Ultrawoman Solas

Chapter 2: The Watcher In The Water

Introducing: Giant Liquid Monster, Cosmo Liquid

MARCH 14, 1530

TOKYO

Sophia University, Tokyo

"…Restorative works in the Amazon had gone smoothly for the last five years, but why has it taken so long to respond? The answer: Because those who could have made a difference choosed not to do so. And not just in the Amazon. In every part of Earth, forests and jungles continue to decline at a rapid rate, which in turn has also awakened monsters that had long slumbered for ages without being disturbed by humans…"

As the presenter continued his speech on deforestation in the lecture hall, Takatora was sound asleep at the back despite Teru's attempts to wake him up without disturbing the others, especially since there were several big shots among the audience. Fuyumi merely shook her head with a resigned smile, wondering if it had been a bad idea to bring guests to a talk she was invited to before turning towards Otoha, who was unnaturally focused on the talk.

"I don't understand why we destroy the very planet we live in," Otoha whispered.

"Because people do not believe that they have the power to destroy their own planet, and thus they refuse to practice any form of restraint in the use of natural resources. And unfortunately, most of these people are in leadership roles for their individual countries," Fuyumi replied.

"And what about METEOR?"

"An alternate clean energy source. CROW uses METEOR, but due to how dangerous it is, our predecessors at the Guards of Utility Station, aka GUYS, restricted the usage of METEOR to one minute. In order to use METEOR without the limit in place, our scientists had to refine the power output of all METEOR technology used by our equipment."

"So our jets also use METEOR?"

"Yes, but compare it to the time it was used in GUYS, our METEOR technology's power output is merely one-fifth of its original power. Reducing it to such a level is the only way to safely use METEOR on a long-term basis."

Otoha nodded.

"Still, all of these things: Over-hunting, pollution, exhausting of natural resources…"

"I get what you mean, Otoha, but power and ego can blind a person at times. Thankfully, not every politician is like that. A lot have begun to campaign for cleaner energy and nature preservation since 2020. However, it took the recent mass extinction of plants and animals to finally forced the hands of the more stubborn ones, beginning with diverting all resources to the restoration of the Amazon Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef."

"But it was too late by then?"

"Unfortunately for the victims of the extinctions, yes, but it is a problem with humanity. Rex once told me something in Chinese that goes like this: People don't learn and refuse to learn until they see their own coffin."

"What does that mean?"

"People are too stubborn and stupid to admit they are wrong until they reach the point of no return, by then it is too late. Like that idiot who thought a piece of ice from Alaska was enough to counter the arguments made by certified scientists who had done years of research."

"Wow."

"You'll be surprised. Even today we wonder how we voted for idiots to take government. Lots of 'em around the world got villainized and forced out by angry citizens after it was announced that the Brazilian portion of the Amazon Rainforest have been reduced to half its original size last year. Heard some of them in Brazil even got lynched before they lost their powers."

"Hmm…" Otoha murmured to herself as she shifted her focus back to the presenter, unaware that within her, Solas was starting to have her own thoughts…

MARCH 14, 2130

LAKE ASHI, KAGNAGAWA PREFECTURE

"What a terrible night! To think it would start raining all of a sudden," a construction worker said as he joined the rest of his night shift crew in their rest area as they waited for the rain to subside.

"This is going to put a damper on our work. At this rate we won't finish the new hotel by next month," another replied.

"Speaking of that, seems like another worker at the site across the lake disappeared last night."

The other workers immediately jumped to attention.

"Woah, you're kidding!"

"That's three workers already!"

"Hey, you think there's a lake monster eating them?" a young worker asked.

"Oi, don't joke about shit like this, Yoshi."

"But the other construction sites around Lake Ashi have been saying the same thing. I heard a lot of the workers at the northern end quit after one of their guys disappeared and the others saw something in the lake."

"Well, we're not exactly right beside the lake, we don't have to worry about some lake monster eating us," another worker replied as he lit up a cigarette.

"Oi, Mitsui, go smoke somewhere else, we got flammables here."

"It's raining," Mitsui complained.

"You wanna blow us all to Heaven?"

Mitsui grumbled, got up and headed towards the lakeside. The others resumed their conversation as he left.

"Hey, Yoshi, what do you mean the workers quit after seeing something in the water?"

"Yeah, you seem to know the guys from the other construction sites around the lake."

"Look, you guys know our rival company which just had a contract with the Donaru Corporation? Well, my friend works for them, and they're building some kind of factory just opposite from us. See, he and the foreman were by the lake one night when they saw this weird-ass head pop out from the water surface. Did not even try to investigate, just hightailed it out of there," the younger worker explained.

"You sure your friend ain't drunk?"

"Or the moonlight playing tricks on their eyes?"

"He's a teetotaler. And there was no moon due to being cloudy that night. Other workers saw the same head the next three nights, then one of them suddenly got dragged into the lake in front of two other workers, and my friend and half the crew quitted that site on the spot."

The other workers are left speechless after hearing Yoshi's story.

"My God…" one of them uttered.

"I am getting a bit worried now," another said.

Just then, Mitsui is heard shouting, which prompt Yoshi and the other workers to jump to their feet and rush over to the lake's shore where he had gone to. It didn't take long to find Mitsui, who was uninjured or anything, but he had his butt on the ground and was pointing at something in front with a quivering finger.

"Oi, Mitsui, what's gotten into you? What is…"

Yoshi and the worker who was tending to Mitsui saw what the latter was pointing at and their faces turned pale immediately. One of the other workers caught up with them and gave a short yell in horror.

Two corpses laid on the shore, one partially submerged in the lake itself. Both had been scalded beyond recognition…

Recently, Lake Ashi had been hit with a series of unusual deaths in the last one week. All the victims had been construction workers working on projects around the lake, all have been found scalded beyond recognition, and CROW Far East Division had now gotten involved as the local police believed that the deaths may be related to recent monster sightings around the area. Third Strike Unit was given the job to investigate, while First and Second Unit were allowed to continue their usual routine but to be on standby as well for any possible incidents.

As CROW Troopers and other police officers scoured the scene for any clues while interviewing the workers, Third Strike Unit members Rex, Otoha and Karin arrived on the scene in their Unit's CROW Dasher as the rain got lighter, though it still showed no signs of letting up.

