From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #274, May 14, 92 20:24:00 Subject: Guyver 4.1 Created by Yoshiki Takaya "Tall House, Fine Tree" Chapter 4: A Second Shadow -------------------------- Anne: Sorry, I have to organize the council accounts with the president. Please tell Clark. Luke: [smiling nervously] Uh, sure! Luke watched Anne as she turned away, went down the hallway and began to hum to herself. He wondered, for the nth time, why he had joined the student council. Later, at the school's SF research centre... Mina: [As Luke entered] Oh! Clark: Didn't you go home with Anne? Luke: She said she had to set the council accounts in order, with Michael. Clark: [grimacing behind Luke] Mina: Well, you just came in time. [pointing to the mess of papers and hand-printing equipment on the table] We can use a few hands. As Luke unhappily worked away on printing the club's publication, Mina commented that he did a better job than Clark. However, not everyone's performance was approved by his seniors. Such was the case near the top of a prominent skyscraper in the city... Island: [sweating profusely] Ah...Chief Gio, for me to take on the responsibility of the inspector's death... Gio: That, combined with the many problems in the past, Mr. Island... Gio was a tall, lean man whose dark brown skin was set off by the white suit he wore. Although his eyebrows were as thick and white as his combed-back hair, the relatively unlined face suggested that the colouring might be premature. Gio: From now on, I, Richard Gio, am in command of the Japan branch headquarters! Island: [panicking] Sir! What about my contribution in proving the practical values of the beast soldiers!? Gio: The Japan branch did indeed contribute to the development of the beast soldiers, but...Bubu! --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #275, May 14, 92 20:24:00 Subject: Guyver 4.2 A bald man in a dark suit stepped up. Judging from his physique there was no doubt of his function. Gio: [As Bubu began transforming] He's my direct subordinate brought from the headquarters. Island: [panic escalating] Ah...A beast soldier? Gio: [While Bubu completes his grotesque change] Bubu...has powers not found in the past beast soldiers. He should really be called a 'super beast soldier'. Upon seeing the indescribable form that seemed to be an amalgamation of several abominations, Island fell to the floor. Gio: Do you understand? Your contributions can be said to be non-existent. [calmly but threateningly] Begone! I will give you further instructions. After Island had retreated from his former office, Gio, now behind the desk, turned to Bubu: Gio: Bubu, embark at once. Retrieve the Guyver Unit even if you have to kill. However, do not harm the student with him. He may know where the last one is located. * * * Clark: Done! A pile of the volume 18 of _The Green Hills of Earth_ now lay on the table. Clark: Let's pack and go home! Luke, you close the windows. After Luke had completed his simple task, he paused for a moment at the window. Luke: On the way home, after parting with Mina... Luke: Clark... Clark: Hmmm? Luke: Michael Island....what's he like? He was in the same class as you in grade 11 wasn't he? Clark: So? I feel he's a very talented person, but I can never tell what he's thinking. --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #276, May 14, 92 20:25:00 Subject: Guyver 4.3 Back in school... Michael: Done! [turns to Anne] Sorry to keep you here so late. Anne: It's nothing. This is part of a vice-president's job. They packed and walked down the corridor. Michael: Last year I was in the same class as your brother, now I only meet him occassionally in the hallway. How is he? Anne: Oh, he's fine. But he's acting a bit strangely lately, seems to be working on something with Luke...with Secretary Luke Street. Michael: Oh? * * * "These are the data we obtained while the inspector donned the biobooster," said a subordinate, indicating the display of arcane symbols on a monitor. Subordinate: As a precaution, the agent should be given this information to prevent... Gio: It's not necessary. [A slight smile appears on his face] * * * Luke: [Expression of disbelief] Michael Island? Adopted!? Clark: Don't you know? It was quite famous. His adoptive father is the elder brother of his father. When Michael's father's business failed and was deeply in debt Michael was taken in by his uncle. Back then he was only in grade school, but he has already been called a prodigy by some. Luke: I