Chapter 2: Time for A Switch

"You... you used to work for that guy!?" Exclaimed Irma. "Not only that, you made literal monsters for him, out of people!"

"Yes. I have." Replied Sharyn. "The Beast Batteries and the armlets are of my creation, and with Phobos' resources. You have every right to be angry."

"And how we could be so sure that we can trust you!?" Yelled Cornelia. "For all we know, you could be a spy for him!"

"Cornelia, calm down." Said Will.

"No, I will not!" She replied. "And plus, it's also your fault for messing things up! If it weren't for you-"

"Enough!" Shouted Sharyn and they went silent. "I am aware of what I've done. And aware of the fact that I won't be forgiven."

"So... you were forced to?" Asked Will.

"Actually, no." Replied Sharyn. "It was an idea I had thought up. Phobos just only showed interest in it for it will create an army of loyal super soldiers for him, and pooled resources into my project."

"And those resources are Meridian test subjects." Hay Lin said grimly.

Sharyn sighed. "Not going to lie, but yes. I had experimented on those people, and some with less than successful. And from my experiments, I created over a thousand beast batteries and armlets in the same number before I left."

"Ok..." Said Taranee nervously. "What made you leave?"

"Well..." Sharyn trailed off. "I kinda want to work on other projects beside the Beast Project. But Phobos insisted that I should keep on making Beasts for him. Believe me, I tried to convince him on letting me work on different experiments."

"Such as?" Asked Will.

Sharyn gave a list. "Well, I wanted to recreate the black plague to see how it works, making cyborgs out of corpses to reanimate them, make clones of others, etc... Oh! And also reinventing the Segway."

"Ok..." Irma gave it some thought. "Did you even know how objectively EVIL you are!?"

"What I was taught," Replied Sharyn. "There is no such thing as good or evil, only right and wrong decisions, and only you choose what's right or wrong."

"Oh my god..." Said Taranee shaking. "You are a literally insane!"

"I prefer, 'differently rational'." Corrected Sharyn.

"Either way, you have no regard for others as long you get to continue your experiments!" Yelled Cornelia, slamming her hands on the table. "I say we should kill you right now!"

"Don't do that." Sharyn raises a hand. "First of all, you won't beat me because you just got your powers today, correct? Secondly, I know the ins and out of that of Phobos' castle, and the third thing, I know how to deal with Beasts, you know, since I created them. And lastly, I will give a 100 in all of your assignments. So, you basically need me alive."

The girls went silent for a while. And then Irma spoke up. "I... guess it's best to keep Ms. Cathode alive... I really don't want to fail her classes, especially after her... confession."

"Are you kidding me Irma!?" Yelled Cornelia. "What she had done, it's inhuman!"

"Calm down, young child." Finally said Yan Lin. "I heard what Sharyn has to say, she admitted her crimes, and is willing to atone for them." She turned to Sharyn. "Do you?"

"Well, I do want to erase the Beast Project." Replied Sharyn. "And I sorta DID went too far on it..."

"See?" Smiled Yan Lin. "She wants to help others despite her past."

"Fine." Cornelia sits down. "But we're keeping an eye on you, Ms. Cathode..."

"And I will do the same." Replied Sharyn. "You are my students after all."

"I am still a bit iffy about the fact we Phobos' former mad scientist as a teacher." Commented Taranee.

…

At the dark castle in the throne room. "Cedric." Phobos called out for him. "Report." As he said that, Cedric slithered into the room and transformed back into his human form before his master.

"I've succeeded in retrieving the rebel leader." Bowed Cedric. "But I was ambushed by the Guardians."

"The Guardians?" Phobos repeated his words as he asks. "Aren't they elderly now?"

"Yes, but it seems that now they are now young women." Replied Cedric. "And I have not yet finished with my report. It seems that warrior who calls themselves, 'Kamen Rider', in on Terra as well. They ambushed me as well when I went through a portal."

"Hmm..." Phobos rubbed his chin. "So, the Heart of Kandrakar has been passed down to a new generation. This could be troublesome for my plans, and that Rider... they are growing to become a nuisance. They must not impede my plans on the retrieval my sister." Then he feels a presence outside the door and sighs. "Vlad, Anasazi... come on in."

Two people came into the throne room, a tall, pale, one-eyed man with black hair in a dark clock with red coloring inside, and a white lavender long-haired pale woman in a kimono went into the throne room. The came up to Phobos and bowed. "My lord."

"Yes, yes, I'm your lord," Phobos rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Well, I was wondering that me and Anasazi will aid Cedric in the mission to retrieve your younger sister." Said Vlad. "By taking care of that Rider that Cedric has spoken of."

"I don't need your help, Vlad." Cedric replied coldly.

"But I want to aid my superior, whom he is lord Phobos' right hand man." Replied Vlad.

"As do I." Anasazi hangs her head. "If I serve you, I will serve my one true king, Phobos. And nothing else will make me happier~"

Phobos shudders slightly as he hears that. "Fine... Anasazi, you can capture more rebels to turn them into Beasts."

