“Hanzo has thought of everything,” said Junko, “They’ve given the job of protecting the Neboukichan to airport security, and already several of our people have been hired on. When the time comes our people will allow us access, and we will activate all the remaining Neboukichan at once. It will truly be the end of the old world.”
Miyo Mabuki lowered his head. All his life he had known that he was merely holding a place open for the one who would usher in the new era of the Kaiju Cult, but it was only here, alone in prison, did he come to understand how much he missed his pretensions of power and authority. Glancing at Hanzo Ueda, he saw a young man bristling with confidence and sense of purpose. The sight of him filled Miyo Mabuki with hatred.
Miyo looked at the ring on his daughter’s hand. “You married him?”
Junko smiled. It was a true smile that broke the veneer of disgust and ennui she wore like armor. “Yes. Hanzo officiated the ceremony himself.”
“Congratulations,” said Miyo, all emotion drained from his voice.
Hanzo turned and put his hand on Junko’s shoulder. “Come, Junko, you’ve told him about the marriage. We have much to do.”
As Junko rose her father spoke directly to Hanzo. “Why don’t you look at me, Hanzo? Is it to spare yourself the shame of admitting what you have done to me?”
Her father’s comments enraged Junko, but Hanzo restrained his bride. Stepping towards the old man Hanzo bent at the waist and removed his sunglasses to look right into Miyo’s eyes. “I was sparing you the embarrassment, old man.” Said Hanzo, choosing his words carefully, “The embarrassment of being nothing more than a pawn in the great game I am playing against the world. The embarrassment of knowing that you had control of the Kaiju Cult for nearly thirty years and have accomplished nothing of consequence.”
Miyo Mabuki lowered his head in shame. He could not bring himself to meet his daughter’s withering gaze. “Goodbye father,” said his daughter, “I will not be visiting again.”
Then Miyo Mabuki was alone, and would remain so for the rest of his life.
Wonder Heroes 4.18
One week later, in the hanger deck on Level Seven of the Wonder Base, Walter Watanabe was setting up a series of fifteen tripods around the Kick-Blade. This vehicle made up the right leg of the Wonder Giant and had not been operational since the disappearance of Danielle Walker, Wonder Hero Blade, some time ago. On top of each tripod Walter had mounted a device about the size of a toaster from which a delicate glass cone extended, pointing at the dormant Wonder Vehicle. Walter called these devices “Wondergenic field generators.” Each generator was connected by way of a cable of wires and fiber optics to a small plastic hub that was in turn attached to an Apple laptop computer.
At the computer, Susan was monitoring levels and readings. General Rumpole and the rest of the Wonder Heroes were gathered nearby, watching the proceedings with varying levels of interest. Jay and Kalomo were instantly bored. They were to be merely spectators at the proceedings. Though keenly interested, Matt seemed the least enthusiastic about the project.
Theodore stood behind Susan, trying to understand the numbers that flitted across the computer screen. “Looks complicated.”
“It’s really not that different from what I was doing at MIT,” said Susan, “I was working on limb replacement technology, interfacing biological nervous systems with non-biological hardware. The gauntlets are advanced alien technology that accomplish the same thing.” Susan smiled. “It’s interesting stuff.”
“You’re really into this, aren’t you?” asked Theodore, who had not really seen this side of Susan before.
Susan nodded. “It’s great to use my brain for something other than fighting monsters.”
Walter adjusted the last tripod and stood up straight, his eyes settling on Theodore. He crossed the room to touch the gauntlet on Theodore’s arm. “Theodore. I need you over there, standing next to Matt.”
Theodore looked to Susan, who nodded her head. As he walked towards Matt he noticed a small square on the floor, made from yellow electrical tape. Matt was standing in a similar square made from blue tape. Theodore took his obvious place.
“I need the rest of you to step back,” said Walter, “and whatever happens, don’t activate your gauntlets unless I ask you to.” As the General, Kalomo and Jay backed away a few steps Walter pointed at Susan. “That goes for you as well, Susan.”
