Episode 003: Returning to Earth
Author's Note #1:
- As of this moment, Samus and her team escaped AZ-007 with Ange, Tusk, and Momoka. The explanations of that will be explored in this chapter.
- Ever since watching Cross Ange, the protagonist's characterization, as always being that of a tsundere, and not to mention she's rebellious and hot-tempered. But, her unusual reaction on what accidental perversion Tusk does is played for comedic effect.
- While I was re-watching Kamen Rider Decade, I was thinking writing Samus becoming more of Tsukasa while maintaining her calm and composed attitude. Ever since she got the Athena Suit in my previous fic, Samus learns to be more pleased with her own abilities, and at a given moment, she reminds her opponents how strong and skillful she is. And, Samus's later interactions with Ange and Tusk might be similar to Natsumi and Yusuke/AR Kuuga.
- Ange and Tusk have highlights to the character opposites to Samus, Go, Mitsuzane and Alain as it follows:
* Ange and Samus may have similar personalities but different backgrounds, but what separates Ange from the bounty hunter is that Samus is much calm and composed, in contrast to the hot- tempered, rebellious Ange. This means to say, Samus can even make Char Aznable blush with her personality. This means, Samus serves a rival and foil to Ange, a-la Char Aznable.
** This means, Samus is also the polar opposite to Salamandinay – though both women are calm and collected, yet kind hearted.
* Tusk vs. Mitsuzane: Tusk might be adorkable and clumsy, Micchy is cynical, rude, and snarky. Tusk has a good relationship with Ange, but anything perverted (accidentally) can cause him a lot of trouble. Since the prequel to this fic, we already explored how Mitsuzane is messed up, as the more he thinks about his past already made him brooding and insecure underneath, to which anyone around him are much more concerned of his well-being (including Go and Samus). His relationship with the bounty hunter is much healthy in the previous fic, he's rather somewhat submissive around Samus, or sort of. I'm not talking about anything kinky here!
* Tusk to Go: Similar to Micchy above, Go is quite the opposite to Tusk, only that he is much more of a troll. Be sure to expect Go and/or Mitsuzane to troll at Tusk for comedic effect.
- On an apparent side notes, I would like to remind you guys that Space Explorers of this fic as a whole are expies of The Avengers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This means, Samus is Natasha Romanoff in an Iron Man suit, Mitsuzane is Hawkeye with Tony Stark's narcissistic personality (plus the Andrew Garfield!Spider-Man), Go is the Tom Holland!Spider-Man (with a twist of Deadpool), Alain is Thor due to his relationship with Adel, who is based on Loki, Makoto borders between Captain America and The Falcon. You might even refer to them as Space Avengers if you like!
-A Woman In The Suit! (continuation)-
"Good question, young lady.", Samus (still in the Athena Suit) chuckled. "That's a very astute question, Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi."
"Wait? Who exactly are you?!", Ange asked shockingly when the armored "man" knew her past identity. With that question, Samus then prepares to remove her helmet, doing so she dematerializes her suit as bright flash blinded Ange. Once the light faded...
"No, how is that...", Ange learns the hard way the one in the suit of armor is not a man.
"It's a... It's a...", Tusk was rendered speechless.
"IT'S A SHE!", Momoka shouted.
"You're a woman in that armor all along?!", Ange shouted upon realizing that Samus is actually a woman in a bulky suit of armor.
"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?", Samus smirked, the reactions of Ange, Tusk, and Momoka were priceless, as they learned the hard way of mistaking Samus for a man.
Both Tusk and Momoka's mouths were gaping open like a fish, and they are still at loss for words upon seeing that Samus's armor gave her a physique of a man, while deep inside was actually a beautiful woman with muscular features, as shown with her skintight jumpsuit worn underneath her armor.
The other Kamen Riders removed their trinkets from their belts (or in Necrom's case, his bracelet), which revealed the identities of the other four Space Explorers.
"What's with the freakout?", Mitsuzane laughed seeing Ange, Tusk, and Momoka freaking out with their confused reactions regarding Samus and her power suit.
"Do you wanna know why…?", Ange tries to keep her temper low before she starts losing it, "WHAT IS WITH YOU WALTZING AROUND FIGHTING EVIL SPACE ALIENS WITH THOSE SILLY COSTUMES?!"
Go interrupts, "Oh, before we forget… We're not just a mere rag-tag team of Space Explorers, we're Kamen Riders. Think of us as The Avengers of this story!"