"Seriously, how many caps have you got?" Karin asked Rex, who was now wearing a red cap with the Liverpool F.C. logo on it.

"Ten, eleven maybe. By the way, no one told me CROW have their own brand of caps and berets, so I never got one," Rex replied as he pointed at Karin's new CROW-issued field cap which bears the logo of the Far East branch.

"Point taken."

"Hey, it's not like there's a strict rule on our headgear that isn't helmets. I mean, we're allowed to wear what we want for headgear," Otoha replied.

The two stared at her choice of headwear (a pink bucket hat with a cat design in the middle) and then glanced at each other before wordlessly agreeing that at least their's looked more professional, which prompted Otoha to remove and place it on the car seat of the Dasher before all three exited the CROW Dasher as a police officer approached them.

"Ah, you guys are here. We thought you might not come."

"Well, if we even slightly suspect a monster is involved in a case, we'll definitely come and help," Rex replied.

"In that case, thanks for coming over. It's the fifth and sixth deaths already, which is why we decided to call in CROW to help investigate because it was just too strange," the officer explained as he led the two of them to the corpses.

The girls recoiled when the officer pulled the tarp off the corpses while Rex showed no reaction whatsoever, though a faint look of disgust can be seen on his face as he bent down to examine the corpses.

"Jesus, looks like a sauna competition gone wrong… And last I heard, these ain't the first time scalded corpses were found. What the heck is going on at Lake Ashi?" Rex muttered.

"You don't feel anything?" Otoha asked.

"It's not that I can stomach such sightings. I just got used to it. If it makes you feel better, I froze during my first handling of a corpse for a full one hour."

"What happened back then?" Karin asked.

"Alien attack. The job was simple, just remove the dead guy from the car. Well, I was halfway to removing him when half his head literally just slide off and onto my boot. Now back to the job on hand. Any way of identifying them, officer?"

"Well, from what remains of their shirts, they were working for Donaru Corporation. Kind of strange, that all the deaths have been from construction sites registered under that company."

"Isn't that company under suspicion for illegally dumping toxic wastes?" Otoha asked.

"Yeah, how strangely coincidental… You would not mind us searching around the lake area, no?" Rex asked.

"Oh, please do. We're really appreciative that you would come down to help us out."

"Thanks, officer. Karin, Otoha, spread out and start searching for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but keep within sight of the others. And don't get too near the water."

The three spread out and started combing the shores of Lake Ashi, torchlights shining brightly around the place. As Otoha searched some of the trees near the lake, Solas began having a private conversation with her.

Otoha, something doesn't feel right about the lake.

"Eh?"

Use your thoughts to communicate. Think about what you want to say to me, otherwise it looks funny for you to be talking to nothing but air, Solas said.

Okay. So what is it that you said did not feel right?

Sorrow. There is a lot of sorrow coming from the lake. And a lot of anger too.

You can feel emotions? Otoha asked.

One of my close friends, you humans know him as Ultraman 80, once showed me his theory on Minus Energy, that monsters are either drawn to or born from energy created by negative emotions. The creatures known as Hoe, Crescent and Gikogilar are among the monsters born entirely out of Minus Energy which 80 had to fight during his time on Earth.

So what is wrong with the lake?

That it's beautiful?

Seriously, Solas?

No, but look down at your right.

Otoha turned to see a strange scale-like object of unknown material near her right foot which was blue but glowing with green veins. As she bent down to pick it up, Solas stopped her by taking control of her right arm.

You might want to wear gloves for this one. Unless you want your hand to melt off.

What?

It's got toxin in it.

Right…Mind being a bit more direct next time? Otoha replied as she quickly took out her latex gloves and an evidence bag before grabbing the scale-like object.

My apologies, speaking habit. I must have sounded rude, Solas apologized.

Never mind that. What is this thing, anyways?

The moment she had the object secured in the evidence bag, Otoha is startled by a sudden splashing. She looked out to the lake, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Otoha, be careful, I am sensing…

Solas has yet to finish her warning when Otoha felt something grab her around her legs and started pulling her into the lake, causing her to scream in horror.

"Otoha!"

Karin, who had been just a few feet from her, was beside her almost immediately as she started pulling her away from whatever invisible force had grabbed hold of her.

"Hang on! Hang on, I got you! Rex! Something's got Otoha! Help!" Karin shouted.

Rex came running towards them with his Cerberus Shot already drawn. He could see Karin and Otoha struggling with an invisible force and immediately fired a few shots at the ground near them, but when it proved ineffective, quickly attached the Howler Muzzle to his Cerberus Shot and fired an explosive round in the area between Otoha and the lake.

A roar of pain is heard and the water of the lake erupted, drenching all three of them in water, but whatever was holding Otoha released her immediately, causing her and Karin to fall backwards. By now, the others at the scene were racing towards them, and seeing Rex firing his weapon into the lake, the CROW Troopers did the same with their automatic rifles until Rex stopped shooting.

"Otoha, Karin, you both okay?" Rex asked as he knelt down beside his juniors, a look of concern on his face.

Otoha, whose breathing was now at the point where one can mistake her for hyperventilating, weakly nodded before showing Rex the item that she found.

"Seal off the entire lake! Something's in there, nobody go near the shore at all," Rex ordered, to which the CROW Troopers saluted and headed off to do what they were told.

MARCH 15, 0630

CROW NEST (C.R.O.W. FAR EAST BRANCH), TOKYO BAY

Third Roost, CROW Nest

"Interesting find you have there, Otoha. Since I was on night duty last night, I had enough time to do some analysis work on this scale," Teru said as he placed the scale Otoha found on the table inside a secured container.

"It better be interesting. Otoha nearly got dragged into the lake by something we can't see, and I have half a mind to hijack one of the Jackdaws and strafe the entire Lake Ashi," Karin replied with an unhappy tone.

"Leave that kind of violent talk to First Unit. Anyways, I have deduced that this scale came from a monster that appeared in 1973, during ZAT's time as Earth's main defence force."

Wheeling back to his workstation, Teru brought up a kaiju and its information on the large screen for all to see.

"Cosmo Liquid?" Yves asked.

"A dangerous monster and the second one faced by ZAT. It devoured a number of quarry workers near Tamagawa River as well as six or seven others when it entered the city. ZAT was able to destroy it but at that time, another monster called Live King was fighting with it," Fuyumi explained.

