. He drew his arms up into his stance; bending his right elbow and keeping the elbow on down slightly bent forward. He ran his left hand – bent with the elbow on down to face that arm – down to the start of his gauntlet on his right arm, keeping his pointer and middle fingers spread up, while his other two were curled in. On his right arm, he had the same fingers up, the rest curled in. His helmet’s eyes flashed again as he did this pose. And then he was off. “Do you have any idea what that man is possibly trying to accomplish?” the young woman on the screen asked. The older man who watched these monitors, who appeared in turn on their monitors, shook his head, “I’m afraid I do know what he is after.” “You’re afraid?” the third, the young man, questioned with a hint of admiration, “Then Hopper Version 3 is as strong as we believe him to be if he can even frighten Doctor Shinigami!” “Silence!” Shinigami snapped, “He does not frighten me!” The woman adopted a soft, sly smile, “What is it he’s after?” “Business as always, eh?” the young man questioned her. “He’s after me,” Shinigami said confidently. “How do you know?” the young man turned his attention now to Shinigami, propping his feet up on something and leaning back in his chair. “I was responsible for the nanobot technology,” Shinigami answered, “I saw the damage that was done at Legend of Gathering. I saw everything on the security systems. I saw that…mutant thing that he faced. His sister. If I had to guess, he’s coming after me.” “Because he could possibly think you caused everything?” the young man questioned with a grin, “Naive!” The woman had a point to raise, “But it technically was all Doctor Shinigami’s fault. Even if it is naïve to blame it all on him, he is still the origin. I can see why Shiro would come after you like this.” “Taken to calling him by name?” the young man teased. She didn’t say anything back. Instead she continued to address Shinigami, “He’s getting close, wouldn’t you say?” “Unfortunately he is,” Shinigami admitted, “I don’t know how he’s managed to root out so many of our men who can talk, but he has. He’s closing in on this facility, based on the last few I’ve lost contact with.” “Move,” the man said. “I refuse to be intimidated by that man,” Shinigami hissed. “Don’t worry, then,” the woman stated, “Another Shocker commander is coming to your base from overseas. He’ll be there in a few days, and he’ll be able to assist you, should V3 arrive soon.” “Back to title,” the man said. “You mean he’s only going to be here for a short window of time?” questioned Shinigami. “No,” the woman said, “Indefinitely, until V3 is eliminated.” “And this man is named?” Shinigami questioned. “Colonel Zol,” she told him. Shiro walked down a street, hands in his pockets, ignoring people as he went. He was lost in his own thoughts at the moment. As usual, he wondered about Chiharu, and her murderous ways. Could she really help what she had done? He never wanted to think of his sister, his precious sister, as a monster. But what else had she been? Not physically, but what she was; a killer, inadvertent, he hoped. Once more Shiro could only think that the specters that had killed for her were buildups of electromagnetic energy subconsciously created by Chiharu through the nanobots, appearing where people played “Platinum Smile” because of her strong ties to her final song, and manifesting through the devices that the song was played off of; computer, CD player, whatever it was. And for any other cases, he figured something else was there to draw energy off of, and negative feelings caused the creation. After all, Shocker created Kaizo Ningen like Chainsaw Lizard, who regenerated her chainsaw limbs out of nothing, and Scissors Jaguar who, like Lizard, summoned his blades out of seemingly nothing and nowhere. But right now there was no point in thinking about it again. That’s all Shiro was doing recently; thinking about Chiharu. When he had tried to live his own life, he had done just that. He had started living again. But now that he had become an avenging demon out for Shocker, Chiharu was all that filled his mind, all that kept him going. Right now it was time to think about something else. He looked up and stopped outside of the former ExaStream building; his former company. He stared for a few moments, longing filling him, nostalgia flooding back. “This is where I saw you last, Chiharu. Before Shocker twisted you.” People continued to pass by as he stood and looked. He had no reason to enter, especially since the building was owned by another company now. But just standing there, looking at it. That was enough for him right now. “I thought I would find you here, Shiro-kun,” a woman behind him said, adding a little laugh, “You kind of stick out with that vest.” He turned around to see a woman standing there, around twenty six years old. She was beautiful to behold; he had always thought so. Her radiant face, her cascading brown hair, the sense of refinement she had in her clothing choices. She struck him as someone he could get close to, if he wasn’t after Shocker. He never cared to confirm or deny anything to Junko Tama. He never cared to tell her to leave him, stop annoying him, or to keep coming. He didn’t care enough to tell her anything. He cared enough, at least, to keep her out of the conflict. He cared enough to do that by being cold to her, indifferent. It would keep her away, but also keep her coming back. While that could be dangerous for her, it would keep her available for the day he could finally stop his revenge, for the day his thirst would be quenched by eliminating Shocker. Then, if he desired, he could be with her. “Junko,” he said, indifferent, not bothering to use an honorific. He put his hands into his pockets and started to walk down the street. He knew she was following him, even without looking back. He continued to speak, looking straight ahead, “How’s Takayuki-san?” She smiled with some forlorn. He was more interested in her brother than he was in her. Why