Parasite Eve
This is where the Opera Pandemonium story arc ends, and this time it'll be action-packed after four chapters of non-stop origins about Melissa Pearce. Yup…it's action-packed to the max! Fire vs. paper. You think Yomiko Readman (aka The Paper) will be able to stop this from happening? And what is happening to Kyuu?
- - -
Back at the play, Melissa continues to sing and play her part as if nothing was happening, but then Nancy and Yomiko noticed that Melissa' skin was slowly turning pale white from her usual Caucasian-colored skin. She adjusted her glasses while rubbing her eyes in case if she was seeing things. But Nancy thought otherwise as she didn't blink her eyes and was observing the play the whole time.
"Yomiko…look at Melissa's eyes…her eyeballs are turning red…"
"You're right, Nancy…"
The former British Library agent-turned Dan Detective School teacher felt her friend holding her hand and when she looked at her face she saw the seriousness in her and then noticed that she was glancing straight at Melissa. She observed the lead actress and so far she didn't find anything suspicious aside from the change of color on the actress' skin and eyeballs as the play continues.
Melissa continued to play her part but at the same time sensed another presence somewhere within the building. She couldn't seem to pinpoint the exact location but she could tell something that intrigued her. Someone has the same mitochondrial powers and it is not a girl. It came from a boy but is not among the audiences yet she can still tell where she can find him.
"So…I seem to have a rival…yet my rival is a boy…I couldn't recall where yet it seem that I've met him just recently. Oh well…he'll be easy to find…now to let my latest script come to life…"
- - -
Back at the opera performance Melissa decided to make her presence as Eve known and then glanced at her fellow actors on stage and one by one they were set on fire. The audience didn't know what is happening and assume it was just part of the play, and so they remained still at their seats, but the actor who was being burned fell off the stage and landed near the first row audiences, one of the guest was able to confirm that the actor was being burned alive and the actor died at once.
Junior, using his binocular, was shocked by this as he recalled what Kyo and Kite told him months before about people being set on fire by unknown means and now he get to see first-hand on how the people at the Akihabara dance pub died by fire, and he wondered if he should do something but remained calm and observe the scene more thoroughly before making any move.
- - -
At the unmanned dressing room Kyuu and Megumi were horrified at what they are seeing at the TV and realized what Class Rand F meant about people being set ablaze through unknown means, and now they have a pretty good idea on what would happen next. At this time the Class Q leader sense the same presence and is able to pinpoint it on the stage area but couldn't find the exact source as his pink-haired lover was incessantly pulling him urging him that they should get help.
- - -
Born by Miwako Okuda
(Opening Song from Le Chevalier D'Eon)
namida ga ochita ato datte
kanashimi ga ieteku wake ja nai
kono mune ni sumitsuita
okubyou na jibun wo tada kanjiteku dake
dakedo shinjite ikitai
chiisana yume no hajimari wo
kokoro wa sukoshi zutsu arukihajimeteku
itami sae hikizurinagara
* tomadoi de ashita ga mienakutemo
omoi wa mirai wo sagasu no deshou
nakitsukareta niji no hate
atarashiku umareta watashi ga iru
kono machi wa sou itsu datte
aimai na genjitsu miseru kedo
tatta hitotsu no negai wo kanjite ikeba ii
sou kanjireba ii
hito wa dareka to kurabete
jibun wo miushinau keredo
daiji na mono wa sou kokoro ni aru kara
yogosazu ni kagayakasetai
zubunure de amagumo hikisaitara
michibiku hikari ni deaeru no deshou
mizutamari ni yurete iru
taiyou ga watashi wo terashite yuku
shiawase toka yasashisa toka
me ni mienai mono wo
koboshinagara atsumenagara
itsuka afurete yuku made...
repeat *
ima amagumo hikisaitara
michibiku hikari ni deaeru no deshou
mizutamari ni yurete iru
taiyou ga watashi wo terashite yuku
- - -
Episode 36: Gakugeki no Hyakkiyagyou part 5
At the hideout of the druids in MT. Bandai, King Tut was watching the play at a hidden camera attached and is watching on the huge monitor eating a bagful of popcorn while Ryoma and Tsubasa are watching him watch the footage and the two began to ask their "master" why he is wasting his time watching a "worthless" opera show but the pharaoh-wannabe playfully responded to their queries unmindful of the popcorn flying from his mouth.