"But Captain, I don't remember Cosmo Liquid being able to turn invisible," Rex said.

"Otoha, you are certain you saw nothing when you were grabbed?"

"Yes, Captain. I just felt something wrap around my legs and I could not move," Otoha replied.

"Hmm… This warrants an investigation. The original Cosmo Liquid only has the power to turn into a liquid form. If this new one in Lake Ashi has gained the power of invisibility, then…"

"Then we have problème," Yves finished Fuyumi's sentence for her.

"There's one more thing that puzzles me. This scale contains quite a number of chemical toxins usually found in industrial chemicals. Paint, thinners, adhesives and sealants, coolants, you name it, this single scale's got it," Teru said.

"It's poisonous?" Takatora asked.

"No, it's mutated. And mutations in monsters can explain why they are different from their counterparts who showed up before them. I'm going to do more tests on this scale, see if I can determine how bad the mutation of the Cosmo Liquid is, or if I've made a mistake in the identification in the first place."

"You go ahead and do that, Teru. In the meantime, I'll need to go talk to Commander Yamazaki, see if he can authorize an investigation of the area," Fuyumi said.

"Well, Cap? Did the Commander approve?" Yves asked.

"Yes. It seems the Commander has become suspicious of why only workers from the Donaru Corporation are being targeted, so we got to investigate them as well, but we need to tread lightly since the Donaru Corporation's current CEO, Donaru Zaiji, has links to the government," Fuyumi replied.

"Huh, as if none of us here have links to them government as well," Takatora retorted.

"What do you mean, Takatora?" Otoha asked.

Takatora was about to reply when he is interrupted.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kobayakawa's Timid Third," a voice called out.

Otoha, Karin and Takatora noticed Yves and Rex suddenly tense up, their hands turning into fists. Fuyumi sighed, turned around and faced a man in his forties with a crew cut who wore a uniform that had the same design as theirs, but was white with red hues. He was accompanied by a Caucasian woman and a bald Japanese man dressed in the same manner.

"Captain Senma, I thought First Unit was on duty elsewhere?" Fuyumi asked.

"Ah, that is true, I just wanted to see what the Timid Third Unit was up to."

"You know very well that not every monster attack can be solved by blasting it to oblivion."

"It's been working out well so far, despite your ideals of peace and love, my dear woman. Perhaps you ought to start firing those weapons of yours more often, or have you even fired them even once?"

"Well, the inefficient Third Unit is a bit too focused on rescue and safety to be operating their guns and bothering the First, but of course, should the one percent chance of any First Unit crashing their Ravens, the Third might have some difficulty getting to them."

"Ha! As if we'll crash! Maybe you should steer clear of our firing lines instead."

"Who is he?" Otoha whispered to Rex.

"Captain Senma Ban of First Unit. He's a war hawk, and also the definition of a working-class adult stuck with the mindset and mannerism of a schoolyard bully," Rex replied.

"You can rest assured, Captain Senma, that my men are smart enough to know when to get out of the place when your Ravens start showing up," Fuyumi replied, her smile looking more and more forced with each word.

"We'll see about that. After all, most of your original men are under my command now. Still, seems you got some new recruits, though. So let me be clear on one thing: Pacifism does not belong here in CROW. Third Unit isn't going to last long, but I'm willing to allow transfers," Senma said.

"Wow, thanks for the offer. You remind me of the lieutenant from my days at the JSDF," Takatora said suddenly.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. He thought he was a big fuck too, until I broke his arm and nose at a nightclub. Turns out he can't fight for shit, just a asshole who likes to shoot others."

The confident smile disappeared from Senma's face as a scowl took its place.

"You might want to be careful what you say to me, kid. I have connections."

"Yeah, whatever, try touching me and see what happens to your connections."

Takatora got right into the face of Senma, almost daring the older man to throw the first punch. Senma looked like he might really do so, but then stepped back instead.

"Let's go, First Unit. Can't have us be drenched in their loser saliva too long."

"Hey, Vice-Captain, if we get deployed in the same place as First Unit, permission to misfire a shot at Senma Ban?" Takatora asked as the First Unit walked away.

"I did not hear that, so… Either way, let's forget about him and concentrate on what we are doing. We won't be using the Jackdaws today, though. We'll go in the Dasher, and make sure the Sprinters are tucked into it as well."

"Sprinters?" Otoha and Takatora asked.

Yves turned around to face them with a grin.

"Oh, tu vas l'adorer."

MARCH 15, 1000

LAKE ASHI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE

"Woah!" Otoha shrieked with excitement as she and Yves rode through the forest around Lake Ashi on modified dirt bikes, both bearing red and blue stripes respectively on their black paintjobs.

"Told you you'll love the Sprinters," Yves said as he cruised ahead of Otoha.

"So what exactly are we supposed to do here?"

"There's a construction site under the Donaru Corporation near here. We don't have to go in, just scout around the area and find evidence of any wrongdoing. Otherwise, we just leave them alone."

"Sounds easy."

"You'll be surprised. Couple of months before you joined, me and Rex were working with CROW Oceania trying to find out how a praying mantis got mutated into a giant monster in Australia. We tracked its source to a farm and guess what?"

"You got shot at?"

"Bonne réponse."

Otoha gulped.

"The Donaru Corporation is an arms company, which means they make weapons. The company itself has already been through dozens of scandals, including accusations of Donaru Corporation selling weapons to gangs as well as a white extremist group in America, so be careful around their employees," Yves warned.

"Great, I'm stuck in the plane instead of riding them dirt bikes," Takatora complained as the Jackdaw Flash circled the area around Lake Ashi.

"Hey, we got our assignments, so stop complaining," Karin replied.

"Yeah, well, truth be told, I hate flying in circles!"

"Get used to it, it comes with the job. God, you whine more than my grandmother."

"Why don't you just concentrate on the flying instead of comparing me to an old woman who probably isn't even military trained?"

"Hard to focus when there's a verbal machingun acting as my co-pilot. If it makes you feel better, Rex's stuck taking care of the other Jackdaws."

Inside the cargo hold of the Jackdaw Stark, Rex was happily playing MUA 4 on his new gaming device he got at a N**tendo Event two months ago.

"All right, don't go 0 HP on me now Wolverine… All right, finally unlocked Toxin! Ho-yeah," he said to himself.

