Dual Fan Fiction ❯ Interstellar Dual! ❯ Shinigami's Legacy ( Chapter 10 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure and its characters are the property of Pioneer and whoever, not me. Interstellar Dual! originally created by Will Rogers (Xtor49).
Co-writer: Thorin Blauvelt


Italics: thoughts.
Bold: emphasized
Underlined: info from the author, such as definitions, clarifications, and the Author’s Note. Underlined text is not spoken by characters.
<>: a mecha is speaking


Travis awoke, lying in the king-sized bed inside his new home. Mitsuki Rara...


No, Mitsuki Ecks, he corrected himself in his head, my wife…


Mitsuki Ecks was still asleep under the sheets, a slight smile to her lips. She’s never looked so beautiful…Travis thought.


He looked at his watch on the mantle, Four days. Today’s the fourth day we’ve been married. Has it really been so long? It feels like…well, a lot less, at least.


Travis got out of bed as quietly and carefully as he could, trying not to awaken the woman he loved. He slipped on his boxers and left the room to go downstairs for a drink. At the window down the hall, facing the back of the house, he could see something purple was back there. Curious, he walked to the window and looked out. Hoshi, Tamaki, and Kagami stood out there, facing away from the house. It was as if they were protecting the building and its occupants. Amused, Travis went back to the bedroom and peeked out the front window.


Tatsuma and Yuriko stood out there, arm in arm. To their right was Shinigami and Suzue, while to their left was Zinv and Sakura. Travis laughed. Tatsuma’s head turned back and his eye glowed as he noticed his pilot. “Thanks, pal. To all of you,” Travis whispered.


Tatsuma replied, and signaled to the other mecha. They all walked away from their stations to return to their own homes.


Travis’ laugh had awoken Mitsuki. She snuck up behind him as he watched and pinched him. Travis yelped in surprise and turned around. She giggled. He grinned and kissed her deeply.


***


“I’m telling you, Kauro; they are a race and can reproduce,” Josh argued once again.


Kauro Hayase shook her head violently in disagreement, “There is no way the Core Robots can reproduce. They don’t have any form of circuitry for it.”


Josh also shook his head, “You don’t understand what I’m saying, Kauro. The Core Robots are not part of the Cha’anda, but I believe that they can be. They seem partway there already, with all the modifications that have been made since the series. Shinigami and Zinv are definitely Cha’anda and Tatsuma may be as well. I have found so much evidence supporting this theory.”


I’ll never get used to him referring about the old dimensions as ‘the series’… Kauro thought, “Oh, really? Like what?”


“While I was searching over the planet for stuff to survive with I would find groups of three and four destroyed mecha gathered together. One of them would be the size of Shin, the second would be about the size of a Core Robot. Always behind the bigger Mecha would be one or two that were about child size, in human proportions. They were always behind the larger mecha. And, beyond that, Shin tells me about his memories with his Hetchu and his Lintra,” Josh began.
Pronounced Het-choo and Lean-tra


“At first, I thought they were his trainers, but during his earlier memories they were much bigger than he was. Yet, as his memories became more recent, He would be much closer to the size of his Lintra. Then, in the final memories before he had a pilot, he was almost the size of his Hetchu. He was growing! Can you imagine that, Kauro?” Josh asked.


“You’re certain? I mean you’re positive about the Chanda?” Kauro inquired.


“It’s Cha’anda, and yes I am,” Josh declared.


“It’s a pity that we can’t make the Core Robots into Hetchus and Lintras,” Ken commented.


“Well, the males are Hets and Lin are the females. Anyway, we may actually be able to. Shinigami would ask to go to a certain area once a month. Then I would get out and he would go sit within that area. One time, I asked him what was there. He went very quiet before he said, “This is the site of our origin, our birth, Josh. We must always remember it’,” the boy quoted.


“Zinv says he remembers,” Kazuki remarked.


“So what does that have to do with turning the Core Robots into Lin?” Mitsuki Yotsuga queried.


