Episode 028 – The Trek to Helheim
Author's Note #1:
This will be the first time at least one of the five main characters of this fic will start this chapter with an opening narrative before the chapter starts. In this case, Mitsuzane. Majority of his opening monologues also includes quotes from Robert Downey, Jr. (which are bold faced). As I mentioned before, being a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. since Iron Man, I tend to expand Mitsuzane's character combining RDJ's roles besides Tony Stark – namely Harry Lockhart from Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Paul Avery from Zodiac, Julian Wells from Less Than Zero, and even Sherlock Holmes himself.
Since the Ex-Aid cast co-exists with the Space Explorers; the closest Good Counterpart/Foil for Pallad would be Go. Since we saw Go's interaction with Pallad when he infiltrated Genm Corporation's building by himself, though Pallad seems more relaxed, Go is hyperactive, and is much of a troll.
In the light of the recent episode of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, since it's very hard to take that Kiriya is officially killed. Therefore, he's officially written off of this story permanently and Samus and her crew will now learn of his fate.
Tearjerker aside, here is episode 28. And belated Merry Christmas to all!
-Mitsuzane's Interlude-
Space Explorer Initiative Log Entry #2
December 24, 2016
Log Author: Mitsuzane Kureshima
A famous man once said, "The lesson is that you can still make mistakes and be forgiven." Who said that? What does that even mean? It doesn't matter anyway. I said it because he said it. In fact, life is like a "coming-of-age" story, growing up is something that you do your whole life. I want to always feel that I can be a kid if I want. Growing up has some negative connotations. Like, you're not supposed to roll around on the ground anymore. You're not supposed to make fun of yourself. And you can't stay being a child forever; this is what I learned two years ago. Remember that you hit bottom doesn't mean you have to stay there. Back in the day, I'm not used to feeling like I belong where I am. And now, I find myself in a company of other five guys who I have a feeling that are some are not so different from me, how they could deal with my own volatility, and asking advice dealing with my insecurities.
Everyone has a story, and the story changes, and the more I can root into the truth of things - it's so hard - I don't think anyone ever really puts it all together. But somewhere along the way it all became fused. How do I put this… We're six gathering individuals – four guys and two ladies. We all have our own stories to tell. Pick up a dysfunction, and it's a family problem – I desperately tried to have everything myself, but my hubris cost of the lives of two friends that I've been close to. Samus lost her parents at an early age, perpetuated the cycle of revenge just to protect the universe she once lived in. Shijima-senpai has his own daddy issues, Alain was treated as an outcast by his own kind and royal blood at the rule of his brother; Makoto-san has problems making difficult choices for himself; Mayu-san felt an emptiness even after avenging the loss of her family. Let's face it; all of us here have our own share of darker sides of our own personalities. We're not soldiers; we are gathering individuals who swore to protect all life on Earth and beyond the depths of the universe. This is why we call ourselves the Space Explorers.
And so many sayings from that famous man, and I feel just like him. Obviously, whose idea was this? What does it even mean? Doesn't matter either. Before I can end the log here's another one: I wouldn't want to see anything irreparable happen, but I also like it when seemingly irreparable thing occur and men and women find a way to move past it. That being said, I have my own reason that we prove ourselves as heroes. Which it makes sense in context; I think that we all do heroic things. But, hero is not a noun, it's a verb!
-END LOG-
-Into Space-
Once the Mega-Fortress now exits the Earth, while Mitsuzane looked around the windows stargazing, he is approached by Samus.
"Hey, thank you for the watch, Mitsuzane.", said Samus as she revealed she got the present. "Yeah, Christmas is coming soon. I have never celebrated one single holiday back in my world."
"Then, we'll celebrate together the holidays after we beat the Black Bodhi Tree that is.", the young Kureshima smiled. "It feels so right that we're back in space again."
"Sure we are.", the bounty hunter added.
Before they trek into Planet Helheim, Samus recalled back from the Daitenku Temple about one of the ways to beat Kugai is to destroy the Forbidden Fruit.
"What is it, Mitsuzane?", Samus asked. "Are you going to destroy the Golden Fruit just to defeat Kugai?"
The young Kureshima hesitated at first until… "I feel like I couldn't make a choice. But, I rather choose not to destroy the fruit."
Mitsuzane admits that he is not good making difficult choices, and his suffering over his mistakes two years ago made him incapable of making decisions for himself.
