Episode 055: Insincere Form of Flattery
Author's Note #1:
- The title of this chapter is a reference to the phrase "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", instead when it's a negative, which is an "insincere" form of flattery.
- This chapter I wrote has some similar scenario with the Power Rangers Megaforce episode, "Stranger Ranger". Here, this chapter sees a featured character falsely claiming a Kamen Rider, much like in the aforementioned episode has a "civilian-of-the-week" claiming himself as a Power Ranger.
-A Shocking News-
In the Seito University Hospital, most of the hospital personnel began gossiping related to Kuroto Dan's "disappearance", to interpret that he is either dead or currently on the run. As Emu arrives in the hospital for his duty for his surgical internship.
Emu enters the CR headquarters at the basement of the hospital, seemingly down after the Burgermon incident, worried about Tsukuru Kobushi even after the Genm Corporation employee was depressed after Genm destroyed the Burgermon Bugster.
"We got some good news and bad news, Emu.", said Asuna. "He's… He's dead."
With the person referred by Asuna is Kuroto himself. The nurse brought up that someone else killed Kuroto.
"Yeah.", said Hiiro. "Who could've done such a thing. And the Gashat that Genm used gave him immortality."
"Hiiro-san is right.", Emu said, apart from his shocked reaction after learning firsthand that Kuroto is killed. But the question is, who? "Dangerous Zombie is a survival horror game.", Emu continued, "But, who could've done such a thing to him…"
"Don't think about feeling any pity for him.", Hiiro reminds Emu that Kuroto is nothing but a manipulative cutthroat whose rants about calling himself as a "Game Master", and the fact that Kuroto has committed unforgivable acts such as the murder of Kiriya Kujo. "In fact, he [Kuroto] had it coming. Why are you wasting your emotions over his death?"
Hiiro expresses his apathy for Kuroto's death. Because he feels like so, even Asuna detests that Kuroto's only a human, and says that he doesn't deserved that cruel fate.
"He's only a human, Hiiro. Why would you say something hollow like that?", the nurse asked.
The surgeon responded insistently, "Just because he used all of us and murdered Kiriya Kujo, that's all I can say that Dan Kuroto deserved it!"
The argument is interrupted when the monitor receives a video message coming from the Space Explorers, this time it is Samus who communicates to the CR members.
"Samus?", Emu asked as he turns his attention to the monitor.
"Sorry to interrupt with your forum.", the bounty hunter spoke. "I guess you guys heard about Kuroto Dan's recent fate. I'll explain what happened… As what the recent news on the media spoke, the identities of the killers were not yet found. Someone else managed to help us pinpoint Genm's weaknesses, which allowed those assassins to kill him."
"Let me guess… Did you Space Explorers have anything to do with that incident?", Hiiro insinuates that Samus and the party have any involvement with the Kuroto Dan murder incident.
"Watch your words carefully, Dr. Kagami.", Samus warns Hiiro not to accuse her and her team of it. As Samus insists that her party have NOTHING to do with it. "Accusing the wrong person can make things even more complicated. As we are currently facing a stressful situation more of a completely different level than the Bugsters."
"But, who could've done such a thing to him?", Emu spoke. "No matter how horrible that person is, a life is a life! He didn't deserve that cruel fate."
Even Emu himself condemns about Kuroto's death, no matter how evil a person can be, there are some chances that he will likely be forgiven. But, Kuroto is a completely different level: he is but a narcissistic megalomaniac who wants to turn the world into a video game world where he proclaims himself as a Game Master. Like Hiiro expressing his apathy over what happened to Kuroto, Samus shares the same opinion with the surgeon.