"The same ones that horrid woman created?" Replied Anasazi. "You should dispose of them when you had the chance, she betrayed you, my lord."

"You doubt my authority?" Phobos raised an eyebrow.

"No! Of course not!" Replied Anasazi. "It's just that woman-" She felt her body felt stiff as she was lifted in the air.

Phobos, with his finger, levitated Anasazi. "Even if Sharyn became traitor to my rule, at least her experiments prove useful to me, as she left a vast number of tools to create the Beasts and some of her notes. So, let me ask again. Do you. Doubt. My. Authority?"

"N-no my lord! Forgive me!" Choked Anasazi as Phobos dropped her.

"Good." Said Phobos. "Now go."

"Yes, sir." Bowed Anasazi as she left the room.

"Now you, Vlad." Ordered Phobos. "Cedric mentioned about a portal to Terra. Use it to find a girl."

"Yes, sir." Replied Vlad. "Which one you want me to find?"

Phobos used his magic to make a screen to show Will's face. "This one. She wields the Heart of Kandrakar. The new leader of the new generation of Guardians. Bring her, and the Heart to me."

"I will do so, sir. I'll be off immediately." Vlad stands up.

"Cedric." Said Phobos to him. "Show Vlad the way to the portal. And come back here, I have an assignment soon after."

"Yes, my liege." Cedric stands up and left with Vlad.

The two went out the room and into the hallway. "You should've kept your jealousy in check, Anasazi." Said Cedric.

"It's just that... that woman doesn't deserve to be at lord Phobos' side!" Grunted Anasazi. "So what if she was the smartest person in Meridian! I should have lord Phobos' attention, not her!"

"Calm down." Said Vlad. "Sharyn turned traitor, at least you won't see her in this castle ever again. And besides, what did you ever do around here?"

Anasazi pauses for a moment. "Well... uh..."

"She has made the Beast Project that gave us a considerable edge in our forces," Continued Vlad. "And what do you do? Bark orders at the guards and go to your room to have fantasies about you and Phobos." And he finished that with a disgusted tone in his voice.

"Hey!" Yelled Anasazi and then quietly said. "It's only on Thursdays though..."

"So, if you want to be actually useful," Said Cedric. "Then do as our lord told you to and capture more rebels."

Anasazi sighs. "Fine. Guess I'll head outside." She changes herself into a spiderlike form with her upper half of her body that is normal and the lower half is a body of a spider, clothes are just a leather rag covering her chest and pelvis area, and her lavender hair has turned black. She stands up straight and walks off on her long spider legs and starts grumbling.

"Shall we go?" Asked Vlad.

"Yes, we must not fail our lord." Replied Cedric as they head down the hallway to the outside.

…

At the Sheffield Institute, Sharyn was in the teacher's lounge during lunch, pouring coffee into her mug, which has an image of the chemical formula of caffeine. She takes one look on the image, and then chuckles. Sharyn heads out the door and into the hallway to her classroom, she stops in her tracks and turns around and sighs. 'Those girls are following me.' She thought. 'Oh well, let them have their fun. Besides, they have my class next.'

The classroom was quiet and the students are looking at their teacher, writing a formulaic equation, taking about momentum. They have to pay attention or else they'll get Sharyn's assignments, which no one wants to have, they even pity poor Uriah. Maybe. However, the recently made Guardians are staring at her for a different reason. For they knew that she was a Rider... and the dark king Phobos' former underling.

'I do not like this...' Thought Cornelia. 'What is she even doing here, acting as a teacher? For what's she done and capable of, why she decided to be our science teacher? Is it for cover? Is it because she wants to lure people into a false sense of security? I don't know for sure, but Ms. Cathode is up to something, and I'm going to find out.'

"Now." Sharyn taps on the board with an unfinished equation written on it. "What is the solution for this problem? If anyone knows the answer, raise your hand." She looks around to see no one's hand is raised and sighed in disappointment. "It's ok to be wrong, you are here to learn, so can anyone, with the best of their ability, answer this problem?" Still no hands are raised. "Really? Alright. Guess I choose one of you at random."

'Is that what my mentor thinks about me when she first took me under her wing?' Sharyn thought.

…

Caleb opens his eyes and look around to see that he is in a dark pit.

"You awake, yes?" Said a voice nearby.

Caleb gets up quickly. "Ah! Who's there!?"

A small goblin-like creature walks outs of the shadows. "No need to get so hostile, yes? Blunk don't want to hurt you, yes?"

"So... Blunk is your name?" Asked Caleb.

"Yes, Blunk is Blunk." Nodded Blunk as he tosses over a key. "Blunk believes this is for your chains."

"Oh, uh... thanks?" Caleb catches it. "Where did you even find it?"

"A big blue guy threw down here while inside bread." Replied Blunk as he held up a loaf of bread with a bite mark that he made. "The metal key does not go well with bread. You think so too, yes?"

Caleb uses the key to free himself from his restraints and looks up. "Guess I'll have to climb out."

