Episode 053: Love is in the Air
Author's Note #1:
- This chapter's title is also similar to the namesake episode from Power Rangers Super Megaforce, where it involves a monster-of-the-week's attempt to make one of the enemy's top lieutenants (a female) to make fall in love with him.
- This chapter, along with the next one is a two-part Valentine's Day special.
- Oh, for those who watched the Drive Saga Heart and Mach, Go is already in a relationship with Reiko Nishihori who is once the Seeker Roidmude. I thought about putting Reiko as a canon immigrant to this fic.
-Samus Interludes-
Space Explorer Initiative Log #4
February 12, 2017
Log Author: Samus Aran
That invasion was unprecedented… Those invaders, the Black Cross Armada made their way into the Earth. The last time we encountered these invaders four months ago were from AZ-007, an Earth Colony. It seems after the last encounter from four months ago, it seems that the enemies we first fought are stronger than before. They started bombarding all over the world.
As what Mitsuzane thought, the Black Cross Armada are much a powerful threat in comparison to the Bugsters, and to an extent, Kamen Rider Genm. With Kuroto Dan already assassinated, the threat of the Bugster has began to minimize lately; no tears were shed when he is assassinated. The Ministry of Health made it easy to cover up his death.
In the light of the Black Cross Armada's attacks, I guess the real war is starting for the fate of the Earth and the whole universe itself.
-END LOG-
-Post-mortem-
After the Space Explorers managed to thwart the Black Cross Armada's first attempt to invade the Earth. As for Samus's perspective, and with so with the rest of the Space Explorers, the real war has just already begun. The Black Cross Armada will not leave until they have defeated all the Kamen Riders protecting the Earth.
Taiga is still not finished with the questions regarding the Kuroto Dan assassination incident. The Doctor of Darkness is still continuing with his errands: that is to ask the Space Explorers if they have justification with the Genm assassination.
Hours after fighting the first wave of invasion by the Armada, Taiga visits at the Command Tower to confront the Space Explorers about their involvement in killing Kuroto Dan.
"So, you come here to know that we killed Kuroto Dan.", said Samus who sat at the desk on the briefing room.
Taiga is already come to the awareness that Samus and the party managed to kill Kuroto. But, Taiga has a second question in mind.
"What about those aliens attacking earlier, and the whole giant robot fight?", the back-alley doctor continued. "And, this Ange kid and her friends are they not from here?"
Samus brought up the incident on the Earth Colony AZ-007 where the Black Cross Armada began their invasion of that colony, which forced Ange, Tusk, and Momoka to take refuge with the Space Explorers' side. At the very least, Ange and her companions have been doing well since they stayed on Earth. But, Samus promised to them that they will liberate the Earth Colony once they get rid of the Black Cross Armada attacking the Earth.
"By the way, why was the Director-General of the Ministry of Health visited you here?", Taiga asked.
"Director-General Hinata rewarded us after we successfully murdered Kuroto Dan.", Samus continued. "I kind of think killing Kuroto will have you less trouble with the Bugsters already. We infiltrated his hideout, deleting all of the data of his so-called ultimate game, called Kamen Rider Chronicle. He was focused so much on his magnum opus considering the fact that he used you, Dr. Kagami, and Emu Hojo as his expendable pawns."
"Say goodbye to immortality, Kuroto Dan. Prepare yourself and repent in the afterlife!", the words what Samus uttered moments before Mitsuzane prepares to trap him with the Ridley Destroyer Armor.
"What is it you really want?! Money? Power? Technology? Please, I'll give you everything! Don't kill me! I beg you not to kill me, you've already took everything from me! Don't…", even hearing Kuroto begging for mercy was also music to the Space Explorers' ears.
This is not the first time Taiga sees an Ubermensch in Samus. In her (or to the entire Space Explorers as a whole) case, Samus has her own way protecting people as a Kamen Rider – but she has a second option, which she managed to adopt from Go's: a more stealthy approach. If Kuroto Dan was a manipulative cutthroat, the Space Explorers also manipulated him with Kuroto not realizing it, that's because Go created the Genm doppelgangers to make them fight Kuroto so the Space Explorers can sabotage his plans the stealthy way. Samus even got help from Pallad, the Bugster higher-up.