"Like what Dr. Kagami said, Kuroto Dan had it coming. He was nothing more but a rat making an impression of a man. He deserved it, plain and simple. He got everything what's coming to him.", Samus illiterates. "I know for a doctor such as yourself, as an intern, who deeply cares for the patient and for every people around you as a whole… You need to be reminded of what lies ahead next, especially with the people who you put your trust into, because not all the patients are goodhearted. But, there are some that will take advantage of your emotions. Look what happened to Kiriya Kujo, and now what happened to Kuroto Dan right now. His [Kuroto] fate seems light compared to all the crimes he committed."
Samus then discusses the irony of the Kuroto Dan murder incident, as she reveals that while "investigating" the location where Kuroto was killed, she found the Giri Giri Chambara Gashat. With the irony being that the place where Kuroto is assassinated is the same place where Kiriya was killed. In Samus's perspective, the reason Samus paraphrased the word "investigating" the incident is to cover up the fact that the Space Explorers themselves killed Genm.
"That's Lazer's Gashat… Can you give it to me?", Emu asks the bounty hunter for the Giri Giri Chambara Gashat.
But, Samus replies, "No. I will be keeping this Rider Gashat for now, so it won't fall into the wrong hands. I'm sorry, but this is for your own good. For now, you need to focus on your duties. While we are trying to work on investigating that murder incident."
Samus closes transmission, as the doctors continued to their forum regarding the Kuroto Dan assassination. But, there are more things that they are focused on: the Bugsters. But, according to Samus, with Kamen Rider Genm's permanent disappearance, the Doctor Riders can safely deal with the Bugsters without any interference, save for Para-DX.
Meanwhile at the Command Tower, moments after Samus closed transmission with the CR doctors, the bounty hunter has one thing in mind: it's Emu Hojo's game illness, whether she thinks that when will be the time that should it be revealed to him?
But, for now, the Space Explorers decide not to get themselves with the Doctor Riders' battle with the Bugsters. Now that Kuroto Dan is dead, the Doctor Riders can now battle the Bugsters with no interference. As for the anvilicious reminder she gave to Emu, Samus reassures that Emu got the point, despite that Emu protesting Kuroto didn't deserve a fitting end. But, like Taiga and Hiiro, Samus doesn't care about Kuroto either.
-Sextant Joke-
In the Drupers; Alain, Makoto, and Mayu visited the fruit parlor. Mayu admits that Drupers has a lot of desserts lately, and she wants to try one of their parfaits. She already had been on the Drupers for at least three times, while Alain and Makoto already frequented (with Takeru) before the two joined with the Space Explorer Initiative.
"I heard that Kureshima-kun and his friends from Team Gaim used to hang out here.", Mayu said when she learned from Mitsuzane's past. "Even now, everyone around Zawame want to try Drupers' parfait."
Alain starts into stirring up a non-existent conversation. This time, anything involving Go and Mitsuzane. Considering the fact that they are the only two Space Explorers who have a habit of poking the poodle. Alain recalls that sextant joke back in the Command Tower.
An hour earlier…
Meanwhile in the laboratory, Alain stumbles into an object what appears to be a small telescope. When Mitsuzane finds Alain coming close into what the object is referred to is a sextant, a double-reflecting navigation instrument. Alain, being curious with the conventional navigation gadgets that only Igor has, he has no idea why is it called a sextant. Judging by the look on Mitsuzane's face, as if Alain is also curious with the first three letters of the word sextant.
"Then, why is it called a sextant?", Alain asked.
"I have no idea.", Mitsuzane replied not before he blatantly breaks into laughter when he learns Alain is curious of the word "sextant". "You better not ask about that word out loud!"
The young Kureshima's laughter makes it obvious. Makoto and Mayu, on the other hand overheard what Mitsuzane and Alain are talking about.
Mayu intervenes and looked around the sextant on the desk. "What are you two babbling about?", she asked.
"I was curious why is this thing called a sextant.", Alain asked the same question to Mayu, this time out loud. Only for Mitsuzane to cackle even while trying to keep his face straight.
Makoto hears Mitsuzane laughing, in response, Mitsuzane whispers to Makoto what Alain is trying to imply. While Mitsuzane can't bring himself but laugh when Alain kept asking why the gadget he stumbled into is called a sextant.