"Oh, no." Blunk shakes his head. "Don't do that. Those scary monsters made by scary lady is roaming around."

"Sharyn." Caleb grimaced. "She created those monsters for Phobos. And I found out she turned my friends into those... things! And I was turned too... then... what just happened to me?"

...

Will was walking home through and alleyway after stalking her science teacher for a while with her friends, or at least she thinks so, and discussing about picture day tomorrow. She sighs and stood in her place to look up to the night sky. However, what she doesn't realized that something was behind her, lurking up to her.

"So..." Said a deep raspy voice. "You are the new leader of the Guardians..." Will shots her head back to see a large reddish thin cyclops creature with bat wings, looming over her. She quickly searches her body to find the Heart, but she realizes that she had it in her bag. But she doesn't have the others around to fight alongside her.

"Crap!" Will cursed as she was grabbed and held up by the bat monster.

"Hmm..." The creature looks at her with his one eye. "You don't seem like much... You are just a little girl..."

Will shivers at the sight of seeing her own reflection in the monster's eye.

"No matter..." Continued the monster as he asks. "Tell me, where is the Heart of Kandrakar...?"

"I- I don't know!" Replied Will as struggled. She does know where it is, but doesn't want to tell this creature.

"Lies..." Hissed the bat monster as he pulls Will close into his face. "You DO know where it is... I won't ask again... Where is the Heart?" It pauses for a moment as Will stays quiet. "You won't speak? Fine. I bring you to someone who will make you speak."

"N-no!" Yelled Will as she struggle with her bag fallen down to the ground. 'Oh... crap-baskets.'

The Bat Beast took her into the portal with him, leaving behind Will's bag, not knowing that the Heart he's been looking for, is inside it.

…

The next morning, the rest of Guardians are at the Insitute's courtyard, "And you said you don't care about your own image." Cornelia facepalmed at Irma's attire for picture day.

"Look, I'm here, so I have to dress nicely for today." Shrugged Irma. "Besides, you are far more focused about picture day rather than anything else."

"Such as?" Cornelia raised an eyebrow.

"Well, finding out what happened to that boy after the snake thing took him, and help him," Irma replied. "And find out why Ms. C is here in the first place."

"Although, have you seen Will?" Asked Hay Lin. "Her mom called grandma last night, she said that she hasn't come home."

"She is probably lost." Replied Cornelia as Taranee rushed over to her friends.

"Oh, hey Tara, what's up?" Asked Irma.

"What's up..." Panted Taranee. "Is that I found this." She held up Will's bag. "It was laying in the alleyway while I was walking to here."

"Looks like that answered your question." Irma said to Hay Lin.

"Wait, haven't she used that amulet?" She asks.

"I'm guessing whatever took her, it was by surprise." Replied Taranee as she pulled out the Heart out of the bag.

"Then the one who took her..." Said Hay Lin. "Is probably one of Phobos' underlings. Either a Beast-"

"That our dear science teacher created." Commented Cornelia.

"Or that snake monster from few days back." Continued Hay Lin. "Either way, they took her to Meridian."

"So, what are we waiting for?" Said Irma. "Let's get her back!"

"Ok, first, it's picture day. I don't want these clothes to get messy." Responded Cornelia. "And second, why should we bother with her?"

"Because she's our friend?" Replied Hay Lin.

"No, the four of us, are friends." Corrected Cornelia as she twirled her finger downwards. "She is a stranger that you just invited because you felt sorry for her."

"But..." Retorted Irma. "She is supposedly the leader, and the only one to can use the Heart of whatever-its-name-is that make us able to we kick butts with. And if she were to be gone, so..."

"The worlds are in danger." Finished Taranee.

"But why us? We are just kids!" Replied Cornelia. "I never wanted to be a magical warrior that fights evil rulers, I want to live normally!"

"So do the rest of us." Said Irma. "But that Heart, chose us. And with our new powers, can we really live normally?"

"As much as I hate to admit." Sighed Cornelia. "You've made good point. Looks like we have to get Will back. But one question. How?"

The amulet lights up and slow floats up in Taranee's hand. "I think it will show us how."

…

"Speak, you little brat!" Anasazi in human smacked Will in the face with a spider leg she grew out of her back. "Where is the Heart!?"

Will was bound to the wall of the dungeons with web silk, her body was bruised and beaten from Anasazi's interrogation. Anasazi made a scowl as she turned around. "I can't believe I have to babysit a child." She grumbled. "Is Vlad even SURE that this kid is the new leader of the Guardians?"

Vlad came in the room. "So, any progress?"

"This girl won't say a word!" Yelled Anasazi. "Are you sure this is the one!?"

"Phobos has shown her image himself." Replied Vlad. "Do you doubt him?"

"N-no!" Said Anasazi. "But she won't don't even tell me where the Heart is."

"Because... you didn't bother to fully check me for it..." Will coughs then gave a smirk. "It was in the bag I dropped. And you didn't even take a look into it." She gave a chuckle before Anasazi gave a slap across her face.