It was revealed the reason why Pallad sided with the Space Explorers is that the former's encounters with the Space Explorers made him to show fairness in fighting. And the Kamen Rider Chronicle game that Dan was trying to develop is a game where everyone can become a Kamen Rider to survive in a fight to the death. And Kuroto's death serves as the justification that Samus refuses to allow such unnecessary bloodshed and turning the whole world into a video game world.
Samus once again continued, "Kuroto Dan's death was even more fitting. Considering the fact what he did to Kiriya Kujo, the irony being that he dies on the same place where he killed the coroner."
She pointed out that Kuroto deserved it, nobody mourned and care for his death anyway. It was the only way to lessen the threat of the Bugsters.
"I never see you living with your own code… What exactly are you?", Taiga senses Samus's mindset what appears to be that of an Ubermensch.
"I'm not saying that I reject conventional morality, but I live with my own morality in a balanced method.", Samus continued. "I know how to balance pride and humility as a person. And, I know a person's pride can be a fatal flaw. And, the way I deal with scumbags like Kuroto Dan: when a bad person does horrible things to you, repay them with the same deed without any desire for revenge and getting your hands dirty, its human nature after all. Sometimes, to beat the bad guys, you have to pretend to be one to thwart them. The rest of the crew also managed to adapt to their own designed moralities, I hope you could do the same thing, Taiga Hanaya."
Samus admits that this is also the first time she gets her hands dirty, only for the purpose of defeating Kamen Rider Genm. Taiga is not very familiar with the Nietszchean concept of Ubermensch. Despite being morally grey, Taiga lives with his own moral mindset, not ideals. It doesn't help if Taiga doesn't play with the rules, either.
Speaking of which, the truth about Emu Hojo's game illness…
"What about Emu Hojo's illness? Are you and Dr. Kagami continue to keep that as a secret?", Samus asked.
"Perhaps so. In fact, you don't need to get yourselves involved with it, since you already killed Genm.", Taiga replied. "No one is mourning on his [Kuroto] funeral anyway."
"That's the reason why Director-General Hinata covered up the assassination. But, you should never… I mean, never EVER mention that incident to either Emu Hojo or the other CR members. You should be aware of what consequences of keeping too much secrets."
After Taiga converses with the bounty hunter and leader of the Space Explorers, he takes his leave: keeping his word not to reveal the Kuroto Dan assassination incident to the CR members. Taiga's hands are dirty enough though.
The bounty hunter presents another evidence coming from one of Kuroto Dan's schemes: exhibit A: a 2-in-1 Rider Gashat, a similar one that Kamen Rider Para-DX uses, but it is called the Gashat Gear Dual Beta. Exhibit B, the party also managed to salvage Brave's Rider Gashats: Taddle Quest and DoReMiFa Beat.
Taiga is more shocked than pleased. "How did you managed to steal all of his technology?!"
"While Genm was distracted fighting the false Genm, Go managed to sneak into Kuroto's hideout and steal that Gashat, all while recovering Brave's two Gashats.", the bounty hunter explained. "Apparently, this Gashat Gear Dual appears to be incomplete. I managed to datamine the Gashat, it only needs what appears to be another piece of data… That is coming from your Gashats."
"Datamining? Did you do the same thing with that special Gashat you used to gain Level 50."
The bounty hunter continued, "Exactly. What I do most is deciphering the secrets of the Gashats. Perhaps my datamining skills can help you. This is not for playing a mere game, I do that just to unlock a hidden power."
