The twin Riders continue their fight against Shocker. Let's see what gets sent after them next. Disclaimer: I don't own Kamen Rider or The Rising of the Shield Hero.
*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 28: It Came From Underground
Zol stood over an operating table as he pulled away a veil to reveal a mole-like humanoid. "You're blind in the eyes," he noted, "So instead, you will be given eyes that are retractable above the surface, and can see in a full three-hundred and sixty degree area around you." One of the scientists handed him a vial with said eye inside it. Zol carefully retrieved using a set of tongs. "The Electro Eyes. Molung, your mission is to fully demonstrate your new powers, not only to fulfill our plans, but to defeat our hated enemies, the Kamen Riders."
With the eyes installed, Molung hid underground and watched a runner pass by some hidden Combatmen. He sprung out and grabbed the runner, using his blade arm to attack and render the man unconscious before dragging him underground. One of the Combatmen reported. "Colonel Zol, we can confirm a successful experiment. Molung is now ready for our operation." 'Excellent,' Zol replied, 'We can begin at once.'
Meanwhile at the racing club, a young boy was speaking with Tobei. "Please, Mister Tachibana! My brother Yutaka is an excellent mechanic! I'm sure with his help, Naofumi can easily win the Motocross Championship! Right, bro?" Yutaka smiled. "That's enough now Shinji." "Hey, the kid's trying to help," Tobei said, "To be honest, I could use a second mechanic around here. There's been a… Project of mine that's kept me from properly working on Naofumi's motocross equipment."
He stood up. "There's one condition, however. Yutaka, you used to be a very prominent motocross racer yourself, yes? So why did you become afraid of riding a bike after falling only two or three times in a race? I want you to take Naofumi's place next year. That's my condition." Yutaka looked nervous, even as his brother ran up to complement him. He started to wonder what was going through Tobei's mind.
Elsewhere, Molung was continuing his diabolic doings, this time grabbing a hiker in the woods. The FBI quickly got wind of the attacks, and alerted Eclair to the situation. "I've just been informed that a monster neither human nor animal is abducting men," she told the two Riders. Naofumi grimaced. "Sounds like it might be Shocker again." Indeed, Molung was capturing the strongest men he could find, which were then remodeled into duplicate Mole Men.
Great Leader was addressing his troops, including Zol, about the nature of this plot. 'This time we will be targeting Japan's economy. Our focus will be the Port of Tokyo.' He had a video set up, showing an industrial compound. 'We'll affix our eyes on this petrochemical complex. Then, we will pour the vast amount of oil stored in this complex into the Tokyo Bay. When this is accomplished, we will turn the surface of the bay into a sea of flames! For this plan, we'll assigned our Mole Men, with their IQ lowered through remodeling, to dig tirelessly without knowing day or night.'
"So there's been forty abductions so far," Naofumi noted, "That must mean Shocker is up to something big." "It also sounds like Great Leader might be taking the reigns personally again," Ren said, "This is more in line with his normal MO, instead of letting Zol plan things out himself. That said, the efficiency does suggest Zol hasn't yet been discharged." Meanwhile, a Combatman was peering into the garage of the racing club. Yutaka was hard at work fixing up Naofumi's racing bike. "Don't push yourself there," Tobei said, "The competition's tomorrow."
Zol spoke with Molung inside the hideout. "So what's the progress on our operation?," Zol asked. "We're keeping a steady pace," Molung said, "Our diggers have gotten right around here… And here…" It was rather far into the blueprint. Zol nodded in approval. "Good. If we keep up this pace, we will be completed by tomorrow as planned." 'I'm afraid we aren't so lucky,' Great Leader said, 'Our slaves are dying. Molung, you must act immediately to replace them so we don't lose any time.' Molung nodded.
Unfortunately, his first victim caught Motoyasu and Malty's attention. While they weren't able to get to the poor man in time, they were able to get a good visual on Molung's abilities. "So this one is a mole monster capable of moving underground," Motoyasu noted, "We'd better inform the Riders about this." Ren was the first to hear the information, and he frowned. "How are we supposed to Rider Kick an underground enemy?" "We aren't," Naofumi said grimly, "We'll have to try something else."
