Surprisingly the next time that the kyurangers were spotted, Onyx wasn't told to go find them. They were asked to stay at the base and monitor things. Something about the database being updated and needing to make sure nothing went wrong. They didn't ask too many questions.

It was kind of boring to be here instead of out there. It would be nice to go see what all the kyurangers were up to now. Onyx recalled hearing something about them being on Planet Needle. That was in the Sasori System, was it not? Maybe they were searching for Stinger there? It was the most logical conclusion they had come up with.

"Akuma."

"Hmm? What brings you here, Scorpio?"

Onyx glanced over at where the man stood. He walked closer.

"Don Armage asked me to tell you something."

"And that is?"

"Eriedrone apparently recruited a kyuranger to work for him and Don Armage wants you to be there to monitor things. Make sure the kyuranger is on our side and not doing something else." Scorpio replied. "I asked if he would rather I do it but... he seemed very adamant I must not."

"I guess he just trusts me more at this type of stuff." Onyx shrugged. "So, does that mean I'm released from this stupid job?"

"I'm filling in for you."

"Ah. Best of luck. It is quite boring."

"I know."

"I'm sure you'll survive. I have many times."

Onyx left the room and began making their plans to go join Eriedrone on his ship again. They kept getting put together no matter what it seemed. Onyx could really care less about him. But he was the one currently the most active in persuing the kyurangers.

Within a few hours, Onyx landed. They were greeted by some of the crew and led to where Eriedrone was waiting. He nodded to Onyx. There was someone beside him. Someone very familiar... and should definitely not be here.

Why the hell did Stinger join Jark Matter? Onyx pretended to be none the wiser to who he was and prayed he would do the same.

"This is the kyuranger?" Onyx questioned, walking over and eyeing him up.

"Yes. This is Stinger. He'll be working under me from now on." Eriedrone replied.

"Good for you. Care if I steal him for a bit?"

"Not at all."

"Come with me." Onyx motioned for Stinger to walk beside them.

Stinger glanced back at Eriedrone before following them. Onyx led them down into the lower area of the ship. They had been so graciously given a room of their own for how often it seemed they ended up in this place. Onyx led Stinger to their room.

"So... the hell are you doing here, kid?" Onyx questioned the moment they were alone.

"I should be asking you that." Stinger replied.

Onyx sighed, "I asked first."

"For power."

"That's a lie."

Stinger was caught off guard. He stumbled for a response. Eventually it seemed as though he gave up trying to find another lie and admitted defeat.

"I... Do you know of a man named Scorpio?" He questioned.

They certainly did know of him.

"You joined to get intel on your brother?" Onyx let out another sigh. "For the love of god..."

"You do know him then. Where is he?" Stinger demanded, getting into their face.

Onyx shrugged. "I dunno. Off somewhere killing rebels like usual I'm sure."

A lie, but they definitely were not going to tell Stinger where his brother was at all. It would just complicate things way too much and probably get him killed.

Stinger grumbled in annoyance. "Why are you with Jark Matter?"

"I've been here since practically the beginning of their reign of the galaxy."

Stinger's eyes widened and he took a few steps back. "That means... back then..."

"I was a part of Jark Matter back then too, yes." Onyx confirmed. "You may know me better as Akuma here. That's what I am called in this place."

From the way Stinger reacted to that name it was safe to say he knew exactly who they were. That saved them from having to explain. But now what were they supposed to do about this kid being here? If he wasn't careful he would get himself hurt.

"Why did you... give me a kyutama?" Stinger questioned, holding his in his hand.

Onyx shrugged. "It's my job. Somehow. I don't get why either."

"But you are working to kill the kyurangers."

"Who said I in particular am doing so?" Onyx shot back.

Stinger grew more confused at those words. "I don't understand."

"No one does, kid. Believe me."

Onyx went and sat on their bed. This was certainly not the way they had expected things to go. They had assumed the kyurangers would all keep to their group. This development did also explain why Scorpio had been told he wasn't allowed to fill in. Even Don Armage recognized letting the two of them meet would not be in their best interest.

"What does Scorpio do exactly?" Stinger asked.

"He's a pretty high ranked assassin." Onyx replied. "Technically he's my assistant. Does all the stuff I don't want to do."

Stinger looked down at the ground. "Why did aniki... end up this way...?"

It was not a question for Onyx. He was simply whispering it to himself. Onyx half wanted to try and explain just where things might have gone wrong to cause this but opted to not. What good would that do for him? If anything it would just make him feel worse about not being able to prevent this.

"Is the reason you're here really only to try and meet your brother?" Onyx questioned. It still felt like they were missing something here.

