I'm a fan of both Ye Olde School Voltron '84 and Voltron Legendary Defender. Talk about it with me if you like, but please don't hate on anything--that's no fun.
I kind of like the idea of them all ending up in one anothers’ orbits anyway, but I’m not sure how that would work.
On that note, though, I have played with the idea of an AU where the 3rd Division all work together at a school.
Mina and Kafka were going to be teachers together, but then for some reason Kafka never finished his degree. Mina is now in school administration and Kafka has been working janitorial and doing night school and finally there’s some openings in the staff coming up. I’m sure he could teach several things, but I’d like to think he winds up teaching biology.
Hoshina is an assistant admin, and he used to teach history. He coaches the kendo club, of course.
Okonogi is either the librarian or teaches science.
Tae strikes me as either literature or a foreign language teacher.
Ikaruga probably teaches math or something.
The other new recruits are student teachers. Ichikawa wants to teach economics. Kikoru’s dad is the Superintendent of the school district, and she could basically teach whatever she wants but can’t quite decide. Haruichi plans to teach computer science instead of taking over his family’s tech company. Aoi had to retire early from the defense force after an injury and plans to teach phys ed. Minase wants to teach health, and Hakua home economics.
There’s some kind of fire or something and they have to merge their school with the 1st Division while the buildings are repaired.
The 1st is probably some kind of fancy magnet school program with a bunch of specialized classes so Narumi can teach something like game design.
Whoops! Somehow skipped over Iharu. That guy is either teaching physics or chemistry. Throwing stuff and dropping it off of roofs for demonstrations or chemical reactions and (just enough not to get in trouble) controlled explosions. He’s gonna be a cool teacher and his initial rivalry with Reno stems from not understanding why the students like Mr. Ichikawa so much when he teaches something Iharu thinks must be boring.
I kind of like the idea of them all ending up in one anothers’ orbits anyway, but I’m not sure how that would work.
On that note, though, I have played with the idea of an AU where the 3rd Division all work together at a school.
Mina and Kafka were going to be teachers together, but then for some reason Kafka never finished his degree. Mina is now in school administration and Kafka has been working janitorial and doing night school and finally there’s some openings in the staff coming up. I’m sure he could teach several things, but I’d like to think he winds up teaching biology.
Hoshina is an assistant admin, and he used to teach history. He coaches the kendo club, of course.
Okonogi is either the librarian or teaches science.
Tae strikes me as either literature or a foreign language teacher.
Ikaruga probably teaches math or something.
The other new recruits are student teachers. Ichikawa wants to teach economics. Kikoru’s dad is the Superintendent of the school district, and she could basically teach whatever she wants but can’t quite decide. Haruichi plans to teach computer science instead of taking over his family’s tech company. Aoi had to retire early from the defense force after an injury and plans to teach phys ed. Minase wants to teach health, and Hakua home economics.
There’s some kind of fire or something and they have to merge their school with the 1st Division while the buildings are repaired.
The 1st is probably some kind of fancy magnet school program with a bunch of specialized classes so Narumi can teach something like game design.
I think Mina and Kafka would get married, but more for legal reasons because they’re already living together and sharing everything and for legal reasons, if the worst were to happen to either of them, it would make paperwork easier to deal with.
I see Hoshina as like a feral cat third member of the polycule. He wanders in and out and wants to maintain his own space, but he belongs in their home just as much as the other two.
inspired by the artemis ii live mission coverage, which i am listening to rn (an hour and some b4 the launch window)
there was a meet the austronauts segment and one of the crew, reid wisemen, used to be a pilot in the military, the navy, i think. the way he talked abt his journey and flying kinda reminded me of hal jordan
sidenote, the only things i know abt dc canon and stuff is purely thru fandom osmosis, the most i read is fanfic and thats mostly batfam, some batlantern and some other stuff, so i in no way, shape or form know what im talking abt
that aside, whats going on with nasa in the dc universe? anybody knows whatsupp with them? with all the extraterrestrial stuff happening with the superheros and all, nasa gotta be involved somehow, right?
how funny would it be to have a like astrophysicist constantly like tryna contact the justice league abt like space stuff? i dont know nearly enough abt that area of science to come up w questions they would have but they gotta have a lot of
ngl considering the vast number of comics and such, theres probs at least a few addressing nasa in universe
anywayyyy, back to hal going to space the normal way and not just flying about like a green space lightning bug
i do lean towards batlantern, cus i like their dynamic, so it would be fun to read abt them
there are a few ways the au could go:
•both of them being part of the crew, which would mean them going thru training, (did u know that each mission crew gets to design their own mission patches, its a decades old tradition and i find that so cool?)