Susan nodded and smiled. Theodore noticed the smile was more intimate than friendly and suddenly realized that Susan and Walter were becoming a couple, if they were not already. He felt a pang of jealousy, and silently excoriated himself or not acting on his feelings earlier.
Walter opened a large case and pulled out what looked like a Wonder Gauntlet constructed out of disused computer parts. This gauntlet was bulkier than those worn by the Wonder Heroes, and had the appearance of being cobbled together rather than elegantly designed. It was connected with a Christmas tree light jumble of cables and wires to the box it had been stored in.
Matt’s frown deepened. “You made your own gauntlet?”
Walter shook his head. “Not exactly. All the tech Susan and I have put together here will allow us, with luck, to duplicate one tiny, routine function of a Wonder Gauntlet.”
“As you know,” Susan continued, “the Wonder Vehicles are keyed to the particular gauntlets. The crimson gauntlet gives me access to the Crimson Fist, but to no other vehicle.”
“To get access to the Kick-Blade we have to convince it that we have the proper Wonder Gauntlet. That particular item was lost in the hole of holes, so Susan and I have built an approximation of one.” Walter clamped the gauntlet on his arm, and Susan powered it up it with a keystroke.
Susan backed away, and then crossed over to where Kalomo and Jay waited with the General, a few steps behind Matt and Theodore.
“Matt, Theodore,” said Walter, checking the readings on his ad hoc gauntlet, “whenever you are ready, activate your Wonder Armor, as close to simultaneously as possible.”
Kalomo leaned slightly towards Susan and whispered, “Why Matt and Theodore?”
“Because blue and yellow make green,” whispered Susan.
Kalomo frowned, and said, “That makes too much and too little sense at the same time.”
Susan shrugged off Kalomo’s doubts. “We need to combine their energies to fool the Kick-Blade.”
Jay nodded. “That makes sense.”
Kalomo frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think it does.”
As one Matt and Theodore activated their gauntlets and in a flash of energy ultramarine and golden armor covered their bodies, annihilating their clothing and encasing them in the world’s most powerful weapons system.
Walter was reading a small meter installed on his homemade gauntlet. The device, though crude by Wonder Gauntlet standards, contained some of the most advanced electronics ever developed on Earth. Even so, thought Walter ruefully, we’re like cave dwellers trying to open a bank vault with twigs and leaves. Walter watched his readouts and waited for the correct alignment of frequency and power.
Seconds passed. Then, when satisfied that the frequency was holding and his gauntlet was properly synced, Walter took half a step towards the long dormant Kick-Blade, and aimed his gauntleted right arm at the vehicle, palm first. To everyone’s astonishment, including Walter and Susan’s, the door slid open silently.
“That went flawlessly,” marveled Susan, “First try!”
Walter smiled. Sometimes his brilliance amazed even him.
“So,” said Theodore, “when can you take her out for a flight?”
Walter looked confused for a moment, and then smiled. “Oh. You misunderstand. All this equipment, all this technology allowed us to perform only one, very minor, function.”
Jay stepped forward and patted Walter on the back. “Congratulations, Walter. Six million dollars in technology just allowed you to open a door.”
“It’s only a fi
rst step, Jay,” said Walter, “Ultimately we’ll want to get the Kick-Blade operational enough to summon the Wonder Giant, an important part of the arsenal that defends this planet.”
Matt dispelled his armor, and was now in his blue briefs and tee shirt. He found a blue robe on the table next to the laptop and helped himself. Susan helped Walter remove the makeshift gauntlet as the General quietly discussed the future of the project with them.
Matt took the time to enter the Kick-Blade. The layout inside was similar to the Ultra Fist. Matt could smell, faintly, the perfume Danielle Walker always wore. Again Matt felt almost overwhelmed by the memories of his lost friends. He pushed aside those feelings and found what he was looking for, a small compartment for personal effects. He turned the unlocked latch and pulled out a small moleskin notebook. Flipping through the pages quickly he noted that each page was dated. It was the diary of Danielle Walker. Matt slipped the notebook into the pocket of his robe.