"Ha-ha-ha…in less than a minute the grand display of the play will be shown…and it'll be a sight to behold…witness why I chose her to be my queen and why she will be the queen of the world…a never before seen display of great power…and the world will bow down before us…me…her…and you, my prodigal sons…we will become the new rulers of the world…the new Gods of the universe…HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!"
Indeed, Ryoma and Tsubasa saw what King Tut meant as Melissa began to set the actors on stage ablaze and died instantly and now they wondered why they didn't see this from the beginning what should they do next once she returns to the base. Ryoma didn't seem to care and just enjoyed the show while Tsubasa scofed at this and left the room.
Ryoma: "I guess the wait is worth it as I get to see real fireworks...too bad i had to stay here or I'd be caught...I wish she did this on DDS or at the senate..."
- - -
Back at the building, Kyuu and Megumi stared wide-eyed at what they are seeing and are now considering the options they have in their hands, but her photographic memory gave her something to observe as she saw something odd at the footage. She finds it suspicious and told Kyuu about it that also made him uneasy.
"Kyuu...look...Melissa looks at someone and that someone burst in to flames!"
"I see it too...we'd better avoid her for now...right now we find a way to record this and show it to Principal Dan...this may be our answer to the arson incidents back then...though it might cause a public disruption if they see this..."
He picks up the Beta Phone and made a quick call to his younger twin brother Kyo and told him the situation. Of course the Class R leader couldn't believe what he just heard, especially since hearing the news earlier about the arson incident at the airport and for him it all makes sense. He didn't waste time in going there and told him and Megumi to avoid her at all cost.
- - -
At the audience hall, after the co-actors were burned to death the audiences in their first row seats were the next to burst in to flames, and then at the ones in the upper balcony. Within moments panic and pandemonium echoed throughout the area and people began to scamper for the exit but one by one they began to burst in to flames and it took only five seconds for each one to die before making their way out.
Yomiko and Nancy watched the scene as they remained calm and so were the others near them as they wonder what is happening but Nancy looked up and saw a burning body falling towards them and she "phased" herself and her friend and slowly descended to the ground enough to keep themselves hidden. Then she got a call from her codec and it was from her son, Junior.
"Mom...I think that woman on the stage is causing it. Each time she looks at someone that someone burst in to flames..."
"We're aware of that..."
"Leave her to me. Go find Kyuu and Megumi...they're somewhere within the building. If she sees them and that means the end of them. I have to go."
"Junior...wait..."
The transmission was cut as he turned off his codec and "phased" through the wall before he was seen. Yomiko saw the logic in Junior's suggestion and told Nancy to take them away from the hall but before they did they noticed that only a handful of the audiences are left, and to their utter shock the remaining victims were burned to death before reaching the exit door until no one is left alive and the two former British Library agents "phased" out of sight and hid themselves while Melissa finally stopped singing after seeing her work and fled from the scene, presumably heading back to the dressing room.
- - -
A block away from the opera house Kyo found Sakurako Yukihira walking by and he knew she's the only one she can turn to at this critical time. He parked his Side Basher and talked to her and she readily agreed though she was surprised to see something at the passenger seat.
"That's…the Delta Gear!"
"Just came from Shuji Mihara's place…he called me to give me this saying he's retiring…and then nii-san called me and then…(explaining the situation in detail)…and so you're the only one I can turn to for help. Please, help me here…"
After a brief moment she accepted the request.
"Where should we go then?"
"At the opera house…we should be there in less than three minutes…"
And so the two DDS students cruise their way towards the opera house and hoped they weren't too late and prepared themselves for any eventual confrontation.
- - -
Back at the unmanned dressing room, Kyuu was unable to find the recording device and was forced to watch the horror of the footage until it ended and Megumi was terrified that Melissa might be heading her way here and told him that they should leave at once. Seeing that there's no other way the couple decided to leave immediately and find another exit to escape.
- - -
At the gala hall, Kyo and Yukihira stared wide-eyed in horror at what they just saw and realized who they are up against though he couldn't comprehend that someone like Melissa Pearce is capable of doing this and seeing the charred remains and are left only in ashes, they are now taking things seriously and braced themselves for a fight. The two DDS students fasten their respective belts around their waist and the Class R leader punched the codes.
5-9-6 ENTER
Beta Phone: "STANDING BY…"
Kyo chanted "Rider Change" and inserted it on the holster of the belt and in an instant he became Mask Rider Gamma. The female Class A leader placed the pistol near her lips as it has a built-in mouthpiece and it can be used to initiate the transformation since it has no keypad installed.
"Henshin."
