We continue with the Colonel Zol arc. Zol seeks to try and make up for past failures in the Japan branch of Shocker. Let's see how well he does.
*Kamen Rider is seen driving along a reservoir walkway with another figure in a grasshopper-themed outfit on an identical motorcycle. We now introduce Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2. The music begins with a close up on Kamen Rider 1's face as the title appears.*
Rising of the Kamen Riders
Here they come! Shocker! The evil army of Hell!
*The two Riders race along a large field.*
Targeted by its dark and scary shadow
*They lap around each other.*
Protecting the peace and justice of the world
*A close up of 2 is seen, highlighting the differences in his outfit and helmet, including a white strip along the middle of the helmet, and a black undersuit not seen with 1.*
Go! (Go!) Go! (Go!) Let's Go! The spectacular machine!
*The two Riders drive up a nearby hill, making a spectacular leap.*
Rider Jump! Rider Kick!
*They continue to race across the hill, and a grassy field.*
Kamen Rider! Kamen Rider!
*They drive down a dirt road, 1 in front.*
Rider! Rider!
*They leap past each other in a daring stunt.*
Rider Jump! Rider Kick!
*They start driving down an empty highway.*
Kamen Rider! Kamen Rider!
*They start swerving through a construction sight.*
Rider! Rider!
*They somehow drive up a skyscraper before making a leap across the rooftops.*
Naofumi has now been joined by fellow cyborg Ren Amaki.
*A scene of Ren's forced remodeling by Shocker is shown, before cutting to the twin Riders.*
Remolded by Shocker and saved by his girlfriend from the FBI, Ren becomes Kamen Rider 2.
*Shots of Spider Man, Gebacondor, Geckgeras, Cactogron, and Lizardlon are featured.*
Together with Naofumi, re-titled as Kamen Rider 1, they fight for humanity's freedom!
*The two Riders pose, ready to do battle.*
Chapter 27: Junior Shocker
Several children were playing Kamen Rider, and one boy was lucky enough to get picked to play Kamen Rider 1. Of course, since violence on the playground wasn't allowed, the game always ended with the "Shocker" agents surrendering peacefully and promising to never do evil again. The boy chuckled. "If only it was that easy for the real Kamen Riders." "Have you ever seen them up close?," one young girl asked. "No, unfortunately," the boy replied, "I think only Goro has really gotten the chance to know who they are, but he never tells us.
Just then, they were approached by a young man. "How interesting. Seems we have several fans of the Kamen Riders. How would you guys like to meet the real deal?" The girl looked surprised. "You actually know the Kamen Riders?" "Oh yes," the man said, "We happen to be good friends." The other kids immediately ran over, asking to meet with the Riders. The first boy, however, stayed put. "I should be getting home. My mom's gonna get worried if I come home late." The man shrugged. "Well, if you don't want to come, that's fine." Eventually, all four of them agreed to go.
Later, a group of mothers approached the playground, calling for their kids Naoto, Toshihiko, and Kiyo. They only found the bicycle dressed up to resemble the Cyclone. Meanwhile in the van, Naoto was excited. "So, how long until we can meet the Riders?" The man smiled. "Oh, one of them's already here. Just look behind you." However, when the children looked back, the only thing they saw was a humanoid centipede monster. He immediately caused a strange electrical wave to surge over the children. "Not to worry, children. If you behave, you'll see the Kamen Riders before long."
The children quickly fell into a trance. The monster, Centiperas, nodded. "Now my adorable students, it seems my hypnotic electromagnetic waves are effective. Another glorious success of Shocker's science group." He received a call on his two-way. "Colonel Zol, phase one is complete." 'Good work, Centiperas,' Zol replied, 'Now for your next orders. Our computer has already selected the next student for our Monster Classroom. Her name is Namie Ikusawa. Her intellect is on par with the other four you have already captured, and she's in elementary school.' Centiperas nodded. "Understood. I'll act immediately."
Centiperas soon reached the home of Namie. The girl in question saw Goro as a rival of sorts, always trying to keep up with his own studies. Centiperas quickly found her in front of a sliding door and was able to grab her quickly and quietly. Her mother only found the note Namie had written, reminding her not to lose to Goro. Meanwhile at the racing club, Goro was in a bad mood. "What's with Goro?," Raphtalia asked. "He got told off by one of his teachers," Eclair explained, "Seems he forgot he homework."
"That's not like Goro," Raphtalia noted, "He's usually so good at keeping up with his schoolwork." Goro huffed up, running in Ren before stomping on the cyborg's foot. "Ow! Careful Goro, the toes are still organic! And I can still feel pain… Despite being a cyborg." "Naturally," Naofumi said as Goro stormed out of the room, "Without pain, the human body has no context of danger. Plus, how else would we know we're alive. I mean, even Shocker understands this. Haven't you noticed how all their cyborgs react to pain normally?"