Stinger regarded their question warily. There must be something else he was doing here then. He was just debating if he should trust them enough to say it. Onyx wasn't sure if they would get the actual answer, but were fine just knowing it was true.

"It's nothing I want to tell you." Was the answer Stinger finally gave them.

"Very well." Onyx didn't push it more. "So... care to explain how exactly you ended up here in the first place?"

They were still very confused on how in the world Stinger managed to get this far in the first place. Joining Jark Matter was not an easy task for anyone, let alone someone who was meant to be fighting against them. Just what did he do to get Eriedrone to offer him this position?

Stinger sat beside them on the bed, albeit very hesitantly. He recited what all had happened on Planet Needle. How he had challenged the kyurangers, ended up getting more than he bargained for but managing to not be defeated. How then Eriedrone had come to him and asked if he wanted to work for him.

"You have a deathwish joining us like that, kid." Onyx stated after he concluded.

"I know what I'm doing." Stinger got offended at their words.

Onyx shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you cause problems I'm the one who has to deal with you. Fair warning."

"I won't be causing problems." Stinger said.

Onyx picked up a slight nervousness in his voice as he spoke. He understood very well the horrors that would await him if he displeased Jark Matter. Hopefully that was enough to keep him from getting into too much trouble doing whatever it was he was here to do.

Stinger looked as though there was something else he wanted to say, but hesitant to actually do so. Onyx assumed he wanted to ask more questions about his brother. He had come all this way to find him and now had finally met someone who knew about him. Of course he would desire to know anything he could.

"Did you... give those other kyurangers their kyutamas as well?"

Or not. He was instead interested in the other kyurangers. Had he never interacted with them before? Or did none of them ever discuss the fact that Onyx was the one to give them their kyutamas. Technically speaking only Spada and Lucky were aware of that fact. Unless Lucky had told Naga and Balance where their kyutamas had come from, then maybe they also knew. Who could say?

"Some of them, yes. I'm not the only one who can do so. The gods can decide themselves. I'm just here if they don't want to bother." Onyx replied.

"Which ones?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Stinger shrugged. Onyx rolled their eyes.

"Do you know their names? Or should I just say colors?" Onyx asked.

Stinger looked surprised that they actually were going to answer him. "I don't know their names..."

"Okay then. Red, Yellow, Black, Silver, Gold. In that order too." Onyx said.

"So only two were not you..." Stinger mumbled. "And there's still one more according to the legend..."

"Before you ask, no I don't know who it is. I only can tell once they have the determination to become a kyuranger. Not before." Onyx stated. "Though... Lucky never gave that sense but I still gave him one so... guess I can choose anyone I see fit even if the gods don't see it in them."

"Lucky?"

"Red."

"Oh... I question your choice."

"I do too. But, you gotta admit that kid has something special about him. Never seen someone so positive in this day and age. Reminds me of..." Onyx stopped themselves from saying Tsurugi's name, "an old friend."

"You know all of their names then? Will you tell me?" Stinger asked.

Onyx nodded. "So, red is Lucky. Blue is, I believe, Garu. Green is Hammie. Yellow, Spada. Black, Champ. Silver, Naga. And gold is Balance."

"Um... when did you actually join Jark Matter?"

"There was a giant battle between 88 warriors, one from each system, against Jark Matter. We have effectively erased that event from existence so don't worry that you aren't aware of it. Anyway, I was the warrior for the Kogitsune system. I... was attacked by another warrior and killed them in self-defense. Don Armage approached me after and asked if I wanted to join him for revenge. Pretty much every warrior hated me so I agreed and joined him."

"How long ago was that?"

"Uh... god I don't know... hundreds of years ago at this point."

"You're... that old?" Stinger's eyes widened.

Onyx nodded and pulled out their kyutama. "This is giving me immortality. After all, what use would it have been giving me this power if I'd have died years before any kyuranger was ever found?"

"Are you a kyuranger then?"

"I guess I am, but I know I am not the ninth one you are looking for."

"What kyutama is that? Would it be the Kogitsune one?"

Onyx shook their head. "That kyutama is long buried somewhere. This is the death kyutama. Dark name compared to what it does, don't you think?"

Stinger nodded. He pulled out his kyutama and held it next to Onyx's.

"It's weird how these tiny little things can do such a big thing." Stinger said.

"Yeah. Pretty amazing."

"Can you transform with it?"

"Yep."

"Even without a Seiza Blaster?"

"Is that what those weird things you guys wear are called?" Onyx said. "No. It just absorbs itself into my body. No need for a fancy device like that."

"What about the other kyutama of yours?"

"Prototype of your device. Rebellion did quite a lot of changing to the original design. I barely even realized they were based off of it."

Onyx put their kyutama away, Stinger following.

"Why are you working with Jark Matter if you're not against Rebellion?" Stinger questioned.