"For a second there, you guys are wildcards. Seems you're also a genius yourself, bounty hunter.", the back-alley doctor smirked. After learning that Samus is skilled with datamining with technology of the present-time. He decides to give his Gashats to Samus so she can update the Gashat Gear Dual Beta. The bounty reveals that the Gashat Gear Dual Beta has two games: Taddle Fantasy and Bang Bang Simulations, with the latter being the ones incomplete. Since Kuroto is dead, Taiga decides to entrust Samus to decipher the GGD Beta to finally complete it, and by doing so Taiga hands over his Bang Bang Shooting and Jet Combat Gashats.
"It'll take me between 48 hours to complete this. I'll let you know when it's finished.", Samus said after receiving Taiga's Gashats. "But… the problem is… You and Brave have to share with that Gashat considering that it's a 2-in-1 game to access forms associated to your combat specialty."
Samus realizes from Taiga that he and Hiiro get along less, its because over what happened to the surgeon's love interest who died during the Zero Day. But, it doesn't matter whoever gets to use the GGD Beta, Taiga wishes that he should be the first to use that.
Afterwards, Taiga leaves the briefing room to fetch Nico who is playing with the other Space Explorers with a game of Street Fighter V on the observatory's lobby.
"Nico!", the Doctor of Darkness shouted as he asks Nico so they can leave the tower. He sees Nico playing Street Fighter V squaring off against Makoto and Mitsuzane. Nico, being a genius gamer herself, is even unbeatable.
Minutes later, Taiga and Nico leave the tower.
-Freedom to Love-
The next day…
Eksewhere on the park, Makoto, Mayu, and Alain frequented on Harumi's takoyaki stand. So far, many people visit the stand. And the people visiting are couples, and this is the first time Alain becomes curious about romantic couples since February 14 is Valentine's Day.
Alain is even more curious as he sees a lot of couples frequenting on the takoyaki stand, and few are holding hands, he questions why there are some couples tend to hold hands. When Mayu overhears Alain's curiosity…
"Because, Valentine's Day is a day of love and romance.", Mayu answered his question. "There are some couples exchange gifts on that special day. While the three of us right now don't have dates… Samus is dating Kureshima-kun. Go-kun is meeting up with a woman who was released from jail…"
Neither Makoto and/or Alain are thinking what's on Go's mind, though the woman what Mayu is talking about happens to be an acquaintance of Go, precisely from two years ago. Makoto recalls (from Go himself) the woman Go is meeting with goes by the name of Reiko Nishihori.
Back on the Command Tower, Mitsuzane and Samus are into talking with Rinna, Kyu, and Inspector Otta about Go meeting up with the woman named, Reiko.
"Professor, why is Go meeting up with that woman recently released from jail?", Samus asked.
Rinna made a concise explanation, "Nishihori Reiko-san was arrested for kidnapping and attempted murder two years ago. She made contract with a Roidmude out of revenge for her father's imprisonment. Shinnosuke-kun arrested her father before the Global Freeze happened. When she desperately tried to let Go-kun kill her to make him commit such heinous crime, she was arrested instead."
"That's strange. Why senpai would testify for her.", Mitsuzane asked rather skeptically.
"Go-kun, despite his tendency to goof off. Has a hidden heart to know that he is willing to support her.", Rinna continued. "How sweet! Valentine's day is coming soon. I have a feeling that's he's going to take her on a date!"
Rinna is happy for Go, and so does his fellow Space Explorers. Speaking of Rinna, the scientist reveals that she and inspector Otta are going to be married soon.
-Welcome, Miss Reiko!-
Later that night…
Reiko Nishihori, the woman who was recently released from jail, courtesy of Go standing in as to testify for her, is looking for the man who supported her. As such, Reiko's sentence became a five year probation. She is happy to be free, and at the same time to let go of her past.
As Reiko went on to find Go, she notices a blinking arrow on the ground, she followed the direction. She notices a garden of flowers on the path. She also hears a grandiose music from elsewhere until Go starts showing off with his stunts.
"Welcome, Miss Reiko!", Go presented, with a bouquet of flowers. "It's show time for you!"
A parade music plays, complete with a band playing and cheerleaders dancing.
