Chapter 20
Takeru equipped Ghost's form and quickly upgraded to his ultimate form, sure he would need it. He had just enough time to register that Emu had managed to transform into Ex-Aid before the five forms on the Unknown Rider were upon them.
Takeru fought in close quarters, trying to avoid the blows he could but knowing that if he wanted to block the entrance, he was going to take a few. The first one that fell pummelled into his stomach and his already fragile diaphragm spasmed. If he'd had anything left to upheave, it would have been in his mask. Instead, he found himself utterly breathless.
Another blow struck his head, sending shooting stars careening through his vision. The armour protected him from the worst but he widened his stance to ensure his vertigo didn't topple him. He gathered his strength and managed to use his hissatsu to take down one of his three adversaries. The other two backed away and Takeru felt a moment of positivity as he pursued them outdoors. Perhaps they would be more wary now. The appearance of flaming hands on both remaining figures returned him to the harsh reality.
He managed to duck the first attack and jumped another but the third and fourth hit him square in the shoulder and he was thrown into the outer wall of their small shelter.
He scrambled to his feet as quickly as possible with a glance over his shoulder to check that Emu was keeping the other two occupied.
Ex-Aid seemed to be doing much better than he. Both opponents were pinned to the ground and Ex-Aid was preparing a final attack to take both of them out.
Best to focus on his own problems then.
The two figures, fists flaming once more, ran at him. Takeru steadied himself and spread his arms. The first figure collided with him as expected but the other jumped.
No!
Takeru spun to stop the escaped figure and managed to snatch hold of an ankle as the second figure slammed him to the ground.
Takeru firmed his hold, grabbing on with both hands. He had to stop them. Sento was still inside.
The first figure planted a flaming fist into Takeru's back and he gritted his teeth: the breath he hadn't quite regained completely stopped again. The second figure turned and kicked Ghost in the head. Everything spun and the world spluttered like a bad internet connection. Another fist went into his side and pain ricocheted down his arm as a booted foot slammed onto one of his wrists. Takeru's transformation dissipated but he tightened his grip.
He couldn't let go.
He could see another flaming attack being formed but his tired brain couldn't process what type of attack it actually was. He tensed, prepared for the incoming impact.
A shadow covered him.
Emu?
Takeru twisted to get a better look. No. Not Emu. Emu was in the other corner. One of his opponents was gone but the other had him by the throat. Something must have gone wrong but Emu still seemed to have it under control. Even as Takeru watched, Ex-Aid slammed a high kick into the Unknown Rider's face and they separated, both breathing heavily as they each readied another attack.
But then who?
Takeru squinted up at the two figures above him. They were both moving, their swift actions making it hard to identify which was which, let alone who the new mystery figure was.
A yank on his arms stole Takeru's attention, bringing it back to the Unknown Rider trying to get to Sento. A kick to the side of the head greeted him as he turned and he felt everything darken. Hands pried his fingers loose. No. He couldn't let go. Sento. They would get Sento. He had to protect him. He had to-
The mystery figure hit the escaping mystery Rider over the head and quickly retreated to Takeru's side.
"Can you stand?" a familiar voice asked.
"Sento?" Takeru whispered.
He peered up to find it was indeed Build. The red and blue armour shone with reflected moon shine and the head was searching for new enemies.
"If you can get up, we should run," Sento advised, pulling Takeru to his feet with one hand. The other arm stayed held tight to Sento's side.
In the armour, nothing seemed wrong other than a stiff arm but Takeru had seen enough while Emu had been treating the scientist to know that couldn't be the case.
Once the ground stopped swaying beneath him, he managed to stay upright and he felt Sento's side press into his as he looped Takeru's arm around his shoulder.
"Where's Emu?" Sento called.
"Just outside," Takeru replied.
He felt Sento's weight shift and he followed his lead as they shuffled back to the entrance.
Ex-Aid came flying through and slammed into the back wall.