Yves and Otoha stopped a good distance away from one of the construction sites owned by the Donaru Corporation. Stowing the Sprinters away in some bushes, the two stealthily made their way towards the site, with Yves using a pair of special goggles that he and Rex nicknamed the Yautja* Vision to spy on the workers at the site.

"Nice goggles," Otoha commented.

"You'll be surprised to know that Rex jury-rigged it from spare military parts that were given to him by the engineering department."

"He made it himself?"

"Oui. Rex's got mind of an engineer, but he is more interested in wildlife rescue. Personally, I think that man loves animals more than his fellow humans. Anyways, he used to be one of Chief Engineer Shinrai's boys. Hell, the Jackdaws' creation? He and Teru had a hand in its construction. Rex never thought he would end up flying in one of the Jackdaws himself when Shinrai recommended him to Fuyumi."

"Wow, I never knew that about him."

"There's a lot about Third Unit you have no idea about."

"What about you, Yves?"

Yves sighed.

"I was from CROW Europe, member of its fifth Strike Unit, but my team-mates, well, they had a certain… Soif de sang. They enjoy slaying giant monsters, but what good is wasting rounds on something that can no longer fight back? I couldn't take it anymore, so I tendered transfer. But when I came here to Far East, mon Dieu, there was First Unit, just like my old team. War hawks, sadistic killers of monsters. But then I was placed in Third Unit, and I met Captain Kobayakawa Fuyumi for the first time."

"What is she like?"

"Funny, gentle, courteous, pacifistic. She believed in theory of Minus Energy, that it creates or attracts monsters, and that every Age of Monsters in human history had been caused by us humans. If you look at the society with live in now, it actually makes some sense. Alas, these traits caused her men to all leave and join First Unit, those bastards! Fuyumi is a person who would sacrifice her own blood and bone for even a complete stranger, and once I saw what kind of person she was, I knew I am in right team."

"Wow…"

"But enough talk about ourselves. Let us focus on the task at hand. Ah, qu'est-ce qui se passe ici? Come, Otoha, take a look yourself."

Yves handed the Yautja Vision goggles to Otoha, who saw using it the workers of the Donaru Corporation dumping the contents from barrels marked as 'Hazardous' into the lake.

"They're polluting the lake, and why the heck are construction workers carrying pistols and sawn-off shotguns?" she muttered.

"Here, let me activate the Eavesdropper on the Yautja Vision."

Yves pressed a button on the Yautja Vision, and Otoha, despite being far from the site, could hear the workers talking.

"Zaiji better pay us more. We've been helping him dump his shit in the lake and now some monster's been picking off our guys."

"Yeah, tell him we deserve hazard pay."

"Better make a recording of what we're doing. If he refuse to pay, we post it up in YouTube."

"Ha ha ha, that is a good ide-AH!"

Otoha gasped as Yves instinctively reached for his Cerberus Shot. A creature had just burst out from Lake Ashi and had seized one of the workers in its claws. As the worker struggled, the creature hurled him back to the ground where his body skidded across the surface, leaving a red smear in its wake.

"Mon Dieu! Is that Cosmo Liquid? What happened to it?" Yves exclaimed.

The creature was indeed Cosmo Liquid, but it looked nothing like the original. Green veins pulsed through its body, its eyes were bloodshot, its prehensile tongue had turned black and its roars sounded as though it was in extreme pain.

The other worker tried to flee, screaming a warning to his fellows as he did so, but then Cosmo Liquid opened its mouth and the worker suddenly goes down, his back pierced by multiple icicles. The rest of the workers started fleeing, but Cosmo Liquid started unleashing a stream of white steam. Otoha could hear some workers screaming in pain and, disturbingly, a sound that resembled oil crackling in a frying pan.

Snatching the Yautja Vision off Otoha, Yves pulled her to her feet.

"We must go! Now!"

The two rushed back to their CROW Sprinters and took off.

"Member Yves Dupont to all Third Unit and nearby CROW personnal! Cosmo Liquid confirmed at Lake Ashi. Permission to engage?"

"Permission granted, but priority is to evacuate everyone near Lake Ashi and warn all nearby settlements," Fuyumi's voice came through the radio.

"You guys better be careful as well. From what me and Captain Fuyumi can see, this Cosmo Liquid ain't normal. SCAN just analysed it and there's something about its biology that's completely effed up," Teru added.

Even from the distance, Yves and Otoha could hear the warning sirens going off, warning every nearby town and city of a monster attack. Meanwhile, above them, the Jackdaw Flash was already making its way towards Cosmo Liquid.

Yves and Otoha skidded to a halt as Rex, who had exited the Jackdaw Saver to evacuate some Lake Ashi visitors into a tour bus, spotted them.

"Yves! Those two idiots in the Flash just took off to engage Cosma- Costco- Ah, whatever that thing is called. They didn't wait for us!" he yelled.

"Ah, that's just great! Quick, we'll split off in the air and join the assault."

Within moments, the remaining Jackdaws have split, with Yves in the Blade and Rex and Otoha in the Stark, as Cosmo Liquid began thrashing through a golf course where a couple of nearby CROW Troopers were still in the midst of evacuating the visitors, uninterested in the Jackdaw Flash that was attacking it.

"Damn, everyone's still in danger," Otoha said.

"We got to do something. The Gatlasers aren't drawing its attention," Rex added as he fired at Cosmo Liquid to no effect.

"Launching Stalk-Trak Missiles!" Karin is heard saying on the radio just before four missiles shot out from the Jackdaw Flash and struck Cosmo Liquid.

"Keep firing! We got to lure its attention until evacuation is completed!" Yves ordered.

The green veins on Cosmo Liquid pulsed each time before it roared, as though they were hurting it, but it continued forward.

"Rex, used the Shock Shot!" Fuyumi ordered through the radio.

"What? Captain, the Shock Shot is…"

"I know the risk and I hate the idea of using it, but the standard Gatlasers are not working on Cosmo Liquid, that is why I am temporarily authorising the use of the Shock Shot. Maintain Shock Shot for twenty seconds and power limit to fifteen percent. Do not go beyond that."

"Roger, Captain," Rex replied, but Otoha noticed the uncomfortable look on his face.

"Rex, what's the Shock Shot?" she asked.

Rex groaned.

