Episode 038: The Impostor's Secret, part 2

Author's Note #1:

Back in the previous chapter, it was really unexpected to see the impostor Genm use Drago Knight Hunter Z while fighting the real one in Zombie Gamer Level X. As what Toa Solaric's review states that it was really a shock to see the doppelganger Genm use Hunter Action Gamer Level 5. To be true, it is also possible, albeit hypothetically for Genm to assume Level 5, even by simulating it through the Level Up Rider Series figures that is LVUR 04 (Genm Action Gamer Level 2) and LVUR 10 (Hunter Gamer). Basically, at first it Genm was supposed to use Shakariki Sports instead of Drago Knight Hunter Z. However, I unwittingly chose to write the doppelganger to use Drago Knight Hunter Z, which unbelievably it worked.

The Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat used by the impostor Genm actually belonged to Samus. Here in this story, there are two existing Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashats (the Proto Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat used by Graphite and currently under Pallad's possession is not counted): one that is in Emu's possession in the TV canon, and the second one that Samus picked up after she and the party first fought Graphite.

-Old Memories (continued)-

Makoto and Alain visit Mrs. Fukushima's grave, praying. Mayu came along with the two men. Mrs. Fukushima died eight months ago when Alain decided to settle on the human world. The very last words Mrs. Fukushima said to Alain before passing away peacefully were, "A heart doesn't die. […] There's no need to rush. Someday… you'll be able to listen to the voice of your heart. And then, you can follow what your heart tells you."

Fumi-baa. I'm back again. My heart felt restless, and I'm continuing my journey protecting this world's treasures. Alain spoke to himself, for the first time visiting the grave of the old woman who gave him hope. I have more new friends… new allies…

A few minutes later, Makoto, Mayu, and Alain left the cemetery. Alain decides to head out for the takoyaki stand where he usually frequented, where it is now run by Mrs. Fukushima's granddaughter, Harumi.

Once arriving at the takoyaki stand, the whole place didn't changed a bit, and Harumi herself is running the store herself. And is delighted to see Alain back again.

And oh, Mitsuzane was staying around the park waiting for Makoto and company.

"Kept you waiting, huh?", the young Kureshima chuckled.

"I didn't expect you would show up out of nowhere.", Alain sighed awkwardly, mixed with a bitter reaction from his face. "Did that redhead woman gave you problems?"

To which Mitsuzane replies, "Partially. She's really too hard to handle. Ange-kun is her friend, so it's a little under control."

It doesn't help that Mitsuzane himself, regardless of whatever shenanigans that he and Go tend to pull out in times outside of the Space Explorers' missions. 50% that he's a passionately active member of the crew, 50% that he spends most of a time being a sociopathic comedian.

-Go's Xanatos Blueprints-

Moments later, Samus herself arrives at the park.

"Sorry if I'm late for the party.", the bounty hunter huffed after regrouping with the party. The other Space Explorers for a moment moved away from the takoyaki stand since Samus has to say to her comrades.

"I assume the guys in the hospital knew about the impostor Genm?", Mitsuzane asked.

"Yeah. Since Go was the one pulling the strings on the doppelganger…", Samus nodded. "We should never discuss anything related to the doppelganger Genm outside of the Command Tower to prevent attracting attention of Emu Hojo and the other Seito University Hospital personnel. Otherwise, it could compromise Go's mission."

"Is senpai alright?", Makoto asked.

"Don't worry. We have our faith in Go, as a team. We should entrust this to him.", Samus continued. "Not to mention, Go worked with the Special Investigation Unit."

"In fact, Shijima-senpai is very good of pulling out those unpredictable gambits.", Mitsuzane added.

Since it was Go who first discovered Kuroto Dan was Kamen Rider Genm, the Space Explorers will have to leave the rest to Go without letting the whole team involved. Go's Xanatos Gambits did paid off ever since using the doppelganger Genm as a means of counteracting Genm's Level X Zombie Gamer form. Since Kiriya Kujo's attempts to expose Kuroto tragically backfired, which lead to his death; Go is the only one who can continue what Kiriya left behind, and the loudmouth starts by playing Kuroto like a fiddle by making him fight his doppelganger.

Since Go is alone going a deep cover operation at the same time pulling the strings for the Genm doppelganger, the Space Explorers must keep this as a secret from everyone, especially towards the CR members, until further notice if Samus decides to plan a joint operation to defeat Genm.

-Sixty-seven Years Ago and From Here on Out-

Afterwards, the party returned back to Harumi's takoyaki stand, and each of them bought takoyaki to eat for the time being. Harumi's takoyaki cooking didn't change ever since she started running her grandmother's shop after her grandmother's death. While the party feast on their snack, Alain decides the time to bring up his story about how he first arrived in the human world back in 1950.