Dee finally spoke for the first time in the whole conversation, now looking at Josh, “There once was a device much like the Enhancement Chamber we have here on the Skylight. It was a Conversion Chamber. It could do it. Do you know where it is, Josh?”


“Yes, I do. If you girls want your Core Robots to become even more sentient, we can go excavate it,” Josh stated.


“I know I would like that,” Mitsuki Ecks proclaimed, having just walked into the conference room with Travis.


Everyone smiled. Professor Hiroshi Rara got up and took his daughter and son-in-law up in a huge embrace. Travis looked a little uncomfortable. The others congratulated the newlyweds. Mitsuki Y. and her counterpart shared a private smile. Josh got back on the subject at hand, “So you want Yuriko to become a Lin?”


“Of course. She’s halfway her own being as it is; it wouldn’t be right to deny her that. And I wouldn’t want to,” Mitsuki E. replied.


“As things are, Sakura’s my friend, but…talking with her is like talking with Dee when she was a bioroid. She deserves to be able to have a personality of her own,” Mitsuki Y. added. Dee nodded.


Mina, Ryla, and Alice piped up in unison, “We do too.”


Josh, Kazuki, and Travis exchanged looks before looking to Ken. “You boys are in charge of this. If you need anything from me, just ask. I’m sure the same goes for this one, too,” Captain Sanada gestured to Hiroshi next to him. The overweight man glared slightly, but let it slide.


“Can we use the prototype plasma sabers? They’ll come in handy,” Travis requested.


Ken was a little surprised, but nodded, “Of course, Travis. That is an excellent idea.”


“Well, then. We’ll start tomorrow morning at dawn,” Travis decided.


Josh looked gloomy for a quick second, glancing at Dee afterward, “If only we could find out what happened to Shinigami’s Chidlan.”
Pronounced Cheed-lin. Translation: Child.


“I’m sure we will find out eventually,” Dee assured, but her expression was sad.


***


It was an hour before dawn. Travis was already in Tatsuma and was preparing for the task ahead, “Let’s go pick up the plasma sabers.”


Tatsuma complained.


“I don’t care for them much myself, after that fight with Zurrelk. But the Core Robots can’t handle them. Besides, it’s only temporary, and it’ll be much easier with them for this. The quicker we get this done, the sooner Yuriko will be a Lin. You want that, don’t you?” Travis checked.


<…I see your point. This is more important than a little discomfort,> Tatsuma answered, picking up the weapons.


***


At Cargo Bay 1, Dr. Sanada was waiting for Travis and Tatsuma with the crate containing the three sabers and their power packs. Tatsuma walked up to the cargo bay. “Ah, there you are. What kept you?” Ken questioned.


“Tatsuma and I needed to have a discussion on the importance of using the plasma sabers for this,” Travis explained.


Tatsuma picked up one of the plasma sabers and attached the power source to the side of his upper right arm. It was a dull black color and about twice as big as his arm.


“Love’s about compromise, pal. I’m sure Yuriko will appreciate it later,” Travis responded.


“Josh and Kazuki are awake and will be ready with Zinv and Shin in a few minutes,” Ken told them.


***


At the Mecha Bay, all the other Mechs were waiting for Travis and Tatsuma. “Hey, Josh, how far away is the location of the Conversion Chamber,” Travis wondered.


“About 10,000 klicks south,” was the boy’s response.


“Maybe we should use the Skylight to take us there?” Mitsuki Y. recommended.


Zinv and Shinigami shook their heads. Tatsuma stated.


“Interesting. Still, we should be able to travel most of the distance in the Skylight,” Travis replied.


“I’d say it would be okay if we landed five klicks away from the edge of the location,” Josh affirmed.


“You heard the man. Let’s get up in the air,” Travis ordered.


***


A few minutes after the ship took off, following Josh’s directions, he instructed, “Stop here. No further Captain Sanada. We go the rest of the way on foot, so to speak. You all may follow on wheeled vehicles, but nothing more. We will not dishonor the site by going faster than 20 klicks an hour.” About 12.5 miles per hour.


