Cards of Destiny
Will and Mina walked around, "Where is everyone?" Mina wondered aloud.
Will shrugged, "It is weird." He looked at her, "The population said thirty thousand, right?"
She nodded, "Thirty thousand, two hundred and ninety seven." She looked around, "With that many, there should be some sign of life out here."
He nodded, "Every other city has had life, even if there were monsters involved. This is…," he stopped and looked at Mina.
"I know what you're going to say," she told him, "I'd rather not think that way."
"Can you suddenly read minds now?" he asked.
She shook her head, "No. I just know how you think. Besides, after all this time together, it's not hard."
He shook his head, "I have no idea what you're thinking, though."
She smiled, "You never did."
He nodded, "If this was the Dynasty's doing, I'm sure we'd see soldiers of some sort. When they came to Harper's Coast, they launched so many monsters."
"And in Rose Valley and Tower City, they sent an envoy. The Glasswalker was going to internally raise an army, and Peter was going to corrupt their Advent Decks to make an army of fake Riders."
He nodded, "But here? Nothing," he said. He stopped, "Unless their occupation force is hiding and watching us…"
"Don't be paranoid," she said. She stopped and closed her eyes. She held her hands out to her sides a bit and focused, then lowered them, "There are people nearby. They're hiding inside."
"You can feel them?" he asked.
She nodded, "I'm growing every day." She looked to the left, "Let's go that way."
"Why?" he asked.
"I feel something that way," she said, running off. He ran after her.
People ran, screaming. The two were nearly trampled by the running civilians, but pushed through them and managed to get to a good spot to stand and watch. Will drew his belt out, but Mina put her hand on his arm.
"No," she said.
"I need to help these people!" he told her.
She shook her head, "No. Trust me."
"Why?" he questioned, "I have the power! I need to help!"
"Just watch," she said, more urgency in her voice.
He sighed and looked on ahead, "Ok, what is it?"
"I feel them."
"Who?" he questioned.
"The people I assume to be the Riders of this town."
"Plural?" he asked.
She nodded, "I feel four distinct energies approaching. They'll deal with the threat."
"I can't even see the threat!" he told her.
"It's just around the corner. We'll get closer. Follow me."
She pulled him along, dodging around people.
[Decade 8. 1:08-1:14]
A man was on the ground, and a monster stomped on his chest, causing him to shout. The monster shouted and struck another man.
It chased two people who tried to flee up the stairs nearby.
[End Decade footage]
"I can't just watch this!" Will shouted, drawing his belt again.
He walked forward, but he froze. He managed to look back, seeing Mina shaking her head.
They both looked ahead to see four people slowing down and stopping. One was an African American man in a blue and black jacket with a spade emblem on his coat's arm. He carried himself strongly, and then he ran again.
"Everyone, run to the closest cover you can find! We're here now!"
People began to run away as the man ran towards where the monster was.
Three other young men came, each one wearing a jacket. One was in red and black with a diamond emblem. One was green and black with a club. The last was yellow and black with a heart. The three men helped usher people away.
The spade man stopped and lifted a belt up, "Ok," he said, "It's time for you to go down."
[Decade 8. 1:38-1:41]
The bull monster let out a loud bellow and shook its head.
[End Decade footage]
The man smirked, "So, you're not intelligent. Got it, you're a lower level." He loaded the buckle onto his waist, causing the belt to appear around him, holding the buckle on. "If you were an intelligent Decker, we might need to use all of our powers. But just you? Heh, I've got it."
He loaded a card into the buckle and then gripped the side. "Power Ride!" he shouted, causing the buckle to flip when he pulled it.
"A card system?" Will questioned. He drew his own card out and looked at it, "Right after Rob and the others."
"Quiet," Mina hissed.
A blue energy-like card floated in the air. The man let out a shout and ran through it.
[Decade 8. 2:22-2:53]
His armored form ran through the card, which passed behind him, vanishing. He shouted and ran towards the monster, jumping up and throwing a punch as it turned back towards him, "Don't turn away from me!" he shouted and then shouted with each sequential strike against the monster.
His strikes changed to an underhand sword strike across the monster's chest. He changed grips and continued to slash.
When the monster hit the ground and rolled, he flipped his sword around and opened it, revealing a series of cards. He drew some and slashed them through the blade.
"Kick"
"Thunder"
Two giant cards appeared behind him and focused into him.