"You came here 67 years ago?!", Mayu bellowed to hear that Alain is already a hundred years old. "You can't be serious, Alain-kun!"

To Mitsuzane's amusement, Alain might be already approximately 150 years old, but looks just like he's still 24 years old, he even joked about that the Ganma themselves in general are still going with that classy Victorian-era style fashion statement. Even Samus is inclined to question with the Ganma race didn't seem to be affected by aging, judging Alain's current appearance. Yet again, Mitsuzane doesn't bother making senior citizen jokes out of Alain's expense.

"It's no surprise that your physiology isn't affected by humans' aging.", Samus deduced. "Considering the fact that you're now permanently human."

"I used to assume a human body through a Ganma Eyecon, until my brother destroyed it anyway.", Alain replied. "67 years ago, I first came into this world. This is where I was mesmerized by the blue skies, and I met a young girl who resembles Harumi-chan."

The others were puzzled about the girl who resembled Harumi, though to Alain's knowledge the he was unaware if the young girl from 67 years ago was Mrs. Fukushima.

"And I thought you were around Kanon-chan.", Mitsuzane jested, before looking right to Makoto, "No offense, Makoto-san."

"None taken, senpai.", Makoto replied with a nod.

1950, 67 years ago…

Back during Alain's visit in the human world, the first thing impressed him about the human world was a beautiful painting drawn by a little girl.

"What is this?", Alain asked the young girl.

To which the girl answers, "I'm painting the things I cherish."

"It's beautiful.", Alain continued.

"It was not ten years later I returned to the world with our mission. Then, I've met that same girl again.", Alain spoke before he continues his story.

1960, 56 years ago…

Elsewhere in the same park where Alain first arrived, he met the same girl, who is now in her teenage years. At that time, Alain wore tattered clothing than his royal family attire.

"Is that a painting?", Alain questions the girl. "It's beautiful."

But before the girl could turn around, Alain disappeared without a trace.

Alain continued, "It was until fifty years later. The girl is completely different, but she is what Harumi is now. But Fumi-baa reminded me of the girl that I first befriended."

To the confusion of his fellow Space Explorers, Mitsuzane briefly insinuates that it is most likely that the girl Alain befriended 67 years ago and Mrs. Fukushima are one and the same person.

Alain recalls the last time he saw Mrs. Fukushima. But long before that, at one time when Samus and Mitsuzane visited to the takoyaki stand where they last saw Mrs. Fukushima asleep, and didn't wake up…

Nine months ago…

"Mrs. Fukushima? Wake up!", Samus tries to wake up Mrs. Fukushima from her sleep, as she tries to check on the old woman's heart beat, her vital signs appeared to be not functioning, to which Mitsuzane responded by calling an ambulance.

Several minutes later when ambulance arrived, Samus and Mitsuzane take the unconscious Mrs. Fukushima to the hospital. An hour later, customers on the takoyaki stand were worried that Mrs. Fukushima is sick or something, or some said that she passed away.

Alain arrives at the takoyaki stand, only to witness a commotion – the patrons are concerned of Mrs. Fukushima's well being, and some said that she passed away due to her old age. When Alain overhears it, who was carrying art supplies at that time, he dropped them in shock of hearing the woman who encourage him is gone.

In the hospital, Samus and Mitsuzane asked the doctor about Mrs. Fukushima's condition.

"I'm sadly to announce that the patient is now deceased.", the doctor said. "Looks like her vital organs stopped functioning, and somehow while in her sleep her brain stopped functioning. It seems she aged so well."

Mitsuzane, on the other hand, is more concerned about Alain. "What is he going to do now that Fumi-baachan passed away?", he asked.

"What matters now is what Mrs. Fukushima's words of encouragement towards him will give him the strength. That is, the spirit will live on him.", Samus said metaphorically.

A day before Mrs. Fukushima's funeral, Mitsuzane finds Alain in a rooftop building as he is isolating himself from others. At that time, Mitsuzane is keeping a snide façade to hide his own emotions, with the purpose to encourage Alain to move forward and re-assures that Mrs. Fukushima's memories will live on through him. "A friend of mine told me this, 'Don't suffer alone.' Reach out to those who became close to you."

"Even after our fight against the Ganmaizers, I still felt restlessness within me.", said Alain. "All while I will continue protecting this world's treasures, this is why I turned to the bounty hunter to put me in the Space Explorer Initiative."

"I hope Fumi-baachan is happy for you, Alain. She's always watching you.", Mitsuzane added.

After the party finished the snack they partake, Harumi calls out Alain before leaving. The young lady gives Alain something, a very familiar pair of feather-dangled earring that he dropped 67 years ago.

