Episode 054: Murder the Hypotenuse


Author's Note #1:

- Starting from the previous chapter, there are two things that should not be mentioned to Emu: One, his game illness. And two, the Kuroto Dan murder incident four chapters before this.

- The title of this chapter is a reference to the trope of the same name "Murder the Hypotenuse". The meaning of Murder the Hypotenuse is where a character getting involved in a love triangle kills (or attempts to kill) the romantic rival. Much like in the previous chapter and this, the whole scenario is a reference to the Power Rangers Super Megaforce episode, "Love Is In The Air", where it involves an "alien-human" love triangle between one of the heroes, a villainess, and a monster-of-the week.

- Xenogaea is one of the Grand Admiral's lieutenants, she is an a humanoid alien from Planet Destron. So, she is more of an Expy of Medusa from Kamen Rider Wizard, Vypra from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, Nadira from Power Rangers Time Force, and Necrolai from Power Rangers Mystic Force.


-Full Dragon Mode (continuation)-

As the Space Explorers took out most of the Armada's insect foot soldiers, they can finally vent their frustration at Cupitroid, a soldier sent by Xenogaea to capture Mach. It only took six Kamen Riders to fend off the foot soldiers with their strongest tools at their disposal.

But, when Samus makes use of the Elasticity Energy Item, as so turning the Dragon Blade in her Hunter Action Gamer Level 5 form (in Full Dragon) into an energy chain whip. She gives Cupitroid a taste of lash, but the Black Cross soldier comments Huntress's attacks as nothing more than bee stings.

"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!"


-Mission Failed-

Back in the Black Cross Mothership, Xenogaea was less then pleased when the soldier she sent out to capture Mach failed miserably. It didn't stopped her from ranting over her obsession with the white Kamen Rider with a mouth.

"Just as I thought. He failed so miserably, I was such a fool to send a nuisance like him into the battlefield!", the lieutenant said in anger, all while having her thoughts on Go. "I'm sorry, my love. We'll have to wait a little longer." As Xenogaea replays the clip where it has Go fighting a horde of Arachnitroids.

"JESUS! WHERE DID THESE ASSHOLES COME FROM?!"

Viper, her narcissistic partner, on the other hand, takes notices on her infatuation over the Kamen Rider. Viper himself has feelings for his fellow lieutenant, but it's not the right time to tell her about it. But, something must be done with Xenogaea's unusual obsession with Go.

"What is wrong with-", until Viper learns that…

Elsewhere around

An hour earler…

Before Cupitroid is sent to his mission by Xenogaea, the recruit was head-over-heels with the Black Cross Armada executive. Cupitroid was happy to serve under the Destronian Dominatrix, and so… He comes up with a plan to make the lieutenant fall in love with him. Cupitroid puts a love potion on Xenogaea's tea. He didn't know Viper saw what the recruit is doing. Regardless, the other lieutenant kept silent as he lets Cupitroid serve the tea to Xenogaea.

Moments later, after Cupitroid serves the tea to Xenogaea, once the lieutenant drank the tea. And the love potion took effect, as Xenogaea was observing the Kamen Riders, she becomes obsessed with Go (without the knowledge of Cupitroid) and asks the recruit to capture him.

Viper comes to the conclusion that Cupitroid gave Xenogaea a tea with love potion, which made her becoming obsessed with Go. "How should I make Xenogaea snap to her senses… And as for those humans below…", the admiral's right-hand man plans a gambit to have either kill Go or Cupitroid, or let them kill each other.


-A Mutual Time-

Back on Earth…

Ange and Tusk take their time to roam around the town square around Zawame, they noticed a lot of couples dating, something that they didn't see back in their home colony. The colony at that time being isolated from Humans away from Norma while Embryo was still in control. But, considering the home planet of the Space Explorers, the humans here live in equality, all while the presence of heroes such as the Kamen Riders protecting this world.

"Hey, Tusk." Ange looked at Tusk, "Do you know why those Kamen Riders taught us something…"

"What do you mean?", the Ancient Human asked.

"Sometimes, in order to keep their world safe. They even have to live by their own personal moral codes even that contrast that of the society today.", Ange spoke. "Maybe that's the reason why they killed that Genm guy."

"Maybe that's the way they want to enforce. They don't want anyone who would use other people as a means to an end. In other words, they will do whatever it takes to prevent anyone from being used as a means to an end.", Tusk replied. "I wonder why this world is different than the once we lived in."

