geas (alternatives: geis, géis, deas; plural geasa) is an idiosyncratic taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a vow.
All I hear is the deafening noise of alarms, my hands on unfamiliar control mechanisms, and my ass sitting on a cramped seat.
The holographic screen in front of me displays "ERROR" all over, and no matter how much I swipe at it, they won't go away.
I swipe my finger on it again in a desperate attempt—
Oh, it worked!
The "ERROR" signs disappear, now replaced by—
"BRACE FOR IMPACT"
Just how the hell did I end up in this situation…?
…I take a look at my crashed vehicle after crawling out from the rubble.
Gah… my head.
Feels like I hit something on the way down here.
Aside from my almost splitting headache, I guess I was unscathed-
…This "Time Mazine" thing is a piece of shit, but at least it's got good security.
Seems like I landed in the middle of a field or some sort. All I see on the ground is grass… and pieces of rocks that went flying all thanks to my driving skills.
No, no, my driving skills are perfectly fine and it's the machine's fault.
I'll just leave it at that.
I see some lights in the distance – must be a city. I guess I'll make that as my next destination.
I pick up the grey briefcase that was buried under some rocks, then started walking.
…Actually…
Now that I think about it…
What the hell am I doing here again…?
After what seems like to be an hour of walking, I find myself in the middle of a city.
It's very quiet here in the streets, barely any people around. I guess everyone's asleep at this time of the day, since it's pretty dark.
My blind walking lead me to a building that looks like a store or some sort. I can see light coming from the inside, so I guess it's still open…?
"From Dust 'Till Dawn", huh…
Pondering what it means, I decide to just enter the store myself.
"Excuse me," I say, pushing the door open.
"Welcome!" The shopkeeper behind the counter greets me with a smile. A balding old man, what's left of his hair being white, a sign of his age.
I smile back at him, and decide to take a look around. Maybe I can get a better grasp of this world's culture.
Let's see…
Transparent tubes containing liquids of various colors line up the walls, sealed with bronze-colored valves. In the shopkeeper's counter are jewels of all shapes and sizes, also with a wide variety of colors… Jewelry, maybe?
In the corner is a small rack that seems have magazines or some sort. I decide to head there, before all these colors get to my head.
There's a short girl in front of the magazine rack, occupied in a book of her own. She's dressed… peculiarly, to say the least. A long-sleeved black dress, topped off with a red hooded cloak. She wears a pair of black stocking, and combat boots – I think – with red-colored laces.
She must really love that color.
Before I could reach out for a book, I hear the door suddenly burst open.
"Hands in the air!"
A robbery?!
A group of men dressed in black suits enter the shop, following behind a man in a white trenchcoat wearing a bowler hat, who seems to be the leader.
The men in black quickly go to work – They spread across the shop, taking anything they can find.
One of them approaches me and the girl—
"Hands where I can see 'em!"
With no other choice, I comply. I can't simply fight off this many men by myself, especially if I'm unarmed… I have to find an opportunity to strike—
The girl nearby doesn't seem to hear his warning, still invested in whatever she's reading.
"Hey, I said hands up in the air!"
Crap, I gotta save her—
He taps the girl's shoulder, and she turns around slowly.
"Are you… robbing me?"
"YES!"
"Oh."
I couldn't see it from this angle, but whatever she did sent the poor man flying out of the shop.
…or not.
"Freeze!"
Another one appeared, this time pointing a gun at her. She smirks, running to gain speed and kicking the thug with so much force they both go flying through the window.
She lands gracefully, atop the unconscious bodies of her two victims, a giant red scythe now unfolding in her hand.
What the hell…
…The men seems as surprised as I am.
There's no way that's normal, even in this world, right?!
The remaining men all rush outside, trying to take her down with numbers on their side. None of them could keep up with the girl's fast movements however, and she incapacitates all of them in just a matter of seconds.