Ren nodded. "So why is Goro really upset? Cuz I'm pretty sure I remember him completing his homework, and bringing it with him." "Really?," Eclair asked, "Because that's the excuse he gave me." "It's actually because his girlfriend was absent from school today," Tobei explained. "Oh, Goro has a girlfriend?," Naofumi asked. Malty nodded. "She's also his academic rival. They've always competed for top grades." Ren grimaced. "I'm a little concerned. We found this in the news earlier."
Tobei took the paper and read the headline Ren indicated. "Disappearance of Elementary School Students Nationwide? All of the missing children had excellent grades?" "This is odd," Motoyasu said, "Shocker shouldn't have any reason to target young children. Their smaller bodies wouldn't be developed enough to handle remodeling, no matter how intelligent they are." "We can't be too sure this isn't Shocker," Naofumi noted, "Don't forget, now we aren't just dealing with Great Leader's plans, but Colonel Zol's as well." Eclair nodded. "The man has a very horrific history. Back in the Middle East, he would always use young boys and girls for subversive activities."
Zol was addressing the hypnotized children in Centiperas's hideout. "You have all been selected for your exceptional intellect. Before long, Shocker will rule the Earth. When that time comes, it will fall to you to mentor boys and girls of your own age. But in order to attain the qualifications of becoming a part of Junior Shocker, you must go through a special training course. The lessons begin today. Now, swear allegiance to Shocker!" Once this was done, Zol had the children taken to their first lesson in handling bombs.
Namie, however, stayed behind. Zol walked up to her. "Something the matter? I'm sure someone of your exceptional intelligence would ace this lesson." Namie looked down. "It wouldn't be worth acing if my rival wasn't here to compete against." Zol raised an interested eyebrow. "Is that so? Are you recommending this boy for Junior Shocker then?" Namie nodded. "His name is Goro Ishikura." Zol looked surprised. That was a name from the files involved the Kamen Riders. He nodded, a plan forming in his mind.
Goro was walking around Namie's neighborhood. "Where could she have gone? Her parents are worried about her." He got out of the way of a van, and was surprised when Namie stuck her head out of a window. "Hey Goro!" Goro smiled and ran after the van. He soon fell behind, but luckily a taxi pulled up that he flagged down. "Follow that van," he said as he got in. The taxi soon reached where the van had stopped. Goro quickly paid his fare then went to check the van, but it was empty. He didn't know that Centiperas was hiding on the other side.
As the monster crept up to grab him, the cab driver came out and revealed himself to be Motoyasu. "Goro, run for it!" He knocked Centiperas away as Goro fled. Motoyasu was able to fight the monster, but then Centiperas summoned several Combatmen, some of which ran after Goro. Goro managed to lose them by hiding in a nearby playground. "Looks like they're after me now." Suddenly, he heard a ringing sound in his ears. "There's no escape," Centiperas called out, "Soon you too will become a member of Junior Shocker!" Goro realized that Centiperas had snuck up underneath him and grabbed him, Goro falling unconscious.
Instead of heading off immediately, he threw a dagger at the nearby temple, hitting the fence just near the two Riders. "I take you're Centiperas," Ren said. "Colonel Zol mentioned you'd be getting deployed," Naofumi said as he cracked his knuckles. "Indeed," Centiperas said, "And you've been nicely baited. You see, we were aware that you always show up wherever this brat is. So the colonel decided to set a trap to eliminate all of Shocker's enemies in one fell swoop!"
"Why are you even after children in the first place!?," Naofumi demanded. "They're receiving special training as Junior Shocker troops," Centiperas explained, "Courtesy of Zol's special Monster Classroom. Observe, Riders, the power I possess!" He confronted the two Riders, revealing that he could remove the edges of his extra limbs and throw them as daggers. "Now witness my Brain Destruction Electromagnetic Waves! You will both die a maddening death!"
The sudden screeching hitting Naofumi and Ren's ears debilitated them, leaving Centiperas free to grab Goro and leave. "Naofumi!," Ren called out, "We need to transform! That might dull the waves!" "Right!," Naofumi called out. The quickly reached for their Typhoons. "Henshin!" Leaping into the air, they transformed into Kamen Riders 1 and 2. With the EM waves disrupted by their helmets, they called in their twin Cyclones to race after Centiperas.
Meanwhile, Motoyasu was still battling the Combatmen. As he did, he spotted Centiperas getting the van with Goro. He tried to stop the monster, only for Centiperas to knock him aside. The Combatmen grabbed him to finish him off, only for one to get run over by 2's Cyclone. "Motoyasu, get on!" Motoyasu knocked out the other two Combatmen and hopped on the back of the Cyclone. Centiperas noticed them following. "You still have some opponents left to fight, boys."