Yukihira then was enveloped in black and white light and in a split second she became Mask Rider Delta. The two armored teens then went towards the stage sensing that Melissa may have went there, and then followed her trail. Hoping that she hasn't gone quite far.
- - -
Five minutes later…
As the Class Q members left the room they had to make a long transverse as they couldn't go back to the route they earlier took and they dare not to take a very bad risk. Thanks to her photographic memory, she was able to navigate herself and Kyuu and both are now nearing the fire exit, but paused as Kyuu stopped mid-way as he felt the "presence" calling him, and he tried to figure out what is happening to him.
"Kyuu…we can't stop now…we have to keep going or she…"
"I…I feel that…presence…it's near here…"
"Wait…you don't mean…HER??? Melissa Pearce???!!!"
At that moment Melissa arrived and saw the two. Wanting to take them by surprise she pretended to befriend them but Kyuu stood in front of Megumi and went for a defensive stance, and made a gesture but realized something that he regretted at this point of crisis. He initiated his transformation to Mask Rider Beta but then noticed something on his waist.
"Blast! I forgot…I didn't bring my belt with me…!"
"Is there something wrong? You two seem to be lost…come, I'll guide you…"
"Stay back! We know what you did…I don't know how but you're the one who set those people on fire! We won't let you! So back off or else!"
"So…you knew…too bad you won't live to tell the tale…"
As Melissa gestures with her hand Meg stood back she felt a warm aura enveloping her boyfriend but saw Melissa looking surprised at this and tried again…and nothing happened. Kyuu felt his body getting warm yet he didn't feel the slightest harm hitting him and sensed that the presence came from Melissa herself, and in turn Melissa…or rather Eve…finally realized that the so-called "rival" she sensed earlier came from the 15-year old boy in front of her was none other than Kyuu. Though impressed, she didn't want to waste any time and is going for a full attack.
But then a green energy drill materialized on her right side and as she turn around, she saw Mask Rider Gamma going for the Emerald Smash, but she revealed something that surprised the teens as she has another form of power besides pyrokinesis: Telekinesis. The "energy drill" was "shattered" and Gamma was thrown against the wall, knocking him down. Then Mask Rider Delta showed up and threw the Beta Gear towards Kyuu while she placed the pistol near her lips and made a voice command.
"Fire."
The Delta Pistol initiated "Burst Mode" and fired powerful shots of laser but she made a telekinetic wall and blocked the shots, but then she spoke "kick" on the pistol and a white "energy drill" formed in front of her, and the armored Class A leader is going for the Lucifer Hammer, but just like Gamma, she did another telekinetic attack and both the energy drill and Delta were taken out and she was slammed against the wall.
Eve then resumes her assault on the Class Q leader and tried a full concentrated attack, but Kyuu remained unaffected except his upper clothing incinerated but his upper torso left no marks and now she is able to confirm it: He is someone besides herself to have powers and may or may not be related to her own.
"I see…it was you…well then…if I can't kill with my method…then I'll try another way…but first let me take that girlfriend of yours first…we don't want any witnesses to dislodge our secrets, can't we…?"
"Keep her out of this!!!"
At that moment, shards of paper appeared and enveloped the actress and disoriented her for a moment as Yomiko and Nancy "phased" their way from the floor and held onto the DDS students as Melissa broke free from the burning papers that bind her as she set them aflame. She tried to combust her victims but Junior appeared and opened fire with his semi-automatic.
"Mom…take them and go! I'll follow you in a while!"
As the four make their escape, Junior "phased" in and out to avoid the pyrokinetic attacks while shooting her with his weapon, but to his surprise the bullets didn't affect her and before he was about to let go of his gun the gun went ablaze and his right hand was on fire. Ignoring the pain he descended to the ground and escaped, leaving a very jubilant Melissa Pearce laughing at her escaping opponents.
"Ha-ha-ha…run if you like…you can never stop me…I shall rule this planet and put an end to the race of humanity! And from this day on…I shall be known as …Eve!"
But then Kyuu was till there and inserted the Beta Phone onto the holster of the Beta Gear, becoming Mask Rider Beta. Beta went on the offensive and landed several punches but he felt like hitting an invisible wall as Eve created an invisible force field she created, and then she retaliated within her pyrokinesis, but apparently due to the so-called "power" within him and the Beta armor, Kyuu was relatively unaffected.
"I see…you indeed have powers like me…but within time it will awaken within you…so join me in remaking the world…together…we will be unstoppable…you and me…side by side…"
"Never. I'm a detective and I will side only in the name of justice! Now give it up and…what…I feel like something's burning inside me…"
"We both have the same powers…we are one…you cannot deny your true place…"
"You just sound like Hades and Pluto…I'm not giving up!"
