Date: 01-08-93 (21:32) Number: 723 To : All Refer#: 0 From: Michael Liu Subj: Guyver 16.1 Conf: Toons Created, written and drawn by Yoshiki Takaya "Tall House, Fine Tree" Translated by Michael Liu from the Chinese edition of the manga Chapter 16: Fetal Movements of a Nightmare ------------------------------------------ Night had fallen over the countryside of N City. A waning moon provided feeble light over the wooded mountain region. At the end of a well-used path, under the cover of many bushes and branches hid Murakami's sports sedan. A sizzling sound and rising smoke could be detected near the car, as the right chest of Guyver-III was rapidly being regenerated through some unknown exothermic chemical process. The Segawa siblings watched as Makishima was restored by the biobooster. Mizuki: This is unbelievable...such a great wound... Her brother seemed less amazed, perhaps due to having been around such miracles for the past two months. Tetsuro: If the other particle cannon was not used, the healing would have been quicker. It looks like they know how to disengage the bioarmour now. With a quiet, firm sound, the armour disappeared from Makishima. The former right-hand man of Gio fell forward, with only the large hole in the front of his shirt as a reminder of the chest injury. Mizuki: Makishima! She rushed forward. Makishima caught himself in mid-fall. Makishima: It's alright! I'm just tired. How's Sho? Hasn't he woken up yet? Tetsuro: No. Mizuki looked into the back of the car where Sho lay. Mizuki: Sho wouldn't have any problems, would he? Tetsuro: He's Guyver, there shouldn't be any trouble. Mizuki: Says who!? Wasn't Makishima affected by his wound? Sho--Sho must be... Tears began to well up in her eyes. Tetsuro was silent for a moment. Tetsuro: Never before was the biobooster removed by an enemy attack, so...there's no way we can tell what kind of damage Sho has sufferred. Mizuki: Then... --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) Date: 01-08-93 (21:33) Number: 724 To : All Refer#: 0 From: Michael Liu Subj: Guyver 16.2 Conf: Toons Tetsuro: The biobooster has certain safety features so when the body is injured, the biobooster would not disengage in order to protect the wearer's life. Therefore, even when the wearer has incurred a fatal wound, because the biobooster has not been disengaged, it is possible to repair the damage. But this time it's different, the control device that's responsible for all the functions of the bioarmour has come under direct attack. Since the control device is linked to the brain of the bioboosted body, and the device has been subjected to ten thousands volts of electricity... Mizuki: Sho... She grabbed the shirt front of her brother as tears rolled down her cheeks. Makishima watched with a different kind of worry. Makishima: He decided to interrupt. Makishima: Tetsuro, who is that man called Murakami? He seems to know a great deal about us. Tetsuro: That...I don't know much either. He and Sho know each other...Ah! He looked to the side. With a slight rustling of the leaves, Murakami emerged from the bushes. Tetsuro: He's here. Murakami: How's Sho doing? Tetsuro shook his head. Murakami: Hmmm....They've set up ambushes around the region, the car will not be able to leave the countryside. Makishima: Of course! This is their domain, perhaps even the police is under their control. Tetsuro: Maybe they've already begun searching the mountain. Murakami: Things don't look good for Sho right now, it would be best if we can find a place to hide... Mizuki: How about a hotel or an inn in the city... Murakami: No, we are outsiders. We'll be noticed in any public place. Makishima was silent as he wrestled with some decision. Makishima: Mr. Murakami. The journalist switched his attention to the young man behind him. Makishima: Follow my directions when you drive. I know a place... --- * Origin: New To Magrathea !! Whatever this is... (1:243/42) Date: 01-08-93 (21:34) Number: 725 To : All Refer#: 0 From: Michael Liu Subj: Guyver 16.3 Conf: Toons Gio: Have they been located? "Sorry, sir. We haven't..." Replied the operator at a console. Gio: Makishima's with them. Their capture will not be easy. It will be fine as long as they don't leave N City. Where's Dr. Balcus? The beast soldier concoction facility in the Site Base occupied a large, cylindrical space with something that resembled a generator at its core. Rows of beast soldiers in transparent, circular tanks occupied each of the four levels along the