•hal is an austronaut, bruce is an engineer or some other important job in nasa and thats how they meet
•bruce is still a billionare and a benefactor of the mission/nasa and they meet at like a meet the austronauts event or a gala or smth?
i imagine these aus as no powers/superheros but u can choose to imagine it however u want
sidenote, as i was typing this out, at around L-30minutes, i suddenly hear stanley tuccis voice and apperantley they got some celebs to say a few words to the austronauts which is not that suprising but it came out of left field for me
If you’ve not read “DC: The New Frontier”, I highly recommend it overall, but also because it includes Hal wanting to be an astronaut. It’s an elseworlds story set in the 50s and 60s.
All the first astronauts were Navy pilots, if I recall. (I haven’t read “The Right Stuff” in years…)
Even today, those that aren’t in space for specifically scientific reasons often have military backgrounds, partly because they have to meet fairly demanding physical standards.
NASA often partners with civilian aerospace companies, so this could be a universe where Wayne Enterprises tilted more in that direction.
Anyway, interesting thoughts, and they did a passable animated adaptation of “The New Frontier” as well, if that might be easier to find.
Playing some catch up on art for shows I enjoyed over the last while, and Kaiju No. 8 is up there! Love to see a protag in my age range in something like this.
i'm a beginner on the wheel lol but since this is the first cup i've ever made period i think it's pretty good and i'm also so glad the face/fine details i painted didn't melt and get hella distorted
ok but because i suck at the wheel it's really small that makes it cuter though
my actual serious zoro fanart is coming soon i swear i know it's been literally like over two weeks since i made my wip post
Synopsis: When Narumi receives news that Numbers Weapon Ten has abandoned Hoshina, and will only agree to be worn by him, he really should have been more suspicious.
Contents: Humour, crack, crack and more crack.
(I apologise in advance, friends. I blame the painkillers.)
Dividers by: @uzmacchiato
It was Narumi who started it all (as Hoshina would later relate to a stone-faced Captain Ashiro).
After the events of the war, the various divisions had been given opportunities to recoup their losses, take stock of their supplies and strongest units, and iron out flaws in operations identified on the battlefield.
For those wielding Numbers weapons, it had meant more rigorous tests and analysis.
Considering the imminent threat of Number Nine, and the powerful kaiju it had raised as part of a greater plan to decimate humanity, a lot of red tape had been bypassed in terms of the general measures taken to ensure Numbers weapon users had optimized their use of the suits.
Narumi, Hoshina, Shinomiya and Ichikawa had been assigned dates for further tests to be run at secure facilities.
Due to this, they were frequently crossing paths.
This posed no issue for Shinomiya, or Ichikawa, but Narumi's rivalry with Hoshina made some of their meetings ... awkward to say the least.
On one such occasion, Narumi had arrived a little earlier (an unusual circumstance), while Hoshina was still in full gear.
One look at the swordsman in his Number Ten regalia had Narumi sneering and approaching with all the bravado of a rooster about to enter a fighting ring.
"Oi, Hoshina. I've gotta ask ... who the heck gave you a damn tail? Do they know how ridiculous you look in this get up?"
Hoshina scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Captain Narumi ... if I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous that the only defining feature of your suit is a jacket that doesn't even stay on your shoulders."
"It's meant to be that way, dumbass! Not that I'd expect someone with that haircut to know shit about style."
"Style over function, huh? My, my, the strongest anti-kaiju combatant sure has his priorities in order."
"Shut your mouth, Bowl Cut! You can flaunt that ratty, lizard-hybrid piece of junk all you want, doesn't change the fact that the tail came off during the fight, didn't it?"
He uttered a mocking bark of laughter.
"Shedding like a gecko. That Number Ten must be a weak ass wannabe, just like you."
So saying, Narumi strode off, smirk firmly in place, to enter the facility for his own testing session.
Now, it must be said that throughout this entire exchange, the Number Ten suit (still worn by Hoshina) had remained strangely silent, the only sign of its continued awareness being the slow side to side flick of the tail.
As Hoshina set about removing the components, the door to the small change room opened, revealing Kurusu with a data pad in his hands.
"Ah, Vice Captain. Just thought you'd like to see the output readings for today's run."
"Well, thank you kindly."
Noting Hoshina's strangely neutral mood after that confrontation with Narumi, Kurusu cleared his throat.
"Sorry about that, sir. I'll make sure Captain Narumi's time doesn't conflict with yours in future."
Waving off his concerns, Hoshina returned the data pad.
"It's all good. I know how he can get."
"That said ..." Kurusu hesitated before continuing, "I'm surprised Number Ten didn't say anything. Is he ... okay? Still communicating with you fine?"
There it was again, that strangely blank expression on Hoshina's easy-going countenance.
The Vice Captain tapped the data pad lightly with one finger before slipping his uniform jacket over his shoulders.
"Our sync's as good as ever. I wouldn't worry about that. Number Ten's not always chatty, ya know."