"Isn't it good to have someone on the inside?" Onyx replied.

"Well... yeah, but... you're an assassin."

"Rebellion doesn't care if I end lives of supporters. They understand I can't help it sometimes. But I do try to prevent some deaths where possible."

"You... work for Rebellion?"

"Not really." Onyx said. "One of the founders of it was a close friend and basically there's an unwritten rule about me that they follow to this day."

Stinger looked down at the ground. "Lucky said that no one evil can have a kyutama."

Onyx scoffed. "The gods gave a serial killer a kyutama. I don't know about that one, kid. Sure, I was using it for good but I so quickly turned the moment I had the option to."

"Serial killer..." Stinger gulped.

"Never questioned why I was such a good assassin? Had lots of experience."

"Right... Um, do you have any idea what Eriedrone is going to want me to do?"

"Not really. Probably replace me. You'll end up going with him to try and get the kyurangers." Onyx guessed. "I'll be a bit sad if he doesn't invite me along too. It's entertaining watching everyone interact."

"Will I... ever meet Scorpio?"

And there was the thing Onyx had been waiting for. Took him long enough to finally ask about if he could meet his brother.

"Probably not for a long time. Longer than I assume you'd ever wish to remain with Jark Matter for. Only the best of the best get to go anywhere near him unless, of course, he is sent to end your life. I know for a fact even if Don Armage wanted to kill you at some point I would be told to instead of him." Onyx replied.

"So... even though I am here... I still don't get to fight him."

"Fight him, huh? Gonna try and get revenge for what he did?"

"Yes." He wavered in his reply.

Onyx raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? What's with that weak ass answer? Do you perhaps not have the will to end his life?"

Stinger stared at them for a long moment and then looked down. "I... is it wrong to hope that... that maybe I can... bring him back to my side?"

Onyx frowned. That was his hope? Poor thing. That was not going to happen easily if at all. Scorpio was a bit too far gone in his desire for power. The side of him Stinger wanted back was buried deep down. Getting that piece of him to rise up to the surface would be quite a struggle. Onyx really could not see that outcome ever occurring.

"Stinger, I hate to say this but... please do just be prepared for the worst. It's fine to hope that, I would too if I was in your situation, but... be prepared to face the reality that your brother is a monster and there's nothing you can do to save him from himself." Onyx said softly. They knew this would be a hard thing for him to hear but it needed to be said.

"I... I know..." Stinger whispered. "I know it probably is such a foolish thing to hope for but... I... I won't give up."

He pulled out something from his pocket and held it tightly in his hand. Onyx caught a glimpse of it. It seemed to be a chain of some sort with a jewel on it. Had it been a gift from Scorpio at some point?

"Did your brother give that to you?" Onyx asked.

Stinger nodded, still staring at his hand. "He gave it to me so even when he wasn't around I had this to remember that he was always there for me."

How did such a kind person turn into the monster they knew? Just what had made him snap like that?

"You know, kid, you and him remind me of well... me and my friend." Onyx said. "I cared about him a lot and basically adopted him as a younger brother. And then I joined Jark Matter and fought against him in that battle. I imagine he felt the same way you do now."

"Then... do you know how aniki feels now?"

"I can make some assumptions but I can't say for certain." Onyx replied.

"Please..."

Onyx placed a hand on Stinger's shoulder. "He loves you a lot. Maybe he may not be willing or able to show that anymore, but I know deep down he'll always see you as his little brother who he cared about so much. But his desires have blinded him, in a sense. He's lost all reason and given in to the darker parts of himself."

"But if... if you're like this... then maybe... maybe I can save aniki." Stinger said.

Onyx shook their head. "There's where the difference comes between us. He hasn't achieved what he desires yet. Once the battle ended, I achieved my revenge. I fulfilled my desire for why I joined Jark Matter. Once it was over, I wasn't driven by anything and could see things from both sides again."

"What could he desire still...?"

"Who can say?" Onyx shrugged.

"Do you... miss your friend?"

"Of course. I miss the idiot a lot. Drove me insane but... it has never been the same since we went our separate ways." Onyx said, a sad smile forming on their lips. "Maybe soon I'll meet him again."

"Eh?"

Right. That was a very weird thing to hear. Why would someone from that many years ago still be around?

"He is supposed to be in a cryo sleep and alive. However, he has yet to be awakened. That time will come eventually."

"Can I know his name? In case I ever... get to meet him?"

"He probably won't be too fond of me but... Ohtori Tsurugi. That's his name."

Stinger nodded. "I'm sure you two can make amends if you meet again."

"We'll have to see." Onyx replied. "I suppose we should go back to Eriedrone and see what exactly he wants to do with you."

"Okay."