Countless years had passed since the great battle. Don Armage had made easy work of completely erasing its name from history. No one in this age had any idea that such a fight had even taken place.

Onyx still worked with Jark Matter. They had been promoted to be Don Armage's right-hand man. It was an interesting job. They were often made to kill rebels. It wasn't a very hard job in the slightest.

Beyond that, Onyx was in charge of making sure everyone hired by Don Armage actually did their jobs. It was an annoying task to do most of the time. Having to go visit different areas and make sure nothing was going wrong was rough. They didn't enjoy traveling so much but had no choice. At least when things were going wrong they got to take their anger out on the workers so it was something.

Onyx still held on to both of the kyutamas they had been given. Orion's was safely hidden away somewhere only they would find it when the time was right. The other kyutama stayed in their pocket on most days. They never used it though. They didn't want Don Armage to know that they had it.

They were once again on the move, making sure a newer member of the team was keeping his word. Onyx entered the base and made their way to the newly built lab. Inside was the new recruit, working away on something. He had been here for a while now, but this was the first time Don Armage was truly interested in his creations.

Onyx knocked once and entered the room. They took in the lab. It was a lot more built up than the other places they had seen. Someone was really busy.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Anton. Just coming to see how you're doing." Onyx greeted.

They couldn't help but notice the slight fear in his gaze as he greeted them back. That was unusual. He always greeted everyone with open arms. What was different? Was it just he was intimidated by Onyx? They were pretty high status. That could be it.

"What are you building here?" Onyx questioned, staring at a robot in the center of the room. They were hooked up to a lot of sensors.

"He is... a fighting robot." Anton said, choosing his words carefully from the sound of it.

"Did you give him a name?"

"Champ."

Okay, yeah, something was wrong here. Anton never named his creations like that. They were all just numbers and an identifying name. That name felt too particular for normal.

Onyx stared Anton down. "What's with the normal name? No numbers? No nothing?"

Anton gulped, "I am still... thinking about that."

"Yeah, right. What's the true intention here?" Onyx questioned.

Anton went silent for a long time before he finally spoke, "You can do as you please to me but please, don't hurt him."

Onyx sighed, "What are you doing, doctor?"

Anton explained. He had separated an evil side of himself. He had no evil in him now. All he wanted was peace. And he wanted this robot to be able to come with him. He wanted to leave Jark Matter behind. He pleaded his request.

"Under normal circumstances, I should kill you for this. But... I'll pretend I didn't hear a thing." Onyx said.

They didn't know why. There was just some part of them that refused to kill him. Anton wasn't really doing much wrong, was he? So he wanted to run away with this robot, who cared? If his evil side was still here, what use did they have for him? What would he even be able to do? His knowledge wasn't going to be much use to Rebellion.

"You... will let us go?" Anton questioned. He seemed very hesitant about it.

Onyx shrugged. "Yes. No one needs to know I found out. If you get caught it's not my problem."

"Thank you..." Anton hugged them. "Thank you..."

Onyx shrugged out of his grip. "Don't make me regret it, doctor."

"If... if something were to happen to me, please don't let them hurt Champ. I don't want him to turn into the murderous machine he was meant to be. He deserves to be his own person."

Onyx glanced at Champ. They were being asked to protect this thing? How were they meant to anyway? If he got brought back to Jark Matter there wasn't much Onyx could do about it. They'd need to find a way to stop him from ever getting there in the first place. Didn't seem a very easy task.

"I don't know what exactly I could do to help him but if there is an option I'll take it." Onyx replied.

"Thank you."

"If you're looking for a good time to run, tomorrow night there will be an hour meeting where the guards will be laid thin around here. I suggest using that time to make an escape if you truly wish to go. You may not get such an easy time again." Onyx stated.

Anton nodded. "I'll consider it. Though, why are you helping me? I would have expected Don Armage's right-hand man to immediately kill me for this."

"I have my own morals. I don't care what he says." Onyx said. "And... maybe I have ties with Rebellion."

They didn't really know why they cared to do this. Their job would be so much easier if they were to just kill this man. Rebellion would always understand if they had to kill people. They couldn't always get them out alive. And yet here they were, not willing to kill this man. This was just something they felt like they needed to do.

...

Onyx was given the task of standing guard by an exit the next night. They had no desire to attend meetings and everyone knew that. They just got into fights half the time. This was a better use of their time.

Onyx heard noise nearby. Their ears twitched as they registered there was a very noticeable metallic noise. Was this the route that doctor wanted to take? It was the least used door. Not that surprising they would try it.

They turned down the hall and waited. In a minute, the doctor and his robot appeared. There was brief moment of fear as they noticed someone. Once Anton realized that it was just Onyx, he seemed to relax.

Onyx motioned them to get closer. Anton led Champ over. Onyx opened the door and nodded.

"Hurry. You won't have much time to get far." Onyx whispered.

"Thank you." Anton said.

The two of them vanished outside quickly. Onyx went back to standing guard like that had never happened. Hopefully they could get away. If they got caught so soon it would just cause a major headache. There would be no chance for them to live long. Onyx knew they would be sent after them and if that happened there was no hope they would be able to not kill them.