"What on Earth!?," Motoyasu said when he looked up. 1 did as well, and noticed a familiar flying figure. "Gebacondor!? Damn Shocker. They've revived him again. Will they never learn to let dead monsters lie? If they couldn't win last time, what makes them think they'll do so a second time?" 2 stopped his Cyclone. "Motoyasu, I'll handle this guy. Continue on with 1." Motoyasu nodded, getting on 1's Cyclone. Meanwhile, 2 fought against Gebacondor. 1 had to stop as well when a familiar vine whip tripped up the Cyclone. "Damn it!," 1 said, "They brought back Serracenian too!"
Later in the hideout, Great Leader spoke to the command chamber. 'Colonel Zol. How soon until the Junior Shocker is ready to begin their sabotage?' "When I'm satisfied with the results of their special training," Zol said, "I want to make sure they are full prepared for anything that could go wrong during an operation." Serracenian was busy teaching the children all the ins and outs of Shocker's rifle weapons. Once this lesson was done, Gebacondor had them test their knowledge out on a shooting range.
Soon enough, Zol seemed satisfied. "The children are excelling at all our lessons. Tomorrow, they'll scatter around the nation to begin their subversive operations! No one will suspect children of such actions." 'That's where you're wrong, Colonel Zol,' Great Leader pointed out, 'Let's not forget there is the Kamen Riders.' "Oh, I wouldn't worry about him," Zol said, "The Junior Shockers will be testing their true strength by attacking the Kamen Riders!" Sure enough, the children were picking up guns and moving out to attack.
Motoyasu was agitated in the wake of losing Goro. "You should calm down," Ren said. "Sorry," Motoyasu said, "It's just that I see Goro as a kid brother. Both of my parents were lost in the attack on my hometown, and I'm an only child. So right now I don't really have any other family. Just the racing club." Ren nodded. "I can understand that." "Same here," Naofumi said, "We also look at Goro as a kid brother." He turned his head. "Ren, you hear that?" Ren turned his head too. "Footsteps…"
The children came in, dressed as Combatmen and carrying weapons. Goro was at the head. Ren got Motoyasu out of the way as Goro aimed his gun and fired. "Damn it, they've been hypnotized," Naofumi said as he got to cover. Motoyasu frowned. "We can't attack kids…" "We don't have to," Naofumi said, "The commander must be somewhere nearby manipulating the kids. Likely Centiperas." He picked up the table he was behind and held it like a large shield. "Ren! Motoyasu! Get behind me!"
Together they acted like a battering ram, forcing the kids to move out of the way as they charged out of the apartment, locking them inside. "Motoyasu," Ren said, "Keep them inside. We'll be going after Centiperas." The two Riders headed to the roof, their enhanced hearing letting them pick up where Centiperas was broadcasting his EM waves from. "Let's go!," Naofumi said. Ren nodded. They leapt off the roof. "Henshin!" Their Typhoons activated as they landed, becoming 1 and 2.
They soon reached Centiperas's location, much to his surprise. "Time to pick up where we left off!," 1 called out. The two Riders battled the evil cyborg, but he called in backup from Gebacondor and Serracenian. 2 quickly took to battling the two newcomers while 1 continued to fight Centiperas. "A little help 1?," 2 asked once he had the two monsters on the ropes. "One second," 1 said as he knocked back Centiperas. The two then leapt into the air for the finisher. "Rider Kick!"
1 hit Gebacondor while 2 hit Serracenian, sending them sprawling before they expired. Meanwhile the children had taken to planting an explosive on the door. Centiperas battled the two Riders before getting knocked back. "This one's for the kids!," the Riders said as one while leaping into the air, "Rider Kick!" They both impacted against Centiperas, sending him flailing to the ground as he body burst into flames. His death caused an explosion at the Zol's desk. "Damn… The Riders killed Centiperas… How could my Junior Shocker plan have failed…?"
The Riders reentered the apartment from the window, pushing past the kids to put out the fuse of the explosive. By this point the brainwashing had worn off, meaning instead of seeing an enemy, the children only saw their heroes. "Kamen Riders!," they said excitedly, dropping the guns and running up to the two Riders. Motoyasu was able to squeeze in. "I take it everything's okay now." 1 nodded. As the two Riders headed back with Goro and Namie. Zol's Junior Shocker plan had been thwarted. Once again, the Riders proved that what had worked for Zol in the Middle East would not be so effective on their turf. And they would continue to do so until he was finally dealt with.
To be continued…
Y'know, I some ways Zol reminds me of Lelouch from Code Geass. He foolishly thinks effective plans will work in any circumstance. We'll see if he'll learn before long. Read and review.