He offered a small smile before exiting the change room, leaving Kurusu to shrug off his puzzlement and head back to operations.
"Oh, can it Hasegawa! Can't you see I'm about to hit a personal high score here - "
"Narumi!"
As always, a boot to the rear seemed to cure the Captain of the First Division of any delusions of grandeur.
Scowling, he picked himself off the floor, dusting off his tracksuit bottoms.
"What the hell? This had better be important."
Hasegawa frowned before handing Narumi a phone.
"This ... well, I think you'd better hear it for yourself."
Raising an eyebrow, Narumi snatched the phone, lodging it between ear and shoulder as he searched about for the controller he'd dropped.
"What?"
"Uhhh, Captain Narumi? It's Kurusu here."
"Yeah, yeah. Make it snappy. Got stuff to do."
"Well ... I don't know how to put this sir, but we've got a situation on our hands."
"Huh? What kinda situation?"
"It's to do with Vice Captain Hoshina."
Now this caught Narumi's attention. He paused, squatting on the floor, brow creasing.
"What's Bowl Cut got to do with me?"
"His Numbers suit. You're aware that Kaiju Number Ten was left sentient for operative reasons?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, it refuses to let Vice Captain Hoshina wear it any longer. His compatibility with it has gone down to ... zero."
"What?" Narumi was now on his feet. "The hell? What's Bowl Cut playing at? We need that suit as a primary battle asset!"
"Sir, none of us can explain this. As you probably know, the Vice Captain reached one hundred percent - "
"Yeah, I know he reached one hundred percent compatibility. Blah blah. But what good is that if he can't wear the suit anymore?"
"Captain Narumi, Number Ten is asking for you."
"Huh?"
"I - sir, this is unprecedented. It's suddenly done a one eighty. It was specifically asking for the Vice Captain to begin with, but now it's insisting that the only person it will comply with, and be worn by ... is you."
For once, Narumi found himself speechless. Taking initiative, Hasegawa reached for the phone in his limp grasp and turned on the speaker.
"Is Captain Narumi even compatible with the Number Ten suit?"
"About that ... we did a preliminary check of cellular compatibility ... and he's a match."
Silence reigned in the shadowy, cluttered office.
Narumi suddenly snapped out of his stupor, glancing down at the phone in his hand.
"Hey, Kurusu."
"I'm still here, sir."
"When did this all happen? When did Number Ten randomly decide to change over?"
"Hmm. Let me check."
The sound of clacking keys sounded out from the other end of the line, before Kurusu returned to the call.
"It was after the Vice Captain's last testing session. Oh, you were there, weren't you sir? You spoke to him, I remember."
Narumi was silent for a minute more before a slow grin spread across his face.
"Kurusu ... did the suit give a reason for why it wanted me to take over?"
"It ... it said that you were the strongest. That it would only accept the best wielder."
"Ha!"
Narumi's eyes opened wide in vicious delight, his grin brighter than ever before.
"The suit said that? That I was the strongest? That it would only accept me?"
"Yes, sir."
Hasegawa folded his arms, scowling.
"Narumi. You know better than to trust a kaiju. That suit should be shelved until such time that it - "
"Like hell I'll let it be shelved!"
All but cackling, Narumi placed one hand cockily on his hip.
"All right, Kurusu. Lemme save you guys at research the trouble. I know exactly what's happened here. Last time I was around, Number Ten took one look at me and recognised how powerful I am. That Bowl Cut is nothing in comparison. It decided it needed a more capable master, and here I am!"
"Captain, are you sure that's - "
"There's no other explanation! Look at the timing! It happened right after the suit had contact with me outside of a battle. It probably decided right then and there!"
Hasegawa interrupted once more, this time with a troubled look.
"What did Vice Captain Hoshina have to say about this?"
Kurusu sighed heavily.
"I'm not sure what he really thinks, but ... he said he'd be fine handing the suit over if it no longer had any use for him."
Pacing before his idle BS5, Narumi grinned.
"Oh, this must have hit him hard. Knowing I was the one who his suit gave allegiance to? That must burn."
"Narumi, don't be childish," Hasegawa scolded. "Hoshina is a fine Vice Captain. Have some decency and try not to gloat over - "
"Gloat? Who me?"
Expression positively demonic with glee, Narumi was all but a lost cause.
Hasegawa sighed.
This was turning out to be quite the spectacle.
The suit gleamed, ominous, the colour of a blood-dyed sunset, within the reinforced casing as Narumi strode into the secure facility.
Since the day he'd received the news, he had been walking on the airy strata of Cloud Nine.
Hoshina had been radio silent, not even responding to the goading message he'd deigned to send to him.
Probably holed up somewhere with some paperwork, sulking.
Not that it mattered.
The First Division Captain was content to usurp Hoshina's current position as a Number's user.