did he always ask her about him? He could just as easily find Takayuki himself and talk. “My brother is fine,” she told him, “I keep telling him every time I see you. He doesn’t really ask much about you, though.” “Did he tell you to tell me that?” Shiro questioned, still not looking at her. She nodded, “Yes, he did. Why?” “I think he has some grand idea that when I find out he doesn’t care about me, I’ll stop asking about him.” “And what good would that do?” she questioned, drawing her eyebrows together in confusion. “Then I’ll start asking you about yourself,” Shiro commented offhandedly, “He’s trying to push me to you, or something.” Shiro looked up; keeping his head leaned back as he stared up at the sky between words, “But…” “But what?” she asked, rushing and getting in front of him so that he would look at her when he lowered his head. He didn’t give her that satisfaction. He lowered his head and turned around so as to not look at her, “I have business to attend to,” he told Junko, “Please, you should leave.” “Shiro-kun!” she grabbed his arm, “Why won’t you tell me anything?” He gently pulled his arm free of her grip, “Please, leave me.” As he started to walk away from her, he heard her calling after him, “Shiro-kun! Shiro-kun!” But he didn’t answer her. He had maters to attend to. Those matters involved Shocker. As he walked off, away from Junko, he made his way towards his bike. He swung his leg over, sat down, and pulled his helmet on, driving off as Junko decided to run after him, to the spot where he had parked. He felt a slight pang of guilt for having to just leave like that, for being colder than usual, but he would get over it, and so would she, as much in love with him as she was. As he continued to drive, he focused on his goal. He remembered it; stolen from one of the men accompanying the Combatmen and the shipment of…whatever it was Shocker had been transporting that night. There was going to be a meeting at a public location, so Shiro had to intervene; he had to go after the Shocker agent that was to be met. If he could get that man, he was sure he could find Doctor Shinigami; the man who caused Chiharu’s change, the man responsible for his own change. For so much death. But that’s not what Shiro was interested in. He was interested in stopping more, yes, but he was interested far more in avenging Chiharu. The noise of his motorcycle enveloped Shiro’s senses. Gunshots managed to overcome the sounds, forcing him to abruptly stop and listen. “Shocker,” he guessed, starting again and driving, taking the first right he could, heading for the source of the sound. As he drove towards it as fast as he could, he pulled his shirt away to reveal his Double Typhoon belt. He sped up, the twin turbines spinning as he went. As soon as he turned a corner, coming around from behind a building, going right for the source of the gunshots, he was suited, complete with helmet. He drove faster and then leapt off of his bike, letting it sail forward, crashing into a handful of Combatmen who were involved in a fight with a series of men in SWAT gear, armed with handguns and stronger caliber machineguns, assault rifles. Shiro took about three steps towards them before he stopped walking. He watched, his scarves blowing out behind him from the wind. The men were backing away, keeping up a good distance from the Combatmen, who continued to drop and evaporate upon being killed. Shiro ran forward, punching a Combatman twice rapidly in the head, taking him down. He span around, grabbing another and throwing him as far as he could, sure that his body would break on landing. He grabbed one man’s shoulder, “Who are you people?” Shiro demanded. The man – Japanese, like all of them – looked to him, “Who are you, then?” he demanded, “A Shocker?” “You...you know about Shocker?” Shiro questioned him. “We’re an Interpol team,” the man told him, “After the event two years ago, of course we know about Shocker! We’re here to stop them!” “Why? Did you hear something?” Shiro pressed, grabbing him again and making him incapable of firing. “Let go!” the man shouted, pushing him off, lifting his weapon at Shiro, “And who are you anyway?” “An escaped Kaizo Ningen of Shocker’s, fighting them for revenge,” Shiro told him, “V3.” “Right…we heard about you guys,” the man said, hesitantly lowering his rifle. He span around and lifted it again, firing on the assembled Combatmen, “If you’re fighting Shocker, then help us save our bullets!” “These are just small fry,” Shiro told him, crossing his arms over his chest, “I’m interested in the Shocker agent that was supposed to be here with them.” During a lull in the fire, the man pointed out, “That what you’re talking about?” Shiro looked at where he was directing. A man was approaching, wearing a suit and carrying a suitcase. He seemed unfazed by the destruction around him, by the fighting. He looked directly at Shiro, ignoring everyone else, and then let out what looked to be a sigh. It, of course, couldn’t be heard from this distance, over the gunfire. They were in the middle of a street. Traffic was nowhere around them. There were no doubt police blockades up to prevent civilians from getting to this area. “That has to be him!” Shiro muttered to himself, clenching his fists, listening to the leather squeak as he did so, “The man I seek.” The man continued to ignore the fighting. He crouched down and laid his briefcase on the ground, snapping it open. One Interpol agent got around and lifted his weapon to the back of the man’s head, “Freeze!” he shouted. “I wouldn’t do that, were I you,” the man, middle aged, told him. “Why not?” the Interpol agent demanded, “I have the weapon here!” “I am the weapon.” He span around, knocking the rifle aside. It went off, cutting up the ground in a spray of bullets. He gripped the man’s face in his powerful hand, plunging his fingers into the man’s face, feeling bone snap as he crushed the man to death with his overwhelming enhanced strength. As the man fell to the ground, another Interpol