Author's Note: As Ryker is introduced to the others during the E-Pandora Project I recommend watching up to that point before reading this story (2nd episode of the 2nd season.) Also, if I forget an important detail please tell me in the reviews. (This changes the plot completely.)
Thanks, Nick.
Chapter 1 – Out of the Frying Pan
Ryker wanted to visit Japan on his birthday. It was all he asked for. No cake. No presents. Just a normal day with his family. At 9:30 the night of Ryker's birthday, a Nova appeared a block away from his house. The blast of the Nova appearing destroyed all of the buildings killing his parents and other people living near him. The only reason Ryker lived was because his parents took most of the blast. This event would later be known as the Eighth Nova Clash. Three years after the event Ryker spends most of his time volunteering for soup kitchens and doing odd-jobs for his neighbors.
Once Chevalier announced the E-Pandora Project, he felt a spark of hope. He'd finally be able to avenge his parents. Everyone knew men couldn't become Pandora; men weren't even born as Pandora, but that wouldn't phase him. He proceeded to apply to become a Pandora under a woman's name. On the day he would receive his stigmata they analyzed his body to acquire his stigmata capability. Ryker's compatibility to wield stigmata was very high, higher than any previous applications. The scientists were so astonished that they immediately started the process. After the operation was finished he took off his wig and costume and informed the scientists that he was a man and why he was here. All of the scientists, including Dr. Ohara, were utterly stunned. Ryker sat down in one of the empty chairs not being occupied by a scientist.
"So...?" Ryker starts.
Dr. Ohara interrupts him by clearing her throat. "Before we do anything. We're going to run some tests on you."
"What for?"
"Well, for starters, we need to see what consequences this can cause to your body."
"Fair enough." Ryker nods.
The next day
Ryker follows Dr. Ohara down a long, chrome corridor with 3 different colored lines leading to different corridors. A few of the other Pandora from East and West Genetics are looking at him and blushing, Ryker grins and winks at a few of them.
"Ryker if you could not toy with the other students." Dr. Ohara announced. "I'd really appreciate it."
Ryker laughs and nods. A few of the girls are whispering and giggling. He catches a few of them say his name and laughs louder. "So, where are we headed, Doc?"
"Don't call me 'Doc', Ryker." She pauses, taking a breath. "We're heading to the arena where the original Pandora are facing the other E-Pandora like you."
"Well, what do I call you then?"
"Just call me Scarlett."
"Alright.. Scarlett. Why are we heading to the arena?" Ryker replies.
"You're going to fight. You do know how to fight though, right?"
"Well yeah, but I thought you said you needed to run some tests before I did anything?"
"This will be your test."
"Oookay. Where do I go get changed?" Ryker nods slowly.
She points to their left. "Down this hall, follow the green line. Once you've finished follow the red line to the arena."
"Thanks, Doc."
Dr. Ohara sighs and Ryker laughs.
Little did Ryker know, that 3 of the 2nd year students followed him and Scarlett. Once Scarlett leaves they peak around the corner to see Ryker walk into the male changing room. The middle girl opens the door a crack to see Ryker pulling off his white t-shirt, already dressed in dark, loose pants, high-top shoes, and bandages covering his hands and forearms. Ryker turns around to see her looking through the door and grins. She squeaks and closes the door.
"What's wrong?" One of the girls to her left ask.
"I think he saw me." She whispered.
They hear the soft sounds of the rubber soles of his shoes walking across the hard wood floor. The girl that opened the door looks around to find an escape route; realizing there are none, she accepts her fate as the door opens.
"Oh, hello ladies. I didn't see you there." Ryker says pretending they were just passing through.
They look up at him and blush realizing he is not wearing a shirt.
"Oh my. Where are my manners?" He says rushing in to put a robe on. "What are your names?"
The girl that opened the door replies first. "My name is Lilith." She points to her left, "This is Whitney." She points to her right, "and this is Rayna. What is your name?"
"Very lovely names. My name is Ryker, by the way." Ryker pauses, checking the clock on the wall. "I must be going now, Dr. Ohara needs me for something." He rushes out of the room and follows the red line.
"Wait! I have some questions I want you to answer!" Lilith calls after him.
Ryker jogs down the hall, swerving left and right around other students until he rests beside Dr. Ohara. "Alright. I'm ready if you are, Doc."
Scarlett ignores the fact that he called her 'Doc' again. "You'll be fighting a 2nd year student. Make us look good out there."
"Yes, Ma'am." He replies with a salute.
Dr. Ohara rolls her eyes.
Ryker steps through the double doors but stays out of the light. Over the intercom Dr. Ohara announces that she's been working on a secret project over the last couple of months. "My secret project is an E-Pandora like most of you but has received 8 stigmata and will spar Lilith Shepherd."
Ryker looks across the room. Surely enough, Lilith is standing right there in the arena, waiting for her combatant. You can easily hear the audiences astonished reaction about the 8 stigmata, as most of them only have around 4-6. Ryker takes off his bathrobe and drops it on the floor and steps out of the shadow into the light. Instantly you can hear the gasps from the audience. "My Secret E-Pandora: Mister Ryker Braddock. Code Name: Dragon's Armor.
"Look at his hair. Why is it white?" One asks her neighbor.
"She wasn't lying he really has 8 stigmata."
"A male Pandora!?" One shouts.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
Ryker walks up the steps to look straight across the boxing-ring-sized arena into Lilith's eyes and flexes. She lowers her head blushing.
"Don't let him get to you like that Lilith! He's just a jerk!" Rayna shouts from the audience. A few others laugh.
"Yeah. Kick his ass, Lilith!" Whitney shouts.
"Such hostility. Come on ladies. You're gonna make me sad." Ryker takes up a stance. "Volt weapon, activate." A white-blue light appears around his forearms and legs. Steel-plated gloves materialize on both arms with steel chains wrapped around them. Steel plated boots appear on his feet and shins.
A few gasps of acknowledgment from the audience are heard. The first male Pandora ever.
"Shouldn't this mean there are Female limiters?" Someone in the audience asked.
"If you try hard enough, anything is possible." Ryker replies. "Okay, let's get this show on the road. I've got some hot action to get too."
"You damn pervert!" Someone shouts.
"Put him in his place, Lilith!"
Ryker laughs "I was kidding. Gosh."
"Void Weapon, Activate." Lilith says. A whip with a curved metal tip on the end appears.
"Oooh. Kinky. I like it." Ryker replies.
"You're so mean, Ryker." She says and he pauses. 'Perfect, now is my chance.' She thinks and swings her whip at him, striking him across the chest.
She swings again but Ryker catches it with his left hand and yanks her toward him. Straight into a right uppercut connecting with her jaw knocking her back several feet. She dashes towards him, each link of her whip contracting to form a short sword, but trips on a piece of rubble from one of the earlier fights and flies past him. Ryker throws out the chain on his left arm to draw her blade away from her body. Realizing it's too late Ryker dashes under her; in between her and her sword, landing chest up on the dagger.
Lilith opens her eyes expecting to be dead and finds him looking up at her "Are you alright, Lilith?" he asks genuine concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good." He replies shutting his eyes in pain.
"What's wrong?" She replies raising her hand up to his face to discover it's covered in blood. "Oh my god! We need help down here."
Author's Note: OK, So. Rate and Review first off. As long as it's constructive I'll read it. Second of all, I'm pretty new to Fan-fiction. If you want this story to continue review it. Reviews are mah food, m8.