Maybe he could use the Number Ten suit as a spare, for battles that required the use of his bayonet more than his firepower.
The required tests needed to be run, however. A test of cellular compatibility was not enough to ensure a viable host for these kinds of weapons.
Narumi had no worries where that was concerned.
He was no rookie when it came to wielding the most powerful and taxing weapons the force had to offer, and he was certain that Number Ten would bend to his will in no time.
Over the speaker from the sealed off control room, Kurusu's voice was amplified within the chamber.
"All systems secure. Numbers Weapon Ten stable and ready for deployment. Readying access codes."
Narumi shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
This was the first time he'd actually been eager to test one of these things. Hoshina had been able to talk to his suit, so he wondered what kind of interaction he'd have with Number Ten.
"Access codes all in. Green light. Cargo bay eleven received at terminal."
The hiss of electronic seals coming undone sounded out, followed by the smooth click of the cargo bay doors as the platform on which the suit rested raised slowly, rotating until it could be accessed by a set of stairs.
"Numbers Weapon Ten still stable. Ready for use."
Approaching, Narumi paused as a dim red light swam into visibility on the chest piece of the suit.
A voice reached him, cold, clawing, inhuman.
"Bayonet Man. You're here."
Tilting back his head, Narumi eyed the suit with a clear air of superiority.
"That's Captain Narumi to you."
"Oho. A strong one. I sensed it that day."
"Sure did. I'm the strongest there is."
"Is that so? I cannot be satisfied with a mediocre user. Can you take me into the hardest battles? I want to test my mettle against the strongest opponents only!"
The creature's voice had risen to a strident roar, it's wild, reckless nature suddenly on full display.
Narumi raised an eyebrow.
Some part of him held a grudging respect for Hoshina for putting up with something as headstrong and pushy as this. As hellishly difficult as his own Numbers suit had been to master, at least it didn't talk back.
"Whatever you're aiming for, you're guaranteed to be in the toughest battles only. I'm the strongest anti-kaiju combatant, so I'm always up against the biggest threat."
A chilling laugh echoed from the suit.
"In that case, hand over your body to me. I'll wreak havoc on our enemies and all who stand in our way!"
Narumi spoke into his earpiece.
"Hey, Kurusu, does this thing always talk like some kinda anime villain?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Damn. Well then."
Stepping forward without a trace of hesitation, Narumi took hold of the suit, fitting the components onto himself.
They slotted neatly into place, like the carapace of some long-extinct beast, the smooth scale clinking slightly as joints slid past each other.
As lightweight as the suit was, Narumi could sense its defensive power, a more organic form of the armour donned by samurai of old.
Damn, he could get used to this.
Even though Hoshina's build was decidedly different from his, the fit was perfect, as if molding to his proportions.
Underlying it all, though, was the heady, poisonous current of Number Ten's power, different from the suit he was accustomed to. Not stronger, but infinitely more capricious.
Nodding, Narumi flexed one hand.
"Feels ... good."
"Ha. You feel good too, Bayonet Man. Your body is just right for my purposes."
"Okay, can you stop saying creepy stuff like that? Let's get this show on the road. Kurusu, what's up first?"
"A basic compatibility test sir. Unleash your combat power as high as it will go while standing still. Then we'll move onto manoeuvres and stabilizing output."
"You got that, Number Ten?"
"Bayonet Man, you seem to have forgotten something."
"Huh? What's that?"
"The ritual!"
Up in the monitoring station overlooking the chamber below, Kurusu and the other operations personnel startled slightly as the door swung open, revealing the form of none other than Vice-Captain Hoshina.
Rising partway from his seat, Kurusu saw Hoshina wave a hand to settle them down.
"Don't mind me. I guess my curiosity got the better of me."
Hands in pockets, Hoshina seemed unbothered by the loss of his suit, but Kurusu couldn't help but think of what he would feel in the Vice Captain's place.
Resentment? Bitterness? Defeat?
He'd heard something of Hoshina's family history, which was another reason he'd been so reluctant to go ahead with equipping Captain Narumi with the suit.
Still, they were all professionals, so surely Hoshina's presence here showed that he could deal with such issues as his position required?
Nodding slowly, Kurusu sank back into his seat, glancing down a little shame-faced into the chamber below.
"Sir, you didn't have to come today."
"Oh, I know what you're probably thinking."
Hoshina came up beside him, leaning on the control panel.
"Dont worry, I'm here to help. I know how Number Ten can be. He's sure to test a new master."
What a great leader Vice Captain Hoshina was!
Even with what had been taken from him, he was still here, doing his best for the force.
Kurusu nodded fiercely.
"Your expertise is appreciated, sir!"
Hoshina positioned himself near one of the terminals used to monitor Narumi in the room beyond the reinforced viewing panel.