inner wall. Spherical observation decks were installed at regular intervals midway through the levels, each with an elliptical window that gave the deck the appearance of an eye when viewed from the outside. In the iris of one such observation deck, Dr. Balcus could be seen before a large screen whose display was being monitored by a comely female assistant beside a small console. The displays were pictures of various types of beast soldiers along with their performance data. A Vamore appeared on the screen, followed by a Biruva, the horned, furry creature that assaulted Sho in the park. It was succeeded by information concerning Gailus, a beast soldier with a long sharp horn in the place of a nose and long, crooked blades at the back. "The above were all the beast soldiers formally used by the Japan Branch," said the assistant. "Also..." Balcus: Damaged experimental types...Let me see them. "Yes sir!" She flicked a switch. "I will display the roster immediately." A long list of serial numbers, soldier types and other related data scrolled onto the screen. "Oh!" The assistant seemed surprised at the length of the information. Balcus: There are that many damaged ones. "The Japan Branch had the best track record in developping beast soldiers. Correspondingly, it also had the most number of failures," answered the assistant to the question that was more of a statement. "But...the damaged experimental types are just beast soldiers who have lost their ability to reproduce, their human form and intelligence. They are essentially living chunks of flesh. However..." Balcus began to examine each damaged type in detail using the smaller display on the console itself. "Some of them possess superior abilities," continued the assistant. "They did not lose all of their abilities from the failure in concoction." Balcus had paused in his search. The display showed the picture of a man with a disfiguring "birthmark" on his left face. The name "Aptom" appeared beside the profile. "?" The assistant was puzzled. "Something's wrong?" --- * Origin: New To Magrathea !! Whatever this is... (1:243/42) Date: 01-08-93 (21:35) Number: 726 To : All Refer#: 0 From: Michael Liu Subj: Guyver 16.4 Conf: Toons Balcus: This is... The assistant pressed a few keys. "Aptom, a member of the damaged experimental type unit. It was originally hoped that he could be made into a multi-purpose beast soldier who could alter its form according to the need. But he lost his reproductive ability, and no matter which beast soldier's form he adopted it was always more in appearance than in powers." A picture of Aptom as the imitation Guyver appeared on the larger screen. Balcus: Oh? He has fought Guyver recently? Gio stepped into the room. Gio: Here you are, Dr. Balcus. He turned to the assistant. Gio: There is no more business for you. You may leave. "Yes sir!" The woman bowed. Balcus: Have you found them? Gio: I've set my people to work. It's just a matter of time. N City is under my complete control. I also have a hostage. Sho Fukamachi's father... Balcus: This hostage has great potential. He looked at his younger colleague. Balcus: Things will be very interesting. Golden rays of sunlight reached the roof of a small house in the woods. Sho: Dad! He looked around in the darkness, venturing deeper into the water that surrounded him. Sho: Dad! "Sho!" He heard an indistinct voice. Sho: Dad!? He turned to face the direction from which the sound came. A man who was knee-deep in the water could be seen in the distance. Fumio: O..Over here! Help me, Sho... Small waves of water rose around him, condensing into new forms. --- --- * Origin: New To Magrathea !! Whatever this is... (1:243/42) Date: 01-08-93 (21:35) Number: 727 To : All Refer#: 0 From: Michael Liu Subj: Guyver 16.5 Conf: Toons Fumio: Sho!! Sho... Sho: Dad! The waves had taken on the shapes of two Chronos agents, each restraining an arm. Fumio: Ah! Sho: You...Get away from my father! The eel creature Elegan suddenly emerged from the water before Sho and swang a tentacle at Sho's forehead. On contact, a bright light filled Sho's eyes. Sho found himself lying in a bed with a thin blanket covering his body. He was in pajamas, which were soaked with sweat. He raised his left hand to block the bright light coming through the curtained window beside the bed. Sho: "Are you awake?" Sho looked up to find a thin, delicate girl with big, dark eyes looking down at him. --End of Chapter 16-- --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42)