Ange thought it that way, but her (along with Tusk and Hilda's) involvement with murdering Kuroto Dan justifies that Ange is had enough of people being played like a fiddle. But, considering how she saw an Ubermensch within Samus, Samus has an obvious disdain to people who are playing God. And if one does bad things to one another, that person winds up being paid with the same deed.

"You're right.", Ange smiled. "For a second there at first, those people, including that Kureshima guy, was much of a kind of a tool to begin with. But, he is a well-meaning person. It makes sense why he's also dating that tall blonde."

Ange also thought that she and Tusk are being compared to both Samus and Mitsuzane, who are exactly more of their "adult"-like counterparts as they are Kamen Riders. But, they are also foils to one another though – Ange was much more hotheaded at the slightest provocation, Tusk is a well-mannered nice guy. The reason why they're much opposite to Samus and Mitsuzane is because Samus is composed and reserved, and sometimes prefer to be solitary; while Mitsuzane, despite experiencing a troubled past, tends to screw around to hide his sadness, goes around to be cynical, unpleasant and troll anyone whenever he feels like it.

As Ange and Tusk moved along around the town before they think about heading for the Drupers, they accidentally bump into a woman.

The woman accidentally bumped into Ange, which the woman responds by apologizing.

"Um, excuse me… Are you in a hurry?", Ange asked.

"I'm fine.", said the woman, introducing herself as Reiko Nishihori. "By the way, do you know a man named Shijima Go-kun?"

Ange and Tusk are puzzled to encounter someone who comes to be associated to Go, and considering the woman the couple met has something to do with Go, both Ange and Tusk faced each other and exclaimed altogether, "EHHHHH?!"


-Heartbroken-

Back in the Black Cross Mothership, when Cupitroid returns to report to Xenogaea about his mission failing. The recruit notices that Xenogaea starts swooning over Go, realizing that he is being used as a pawn all this time…

"No, mistress… Don't tell me you're in love with that human?", Cupitroid spoke in shock, albeit quietly. "She used me all this time?! Just to she could meet with that Kamen Rider! How could she… This cuts deeper than any soul…"

Embittered, Cupitroid leaves the Mothership quietly and decides to continue the mission. Instead, the recruit resolves to kill Go.


-The Coast is Clear-

Back on Earth, the Space Explorers searched for Cupitroid, but was nowhere to be found, the party regrouped in the outside of Team Gaim's garage.

"It looks like the coast is clear.", said Samus.

Samus closes her Gamer Driver, with the belt saying "Gacchon", and she removes her Mighty Action X SP and Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat from her belt, and the Gashats say, "GASHUUN.", as Samus de-transforms. And so, the other Kamen Riders cancelled their transformations subsequently.

Alain turns his attention to Go, asking him, "What was that all about?"

"And why are those aliens after you?", Makoto added.

As the gang walked along as Go has to find Reiko, the whole party made it clear for this moment to stick together just in case if Cupitroid shows up.

"I dunno.", Go replied. "Those pussies just appeared out of nowhere as that cupid guy sent his mooks to capture me."

The young Kureshima also added, "That's weird. Those guys just ignored me and-"

"And they went after Go, it makes sense why those insect foot soldiers diverted their attention away from Mitsuzane.", Samus came to the conclusion, before turning her attention to Go. "And they say that they wanted you."

"No.", the white motormouth responded without any second thought. "Sure they were persistent, though."

"They wanted you badly enough. They'll likely try again.", Mayu felt that there are chances that the Armada might have a second chance to capture Go.

"Maybe these aliens think it'll be easier to destroy us if they pick us up one-by-one.", Samus comes with a possible insinuation that the Black Cross Armada might start targeting not only other Kamen Riders active across the world besides within Japan itself, the chances will be that the enemy will start with the Space Explorers themselves.

"Could be.", Mitsuzane couldn't help but agree, as the battle that the team are fighting right now is just at the tip of the spear, as time passes, it would eventually decide the fate of the Earth.

"Let's see if they can start with me, those aliens won't stand a chance.", said Makoto.

"Those assholes won't stand a chance as long as we stick together. Period.", Go replied, as reinforcing the code of teamwork is vital amongst the Space Explorers, in spite of arguments and other situations that can cause anyone to bicker.

Considering the alien the party fought, being themed over a mythological deity, in this case, Cupid, the God of Love. As with the name implying with the alien, Cupitroid.

Samus continued, this time regarding Cupitroid, "Go, did you remember what that alien said that he's a lover not a fighter?"

And Mayu added, "Yeah, and he said it was for her. What did he mean?"

The party thought about what that alien ranted earlier until Mitsuzane comes to another conclusion. He spoke, "Another she-alien, I guess."