"You've done well so far, Molung," Zol said, "Keep this up, and I'll be sure to return you to human form." He held up a small bottle filled with green liquid. "This is the Restoration Liquid. Our testing has proven that it can undo certain kinds of remodeling, such as the one used on you. However, you still have work to do before we will apply it." Molung nodded. "Of course, Colonel. Does this mean I have a new target?" Zol nodded. "You've no doubt been informed of a certain racing club owned by on Tobei Tachibana. There right now is a man named Yutaka Aikawa. He has skills we need. Abduct him."
Naofumi spoke with the racing club. "So yeah. Because of the work me and Ren are doing right now, I'm afraid I may not be able to participate in this championship." "Now way!," Shinji said, "You're a liar! You have to be! Why wouldn't you be able to participate!? You made a promise to my brother!" Yutaka placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "That's enough Shinji. Naofumi might have a lot of other things to attend to. Let's just go home for right now."
As they walked down the road, the two brothers were attacked by Molung. At first he went for Shinji by mistake, not being to see. Yutaka, not realizing he was the one being targeted, tried to save his brother, only to get abducted instead. Shinji quickly ran back to the racing club as Yutaka struggled against the mole monster. "There's trouble! A monster is attacking my brother!" "He's here!?," Ren asked, "Where!?" "He's over by the riverbank!," Shinji replied. The two Riders hurried over one their Cyclones. "Henshin!" The wind speed trigger their Typhoons, and they transformed into Kamen Riders 1 and 2.
They arrived just in time to prevent Molung from successfully abducting Yutaka. "We have you now, monster!," 1 called out. Molung grimaced. "The Riders!? Here!?" Yutaka tried to escape, only to get confronted by Combatmen. The twin Riders quickly started fighting the Combatmen. 2 tried attacking Molung, but his skin was too thick, breaking off 2 borrowed weapon. Molung laughed before diving underground while 2 went for a replacement weapon for the one that broke. 1 was able to get the Combatmen off of Yutaka, but 2 wound up getting grabbed by Molung. This distracted 1 as the Combatmen grabbed Yutaka again.
Zol was pleased that the mission had succeeded more than expected, with not only Yutaka captured, but one of the Riders as well. With Yutaka under hypnosis, he began his schemes. "Now, Yutaka Aikawa, you are to kill the FBI dog, Eclair Seaetto, at the Motocross Championship in two days time!" Yutaka was in a trance. "I… Will kill Eclair Seaetto…" Zol nodded. "Keep in mind that failure means death." Meanwhile, Ren was bound inside a cell. As he came to, he noticed a blueprint on the far wall.
He knew that Naofumi was still outside, but it was likely that he couldn't afford to wait for a rescue. "Awake are we?," Zol said, "No doubt planning to escape." "Zol," Ren said, "Where are the people you abducted?" Zol smirked. "They'd been remodeled into mole men. Since you're going to die soon, I'll tell you why. The blueprint you see involves our scheme to pour all the oil from the petrochemical complexes in Kawasaki and Yokohama into Tokyo Bay, turning it into a sea of flames. They'll arrive under the oil tanks tomorrow, carrying the explosive. When the switch is pressed, the bottom of the tanks will be blown open."
"And what Yutaka?," Ren asked, "Has he been remodeled as well?" "Oh, you won't have to worry about him," Zol replied, "He's been left alone. Physically, at least. Mentally he's… A little changed. I had him hypnotized, you see." "Let me guess," Ren said, "You had assigned to kill my girlfriend Eclair for being, as you so eloquently put it, an 'FBI dog'. A rather hypocritical moniker, considering your loyal devotion to Great Leader and Shocker." "Silence!," Zol called out, slapping Ren with his riding crop, "Working for Shocker is a great honor!"