"In fact, I'm thinkin' that he should start up with his antics - "
Across the comm channel, Number Ten's voice came loud and clear.
"The ritual!"
" - right about now."
Narumi scowled.
They didn't have time to play stupid games. This was what came with having a sentient suit.
Still, Kurusu had impressed on him the importance of synchronizing with Number Ten, and apparently, that could only be achieved by appealing to the kaiju with strength and skill.
"All right, what's this ritual all about?"
"As much as the Swordsman was weaker than you, he made sure to complete these steps before we entered battle. This is how we achieved sync."
"And what steps are these?"
"Amongst kaiju, we have simple impulses. The strongest is who kills the others. Or leads them. You have to show me your command."
"How the fuck do I do that? There's nobody here for me to command."
"Think, Bayonet Man! You need to show me your vocal range. Scream, as loud and bestial as a kaiju!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Do it!"
Narumi grimaced before letting out a lacklustre yell.
"That's pathetic!"
"Hold your damn horses!"
"I have no horses! Now brace your legs. Take a deep breath. Open your chest. Scream! Dominate them all!"
Ten's instructions had risen like a rushing river in Narumi's ears, and he gritted his teeth, acting accordingly.
The scream he let out was definitely an improvement, but not to Ten's standards.
"Hmph. Swordsman said something about your ill-discipline and pleasure seeking. Are you really the strongest with a scream like that?"
Something snapped in Narumi's mind.
So Hoshina had talked shit about him to a kaiju?
He'd show that crappy Bowl Cut loser.
Unleashed power rippling through his chest, his eyes began to glow as he gathered energy and released it in an explosive shout.
The walls thundered with the force of it.
Number Ten was laughing manically.
"Hahahaha! Perfect! So you do have it in you!"
"Now are we done with this dumb ritual or what?"
"That was only step one."
"Oh, gimme a break! Kurusu, are you measuring up there?"
"Yes sir! That was registered at thirty five percent!"
"That's it?"
Annoyed, Narumi huffed out a harsh breath. He'd wanted to break all Hoshina's records as soon as possible, but it looked like Kurusu was right.
Sync was necessary for Number Ten.
"Fine. What's the second step?"
"Our breathing needs to be in tandem."
"But you don't even breathe?"
"I used to, Bayonet Man. If you allow me to exert some control over your chest muscles, I can show you what I mean."
Up in the observation box, a tense atmosphere reigned as they listened in on Ten's instructions.
Hoshina nodded, as if affirming what he already suspected.
"The breathing technique is actually essential. It increased our overall power output."
"Ah! Is that so?"
Eagerly, Kurusu watched as Narumi prepared himself, stance wide as he planted his feet further apart.
On their monitoring screens, his vitals showed a spike of activity in the thoracic region, within and surrounding the lungs.
His chest puffed out, then back in, then out, then in. The rhythm was steady and measured as Ten took some form of partial control of the muscles.
Abruptly, Narumi dropped to a squatting position. Then rose. Then dropped again.
His cheeks ballooned out like a puffer fish, head wobbling from side to side, before he rose to standing once again.
His arms suddenly lifted, as if of their own accord, fingers linked above his head like a ballet dancer.
He rose to the toes of one foot, the other leg bent at the knee, before hopping up and down, cheeks ballooning and receding all the while.
A profound silence fell in the observation room. Glancing over at Hoshina, Kurusu saw him frown, leaning forward intently.
"Hmm. Hmm. I have to admit, Captain Narumi's better than me at maintaining balance."
"You ... did all of this?"
"Not exactly. Ten has to attune to the body of each new user, obviously."
"Ahh ... of course."
Narumi inhaled deeply, feeling as if he'd just run a marathon.
Damn, this kaiju was putting even him through his paces with that ridiculous breathing exercise. He supposed it was effective, considering how winded it had left him.
Pausing, he steadied himself, hands on hips.
"Oi. Kaiju. What's next?"
"Step three, Bayonet Man. We learn to move together."
"Oh, come on. I've worn suits like you before. I don't need this kinda groundwork."
"And yet, you seem out of breath. Swordsman would have taken this in his stride."
"Shut up! What the fuck are you on about anyway? You want me to walk around the room or something?"
"Wielding me requires agility and flexibility. We need to ensure that you have what it takes."
Grumbling slightly, Narumi complied.
Even he could admit that Hoshina moved like a panther that could dislocate its joints when he was out hunting kaiju.
He wasn't entirely sure that he could mimic that, but he had strength in spades and a great physique, so he wouldn't be outdone.
"Get on with it then. The faster we do this, the faster we can move you to real combat, remember?"
"I remember well enough. This time, grant me some control of your limbs."
In spite of his denials, Narumi also had to admit that the tail was kind of badass, and he wouldn't mind doing some damage with it. Right now, it was just an inert mass fixed across his rear.