He shouted and leapt at the monster, kicking it with a thunder powered kick. It rolled back and lay on the ground.
"You're done," he said as he threw a card at the monster. The monster turned green and was sucked into the card, which flew back into the Rider's hand.
[End Decade footage]
"More cards?" Will muttered, "Really? That many? First me, then Rob and the others, and now him?"
"Technically, this guy and the Advent Riders were ahead of you," Mina told him, walking towards the four men as they regrouped.
"I know, I know," Will said as he followed.
"Good job Eric," the man with the club emblem told the Rider, who walked towards them in his human form.
"Thanks Jeff," he said.
The diamond man clasped him on the shoulder, "Looks like you've almost completed your deck."
"Well, since each Decker gives us more power, each one goes down a bit more easily," he said, "That's their greatest weakness."
The man with the heart was speaking into his phone, "That's right. Eric eliminated the Decker. We're returning to base. It's safe to drop the alert system." He closed his phone, "Alright guys, let's return to base."
As the other three walked past him, Jeff turned to him, "Damon," he said, directing back.
The black haired man turned and looked back to see Will and Mina standing there. He sighed and looked back at Jeff, "Nothing more than two people who ignore danger just to watch us fight. Ignore them."
"Those groupies show up a lot," Jeff said, "But I've never seen those two, and they hardly seem like the normal, energy filled and ecstatic people."
"Same thing," he told Jeff.
"Then why are they walking towards us?" Chris asked.
"Ignore them," Damon said, "Let's return to Ace and be done with it."
"Let's hear them out," Eric said, folding his arms.
"This is a waste of time," Damon said.
"Everything is a waste of time for you," Eric told him. He lowered his arms and walked towards Mina and Will, "Can I help you two?" he asked.
Will stopped, "I think you can," he said, drawing his belt out, "I'm a Rider, just like you." He looked at the faces of the four men, "I assume those three are as well?"
"That's right," Eric said, "We're members of Ace. There are three more of us, but they're out on assignment elsewhere." He held out his hand, "My name is Eric Collins. And you are?"
He lowered the belt and shook Eric's hand, "Will Scheffer. Power Rider Legacy. This is Mina Crock."
"I'm not a Rider," she said, "But I assist."
"How do you assist?" Jeff asked, "Tech support or something?"
"Something," she said.
"If you're a Rider, then come with us to Ace," Chris said.
Damon glared at Chris, who shot him a look back. The two held it for a bit, then Damon sighed and walked away from them.
"Ignore him," Jeff said, "He's a bit uptight. He doesn't like to involve outsiders."
"I'm a Rider, I'm not much of an outsider, I don't think," Will said.
"That's not what I mean," he said.
Eric spoke up, "We're a larger organization, so we hire people to do all sorts of things. Every time we hire someone, he's around. It doesn't matter if it's a tech guy, or if it's a janitor, or someone working alongside us like someone operating the communications system. He's always judgmental."
"Must be a pain to work with," Will said.
"He's a good man," Eric said. "Come on, let's get going."
The three Ace employees walked off, following after Damon. Will and Mina followed.
"This is Ace," Eric said as the group walked into a room filled with computers and people manning them. There was a large screen replaying the battle from earlier at the front of the room, "Or well, the command center and communications room."
Eric stopped by one of the men manning a computer. "Good job out there Eric," he said.
Eric nodded and clasped him on the shoulder, "Thanks. It was an easy one."
"I don't know if it tops your last fight," he said.
"Well, the last fight was all four of us, and when that happens there isn't much better."
"You've got that right," the man told him. Eric smiled, nodded, and walked on.
There was a man standing at the head of the room, watching the footage. When it ended he hit a button, replaying it.
"Sir?" Eric asked.
The older man turned, "You four are back," he said. "Who are these two?"
"Another Power Rider and his support," Chris told their leader.
The man nodded and walked towards Will, "Are you the Rider?"
Will nodded, "Power Rider Legacy," he said.
The man nodded, "My name is Jameson North. I'm the commander of Ace."
"Commander?" Mina asked, "You view this as a military group or something?"
He nodded, "What would you see it as? We protect this city from the Deckers. We have control of the city's emergency systems. And if you're wondering, we call them 'Deckers'. We don't know their real name, but it's appropriate since they make up a full deck of cards."
Mina shrugged, "I was just pointing it out," she said.