"Cocky brat." Grunted Anasazi and she turned towards to Vlad. "Is this true?"

Vlad paused for a moment. "… I might have been too... hasty in capturing her..."

"For the gods' sake, Vlad." Facepalmed the spider woman. "The reason why you don't the Heart of Kandrakar with you is because you didn't take a look around!? You damn bat!"

"I have one eye!" Yelled Vlad. "What do you expect!?"

"What lord Phobos expects that you will do his orders to the fullest!" Anasazi yells back. "So there no excuse for your incompetence!"

"Says the one who refused to help with the Beast Project because your jealousy with Sharyn!" Vlad yells again.

"You take that back!" Growled Anasazi as they butt heads together.

"Are you two done?" Said Cedric as he entered the room. "So, has the girl told about the location of the Heart of Kandrakar?"

"Why don't he..." Anasazi points at Vlad. "Explain what happened?"

"Vlad?" Cedric asks him.

"Well..." Vlad looks down. "As it turns out, it was with her by the time I captured her... but it was in her bag she dropped."

"And you didn't check to see that it's inside?" Cedric raised an eyebrow.

"...no." Replied Vlad quietly.

Cedric take a deep breath. "… Anasazi, take the girl into the pit with the other prisoners. Vlad, come with me."

Vlad quivers a bit as he nervously went out with Cedric.

…

"You WHAT!?" Yelled Phobos.

"F-forgive, my lord." Bowed Vlad as he was sweating. "I was foolish."

Phobos shoots lighting at him as he yells in pain. "The Heart was with her that time! And you just lost it!"

"I'm sorry!" Yelled Vlad as his body was being electrocuted. "I will not make the same mistake again!"

Phobos stops as he calms down and sighs. "No matter... the rest of the Guardians may have found it and will come here to retrieve their leader as we speak." He looks at his right-hand man. "Cedric, check the perimeters in case. And Vlad?" He looks up. "I am giving you one last chance. You and Anasazi watch the new leader and the other prisoners to make sure that they won't escape. Have you gotten that into your skull?"

"Y-yes my lord." Replied Vlad.

"Now go!" Ordered Phobos as Cedric and Vlad bowed and went out of the throne room.

…

At the pit, Caleb is sitting on the ground as Will was dropped from above as he notices and catches her.

"And stay down there until your little friends get here." Said Anasazi from above. "And we'll crush them like bugs they are."

"Like you?" Commented Vlad.

"I AM AN ARACHNID, YOU DAMN BAT!" Responded Anasazi angrily as they went off grumbling.

Caleb and Will went silent for a moment as Caleb spoke up. "Looks like they're gone."

"Yeah..." Said Will as she then recognizes the boy's face. "Wait, are you the one who attack me and my friends a few days ago?"

"I... I think so..." Caleb replies. "And who are you? You don't seem to be a Meridian."

"Well..." Will gets off of Caleb's arms. "You could say I'm the leader of the new generation of Guardians."

Caleb pauses for a moment. "You're kidding me, right? Are you sure you're not pulling my leg here? You seem too young to be a Guardian."

"The Heart of Kandrakar chose me and my friends to be ones." Replied Will. "But, I have no idea why."

"You know about the Heart?" Said Caleb surprised. "Well, then use it to get us out of here."

"Um..." Replied Will nervously. "I don't exactly... have it."

"Why?" Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"I dropped it when I was captured." Sighed Will.

"Oh..." Said Caleb slumping down. "Did they have it? The one who captured you?"

"Actually, he didn't bother looking into my bag." Replied Will. "I seriously thought he would do that, but no."

"Well, that's good." Caleb sighs with relief as he sat back down. "Anyway, I hope this Charge person will get out. They helped the rebellion and my comrades on several occasions.'

"Must be great person." Replied Will.

"Yeah, they defeat those Beasts made that woman." He said the last word with disgust.

"… Who?" Said Will frightened because she has an idea who that is.

"Her name is Sharyn." Caleb scowls. "Ever since she started working for Phobos, things got harder for the rebellion. She is a monster, especially when I found out where those Beasts of hers are made from."

Will felt a deep pit in her stomach. Because what she thought that her teacher, although she not her least favorite, but at least good one, have done such horrible things. "Do... do you think someone like her will change? If they try?"

"Doubt it." Caleb shot it down. "Sharyn is known to be most insane person, probably more than Phobos. I bet even he draws some lines, that woman has no sense of morality."

"Please don't speak of the Scary Lady in front of Blunk anymore, yes?" Said the goblin-like creature, Will screams in sight of him as he sighs and shrugs. "Looks like girl never seen one like Blunk, yes?"

"What was THAT?" Said Will backing away while pointing at Blunk.

"Don't worry." Responded Caleb. "He's harmless... I think."

"Blunk is not the type to hurt others, yes?" Smiled Blunk.

"...Why is he speaking like that?" Asked Will.

"Don't think about that." Replied Caleb. "We need to get out of here and get back to the rebels."