agent was rushing over. Their orders were apparently to capture and interrogate, not to kill, or he would have fired. Shiro ran for him as well, beating two Combatmen aside to keep moving. Two more got in his way, but they stood no chance. Not against his skill. Not against his strength. He skidded forward, smashing a fist into each one’s gut, throwing them back. He continued to run for the man; sure he would get there before the agent. The man lifted his head up from what he was doing on the ground, in his briefcase. His head was covered in a green, beaked and mottled mask. Two large eyes adorned either side of the beak, red rimmed with white screens for his actual eyes to see through. The beak had a line of a mouth beneath it, which could presumably open and close as he wished it to. There was nothing more to it; no chains to act as chainmail, nothing to protect his neck, which would be otherwise exposed due to the smaller size of the helmet. But as he rose to his full height, his entire suit was revealed. He was clad in a primarily green suit with some other colors, like red and yellow. He was completely mottled, with what looked to be large sized scales or imprints to represent such across his body. He wore green combat boots that looked rather enforced almost up to his knees, from which point the leather bodyarmor appeared more durable than any Shiro had previously seen any Kaizo Ningen use before. It still looked to be leather, or a similar material, with zippers and chains crisscrossing both legs, and even down to the boots sometimes. Starting below his waist were the scale-like features of a shell, rippled yet to show muscular definition along his chest and abs, but armored. It looked worn, as if he had been struck many times, but there was no other damage, no cuts or other marks. The shell-like torso armor went up to his neck, covering it in the front. Even at the neck he looked completely armored by the shell design of his suit. His arms looked like his legs; less armored, but still more armored than any other Shocker. Zippers and chains crisscrossed his arms for apparently nothing more than design and appearance. He wore gloves that went almost all the way up to his elbows; chains and zippers along those as well. Each finger was tipped with a slight claw. Along his back was a large shell. From the front, it was hard to tell much about it, but Shiro was sure that it would be an impossibly strong defense. It looked to cover the back of the man’s neck, keeping him safe on all sides, if the suit itself didn’t cover the back of his neck, for whatever reason. The one thing that really stuck out to Shiro that this guy would be dangerous was the large bazooka mounted on his back, protruding up over his head when he stood erect. The man was getting down onto hands and knees, looking ahead, the weapon going right over the back of his head. He was going to fire into the Interpol team. “Watch out!” Shiro screamed at them as he continued to race for this Kaizo Ningen. He had to stop him, to spare others, but mostly to get information from the man. If he had any weakness that this team could exploit, at this point, they were likely to kill him. He would be too dangerous for them to try anything else. As if to prove his point that they wanted him dead, everyone focused their attention on him, sure that their bullets could pierce him. They couldn’t. A round was expelled from the bazooka, flying towards the assembled Interpol agents. Shiro couldn’t do anything but get himself out of the blast radius so he would have a chance. He heard a motorcycle. He glanced to his side to see Hongo riding in, fully suited. He drove his bike up, off a jump, and into the air, in front of the round. It was a foolish move, but Hongo was like that; he would do what he could to save these people. Shiro wouldn’t. He managed to catch the round in one hand and throw it aside, to where nobody was. The resulting explosion still knocked agents down, but it didn’t do much else, other than leave a large hole in the ground. Hongo landed his bike and skidded it to a stop. He ran towards Shiro and the enemy, catching up to Shiro quickly. “Hongo; I’m surprised to see you,” Shiro commented. “You bailed us out last time,” Hongo replied, looking at him. Shiro could see that his helmet and suit were much more damaged than the last time. He must have been involved in some fights since then, or they had just naturally fallen into a state of disarray, “I had to return the favor, unless Ichimonji has, in which case I’ll go.” “You shouldn’t joke; it doesn’t suit you,” Shiro said, stopping suddenly, letting Hongo keep going. He span around, elbowing a Combatman in the head, dropping him suddenly. Hongo noticed, but kept going, stopping right when he reached the enemy and threw a kick. More Combatmen were flooding in from seemingly out of nowhere. Shiro drew his fists up into a fighting stance, “Come on; how many of you do we have to kill until Shocker realizes you’re a waste!” Shiro shouted, rushing into them, giving out quick punches, flipping them with the sheer force he delivered into their bodies, brutally taking them down. Shiro kept looking to Hongo. He would have fought the Kaizo Ningen himself, but if Hongo was offering, that was good enough for him. As much as he wanted his revenge, he may go overboard and kill the man, not getting any information that way. Hongo wouldn’t outright kill him, though. Shiro could intervene when he had to. Hongo’s kick missed as the man dodged to the side. He threw a punch with his right, but Hongo blocked by lifting his left arm, letting it graze off of his arm and deflecting it to the outside. He drove an uppercut into the man’s chest, but nothing happened. “I’m too strong for you!” the man shouted at Hongo, his mouth opening. He slammed his head down, biting Hongo’s right shoulder. Hongo shouted in pain, falling to a knee as his suit was torn. Blood ran down both the front and back of his shoulder as the wound was opened wider by the man’s attack. “You