“Alright, Josh, no further in the Skylight. We will get out one of the Land Tracks so we can follow you,” Ken chose.


***


The slow journey towards the Conversion Chamber began. Josh and Shin lead the way towards the center of the area. It took them about fifteen minutes to reach their destination, a huge mound. Shinigami and Zinv fell to their knees, surprising their pilots as well as everyone else.


Tatsuma asked.


“Damned if I know,” Travis muttered.


After about five minutes, the two artifact Mechas got back up. “Well, that settles it. This is the place,” Ken remarked, “What now, Josh?”


Before the boy could reply, Shinigami spoke to him,


“…Alright,” Josh opened the cockpit and got out. Kazuki was doing the same. Afterward, the two pilot-less machines stood on opposite sides of the mound.


“Josh, what is going on?” Ken queried.


“Honestly, Doctor…I mean, Captain Sanada, I have no idea what is going on. Shin just asked me to get out then, well, just started doing what he is doing,” Josh explicated.


Zinv and Shinigami got back on their knees, clasping their hands together as if praying. Tatsuma repeated what they said to Travis, who passed it on to everyone else. “Oh, ancient ones of days gone by, we remember you and your time!”


Josh made a comment, “Well, that’s just like normal.”


“Oh, revered ones of old, we beseech upon you to reveal that which has lain hidden for all these centuries!” Travis repeated what Tatsuma told him.


Josh looked spooked, “Now that ain’t normal.”


The two mechs bowed to the center once more. Suddenly the ground started shaking. The center of the mound split open, revealing a burnished surface much like how Zinv’s armor used to look. More of it was disclosed, showing the chamber to be huge, bigger than the Skylight by far. The ground finally stopped shaking, leaving the Conversion Chamber partially exposed.


***


After seven days of extensive labor of excavating the ancient Conversion Chamber, everyone was exhausted. Between the lifting of the rubble and cutting of the dirt and stone, every Mecha and human was about to drop. Josh was smiling as they started to return back to the Skylight, their workday done.


Abruptly, a thousand Devastator robots and fifty Devastator ships swooped down out of the sky. “Their focusing their fire upon the Core Robots!” Travis realized instantly.


“They thing the Core Robots are Lintras! They’re trying to insure the end of the Cha’anda! Protect the Core Robots!!!” Josh hollered.


Shinigami, Tatsuma, and Zinv mustered together all their remaining strength, flying into a flurry of blows in an effort to save the feminine machines. Dee screamed out in terror. A mere moment later the enemy further concentrated its assault, targeting Dee inside Suzue specifically. “Leave her alone, you bastards!” Travis shouted as Tatsuma launched a Chain Lightning.


The blue mecha lost her legs first, then her arms and her head. Dee shrieked as Suzue lay totally helpless on the ground. Josh snarled in pure rage. Shinigami’s Light Hawk Wings shot out. Moving with a speed close to Tatsuma’s, the black machine rushed toward her. His body blocked some of the weapons fire as he picked Suzue up and hurriedly threw what was left of her to Tatsuma.


“Everyone, back away from us!” Josh warned as Shinigami’s body glowed a bright white. Instantaneously, the radiance was gone, replaced by an utter absence of light. In the center of the darkness Shinigami let out an explosive roar, which was joined by a second and a third. The bubble of darkness disappeared, leaving three Shinigami’s in the center of a large crater.


Suzue’s cockpit was now open as Tatsuma held it, so Dee could see what was going on. The green-haired girl’s eyes went wide as she proclaimed in shock, “Primus, Secondus, and Tercius!” To Travis she yelled, “Get back! Get everyone back!!!”


“Everyone, get as far away from Shin as you can!” Travis ordered, “Dee, what the fuck is going on?!”


“Shinigami has split into his three aspects. Tercius is created through pure rage. Secondus through hate. And…Primus…maintains them through love. Without pure love fueling the hate and rage, Secondus and Tercius cannot exist,” Dee’s voice showed that she was realizing the full meaning of her words as she spoke, “This is the beginning of Shinigami’s ultimate attack!”