"Maybe I could speak to the leader about what happened here." Said Will as Caleb stares at her. "What?"

Caleb clears his throat. "You're looking at him."

"Wait." Said Will stunned. "You're the rebel leader!?" Caleb nods as Will groans. "Looks like the situation's worse than I thought. A child having to lead a rebellion, is there no other options?"

"First of all, I'm 15." Replied Caleb. "And secondly... yes, we are on our last ropes."

Will slid her back against the wall.

…

The rest of the Guardians are in a building of an apartment complex with the Heart guiding the way.

"Ok, why are we here?" Asked Cornelia. "And we're following a piece of jewelry?"

"Yes, we are." Replied Irma. "Although, it is strange that the Heart is taking us to place like this. I mean, an apartment complex? I would've thought of it."

"Ok." Stopped Hay Lin in front of a door. "It looks like it wants us to go in here."

"Wait. Are breaking in?" Asked Taranee as the Heart starts thumping on the door.

"Yes." Replied Hay Lin.

"Great, the rock was us to commit a felony." Groaned Cornelia as she puts her hand on her face.

Irma opens the door. "Huh. It's not locked. Strange."

"H-hey." Protested Taranee. "We are not supposed to do something like this. We could get trouble!"

"Less trouble than what happens to Will." Retorted Irma as she heads in. "Come on."

The rest looked at each other and went into the apartment with Irma. As they entered the room, it was a bit messy. Bits of machinery strewn across the floor and there are stacks of paper on a desk. The bed isn't that much tidy either, the sheets aren't even made.

"Wow." Said Irma stunned. "This place is a mess."

"Wait." Hay Lin came over to the desk. "This looks like blueprints for a... motorcycle? And there are some test sheets at the side."

"Let me see." Taranee takes up a piece of paper and looks over it. "This is- I think this is the next science test! It covers what we learned in class!"

"You can't be serious. There's no way this could be the next test-" Cornelia looks over to take a peek. "Oh my god, you're not kidding."

"So... this means..." Taranee trails off.

"This must be Ms. Cathode's apartment." Finished Hay Lin as the group hears a door opening to see their science teacher. The room went silent for a moment until Irma speaks up. "H-hey... Ms. C..."

"I know you guys are following me ever since I told you everything," Replied Sharyn. "But breaking and entering into my apartment not necessary. Unless, you want to know the next test coming up, depending the piece of paper that is in your hands."

"N-no!" Hay Lin raised her hands in protest. "The Heart just took us here, since Will's gone missing."

"That's explains that you four skipped school today." Sighed Sharyn. "And you said the Heart of Kandrakar took you... here?"

The Heart lit up and pointed itself towards a footlocker.

"I can see why it guided you here." Sharyn came over to the footlocker as it formed into an empty doorframe as it creates a portal. The girls jumped back in astonishment. "As you see here, I made an artificial portal to Meridian. How did you think I get in and out of there with ease?"

"That's... that's so cool..." Said Irma stunned.

"You said you made an artificial portal?" Asked Taranee. "So, it can take you anywhere in Meridian?"

"No." Replied Sharyn. "It connects itself to existing portals in Meridian. And go back here in another to Terra, or Earth as you prefer. But it doesn't take me back here. I'm planning to fix that however."

"Then there's no time to waste." Said Hay Lin, "We have to save Will! She is probably at Phobos' castle!"

"In that case..." Smiled Sharyn as she types in numbers on the side of the artificial portal. "I'll take you to another artificial portal I made in my old lab, when well... you know."

"Looks like we can get into the castle without hassle." Smiled Irma.

"Not really." Replied Sharyn. "There may be guards and Beasts going around. And there may be some in the dungeons. Phobos may have some of his higher-ranking officers there. He's smart, well, not smart as me, by the way."

"Ok, enough with the brag-a-thon and just take us there." Groaned Cornelia.

"If you insist." Sharyn finished up in inputting the coordinates. "But be warned. My old lab is filled with things that will be... not for the faint of heart."

"Well!" Said Irma as she was about to jump in. "Better prepare myself! See ya at the other side!" She hopped through the portal as the others follow, and the folds back into is footlocker shape.

…

At the dark castle in Sharyn's old lab, the girls looked at the horrifying sight of Sharyn's previous experiments. There are vats aligned against the wall, and in them, men and women with animal parts in random places, suspended in liquid. At the other side, there are cages filled with near-starved incomplete Beasts laying on the floor.

"Oh dear." Said Sharyn nonchalantly. "Looks like no one fed them after I was gone."

The girls fell at their knees, Hay Lin stared at them in horror, as Irma held the sides of her head, while Taranee vomited on the floor.

"What the hell..." Cornelia starts screaming. "WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS THIS!?"

"The entirety of the Beast Project." Replied Sharyn. "Yeah... I think I went too far into this..."

"You think!?" Yelled Cornelia. "Understatement of the FREAKING century!"

"Come on." Sharyn starts to walk away. "I know where the dungeons are."