"Kamen Riders?", Momoka clarified, still puzzled. Strangely enough, Samus is not considered to be one due to her use of her Power Suit, but she is much stronger like the other four Riders – Mitsuzane using a lock with a grape motif (Lockseed), Go using a small, bike-like toy (Signal Bike), while Makoto and Alain use eyeball-shaped trinkets as a means of transforming (Eyecons).
Things escalated from bad to worse as Ange's temper is getting the better of her, "What is really going on here? Answer me, Miss Perfect!"
"Slow down, child. Trying to get your temper can get you out of-", the taller blonde tries to control the situation up, but it only worsens as Ange is literally gone ballistic.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SLOW DOWN?!", Ange shouted, much to the chagrin of Tusk, Momoka, and the other four men. "YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO TALK!"
Go and Mitsuzane stared at each other, giving embarrassing look on each other's faces, saying altogether, "Oh, shit." This isn't the first time that Ange is that scary because of her temper, and they even saw it. What's more terrifying is Samus's disturbingly composed and collected nature.
"I never seen that kind of girl who is so unlady-like.", Alain muttered. "How petty and childish."
And Makoto observes Samus does not retaliate, keeping her composure.
When Ange has had enough she tries to punch Samus on the face, "Damn you!", the Norma shouted but, Samus catches Ange's fist with just her own hand with précised timing, much to the shock of everyone.
"How long are you going to go ballistic, little one?", said Samus, in an asserting and composed tone. "Just because you're confused of what's going on, anger doesn't solve anything."
"Angelise-sama…", Momoka tries to calm her retainer. But to the three's relief, they find themselves surrounded a team of heroes, though two guys are narcissists (Mitsuzane and Go), their female leader (Samus) who asserts her superiority to Ange, and two other men (Makoto and Alain) are sane and can easily avert their attention from the other two narcissists.
-Fall of AZ-007-
Back in the Earth Colony AZ-007…
The Black Cross Armada began to seize most of the territories, including the ruined city of the Misurugi Empire. They started to annex even Arzenal, where they met more resistance in the form of the Normas and their Ragna-Mail pilots, but the tides were turned on them.
The Black Cross Grand Admiral and his two subordinates made their presence known in Arzenal as Viper and Xenogaea accompanied him. Only for them to be at the receiving end of an encounter from Salia, the newly appointed Arzenal Commander.
The Grand Admiral issues an ultimatum, surrender or be destroyed, to which Salia answers the second option. The other Normas joined the frey, only to fall at the mercy of the Grand Admiral's cohorts.
"You have fought quite well", the Grand Admiral commended. "But, resistance is futile!"
"You will have to fight your way through us before you would try and do something stupid to this planet!", Salia valiantly refuted.
"Oh, cheeky aren't we?", Xenogaea smirked. "Fine then, I will teach you insolent fools to behave!"
The Destronian Dominatrix engages Salia into a hand-to-hand combat. To prove herself as one of the deadliest outlaws in the galaxy, Xenogaea mercilessly gives Salia a beating that would make the Norma freeze in fear. Ersha, Vivian, Chris and Rosalie looked on hopelessly, horrified. They are unable to use their Para-mails while being captured. Yet, the DRAGONs cannot go out from their homeworld due to the fact it may attract the attention of the Black Cross Armada. Things are turning grim all the way there...
Meanwhile in the DRAGONs homeworld, the other side of the dimension of AZ-007.
Salamandinay and the High Priestess, Aura Midgardia were talking about the attack of the invaders in the other side. It was truly revealed that the aliens are targeting the Villkiss. The Princess and the priestess went to Aura, the greater DRAGON, in its shrine.
"Aura, why are those invaders would target Ange?", Salamandinay asked.
The great DRAGON replied, "They apparently want the Villkiss. Those vile creatures would do anything to destroy all life in the universe."
"But, who are those invaders attacking the other side?, the high priestess asked.
"They're the Black Cross Armada.", Aura continued. "An evil alien army that are aimed to conquer several planets across the universe. The Grand Admiral is their notorious leader, who asserts his authority to his army and desires conquer worlds with an iron fist."
That being said, this is the second time that everyone has fought a bigger threat to the inhabitants of AZ-007 since Embryo, an omnipotent Tuner, who has Aura under his control after a long periods of years which created the Mana world.
The grand DRAGON continued, "We will seal all portals to prevent the these invaders from entering our homeworld. This to ensure my safety, and to all DRAGONkind."