may be the perfect Kaizo Ningen, but you’re the lowest tier; did you know that?” he questioned Hongo, his mouth and his helmet’s beak obviously having no connection, “Anyone created with nanobots is your superior. I am your superior!” Hongo was gasping out his words between his similar gasps of pain, “You may be,” he gasped out in pain, “superior, but…,” another. “But what?” he hissed. “You lack my skill!” Hongo shouted, finding his strength. He rammed his left fist into the side of the other warrior’s helmet, rattling him, breaking the beak away, but opening the wound even wider in the process. Hongo shouted in pain, grabbing his wounded shoulder with his left hand, blood streaming out from under his gloved hand as he failed to apply enough pressure. The other cyborg got to the ground, aiming his weapon at Hongo. Hongo looked up, realizing it too late that he wasn’t the target. “No!” Hongo screamed, his voice and single word carrying on, elongating the word far past the simplicity of itself. Shiro smashed his way through two more Combatmen and broke into a run for the Kaizo Ningen, attempting to stop the attack. But he was too late; the shell ejected, flying past Hongo, who couldn’t stop it. Shiro was too far away to attempt to stop it. The shell struck the ground, exploding in the vicinity of the Interpol team, blowing them away as they focused their attention on the Combatmen, not the cyborgs locked in combat. Only one man had survived; being far enough away. It was the man Shiro had spoken to. He only survived because Shiro had pulled him away to talk. He was lying on the ground, covered in blood, blood seeping through is uniform. He was groaning in pain, on the fine line between consciousness and unconsciousness. Hongo managed to get to his feet. He moved his arm away from his wound and ran towards Turtle Bazooka as he rose. He swung his left fist forward, catching the Turtle in his chest, but only knocking him back a single step. Shiro tried to get to them, but the Combatmen were focusing solely on him at this point. “Move you worthless trash!” he shouted, lashing out everywhere, keeping his guard up, blocking everything, never letting himself be struck by an attack; always blocking, “I don’t have time to waste on you!” He would deliver single, powerful blows. Most of the time they probably wouldn’t kill, since he didn’t have the liberty of choosing his target location anymore, only that he would strike. He pushed through them, rushing towards Hongo and Turtle Bazooka. Hongo blocked a swipe of his claws and delivered a punch with his right, hiding the pain. But the blow barely had any strength. He threw a punch with his left, but even with strength, Turtle’s armor was too thick. He grabbed Hongo’s shoulders and rammed his head into Hongo’s, causing Hongo to shout in pain, “Tell me something, traitor!” “What?” Hongo hissed, trying to break free of his grip, but failing. “Are you ready to die?” He pushed Hongo away and crouched down, firing a shell. It only had to travel about three yards before it crashed into Hongo, causing him to give out an otherworldly scream of pain that managed to overshadow the sound of the explosion. Shiro stopped suddenly, his eyes widening under his helmet as he saw what happened to Hongo. “Hongo!” he screamed out, “Hongo!” He took off running towards Hongo, forgetting about Turtle Bazooka and his threat for a moment. He saw a pit where Hongo used to be, and slid down into it. It wasn’t very deep, but he slid down to get through the dust. There was nothing; no signs of the first Hopper, except for a shattered chunk of his helmet. “Hongo…,” Shiro muttered, lifting it reverently into his hands, looking at all that remained of an ally, of a man who had helped him to see what he had to do in this world. He could hear the other Kaizo Ningen laughing. He let the piece of helmet remain in the pit as he walked out, covered in dust. His head was partially dropped, his arms hanging down at his sides. His scarves were blowing behind him, pushed off towards his right from the wind. He lifted his head, the eyes flashing emerald. “I’m going to kill you!” Shiro screamed at him, racing forward. He slid and punched him once in the chest, but it didn’t do anything. The man in the other suit simply laughed hollowly, thanks to his helmet and the beak being closed. Shiro shouted, adding another punch, and then another, but to no avail. “You won’t get me that way,” he hissed to Shiro, backhanding him across the face. Shiro went down, rolling aside. He pushed himself up and swayed as he stood on his feet. “If that won’t work, then I’ll add more punches,” Shiro hissed to him, “I will break your shell and kill you!” He ran forward, shouting in a rage. The man who was a composite of skill and strength had just lost all thoughts of skill. He as focusing now only on strength, only on smashing through Turtle Bazooka. He shouted and threw a punch, but the other man caught it in his left hand. “Weak,” he hissed, ramming his knee into Shiro’s gut, knocking him back after doubling him over. He let go of the fist and rammed his own fist into Shiro’s head, taking Shiro to the ground, making him roll away. “I am not weak!” he screamed, pushing himself up. He looked up at Turtle Bazooka. His eyes flashed emerald again as he ran forward. He leapt up and came down with a knee aimed for his head. The Turtle stepped back and twisted to the side to avoid it. He rammed an uppercut into Shiro’s gut, doubling him over again. This time he put both of his hands together, interlaced the fingers, and smashed both fists into the back of Shiro’s head, putting him to the ground. He stepped on the back of Shiro’s neck, “It’ll be so simple to just kill you right now, just like this,” he hissed, “Do you want me to just break your neck? Or do you want to be blown up like that other fool?” Shiro could hear a heavy panting now coming from behind Turtle Bazooka, and a voice, “You had best move, or we’re all going to blow.” “What?” Turtle demanded. “I have a