Masked Rider The 1st

Last chapter you got a dose of a surprise as ex-Rolling Bubbles debut as Agent HOPPER # 2 and is just as strong as Hyper Rider. Now the two ex-Powerpuff Girls are about to collide with Psycho Mantis in tow. How will she be able to defeat these two without hurting Miyako?

See below on how this will turn out...

Disclaimer:

- Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z is owned by Aniplex, TV Tokyo, and Toei Animation

- Metal Gear Solid is owned by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan

- Kamen Rider is owned by Ishimori Productions

- - -

Outside of the commander's room, Kuriko contacted Otacon and the two discussed on how to stop the fight and how to deal with Psycho Mantis so that Momoko can concentrate on stopping Miyako from her forced assault.

"Taking down your friend won't be a problem since Momoko knows her more than I do...but Psycho Mantis is...he can read you like an open book and can tell what your movements and thought patterns are...you can't outwit him since he can read your thoughts. You're heavily stacked against them."

"Read me like an open book...if he can read my mind...yeah...that might be the answer. If i can distract him long enough maybe nee-sama could take Miyako somewhere else and try talking to her...and then I can psyche that psycho-wierdo out in his own game...wish me luck, Otto-matic..."

"That's Otacon, Kuirko...hello? Hello??"

Kuriko turned off her codec and entered the room to see him using his psycho-kinesis to send Hyper Rider towards Agent HOPPER # 2, who delivered a flying sidekick to Momoko's face, further busting her nose. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room and grabbed Psycho mantis' attention and began to taunt him with her wily antics which made the ex-Hyper Blossom filled with worry.

"Hey you...the masked man! I heard what you just said to my sister! It's a lie! I bet you were spying at us at our home...videotaping us from long ago that's why you knew all about my sister! I bet you were using ropes to make things move! I know it...it's a David Blaine props!"

"Eh? You doubt my abilities? Perhaps I'll demonstrate it to you by reading your mind...behold. I will read your mind..."

Momoko was about to intervene when Agent HOPPER # 2 grappled her from behind and both rolled out of the room and began to brawl there, and Hyper Rider was forced to punch her back with sheer force as she was worried about Kuriko's safety, but Agent HOPPER # 2 was persistent in her mission and she grabbed her target by her "scarf" and continued to pummel her. Hyper Rider was forced to punch the HOPPER by her nose, busting her, but she persisted and kept on holding onto her and began to strangle her prey.

"GAAKKKTT!! Miyako...! It's me! Momoko!"

Back at the room, Psycho mantis was surprised that he couldn't enter her mind, and he exerted a lot of effort, but he still couldn't get through, and he was starting to get frustrated with what is happening.

"What's this?? Why couldn't I read your mind??"

"Well...I'm waiting...I bet that was all an act..."

"Be patient! I will read your mind! RRRAAGGHH!! NGGGHHHRR...Why is this?? I can't read your mind!!"

"Ho-hum...boring...boring...boring..."

It turns out that Kuriko had her mind closed so that she can't be probed mentally and it took a lot of will power to do that, and being crafty as she is, she had no problem, but then he finally deduced it and he was impressed by her cunningness and decided to shift the tide of the battle in his favor.

"So...you managed to block my attempts...I don't know how you did it, but I must say I'm impressed, but that doesn't mean you can avoid my psycho-kinetic powers...behold!"

With a wave of his hand, a vase levitated and hit the young girl on her cheek, knocking her silly but she managed to recover. Shaking her head, she grabbed the vase and threw it back at him, but the vase stopped in mid-air and went back at her, and she ducked as the vase smashed against a wall. She realized that she has gotten herself in a fix as she forgot about his psycho-kinesis and now she has to find a way to outwit him without getting caught. She activated her stealth camouflage and went invisible. Thanks to her idea of "closing" her mind, Psycho Mantis couldn't find her via telepathy and now she has a chance to get a rebound. She sneaked behind him and did a "low blow", and he kneels down to the ground in pain, and then she delivered a multiple-hit combo, and this send him staggering, but he levitated in the air and tried to find her but he couldn't pinpoint her location and he couldn't find her via telepathy.

"Why?? Why couldn't I read your mind??"

She grabbed a chair and placed it behind the floating villain and stood up there carrying a steel chair and slammed it behind him, but he managed to use his power and sent the chair flying, but she let go of it and ducked, as the chair began to swing wildly as he tries to use his power to find her, but to no avail. Then, the two girls crashes back into the room and he got an idea on how to pinpoint her location and began to use his other power at Momoko.

"RRRAAARRRGGGHHH!! What are you...AARRGGHH!!"

"Now, my dear Agent HOPPER # 1...help Agent HOPPER # 2 in finding the little girl..."