…Yeah, that speed can't be normal…
The man in white steps out, cane in hand.
"You were worth every cent, truly you were."
He sarcastically remarked, looking at the sorry state of his henchmen.
"Well, Red, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening…"
He throws his cigarette to the ground.
Now's my chance…
I start to sprint, running at his direction.
"And as much as I'd love to stick around, I'm afraid this is where we part ways."
He lifts up his cane like a gun, pointing it at the girl in red.
"Not on my watch!"
I jump up and deliver a kick to his back, sending the man sprawling forward. He swings his cane wildly at me – which I barely dodge – then jumps back up on his feet.
"Tch…"
He takes a few steps back, his hands reaching into his pockets—
"Ghouls!"
He throws a few rock-like objects into the ground, then flees the scene. Before we could give chase, the rocks glow, and in an instant they transform to humanoid rock creatures with orange patterns across its body.
Their horned heads turn in our direction, and they slowly advance towards us.
"What the… Grimm in the middle of the city?!"
The girl seems surprised, but she starts fighting back.
No, these aren't "Grimm"…
These are Ghouls. Magical, expendable footsoldiers utilized by Phantoms.
"Go after him, I'll handle these guys!"
I shout at the girl.
"You sure?!"
"Yes!"
The girl seems to doubt my answer, but she nods and… turns to a bunch of swirling rose petals...?
What the hell?
Ah, whatever. I gotta do my job.
I open the briefcase, finding something that looks like a pocket watch and… a Driver?
No way…
Taped to the corner of the briefcase is a note written in red ink that says, "You should know how to use this".
The Driver is white and grey in color, a digital display screen in the middle and two slots on its side, probably to insert this pocket watch. On the top is a button shaped like the knobs on wristwatches that you can use to adjust the clock's hands.
I put the belt on my waist, causing it to generate the beltstrap, wrapping around my waist before tightening.
I parry the attack of an incoming Ghoul, kicking it to the side before moving to get some distance between them.
Alright, now the watch…
The dial is colored red, with the base being black. There are two images that catch my eye – A weird logo on the top, and below it, numbers that spell out "20XX".
Well, I can think about it later, I guess.
I slide the dial down, making the arrow face left.
The watch's screen now forms a face, the yellow visor vaguely looking like a butterfly.
I press the button on the top, causing the watch to display a holographic projection and announce a familiar name.
[….…]
[GATES]
"I hope you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady. You put yourself and others in great danger." The blonde "Huntress" paced around the room while giving us a lecture. "You too, young man!"
"They started it!" The girl countered, in an attempt of self-defense.
"If it were up to me, you'd be sent home with a pat on the back..." The woman said, much to the red girl's delight. She seemed to notice this, however, and whipped out her riding crop at the table. "And a slap on the wrist."
"Eeek!"
Her sudden action caught me off guard as well, but I managed to hide it.
"But there is someone here who would like to meet you."
A man in a dark green suit walked into the room, carrying a plate full of cookies in one hand, and a cup in the other.
"Ruby Rose..." He leans over the desk, his face close to Ruby's. "You... have silver eyes."
What a creep...
"Um..."
Ruby looks at me in confusion, and I just shrug.
I'm just as lost as you are.
"So, where did you learn how to do this?" The man asked, motioning to a tablet held by the huntress, showing a video of Ruby taking down the robbers with her scythe.
"S-Signal Academy." Ruby answered.
"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?"
I raise my eyebrow at that question, but I don't think anyone noticed.
Aren't scythes super impractical as a weapon?
Well, I guess not in her hands, but-
"Well, one teacher in particular..."
"I see." The man places the plate of cookies in front of us. Ruby hesitates for a bit, but within seconds she has basically gobbled up everything, not even leaving any for me.
"Sorry."
"It's fine, I'm not hungry."
That was a lie, though. I'm starving, but judging at the rate she ate all of that, she was probably hungrier than me...