"Try remove the other four letters from the word sextant.", Makoto uttered. "What do you get?", what he meant are the "-tant" part of the sextant is removed, the result is…
The young Kureshima couldn't bring himself to laugh loudy when the "-tant" in the word sextant is removed. What's left of it is the word "sex", which is also another meaning for sexual intercourse! Alain learns the hard way about asking about the sextant and make a scene over it.
Both Makoto and Mayu thought for a moment, until Mayu gets mortified hearing Mitsuzane's laugh, with an obvious blush on her face!
"Kureshima-kun, what is wrong with you?!", Mayu exclaimed.
-Boastfully Lying-
After recalling that moment involving that sextant joke, what's Alain's response?
"I couldn't even be mortified about that…", Alain realizes that when you make a big deal over a word starting with three suggestive letters.
As the three Space Explorers finish their parfaits, they stumble into a gossip within the vicinity of their earshot. Bando overhears that the strange man, named Masaki, proclaims that he's a Kamen Rider.
"That guy over there he's saying that he's that orange Kamen Rider.", the proprietor of Drupers said. The "orange" Rider what Bando mention is not Gaim, but Huntress. But, the irony: Huntress is a female Kamen Rider. What Bando meant would be Samus's Kamen Rider identity. The three Space Explorers observed the gossip as Masaki spoke to his friends that he's a Kamen Rider.
"I am not kidding, I am not kidding!", Masaki boasted. "A hundred and fifty against one! And I hit him over the head with a toaster and I'm like, you're toast man!"
And the Space Explorers' Kamen Riders take that gossip a little too bad, since pretending someone you are not is simply lying to your friends. Being a Kamen Rider is a serious and dutiful business, not a game. Masaki continues boasting how he "defeated" a monster of sorts, his friends believed in him, not knowing that it was all a lie.
"Can't you believe that faker?", Mayu said. "I don't believe he can't do any feats that we can do."
Makoto added. "I'll say."
-Training-
Lately, Samus has been into a thorough physical training, day after day. Since she has enough forms to use with her Gamer Driver and Gashats. The bounty hunter began putting herself to the test in the midst of the threats of the Bugsters and the Black Cross Armada lying ahead next.
Starting out when Samus learns different fighting techniques of the present day. She started learning different fighting disciplines ranging from Krav Maga (a military fighting style), Vale tudo (a form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu), Jeet Kune Do, as well as Capoeira. Ever since getting accustomed with today's standards in terms of fighting disciplines, Samus couldn't help but live and learn. What she does in her regular basis is keeping her composure, even when angered.
Combat disciplines aside, Samus made good use of parkour to scale into higher-story buildings, given the fact that her Chozo DNA allowed her to jump into heights and safely land on the surface safely, something that can't be done a normal human being because falling at greater heights can kill an ordinary human.
-Viper-
Meanwhile, the Black Cross Armada resumed their mayhem, as the two lieutenants – Xenogaea and Viper made their presence known to the Earthlings. As the Armada's insect foot soldiers start causing destruction, the humans within the vicinity start running for their lives.
Xenogaea makes her warning to the humans, "People of Planet Earth, on behalf of our Black Cross Grand Admiral, consider our presence as our eviction notice! Luckily, we are feeling generous so we will give you two options: A. Surrender to our rule, or B. The destruction of your beloved planet!"
Only for their grand entrance to be interrupted by three of the six Space Explorers.
"Or C. You're facing us!", Makoto shouted. He, Alain, and Mayu show themselves in front of the Armada commanders.
"How dare you interrupt the mistress!", Viper hisses and defends Xenogaea's honor.
"It's her.", Alain recognizes the presence of the woman who once swooned over Go, turns out that she snapped out of it.
"You picked the wrong planet to mess with.", Mayu gives a warning to the Armada because the Kamen Riders will always be a thorn to their invasion.
