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Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Don't own anything, including Kamen Rider! I only own the OCs and the plot!

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I looked at the road ahead of me. It was a long journey, but it didn't matter as I rode Mr. Hongo's bike. I was in my Crystal armor, my hands on the handles of Mr. Hongo's bike. As for why I have it, well... I stole it. I knew it was rash, but at the time I could only think of my wife's safety, especially after hearing what Krustal told me...

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(Flashback)

"The origins of Crystal?" I repeated.

"Yes." Krustal nodded. "Long ago, Jackal and I were simple crystals floating in the vastness of space. When we eventually landed on Earth, we somehow obtained a conscious and began to think for ourselves. Over fifty years has past and our fight still continues. I learned about my power and how to use it. I could give one the armor of Crystal, but I could not give myself a corporeal form."

I noticed that Kazami quirked an eyebrow at Krustal's form. "What about this?"

Krustal looked at the three Riders. "This?" he asked, motioning to himself. Kazami nodded and he replied, "It's only a temporary form I came up with. I thought it would be best to tell you this way."

"Anyway," he continued as he faced me. "The reason you became Crystal was because I chose you."

I could just stare at him. He chose me to become Crystal? "Why me though?" I questioned. "Why did you choose me?"

Krustal looked at me. "Because you're so much like you grandfather," he finally answered.

My eyes widen. "What? You knew my grandfather!"

He sighed. "Yes. As I said, Jackal and I arrived in this world. However, we didn't know what we were to do... until he found us."

"My grandfather?" I asked.

"Yes." Krustal nodded. "Your grandfather befriended us, despite out crystalline forms, and gave us the kindness we couldn't give back. However, the life your grandfather led is what caused Jackal to become what he is. What do you know of him?"

"I know he was kicked out of his own home and on the streets," I shrugged. "Dad didn't tell me that much."

"Well what you know is enough," Krustal said. "Your grandfather lived a hard life. Despite the kindness he still gave us, Jackal was disgusted with the life your grandfather lived. He saw humans as infected animals who should be put down. I was close to believing Jackal, but seeing your grandfather reminded of the goodness in humans. Unfortunately, our ideas is what led us to fight each other. It ended with us both being transported to America, where we were stranded in a coma, until Jack Harrison discovered us both."

"What does Rhodes have to do with it?" Hongo asked.

"Rhodes sponsored the expedition. When Rhodes arrived to check out the expedition, Jackal took over Rhodes's body, while I took over Jack's," he explained. "I wrote down everything I could about Crystal, so it would be useful to any user of Crystal. Unfortunately, Rhodes caught up to me and killed Jack after he gave me to Mr. Nambiar."

"Then, Mr. Nambiar was visited by Rhodes," Ichimonji deduced. "Then he was forced into working for him."

Krustal nodded as he looked at me. "Yes. I was able to teleport myself away from Jackal and to you. You found me, but Jackal got to you first. As for Mr. Nambiar, he was tricked into turning you into Crystal, marrying you to Lina, all of it. Why though is uncertain."

I nodded, understanding his explanation, but another question popped up in my head. "What about the Bane?" I asked.

"Jackal needed some minions to find me while he was recuperating," Krustal said. "So he made the Bane to look for it, but when you came alone, he used them to distract you, so you wouldn't focus too much attention towards him."

I noticed Krustal was starting to fade away. He noticed it as well. "Look I don't have much time," Krustal said. "You must hurry. Whatever Jackal is planning, he plans to use Lina! Stop him before it's took late!"

With that last proclamation, Krustal turned into a ball of green energy before retreating back into the gem.

(Flashback end)

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… and that's what led me to taking Mr. Hongo's bike. I knew that he would be angry at me, but it didn't matter to me. Like I said, all I was thinking about was my wife's safety and nothing else.

"Adam!"

I into the rear view mirror to see who called out my name. It was apparently Hongo, as Kamen Rider Ichigo, who was riding with Kazami as V3 with Nigo riding his bike next to them. I saw them ride up next to me. "What are you doing?" I demanded.

"Making sure you don't do anything stupid!" Nigo answered.

"You shouldn't have come!" I told them.

"You're not going down their alone, Adam!" V3 declared. "We're doing this together!"

"Like Riders should!" Ichigo proudly added.

I could only stare at them. They were right. I was going to need their help and if I was going to save Lina, I needed a clear head. I mentally sighed. "Alright," I said.

Though I could see their mouth, I bet the three Riders' were grinning. "Yosh!" Nigo shouted. "Full speed ahead!"