Susan managed to remove the gauntlet from Walter’s arm, and was massaging antibacterial gel onto the tiny pinpricks that dotted his flesh. “This is going to sting a bit,” she said.
“Quite an accomplishment, Walter,” said General Rumpole as Walter winced under Susan’s ministrations. “You’re the first man on Earth to hack Cassiopeian technology.” The General’s smile vanished. “It makes you very dangerous.”
“I understand your concern General,” said Walter neutrally.
“I hope you do. If you can do this, and word gets out, what’s to stop any one of Earth’s enemies from doing the same thing?” Kalomo and Jay suddenly became very thoughtful at the General’s words. “If Cassiopeian technology isn’t the best in the universe our planet may not survive.”
“The only way we could hack the Wonder technology was with the cooperation of the Wonder Heroes and their gauntlets,” said Susan, “It doesn’t seem possible otherwise.”
“I hope you’re right,” said the General.
Further discussion was cut off as the Wonder Base Computer interrupted. “Attention, Wonder Heroes. There is a situation in San Paulo demanding your attention.”
Matt exited the Kick-Blade and the team followed him towards the elevator. Aloud he asked," Details?”
“There has been a reported eukaryotic sapien bloom,” replied the Computer, “Fungal duplicates are attempting to take over the city.”
Susan was last to follow the team; she paused to squeeze Walter’s hand and kissed him on the cheek.
Alone on the hanger deck, the General gave Walter his most intimidating look, a look that could drive a hardened soldier to tears. “She’s a good girl in a tough job. You do anything to hurt her and I guarantee you’ll regret it.”
Walter smiled, which only caused the General to frown more. “My intentions are entirely honorable, General Rumpole. However, there is another subject I wish to discuss with you.”
The General sighed. As much as he knew intellectually that he should trust Walter Watanabe, his gut instinct told him something was off. No matter what Walter asked for, he always wanted more. The General softened his tone. “You’ve been granted all the access you’re likely to get for now, Walter.”
“No, that’s not it,” said Walter with a seriousness that grabbed the General’s complete attention, “As you know, my company, Watanabe Industries, is very diversified, and one of the areas we specialize in is Internet security.” Walter reached into a leather satchel and pulled out a manila folder. “I can assure you that my company will be absolutely discrete in handling the information in this folder.”
The General took the folder and read the tab that said, simply, “Theodore Studebaker.”
Where it moved came destruction, and its glance brought instant death. That is how the history books would describe Brobdignag, a thirty story tall giant robot that fell to Earth on a rampage of destruction early in the career of the original Wonder Heroes. Those unfortunate enough to witness the robot’s violence yet miraculously survive described a fast moving engine of devastation that terrorized the communities and farms sixty miles north of Manhattan Island for nearly thirty apocalyptic minutes. Brobdignag’s woven titanium alloy exterior was as reflective as a mirror and proved to be impervious to any weapon forged on Earth, including a hydrogen bomb that left a huge swath of upstate New York uninhabitable. The robot’s elaborate helmet recalled ancient Norse or Egyptian design, and like its boots and fists was colored a deep, light absorbing black. Brobdignag literally had piercing yellow eyes; eyes capable of projecting powerful directed energy beams hotter than the core of the sun, that sliced through and obliterated everything they touched.
Now Brobdignag stood silent and still in an empty field, all but forgotten save as a kind of roadside attraction that due to being fairly off the beaten path, was infrequently visited. The thirty story tall robot had a round three story tall hole in its chest that penetrated clean through to its back, delivered at the denouement of a close and hard fought battle, courtesy of the Wonder Heroes and the Wonder Giant, who had found that far from being impervious to all weapons, Brobdignag’s fatal weakness was the Wonder Giant’s Wonder Sword, a glowing crimson blade of purest vorpal energy.
