Chapter Text
Five years after defeating Dr. Nambu and dispersing the Nexus...
Joji stood in the control room of the blue earth rechecking the sensors that moments ago were going haywire. It was the same energy signature seen with the Case and the nexus except on a much larger scale. He knew it couldn't be Emi, she was still in Shibuya. He had been checking on her since they left Ken in the alternate world. She had not been able to use her powers since. He wasn't even sure of she would ever be able to use them again. The monitor blinked signaling and incoming message. Joji opened an audio channel but once it connected the other end was silent. "Tetsuya?" Joji had provided Tetsuya, Takeshi and Emi with communicators that would work across their worlds just incase. He couldn't give one to Ken due to the dissipation of the Nexus and the saturation of energy disrupting signals in and out of that universe. "Tetsuya is something wrong?" The tone of his voice echoed his concern. Tetsuya, and Takeshi always kept in contact when needed. Between the three of them they had taken turns watching over Ken's world as well as their own. It had been Tetsuya's turn and his time was not up for another two months.
"Tetsuya. So that is his name?" A voice he did not recognize and that was definitely not Tetsuya's come over his communicator.
"Who are you and what have you done with Tetsuya?!"
"Who I am is not important. Your friend will be safe as long as you and your friends bring me the Case. Simple no?" Joji began to run a trace on the communicator.
"The Case is out of energy, it is useless to you." Joji needed to keep him talking to buy time to run the trace.
"It's true that the version of the Case that your friend Emi Kaido had inside of her is out of power. That is not what I am after. To quote your Einstein; Energy can neither be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another."
"I do not need a lesson in Thermodynamics."
" Apparently you do Professor." Joji raised an eyebrow in confusion. Takeshi called him professor. " Or else you would know that just because Miss Kaido no longer possesses the Case, does not mean it's energy is gone. It has chosen another...receptacle, one I wish for you to find for me. Find it and I shall return your friend to you safe and sound. As a show of good faith I will even tell you where to find that dog of his. Friender wasn't it? You will find him in Universe 13." So Tetsuya was in Ken's universe. "You may want to hurry. I did not leave it in...peak condition." The trace Joji was running came back inconclusive, unable to pinpoint the location of Tetsuya's communicator.
" Damn it!" Joji slammed his fist against the monitor.
"Once the Case is in your possession, I will contact you with the location for the exchange. Oh and Mr. Minami, I would put a rush on it. Your friend Tetsuya isn't the only one in danger. Tata for now."
"Wait!" The line clicked as it was disconnected. Almost immediately another communicator tried to connect. Joji opened the channel.
"Joji!" Emi's panicked voice came through.
"Emi are you okay?"
" I think I am for now." She sounded out of breath.
"What happened?"
"Two men came to my house. When I refused to let them in they changed into Dr. Nambu's super suits, and forced their way inside. I was able to escape through the garage."
"Where are you now?"
" I'm at the studio." Emi, with funds her father had left her, had bought Takeshi's old detective office and turned it into an art studio. She had finally found her niche teaching art to young children. The studio was small but perfect for her and her students needs.
" Cancel your lessons for today."
" I already called everyone to cancel. I wouldn't risk putting my students lives in danger." Judging by the tone of her voice she was angry. At him for suggesting such a thing or at the two men who were trying to catch her he wasn't sure.
" Emi you need to get out of there, and find somewhere else to hide. I will contact you When I have arrived." The conversation with the man who had Tetsuya had him on edge. That man had dropped several hints that he knew things about them that would suggest they were being watched or at least their communications were being intercepted. It would explain how he knew Takeshi's nickname for him was professor, but not Tetsuya's true name, as Tetsuya preferred to be called Casshan whenever they communicated. Friender would have to hold on until he could ensure Emi and Takeshi were safe. " As soon as I hang up do not attempt to contact me again. They might be listening to our conversations."
"What?!"
" Do not tell me where you are going, I will find you. Destroy your communicator as soon as possible."
"What about Takeshi?"
" I will try him next, but he will need to hang on until we can get to him." Joji could not be in two places at once. Takeshi was a hero, Emi was a civilian with no powers. It was logical who he should go to next.
" Okay...Joji?"
"Yes Emi?"
"Be careful." Joji smiled.