"Will Scheffer," Will said, diverting his attention from Mina. "Mina Crock is my companion and friend. She helps me."
"How does she do that?" North questioned.
"I'm psychic," she said.
"Psychic?" he questioned.
"There's no science there," Jeff said.
"You think she has a reason to lie?" Eric questioned him, "You run your life by technology, and yet we fight monsters and seal them inside of somewhat magical cards."
"The cards are technology," he said, "Nanotechnology. It's not something mystical."
"We transform into armored warriors based on bugs and fight animal monsters that fight us and each other, while we also know of other Riders existing in other towns and fight monsters even worse."
Jeff shook his head and walked away.
"He finds technology as his only solace," Eric said.
Jameson cleared his throat, "What is it you two want here? Are you here to join our cause?"
"No," Will said, "Have you heard of the Dark Conquest Dynasty?" he asked.
Jameson shook his head, "I haven't."
"They're a conquering force comprised of an army of monsters," Will said, "We came from Harper's Coast."
"That's what happened there?" Jameson questioned.
"Wait…what do you mean?" Mina questioned him.
"We've heard reports that the people have been put to work," Jameson said, "Monsters patrol the streets. The situation isn't good. Fishermen have reported seeing ships being refitted with monsters and weapons. It's only a matter of time until something happens."
"No…," Will muttered, clenching his fists, "We have to stop them…"
"You would stand no chance," Jameson said, "A single Rider wouldn't win that fight."
"I'm traveling," he told Jameson, "Or…we're traveling," he directed to Mina, "We're meeting other Riders, growing stronger."
"And unless these Riders join you as an army, I don't think any amount of training will help you," Jameson said. He looked at his Riders, "Mine will not join you."
"I wasn't asking them to," Will said.
Eric stepped forward, "Sir?"
"You will not join them," Jameson said in a calm voice.
"The Deckers are almost gone!" Eric said, "You sent the other three away on other missions! Surely you can spare me to join him when the time comes!"
"I cannot!" Jameson shouted at him. Jeff, Chris and Damon looked at Eric. Jameson looked at them, "They listen," he said, "They understand."
"I understand too, but Sir…,"
Chris cut him off, "Eric, just stop talking."
He sighed and nodded, "Ok, ok, fine…"
There was an alarm going off in the command center. Jameson turned and shouted, "Main screen, now!"
[Decade 8. 7:48-7:50]
A monster ran a little.
[End Decade footage]
"Not much footage," Jameson said. He turned, "All four, mobilize now!" The four nodded and ran from the room. He pointed at Will, "You go too! Watch, and if things get bad, then step in."
One man sitting at a computer turned and shouted, "When you get back, we need to update your belts! I have an upgrade for you!"
"So little faith in your team?" Mina questioned.
"I'm practical," Jameson said, turning towards the screen.
Mina walked towards him and stood at his side, folding her arms as she watched the screen.
"I'll intercept it!" Chris shouted, running towards a warehouse.
Jeff, Damon and Eric stopped outside. Eric loaded his belt to his waist, "If you need help, I'm acting as backup."
Damon pointed to Jeff, "We're setting up in that building! Let's get the computers up and begin communications!"
Jeff nodded and lifted a briefcase. He and Damon went to another warehouse.
Will left them and moved towards something he could climb. He began up.
Chris walked into the warehouse, belt on his waist, "Hey! Come on!" He reached to his belt, "Power Ride!" He pulled on his belt, causing it to flip. He ran towards the projected energy card.
[Decade 8. 7:52-8:33]
His red armor formed and he ran forward, kicking the Decker back with a shout. It fell, so he picked it up and struck it repeatedly as it tried to roll away and throw more strikes. He shouted and continued to hammer the monster.
He fired from his blaster weapon from his waist, knocking the monster back. He unfolded the cards from the back of the weapon, "Eric, time to do our thing." He drew a card.
The monster growled and came back to its feet. He drew his blaster down as an energy card came over it.
"Blast"
He fired, throwing the monster back.
"Got it!" Eric shouted, running down at the monster's side, sword in hand. He shouted and slashed and kicked at the monster.
The two clashed and ended up breaking through the wall. They continued to clash, and Eric kept slashing it until they locked together.
"This one's strong!" he shouted.
[End Decade footage]
Damon and Jeff were looking at things on the computer, "It's stronger than the last one!" Damon told him into an earpiece.
"Another one!" Jeff shouted, "Eric!"
