There was only a week left in the break all 3V2R participants had received. Richard looked out the window of one of Vorton\u2019s conference rooms and sighed, contemplating Megumi\u2019s current mood. He was there when she asked for help, but both could tell that he, for reasons escaping both of them, wasn\u2019t helping her out much. She was currently seeing her mother and brother to try and help her. At the moment, Richard felt useless. His thoughts were interrupted by the door sliding up. He turned to see Thengo come in. \u201cCounsellor Lortora, right?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust Thengo, please,\u201d requested Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m concerned for your wife,\u201d explained Thengo. \u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve noticed, but she\u2019s skipped out on 3V2R planning meetings with Optimus and Arsha.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s also been taking meals alone and she doesn\u2019t have much energy to do what she enjoys,\u201d interjected Richard. \u201cI\u2019m aware of her condition at the moment. She\u2019s visiting family right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe hasn\u2019t confided in me,\u201d revealed Thengo, \u201cso I hope she\u2019s seeing another counsellor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe is not,\u201d muttered Richard. \u201cShe believes that she\u2019s betrayed War just as much as War betrayed us by doing what she\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe told you this?\u201d asked Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d answered Richard. \u201cI\u2019ve seen this kind of thing before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou mean this is frequent for her?\u201d inquired Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThankfully, no,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cBut, it can last a long time. This is her third time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t mind my asking,\u201d quizzed Thengo, \u201cwhat happened in the beginning?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFive years ago,\u201d began Richard, \u201csomeone named Lord Vortech had seized control of Foundation Prime, the very center of the multiverse. He was sending minions to retrieve the Foundation Elements; objects that hold great significance to a universe and command great power. It was just us Vortex Riders originally, functioning on prototype Vortex Drivers. Vortech had also taken our parents hostage and we set out to rescue them. We picked up Batman, Hongo, Wyldstyle, and Gandalf, but didn\u2019t tell them about Vortech. A tactical blunder, in retrospect. We almost died at Vortech\u2019s hands before we were returned to Vorton. When it came out that those four were recruited for a reason, like we were, Megumi broke down. She felt like she had betrayed everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd this was the first incident?\u201d asked Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe second incident happened three years ago,\u201d continued Richard. \u201cWe had just welcomed Colleen, Moon-Kyung, Victor, Alesandro, and Liam. We voted on whether or not we\u2019d tell them about Megumi\u2019s breakdown and the results said we wouldn\u2019t. During the adventure to protect the Sources, the sources of power for the Horsemen, we found out that X-PO tampered with the results and were called as witnesses for the prosecution during his trial. Our testimony and his outburst declared him guilty of willfully endangering innocent people and he was sentenced to 100 years in Multi-Max with no chance of parole. Megumi felt guilty for the past three years. She almost disbanded the F.N.S.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd now, she feels as if she\u2019s failed War by kicking her out,\u201d guessed Thengo. \u201cShe\u2019s attached to those she considers friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s putting it mildly,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cShe needs a counsellor. Could you help her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I do,\u201d answered Thengo, \u201cbut how easy is she around…well…these?\u201d She indicated her legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s comfortable holding normal-sized spiders, right up to our world\u2019s biggest spider, the Goliath Birdeater,\u201d assured Richard. \u201cShe\u2019s also fine with talking to Melandra. I don\u2019t think you can scare her away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I\u2019ll help her in any way I can,\u201d declared Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d bid Richard. \u201cIn the meantime, I need to…\u201d His planning was interrupted by a shriek. \u201cMEGUMI?!\u201d he yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNope, Melandra,\u201d sighed Thengo. \u201cAnd I think I can guess why.\u201d They left the conference room and saw Megumi with a cage in her hand and Melandra shaking and gibbering on the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat in the multiverse is the matter with you?!\u201d protested Megumi. \u201cOne look at a new pet and you, of all people, scream and hide!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat thing\u2019s face is all wrong!\u201d wailed Melandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi, what did you do with your family?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe went on a small walk around After Academy,\u201d explained Megumi. \u201cWe passed by an exotic pet store and my eyes settled on this beautiful girl. I felt a little at ease, still not over what I did to War, and so we decided I needed a pet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…So you got a Tarantula?!\u201d protested Richard as he saw the new pet. It was a Mexican Red-knee Tarantula. Richard then remembered the gibbering mess clinging to the ceiling and had a theory about Melandra. He turned to Thengo for confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, he\u2019s arachnophobic,\u201d confirmed Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…A Drider? Arachnophobic?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s supposed to be an upper torso where the face is!\u201d wailed Melandra. \u201cI hate spiders! Those things crawled all over me when I was a kid!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine, I\u2019ll take it home,\u201d sighed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi, Thengo\u2019s offering her services,\u201d called Richard. \u201cI strongly urge you to accept her offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…You told her, didn\u2019t you?\u201d guessed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou clearly need help and I\u2019m failing in that regard,\u201d answered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re doing fine,\u201d dismissed Megumi. \u201cI\u2019M doing fine!