"This is…", Alain recognized the peculiar item.

"Grandmother asked me to give this to you.", Harumi replied.

Before Alain can say something, though he still hasn't enough time to spit it out. Nevertheless, this is likely one of Alain's earrings that he dropped years back and the girl who first befriended him likely took it. Meaning, Alain knew that the young girl from 67 years ago is Mrs. Fukushima.

"Mitsuzane, I want you to have this.", Alain decides to entrust the feathered earring to Mitsuzane. "This is my only token of friendship I can offer."

Mitsuzane then accepts Alain's gift, signifying that Mitsuzane gets along with Alain despite the former having a tendency to joke at the latter's age to the point of senior citizen jokes.

The Space Explorers left the takoyaki stand.

-Genm Zombie Gamer Level X vs. Genm Hunter Action Gamer Level 5 (continuation)-

Meanwhile, Kuroto continues his battle against his doppelganger.

(*cues: "Sector 1" from Metroid Fusion [Super Smash Bros. Brawl remix]*)

Despite the real Kuroto managing to recover from the impostor's attacks with the help of Drago Knight Hunter Z. The real Kuroto reminds the impostor that his Level X form is much superior compared to the 10 Rider Gashats he developed. However, this doesn't stop the impostor from taking delight of seeing his original self suffer.

"Hehehe! You talk big, yet you still don't know how to surpass yourself!", the impostor Genm sneers at the real one.

"Shut up!", the real Kuroto refuted after he counterattacks the impostor Genm's blows.

As the fight between the two Kamen Rider Genms are about to ensue with both Genms activating their finishers.

*CRITICAL END!* / *DRAGO KNIGHT CRITICAL STRIKE!*

The two Genms fly into the air, the Genm in Level X starts spinning backwards rapidly thus turning him into an effective saw. While the Genm in Level 5 starts spiraling himself like a drill-torpedo combination; at the same time a dragon-shaped energy covers the impostor Genm.

Both Genms' finishers collide, with the Genm in Level X emerges the victor. After the doppelganger detransforms, "This is not over yet!", he taunts the real Kuroto before disappearing again, followed by the real Kuroto getting another synchronized seizure after defeating the fake.

Seconds later, Kuroto is attacked by Mach Chaser! Who appears to be hiding all along after the doppelganger Genm showed up. Go reveals himself after deactivating his Mach Driver's stealth camouflage.

"He has a cloaking device?!", Genm said shockingly as even his visual sensors didn't detect any heat signatures of Mach Chaser.

"You snooze, you lose pal.", Go sneers at Kuroto before he smacks the front wheel of his Zenrin Shooter at Genm, which de-transformed him in the process.

*GASHUUN.*

Go continues taunting Kuroto, "I really enjoyed watching you destroy yourself!"

"You coward!", the ex-CEO of Genm Corporation hissed. "Were you the one's pulling the strings on that doppelganger?!"

"Bzzt!", Go insisted. "Wrong answer, AGAIN! Hahahahahaha!"

The loudmouth leaves as he detransforms, leaving Kuroto with a look of disbelief that the Genm doppelganger's presence was Go's unexpected gambit. What's similar to that is how Pallad protected him from exposing his identity when Kiriya Kujo was still alive. This is not the first time that one of Kuroto's indirect gambits (that is at the time Pallad covered up for him from Lazer's Critical Finish) would come to haunt him, in a more karmic way.

After Go finishes his first personal encounter with Kuroto, the impostor Kuroto appears before Go and returns the Drago Knight Hunter Z to Go. This Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat actually belonged to Samus.

"You did a good job there, fido.", Go taps the impostor Kuroto's shoulder, congratulating him. Both Go and the impostor Kuroto leave the area.

Elsewhere from a distant building…

At the rooftop, Taiga looks through at his rifle scope, as he saw Kuroto knocked out by Kamen Rider Mach Chaser. The quack doctor himself saw the whole fight between the two Kamen Rider Genms.

"So, there's another Genm…", Taiga pondered. "On what side does he belong anyway?"

A mysterious teenage girl, introducing herself as Nico Saiba, interrupts the Dark Doctor, "What about him?"

"What are you doing here?", the quack turns his head at the sight of Nico.

"That other Genm you're talking about is nothing more but somebody's sock puppet.", the girl snarked. "Looks like someone is pulling the strings to make sure the real Dan Kuroto is dead."

See you next mission…

Author's Note #2:

- Go's confrontation with Kuroto emphasizes much more with mind games, unlike Kiriya's blackmail tactics. Because, Go is the one's pulling the strings of the impostor Kuroto, his personal sockpuppet into fighting the real Kuroto.

This will be the first chapter to feature Nico Saiba.