[Decade 8. 8:34-8:36]
Eric shouted and struck the monster back before running towards them.
[Decade 8. 8:39-8:41]
"Hey!" Chris shouted, causing the first one to turn towards him. He shot it a few times.
[Decade 8. 8:44-8:47]
Eric slashed the goat-like monster and shouted when he got punched. He hooked the arm and kicked it, "Even stronger!" he shouted.
[Decade 8. 8:49-8:52]
Chris kept his opponent's arm locked, "Eric! Be careful with that one!" He turned his weapon and shot it in the chest.
[End Decade footage]
"I should get in there," Will said as he loaded his buckle to his waist. He lifted a card, "Power Ride!"
He swiped the card and closed the belt.
The belt flashed red in the center and then a magenta shine came around Will's body, molding into armor around him. Projections came up at certain points, like cards or a barcode, finishing his armor.
[Decade 8. 9:12-9:20]
His armor completed and he leapt from his spot. As Chris took a punch, he pushed off and slashed at the monster with his sword, forcing it back.
He kicked it back, slashed it, and kicked it again.
"You intervened?" Chris questioned.
[Decade 8. 9:21-9:41 (note: at around 9:32 edit out Mutsuki)]
Will shouted as he kicked and slashed the monster a few more times. "Of course I helped you," he said as he drew a card, watching as Eric fought and his foe got ready to attack again.
"Power Ride! Dragon Knight!"
His armor shifted into Dragon Knight and he struck the monster back.
"His armor!" Chris shouted.
[Decade 8. 9:45-10:27]
Will continued to strike at the Decker and then clapped his hands together, "So which card should I use? Some fire?" The monster attacked again, "Yeah, let's try fire," he said as he beat the monster back again. "I know exactly what to do!" he shouted as he lowered his raised arm and struck it back.
The monster rolled to the ground and he drew a card out, loading it without a word.
"Strike Vent"
He obtained the dragon gauntlet on his arm. The monster growled.
Will shouted and thrust the fire blast forward, blasting the Decker to the ground.
Chris drew his arms up in defense behind Will. The goat monster growled and ran.
Will rose.
[End Decade footage]
"They did it," Mina said.
"Seal the Decker," Jameson told them.
"Decker sealed," Jeff reported.
"Good. Report back to base, now." He ended the signal and looked to Mina, "He interrupted the fight."
"Will tries to help," she told him, "Your Riders could have done it, but he wanted to get involved. That's just who Will is."
Jameson didn't say anything more.
The five men stood together in the field, "So, that was your form then," Will told Chris, "A blaster?"
He nodded, "As Spade, Eric has a sword. As Diamond, I have a blaster. Jeff is Club, and has a club-stick…thing. You'll see. And as Heart, Damon has a bow and arrow that doubles as a sword."
"Your Rider names are the card suit names?" Will asked.
"Not overly imaginative, we know," Eric said, "But we're a military type group, so don't expect flashy names like 'Legacy'."
"Or 'Dragon Knight'," Chris said.
"How did you do that anyway?" Jeff asked.
"That's my power," Will told them, "I met Dragon Knight about a day ago, and I helped him. We bonded and our hearts came together in our duties, and I gained his powers. I have a few Riders powers in my cards."
"Do you have cards for the four of us?" Eric asked.
He stopped and pulled out his booklet. He sifted through the blank cards and held one up, "I think this is you," he told Eric.
"That silhouette is definitely Spade," Eric said, "So what is it that we have to do?"
"Just bond in battle, or something," Will said, "I don't know how it all works exactly."
"We have time to figure it out," Eric said, "If I can't help you fight in person, at least I can lend you my powers."
Will nodded, "I appreciate that more than you know."
Eric gave him a smile, "Now, let's get back to base."
In the base, Jameson was speaking to Jeff about his computer and looking at readouts on the main screen.
Eric, Mina and Will spoke outside of the room while the other two were with Jeff and Jameson.
"Thanks for the help man," Eric told him.
"No problem," he said, "Although I didn't do much. It would have gotten back up if you guys hadn't carded it."
"Well, that's the problem with Deckers," Eric said, "We need to seal them right away, or they just get back up."
Will nodded, "Well, glad I could at least help in some way."
"The goat one was strong," Eric said, "We've only encountered a few of that level so far. A few of them could speak."
"And the goat?" Mina asked.
Eric shrugged, "Didn't say anything to me."