Irma stops her by putting her hand on her shoulder. "But first... tell me..." Sharyn looks back at her to see Irma's eyes with unbridled fury. "Do you regret doing ANY of this?"

Sharyn stares at her for a minute. "I do. But for a reason that you're not thinking of." Sharyn shrugs off Irma hand and went out of the room. "Well? Aren't you here to save your friend?"

…

They walked down a dark hallway in to the corridors of a dungeon underground. Sharyn stopped in her track and raised her arm to stop the rest of the group as well. She places her back against the wall as the group hears two voices.

"I can't believe that we are here for guard duty over two runts and a Passling." Grumbled Anasazi.

"At least you are doing something rather than lounging around in your bedroom." Replied Vlad.

"You're here because you are stupid enough to get the Heart from that girl even though it is on her!" Yelled Anasazi. "…I really hope the rest of the Guardians come here. I'm getting antsy."

Nearby, the group hid from them, "Ok, who are those two?" Whispered Irma.

"The one-eye's Vlad and the woman's Anasazi." Replied Sharyn. "They are Cedric's, or the snake-man as you call him, brown-nosing subordinates. Vlad is strong, but incompetent, and Anasazi is sly and intelligent, but she has a non-existent temper. She hates me for some reason."

"It's because of your experiments?" Cornelia raised an eyebrow.

"No." Sharyn said flatly as they went silent.

"Ok..." Said Taranee. "So, how do we get them out of there?"

"Leave it to me." Replied Sharyn as made a grin. "I know them personally. And they would hate to see me."

Sharyn tosses a stone into the hallway as the two hears it. "Who's there?" Anasazi turned to the direction of the sound as Sharyn walked out. "YOU..."

"Hey, Anasazi, still having those fantasies about Phobos in your bedroom?" Smiled Sharyn.

"I WILL END YOU." Yelled Anasazi and then she smiled. "And I have full permission to do so." She shifted into her Spider Beast form as Vlad changes into his Bat Beast form.

"Heh-heh." Sharyn starts to run. "See ya."

"GET BACK HERE!" Yelled Anasazi as she and Vlad gives chase.

"Ok, looks like she's distracting them," Said Hay Lin as they passed by the girls. "Let's get Will out."

The others nod as the went in the dungeons.

…

Sharyn stopped at in the middle of the hallway as her pursuers catch up with her.

"Oh, did you get tired?" Smirked Anasazi. "Or do you accept your fate?"

But Sharyn gave a different response in a form of a question of her own. "How you wondered why I left? You know, how would make an amoral person such as I, and I admit it, leave? Is it to escape her employer? Not really. Is it that she finally felt sorry about her test subjects? Definitely not. Is it her own, personal, morals? Maybe."

"Stop dragging this on and tell us what are you getting on!?" Yelled Vlad.

"You see..." Replied Sharyn. "I may have the lack morals, but there is one thing that I can't forgive for. Disrespect."

"If THAT was the case, then you would be disrespecting Lord Phobos by betraying him." Growled Anasazi.

"But his disrespect dwarfs my own." Retorted Sharyn. "Was it not he who took Meridian by force, even if that he did not earn it? Was it not he forced everyone into submission? All I did was leaving him. But he had also disrespected something of mine that I refuse to forgive him for. My passion for science."

"Oh." Scoffed Anasazi. "It that it? You betrayed him for hurting your feelings for not approving your 'ideas'? To be fair, your clone proposition was pretty messed up. I can barely sleep after that for a week."

"It's not it." Replied Sharyn. "It is because he spit on my passion that was also my mentor's before she died. She wanted to go beyond the normal limitations of nature, and she passed on her knowledge onto myself. So I will do the same. But the other Meridians fear this knowledge and shun it, and when Phobos took me in to work under him, I first thought his praises meant he understands my passion. But it is just fabrications to exploit me, so... yes. I am utterly upset." Sharyn glares at them. "So if I will fight you for in the name of my mentor, who gave her life in raising me, so be it!"

Anasazi starts to laugh. "Are you serious, you betray us because of a dead old woman's 'passion'? And I here thought you were smart, Sharyn." Guards swarm in to surround her. "But now, you die here. Like the traitor you are."

"And that's where you're wrong." Smiled Sharyn. "Let me give you another question. Have you wondered why that when I left, that armored individual showed up to fight against your Beasts?"

"Now that you think of it..." Vlad rubbed his chin.

"Vlad, not now!" Yelled Anasazi and then turned towards Sharyn. "Fine. I'll bite, why did that 'Rider' showed up after you've left?"

Sharyn chuckles as she held up the Charge Drive. "Surprise."

"THAT WAS YOU!?" Anasazi screamed in fury.

"Also, I used myself as a distraction to draw you out here so the other Guardians can save their leader." Grinned Sharyn as she placed the Driver on her waist. "And you dug yourself deeper when you brought most of the guards here."

"You cheeky bitch." Anasazi twitched her eye as she realizes this. "Guards! Half of you, go to the dungeons to apprehend the Guardians!" She commanded. "And the rest of you... Kill the traitor! I want her head!"