"Let's see if you can back your words up, little girl.", Xenogaea taunted.
That being said, Makoto, Alain, and Mayu pull out their transformation trinkets as they altogether shout, "Henshin!"
*Kaigan! Specter!* / *Tengan! Necrom! Mega Ulord!* / *Change, NOW!*
Mage pulls out her Connect Ring as after leaning her hand on the portal allows her to pull out her WizarSwordGun and open fires at the Black Cross Armada's forces.
"Get them!", Viper orders the insect foot soldiers to attack.
The Kamen Riders fight the battalion of Arachni-, Scorpi-, and Mantiroids. Moments later, Huntress, Ryugen (in Melon Energy Arms), and (Dead Heat) Mach showed up to even the odds.
As Samus fights a swarm of Arachnitroids, she takes her fighting to a more rhythmic level as she pulls out the pink DoReMiFa Beat Gashat.
"Gacchan! LEVEL UP!", the Gamer Driver stated after Samus inserts the pink DoReMiFa Beat Gashat and simultaneously closing the lever of the belt and opening it again, the pink Beat Gamer breaks apart to form Huntress's Beat Action Gamer armor. "I Gotcha! Do-Do DoReMiFa-So-La-Ti-Do! (Yeah! Yeah!) OK! (This is the Beat they asked for!) DoReMiFa Beat! (To the beat! To the beat!)"
Huntress then inserts DoReMiFa Beat Gashat on her Kimewaza Slot holder, and by doing so she presses the button twice, the slot holder's voice shouts, "DoReMiFa CRITICAL STRIKE!", and Huntress sends fourth an army of dancing silhouettes on every Arachnitroids, destroying them.
"Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-DIE, you bitch!", Xenogaea charges and proceeds to fight Huntress, with the commander's weapon being a polearm. Despite the female commander being almost stronger than Samus, however, Samus has everything ready.
*GASHUUN*
Samus removes the pink DoReMiFa Beat Gashat and changes with the Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat. Then, she closes the Gamer Driver's lever and opens it again, "Gacchan! LEVEL UP!", the belt stated as the Hunter Gamer appeared from the Drago Knight Hunter Z title screen, it immediately breaks apart in the light of Samus's transformation in her Level 5 form, "I Gotcha! […] Dora-! Dora-! Drago Knight Hunter… Z!"
Huntress goes into her Full Dragon Hunter Action Gamer and fight Xenogaea, though neither seemingly have any edge. Meanwhile, Viper goes to double-team with Xenogaea. However, whenever Viper attacks Huntress from behind, it backfires because the Hunter Gamer is fitted with the Search Drago Eye that allows Samus to cover her blind spot and the Wip Drago Tail that shields her from being attacked from behind.
In the middle of the fight between the Space Explorers and the Black Cross Armada, a civilian made his presence known in the battlefield, it happens to be the same man in the Drupers who bragged himself to his friends that he is a Kamen Rider, Masaki.
The Riders who saw the presence of the civilian are distracted as they thought they gained the upper hand, the Armada commanders turned the tables.
"Consider this a draw for now, Kamen Riders!", said Viper because he can't win a fight if there is an interference. The Armada commanders decided to withdraw for now. But, when the Kamen Riders still noticed the presence of Masaki spectating the Kamen Riders' fight.
"What are you doing here?", Mitsuzane calls out the civilian who witnessed the fight. "You could've got yourself killed, you know."
"It's not cool to sneak up on people.", Makoto added.
See you next mission…
Author's Note #2:
The sextant joke in Alain's flashback is a reference to the similar scene from the Ed Edd 'n' Eddy movie.
The one-shot character of this chapter and the next following this, Masaki is based on Jordan, the featured character from the Power Rangers Megaforce episode, "Stranger Ranger". Like Jordan, Masaki proclaims to his friends that he's a Kamen Rider, when in reality he isn't.