"It's like a taser for monsters, but the damage it causes, I still shudder to think about it. The first time we deployed it was on a Zakira. The Shock Shot didn't kill it, but the burns it caused, well, I still have nightmares about it… Ever since then, when the Shock Shot has to be deployed, we use less than thirty percent of its full power and only maintain it for thirty seconds at most."

As the Jackdaw Stark closed in on Cosmo Liquid, a ray gun the length of a human arm is deployed from an opening behind the cockpit with multiple cables connected to it.

"Preparing to fire Shock Shot… Aborting! Aborting!"

Rex quickly swerved the Jackdaw Stark from Cosmo Liquid as raindrops began falling on the cockpit's hyper-reinforced glass. Meanwhile, Cosmo Liquid looked up at the rain that was starting to fall around it and roared before it glowed green and suddenly disappeared.

"What? It's gone?" Karin exclaimed as the Jackdaw Flash began flying in circles again.

"Cosmo Liquid transformed into its liquid form and has escaped. It's most likely mixed with the rain," Teru explained.

"Well, shit, where did it go? Can you track it?" Yves asked as the Jackdaw Blade began to initiate the rejoining of all three Jackdaws into the Cloud Jackdaw

"Not anymore. I suggest you guys come back first to refuel, reload and rest."

MARCH 15, 1310

CROW NEST (C.R.O.W. FAR EAST BRANCH), TOKYO BAY

"That Senma Ban from First Unit is busy telling everyone how us Third Unit allowed Cosmo Liquid to escape. Old fart with the brain of a preschool bully," Takatora complained.

"Let him say whatever he wants. No one in GEAR Far East likes the First Unit anyway. We keep them around because they're good at delivering firepower, that's all," Rex replied.

"Either way, I doubt Commander Yamazaki would be sending First Unit to deal with Cosmo Liquid given the information Teru found about this particular one," Fuyumi said as Teru brought up on the screen a toxicology report.

"Based on SCAN's analysis of this particular Cosmo Liquid, almost every part of its body is poisonous."

"Excuse me?" Yves asked as his eyes widened.

"Well, this Cosmo Liquid is very, very mutated by all the toxin you and Otoha saw being dumped into Lake Ashi by the Donaru Corporation. It's genetic structure has been changed, giving it new abilities via organs that should not exist in its body."

Wheeling himself over to the screen, Teru grabs a nearby mop and used its handle to point out various parts of Cosmo Liquid's internal structure via an x-ray taken through SCAN.

"Its lungs have become able to eject water forcefully. This lump near its throat is similar to fire-making organs found in Arstron and Femigon, which quickly evaporates the water and ends up with Cosmo Liquid unleashing fatal scalding steam from its mouth. Also, its skin has been so damaged by the toxins that it has gained qualities similar to the skin of monsters like Neronga and Eletordus."

"Both are electrical monsters capable of turning invisible, right?" Otoha asked.

"Exactly," Fuyumi replied.

"Well, I got more bad news. If our attacks penetrate Cosmo Liquid's skin, it would become an environmental disaster," Teru added.

"Why?"

"Cosmo Liquid is like a jellyfish, 95% of its body is water. Our weakest weapon, the Gatlasers, are still hot enough to evaporate water within miliseconds."

"Wait, if what you're saying is right, that means if we somehow injure it, we'll be releasing toxic fumes into the air?" Rex asked.

"Invisible toxic fumes, to be exact. No one would know until they start collapsing and foaming."

"Oh, fuck nuts. How that hell do we even fight it like this?" Takatora cursed as he got up and kicked his chair in frustration.

"Now I know what Captain Fuyumi meant by Commander Yamazaki not wanting to send First Unit after Cosmo Liquid… Those trigger-happy guys would cause a disaster," Karin mused.

"Not to mention that this Cosmo Liquid still retains its usual abilities. Its ability to turn into a liquid form is troubling… Any idea where it might be found next?" Fuyumi said.

"Well, since we attacked it at Lake Ashi, I doubt it will go back there, but then again, it may not have gone far…"

The alarm started ringing all of a sudden.

"Well, speak of Cao Cao** and he shows up," Teru muttered as he wheeled himself back to his workstation and brought up a screen showing the live recording from the nearest SCAN satellite orbiting in space.

"Cosmo Liquid just showed up near Odawara Castle in Kanagawa and it's on the attack! First Unit's busy helping Second Unit deal with a Bostang infestation at the Mariana Trench so Third Unit's been assigned to deal with Cosmo Liquid!"

"Third Unit, move out immediately!" Fuyumi ordered.

"Roger!"

MARCH 15, 1325

ODAWARA CASTLE, ODAWARA, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE

Cosmo Liquid crashed its way through a building as frightened crowds ran about like headless chickens, all trying to get away from the latest menace to attack their city. The historical Odawara Castle was now in danger of being destroyed by the rampaging monster, for it was next in the path of Cosmo Liquid.

Just as the Giant Liquid Monster was about to wreck the castle, it was shot in the back, causing it to turn around just in time to see the Cloud Jackdaw approaching.

"Damn it, Takatora! Be careful how you shoot it!" Yves yelled through the radio of the Jackdaw Blade.

Inside the Jackdaw Flash, Takatora shrugged as Karin glared at him.

"Sorry, Vice-captain, Takatora's got sweaty fingers," she said sarcastically.

"Who are you calling sweaty fingers, she-wolf?"

"You want to poison the whole city?"

"Okay, okay, I get it! But what was I supposed to do, let Odawara Castle get demolished?"

"All right, I'll give you that one…"

"How about the both of you stop fighting with each other and find a way to lure Cosmo Liquid away from the city so we can shoot him without killing everyone else?" Yves roared.

Meanwhile, within the cockpit of the Jackdaw Stark, Rex and Otoha sighed at the whole situation.

"C'mon, fighting during a mission? That's like signing out death warrants," Rex complained.

"Wasn't expecting them to become frenemies," Otoha added.

Cosmo Liquid roared at its attackers before firing a powerful burst of scalding steam at the approaching Cloud Jackdaw.

"Split!" Yves ordered.

Immediately, the Cloud Jackdaw splits into the Flash, Blade and Stark, all three aircrafts avoiding the attack.

"Hey, the Stark's damn heavy, right? Meant to take a lot of punishment?" Otoha asked Rex.

"Er, yeah?"

"Can we try using it to push Cosmo Liquid away from the city?"