Ren smirked. "And if you were to ask Eclair, she'd say the same thing about the FBI. In reality, there only difference between your organization is that the FBI works to maintain stability and peace, while you only seek domination and chaos." He glared at Zol with a toothy grin. "And don't forget that Naofumi is still out there. Since he's involved in the Motocross Championship, if he sees anything funny going on with Yutaka, you can bet he'll put an end to it." Zol growled. "I will enjoy thinking up the most painful way to have you executed…"
Zol finally calmed down upon learning that his plan was nearing completion. "With our slaves positioned under the tanks, we're ready for the final phase." Molung nodded. "But about the detonator. Is it possible to tamper with? We can't have any mistakes this far in." "Not to worry," Zol assured him, "I have the switch installed in my personal office." He turned to a nearby scientist. "Switch it over to the remote control." The scientist nodded. "Once this place explodes, we'll also be taking Ren Amaki with it." He lowered a cover on Ren's cell. Ren smirked and got out a small file from his jacket using his teeth, carefully dropping it into his hands.
Before long he had the chains broken, and his increased strength took care of the ropes and collar. He looked around, smiling when he saw the cell had more than enough space. "Henshin!" He leapt off the walls, gaining enough momentum to build wind pressure and trigger the Typhoon. He busted out of his cell, dispatching the Combatmen still there, then noticed the Restoration Liquid. "This can help stop Zol's plan." He quickly shut off the explosives. Zol hit the switch, but nothing happened. "Damn it… Molung, the operation is a wash. 2 is heading for the Motocross venue. Strengthen operations there."
With the slaves returned to normal, 2 raced for the venue, having already alerted Naofumi as to what was going on. As it turned out, both of them were to compete, with Yutaka convincing Eclair to take Ren's place and planting a bomb on her motorcycle. As Yutaka made to hit the switch, 2 leapt in and grabbed her off the bike before it blew. Naofumi ran over. "Jeez, when did that get planted!" Yutaka came in with a knife to try and finish the job, only for Naofumi to knock him out. "So Shocker hypnotized him."
2 nodded. "They were planning to dump oil form the petrochemical complexes into Tokyo Bay. I was able to put a stop to it, but Molung wasn't around when I did so. He should be somewhere nearby." Naofumi grabbed the knife and threw it to a spot where a pair of Electro Eyes were sticking out of the ground. He leapt into the air. "Henshin!" Transformed into 1, he and 2 confronted Molung as he emerged. "Get them!" Several Combatmen emerged to attack.
After they were dispatched, Molung roared. "How dare you get in the way of Shocker's plans!" "Pretty rich coming from the people who tried to kill my girlfriend!," 2 retorted. "2," 1 said, "We need to lure off the soft ground somehow, or we'll never beat him." 2 nodded, and they leapt up to a steel mesh walkway, battling the Combatmen that followed them up there. Annoyed with how his Combatmen were losing, Molung followed the Riders as they continued to battle at the construction site.
He soon confronted them. "This time I won't let either of you live!" He continued to follow the Riders, not knowing they were leading him to a walkway over a cement truck. "Okay," 1 said, "Ready, 2?" "Whenever you are," 2 replied. They traded blows with Molung before knocking him into the cement. Before long the mixing cement crushed even his hardened body, leaving him forever locked in a solid prison that would soon suffocate him.
Later, Yutaka regained his senses, though he couldn't remember anything from after Shocker hypnotized him. "I'm really sorry about everything," he said to Eclair. Eclair shrugged. "This was all Shocker's fault in the end." Tobei nodded. "Besides, you still have a promise to keep. You'll be taking Naofumi's place on the team next year, after all." Yutaka nodded. With one of Zol's strongest monsters defeated, and his plans completely dismantled, the Riders hoped this would send a clear message to Zol that they wouldn't roll over just for his or Shocker's ambitions.
To be continued…
Wow this one was a crazy one. I wanted to give a little more focus on Ren this time. And show that depending on the circumstances, having two Riders active didn't always mean they could outmaneuver Shocker's schemes. Read and review.