"I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty, old crow—" The man in green muttered.
"Oh! That's my Uncle Qrow! He's a teacher at Signal. I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing, and now I'm all like—"
She then proceeded to start making kung-fu noises while swinging her arms about wildly, like a caveman attempting to defend itself with a primitive style of martial arts.
"So I've noticed." The man sat down across from us, and looked at Ruby. "And what is an adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?"
"Well, I want to be a Huntress."
"You want to slay monsters?"
"Yeah! I only have 2 more years of training left at Signal, then I'm going to apply to Beacon!" Ruby answered enthusiastically. "My sister's starting there this year, and I'm trying to become a Huntress 'cause I wanna help people. My parents always taught us to help others, so I thought "Hey, might as well make a career out of it! I mean the police are alright, but Huntsmen and Huntresses are just so much more romantic and exciting and cool and really, gosh, you know!"
A wide smile was on Ruby's face.
"Do you know who I am?" The man asked.
"You're Professor Ozpin. You're the headmaster at Beacon."
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you."
Quite a belated introduction there, isn't it?
"You want to come to my school?"
"More than anything." Ruby replied.
"Well, okay."
That was anti-climactic, but Ruby's smile widened even further.
"Now, you, young man…" Ozpin suddenly addressed at me. "Come, I have matters to discuss with you privately."
Oh.
"R-right."
I stood up, and followed him out of the door.
Reaching the balcony, he then finally broke his silence.
"Tell me your name."
My name…?
What's my name?
…
Ah, shit, I can't remember. Whatever happened to my head during that time—
"Are you okay?"
"S-Sorry." I blurted out an apology. "Call me… Gates."
The name of the watch.
"You're not of this world, are you?" Ozpin leaned against the balcony's railings, looking at the night sky.
"How'd you—"
"I can tell."
I sighed. "Fine, so what if I am not?"
"No need to be so tense." Ozpin took a sip from his mug – which greatly reminded me of someone, but I can't quite recall who. "Truth is, a while back, I noticed something… off with… space and time. With the world itself."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't quite put it into words… Think about it like this." Ozpin motioned to his cup. "You leave your cup of coffee on the table, and while you're not looking, someone has added something… strange, something that doesn't fit in your coffee, and once you start drinking, it just doesn't taste right."
"Don't forget your objectives, kid!"
"Do you follow, so far?"
"Y-Yes."
"So," Ozpin looks at me. "What business do you have here, offworlder? How are you related to this… "development"?"
"I'm… not sure, actually." I lean my back against the wall, trying to remember anything. But nothing comes up. "I know I was tasked to come here with a purpose, but…"
"Tasked? By who?"
A red man with horns.
"…A higher up. My boss, you could say." Pieces by pieces start to emerge in my mind, but it's still an incomplete puzzle. "But like I said, I can't quite remember everything – I hit my head on my way here. But I can assure you that, whatever my "purpose" is, it's not malicious, and I bear no ill intent to this world and its inhabitants."
Ozpin doesn't seem to believe me, even though I'm telling him the truth. "Very well, I will take your word for it. I am sorry about your memory loss, perhaps you would like me to take you to a nearby hospi—"
"No, no, it's fine. I'm fine. I'm sure they will come back eventually." I reject Ozpin's gracious offer.
Still, though, this memory loss is one hell of a pain in the ass.
It pisses me off that I only lost the memories I need the most, but I still remember every other insignificant detail like what brand of chocolate I liked the most when I was 5.
"So, what do you plan to do after this?"
I freeze at Ozpin's question.
"I… have no idea."
He's right. I have nowhere to go – My "Time Mazine" is busted, and I don't have anyone to contact for help.
"Why don't you go to Beacon, then?" Ozpin raises a rather odd proposal.
"…That's your school where warriors called Huntsman and Huntresses train themselves, right?"
"Mhm."