Sharyn flips open the Driver to slide in two Batteries and closes it.

-Neutral!/Neutral! Full Charge!-

She flips the switch into middle position as it plays its jingle, and she yells, "Henshin!" then flips it down.

-Max Power! Neutral!-

A white light envelops Sharyn and dissipates to reveal Charge's form. "Kamen Rider Charge." She brings out her weapon that is aptly named the Charge GunBaton. "I feel at 100%!" She ''charges'' at the guards with her weapon in hand.

…

Taranee in her Guardian form blasts fire to push some guards out of the room with the others coming up from behind.

"Nice one, Tara." Said Irma.

"There's not many guards here." Noticed Hay Lin.

"Guess we have Ms. Cathode to thank." Replied Taranee.

"Miss who?" Asked Caleb.

"Oh! Um... she's our teacher." Said Will. "She probably came along with them to help."

"Then I hope she's ok." Smiled Caleb. "She must be a good person." The girls looked at him as if he grew a second head.

"Y-yeah... she is..." Lied Irma.

"Can you guys just tell that-" Said Cornelia annoyed before Will interrupted her.

"ANYWAY," Shouted Will. "WE spent too much time talking. We better leave quickly."

"What about your teacher?" Asked Caleb.

"Believe me," Replied Hay Lin. "She is more capable than you think."

The group ran down the corridor as some more guards give chase behind them. "Ok, how do we get out of here!?" Yelled Will.

"Head to the lab!" Replied Irma in the same tone. "That's how we got in!" She looks back at Will and Caleb. "But... prepare yourself for what you two are going to see. It is NOT pretty."

"Since is that woman's lab." Growled Caleb. "I know it won't."

Will became worried. "W-what did you guys see?"

They went silent as they ran until Taranee spoke up. "Something that will scar you for life." Will gulped in fear.

As they kept on running, Cornelia looked back to see the guards are still tailing them. She stopped in her tracks and raised a stone wall to block their way and ran back to catch up with the others. "They won't be chasing us for a while."

"Well," Caleb looked at Will. "Looks like you're not kidding about you being a Guardian and the others are coming to help."

"Do you really doubt me?" Asked Will.

"Not anymore." Grinned Caleb.

"By the way," Said Irma. "Aren't you the boy who got turned into that Lion monster from before."

"I... I think so." Replied Caleb. "My memory's a bit hazy after Cedric put a weird armlet and a strange object on me. But... when that happened, I don't feel like... like myself. I feel my body painfully change, warped into something... not human. After that, I blacked out."

"Oh boy..." Irma gave a sweat drop, "You will NOT like what we're going to tell you."

Anasazi was flown into the hallway, crashing into a wall with Vlad crashing on her. "D-damn you..." Growled Anasazi as Charge walked out of the cloud of dust.

"It's- it's them!" Exclaimed Caleb. "They are here to help us!"

"You know her?" Asked Hay Lin.

"Wait, they're a she? Anyway, she, helped me and the rebels on fighting off the Beasts." Replied Caleb.

"Wait..." Groaned Anasazi as she pushed Vlad off her. "SHE, helps you?" She looked at Charge, "And you are willing to help the rebels? How the mighty have fallen. You do know you are fighting a losing battle?"

"It's a no longer a losing battle since now I'm here." Replied Charge.

"Not necessarily..." Hissed a voice from behind, Charge looked back to have a tail swung at her she jumped back to dodge it. "Never thought that you will break in here, under our noses..." Said Cedric and then looked at Anasazi and Vlad. "And you're supposed to keep watch on the prisoners. And now they are here, escaping. Where were you?"

"C-Cedric! Let me explain!" Vlad shook with fear as he pointed at Charge. "The reason why we left our post is because we're trying to capture this traitor! And you won't believe who she is. She's-"

"Enough!" Shouted Cedric. "You will explain to Phobos after this." He looks around to see that the group that consists of a rebel leader, five Guardians, and a Rider are gone. "Damn it! They ran away!" He glares at his subordinates. "Find them!"

"I-I think they are heading to the old lab!" Replied Anasazi.

"Then we have no time to waste!" Ordered Cedric. "Get them!"

"Yes sir!"

…

The group when into the lab as Caleb and Will witness the horrors in the lab.

"Wha-What is this!?" Screamed Will in fear.

"That... that monster!" Growled Caleb. "Sharyn will not get away with this!"

"*Ahem*." Charge clears her throat. "If you want about someone behind their back," She flips the switch on her Driver up to reveal the monster herself. "You can just have a talk with them right here."

"Y-YOU'RE THAT RIDER!?" Exclaimed Caleb. "And... the one who had been helping us, is also the one who made our lives hell at the same time!?"

"The one who is giving you hell is Phobos." Replied Sharyn.

"And YOU are helping him!" Yelled Caleb and gestures his hand towards her experiments. "By making all of this! Why!?"

"I'll tell you later." Replied Sharyn as she typed in commands into the artificial portal. "But first, we have to escape to Terra."