"Worth a shot. Okay, guys! Me and Otoha are gonna try pushing it out of the city with the Stark!" Rex said.

"Are you sure? It's risky!" Yves said with a worried tone.

"Well, we can't exactly shoot it…"

"Go ahead, we'll provide fire support when necessary."

The heavy and well-armoured Jackdaw Stark deliberately collided with Cosmo Liquid and began pushing it out of the city limits, Rex and Otoha gunning down on the boosters. When Cosmo Liquid looked like it was going to push back, Yves swooped past and dropped a pair of Homing Bombers from the Jackdaw Blade to stun Cosmo Liquid.

"Let's go help too," Karin said as she swerved the Jackdaw Flash around and began surging towards Cosmo Liquid.

"Wait, we can't! The Flash is a lightweight aircraft and…" Takatora protested.

"I can't just sit around and use eye power when my team-mates are risking their lives over here!" Karin cuts off Takatora.

"No, stop! You'll make things worst! Cosmo Liquid's tongue…"

Takatora's warning came too late as Cosmo Liquid extended its prehensile tongue and snatched the Flash from midair before starting to swing it around, both Karin and Takatora being heard screaming through the radio from inside the cockpit.

"Oh, bollocks," Rex uttered as he turned his head to see Cosmo Liquid swinging the Flash towards the Stark, slamming it away from its chest before tossing the Flash towards the city, where it struck a small building and crashed to the ground.

"Yves, the Flash's down, and the Stark's going too!" Otoha yelled as Rex struggled to control the falling Stark which was plummeting to the ground.

"No good! The radio got damaged when Cosmo Liquid slammed Flash into us!" Rex replied.

"We're gonna crash!"

"Not if I can help it!"

Screaming with determination, Rex pulled at the joystick controls of the Stark, successfully swerving it away from crashing nose-first into the ground. The Stark then hit a house, landing on the road and skidding all the way until it came to a rest, barely avoiding crashing into a building.

"What a bumpy landing," Otoha commented as she and Rex recovered from the crash-landing.

"Sorry, Otoha. Despite their design, the Stark's controls are a bit more closer to helicopter controls than jets. I used to be the co-pilot while Captain Fuyumi handled the machine, but now she's taken the backseat, I'm temporarily the main pilot. Still getting used to it," Rex apologized.

"No worries. C'mon, let's get to the Flash and see if Takatora and Karin are all right."

"You go on ahead."

"Why? We can go together…"

Otoha's voice trailed off when she saw Rex's torn gloves and bloodied hand. Pulling off Rex's gloves and rolling up his sleeves, Otoha is stunned to see how bruised his right arm was. His right wrist was starting to swell as well.

"Muscle strains. Pulled too hard on the controls," Rex said with a sheepish grin.

"Thank God it's not a dislocation. Okay, hold still. I'm going to fix up your arm…"

Once Rex's arm was bandaged and a cooling wrap was applied, Otoha prepared to leave the Stark when Rex started walking.

"You're not coming with me."

"I know. But someone's got to guard the Stark, right? Besides, there might be stragglers trapped in the ruins…"

"Yeah, good idea. But your arm…"

"Don't worry. I happen to be ambidexterous," Rex replied as he twirled his Cerberus Shot with his left hand.

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you," Otoha commented as she exited the Stark.

"Good luck, Otoha."

"Be back in a jiffy."

Tossing her damaged helmet to the floor of the Stark's cargo hold, Otoha quickly dashed through the streets as Cosmo Liquid began making its way towards where the Jackdaw Flash had crashed. However, she soon realized that Cosmo Liquid was going to make it to the Flash first before she does, and from what she heard, this monster has an appetite for humans.

By now, Otoha would have switch places with Solas, but with Rex too near to see the light caused by her transformation, she could not risk it. On the other hand, she knew she would not be fast enough to reach the Jackdaw Flash before Cosmo Liquid. Otoha gritted her teeth, wondering what she could possibly do.

"I got to distract it somehow, can't get to them like this," Otoha muttered to herself as she aimed her Cerberus Shot at Cosmo Liquid and prepared to open fire.

Then she remembered the box that Solas had given to her on the day she bonded with her, taking it out of her pocket as she did so.

"You said these are Capsule Monsters or something, right? Er, which one should I use, Solas?" Otoha whispered as she opened the box to reveal five capsule-like objects coloured in red, blue, dark grey, black and silver

My favourite one is the red one. Try him out, Solas replied.

Grabbing the red capsule, Otoha nodded before pressing the small button on its tip. Immediately, a ball of light shot out from the capsule into the sky and transformed into a pillar of light which then disappeared with a flash, revealing a dinosaur-like creature which roared.

"Wait, that's Agira? One of the monsters that helped humanity before?" Otoha asked as she stared at the new creature.

Not really. That's a Capsule Monster. Artificial lifeforms based on actual ones that exists on planets around Nebula 78. This one is based on a predatory reptile from Planet Animal, and unlike Master Seven's Agira, mine's packing heat.

"Wait, the Agira that appeared before belonged to Ultraseven?"

No, not at all. It was a wild beast and…

"You're being sarcastic again."

Oh, sorry… Well, yes, it is Ultraseven's, but like I said, this one's my personal Agira. Now, back to the situation at hand. Agira! Hold Cosmo Liquid back until help arrives and Otoha can transform into me.

Receiving the telepathic message from his master, Agira nodded and, with astonishing speed that caused Agira to look like a blur, cleared the distance between himself and Cosmo Liquid within two second, body-checking the Giant Liquid Monster and knocking it away from the Jackdaw Flash. Agira then proceed to stand between the downed jet and Cosmo Liquid, almost like a protective gargoyle…

Third Roost, CROW Nest, Tokyo Bay

"Captain Fuyumi, another monster's taken to the field! It's Agira, a monster that helped the Ultra Garrison before," Teru said.

"It's a friendly monster! All units within the vicinity of the current situation, hold fire immediately! Do not fire upon Agira. I repeat, do not fire on Agira!"

Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture

Agira and Cosmo Liquid were now engaging in a grappling match, but when Cosmo Liquid began overpowering it, Agira began stabbing it with his horn. It then jumped up and landed on Cosmo Liquid, squashing the latter to the ground, but the mutated Cosmo Liquid twisted its head back far enough to unleashed a blast of hot steam than caused Agira to stumble away.