Kuriko was now gritting her teeth as she didn't count on Psycho Mantis re-possessing her elder sister and decided to remain invisible and tried to find a way to cancel out his powers but then the possessed Momoko accidentally stomped on her hand, and she shrieked, and thus the two HOPPERS managed to find her invisible form and grabbed her, and began to pummel her with punches and kicks, and then threw her in front of him, her stealth device deactivated and she was grabbed by Psycho Mantis by her collar.

"I must say...you did actually outwit me...you have earned my respect. I'm sorry this has to end this way, but I'm only following orders...in the name of the revolution. If you join us, you'll be given an unlimited power. I assure you about that...what will it be then? Hmm...?"

"How about this?"

Kuriko took out a water-gun and fired black ink, smearing his mask and blocked his view, and the two HOPPERS went forward and did a double flying sidekick, but she grabbed him and shove him forward, and he was on the receiving end, getting hit by the two HOPPERs and it connected. Then she took out a pair of stun grenades and tosses it toward the three, stunning them, and this caused Psycho Mantis to release his mental hold on Momoko and she picked her up and are about to leave when she approached the semi-conscious villain.

"Sorry about that...but you'll be fine. With a gift like that, you can use it to help a lot of people...good and innocent people. Think about it. You can change the world with that decision. You're doing the opposite right now, and it's bad for you. I think you can be a "superhero" if you use it in the right way."

After that Kuriko picked up the semi-conscious Momoko and her helmet and are about to leave when Psycho Mantis made some comments. A brief exchange of words were engaged.

"So...I'm defeated, I...I wasn't able to read the future..."

"A...strong person doesn't need to read the future...he/she...makes their own..."

It was Momoko, who was still groggy but was able to make her statement.

"So then...a person's future...can change...in a blink of an eye...I didn't count on that..."

Finally, he was unconscious and so was Agent HOPPER # 2. Momoko then noticed the bookshelf there and asked Kuriko to help her move it seeing something odd. The two sisters then moved it aside and it slightly revealed a hidden passageway, and they entered it, and then closes it to make sure no one saw them enter it. Five minutes later Agent HOPPER # 2 and Psycho Mantis woke up and realize that the two sisters have left, and they do not know where they went. The genome soldiers and SHOCKER Troopers arrived and told the two that they didn't see the two sisters pass by them, and at that point, Liquid Snake ordered him to return to the main building while Agent HOPPER # 2 joins the two soldier factions in hunting down the two sisters.

- - -

At the secret passageway, the two sisters were walking downwards via the stairs and they had to use flashlights as the place is very dark, and thankfully they weren't being followed since they closed the passage door after Psycho Mantis and Miyako were knocked silly from the stun grenade. They paused after a ten minute walk to take portions from their ration as they were both hungry.

"I wonder how they got Miyako? I mean...it was just a coincidence we were kidnapped because of our little heroic stunts at the airplane and at the Anchorage bar. We were internationally known because of that..."

"Perhaps, Kuriko...is because...my memory is flactuating because of that brainwashing...they seem to know us...somehow..."

"Wait...I think it's because someone must've recognized you as Powerpuff Girls...that must be it..."

"But we're not anymore..."

"Either way...the one responsible must've done some extensive research...it's no coincidence that Miyako's been taken from Japan . I bet they have a Japanese contact...let's get going as we might get our answers..."

After their 15-minute snack break is up, the two sisters continued their journey and went further down to the passageway and it was quite far, and the younger sister wondered when they would reach the end of this tunnel.

- - -

Meanwhile, at the communications tower, Otacon was still in his stealth camouflage form and was sending encrypted, coded messages to the US military base hoping that they get the message he just sent in order alert them of the situation here, as well as letting them know that the Akatsutsumi sisters are here and are doing their best to stall the terrorists until help arrives. He then left the room as he heard footsteps and by the time he left, the guards looked around, seeing nothing suspicious. After checking the room, they left. Otacon was passing by the guards and secret tapped one of the guard's head and the guard accused his fellow guard of picking a fight, which resulted in a scuffle. As the other guards try to pry their two comrades apart, Otacon made his safe escape.

- - -

Meanwhile, Hyper Rider and Kuriko have reached the end of the tunnel and when they got out, they were surprised to see that they are in an underground cave, and there were pack of wolves waiting for them, and they are hungry for meat. Kuriko tried tossing some food at them but they seem more interested in living, breathing ones, and it took a series of Hyper Punches from Hyper Rider to disperse them and they went ahead, but after that they found out that they're facing a gauntlet of entrances and felt that they were in some sort of labyrinth. They went north, and after that they reached a dead end, but not until Kuriko pointed out that there's a small passage at the floor and the two had to crawl their way towards the western area, then north again and then east. By the time they reached the exit point they were in front of a large room, which leads to another area that they've never encountered before. They now contemplate on what to do next before advancing further.

"What now, nee-sama?"

"We wait. First let's see if there are any goons waiting for us there. If the place is clear, then we advance. Wait here…I go first. In case there are goons in there, run and hide should I have difficulty in containing them."