"And the tail?"
"Later, human. Are you granting me control or not?"
“What do you think Number Ten will have him do next?”
Hoshina shrugged, head tilting thoughtfully to one side.
“As strong as Captain Narumi is, there are certain movements that don’t come naturally to someone who also employs firearms in the field. His weapon's unique and very different from mine.”
“Ah, so he and Number Ten need to sync their movement?”
“That’s probably what he’ll – oh, there you go. He’s off.”
The screen readout showed more activity, this time in Narumi’s arms and legs, extending to the shoulders and hips.
Stroking his chin, Hoshina explained the possible process.
“They’ll probably start off slow before moving to more complex manoeuvres. Make sure you monitor his combat potential throughout.”
“Yes, sir!”
In the room below, Narumi had finally stepped off the pedestal from which the suit had been initially monitored. The cables leading to various ports on the suit’s surface pulled free from their connection points, unnecessary now that a regular feed was being transmitted to the control room.
Instead of his regular stride, Narumi was moving extremely slowly, as if re-learning how to walk.
One arm raised slowly, followed by the forward lift of the leg on the same side. Then the arm dropped, followed by the raise of the one on the other side. The movements were clunky and stilted, barely natural.
One of the techs beside Kurusu shifted his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose.
“He’s … walking like a robot. Is that … normal?”
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Narumi’s boots fell flat across the floor as he advanced with a stiff posture.
“Oh, he’s speeding up now!”
Indeed, the footsteps were growing faster, but the robotic edge hadn’t receded. Narumi was scurrying like a crab, knees and elbows bent and swinging loose and hinge-like, while his arms and legs worked like pistons.
“Whoa, he’s super-fast … right?”
A younger tech further down the row, Shigeru, was covering his mouth, shoulders quivering very slightly.
Kurusu cleared his throat.
“He is! Hold on, his combat potential is rising! It’s now thirty seven percent. Keep it up, Captain!”
Narumi gave a shout of triumph, as his limbs sped up even further. He was now a blur, but moving in truly disconcerting fashion, more reminiscent of a crustacean type kaiju than anything else, scaling the walls, spinning over the floor, ducking and dodging sideways in crab-like motions behind obstacles within the room.
“Thirty eight, thirty nine, he’s still climbing!”
Hoshina’s palm came down on the control panel, his expression tense.
“Now comes the test of flexibility.”
Most of the techs leaned forward eagerly, eyes flicking between their terminals and Narumi down below.
The captain came to a standstill, panting slightly, eyes determined. He nodded, as if responding to some internal conversation between himself and Number Ten.
His body assumed a rigid stance for a moment before his arms shot up straight above his head, then angled to the sides. They proceeded through a series of rapid signals, almost resembling a traffic controller, with Narumi bending to the sides and spinning around at intervals.
One of the older techs, Muramasa, squinted in slight confusion.
“Is he spelling out a word?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes, look, those are English letters.”
Kurusu’s eyes widened.
“Wait, you’re right! Let me see … Y … M … C … A? Uhh, Vice Captain - ”
Letting out a sharp exhale, Hoshina stepped back.
“’You Must Crave Annihilation’. It’s something Ten used to harp on about. He’s startin’ to accept Captain Narumi.”
Muramasa looked even more confused.
“But isn’t ‘YMCA’ a – “
“There’s nothing else it could be,” rejoined the Vice Captain firmly. “Check his output.”
There was no denying the steady climb of the measurement. Kurusu shook his head to free it of any other notion.
“Right. Of course. He seems to be changing his stance now.”
The glow of Ten’s control had re-distributed to Narumi’s abdominal area.
They watched in growing disbelief as his upper body remained fixed in place while his hips rolled sinuously from side to side, then the process switched, with his legs motionless and his torso wiggling like a windsock in a strong breeze.
“That’s … very impressive.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Very flexible, all right. I had no idea the Captain was capable of … that.”
Shigeru’s eyes were the size of saucers.
“Is he belly-danci – “
“Ah!” Hoshina slapped the monitor before him. “From what I recall, the tail sync should come next.”
Was this really what Hoshina had been through in his training sessions with this damn suit?
Narumi was feeling increasingly frustrated (and ridiculous), but his combat power had risen to forty five percent, just from these simple exercises, so he was obviously doing something right.
The numbers didn’t lie.
“Fuck’s sake, am I flexible enough for you or what?”
“You are. How appealing you look.”
“Excuse me?”
“I like to take enemy attacks head on, but Swordsman taught me the value of keeping an intact vessel. Your sinuous movement will help evade such, even with a weapon like yours.”
“Right. Can we get on with it, then?”
“I think you’re ready to test the tail, Bayonet Man.”
“Finally.”
“For this, you require a special form of muscle control which Swordsman has already mastered.”