"Mitsuzane, did you know that destroying the Golden Fruit also means causing a planetary obliteration. In other words, you could more likely destroy Planet Helheim if you choose to destroy the fruit.", Samus continued. "In a sense, destroying a planet is a gravest sin a human being could ever commit. One reason why I'm not too proud about leaving a planet being blown to smithereens."
"What makes you say that?", he asked.
"I don't want you to end up like me, Mitsuzane. But, your decision not to destroy the fruit is the reason why I want to remind you of this importantly.", the bounty hunter replied. "For me, becoming a Kamen Rider is the way I can atone for my own sins and everything I've lost back in my world.", as she looked and grasped on her Mighty Action X SP Gashat. "As far using this thing just to cure a mere disease or just a computer game, it is meant to be used for protecting mankind."
Samus's explanation makes sense. She destroyed planets that were plagued with evil, yet one of those is the planet where she spent her life in her teenage years with the Chozo – Planet Zebes. The Chozo themselves are trying their best to atone for their own sins, as for Samus's case, her concept of atoning for the Chozo's sins as well as her own is through her becoming a Kamen Rider. To Samus, becoming a Kamen Rider is not a privilege, it's a right. As Samus protected the universe, she shares the creed with every Kamen Rider she had encountered during her journeys in the present time. Kamen Riders are bringers of truth, justice, and hope for all sentient beings on Earth.
"We sure have a very long way to go.", the bounty hunter concluded.
"Well said.", Mitsuzane could agree more.
During the conversation between Mitsuzane and Samus, Mayu was eavesdropping them from a distance onto the lobby window. Seconds later, Mayu runs into Samus when she finds herself being spotted by the bounty hunter.
"What are you doing here, Mayu?", the hunter asked. "I guess you heard us talking."
"Everyone head for the briefing room. We got incoming transmission from CR's headquarters."
The two women head for the briefing room , on the way, Mayu comments that this is the first time she treks into space.
"Space is beautiful from watching from the ship.", said Mayu.
"It has been a long while I never explored planets since I came to the present.", Samus replied a second later. "Back in my world, the whole galaxy is my only home."
"You're like roaming around planets without a home?!", Mayu said with her eyes widened in shock.
"If in case you didn't know…", Samus continued, "I already lost my parents to space pirates when I was only three years old. I was taken in by bird-like alien race that is the Chozo, and they left me to my own devices when I come at age. Being a freelance bounty hunter is like living in a space trailer truck."
"Oh, I see…"
-Kiriya is Dead-
Once the crew, along with Ange and company assembled in the briefing room. The Adam AI opens the transmission coming from Emu. The intern spoke to the Space Explorers of a bad news.
"Kiriya-san… He…", Emu said as if he is almost in the verge of crying. That shows the sign that Kiriya is dead, yet he can't seem to spit it out since Emu told the whole Space Explorers that Kiriya was killed by Kamen Rider Genm several hours ago, just before the Space Explorers left the Earth.
"He's dead?", Mitsuzane figured out and is shocked to learn the coroner is killed. "By who?"
"I knew that motherfucker is behind all this.", Go added. "That Dan Kuroto guy… I'm going to snap his neck one day if I saw his ugly-ass face!"
"That's horrible…", Mayu was even more scared about hearing Kiriya's gruesome fate; even worse Emu pointed out that his (Kiriya) death was a result of a Game Over, once a Gamer Driver user has depleted all of his energy. For added bonus, they learn that Kuroto uses a new Gashat that is more oriented to survival horror games.
"I have a feeling that this guy is gonna bring the zombie apocalypse sooner or later.", Makoto insinuated.
That medical examiner guy who transforms into a bike… Is dead? Ange muttered to herself.
So far, only Go and Mitsuzane are the only members of the Space Explorers to have a huge hatred towards the Bugsters that's near fanatical belief; as for the latter's case, his hatred is even more passionately discriminate to the point he wants Kuroto dead, even by amoral methods; as shown when he silently clenched his fist in fury since the news about Kiriya's death not only saddened him, but fueled his animosity towards the Bugsters even more.
"If only Kiriya-san would've learn to keep his mouth shut. He would've stayed alive if he hadn't run into that bastard.", Mitsuzane said, bitterly recalling what he warned to Kiriya after first meeting him that he should've kept secrets first. "Emu, your fight with the Bugsters is just the beginning. You do what you have to best – is changing the fate of your patient before you can think about revenge. Vengeance is pointless as it will do nothing but tear you apart, so be careful if you think avenging Kiriya-san.", Mitsuzane then reminds Emu that he must stay true to his Hippocratic Oath rather than seeking vengeance.