...

"Akuma. It seems there's a new recruit in the Sasori system area. Why don't you go visit and see how good they truly are?"

This wasn't a task Onyx was often assigned to. They didn't deal with new recruits. They only dealt with them when something went wrong. For them to be sent to see someone just to examine their capabilities Don Armage must see something of use in them.

"May I ask why this recruit?" Onyx asked.

"I've been told he seems like he can be very useful. I'd like to see if he may serve us as an assassin. Maybe an assistant for you? Send him on those jobs you don't want to do."

"Hmm... I guess that could be useful..." Onyx said. It would be nice to have someone to deal with the issues they didn't want to. "Sasori system, you say? I guess I'll head there and check it out. Anything else I need to do while I'm there?"

"I don't think so. If you see anything suspicious do as needed."

"Understood."

In two days time, they were at the planet. They were quickly brought to meet with the current governor. Onyx hadn't met with this governor much before. They knew very little. Hopefully they weren't a complete ass. It was so annoying when they had to handle annoying workers.

"Good day, Kuron." Onyx greeted the governor.

"Akuma." Kuron nodded. "You are here to meet my new recruit?"

"Correct. Don Armage thinks he may be of use as a new assassin." Onyx explained.

"Very well. Shall I introduce you to him then?"

"By all means, lead the way."

Onyx was guided through the moraimars and into a lower level. There were indavers around, doing whatever it was they did. Onyx never could understand them and their actions half the time. They just ignored them for the most part.

"Scorpio. You have someone that would like to meet you." Kuron called into a room.

Someone came out of the room. Onyx took them in. They seemed to be an adult. Had quite a few battle scars to his name. There was also a tail behind him. That just confirmed he very much was a resident of this planet.

"Hello there." Onyx nodded to him. "You may call me Akuma. I've come to test your capabilities and see how useful you may be."

Scorpio nodded. "What will I have to do?"

"Come walk with me. I'd like to get to know you a bit more." Onyx motioned for him to follow. "We'll be back later, Kuron."

"Of course." Kuron left them.

Onyx led Scorpio out of the building and out into the planet. They walked on in silence for a while.

"What system are you from?" Scorpio broke the silence.

"Kogitsune." Onyx replied. "I feel that should be quite obvious with my tail and ears."

"I don't know too much about the other systems."

"Ah. Right." Onyx nodded. "So, anyway... why exactly did you join Jark Matter?"

"I want power."

Power... That was a popular answer most gave.

"Selling your soul to the devil for power, huh?" Onyx scoffed. "Be wary. You don't realize just what that means."

"I know what I want." Scorpio stated.

"If you say so." Onyx shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Shouldn't you be trying to make sure I stay? Why are you advising me otherwise?"

"Making sure you truly are serious about this. I don't need a coward in this place." Onyx replied.

"You take me to be a coward?"

Apparently saying that was a mistake. Lots got offended whenever Onyx did say that. Maybe they really should stop using that statement.

"No. I'm just saying not to waste my time if you can't handle anything we throw your way."

"I won't. I'll show you what I can do." Scorpio stated.

"Then shall we begin? I want to test your fighting abilities as they are now."

...

Onyx was surprised by how well Scorpio truly was doing. They had thought he wouldn't be cut out for the job they expected of him. They were proven wrong. He was growing and improving every day.

"Akuma?"

"Hmm? Yes?"

It was late at night. Onyx didn't often sleep until much later into the night. They normally were left alone. No one tended to approach them. Not tonight though. Scorpio seemed to not be wanting to sleep either.

"Do you have any family?"

That was not the question they were expected to be asked. Just what was bringing this up of all things?

"No. They're all dead. Why?"

"Do you miss them?"

"No. Do you have family you miss?" Onyx questioned. Their ears flicked in annoyance.

Scorpio looked away. "Yes..."

Onyx sighed, "Sorry. I'm not a fan of discussing my family. Who exactly is in your family?"

"Just my little brother."

"I see. Do you regret joining us and leaving him?"

"I don't know... I just... wonder how he's doing."

Onyx didn't have much to say to him about that. They didn't know that feeling. They couldn't relate. Maybe a little but they'd never admit it. Onyx would sometimes wonder about Tsurugi and if he was alive still in that ship.

"Those types of feelings won't help you in this job." Onyx stated. "Just forget about him. It'll only cause problems in the long run."

"That's easier said than done." Scorpio grumbled.

"Can't really help you there." Onyx shrugged. "You'll get used to it eventually. It gets easier over time."

"I hope so."

...

Onyx hadn't expected for Kuron to ask about sending Scorpio out to kill his own tribe. They had planned to soon test him in his murdering capabilities, but not in that fashion. Had Kuron also picked up on Scorpio seeming to have that longing for home? Was this him trying to squash that feeling?

Scorpio had actually refused the order at first, seeming startled by the task. Onyx had wandered in to find Kuron punishing him for it. They had stopped him and told them to release Scorpio, arguing that he had a right to refuse with how giant a task that was for his first real mission.