To Salamandinay's shock, the fact that the Norma in Arzenal who are fighting the Black Cross Armada, are now taken prisoners, asserted, "What about the people there?! We can't stand there and do nothing-"
"There is no other way.", Aura insisted. "Think rationally, Salamandinay. These enemies are much more stronger than the last ones you have fought. Until we forge our strongest forces to rescue the Norma from the enemy's grip, you must not traverse to the other side."
The princess decided to abide Aura's warning for now. The high priestess then asks Salamandinay about Ange and the Space Explorers.
"What about Ange and her two companions?", the priestess asked, with the two being referred to Tusk and Momoka. "Is she going to be safe with those five interstellar travelers from a distant planet?"
The DRAGON princess replied, "Yes, priestess. Those five individuals fought bravely, especially that woman in her power armor. The four men transformed into masked superheroes, they're truly dedicated to protect all that is good. As long as those five people have golden hearts, Ange might convince them to return and liberate her friends being held prisoners.."
-Accidental Murder-
Earlier before escaping AZ-007...
While fighting several hordes of Arachnitroids, Scorpitroids, and Mantiroids, the four Kamen Riders - Ryugen, Mach, Specter, and Necrom were in the verge of being overwhelmed by the Black Cross fleet's foot soldiers, as they swarm in like usual insects.
"Jesus! How many of these cockroaches keep on coming!", Go shouted while smacking an Arachnitroid with his Zenrin Shooter.
"Just crush them as you can! There's no reason for you to whine as if you're scared of mere bugs!", Alain retorted as he pulls out the Gan Gun Catcher as he starts shooting enemies at moments notice.
"He's right!", Mitsuzane nodded to Alain's statement, as he changes from his Sengoku Driver to the Genesis Driver "Insects are meant to be trampled!", then draws out the Melon Energy Lockseed.
*MELON ENERGY!*
"Soda!", the Genesis Driver declared after pushing the belt's compressor, which the Genesis Driver acts as a juicer to the Energy Lockseed. "Melon Energy Arms! (cue Japanese techno music)", within moments, the Melon Energy armor part falls over Ryugen's head, transforming him from Armored Rider Ryugen to New Generation Rider Ryugen Melon Energy Arms.
Mitsuzane loads the Melon Energy Lockseed on the Sonic Arrow, takes aim high in the air, and fires.
"MELON ENERGY!", the Sonic Arrow declared upon firing, the single arrow that was fired eventually split into multiple arrows being showered upon the swarm of enemies.
Seconds later, more enemy ships rain down firepower at the four Riders, as their situation has gone from bad to worse. All they can think right now is to escape, and their own survival. More Scorpitroids emerge from above, making use of their tail stingers firing poison arrows on their foes.
Makoto reminds the other to avoid those poison arrows, then pulls out the Ryuki Ghost Eyecon and inserts it on the Ghost Driver.
"Kaigan! Ryuki!", the Ghost Driver declared after Specter pushed the lever back "Mawari wa rival! Hajimaru survival!", the Kamen Rider flexes his arms allowing the Ryuki Parka Ghost dropping himself to Makoto as he transforms into Ryuki Damashii, the Dragredder's head suddenly appeared and is used as an Arm Cannon for Makoto.
Specter unleashes a stream of fire from the Drag Claw, incinerating the attacking Scorpitroids, as more Mantiroids continued spawning. Specter pull and pushes the Ghost Driver...
"Dai Kaigan! Ryuki! Omega Drive!"
Specter emulates Ryuki's pose just like how the actual Ryuki executes his Final Vent, with Dragredder appearing behind Specter. He jumps on the air, all while Dragredder snakes around Makoto as he corkscrews into a kicking position at the peak of the jump, Dragredder then sends Specter flying forward with a fireball blast as he slams the target with great force, destroying a Mantiroid.
Mach pulls out Shift Deadheat as he transforms into Deadheat Mach. He starts to overwhelm his foes with enhanced super speed, and then pulls Signal Kaksarn and inserts it on the Zenrin Shooter, aims in the air and fires a beam that splits into multiple shots that hit multiple target at once. However, it also hit a girl nearby the crossfire! This girl, who wears a black tank top and soldier's pants was mortally wounded by stray bullet. She was trying to fend for herself as the evil aliens fighting the Kamen Riders.