grenade. I drop it down your bazooka, we all go up, right?” It was the Interpol agent who survived. Shiro placed the voice. The man was a fool for trying this, but if it worked, he would have to thank him. But if it worked, what was he going to do? Was he going to try to fight again, or was he going to have to retreat for now and figure out how to defeat this man’s armor later? “You won’t kill us all,” Turtle hissed. “You wiped my entire team out; what good am I now?” the man questioned. “My armor will let me live,” Turtle told him. Blood was streaming down the man’s face. He closed that eye, “If you’re so sure, then let’s test it out, shall we?” Turtle lifted his foot away from Shiro’s neck. The man move with him, keeping his threat up. Shiro looked up, seeing that the man had a grenade in his right hand, right over the bazooka, while his left held a handgun, pointed up at the grenade. It might miss, but if it managed to hit, then the damage would be tremendous, if he didn’t get a chance to wait for the grenade to blow on its own, as he noticed the pin was missing. Turtle stepped away from them. The agent kept his weapons up, his left eye still closed due to the blood running down. Shiro wondered if his shot would be affected. “Go!” the man shouted at Turtle Bazooka. “Do you really think you can order a Shocker?” the Turtle screamed, going down to his knees, about to plant his hands on the ground to level his bazooka at them. The Interpol agent seemed to be faster. He threw the grenade towards the Kaizo Ningen and lifted his firearm, putting a single bullet into the grenade as it was right in front of Turtle. The explosion threw the agent to the ground, but Shiro only felt the shock of it. When the smoke cleared, the Turtle as getting away. There was a bloody trail following him. “You…you wounded him,” Shiro muttered, planting his fists in the ground as he pushed himself to his knees. How did an ordinary man do that? Why couldn’t I break through him? Why? The agent approached Shiro, holstering his gun, “I’m surprised it worked, to be honest,” he told Shiro, collapsing beside Shiro, “My team…,” he looked up at the sky, tilting his head back, looking with his single good eye at the moment. “You just lost, what, eleven men?” Shiro questioned him, sitting up and sitting back, leaving his helmet in place, “Yet you have no emotion over it? You just seem like…it’s a natural occurrence, like the rising of the sun.” “Well, they’re dead, what can I do about it?” he questioned Shiro. “You raise a good point, but it’s a flawed point.” “Flawed?” “You could go after that Kaizo Ningen for revenge.” “Are you going to go after him for revenge? For that other Hopper?” the man questioned Shiro. “Yes,” Shiro said, “But my revenge is against all of Shocker, not a single man like that. My revenge runs deeper, much deeper.” “How deep?” he questioned, but Shiro just kept silent, not answering, “Ok, fine.” Shiro continued to remain silent. The man sighed and tried to wipe the blood off of his face. Shiro stood up and walked towards his bike. The man pushed himself up and walked after him, “Wait! V3!” “What?” Shiro questioned him, not turning around. “I have no team.” “I know,” Shiro answered, “You don’t need to state the obvious.” “You’re going after that guy!” the man shouted, “Take me too! Let me help you!” “I don’t need your help,” Shiro told him, turning to look at him, “I don’t need it. More importantly, I don’t want it.” “I wounded him when you couldn’t!” he pressed. “I’ll break the *******’s armor,” Shiro said, clenching his right fist. “Sakuma, Ken,” the man said. “What?” “That’s my name,” Ken answered, “Look; I don’t need your name outside of ‘V3’. I just want to work with you! Together I’m sure we can bring this guy down, and get a shot in at Shocker! That’s what my team was here to do! Strike at Shocker. I’m sure I have information that you want, if you’re after them as well.” “Like what?” Shiro questioned him. “I don’t have anything big for you, like the location of a base or facility, but I do have chatter that we picked up between Japan and Germany.” “What would I care about such chatter?” Shiro questioned him, sitting on his bike, ready to leave at any moment. He ran a hand through his matted down, bloodied hair, “Look, I’ll hold off on telling you that. It might be my biggest piece of leverage.” “Leverage?” Shiro almost laughed at him, “If I don’t know the details of international communications, you think that’s leverage?” “It involves the Shocker elites,” Ken told him seriously, in a dark tone of voice, “I don’t know what you want to do. Maybe you want to just destroy Shocker, maybe you’re after someone at Shocker. I don’t know, but this could be of use. But you’ll only get the information if you let me go along with you.” Shiro didn’t say anything as he considered what Ken was saying. I’m after Doctor Shinigami, one of the elites. The man in charge of the operations, the technology, the nanobots. He’s the one I’m after. But…if he has information on elites, and from international communications, could that mean that Shinigami might be leaving for Germany? That someone is replacing him? And if nothing else, perhaps the data holds some relevant information. It doesn’t have whereabouts or anything for me, but it might allude to something. Maybe a location where the new guy is coming in at, or where Shinigami will be if he’s leaving, if he leaves by plane, or boat, or something. Shiro looked at Ken and considered for another few moments, then gave a slight nod, “Fine; come with me. Just don’t expect to tell everyone at Interpol who I am when I have to reveal my identity to you. I expect this to all be kept between us.” “Understood,” Ken said, walking towards him, “So; both of us on your bike?” Shiro shook his head, “I’d rather not, but you can’t exactly walk there, with the condition you’re in.” “Thanks for caring,” Ken said. “I meant that you’d attract attention, and people would wonder why a bloodied man was coming into my home.” Ken shrugged to him, “Fine; I