"Kureshima-san…", Emu replied.
"Mitsuzane is right.", Samus added. "You have a duty a fulfill – as a doctor and a Kamen Rider. As of now, we don't have any time to stick our noses with the Bugsters as we are facing a different enemy right now. We will come to help you anytime once we are finished with the Black Bodhi Tree."
"Thank you guys.", Emu nodded, grateful to interact with the majority of the Space Explorers are also senior Riders themselves, later the transmission is closed.
"Not a good day to celebrate Christmas when you learn someone you know dies.", the Adam AI lamented regarding Kiriya's fate.
"Well, that's the truth after all.", Samus replies. "The truth hurts after all. And the coroner can't help it saying what he knows at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"And that's his fatal flaw!", Go laughed bitterly.
"We will have our vengeance one day.", Alain nodded anyway. "Like what Samus mentioned, we still can't stick our noses on the business of those doctors."
The Space Explorers, since they are all Kamen Riders have their own duties in separate routes. The CR doctors have their own responsibility as saving patients from the Bugsters.
Concerning the Bugsters, the whole Space Explorers see nothing them but a mere epidemic that they need to be destroyed. Mitsuzane and Go are the only ones to bear discriminate hatred towards the parasitic race. Even Ange herself, much like before back on her home planet; she used to hate the Norma, until she realizes that she is one. Ange couldn't help but share the hatred with the two men.
However, Samus reminds Mitsuzane that hatred will also affect his mentality overtime, to the point losing his sanity if it takes over him, and the result might leave him a shadow of his former self. But, Mitsuzane reassure that it's the right thing to do when it comes to protect people – unleash the hatred on those who prey and oppress on the innocent.
"And I thought you're just a very obnoxious guy.", Ange laughed, looking at Mitsuzane.
"But, actually he has a heart, princess.", Momoka added.
-Enter Planet Helheim-
"Everyone, be advise. We are now approaching Planet Helheim's atmosphere.", the ship's computer's voice spoke.
"Well, time to see an old friend.", Mitsuzane said as he puts on his sunglasses, sporting a grin as he puts the shades on.
"Kureshima-kun… When did you start wearing sunglasses? For what reason?", Mayu asked.
"Probably that's his habit.", Alain muttered.
"Hey. The team is full of manly dudes, that includes Makoto-kun AAANNNDDD yours truly, of course!", Go interrupted. "In fact, this story, for some reason is Rated M. Get it? Rated M… For Manly!"
"Since when does senpai (Go) started breaking the fourth wall?", Makoto asked.
"Numerous times. It's too hard to elaborate.", Samus replied. "As far as I'm concerned, Go has already broke at least a thousand fourth walls!"
"Fourth wall breaks inside of fourth wall breaks? It's like a million walls!", Go laughed. "This has to be for the records, besides that fanfic called "My Immortal"."
The whole conversation suddenly turns a little more non-existent.
"Nobody reads My Immortal. Don't you realize that story is poorly written?!", Mitsuzane joked.
"Not only it's terrible, but it's funny too!"
Until Samus forces to close the forum once the ship manages to touchdown a landing area, showing that the Space Explorers managed to arrive into Planet Helheim for the first time.
-Planet Helheim: Landing Area-
The Space Explorers leave the Mega-Fortress, as they walked into the sight of the planet's environment.
Samus, on the other hand recalls that Planet Helheim is the very first planet she landed when she entered the Present Time. It is where Kouta, the Man of the Beginning awarded her the Shogun Suit.
"Samus, now that you are now a Kamen Rider at your own right…", Mitsuzane looked at her. "Kouta-san is one of the person he is worthy of a title of Kamen Rider, not just an Armored Rider. From what I heard from what you said becoming a Kamen Rider is to atone for your own sins, that's a strength based on kindness might be true strength. I feel like I'm going to acknowledge you with the Kamen Rider title, Kamen Rider Huntress."
"I have my own moral code. But, they are the same with the rest of the Kamen Riders who protect mankind. And now, I'm a Kamen Rider myself.", Samus nodded. "It feels I'm truly worthy of the will of the true Kamen Rider."
See you next mission…
Author's Note #2:
- This is the first time one of Samus's crew (i.e., Mitsuzane) acknowledges her with the title of Kamen Rider, even calling her with her full Rider identity name of Kamen Rider Huntress. Much like in the case of Kouta whenever he is called a Kamen Rider rather than Armored Rider, Kouta is proven worthy of that title.