The three aspects of Shinigami spread out, surrounding the Devastators. Any Devastator that got in the way was immediately crushed or destroyed. Soon, the three aspects were positioned in the points of a triangle around their enemies. The fists of each of them were glowing red. This glow expanded and brightened until each fist looked like a miniature star. Simultaneously, Primus, Secondus, and Tercius threw their arms out towards each other. The red lights shot out in beams, connecting the three of them in a red triangle. Once this was completed, the Light Hawk Wings of the trio shined as red as the light from their fists.


“Triangular Disintegration…” Dee’s voice sounded nervous, scared even, “Shinigami’s ultimate attack. The reason he was the mightiest and most feared of the Cha’anda. He has only begun the attack.”


The beams of the triangle split off, creating the outline of a triangular pyramid. The pyramid filled with red light as the Devastators were trapped inside it, and the light only got stronger. Soon it was blindingly strong, and everyone looked away. The light started to fade, and all of the Devastator units were gone. The three aspects of Shinigami became visible again. As the light faded, so did Secondus, Tercius, and the Light Hawk Wings on Primus.


“Travis, get me over to him!” Dee contacted the older American.


“You got it!” Travis said, speeding toward Shinigami as he fell to the ground. As Tatsuma stopped, Dee jumped out of Suzue. She landed somewhat rough, but ran to Shinigami’s cockpit right as Josh fell out. She tried to catch him but wasn’t strong enough, and fell to the ground under his weight. Recovering quickly, Dee clutched the boy to her chest.


Josh opened his eyes and looked up at her, a relieved smile emerging on his lips. “Good. You’re safe,” he muttered lightly before passing out. Dee tried to carry him, but couldn’t lift him very well.


“Let me,” Travis bent down next to her, having gotten out of Tatsuma to check on his friend.


Dee shook her head, “I’ll do it.” Travis nodded, and walked with her back to Tatsuma. Zinv lifted Shinigami and hauled him back to the Skylight.


***


Ken, Hiroshi, and Kauro intensively poured over the data obtained from the Skylight’s scanners once they got back to the base, studying the Triangular Disintegration. They were going nuts over all the data, the two men more so than Kauro. Meanwhile, in the ship’s infirmary, the other pilots were watching over Josh.


Mitsuki Y. broke the silence first, looking at Josh as he awoke, “What is it with you Americans? You can’t find a new technique without passing out. I mean, Kazuki unleashed a black hole, and he didn’t pass out.”


Travis held Josh down with the soft touch of his hand on his shoulder, as the younger man was trying to sit up in bed, “Well, Kazuki and Zinv don’t have the bond that Josh and I have with Shin and Tatsuma. We feel when they hurt, when they’re tired, and can even tell how they’re feeling. It was that bond that made me pass out, since Tatsuma was so badly damaged. Not the Final Discharge itself.”


Travis gazed down at his friend, “Stay down, man. You don’t want to strain yourself. Besides, you might wake Dee up.”


Josh noticed that Dee was lying asleep on his lap. He started gently stroking her hair, “How long have I been out?”


“Just a couple hours,” Travis answered.


“Then how come Dee’s laying on me asleep? She looks like she’s been up for days,” Josh queried.


“She insisted on carrying you all the way here,” Mitsuki Y. declared.


Josh smirked faintly, mumbling something as he fell asleep once more.


“What did he say?” Mitsuki E. asked Travis, the closest one awake to the boy.


“He said, ‘That’s my girl’,” Travis ran his hand through Josh’s hair playfully.


A smile appeared on Dee’s lips as she nuzzled her face further into Josh’s lap.


***


The excavation of the Conversion Chamber continued a couple days later, only now two CRs and one of the Hets were kept off duty to watch, so that they would be fresh in the event of another Devastator attack. Travis and Tatsuma insisted upon working, saying that Tatsuma had more energy than Shinigami or Zinv. About a week of grueling work later, the dig was completed. Suzue was decided to be the first to enter.