didn't know. Clark: I heard this from others as well. Luke was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw a group of Khronos agents dashing towards them on the street. Luke: Clark! It's Khronos! The two began to run, with Luke hurrying the more rotund Clark. Suddenly, other agents appeared from the corner they have just walked past. With nowhere to go, the two were soon captured and forced off the road onto an empty lot beside the street. Luke and Clark struggled in vain. Finally, as a last recourse... --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #277, May 14, 92 20:25:00 Subject: Guyver 4.4 Luke: Guyver! The donning of the biobooster created a sphere of shock wave around Luke, repelling the agent holding him. In a few swift movements, all the Khronos agents were incapacitated. Guyver: Clark, are you okay? Clark: [Catching his breath] Ah, this... With a sudden scream, a still-twitching form of an agent beside Clark began to rapidly decompose, a fate soon shared by his fellows. Before Luke and Clark could figure out what was happening, a shot of dissolving liquid landed between Luke's feet. Clark: Guyver: Clark, over there! Luke indicated a monstrous, shadowy form by the side of the road. * * * Subordinate: These are the results of the analysis on the shell of the biobooster. [The display switched to chemical formulae] We are using these information as a basis for developing a chemical solution that will dissolve the bio-armour. The mind of his single audience was however, elsewhere. Gio: Bubu! Make contact with Guyver. Subordinate: Sir? Gio: * * * Bubu roared, then rushed towards Guyver. Bubu: Come, Guyver! Luke landed a punch where Bubu's stomach would be located, assuming his anatomy was still human. Bubu responded by punching Luke far back then firing three shots of dissolving liquid, one from each extension on his head. One of the shots hit Guyver in the left shoulder, causing slight damage. Guyver: --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #278, May 14, 92 20:26:00 Subject: Guyver 4.5 Luke moaned, stood up and fired an energy beam from a spot just above the orb on his forehead. The beam struck Bubu at the root of the extension on his forehead. Bubu raised his arms and fired two wide energy beams from both hands at Guyver. Clark: * * * Anne bade Michael good-bye then walked alone by the road. Her appearance by the lot surprised Bubu, and vice versa. Luke, whose back was to the street, did not realize the source of startlement but seized the opportunity. Guyver jumped above the beast soldier and delivered a solid kick into Bubu's upper back. Severely hurt, Bubu cursed, rushed to the street and grabbed a frightened Anne. Guyver, Clark: Anne! Bubu: Heh, this girl seems to know you. She would be useful. Guyver: Wait! [Running towards the street] Bubu: Don't move, or I'll kill her! Clark: Anne! Before Luke could do anything, Bubu escaped with Anne and hid on the rooftop of a nearby house from where he had a perfect view of his pursuer. Guyver: [After a brief search] Anne! Damn, where is he? The voice of Gio thundered in Bubu's head. Gio: Bubu: In his desire to escape and urgent communication with his superior, Bubu failed to notice the humanoid that had just appeared behind him on the roof. A hand suddenly entered the wound on Bubu's back, and a twisting motion brought fresh pains to the monster. Bubu turned to this new attacker. Bubu: You're... The unknown being looked familiar, yet the form was more powerful and menacing. An orb also adorned its forehead. --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42) From: Michael Liu To: All Msg #279, May 14, 92 20:27:00 Subject: Guyver 4.6 Humanoid: Only I [Retracting his hand from Bubu's back] can use her. Die, you three-legged cat! The humanoid's right hand entered Bubu's back again, this time to extract the beast soldier's organs. Bubu emitted a final scream, then fell to the ground. Richard Gio was startled by this sudden turn of events. Hearing the commotion, Luke finally located the rooftop where an unconscious Anne lay. Guyver: Anne! He noticed the newcomer. Humanoid: Don't worry, your girlfriend's alright. Guyver: The humanoid turned to leave. Guyver: Ah...wait! Humanoid: We will meet again. It shall be very interesting, Guyver-I. The humanoid leaped across rooftops and disappeared. Guyver: [Lifting Anne in his arms] * * * At his desk, a tense Richard Gio assimilated the new information. Gio: --End of Chapter-- --- * Origin: Magrathea, Now open for business (1:243/42)