don’t care if you care or not, a ride is nice, at least.” He got on behind Shiro and held on. Shiro grabbed his extra helmet and pushed it to Ken, “Better wear that.” Ken sighed and pulled the helmet on, “It takes away the cool look.” It was Shiro’s turn to sigh now. This was going to be an annoying partnership, wasn’t it? Shiro sat back in a chair, resting his right elbow on the arm, placing his cheek in his palm, crossing one leg over his other as he looked at the man sitting in the other chair not very far away from him. Ken Sakuma had cleaned himself of the blood and was now wearing black clothes that were under his bodyarmor, at least giving him something clean, allowing him to appear rather presentable, especially without the blood. He was older, possibly in his early to mid thirties. His face had youth to it, yet it had an edge of experience, an edge of age. Brown hair was swept out of his face and carried down to just above his shoulders, making him look fairly out of place as a government agent like he was. Shiro figured that one should probably look a bit…better, for lack of a better term that he could come up with at the moment. “Kazami Shiro,” Ken said, looking around the large room of Shiro’s mansion, “I can’t imagine someone like you is V3. It’s…surprising, to say the least.” “You know of me, then?” Shiro questioned. “ExaStream; the entire staff just vanished. Of course I know of you,” Ken told him, “As an Interpol agent, I take my job very seriously. I remember faces and names very well.” “You investigated that incident, then,” Shiro said, “Why?” “Why not? Does it sound like something for the police to investigate?” Ken questioned him. “Actually, yes, kind of,” Shiro answered. “Well, we would have let them. But we found out about Shocker at that same time, because of the nanobot incident. We started to connect things, and we found ExaStream.” “You thought they were connected because they happened so close together?” questioned Shiro. “We were right, as it turns out,” Ken told him, “You know that.” Shiro nodded, “You were right. Only myself and my secretary survived. I had to kill her myself when she fought for Shocker after I defected.” He sat straighter up, putting his arm down on the rest, “You’re not going to arrest me, are you?” “No, of course not,” Ken told him, “I don’t care if you worked for Shocker; you’re fighting them right now. To me, that’s what matters. Not who you were, not who made you what you are. Who you are now. “Besides, I hardly have the ability to take you in. You’d kill me long before I could place you under arrest.” “You have that right,” Shiro told him, not joking, being completely serious, “I can’t let anything happen until I crush Shocker and avenge my sister. Until that day, I cannot fail; I cannot allow myself to be stopped.” “You’re out for revenge, just like me,” Ken told him. “You?” “My team,” Ken explained. “You want revenge for your team?” questioned Shiro, “You were bonded that closely with them?” “Of course!” It was as if Shiro just didn’t understand, “Aren’t you close to the other traitors? The warriors you fought beside? You’re brothers in arms, just like my team and I were!” “Brothers…in arms…,” muttered Shiro, looking away. He and Hongo and Ichimonji weren’t close. He had saved them, they had taught him lessons, but that was about all there was to it. There was no closer bond; just that. He didn’t have the same bond that Ken did with his team. “No,” Shiro said simply. “Shiro-kun!” Her voice pierced his solitude. It wasn’t a bad piercing; it was rather nice to hear Junko Tama’s voice again. He may not want to get too attached to her, but he did enjoy her around, time to time. It was…nice, to have some sort of normalcy to life, to his life, after Shocker destroyed it. Even if he didn’t return her affection or attention, it was still nice. It meant that he had something to root himself down with; something to connect him to a normal life. It may not be the strongest lifeline, due to his feelings on his end, but it was a good lifeline to have, none the less. Junko came up behind Shiro, hooking an arm through one of his as she reached him, hanging off of it, “Shiro-kun, I’m so happy to see you! I didn’t think I would for a while after yesterday.” He decided to humor her and have a conversation, rather than toy with her, “So, you thought that I would decide to stay locked up at home, rather than come out and do errands, just due to the small chance I would run into you again? All because yesterday I had to run off instead of talk to you? Because I had important work to get done?” “Well, when you put it that way…,” she muttered. He smiled, “Junko,” he made sure to attach no honorific to her name, “why are you always looking for me like this? Some would call it an obsession.” She made a face when he said that, as if confused, “I don’t understand what you mean, Shiro-kun.” “You went out of your way to find me; it seems like,” he explained, “I doubt we were both out two days in a row in the same place. Maybe today, but I was at ExaStream yesterday…what reason would you have or being in that area? It seems very clear to me that you were looking for me.” She sighed, “Ok, maybe I was, but today I really wasn’t looking for you. Not after yesterday, since you seemed…mad, maybe.” “Hurried,” he said. “Right, you were in a hurry. I guess I just made a mistake.” “You did,” he said without a hint of emotion. “Right…,” that was awkward on his end, making it harder on her. He had said it like that intentionally to make her response harder. “Well, what are you doing today? You said you had errands. I find that a bit hard to believe.” And this was the Junko Tama that made him appreciate her more. The woman who wasn’t just fawning over him, but the one who would have conversations with him, who would move away from her affection and focus on something more practical, even if it wasn’t all that important this time. “What? You don’t think I run errands?” he questioned her. “You’re Kazami Shiro; I don’t think