"Oh, fuck!", Go suddenly freaked out when he accidentally shot a little girl as he approaches the mortally wounded girl. "Hey, kid. Are you alright, look I'm sorry-"
"Hey, mister... If you happen to see my onee-sama, please tell her that... I'm...sorry...", the girl in her last breath said as she dies, making Go frozen in shock that he accidentally killed a little girl. As noticed behind his helmet, a drop of sweat on his forehead, yet he's trembling as if he was traumatized.
"What have I done?", Go muttered grimly.
As the other three Riders are finally clear, they finally head out to escape. Mitsuzane, noticing Go flinching all of the sudden tries to snap him out.
"Come on, senpai. Let's get out of the fuck out of here!", the young Kureshima asserted as he pulls Go back to his senses.
The four Riders fight their way to the extraction point once the Mega-Fortress arrives. The four Riders hopped on board the ship as they return to fetch Samus.
-The Princess Once Known as Angelise-
After the escape...
With Ange, Tusk, and Momoka at the safe hands of the Space Explorers, things turned a bit rocky at the first impression of finding out that Samus inside her armor mistook her for a man. Ange also learns the hard way as Samus highly superior than her, not knowing the huntress is genetically enhanced, as demonstrated by her agile and acrobatic skills.
Meanwhile inside the Fortress's mess hall mid deck, as Mitsuzane grabs a bottle of beer from the fridge, Alain was cooking takoyaki all by himself. Makoto sat on the table as he and the young Kureshima recall that chaotic incident earlier. Then, Mitsuzane brought up of how Go just suddenly flinched when he saw a little girl died in the middle of the mayhem.
"I was curious about that machine that little girl is piloting", said Makoto, referring to the Villkiss.
"From what I heard from that girl, it works with a ring that she wears.", Mitsuzane responded. "She said that her mother gave her that ring. She is actually once a princess from that Misurugi Empire, until her brother usurped her by exposing her as a Norma to the public masses."
Upon hearing that, Alain could not help recall how Adel threw him out from the Ganma world for the frame-up of their father's death, which is similar to Ange's background.
"So that girl is formerly Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi...", Alain muttered. "I have a feeling that we're not so different to one another."
"What's the matter? Are you bored of seeing that puny-looking guy falling on her pants?", Mitsuzane joked, at Tusk's expense. As he sips with his bottle of beer.
Meanwhile, Samus was taking a shower on her own quarters, cleansing herself from the filth she sustained while fighting the Black Cross Armada. The water slowly warmed the huntress, soothing every itchiness that clawed her skin.
That girl is so defiant, quick-tempered, and rebellious... Samus thought to herself. All while referring to Ange, that particular reason why that is the arduous and hellish trials that the Norma had been to.
The bounty hunter continued soaking herself for long periods of time.
Meanwhile, Go serves as the "tour guide" for Ange, Tusk, and Momoka around the Mega-Fortress. The white Kamen Rider with a mouth guided the three around the ship.
"Say, kid.", Go smirked, "How are you and Jesus Yamato here have been a long-term relationship?"
"Tusk and I came a long way... We had ups and downs. He might be that clumsy, but he's a reliable man."
"Oh. So back there, the island is full of hot ladies, as much expected for a harem.", the loudmouth continued. "Umm... Ange-kun, right? Here in this cool spaceship, you're in a world full of hunks. But, unlike this Keitaro Urashima expy here, me and Mitsuzane-kun can be narcissistic jerks, so be sure that we have a big ego to show, while the other two neophytes are getting things even better here."
"They're sure kind of weird, princess.", Momoka whispered to Ange's ear. And yes, Go is weird and often tends to make non-sense in any way.
As the Mega-Fortress now traverses around the depths of space, they have 24 hours to return to the Earth.
See you next mission...
Author's Note #2:
The girl that Go accidentally killed is Sylvia Ikaruga Misurugi, Ange's sister. Sylvia is one of the few hated characters in the Cross Ange anime due to the fact that her brother Julio used her to hate Ange. Not to mention, she's much of a spoiled brat. It's up to your reaction whether Sylvia deserved it or not, but what Go did is an accident, because the stray bullet that hit Sylvia came from his Zenrin Shooter.
Makoto transforming into Ryuki Damashii alludes to the fact that his initial intention about bringing Kanon back to life is similar to Shiro Kanzaki.
Before I forget, Go calls Tusk with the name Jesus Yamato, given the fact that Tusk's appearance is obviously taken from Kira Yamato, the hero of the Gundam SEED Anthology, which Mitsuo Fukuda is the director of the series, who in turn is the creative producer of Cross Ange.