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot fine enough for both our tastes!\u201d argued Richard. Megumi turned and snarled at Richard. He didn\u2019t even flinch. The tension could be cut with a knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Fine, I\u2019ll see her tomorrow,\u201d sighed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all I ask,\u201d replied Richard. Just then, the comms sprang to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi, Emily, the Tarlaxian ship Beentar<\/em> is requesting permission to dock,\u201d reported Rusty. \u201cThey\u2019ve got wounded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell them to dock!\u201d ordered Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll be at the airlock with plenty of stretchers!\u201d replied Emily\u2019s voice. Megumi dashed to her room to leave her new pet there while she met with Emily. She, Henry, Ratchet, and Marshii were tending to the patients. The Tarlaxian First Officer, Spidarachnimpa, was clutching her arm as Henry bandaged it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happened?!\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were contacted from universe 5-T-4-R-T-R-3-K to help a retired Starfleet Admiral visit us again,\u201d explained Spidarachnimpa. \u201cShocker Rift ambushed us. We barely made it out in the condition you found us in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho\u2019s the Captain of your vessel?\u201d asked Megumi. \u201dI need to talk to them.\u201d Spidarachnimpa\u2019s heads turned away from her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt…it was Turretorg,\u201d she mumbled. \u201cHe…he was…\u201d Wailing interrupted her explanation. Megumi followed the source to see Discornia kneeling next to a stretcher with a shrouded body on it. Megumi ran up to the stretcher and pulled back a bit of the shroud to see Turretorg\u2019s hand. She then realized what Spidarachnimpa was trying to say and stumbled backwards while Discornia wailed in grief, pleading with her gods to spare Turretorg. Unfortunately, Death came for him both metaphorically AND literally. Death sighed as Megumi looked to her for confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow?\u201d asked Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHiro attacked the Beentar<\/em> with the intent to kill everyone on board,\u201d replied Death. \u201cHis first target was the retired Starfleet Admiral, recently named a Dahar Master. Turretorg tried to fight him, but…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHiro blinded him!\u201d snarled a voice. Much to the protest of Marshii, an elderly Klingon woman entered the room. The face had more wrinkles and she sported silver hair, but it was still a recognizable face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSh\u2019Kar!\u201d cheered Megumi. \u201cA Dahar Master?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d asked Sh\u2019Kar, former Captain of the Enterprise-G<\/em>. \u201cI trained 1000 warriors after I retired from Starfleet and they survived and won 100 battles each, gaining a few songs of how I made the Empire stronger by learning from outsiders. The Emperor was all too happy to give me such a title.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou said Turretorg was blinded,\u201d recalled Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did,\u201d confirmed Sh\u2019Kar. \u201cTurretorg was trying to defend me while rubble had me pinned. He fought well, but Hiro stuck him with a virus that severed his optic nerves. Only after it was confirmed that Turretorg couldn\u2019t see him did Hiro deliver the killing blow. Even then, he did so from behind Turretorg! A brave warrior, and he was forced to die like a dog without seeing his killer! I will see to it that Hiro pays for this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKilling him will only be an escape,\u201d hissed Discornia. \u201cI want him to suffer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Yes, killing him is too quick,\u201d agreed Sh\u2019Kar. \u201cWe must do something to make him regret his actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe I have such a method,\u201d offered Megumi. \u201cWere you in a universe when this ambush happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were in Wyldstyle\u2019s home,\u201d replied Sh\u2019Kar. \u201cHe\u2019s seized control of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we\u2019re going to wrest it from his grasp!\u201d declared Megumi. \u201cHe most likely intends to use the Master Builders to make weapons for his own ends. Well, not today! Emily, when you\u2019re finished, everyone will be meeting in the Gateway Room. It\u2019s time to make Hiro hurt again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd why are we here again?\u201d asked Oak once everyone assembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMegumi\u2019s got something up her glove,\u201d remarked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMinna,\u201d called Megumi, \u201cI\u2019ll make this brief, Wyldstyle\u2019s home is under threat from Hiro. It\u2019s more than likely he\u2019s roped Megatron and Dr. Borg into helping him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, MY home?!\u201d yelped Wyldstyle. \u201cWhat\u2019s he doing there?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRounding up the Master Builders as Lord Business did,\u201d replied Richard. \u201cHis organization needs weapons and he\u2019s forcing the Master Builders to make them. He\u2019s got a fleet hanging over…Syspocalypstar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt looks like he\u2019s got that universe\u2019s Batman and an amorphous blob called Watevra Wa’Nabi as his hostages,\u201d continued Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe current rulers of Syspocalypstar,\u201d explained Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe MUST get rid of that fleet!\u201d declared Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd we have an old friend to help us out,\u201d replied Megumi. At that moment, Sh\u2019Kar came out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Klingon?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor those that are new,\u201d introduced Megumi, \u201cI\u2019d like everyone to meet Dahar Master Sh\u2019Kar, daughter of Stomek of the House of Noggra. She has helped us before when she commanded a Prometheus<\/em>-class starship that had the honor of being named Enterprise<\/em>.\u201d Optimus whistled in appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Starfleet Captain commanding a ship called Enterprise <\/em>AND a Dahar Master?