Takeru separated from Sento and used the wall to support him as he went to help Ex-Aid up.
Takeru helped Emu stand as Sento turned to the entrance and prepared a hissatsu designed to collapse the entrance and lock their enemies outside. He wasn't quick enough. Quickly abandoning his initial plan, Sento retreated to Takeru and Ex-Aid just as the remaining three Riders surrounded them.
Takeru tried to transform but he couldn't even equip his Ore jacket and the base transformation quickly cancelled out. He tried again to no avail. Ex-Aid looked worse for wear with a number of chars on his uniform and one leg wobbling violently even as they simply stood still. Build took point, fiddling with something Takeru couldn't see, but all of them knew this was going to be a one sided fight.
"Found them!" a new voice made everyone turn.
The three Unknown Riders dispersed as two more unfamiliar Riders entered the fray. Wait. One of them seemed a little familiar. A blue dragon motif. Where did he…
"Banjo!" Build exclaimed from behind him.
"Yo!" the Blue Dragon waved before re-engaging with one of the Unknown Riders.
Right. Banjo Ryuga. Kamen Rider Cross-Z. From the Enigma incident.
"I'm here too!" yelled the other Rider.
Sento didn't acknowledge this one but Takeru heard Banjo yell something about Grease. Emu didn't acknowledge either. Another one from the Build world, then.
A third figure entered their small shelter and Takeru felt his heart jumped as he recognised it.
"Akari!" he yelled.
Her head snapped to his position and he smiled as he saw the relief on her face.
She took an outskirt route but one of the Unknown Riders still targeted her. No. Takeru launched himself towards her. The blood pumped in his ears as his legs gave out in an attempt to reach her.
"Akari!"
Everything went into slow motion as Akari ran, eyes fixated on Takeru even as the Unknown Rider loomed behind her.
"AKARI! BEHIND YOU!"
Akari turned, eyes widening. She had no time left to defend herself. The Rider was almost upon her.
And then he stopped. Build and Ex-Aid stood firmly in his way.
"Thank you," Akari said, turning again and running the rest of the way.
Takeru sank back against the wall as Akari skidded to her knees beside him.
"Are you ok?!" she asked.
He nodded. "Are you?"
"I'm fine."
"How did you get here?" Takeru asked.
"Build left us a Portal. It took a while to track you down."
She looked back at the fight raging behind her, taking in the pained movements of Ex-Aid and Build as well as the frantic back-wheeling of Grease and Cross-Z.
"Do you know who that Rider is?"
Takeru shook his head. "Do you?"
"Not yet. But we're working on it."
Takeru caught her hand. "Have you heard from Makoto and Alain? They needed help."
"We sent some of Ex-Aid's friends through," Akari assured him. "Onari went too."
An explosion of heat took their focus back to the fight. All four familiar Riders were thrown back. Something flew from Build's hand as the transformation came undone. Sento didn't rise to retrieve whatever it was and an Unknown Rider stooped and pocketed whatever it was. Takeru hoped it wasn't important because there was no one around who was currently capable of getting it back.
"We need to get out of here," Akari said.
"Can you do it?" Takeru asked.
Akari didn't reply but fiddled with a small device that quickly created a sphere of light in the sky.
"Go through!" she said.
"You first!" Takeru replied.
"Don't argue!" Grease yelled, dragging an unresponsive Sento and jumping through.
Ex-Aid went next.
"Cross-Z! Quick!" Takeru called to their final companion, frantically holding off the three Riders as they advanced.
"Go through!" he yelled, motioning them away.
Takeru grabbed Akari's hand and they jumped through.
The scenery swirled to form the surroundings of Ex-Aid's hospital. They stumbled as they came out but managed to clear the space before Cross-Z came flailing through.
"Close it!" he ordered.
Akari pressed a button and the portal snapped shut.
The transformations came undone and they all let out a collected sigh of relief.
"Well that was close," said Banjo.