They all walked in a slow procession to the entrance of the Conversion Chamber, all of the mechs without their pilots. Shinigami walked to the control box on the side of the chamber, guided by an ancient poem passed down to all Chids. Means children.


Once the fateful day comes
When our race seems dead
Summon the old chamber
To bring matters to a head


The new being enters the chamber
The old enters the left side box
And remembers never to touch
The box that looks like rocks


Advance to full strength
Twist the light green knob
Turn it thrice and not a bit more
Or the new one will be a glob


In five glacks you undo it About 7 minutes
And reverse the dial four times
And woe to your enemy
He will pay for his crimes


After reciting the poem to himself, Shinigami commanded the doors to open, and then he walked to the left side box. He slowly advanced the power to maximum, still amazed at the scale the chamber was built on. He then put his palm above the light green knob and waited for Suzue to enter the chamber.


Shin asked.


Suzue nodded.


With that, she entered the ancient Conversion Chamber, and the doors sealed behind her as Shin touched the green knob. Then he slowly turned it three times. Once he finished turning it the third time the chamber began to slowly light up, its surface beginning to look a lot like the way the artifact rifles and Zinv’s old armor did. Then it started to turn the translucent gray-white of the Light Hawk Wings. In the center of the top, a large blue light began to shine. Soon, with a flash, it turned into an extremely bright beam.


Everyone quickly covered their eyes. The light gradually increased in luminosity before changing to pure white, lancing across the heavens. It was as if it was declaring for all to know that a new Cha’anda was born.


***


Five glacks later Shinigami turned the light green knob back four times. The radiance from the chamber dulled slowly but surely before dying out fully. Now that everyone could see again, Shinigami opened the door hesitantly. The inside was pitch black. Afraid he might have made a mistake, Shin ran out of the control box to the front of the chamber.


Suzue dived out of the device onto the black mech, catching him in a glomp like those so commonly found in animes. Shin’s two eyes glowed brightly as he looked at Suzue. The former Core Robot had picked up far more curves, making her look even more feminine. Her face had also become more defined, almost innocent looking. Her new figure was merely outward signs of her internal changes. Suzue was now a Lin.


Shinigami turned his head to Josh, apparently speaking with him. “No problem, man; you’ve earned it,” Josh nodded.


Getting up, Suzue and Shinigami walked away.


Ken turned to the younger American, “Josh, where are they going?”


Travis put his arm over the Captain’s shoulders, “Suzue just effectively completed puberty. What do humans do in that situation?”


“Huh? What do y-... Oh. Do you think they’d mind if-” Dr. Sanada began.


“Yes!” Josh and Dee answered together.


Tatsuma eagerly questioned.


Travis grinned, “Sure, pal.”


***


After all the CRs had been converted into Lins, Josh installed blast spheres on them like the ones Shin had. Over the next two weeks, each Lin got nine blast spheres, arranged in a square pattern on their chests. Ammo pouches were also attached to the females, so they could carry additional power packs for the smaller gravity cannons.


Author’s Note: If anyone out there wants to write that lemon go ahead but I’m sure not about to do it. Honestly I’m surprised you even asked me to write it. Will, do you understand these people?


Will’s Note: (Someone asked if we might ever write a lemon of Interstellar Dual!) First off, I have no intention of writing a lemon of Interstellar Dual!, as I feel it might degrade the story in some people’s eyes. I have heard that writing a decent lemon is a good test of one’s writing ability, and most people who try are highly unsuccessful. In response to Thor’s question: not really, but I take it as a complement that they would like Interstellar Dual! enough to want a lemon of it.
As with previous chapters written by Thorin, this is a slightly reworded version. 90% is his.
Chapter 11 will be written by yours truly.
When I named Tatsuma, I was referring to Tatsumaki, which means Tornado. However, Tatsuma is closer translated to meaning Severing Horse. Oops, bad mistake on my part.

Glossary of terms for the Cha’anda:
Lintra: Female parent.
Hetchu: Male parent.
Lin: Female
Het: Male
Chidlan: Son
Chidlar: Daughter
Chid: Child