We all revved up the engines before we accelerated towards Rhodes' base. We were going to save Lina and nothing was going to stop us.

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We arrived at the A.B.U. Headquarters to find the entire entrance to be desert. I had my sword and shield in my hands, readying myself for any sudden ambushed, while the others looked all over the place, spotting for any Bane. However, when we entered the front lobby, we were overrun by tons of Bane.

Fortunately, we fended them off. Ichigo, Nigo, and V3 were fighting off most of the Bane. However, I took down as many as I could. Not one of them was spared of my wrath as I slashed and hacked away at them. "RHODES, WHERE ARE YOU!" I shouted at the oncoming Bane, who I destroyed with my charged blade.

I continued with my remorseless slaughter until I only came face-to-face with one. This Bane was like the others except it was based off of a lion with its white mane on its head as well as long claws on its paw-like hands. It lunged at me, lashing its claws out. I raised my shield to block it before striking my sword against its armored chest. The Lion Bane was sent sprawling back on the floor before it got back up and attempted to harm me again. However, I parried its claws before kicking it down to the ground.

I happened to notice that the numbers of Bane decreased for the Riders had no difficulty in dealing with them. My attention turned back to the Lion Bane, whose back was lying against the floor.

"Where is Rhodes!" I shouted at Lion Bane.

"I will never tell you, Crystal!" the Lion Bane spat as he tried to get up.

I had no time for this. I punched its face, forcing him back onto the ground and I placed my sword at its neck before it could get up. "You will if you want to live!" I shouted, pressing my sword against its throat.

"He's in the basement!" the Lion Bane confessed quickly. "Your wife is there, too!"

"Good," I said as I stood up, removing my blade from its throat.

That was a mistake as the Lion Bane lunged at me. I was knocked down on my back with the Lion Bane standing over me. "Now die!" it shouted, raising its right claw.

"Rider Punch!" I heard a voice shout.

I saw Ichigo come up behind the Lion Bane as it turned around and he punched a charged fist into its stomach. The Lion Bane staggered back and let out a yell before it exploded. I looked at Ichigo as I stood. "Thank you."

"Thank me when this is over," Ichigo stated.

I nodded as I saw Nigo and V3 walking up to us. It seemed they took care of the rest of the Bane for I didn't see any other Bane. "Do you know where Rhodes is?" V3 asked.

"In the basement," I replied, before adding, "and so is Lina."

Ichigo nodded. "Yosh, ikuzo!"

We all nodded as headed for the basement. Instead of taking the elevator, V3 and Nigo punched a hole in the floor that seemed to have lead down to the basement. One by one we jumped down the hole and instead of falling to our deaths, we descended until our feet crashed onto the metal floor. It seemed the room we landed in was filled with darkness, save for the light coming from the hole above. There happened to be an exit with the door opened. Nigo was the first to walk through. We all heard Nigo say, "Sugoi(Incredible)!"

We, Ichigo, V3, and I wondered what he was talking about. We passed through the door and we understood what he meant. Before us was a large chamber made of what seemed to be stone. It almost looked like an Ancient Roman or Greek household to me. Anyway, the chamber was circular with stone pillar supporting the roof and there were lanterns, lit with fire, placed at the edge of the room. "Seems like Rhodes had a lot of time on his hands," V3 commented as he stared around.

"Yes," Nigo nodded in agreement.

As I looked around I noticed there was a door... this one led to Rhodes. The others noticed it as well, but I ran towards it, eager to take care of Rhodes. However, we were taken by surprise as more Bane popped out of no where, taking up by surprise. We fended them off, but we obviously wouldn't last long. "There's too many of them!" V3 shouted as he punched one.

I had to agree as I slashed at a couple of Bane. There were too many of them for us to handle. I noticed Ichigo turned his head towards me. "Adam, get to Rhodes!" Ichigo told me. "We'll handle them!"

I was hesitant on leaving them alone to deal with the Bane. I slashed at the nearest Bane. "But I can't leave you here!" I shouted.

"GO!" V3 shouted.

Giving into their requests, I finally left the chamber and ran down the hall. It seemed like the hall would never end. However, it did when I saw an entrance that led me towards appeared. It was time for me to face Rhodes and get back Lina...

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AN: That's chapter 8! Once again, I must apologize for rushing through the story like this, but please let know what you think by leaving a review and please leave constructive criticism.

Raika out!

PS: Sorry, maxpower02, but there's no connection between Jackal and Shocker. Besides, I've already explained as to why Ichigo, Nigo, and V3 are after him.

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