"Then what should we do with this place?" Asked Taranee.

Sharyn went silent until she replied, "Blow it up."

"What?" Taranee said confused.

"Blow this place up," Repeated Sharyn. "Burn it or whatever. I want this place to be gone." She looked back at the others. "I am done with the Beast Project anyway."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Cornelia as she grew roots from the ground to destroy the vats, the others nodded as Taranee burns the equipment. Caleb came up to the test subjects with a sword he just picked up. "Don't worry. I will free you." Caleb shudders as he raised his blade to cut them down.

Irma used the liquid from the vats to block the door as Hay Lin used her wind to freeze the water to shut that said door. Will used her powers to shoot pinkish lighting at the other equipment.

"Ok, it's time to go." Sharyn finishes up as the artificial portal opens. And then Cedric, Anasazi and Vlad went through the door and busts down the ice.

"You are not getting away..." Hissed Cedric.

"Hurry!" Sharyn yelled at the others. "Get in!" They did so and jumped into the portal.

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here... traitor." Said Cedric to Sharyn.

"Well, call me whatever you like." Replied Sharyn. "But tell this to Phobos;" She sticks out her thumb and pinkie and raised up beside her ear. "Call me." She walked into the portal as everything blew up around them, along with the artificial portal.

…

"Caleb, stop!" Yelled Will.

"Give a good reason not to kill you here right now!" Glared Caleb as he raised his sword towards Sharyn's neck.

Sharyn sighs. "I am fully aware of what I've done. And I am also aware about the fact that no one will forgive me for my actions, I don't expect them to. But hear me out."

"Why should I?" Said Caleb in an angry tone. "You used your fellow Meridians as test subjects for your twisted experiments, and you made them into monsters! Well, I'm going to end this nightmare, once and for all."

"Well, you need me." Sharyn closed one eye. "When I created the Beasts, I can also can defeat them and shut it down all together. Starting with blowing up my lab, remember? So, I'll do you a solid and help you and your rebellion by supplying you with equipment to aid you in your fights. And fight off the Beasts as Charge." Caleb slowly lowers his blade. "Looks like I have your attention. Anyway, I will help you overthrowing Phobos, in one condition."

"What is it?" Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"Let me stay here to be their teacher." Sharyn looks at the girls. "People will start to wonder what happen to one of their staff if they were suddenly turn up to be murdered. Besides. Some of them REALLY need to catch up with their academics."

"Hoo boy..." Irma grinned nervously.

"...Well, her classes are not that bad..." Said Taranee. "They are actually kinda helpful."

"If she won't do anything like... that, ever again," Added Hay Lin. "Then it's ok..."

"So..." Will looks over towards Cornelia, "What do you think?"

Cornelia gave it some thought. "Fine. But just so you know." She glares at Sharyn. "I still don't trust you."

"That makes two of us." Added Caleb.

"By the way, do you need a place to stay?" Hay Lin asked him. "My grandma can help you with that."

"I guess." He replied. "I really need a rest after today. And after..." Caleb glares at Sharyn. "That."

"See you all tomorrow." Said Sharyn.

"It will be Saturday tomorrow." Corrected Irma.

"I know." Replied Sharyn. "There is a lot I would like to discuss to you about. So, get plenty of rest."

Everyone except Sharyn went out of her apartment and she sigh. "I have made quite a mess, have I?"

…

"So... is this true?" Phobos rubbed his chin.

"Yes sir," Anasazi hangs her head. "The Rider known as Charge, was the betrayer Sharyn Henderson, sir."

"And before she left, she said... call her... or something." Added Vlad.

Phobos let out a groan as he laid back on his throne and place his hand on his forehead in frustration. "Of course, she would do something like this. She is more insane than I am. And that is saying something. I'll your blunder for leaving your post, for now." He looks at his right-hand snake man. "Cedric, I believe you have something to show them."

"Yes, my liege." Bowed Cedric as he turns towards Anasazi and Vlad. "After Sharyn left, I manage to finish up some the armlets with the best out her notes and allow our troops to reach a new form."

"Really?" Anasazi gained interest.

"Observe." Cedric placed an armlet on his right arm and inserted a battery into it.

-Naja-

His body transformed into a humanoid shape of his snake form with face-mask covering his nose and motuh, although he still has his legs instead a tail, and the tail is a tail coat behind him.

"And this is useful because?" Asked Vlad.

"Because." Said Cedric. "It is more maneuverable and slightly more powerful than our true forms. This can even handle Charge. Plus, it can retain the minds of those who use it, there are a few side effects here and there, but they are minor."

"That's amazing." Anasazi said in awe. "With these, we can use them on our own troops to crush the rebellion?"

"Of course." Smiled Phobos, "Even after her betrayal, her work is still useful to me. Tell me to thank her the next time you cross paths with her."

…

Sorry it took so long.

Anyway, I want to build Sharyn's character to be a mad scientist archetype with a blue-orange morality, so tell what I should improve on. See you in the next chapter.