But, but by a few hours later, Scorpio approached them and said he would in fact do it. Onyx was hesitant, but agreed to let Kuron know and gather indavers for him to use to aid him. If Scorpio said he could do it, who were they to argue?

Onyx opted to observe him from the shadows to see how he did. If he failed, perhaps they might save him from an unfortunate end. They weren't really sure. It would be annoying to lose him. He still had a lot of potential.

"Aniki!"

Onyx finally got to see who his little brother was. Little wasn't quite the right word. The kid was arguably taller than his older brother was. Onyx wondered how much younger he was.

Onyx watched as Scorpio slaughtered person after person. He had no emotion on his face as he did so.

"Aniki, what's wrong? Why are you doing this?"

His little brother... had he ever mentioned his name? Ah, Stinger. That was it. Stinger had rushed over and hugged Scorpio, asking him those things.

Onyx felt a twing in their heart. The scene unfolding before them was so eerily similar to what Tsurugi and them had done back then. It was strange seeing it happening from a different perspective. Especially knowing what it felt like to be on one end of it.

"I must kill them." Scorpio replied in a voice void of any emotion. So different from how he had been when he first joined them.

"Why...?" Stinger sounded very hurt and once again Onyx felt that twisting of their heart.

The brothers fought. Onyx could tell that Scorpio was not going full out on him. So even now he still held back. He cared too much to hurt his little brother. Just like... how they had refused to kill Tsurugi. Was this karma for their sins to watch this scene now?

"You'll understand one day."

"Why don't you kill me too!?"

Scorpio tossed Stinger back, sending him rolling across the ground. More of the tribe attacked him, but he easily killed them all. Stinger watched on in horror. Onyx could see tears in his eyes. Was that how Tsurugi looked underneath his mask?

Scorpio walked away now, letting the indavers attack the rest of the tribe. Onyx didn't follow right away. They were interested to see what his little brother would do now.

Stinger rushed to the edge of the camp and screamed at him. "Why? Why did you betray us?!"

"I seek power. That is all."

Scorpio vanished into the indavers. Onyx was about to follow when they felt a weird tingling surrounding them. They glanced over at Stinger. He was... glowing? Not physically but there was this weird aura surrounding him. Onyx felt their kyutama heating up.

They took it into their hand. It seemed like it was telling them something. Did it... want to give Stinger a kyutama? Was that what this was indicating? Did it think he deserved to become a savior?

Once the indavers left, it was just Stinger. Had Scorpio instructed them to not harm his brother? Didn't really matter. They wouldn't say a word nor did they care that one life was spared.

Stinger was on his knees, crying. Onyx couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. His older brother who he very clearly looked up to had just done something so horrible.

Onyx walked over to him. "Do you want revenge?"

Stinger looked up and regarded them warily. "What are you getting at? Who are you?"

Onyx held out their hand. Their kyutama glowed and suddenly another appeared above them. They grabbed it and held it out to Stinger.

"With this, you can get revenge."

"What... is this?" Stinger took it from them.

"A kyutama. You've heard the legend, haven't you?" Onyx explained.

"I... I'm a savior...?"

"Yep. You have the determination to be one, kid." Onyx nodded, smiling at him. "But, for now, do you want help burying everyone?"

Stinger's eyes widened. He nodded. Onyx helped him to his feet and the two of them got to work making graves for the fallen. The fire had died out already. Onyx wasn't sure what drove them to offer this. They knew burials were important to many cultures. It was probably just a spur of the moment thing because of that knowledge.

"I know you'll be hated by others for your brother's actions." Onyx said as they worked away. "But, don't be discouraged. What he did has nothing to do with you or the path you can take."

"It's my fault aniki did this..." Stinger whispered.

"How could it be your fault?"

"He wanted power because of me. Because I could never protect myself. If I had... been stronger... he wouldn't have needed to do this." Stinger said.

"No sane person would join Jark Matter for that reason. There's more to it than just you, kid. I promise you that." Onyx stated. They couldn't see that reason being the truth.

"What's your name?" Stinger asked. "I'm Stinger."

"You can call me Onyx."

"Will you... be helping me?"

"Sorry, kid. I have my own path I need to follow. But, I know we'll cross paths again. Our destinies are bound now."

"Okay."

Onyx soon returned back to moraimars. They greeted Kuron and Scorpio.

"What do you think, Akuma?" Kuron asked.

"I think I have a new assistant." Onyx replied. "Are you willing to join me, Scorpio?"

Scorpio nodded. "I'm a member of Jark Matter. Those that rebel need to be put down."

"What are your plans now, Kuron?"

"To finish off this planet."

"You wish to kill all life here?" Onyx questioned.

"Yes."

"Alright then... best of luck." Onyx didn't want to question it too much.

They took Scorpio back to the main base. Don Armage was pleased to learn he had done so well. Even said if he kept up the good work he would get the power of a karo. That would really be something.

And now they finally had a kyuranger. Onyx was definitely not about to say a word to anyone over that. That day would come soon enough once Stinger found a way to transform with it. Hopefully that wouldn't take too long. It was