“Ha. If he can do it, I can pick it up in no time.”
Palms slightly sweaty, Kurusu watched the monitor as the flare of Number Ten’s influence moved over Narumi’s lower back and legs.
From what the Vice Captain had indicated, this was rather difficult to master, but would be a key element in battle. They’d all seen recordings of the deadly, elegant dance he’d executed in his battle with Number Twelve.
Kurusu felt a momentary sense of doubt when he thought back to that footage.
Wasn’t Number Ten perfect for Hoshina?
They’d been so incredibly in sync, not a single wasted movement, balancing strength, grace and unmatched technique with bladed weapons.
So why had it chosen –
There was no time to dwell on it, though.
Here, in the present, Ten had made it clear that Narumi was its new master, and right now the captain was bending his knees, lowering into a pose that resembled Hoshina’s own signature starting stance.
For the first time in Narumi’s session, the segmented tail flicked slightly from side to side.
“Oooh, it’s moving!”
“This has to be it!”
The other techs had now given up most pretence of sticking to their monitors, watching with bated breath.
Kurusu noted the slight differences in posture.
While Hoshina always leaned forward, hands at the ready behind him for a quick draw of his dual swords, Narumi had his shoulders set firm and high, a slight arch to his back, probably to accommodate the heavier weapon.
His hands came to his knees before his lower back lifted, then dropped again slightly. The captain’s movements were rather forced at first, obviously never having practiced such muscle control before.
The tail twitched again.
Kurusu encouraged him across the comm channel.
“That’s it, Captain. You’re getting there. Power readings still climbing.”
“Damn it, Kurusu, this thing is moving muscles I didn’t even know I had.”
“Keep it up, sir! Eyes on the tail.”
Slowly, Narumi gained rhythm and balance. His lower back seemed to gain a life of its own as sweat broke out on his brow, mouth set in a scowl of concentration as he lifted and lowered, sometimes a small circle of extra motion added to the repertoire.
Slowly, the tail rose off the ground, like a cobra responding to the call of a snake charmer.
“He’s doing it!”
“It’s working!”
“What control he has! I knew the Captain could pull it off!”
Hoshina had bitten his lip hard, head slightly bowed.
Kurusu wisely decided not to say anything. Narumi’s genius was sometimes difficult for others to witness.
At the end of the row of monitors, young Shigeru had narrowed his eyes, shaking his head slightly as if in disbelief.
Quietly, he slipped his phone from his pocket before flipping through his social media for one of the saved videos of his favourite artist, Megan Thee Scallion.
Maybe he was imagining things, but this looked awfully like –
He stared at the dance video playing silently on his phone, then up at Narumi on the monitor, then back down.
No. No, it couldn’t be.
Eyes now bulging slightly, he glanced over at Vice Captain Hoshina who was standing still and silent, a very minute tremor running through his frame.
Had Vice Captain Hoshina really learned how to twerk? Or was he -
“Combat power release at sixty four percent!”
Narumi felt the tail swish through the air behind him, rising from his crouch and grimacing.
Those movements had felt so … strange.
Familiar, but not.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He was sure, at the very least, that he hadn’t pulled them off before.
All that aside, his percentage release had climbed phenomenally during the last few minutes alone, and now he had command of the appendage he’d been waiting for.
“See? Told ya it wouldn’t be a problem for me.”
“You have indeed surpassed my expectations, Bayonet Man. Ha! I look forward to the final step of our ritual.”
“Bring it on,” Narumi crowed as he jabbed a thumb into his chest, “I’ll handle it.”
“All kaiju are born with instincts. I was created to face danger head on, win and dominate. As my master, you must win with pride, with me at your side. You have to vow to do so.”
Narumi snorted.
“Make promises to a kaiju? You out of your mind?”
“I am not like other weapons. I think and sense. I require your vow.”
Hissing out an impatient breath, Narumi acquiesced.
“Fuck. Thought this would be more of a challenge.”
“I trust you to provide the challenges, Bayonet Man.”
“Fine. Let’s make these dumbass vows.”
The suit seemed to tighten around him momentarily, as if in the clasp of some greater form.
“Very well. Let us begin. Bayonet Man, do you swear that everything you say from this point onward is true?”
“I swear.”
“Do you swear to take this kaiju, who has handed over their body for your use, as your own?”
“I … do?”
“Do you pledge, before the boiling chasm from which I rose, that you take me as your battle partner above any other?”
“Now hold on – “
“Do you?”
Number Ten’s voice had risen to a fierce roar once again.
“Yeah, yeah! Shit, okay!”
“Do you swear to wear me like your own skin, through sun and rain, through injury and good health, through victory or the fall of your comrades like sand through an hourglass?”
“Wait, isn’t this – “
“Do you swear?”