- - -

At the control room of the main building, Psycho Mantis is resting after getting his bearings back after being humiliated by Kuriko, and Liquid Snake was monitoring the entire complex until one of the hidden cameras caught the two sisters on footage and Revolver Ocelot was excited to get his hands on the two, having fitted with a cybernetic right hand after it was cut off by Hyper Rider.

"Ahh...now I will have the chance to get my hands on those two bitches...especially the little one..."

"Hands off the little girl, Ocelot...she is mine."

"You had your chance and failed, Mantis...better sit this one out...or you'll be mentally humiliated like what happened an hour ago…unless you want to get a "psychic" backlash since the little girl was able to shut her mind…now that's humiliating. I'd better sit this one out and let a real pro handle this…"

Ocelot stopped at making comments and ducked as office equipments were levitating and nearly hit him as Psycho Mantis took exception to what Ocelot had just said, and is about to levitated a large computer mainframe using his psycho-kinesis but Liquid Snake came in and diffused the tension and reminded them of the task at hand.

"That's enough...both of you. Someone has already beaten you to the punch. I also directed Agent HOPPER # 2 and our soldiers to intercept them at the underground passage at the other building. Once we've captured those two, you will get to decide what to do with the 10-year old girl, but Agent HOPPER # 1 will be re-programmed to be our top assassin once more. Until then, refrain from bickering with each other."

Reluctantly, Ocelot and Mantis backed away as they look at the monitor screen and watches the two sisters making their next move.

- - -

Back at the underground passage Hyper Rider went inside the large room to see if there are any enemy forces waiting inside. Seeing that the coast is clear, she motions Kuriko to come inside, and then the younger Akatsutsumi took a fire extinguisher and spayed the floor in full power and full force, in which certain portions of the floor which was covered in snow exploded, and it revealed that the portions of the floor that exploded were laced with claymore and landmines.

"Looks like we nearly got suckered into a trap, but it's a good thing I was smart enough to see if there are traps around. Well, the coast is clear now…"

"Show-off…"

The two sisters went forward and are looking at both corners to see if there are soldiers hiding and intending to make a sneak attack, but everything is clear, and are about to advance further when Agent HOPPER # 2 and the combined forces of the genome soldiers and the SHOCKER Troopers arrived and quickly entered the large room, and the two sisters realized that they're in big trouble. They immediately targeted the genome soldiers first and took them out before they had the chance to fire their guns, and Kuriko took one of the soldiers' semi-automatic guns and opened fire, killing the soldiers and even threw C4's at them leaving only Agent HOPPER # 2 and the SHOCKER Troopers to fend off, and this time the tide shifted in the enemies' side as they are equipped with bullet-proof body armor and bullets couldn't touch them, and the two sisters decided to retreat as they saw a ventilation shaft beside a stairway and told Kuriko to go on ahead, but then a tranquilizer dart hit her on her left shoulder and Hyper Rider vaguely saw someone at the top of the stairs moving and then fired another dart at Kuriko, hitting her at the right leg, and there she recalled that someone shot her at the cargo vessel, and was about to help her but the 10-year old made one last attempt.

"Nee-sama…go to the…shaft…you're…our only…hope…"

Kuriko threw a stun grenade at the SHOCKER Troopers, stunning them, and Hyper Rider went through the ventilation shaft and fled, tears dripping from her eyes underneath her helmet as she was forced to leave her younger sister behind, but Agent HOPPER # 2 managed to recover and followed Hyper Rider via the ventilation shaft and the chase is own, while the Troopers picks up the now unconscious Kuriko while the shooter emerged from the stairs, and is revealed to be a woman in her 20's, and of Kurdish descent.

"Take her to the main building…the boss would be half-pleased that we've captured one of our troublemakers…the rest of you, go to the shaft and help Agent HOPPER # 2 in apprehending Agent HOPPER # 1. And the rest of you…back to your stations."

And so Kuriko is taken away while 20 SHOCKER Troopers went inside the ventilation shaft to follow the two cyborgs while the rest picks up the corpses of the killed genome soldiers and intended to dispose of them as they serve no other purposes now that they're dead. The large room then was deserted and no one was left standing there except for a few soldiers wiping the bloodstains off the floor.

At the main building, thirty minutes later, Revolver Ocelot instructed the genome soldiers to place Kuriko onto the bed of the torture room as he waits for her to wake up so he can begin the torture session to exact revenge for humiliating him at the main building which also resulted in losing his original right hand.

To Be Continued…

I can tell what you're thinking and believe me…this won't be very nice.

Preview:

Hyper Rider and Agent HOPPER # 2 faces off again amid the presence of the SHOCKER Troopers inside the ventilation shaft, and the battle will be rather violent and a bit bloody as Momoko attempts to bring Miyako back to her senses.

Meanwhile Revolver Ocelot goes on to torture Kuriko, but will she be able to withstand the torture session and persevere until help arrives?