\u201d he called. \u201cThat\u2019s no easy feat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy helping Megumi defeat Vortech was a big help in the Emperor granting me such a title,\u201d replied Sh\u2019Kar. \u201cI believe I know you; Young Optimus, the child, the shape-changer, the one who is leading his faction in a war against his brother…\u201d she frowned grimly, then smiled, \u201cand skilled in the bat\u2019leth. A pleasure to meet you. Anyone who backs up his talk with masterful action is a friend of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you mentioned, I\u2019m a child,\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cI\u2019m hardly masterful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCould have fooled me,\u201d chuckled Sh\u2019Kar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSh\u2019Kar, before we called this meeting,\u201d interjected Megumi, \u201cI asked you to get in touch with Starfleet and the Klingon Empire. Could either of them spare a ship?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid not,\u201d sighed Sh\u2019Kar. \u201cWe\u2019re on our own this time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case, we\u2019ll have to enlist Benny\u2019s help,\u201d declared Megumi. \u201cWe need Starfleet or Klingon firepower. Maybe he can build a ship in that vein.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust one ship?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve secured help from the Tarlaxians and our own ship will be in the vicinity,\u201d replied Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have my ship\u2019s help,\u201d proclaimed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd mine,\u201d offered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d bid Megumi. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten ahold of our enemy\u2019s position. Study this carefully.\u201d She projected a map with the enemy fleet in position over Syspocalypstar. \u201cWe need to get rid of the fleet,\u201d continued Megumi, \u201cand take care of the ground forces and we need to do it in a way that makes Hiro hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Er, Mr. Saunders,\u201d gulped Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m concerned too,\u201d whispered Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Borg, a word,\u201d Megatron called to Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d grunted Dr. Borg as she continued her welding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have to find some way to accelerate our plans to find Caan,\u201d remarked Megatron. \u201cHiro\u2019s distracting himself with these side-quests!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn that, you have no argument from me,\u201d agreed Dr. Borg as she set down her welding and raised her helmet. \u201cHe seems obsessed with hurting Megumi. Last time I checked; she was supposed to be an annoyance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, his priorities seem to have changed,\u201d muttered Megatron. \u201cI don\u2019t know about you, but my bargain with him was to conquer an old…acquaintance\u2019s universe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was there when he made the offer to you,\u201d answered Dr. Borg. \u201cI believe the \u2018acquaintance\u2019 was called Nemesis Prime. You feel as if that goal is no longer worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the moment, no, it IS still worth it,\u201d replied Megatron. \u201cIt\u2019s just that I want him to remember our original bargain. I intend to give him an ultimatum; he either forgets about Megumi and gets on with hunting Caan or my part of the alliance will dissolve and we\u2019ll go back to our own universe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHiro offered me a means of building up my empire,\u201d supplied Dr. Borg. \u201cSo far, he has not upheld his end of the bargain. I shall make the same ultimatum with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI knew I could count on you,\u201d praised Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo one is getting anything until Megumi is dead!\u201d snarled Hiro\u2019s voice. Both Megatron and Dr. Borg rolled their eyes before giving Hiro their full attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou came to us to ask for our help to hunt down Caan!\u201d snarled Dr. Borg. \u201cWe are nowhere near finding him, especially since he has one of our allies with him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEither you end this obsession with Megumi or we leave,\u201d declared Megatron. \u201cYour choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re in no position to make demands!\u201d roared Hiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI beg your pardon?!\u201d growled Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI give the orders around here!\u201d continued Hiro. \u201cI decide what everyone does! You belong to me now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI BELONG TO NOBODY!\u201d roared Megatron as he aimed his fusion cannon at Hiro. Hiro then keyed in a number on his phone and pressed the button. Megatron and Dr. Borg then pricked their ears up. \u201cWhat is that noise?\u201d grunted Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hear it too,\u201d muttered Dr. Borg. The noise they heard then became painful. \u201cUgh! I think…it\u2019s in my head!\u201d strained Dr. Borg as she got to her knees while clutching her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat…IS this?!\u201d howled Megatron as he fell to his back, clutching his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat, Megatron, is a Shocker Rift Termination Implant,\u201d explained Hiro. \u201cI installed one into both of your ears a while ago. They play a frequency that the target finds HIGHLY painful!\u201d Dr. Borg and Megatron howled in pain as the noise got louder and louder. This lasted for a few seconds before Hiro keyed in another number and ended the treatment. \u201cJust so you all know,\u201d warned Hiro, \u201cALL of your soldiers have such an implant. You DO belong to me now. You are Shocker Rift property.\u201d He left the room as Megatron and Dr. Borg snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst chance I get,\u201d he declared, \u201cI\u2019m slitting his throat!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There was only a week left in the break all 3V2R participants had received. Richard looked out the window of one of Vorton\u2019s conference rooms and sighed, contemplating Megumi\u2019s current mood. He was there when she asked for help, but both could tell that he, for reasons escaping both of them, wasn\u2019t helping her out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,102],"tags":[9,345,337],"class_list":["post-2449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trinity-soul","category-trinity-soul-chapters","tag-kamen-rider","tag-three-realms","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2451,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions\/2451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n