"Nah, I don't think I can pass the exams for a school like that. Besides, I'm not really interested in—"
"Did you forget that you are talking to the headmaster of Beacon?" A smug smile appears on Ozpin's face. "Consider this: You join Beacon, you get food, shelter – a place you can stay in until your memories return…"
"…And so you can keep an eye on me, in case the story I told you was a lie."
"Precisely."
I smirk. "Fine, I'll give it a try. …A cunning one, aren't you, old man?"
"I get that a lot." Ozpin chuckles, before looking at his watch. "Oh good heavens, look at the time. Let us go back, we can't keep Miss Rose waiting."
"Riiight."
As we walked down the hallway to Ruby's room, Ozpin suddenly said something—
"By the way, the lessons at Beacon shouldn't be too hard to handle for a trained one like yourself, no?"
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't that right?"
Ozpin turned to look at me, muttering two words under his breath.
"Kamen Rider."
Legends.
Stories scattered through time.
Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easilythat we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past.
Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful.
But he was born into an unforgiving world.
An inevitable darkness, creatures of destruction.
The creatures of Grimm set their sights on man and all of his creations.
These forces clashed and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void.
However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds.
This power was appropriately named, "Dust".
Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness and in the shadow's absence, came strength, civilization and most importantly, life.
"Aaaand that's the gist of it," said the red man sitting across the desk from me, slamming the report down on the table. "Do you get it? That's the state of our world right now, possibly thanks to that cocky, arrogant asshole of a Rider!"
Well, I guess "man" isn't the right word, considering his face and horns—
He's an Imagin, after all.
"Yeah, I understand... But why me?" I glance over the documents in my hand, and really, from what I've read, this criminal should be handled by someone more professional.
"The others are busy working on that "Oma"-Something anomaly, including me." He took a sip of his… multi-colored coffee, before continuing. "The Space-Time Police Corps ain't got enough manpower, and besides, it's not like this is a super hard job or anything, you doof."
"Right… And if I fail, I just need to confirm these things then report back, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Oh, right, one sec—" He bent down, then pulled out a grey briefcase from one of his drawers, which he handed to me.
"This is…?"
"Experimental devices based on the technology from the Oma-Something's era that the research team developed to assist our forces. " He took another sip again, leaving more frosting on his mouth, before continuing. "It's still in the testing phase, and I want you to take it with you, maybe use it to defend yourself, y'know what I mean? You can get both the mission and the tests done. Two birds with one stone."
I stared at the briefcase for a few seconds, before taking it in my hands.
"Riiight… Is that all?"
"Yeah— Oh, one more thing! Don't forget to meet Hana in Vehicle Hangar No. 20. She's got a surprise for you." He places his cup of coffee down, then promptly looks at my face. "Dismissed!"
I bow, and turn to the door.
"Don't forget your objectives, kid!"
"Don't worry, Momotaros-san, I won't."
Geez… He's as overbearing as ever. I heard he's a lot calmer than he used to be though.
Ah, right, my objectives…
1. Confirm the existence of Kamen Riders
2. Locate and arrest suspect: The Kamen Rider who calls himself a "brilliant physicist"
Finding a person shouldn't be too hard, but in a new world… and also arresting said person, who is a Kamen Rider?
Well, easier said than done, I suppose.
A/N: Here's an idea I've been throwing around my head for a while. Yes I know there's a fic similar to this – which I like, props to the writer, but I only found out about its existence after I finished writing half of this lol. I felt it would be a shame if I didn't publish it, so here it is.
With that said, I hope you enjoyed reading this, and thank you for making it all the way to the end.
Got a question? Feel free to shoot in the review section and I'll answer right away – unless you don't have an account, that'll have to wait until the next chapter.
Anyway, reviews of all kinds are appreciated, so please leave one and have nice day!
(EDIT: Fixed some formatting issues!)
Next up:
"I can't just sit here and do nothing..."
[RIDER TIME!]
"Henshin!"