you do that yourself,” she told him. “I don’t have servants or anything of the sort; you do realize that, right?” he questioned her. “Well, I didn’t think you did,” she retorted, “It still doesn’t seem like you. But then again, you have to get food and stuff somehow, considering you’re living alone.” “I didn’t feel like making my guest run the errands,” Shiro said, seeing how she would react to those words. “G-guest?” she asked, showing some fluster, looking away a bit. He could see a bit of a blush coming to her face, likely out of annoyance and potential jealousy, “Who?” He smiled, deciding to push it a little farther, “Someone strong, of good moral standings and principles, someone not taken by who I am as a wealthy man.” There, that would be vague enough. Ken was strong, had strong moral standings, being Interpol, and wasn’t interested in Shiro’s wealth; rather, his identity as V3. But he decided to let Junko think it could be a woman. “So…what’s her name?” Junko asked. He smiled, actually enjoying himself. Sure, he was toying with her, but they had been having a rather decent conversation. He guessed this was why he let her stick around him, instead of just making her leave him alone. “Sakumo, Ken.” She had a confused look, and then one of relief complete with a sigh, “Shiro-kun, I thought you were speaking of a woman.” “I know,” he said simply, his smile fading, “I let you think that.” He realized his smile faded. Why? Did he subconsciously not like lying to her about something like that? Did admitting that he was making her think that on purpose make him take his own smile away? Take away the thing that showed that he was happy or pleased? Well, that was interesting. “Why?” Her voice was different that time. It was a bit pained, more than usual when he toyed with her. It was as if he had done something bad to her. He basically had. He lowered his voice, as if afraid to have someone hear him admit this, “I’m sorry, Junko.” He still refrained from using an honorific. He had wanted to use ‘san’, but decided against it at the last moment, right before he started speaking. It wasn’t a conscious reason he wanted to use that, it was subconscious once more. What was going on here? Did he like her company more than even he himself thought? Was the idea of hurting her so terrible, that even a lie would have to be covered by such respect? Not that she didn’t deserve respect, though. But that wasn’t the way he spoke to her. She knew that, she expected that. What if he had said her name with an honorific of any sort? What would she feel then? Hope. Hope that they could be together. He couldn’t give that sort of hope. Maybe someday, not today. “So…what errands do you have?” He hadn’t realized how much silence had filled the gap between them. He must have been thinking about her longer than expected. His smile slowly returned to his face. If he had known that he had been thinking about her for that time, she would certainly have gotten her hopes up so high. She would have been so happy, and would have only been crushed when he didn’t do anything about any sort of feelings he had for her. He couldn’t crush her like that. “I need to get food,” he told her, “As it turns out, I’m rather low. If it were just me, I’d manage, but Ken was injured, he needs to get his strength back.” “Injured?” her concern rose in her voice, “How?” “Accident on the job,” he left it at that. It wasn’t a lie, technically, “He’ll be fine in a day or two; nothing serious.” Well, it was kind of serious, but Ken was strong. Even though he was struck by the shockwave and the fringe of an explosive like that, he was healing up well. It was amazing. Ken attributed it to his strong will and constitution. Shiro figured as much. “Well, that’s good,” Junko said, “How do you know him? Is he a friend of yours?” “I only just met him yesterday,” Shiro answered honestly, “I decided to bring him back home to help him, since it was partially my fault he got hurt.” “Shiro-kun! A conscious!” she was elated by that. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he questioned, rather annoyed. Was she implying that he had no conscious? That he didn’t care about other people? “My brother told me that you only really care about friends and family as of late. Ever since Chiharu died…,” she trailed off, “I’m sorry.” “It happened,” he said, “I have to live with it. But…you could say that Takayuki-san is right. I only started to care or my friends, when I lost my only family.” He would have to admit that he didn’t care much for other people; only friends. Even strangers he wouldn’t bother to help, not with his overwhelming focus on Shocker. “Yet you find this stranger, help him and make him a friend?” Junko questioned him, “But then again, you did say he got hurt helping you. I imagine that was out of your control; him helping you, and getting hurt.” “You could say that,” he replied. “So, all it takes for someone to become your friend is for them to get hurt? Or rather, to help you in a big way?” she questioned him. “I guess,” he replied, “Right now, anyway. I don’t have time, otherwise. Why do you ask such a question?” She smiled at him, “I’m trying to figure out what I can do for you that’s big enough so that you acknowledge me as a friend. I figure that’s a good enough start, anyway.” He stopped walking. She kept going, but was stopped by his stop, as her arm was still linked through his; he had never bothered to remove it himself. “Is something wrong?” she asked him, “I was kind of joking,” she explained. He looked at her, his smile appearing a bit broader, “Junko, you shouldn’t say such a thing.” “What do you mean?” she questioned him, “What thing?” “We are friends.” Those simple words brought so much joy to her beautiful face. She looked to be almost in disbelief, in fact. But, even with that joy, there was silence between them. “Thank you, Shiro-kun!” she slipped her arm free of his and threw both around him in an embrace, “That means so much to me!” He smiled a little more, despite not really