"But, what do they want with him?", Alain asked, with the one in question referring to Go himself.

(*SFX: Metal Gear Solid 4 codec noises*)

Before the party can answer Alain's question, it is interrupted by Go's phone ringing. Turns out, the call comes from Reiko.

"Hello, it's me.", Go answers his phone.

"Go-kun, where are you?", Reiko's voice replied.

"Don't worry, I'm almost there. I'm nearby the Drupers, I brought my friends to meet you."

But, before Go can continue to talk with Reiko on the phone, Cupitroid suddenly appears out nowhere in a fit of rage.


-Jealousy Ensues-

"Damn you, Kamen Rider!", Cupitroid shouted as he tackles Go away from the party. "The mistress is mine!"

Meanwhile in the Black Cross Mothership, as Xenogaea monitoring her subordinate's mission, instead she is shocked at the moment Cupitroid attacks Go. "No! That fool!", the lieutenant shouted.

Back on the surface, Cupitroid goes into a burn up and attacks Go with a flame charge. "I'm burning with jealousy!"

The other Space Explorers rush to Go's aid, only to be bulldozed by an enraged Cupitroid.

"Now to pay you back, I will put you to ashes!", Cupitroid attempts to fire an arrow of flames from his bow at Go, only for it to be blocked by none other than Xenogaea herself!

"Don't!", said the lieutenant.

"Mistress?", Cupitroid responded in shock.

"That's enough!", Xenogaea shouted angrily.

"HER?!", the other Space Explorers exclaimed altogether with a look of utter disbelief. And then, Mitsuzane adds another one with that expression, "Oh great! Is that the alien sexpot who has her eyes on senpai?!"

"What are you doing?", the Black Cross recruit asked why Xenogaea defended Go.

The lieutenant starts reprimanding Cupitroid out of her obsession for Go, "I told you to capture that Kamen Rider and bring him to me, not destroy him! You are a failure excuse of an alien. Now, begone!"

"Mistress, move out of the way!"

"Never!", Xenogaea insisted.

And, it was the last straw for Cupitroid since he wanted to impress Xenogaea just to capture the white Kamen Rider (Go). And the lieutenant went head-over-heels at Go. Instead, Cupitroid decides to attack BOTH Go and Xenogaea, with Go ended up being a hula-hoop shield for the Black Cross commander in the middle of the crossfire!

"HEY! PUTMEDOWN!", Go shouted as he is being hurled around by Xenogaea.

The other Space Explorers looked on at the crossfire. But, they are puzzled on what's happening as of this moment.

"How can this alien be into Go-kun?", Mayu asked, complete with her expression of disbelief.

"Do you think that she-alien loves senpai?", Makoto added.

"That's my guess.", Alain answered.

"Yeah, and the he-alien loves her.", Samus added.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing this but…", Mitsuzane added, with the same expression as Mayu.

"This is a fool's battle.", Samus deduced. "A love-triangle fight gone horribly wrong."

Go tries to escape from Xenogaea's clutches as the Armada lieutenant is distracted by Cupitroid. The white loudmouth tries to crawl away from the crossfire, only to be chased and cornered by Xenogaea.

"She's nuts!", Go said as he tries his best to get away from the Armada lieutenant. The mayhem continues while the Space Explorers express their disgust over the current situation.

Until, when the call to defuse the situation escalates.

"Kamen Riders! My love needs help, do something!". Xenogaea turns her attention to the Space Explorers.

"Guys, do something!", Go insisted as he needs to end this quickly it turns way too ugly.

That being said, the Space Explorers take matters now as Mayu, Mitsuzane, and Alain quickly charge and transform into Mage, Ryugen Melon Energy Arms, and Necrom Grimm Damashii, respectively.


-Love Does Conquer All-

(*cues: "Dive Into The Mirror" by defspiral from the Japanese dub of Kamen Rider Dragon Knight*)

Samus pulls out her Gashat Gear Dual Alpha, and by turning the knob to select the Perfect Puzzle X game, the GGD Alpha says, "Perfect Puzzle… X!", followed by a looping chant, "What's the next stage?", as she prepares to insert the Gashat Gear Dual Alpha into her Gamer Driver.

[~Mune no oku furueru omoi tashika na shoudou~] (The thoughts shaking within me...)
[~Tojikometeta honnou wo hanate~] (Unleash the restrained instinct)

Makoto pulls out the Sin Specter Eyecon, and after pressing the button to invoke the transformation invocation of the Eyecon, Makoto puts the Eyecon on the Ghost Driver and closes the lid.