"Congratulations on your release.", Go smiled. It took him a lot of effort for that kind of presentation. Reiko is flabbergasted with Go's present. The cheerleaders cheered for Reiko as well.
Instead of accepting Go's recent gift for Reiko's freedom, she just bolted away in confusion. With the band stopped playing with their instruments and the cheerleaders stopped dancing, and lights out.
So much for an epic fail…
-Epic Fail-
The following day…
Go returns to the Command Tower, completely down wallowing, as he lies down on the ground. Mitsuzane is even shocked to see Go wallowing even on Valentine's Day!
"Jesus, senpai! What's wrong?", the young Kureshima scratched his head. "I thought you were going to see Reiko-san last night?"
"Well, I did…", Go cried. "But, I completely fucked up!"
Mitsuzane thought to himself as showing off at your would-be love interest is a bad idea. "I thought Kiriko-san was pissed off at this.", he sighed. "Get your act together, man. I'll treat you to Charmant. Come on, pull yourself together!"
As Mitsuzane helps his partner-in-crime get his act together, the duo decided to talk it out on the Charmant as they try Oren's new specialty: a peach cake.
While Go and Mitsuzane tried out Oren's new specialty, the latter asks why Go had to show off his antics at Reiko, and all of Go's efforts to surprise Reiko backfired epically.
"You had to show off, didn't you?", Mitsuzane asked in a rather reprimanding tone. "And that, she's fucking upset. Senpai, could you at least tone down the showmanship for once?"
"I mean, I was just…"
"Don't tell me you're scared of telling her how you feel.", Mitsuzane said and frowned altogether. "You need to act properly at your own age. You can't stay being a child forever. The only thing you can do is just to express yourself sincerely."
"Oh, come on. Mitsuzane-kun. Save the lecture. Can't you just cheer me up, like whenever the times you get so down-"
"I'm serious, senpai. It's for your own good.", Mitsuzane continued. "I know you managed to support Reiko-san so she can finally enjoy her life on the outside world. But, what I'm talking about is you need to show how you changed, much like Reiko-san herself changed while spending her time in the slammer."
Mitsuzane has a point, ever since he began a mature relationship with Samus. And being Go's heterosexual life-partner, despite times they bicker at each other and habits of poking the poodle, the young Kureshima still maintains his ability to be the voice of reason. Reminding him about self-change as what Reiko did before her release from jail, Go should act at his own age to earn Reiko's affection.
"Until now, senpai. We're blood brothers, and the rest of the team is your family. And there are times I'm worried about you."
Go smiled, "That hasn't changed. Am I right, Mitsuzane-kun?"
"I guess so."
"But, you think about worrying yourself, man.", Mitsuzane continued. "Tomari-san and Kiriko-san are now married and started a family. Considering what they realized now, a family is something that makes you stronger. They make you a caring person, and more than anything can make you happy."
After the two finished off their peach cakes, the two leave Oren's shop.
"Let's go, partner.", said Go as he and Mitsuzane take their leave. As the two head out to find Reiko, Go still holds the loom glove that Reiko accidentally dropped after she bolted away last night.
-Cupitroid-
Meanwhile in the Black Cross Mothership…
Xenogaea brings out one of their newest recruits to defeat the Kamen Riders: Cupitroid, an alien themed after the Roman god of love, Cupid. The Destronian mistress makes sure that the plan is foolproof. But, she prefers to each of the Space Explorer Kamen Riders be captured one-by-one.
As for Cupitroid, he's head over heels over Xenogaea, even that he's unaware that Xenogaea herself is committed to her fellow lieutenant, Viper. Cupitroid decides to prove himself to Xenogaea to defeat and capture the Kamen Riders.
Cupitroid begins his mission to Earth. His objective from Xenogaea, capture the white Kamen Rider with red stripes. In this case, Mach!
Xenogaea observes at the monitor over the activity of the Kamen Riders, at the monitor she notices the human identity of Mach, Go Shijima. So, this man is a Kamen Rider… He's handsome. The lieutenant thought to herself all while blushing.