Meanwhile, Otoha has managed to reach the downed Jackdaw Flash, where Takatora was trying to pull an unconscious Karin free. Unable to pull the cockpit open, Otoha resorted to breaking it with her Othrus Beater. Unfortunately, she used too much strength and her Orthrus Beater smacked into Takatora's face, knocking him out as well, and no matter how much Otoha shook his shoulders, he won't stir.

"Oh boy… What to do, what to do, what to do?" Otoha mumbled as she began to panic.

By now, Agira and Cosmo Liquid's brawl was turning more and more violent. Just as Solas said, her Agira was indeed packing heat, firing an energy beam from his horn at Cosmo Liquid, an ability Ultraseven's Agira did not possess. The energy beam appears to be more concussive than piercing, as it did not penetrate Cosmo Liquid's skin but struck it like a freight train at high speed, sending Cosmo Liquid tumbling. However, Cosmo Liquid fired back with its steam blast, which temporarily blinded Agira long enough for Cosmo Liquid to began trying to stomp its head in.

By now, Otoha had managed to move Karin and Takatora to a safe place. Seeing Agira in trouble, Otoha quickly recalled it back into its capsule and stowed it away before taking out the Luna Blink.

"All right, Solas, your turn."

As and when you're ready, Otoha.

Swinging the Luna Blink to the sky in a crescent motion, Otoha called out to the Ultrawoman who resides within her.

"SOLAS!"

Rex was beckoning a stranded family into the safety of the Jackdaw Stark's cargo hold when he witnessed a ball of light surge towards Cosmo Liquid and send it flying off its feet before taking the form of Ultrawoman Solas. He also noticed that Agira had somehow disappeared.

"Yeah, Solas! KICK ITS ASS!" Rex cheered as Solas engaged Cosmo Liquid in battle, frightening the family by accident in the process.

Oh, urgh, now that I'm looking at it up close, this Cosmo Liquid looks really sick, Solas commented as she grappled with Cosmo Liquid.

Well, this company called Donaru Corporation were dumping toxic wastes into the lake it was living in, Otoha explained.

Those bastards… What kind of company is this Donaru Corporation?

I think they're weapons developers.

Oh, great, merchants of death. Hate these people the most. Remind me to screw up and toss a monster into any of their buildings by accident when the opportunity arrives.

Er… Okay?

Solas punched Cosmo Liquid in the face and shoved it away from her. Undeterred, Cosmo Liquid turned invisible, but then Solas began emitting red energy waves around her from her palms before suddenly performing a roundhouse kick, striking something unseen which then appeared to crash into a building.

Woah, a radar power? Otoha asked as Cosmo Liquid shedded its invisibility.

Ultra Wave. Learnt that from my friend 80, whom I told you about yesterday.

Cosmo Liquid suddenly unleashed a stream of hot steam at Solas when she was distracted. Although her kind was resistant to heat, since it was one of the energy sources used by them for their abilities, it does not make them immune, especially when they are caught off-guard. As Solas stumbled backwards from the surprise attack, Cosmo Liquid took the opportunity to wrap its tongue around one of her legs and trip her. It then began whaling on Solas with blows and stomps until Solas caught one of its feet and, with a grunt, shove it away from her.

As Cosmo Liquid got up, Solas somersaulted backwards before pulling her right arm back. Light particles appeared and formed into a circular saw-like shape around her right hand: The signature Ultra Slash used by her predecessors. Solas waited for the right moment before throwing the Ultra Slash attack at Cosmo Liquid, but deliberately aimed at the ground as she remembered her human host's comrades mentioning that Cosmo Liquid was a walking environment hazard in its current state. When the first two attack failed, Solas finally took the risk and fired her third Ultra Slash directly at Cosmo Liquid's legs.

The attack succeeded in knocking Cosmo Liquid off its feet, and thankfully no poison clouds were released, but due to the damage she received and the amount of energy attacks used, Solas had depleted her reserve supply of energy and was now burning through her default supply: She only has eighty seconds left and her Color Timer was already blinking furiously.

Maybe you should modify your armor. Not exactly an advantage when your reserved energy supply meant for increasing your time on Earth keeps getting burned up from using energy attacks, Otoha suggested.

Too late for that. I have to surgically remove the armour from myself if I want to modify it, Solas replied.

As Cosmo Liquid struggled to its feet, Solas held her palm forward and began trying to sense the emotions of Cosmo Liquid, hoping that she might be able to calm it down instead of having to destroy it, considering how she's only got enough juice for one Lunium Cannon.

Please, talk to me… I want to help…

Solas suddenly looked like she had been shocked by electricity and stumbled backwards. Within the psychedelic zone that is inside Solas, Otoha was not spared either as images of a calm, peaceful Cosmo Liquid lazily drifting about the depths of Lake Ashi flashed through her mind. This was followed by images of a curious Cosmo Liquid watching humans fishing on the lake, stealthily sending some fishes its way, then followed by even more images:

Cosmo Liquid witnessing human protesters arguing with security officers outside a Donaru Corporation construction site.

Donaru Coroporation workers dumping toxic wastes into the lake.

Cosmo Liquid devouring the toxic wastes to prevent the lake from becoming polluted.

The rage slowly setting in.

The first attack it launched on one of the Donaru Corporation-owned construction sites.

The pain as its body began to mutate and break down from the toxic.

Fear. Anger. Sorrow. By the time the images stopped, Otoha was close to tears.

My God… It's… Cosmo Liquid's dying… It doesn't want to die… It just wanted to live peacefully in the lake it called home.

I know. But it can no longer live in that lake anymore.

Can't you help it. Maybe spare its life?

I have my methods. It's a fifty-fifty chance, though, but I shall take the gamble. After all, I run a monster sanctuary, Solas replied with a reassuring tone.

Moving her arms in a circle like a tai chi practitioner, Solas placed her palms together and then threw her left arm forward, firing a bolt of energy in the shape of a bird at Cosmo Liquid. The bolt of energy struck Cosmo Liquid in the face, causing it to rear up in pain, but then it is enclosed in some sort of energy sphere which constantly pulsated with pink light, and to everyone's shock, Cosmo Liquid suddenly appeared to be starting to calm down.

Solas, what did you do?

The Kalme Shot. It's a healing technique I created that also calms down monsters, but it does not work for those that have lost themselves to rage like Surasshuron.