*Dual Gashatto!* / *Seven Shinka!*

Both Samus and Makoto chanted, "Henshin!" as she opens her Gamer Driver's lever and Makoto pulling and pushing the lever of his Ghost Driver.

"Gacchan! MUZZLE UP! Akai kobushi tsuyosa! Aoi Puzzle rensa! Aka to ao no kousa! Perfect Knock Out!" / "Shin Kaigan: Sin Specter! Pride! Greed! Lust! Wrath! Envy! Gluttony! Sloth! Break Deadly Sin!"

Samus transforms into Huntress Puzzle Gamer Level 50, Makoto transforms into Sin Specter. The latter pulls out his Deep Slasher and charges into the battlefield and fight Cupitroid and Xenogaea. Go manages to get away from Xenogaea and transforms…

[~Sakebidase mune de furueru koe kiseki wa okosu mono sa~] (The quivering voice within my heart calls out and miracles are born)

"Signal Bike Shift Car!", the Mach Driver declared in response to Go inserting Shift Dead Heat, he closes the Driver as he prepares to transform into Dead Heat Mach. "RIDER! DEAD HEAT!"

[~Hitomi wa itsudemo Ashita wo utsushidasu MIRROR~] (The eye is a mirror that always reflects tomorrow)

"We face each other again. But this time, you're going down!", Cupitroid points his fingers to Mach.

And Xenogaea cheers for Go, "Oh! Be careful, my love!", even at the disgust of Go.

[~Egaita mirai ga Sora no iro ga kanashimi kumoranu you ni~] (For the drawn tomorrow, the color of the sky not to be clouded up)

"Ugh!", Go hisses as he turns his attention to the Armada lieutenant. "I'm not your love. Sorry, but my heart goes to someone else.", with that certain someone would be Reiko Nishihori.

[~Yugan da kioku wo ima hikisaite yuke... DIVE INTO THE MIRROR!~] (Tear apart the distorted memory now... Dive into the Mirror!)

With that being said, Reiko, who is accompanied by Ange and Tusk, who helped her look for Go witnesses the commotion involving with the Kamen Riders and the aliens. And Go, as Kamen Rider Mach is there too.

"Just in time. We already know who that is.", said Mitsuzane as he notices Reiko's presence. "Time to end this love story with a sad song for you!"

The other Kamen Riders besides Samus charged – with (Sin) Specter and Mach focusing on Cupitroid, with Ryugen, Necrom, and Mage on Xenogaea. Huntress, on the other hand, pulls out the Taddle Quest Gashat – the one that Go managed to salvage from Kuroto Dan's hideout days before he was killed.

"Brave, lend me your power.", Samus spoke quietly as she plans to do something with the Taddle Quest Gashat. She switches on the Gashat…

*TADDLE QUEST!*

The Taddle Quest game title screen appeared behind Huntress. It summoned Brave's Gashacon Sword! And by pressing the A Button of the weapon, the Gashacon Sword exclaims, "Ko-Chin!", as the weapon is switched to its Ice Mode.

"Hey, since this guy's green with envy, I should be the one who's stopping him!", Go said as he charges and fights Cupitroid.

"You stole my girl!", the Armada recruit hissed.

"You can have her back!", Mach kicks the enemy, giving Huntress and Sin Specter an advantage. That is until Cupitroid goes another burnout and flame charges Mach, Sin Specter, and Huntress.

[~Mugen no sekai e tobikome ima! Tozasareta me wo hiraite~] (Fly towards the infinite world now! Open your closed eyes.)

Huntress uses the Gashacon Sword's Ice Mode as the ice of the blade made it easy to fizzle out Cupitroid's fire attacks. As Samus slashes with the Gashacon Sword, she punctuates a word at every slash. "You. Need. To. Chill. Out!", and then, Huntress gathers every Energy Item across the field as she starts mixing and matching them as Samus uses three Energy Items – one Muscle-Up for Samus, another one for Makoto, and another for Go.

(Dead Heat) Mach inserts his Signal Mach on the Zenrin Shooter, and by spinning the front wheel of the weapon, he strikes Cupitroid with it.

[~Kokoro wa itsudemo Shinjitsu wo utsushidasu MIRROR~] (The heart is a mirror that always reflects the reality)

Huntress presses the A Button of the Gashacon Sword, returning it to Fire Mode and inserts the Drago Knight Hunter Z on it, "Gashatto! KIMEWAZA!", as the weapon declared, Huntress mashes the B Button of the Gashacon Sword 20 TIMES. And by doing so, a gigantic blade of fire protrudes from the sword itself that extends over 200 feet in length.