"You too Emi." He hung up with Emi and began a diagnostic routine on the Blue Earth's systems. Hopefully they only tapped into their communication frequency and not his systems. While that was running he attempted to get in contact with Takeshi. Luckily the communicator connected.
"Takeshi." he answered with a singsong tone to his voice, like always.
"Takeshi listen quickly and carefully."
"Joji?"
"Our communications are being monitored, they already have Tetsuysa."
"What? They have little guy!" Takeshi interrupted.
"And they have gone after Emi. I am going to go get her, but until I can come get you, you need to be careful." He did not want to risk transporting anyone. If they intercepted the transportation between worlds who knows what could happen. Theoretically they could reform in one piece but in the enemies hands, but they could also be torn apart atom by atom. It wasn't worth the risk.
"Right you be careful too."
"Destroy your communicator, I will find you."
"Gotcha." Suddenly a loud thud sounded from Takeshi's communicator.
"Takeshi! Are you okay?"
"Ow. ow. ow" Joji relaxed a bit, Takeshi was still able to answer.
"What happened?" A laugh was heard through the communicator, one that sent chills down his spine.
"Dammy."
"Long time no see eh Takeshi"
"Takeshi?" Joji wasn't sure who to get first now. As far as he knew Emi was still safe, but in danger of being captured or worse. Yet right now Takeshi was the one in danger.
"Get Emi. I'll handle Dammy. See you soon Joji." The communicator clicked off.
"Takeshi!" The computer beeped, grabbing his attention. The diagnostic was complete and his system had not been infiltrate. It was only their communication just like he thought.
* * *
Takeshi....
Takeshi crushed the communicator in his hands. In front of him very much alive was Damian Gray in his human form. He wore and eye patch over his right eye, the one Ken had taken out. His face and hands were scarred. Takeshi put his helmet on. Luckily he had been holding it when Damian had flung him away from his car and down a dingy dead end alley. He was also lucky Damian was holding back or he wouldn't be standing right now. He had hit the brick of one of the buildings framing the alley and he could still feel it in his back. "Transform Polymar" His suit extended over his body. Takeshi took a fighting stance. "How did you survive Dammy?"
"No hello Dammy? It's good to see you Dammy? I'm disappointed Takeshi."
"What do you want?" Damian clasped his hands behind his back.
"What did I want when we last met?"
"The Case is gone."
"Uh uh Takeshi." Damian wagged his finger. "The Case still exists and mister Joji is going to find it. But that is not what I wanted Takeshi, not what I truly desired." Damian walked towards Takeshi changing into his beast form as he walked. "I still crave perfection, and I have figured out just what it is that I am missing."
"What do you want from me then?"
"My partners wanted to use you as leverage. Me on the other hand. I do so have fun playing with you Takeshi."
* * *
Tetsuya...
Tetsuya's eyes blinked open. Looking around he found himself to be in what appeared to be a laboratory, filled with medical equipment and a chemists set up. Looking down he found he was strapped to an operating table. "Ah the patient is awake." Tetsuya turned his head to his left. He saw a man entering the room in a white lab coat. He looked to be in his late 20's early 30's with beach blonde hair. "Casshan it is an honor to meet you." The man had a sadistic grin plastered on his face. "An android as flawless as yourself...I can't wait to see what's inside." Tetsuya's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. " I hope you don't mind, I've temporarily disabled your vocal capabilities. I didn't want to risk you activating any hidden abilities, I'm sure you understand. Now..." The man picked up a power saw turning it on. "Let's begin."
* * *
Friender...
Friender lay in a crater created during his master's fight with those who had captured him. They were not human, he could smell their robotic components. On top of these components, the suits they wore made them stronger. There were at least seven of them, all fighting him and his master. They were only a distraction. Someone else activated an EMP. Friender committed his smell to memory. He smelled like peppermint and disinfectant. The EMP had shorted his systems, forcing a whole system restart. Once his system had rebooted, he found his master was gone. While he was down they damaged his body. They did not dismantle him, but they did cut the connections between his limbs and his central processing unit. This left him aware but immobile. His audio receptors picked up the crunch of footsteps coming towards him. He growled in warning. "Shh. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." Friender couldn't move to see them but based on the pitch and tone of the voice the speaker was female. "Poor baby." Friender whined. "Don't worry." Friender was picked up into her arms." I'll take good care of you and you will be back on your feet in no time." Carrying Friender she shifted between worlds. The crater the only evidence that there was ever a fight there.