As Solas explained her technique, Cosmo Liquid's body actually began to heal! The sickening green veins on its body began to disappear, and its bloodshot eyes were turning back to yellow. When the sphere disappeared, Cosmo Liquid was simply sitting on the ground, all of its aggression gone.

You… You did it, Solas.

Of course I can. I'm a scientist, girl.

Once again, Solas opened a wormhole in the sky before turning to Cosmo Liquid.

You cannot stay here anymore. The humans will continue to hunt you down, but I can give you safety if you choose to come with me.

Cosmo Liquid stared at Solas, then looked at the direction of Lake Ashi, letting out a reluctant growl as tears began to leak from its eyes before it shuffled towards Solas, accepting her offer. Taking Cosmo Liquid by its hand, Solas took off into the sky, both of them entering the wormhole she created which leads to Planet Egufer while Rex, who had been standing outside the Jackdaw Saver watching the entire fight go down, gave Solas a parting salute while Takatora and Karin began to stir from where Otoha had left them…

MARCH 16, 0800

TOKYO

Donaru Corporation Building

"…So far, CROW Far East has informed the media that they have no interest in finding out where the newly dubbed Ultrawoman Solas had taken Cosmo Liquid, only that they're glad it's no longer on Earth to be a threat. In other news, it has been confirmed that Cosmo Liquid's mutation was the result of illegal disposal of toxic wastes into Lake Ashi by the Donaru Corporation. At this moment, the CEO of Donaru Corporation, Donaru Zaiji, has not responded to any queries…"

A gruff man in his forties standing in the middle of an office furiously switched off the television and kicked a chair over. His name was Donaru Zaiji, and he had just barely managed to escape a PR nightmare, the press having been demanding his reason for dumping the excess wastes produced by his company into Lake Ashi. Thanks to the report, his company had lost a dozen contracts within a single night.

"Damn those black birds, they ruined my reputation! Who cares about a damned monster? Why did they have to go and report on me?" Donaru Zaiji cursed as he took a swig from a bottle of whiskey.

Just as he placed the bottle down, his phone started ringing.

"Donaru Zaiji, who is this?"

"Sir, it's Hiruya. Just wanted to update you that Project ATAC is going smoothly. Soon we will have the most powerful weapon ever made on Earth."

"One that is more powerful than the technology of CROW?"

"Of course."

"Hmph. Well, they want to screw with us? Fine. How many prototypes are there at the moment?"

"Four, sir."

"Have their appearances been altered?"

"No, sir. Might I dare to ask why?"

"Set one of the prototypes aside once it is active. I plan to field test it sometime soon, so as to improve the remaining three and any new ones that come along."

Third Roost, CROW Nest, Tokyo Bay

"Wait, what do you mean we're one man short?" Otoha asked.

Third Unit were resting in their Roost when Fuyumi brought the matter of manpower, where Otoha, Takatora and Karin learnt that they were still short-handed.

"Well, all Strike Teams are supposed to have eight members. We've been short on manpower all these while, but today, Third Unit is finally filled up," Yves admitted.

"We were supposed to have four recruits, but only you three made it past the final test, so we've been scrounging around for one more member, especially now with Rex temporarily down for the count," Fuyumi explained as Rex waved his bandaged hand.

"Not to mention how Karin and Takatora can't really get along," Teru added.

"Hey, don't blame me for her mistakes," Takatora argued, a bandage wrapped around his head.

"Oh, you're what? Mr Perfection?" Karin snapped back, a large plaster on her right cheek.

"All right, you two, stop it! Our newest member was supposed to be with CROW Oceania, but he requested to come to Far East and has been assigned to us Third Unit, so that's one problem solved for us. You can come in now," Fuyumi called out.

The doors opened and a handsome young man with a Wings haircut of Filipino origins stepped into the Third Roost, wearing the same uniform as them.

"Third Strike Unit, meet Christopher Delgado Peralta, 26 years old. He was a coast guard helicopter pilot until recently. From this day on, he will be joining us as a field operative and also our rescue specialist," Fuyumi introduced.

"I hope to work well with you all. You can just call me Chris," the newcomer said as he shook hands with the others.

"Welcome aboard, Chris. Say, since you're here now, why not we go for a practice run with the Jackdaws? We haven't had time to practise and the last few missions have been quite haphazard because of our poor coordination?" Yves suggested.

"Hey, that's a good idea," Rex agreed.

Otoha took one glance at Takatora and Karin, both of whom were still glaring at each other.

"Good idea, I hope?" she whispered as she turned towards the screen…

*Yautja is the name of the alien species that are the titular characters of the Predator series

**Cao Cao is a prominent warlord during the Three Kingdoms Era and a main prota/antagonist in the historical novel by Luo Guanzhong

Next time, on Ultrawoman Solas…

Takatora's incompatibility with just about every member of Third Unit comes to light during a training exercise when his temper gets the best of him. Meanwhile, a new monster emerges in Western Bhutan, its natural armour plating proving to be resistant to even Solas's powerful Lambent Cannon attack...

SCAN Archives Data: Giant Liquid Monster, Cosmo Liquid

Height/Weight: 58 mtrs/60,000 tons

File Category: ZAT

First Appearance: Tamagawa River, Japan on April 13, 1973

Original Powers: Liquid form, prehensile tongue

Mutation Powers: Hot steam blast, invisibility

Character Bio: Aozuki Otoha (青月音羽)

Age: 21-22

Birthday: 11 July 2008

Height: 1.65 mtr

Weight: 55kg

Birthplace: Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Aozuki Otoha is the scout and one of three new recruits for CROW Far East Branch's Third Strike Unit who wish to achieve an impossible goal: Humans and monsters co-existing peacefully. Many do not realize that this shy, gentle young lady also happened to be the heir to a great fortune and a former police officer with an impressive arrest record. During her first mission, she was rescued by the Ultrawoman known as Solas, who instinctively bonded with her to heal her injuries after seeing her sacrifice herself to save a child in return for Otoha being Solas's host during her tenure on Earth.

When necessary, Otoha can use the Luna Blink to transform into/switch places with Solas. Due to their bonding, Solas and Otoha can telepathically communicate with each other, and their shared idealogy makes them compatible with each other, although Otoha sometimes get annoyed by her new friend's unintentional sarcasm.