Upon being struck dead by the power of the Wonder Giant, Brobdignag had offered up one final surprise: The robot was piloted by a crew of one hundred aliens of a race that called itself the Reortie. The Reortie were a race of four-foot tall almost featureless, vaguely humanoid aliens that might remind one of human crabs without shells, save for their bright yellow color. The interior of Brobdignag consisted of several floors of crew quarters, battle stations, control centers and power cores, all stationed and maintained as a human crew might maintain a submarine in the oceans of Earth. Their robot disabled, the Reortie were taken prisoner by the United States Army, but the alien’s natural lifespan turned out to be one measured in months, not years, and the entire crew died off within a few weeks, never offering any motive for their attack.
After the departure of the Wonder Heroes the army moved in and set up a defensive perimeter around the robot. In a very short time Brobdignag was stripped of every bit of alien weaponry and technology, leaving behind only an empty titanium shell, floor after floor of low ceilinged metal rooms that smelled of alien rot. An electrified fence was built around the robot and an army post established consisting of four guards charged with keeping visitors out. The army personnel stationed here spent their long, boring days watching television and posing for pictures with the rare tourists who bothered to make the trip out to see the giant robot that tried to kill the world.
This made the interior of Brobdignag the perfect place for Jaimie Karasik and the rest of the Aierta to hide out. It was a simple matter to teleport the robots Crush and Kill, and her human partner in crime Kyle, into the giant robot, which quickly became a base of operations from which the Aierta could stage their attacks. The reflective shielding of the robot made scanning the interior nearly impossible, but Jaimie instructed her crew to install the Geheimite scanner blocking technology to ensure their secrecy. With the teleporter on board the robot the Aierta could now come and go as they pleased, staging daring raids on government and corporate laboratories all over the world, searching for the technology they needed to destroy the Wonder Heroes.
On this particular morning Jaimie opened her eyes, waking from a peaceful, dreamless sleep, rolled off the air mattress, staggered to her feet, and stretched. She walked across the metal floor and gently kicked Kyle awake. He was curled up deep inside his sleeping bag, hugging his pillow tightly.
“Wake up.”
Kyle rubbed his eyes and stretched the soreness from his shoulders. “Dreams,” he said, “again with the dreams. These human bodies suck. They need constant food and sleep, and become sick and damaged so easily. And besides all that we dream! How can I both dream and rest at the same time?”
Jaimie ignored Kyle’s rant and grabbed some retro-Twinkies from her backpack. She walked into the next room, wh
ere the two robots Crush and Kill, waited. Not requiring sleep, they stood silently as Jaimie and Kyle completed their nightly ritual of unconsciousness.
Kill, who had been nearly destroyed by a well-placed blast of energy by Wonder Hero Gold, had been repaired with the vastly inferior terrestrial technology found here on Earth. He looked like a toy cobbled together from two different kinds of building blocks forced to work together despite their incompatibility, like Legos and Lincoln Logs. Despite the cobbled together nature of Kill’s repairs the robot was no less dangerous in the field of battle. Upon Jaimie entering the room, Kill spoke with a scratchy, electronic voice. “I trust you are rested?”
Jaimie nodded. “I am.” She crossed the floor, jumped up onto a gutted alien console that used to perform some unknown function within this gigantic structure, and sat crossed legged as she ate breakfast. She ripped bite size pieces off her retro-Twinkie and popped them into her mouth.
The robots watched Jaimie eat without judgment. Each body inhabited by the Aierta had different and specific needs and the Aierta Commander’s needs were to be tolerated, if not respected.
“What’s the status of the repairs?” Jaimie asked with a mouthful of junk food.
Crush unspoiled a large roll of white deli paper across the floor. “Not wanting to alert the local planetary authorities to our presence,” said the robot, “I have avoided powering any of Brobdignag’s dormant systems, and have eschewed the use of computers, save for our Laptop. With the Laptop’s help I have resorted to a primitive means of documenting the necessary repairs.”
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