"Tsumi Dai Kaigan!", Sin Specter pulls and pushes the lever of his Ghost Driver in preparation for his Deadly Sin finisher, with the use of the Deep Slasher in its blaster mode. Specter pulls the trigger as the Ghost Driver's voice shouts, "LUST BULLET!", and the Deep Slasher fires a dark green energy bullet at Cupitroid, weakening him even further.

[~Ushinau koto nado osorenai de tada ima wo tsukami tore~] (Don't be afraid of loss, just hold on to the present!)

Samus swings the supercharged (through the Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat) Gashacon Sword, and the weapon exclaims, "DRAGO KNIGHT CRITICAL FINISH!", the blade of fire managed to cut through Cupitroid's armor, destroying him in the process.

[~Iradachi wa asu wo Tsuyoku kaeteiku sa... DIVE INTO THE MIRROR!~] (Grief will make the future stronger... Dive into the Mirror!)

"I'm cooked!", Cupitroid laments his defeat as he dies with an explosion engulfing him.

With Cupitroid defeated, it appears Xenogaea is snapped from her obsession from Go. The Armada lieutenant realizes that she finds herself encountering the Kamen Riders!

"You might have disposed that Cupitroid for me. But, you haven't seen the last of me, Kamen Riders!", Xenogaea taunts the Kamen Riders as she teleports away from the battlefield. With the Space Explorers realizing that Xenogaea is one of the Black Cross Armada's top commanders, and is much of a threat to begin with.


-Happy Ending-

After the fight, the party regroups with Ange as the Kamen Riders de-transformed. Go manages to see Reiko again, safe and sound, despite the whole commotion going on.

"Sorry for the whole commotion going on. I kept you waiting, huh?", Go smiled, as he returns the treasured glove to Reiko, which she dropped the last night. Then, Go introduces to Reiko his comrades, the Space Explorers. "These guys are my friends. They helped me all the way here, though."

The following day…

Go and Reiko sat down on the park, with the latter now wearing the treasured gloves where it was revealed a present from Go himself.

"If ever you lose anything again, I'll be sure to find it.", Go said at the same time, his hands held to Reiko's, "And that's a promise."

To which Reiko replies, "I appreciate it."

"Trust me, it would be my pleasure."

Just away in front of Go; Professor Rinna, Inspector Otta, and Kyu secretly watched Go and Reiko from a bush. With Kyu commenting what a real romantic Go is.

And considering that Rinna is engaged to the inspector and they are planning to marry very soon, she said, "Genpachi, don't you think it's finally time?!", and asks Otta for a kiss.

"Y-Yeah, but sensei…", Otta said reluctantly. Even with Kyu witnessing Rinna and Otta kissing.

As Go and Reiko leave from the bench, Mitsuzane and Samus also watched the couple from a distance.

"I'm so proud of you, senpai…", Mitsuzane spoke quietly as he took off his sunglasses. "You're one lucky bastard."

"It feels like Go is facing a new chapter of his life. Makes me wonder what it means to have a family in the future.", said Samus who observes Go walking out of the park with Reiko. "Let's go, Mitsuzane."

Mitsuzane responds with a nod (and with a smile), as with Go and Reiko, the young Kureshima holds hands with the hunter as they too walk out of the park.


-A Lesson-

Audio Log #1

Log Author: Samus Aran

"The only thing a human can learn how to love is to accept in both self and towards one another. There is no need to "fall in love" but rather step into it. Love is not something to fall for, but something for one to rise for. There is always a peace of mind for it, without the need of doubts, and one kind of mature relationship give you what you need. Go has learned all of this in spite of his tendencies to screw around, when what revolves around your life is like a coming-of-age story, and what it means to fully know themselves and one another."

-END LOG-


See you next mission…


Author's Note #2:

This is the first time the Space Explorers encounter Xenogaea in person.

The way Samus uses the Gashacon Sword in its Ice blade mode is very fitting, because Samus herself did used some ice-based weapons in the Metroid series games like her Ice Beam and Ice missiles.

Considering that Samus currently has in possession of both Brave and Snipe's Gashats given to the canon divergence nature of the recent chapters because of Genm's death, she can use either two Riders' weapons. For example, when Samus uses the Taddle Quest Gashat demonstrated above, it summoned the Gashacon Sword.

The way Samus uses the Gashacon Sword in Fire Mode, at the same time using Drago Knight Hunter Z for the finisher and spamming the weapon's B Button 20 times, and executing the finisher resembles the Ongeki Ha: Kishin Kakusei, Kamen Rider Hibiki's finisher with the Armed Saber.