wanting to. He fought back the smile, awkwardly putting his arms slightly around her. Then he put them more firmly around, only to take a light grip of her and pull her back, away from him. “Junko,” he said, looking into her eyes, “I do mean that, just don’t get carried away trying to find something more than that in my words.” “I understand,” she said, still exuberantly happy, “But this is just the start! I’m sure of that!” He would have liked to have said “We’ll see,”, but that would have given her too much hope for the time being. Instead he just remained quiet and started to walk again, “Come on, if you still want to join me.” “Right,” she started after him again, slipping her arm once more through his. He didn’t mind, once more. He actually liked it, though he wouldn’t admit that to her. As they continued to walk, she turned to him to speak, “Shiro-kun,” she never finished her sentence as an explosion occurred in front of them, sending debris flying, sending smoke everywhere, sending a shockwave at the two of them from being so close. Shiro gripped her, trying to protect her from the debris and as much of the shockwave as he could, but they were both thrown aside, landing on the hard ground on the street, blown away from the sidewalk. A car was coming, unable to stop. Shiro pushed himself up with Junko in his arms. He leapt, using his augmented body to clear the car, landing on the opposite side of it as it slid to a stop, trying to avoid hitting them as well as avoid the debris that was covering the street from the explosion. It managed to slide and spin to the side, managing to remain on all four wheels. He set Junko down, her body shaky and unsteady after the explosion, after witnessing the jump that Shiro made. He turned around, facing away from her, walking towards the rubble and the explosion. “Shiro-kun!” she called. He looked back at her; “Go!” he shouted, running towards the site of the damage, lifting his shirt to reveal his belt as he ran. “Shiro-kun! It’s dangerous!” Junko shouted, running after him. However, Junko was stopped by the driver getting out of his car. He grabbed Junko, “That’s dangerous! We have to get away!” he was saying. “No! I can’t let Shiro-kun go over there alone!” she was shouting at the man, “Let me go!” “It’s dangerous!” “I don’t care!” she wasn’t having any success breaking away, however, and was pulled away. However, as the smoke began to be sucked away, as if by turbines, she saw Shiro standing in armor, affixing a helmet over the top of his head and snapping the mouthpiece on, twin scarves blowing in the slight wind. The smoke was converging on him, being sucked away into the belt on his waist. He never looked back; he only walked onward, away from her as she shouted his name vainly. Shiro as V3 walked around, his eyes scanning for the hidden enemy. He looked onward, straight ahead, “Turtle! I know you’re here! Come out!” “Turtle Bazooka,” the man growled as he emerged from behind a car, fully clad in his armor. He dropped down; aiming at Shiro, “Let me show you why my name doesn’t work like you said it!” As the shell was fired, Shiro ran forward. He leapt up, kicking off of it, driving it into the ground. The explosion carried him forward, having timed it perfectly. He lashed out with a series of bicycle kicks at the crouched Kaizo Ningen, throwing him back, unable to properly defend himself. He rolled, having trouble with the actual act of rolling due to his shell and mounted cannon. He managed to get up and throw a punch, but Shiro blocked it with his forearm, letting it slide to the side. ̶

I'm just going to point out, I wrote this entire epic in about two weeks, just trying to hammer out a story to flesh out my corner of the C.I.R.C.L.E. universe, and my writing has improved very much since. Opening scene is basically a result of my old skills. Not hard to defeat; difficult to fight. As in, you'd have a hard fight, but it doesn't take too many hits to eliminate one. The time jumps play an important role. It is part of the title, hence both Hark and Seig (future) having the same line, for instance. Island Defense in the past, and the new force in the present (which, either chapter 1 or 2 says, is made of mostly Island defense members). The Strievers are also a part of the point of the parallel storylines. Yuli and Ryza as well, with how they grow from Matoran to Toa (roughly), and Seig's change from rookie to leader, along with Raiz's from berserker to calm, composed warrior. As I recall, if something happens in the past, something similar is also occurring in the present, pertaining to the same thing. Though I think that slowly changes, as both story arcs start to reach their climaxes (then again, still parallels; both are reaching them at the same time, roughly). I'm going to just admit now; the story is probably best at the start, weakens towards five to seven, I think eight was good, and then it's shaky the rest of the way. I realized too late that fifteen was too many chapters for my story, and I had nothing else to add, for the most part.

I miss Dany's chapters. They're always refreshing breaks, and I hate that Crows doesn't have any of hers. I will agree, either Dany or Stannis are the only ones who are worthy of the throne. Stannis, after the events of A Storm of Swords, and Dany from that book as well, both show why they deserve it. Dany's crusade got annoying after a while, but she has what she needs to be a good monarch, better than the others. Meanwhile, Stannis, because of Davos, knows what he needs to do now. I felt so happy at the end of the book when he and his forces arrived to take out the Wildlings. I had no idea what happened, but when it was shown to be him, after Davos's involvement as Hand, I felt at that point that he had a great shot at the throne. I mean, as of Crows, who's left? Tommen, Stannis, Dany, whoever takes over the Greyjoys (being dealt with in this book), and possibly the Dornish (again, looking like they could get involved as of the start of this book).