"So, what's it like working here?" Will asked.
"It's good," Eric said, "I like being able to help and protect the people. I could do that on my own, with the belt, but…but we have so much technology, we know everything that's going on. It's fantastic. Instantaneous."
"And the people listen," Mina said, "They all hide in their homes and stuff."
Eric nodded, "We have a lot of control and sway. It helps save people."
The door opened and someone from inside stepped out, "Eric, there's a belt upgrade. We have a new piece of software to install."
"Right," Eric said, taking his buckle from his coat. He was about to hand it over when the alarms sounded.
"Go!" they could hear Jameson yelling from inside.
"Later," Eric told the man, running down the hall. Will ran after him, and Mina stepped aside as the other three came out shortly after.
The two men arrived in a dusty grass area. "There it is!" Eric shouted, running on ahead, buckle in hand. "Hey!" he shouted, loading it onto his waist, "Power…"
[Decade 8. 20:02-20:04]
The monster growled, lifted its arm, and threw a green energy blast forward before Eric could finish.
[End Decade footage]
Eric shouted as he was thrown back, landing on the ground on his back.
"Eric!" Will shouted, "Power Ride!" He ran forward as the light and barcodes came over him. His armor formed.
[Decade 8. 20:21-20:29]
Legacy and the Decker ran at each other and struck, passing each other. They continued to throw strikes, but each blocked.
[End Decade footage]
Eric looked up, "Chris! Jeff!"
"We're sorry Eric," Chris said as he lifted his belt.
"What?" Eric questioned, coming to his feet.
"The Deckers have gotten smart," Jeff said as he lifted his as well and put it on his waist, "I guess it's good for you that you were with Legacy, not us."
"What are you talking about?" Eric shouted.
"We're going to destroy you," Chris said.
"What?" Eric shouted, "What's going on?"
"Power Ride!" both shouted.
"Power Ride!" Eric shouted.
[Decade 8. 21:01-21:02]
The card passed behind Spade's finished armor.
[Decade 8. 21:06-22:40]
The cards passed behind the completed armors of Diamond and Club. The two ran forward.
Eric stood there with his blade in hand as his two friends shouted and ran at him. They engaged each other, everyone taking hits as they attacked with their weapons, shouting coming from everyone.
Meanwhile, Will continued to fight the Decker, but wasn't getting far. Soon the goat monster leapt in and forced Legacy back, who engaged both Deckers now.
He pulled a card as he evaded their strikes and then leapt over them.
"Here!" he shouted as he threw the card in.
"Legacy Kick"
He shouted and leapt up, coming down and kicking the goat monster as the other one rolled out of the way.
The fight with Spade and Diamond stopped briefly to see, then resumed. All three Ace Riders continued to fight as Legacy rose to face the other Decker.
"Ok," he said, shouting as he ran forward.
The battlefield was covered in smoke as something struck, causing everyone to be shaken.
"What was that?" Will questioned as he looked.
A black and gold Rider ran towards the battle, shouting.
"Damon…," Eric grunted from the ground.
"We're back to normal," Chris said as he and Jeff rose.
"What's Damon doing?" Jeff questioned.
Power Rider Heart continued to run towards them, shouting. He slashed at the three, taking them down easily.
He grabbed Spade's belt and kicked him back, pulling it free.
[End Decade footage]
Eric hit the ground and shouted in his human form. "Is…is it the software update?" he groaned, "Was it a trap?"
[Decade 8. 22:48-22:55]
Damon shouted as he slashed the other two back.
Will shouted as he shot at Damon with his blaster.
Damon shouted as he took shots to his chest, then he growled. Will lowered the weapon.
[Decade 8. 22:58-23:17]
"I didn't like you from the start. My hate is only amplified," Damon growled.
"Good, I didn't care for you much either," Will said, "You don't strike me as a hero."
"Come on!" he shouted as he ran for Will.
Will ran for him.
The two shouted as they rushed each other and punched.
[End Decade footage]
1:08-1:14, 1:38-1:41, 2:22-2:53, 7:48-7:50, 7:52-8:33, 8:34-8:36, 8:39-8:41, 8:44-8:47, 8:49-8:52, 9:12-9:20, 9:21-9:41, 9:45-10:27, 20:02-20:04, 20:21-20:29, 21:01-21:02, 21:06-22:40, 22:48-22:55, 22:58-23:17
Total: 4:54