“Hold up, you creepy fucking lizard, aren’t these marriage vows?”
“How else will you bind yourself to me?”
Narumi’s face had turned an alarming shade of crimson, a vein bulging in his forehead.
“I’m not marrying you! You’re a goddamn kaiju!”
“And is it not a fact, Bayonet Man, that I’m now closer to you than any woman of your own species has ever been?”
Narumi’s scream of outrage made the windows of the observation room rattle.
“Huh?”
“Till death do us part! Death and domination!”
“Like hell I’ll let you outlive me!”
“I’m fused with your body at this moment. Is this not closer than any partnership you’ve ever experienced?”
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’ve got kaiju parts implanted in my eyes! I’ve already used that power more times than I can count! You think you’re special?”
“Is this what humans refer to as infidelity? Swordsman never looked at other kaiju.”
“You know what – “
Narumi let out a harsh bark of laughter.
“I should have known. Should have known that you’d be a useless piece of junk. Did Hoshina say his marriage vows? Let me guess, you went on honeymoon to the trench at the bottom of the ocean and had five little kaiju-human hybrids there. Fuck this shit. I’m out.”
“Out? What do you mean, Bayonet Man?”
“I’m not using you as a weapon. Too much fucking trouble. Why can’t you just shut up?”
“Fine then. Do as you must. At least Swordsman’s testicles were the same size.”
All further communication after this point of the session was rapidly cut off as Narumi’s language turned colourful enough to make even the most hardened soul clap their hands over their ears and beat a hasty retreat.
Up in the control room, Kurusu had placed his head in his hands while the other techs babbled in confusion or looked on aghast.
Everything had been going so well until now.
Glancing up, vision slightly blurry from where he’d ground the heels of his palms into his eyes, Kurusu noted that Narumi had flung the suit aside on the pedestal where he’d collected it from, heading with furious purpose towards the door.
He rapidly buzzed for the development team to load the weapon in properly and return it to storage before unsealing the doors of the chamber below.
Narumi would be in a terrible mood, possibly for days.
Gasping slightly, he turned to warn Vice Captain Hoshina that now wouldn’t be the best time for Narumi to find him here, but there was no trace of him in the monitoring room.
How had he left without anyone noticing?
Glancing down, he noticed that the inactive monitor that Hoshina had been standing beside was now turned on, playing through the camera feed of the testing chamber.
Shrugging, he turned it off and hurried away to find Vice Captain Hasegawa.
Some serious damage control was in order.
If anyone had been watching the security cameras closely enough, they may have caught Hoshina’s brief trip to the research and development station one level below.
He’d checked with the techs there to make sure that the suit was undamaged, but during his short conversation, something else went completely unnoticed.
For one fleeting moment, Numbers Suit Ten moved in its open casing, the tail slipping out and edging towards Hoshina.
He wasn’t looking directly at it, but his palm was held out at an odd angle, receiving the short slap of the tip of the tail across it.
Perhaps, if someone more versed in their interactions had been watching, they would have recognised it for what it was; a high five.
Thus it was that Hoshina found himself standing before his own Captain a few days later, her stern glance falling on him as it always had, like water off a duck’s back.
She’d known what she was getting into when she’d hired him as Vice-Captain after all.
“Hoshina, are you in any way responsible for this?”
“I don’t know what to tell ya, Cap. I wasn’t even in the room with him. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Some questions have been raised on how Number Ten knew about … certain items of popular media.”
“You’ve seen these kaiju as well as I have. They’re more than capable of navigating the human world.”
“I see. Off the record, I don’t believe you.”
“I’m hurt by your suspicion, Captain Ashiro.”
“No, you’re not. And now Number Ten insists that it will only be used by you going forward. How do you explain that?”
“I can only speculate that the kaiju underwent a learning experience.”
“After it asked Captain Narumi to marry it?”
“Guess it didn’t take such a shine to him after all.”
Ashiro massaged the bridge of her nose vigorously as the man opposite her faced her down with no hint of uncertainty in his cheerful, fox-like demeanour.
“Fine. That’s all for now.”
Before he reached the door, she called out to him.
“Hoshina.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Do you have it?”
“Have what?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
He turned slowly to face her, and she wondered, in that moment, whether she’d employed a human being or some kind of malevolent spirit of mischief.
“You’ll have to be more specific than that, Captain.”
“The footage. Of Narumi’s training session.”
“You mean you can’t view it through the official system?”
“They’ve registered it as classified. At Narumi’s request.”
“Oho.”
He came forward, placing a small USB drive on her desk, his Cheshire cat smile now on full display. Ashiro picked up the drive as if it were the most precious item on earth before placing it carefully out of sight in her drawer.
Hoshina shot her a wink on the way out.
“I bet he’ll blow you away with his moves, Cap. A real ten out of ten, if you catch my drift.”