Back on Earth, Go and Mitsuzane continued their search for Reiko.
Moments later, Cupitroid arrives on Earth, accompanied with a platoon of Arachni-, Scorpi-, and Mantiroids. When Go and Mitsuzane notices the presence of the Black Cross Armada again.
"What are these bastards doing here?!", Mitsuzane gave out a shocked look on his face.
Cupitroid looks at the picture given to him by Mistress Xenogaea, "Is that the guy? Why does she want with him.", when Go looks at the Armada soldiers looking at him, "Get him?"
"Get who? Me?", Go joked.
But, Cupitroid and his grunts are not joking.
"What Mistress Xenogaea wants, she gets!", said the Armada recruit. "All units, capture this human alive!"
The Black Cross foot soldiers charged as Go tries to fend the attackers off.
"Wait! What are you doing?!", Mitsuzane shouted, as he helps Go fight off the insect foot soldiers. But as Mitsuzane attempts to attack an Arachnitroid, but the foot soldier avoids it. Every punch and kick the young Kureshima throws misses. And things turn awry as the foot soldiers as they began chasing Go. "Hey, senpai! Over here! They're after you, man!"
"Why they wanna capture just ME?!", Go shouted as he fends off more foot soldiers attacking him. "JESUS! WHERE DID THESE ASSHOLES COME FROM?!"
Back on the Black Cross Mothership, Xenogaea looks on at the monitor as she is impressed with Go's acrobatics, "Just look at him. He's the monster… I mean, human of my dreams! He's so brave!"
As Go is being chased by Black Cross foot soldiers, he goes by fending them off or by just running like hell. Even Mitsuzane's attempts to intervene backfire. The bounty hunter contacts Mitsuzane of what's going on…
"Mitsuzane, what's going on?", the hunter radioed.
"Senpai is being attacked by those aliens! Send backup.", said Mitsuzane as he equips his Genesis Driver and pulls out his Melon Energy Lockseed. "Henshin!"
*Melon Energy Arms!*
Mitsuzane transforms into Ryugen Melon Energy Arms. Thus, he manages to intervene. He manages to hold off the two Arachnitroids chasing Go.
"Senpai, transform already!", Mitsuzane shouted.
Go already put on his Mach Driver and puts his Mach Signal Bike, transforming into Kamen Rider Mach. Moments later, Mage and Samus, who is wearing her Varia Suit do a two-way flying side kick at Cupitroid to make their way to rescue Go. Specter (in Nobunaga Damashii) and Necrom (in Sanzo Damashii) arrived at the scene before Samus and Mayu.
"What's going on?", Alain asked.
"They were after Go.", Samus deduced. "This explains why they ignored Mitsuzane."
Cupitroid continues the rampage and taunting the Space Explorers, "My mistress will not be denied! That white Kamen Rider will be mine."
-Full Dragon Mode-
"In that case…", Samus spoke in a state of tranquil fury as she pulls out the Drago Knight Hunter Z. She switches the Gashat on.
"DRAGO KNIGHT HUNTER! Z!", the Rider Gashat exclaimed, followed by an upbeat rock music. The Hunter Gamer spawns from the game title screen and attacks Cupitroid and the Black Cross foot soldiers. Samus then inserts the Gashat on her Gamer Driver, with her Mighty Action X SP Gashat already inserted on the Driver.
Samus then opens the lever of her Gamer Driver, "Gacchan! LEVEL UP!" and passes through the projection emitted by the Driver. Doing so, her Varia Suit breaks apart as she transforms into Kamen Rider Huntress. "I Gotcha! Do-Do-Drago! Na-Na-Knight!" The Hunter Gamer breaks apart with all of its armor combines with Huntress. "Dora-! Dora-! Drago Knight Hunter… Z!"
Huntress now uses all of the Hunter Gamer's weapons: the Dragon Blade, Dragon Gun, and the Dragon Fang being an armor in its right.