Beta inserted the knuckle duster and pressed ENTER on the Beta Phone's keypad and it glowed bright blue and is ready to do a powerful punch. He performed the Grand Impact Punch and Eve blocked it with her hand but both combatants staggered back, and she was surprised at the power his armor and weapons possessed. Seeing that she is not yet ready for a full-scale attack, she fled towards the basement area by smashing a hole underneath, and the armored Kyuu went after her.
At that point, Kyo and Yukihira, aka Mask Rider Gamma and Mask Rider Delta, arrived and saw it and the two followed suit and went underneath, which appeared to be a sewer area.
- - -
Underneath the sewer area, Eve was fleeing from the fight when she encountered a pair of baby alligators and touched the two with her bare hands. Within two minutes Beta, Gamma and Delta arrived just to face up with two mutated reptiles. Beta went ahead while Gamma and Delta were forced to stay to fight the two mutants.
"Nii-san…what the FUCK are doing???!!!"
The armored Kyuu paid no attention as he somehow sensed where Eve is heading and soon the two reached a dead end. There the two had a stare-off, but once again he felt something burning within his body. He didn't know how but he was able to tolerate the pain, and now he tried every attack he could think of.
Beta Phone: "BURST MODE…"
Beta fired powerful shots from his Beta Phone gun mode, but it wasn't enough to penetrate the force field she made and then he tried the Grand Impact Punch using the knuckle duster and it partially "cracked" it, and now he inserted the Beta Pointer (a flashlight-like device) on his right ankle and performed the Blue Nocturne (a blue energy drill which tries to drill its way on the target while the user performs a flying kick), and this time Eve was taking the brunt of the attack yet she was able to withstand it.
"In time you'll figure it out why you are unaffected…and believe me when I say you will be my heir once it finally takes control of you…no matter what you do all of the humanity will eventually turn against you…ha-ha-ha-ha…"
Turning around Eve displayed another kind of power in which she adjusted her molecular structure and "liquifies" her way through the steel bar-like cage which serves as the dead end, and she escapes the scene while the Blue Nocturne was disabled after the move went through the target without hitting it. At that point, Gamma and Delta arrived and saw Kyuu reverting back to normal, looking upset, confused, and livid…all at the same time. The two DDS students who just defeated two mutated alligators wondered what happened between the two and hope Kyuu is alright.
- - -
Outside the building, Megumi, Yomiko, Junior and Nancy were surprised and concerned as they saw Kyuu, Kyo and Yukihira emerging from the building and Yomiko called the police to report about what happened. As Nancy took her son to a nearby hospital due to Junior's second degree burn on his right hand, the half-Japanese, half-British DDS teacher and the four DDS students stayed behind to guide the responding cops inside, which surprises them at the scene they just saw. The four DDS students inhaled deeply as they try to make out how to explain to them the bizarre massacre that happened minutes ago.
Kyuu was still lost in thoughts on what happened minutes ago and still wondered why he is the only one not affected by Eve's attacks yet he was relieved that Megumi wasn't harmed. Now he has a lot to think about. In fact he wasn't sure if he should tell this to his friends as he was unsure what Eve meant and he feared that this would cause unnecessary discomfort on them so he opted to keep it to himself for now.
To Be Continued…
- - -
Overnight by Aya
(Ending Song from Le Chevalier D'Eon)
Fly, sway, go all the way
I'm in the same fate with you
I feel your beat all around
Wandering in the everlasting way
Forever...
Tears fall, vanish into the night
If I'm a sinner...
Chivalry, show me the way to go
Rise, high, just feel alive
Say a prayer for you today
I still believe in your love
Trace the shadow of truth into the dark
Forever...
Tears fall, vanish into the night
If I'm a sinner...
Chivalry, show me the way to go
Wandering my crying soul
Only you can wipe away my tears
Forever...
Tears fall, vanish into the light...
- - -
Now the main antagonist has finally revealed herself…where will this all lead to?
And what is happening to Kyuu? How come he didn't went ablaze like the other unfortunate victims? What gives here and how come he's got immunity from Eve's attacks?
Yup, the Delta Gear is now in Sakurako Yukihira's hands, and she's now the official user.
Preview:
Class Q and a host of other DDS sections are sent to the building to do some investigation and hoped to get a lead on how this all happened, and how will this affect their ongoing investigation and lead them to the answer?