The Kamen Riders start the fight and charge, the other Space Explorers deal with the Black Cross insect foot soldiers, while Samus deals with Cupitroid. "Wipe them out! Make sure they don't get their hands on Go!", Huntress yelled as she swings the Dragon Blade at Cupitroid.
"Curse you, Kamen Riders!", Cupitroid hissed. "This is none of your business!"
"Protecting our friends, IS our business!", Makoto shouted as he and Alain double team an Arachnitroid. Specter proceeds to scan the "eye" of his Gan Gun Hand (in Rifle Mode) on his Ghost Driver, while Necrom loads the Grimm Eyecon on the Gan Gun Catcher. They take aim at their target and fire.
*OMEGA SPARK!* / *OMEGA FINISH!*
"Yes, Thunder! Understand?", the Mage Belt stated after Mayu scans the Thunder Wizard Ring on her Hand Author's belt, she proceeds to cast a lightning magic at her enemies, all of the foot soldiers are defeated, leaving Cupitroid as the only enemy remaining.
Cupitroid continues to taunt the Space Explorers, "I'm a lover, not a fighter! But, if you push me, I'll have to fight back… for her!", the Black Cross recruit casts a fireball at the Kamen Riders, only for Ryugen, Mage, and Mach to jump and give the enemy a triple flying side kick. Specter and Necrom jumped and dole out a superman punch at Cupitroid.
"My turn!", said Samus as she acquires the Stretch Energy Item. The Energy Item's use allows the user to stretch any part of their body. However, as Samus is in her Full Dragon Hunter Action Gamer form, it seems she uses the Dragon Blade as a chain whip! Huntress lashes out on Cupitroid with every swing of the Dragon Blade being used as a whip, even though it didn't faze him.
"Hah! Didn't even tickle!", the Black Cross soldier sneers at Huntress…
*Gashatto! KIMEWAZA!*
"Oh, really?!", Samus responds by inserting the Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat on the Kimewaza Slot holder. And, by doing so, she channels the energy produced from the Dragon Fang and Dragon Gun to the Dragon Blade, thus creating an energy sword construct at the Dragon Blade.
*DRAGO KNIGHT CRITICAL STRIKE!*
"…How about this!", Huntress shouted as she swings the supercharged Dragon Blade at Cupitroid with intense force, knocking the alien down and rag dolling him into the ground.
With Cupitroid defeated, "That hurt.", said the Black Cross soldier. "I better get reinforcements. I'll be back!", the enemy fled from the fight as he runs away from the Space Explorers.
"Yeah, that's right!", Go sneers at Cupitroid for being a coward. "Run with your tail between your legs and never come back!"
See you next mission…
Author's Note #2:
When Samus reveals that Deputy Director-General Kyotaro Hinata covering up Kuroto Dan's assassination as an "organized manhunt with no identities of the killers" is a reference to the Final Fantasy VII fanfic The Fifth Act; when Vincent kills Professor Hojo, thus prompting Sephiroth and the others to cover up his death very easily. Much like this crossover fic, The Fifth Act involves killing off a villain that causes a canon divergence.
This chapter reveals that Samus begins to adopt an Ubermensch philosophy in terms how she deals with the villains in this fic. For those who are wondering what the word Ubermensch is, through Nietzsche, Ubermensch means that an individual lives by his/her own moral codes as opposed to society's standards, and inspires others to do so.
To prevent redundancy of writing on the Gashat Gear Dual (Alpha/Beta), sometimes I decide to shortcut this as the GGD.
This is the first time Go refers Mitsuzane as his partner, much like Shotaro does with Phillip.
This is the first time Samus uses the Full Dragon Mode of her Level 5 Hunter Action Gamer form. If you count the chapter where she fought Sylux, this would be the second despite the fact that the one using Full Dragon.
The way Samus in Full Dragon mode used the Drago Knight Critical Strike with the Dragon Blade is similar to the Raiser Sword from Mobile Suit Gundam 00.
