Hey! Look what's making a Christmas come-back, from me to you! This is a different story for me, in that in comes in waves and gets weird press in terms of negative and positive. Some people absolutely love it, some hate it completely. It's the definition of a mixed bag.

In any case though, its back like the McRib, so I hope you enjoy your gift. Cheers!

Chapter 12: Another Rider

OR

More Than You Expected, Less Than You Want

It was hard to look serious using a stethoscope like a phone, but Taylor succeeded with it at the moment.

After her...encounter, she had booked it home, completely skipping the bus in favor of power walking straight home like a woman possessed, utterly ignoring that the school day had only just began. She had bigger things to worry about than a possible suspension and fatherly disapproval.

The first thing she did, after locking the front door and doing a rough search to see if she had been followed by anything, Taylor dug into the case she had hidden in the back of her closet, and retrieved the medicine-themed device.

She heard it ringing, and felt the tension in her shoulders rise just a bit more.

The Case 53, Salty, his name she knew from somewhere deep inside herself, talked about saying hello to the Doctor. And who gave her the Driver and Mighty Action X?

It didn't take much to put the two and two together. Questions ran through Taylor's mind at record paces, wondering just how the two knew each other, if she was just over-thinking everything, if she was going to be betrayed again-

The ringing finally stopped, revealing the increasingly familiar picture of Dr. Pac-Man, if as a static image instead of the 3-D figure from before.

"Hello hello! Sorry I can't do my usual video call, I'm working on some things that aren't quite ready to see the light of day! What can I do for you...Taylor!" His voice came through the other end, the last bit sounding like he was reading her name off of a caller ID.

That...raised the question of who else could be able to call him through his own devices, but that wasn't the reason Taylor called.

"Who the hell is Salty and why did he attack me today." Taylor wasted no time in accusing the obvious. She didn't care if he was offended by it, the battle just a bit earlier, if she hadn't had that sudden burst of violence and ability, would have probably left her as a blood stain on a wall. Politeness was not in her wheelhouse for a moment.

Pac-Man was silent for a moment, before she heard something heavy touch the ground, and a heavily distorted sigh.

"So, he found you that quickly huh. Guess there's something to his talk of 'Fate' after all. Salty...is a friend and foe to the both of us." He explained without really answering anything.

"And what does THAT mean." Taylor gritted out.

"It means it has to do with the Game you created. Mighty Action X is a platformer game about the hero, Mighty, facing the world and taking down the villain, Salty, who rules his kingdom with a temperamental claw. The second you 'started' the Game, so too did Salty." The words were spoken calmly, as if it was completely natural.

Taylor, was not nearly as calm.

"So, what, you're telling me that getting powers somehow made a completely different person who's entire point of existence is to get in my way or kill me?"

"It's a bit more nuanced than that, but, essentially, yes. Everything comes at a cost, even if we don't know its being paid. I was shocked when Salty appeared from my system, and couldn't protect myself properly before he overpowered me and escaped. I had no idea he would go for you so quickly..."

Taylor wondered just what had happened there, if that was why there was no figure right now, but was a bit busy trying to grasp that her enemy count just rose up a notch.

'Knew it was too good to be true...' she bitterly thought as her hand clenched around the Gashat now resting in her right pocket.

"But, there IS an upside. Salty is nothing but excess data given form from your transformation. If you can defeat him, the energy will be going back to you in its entirety, giving you access to more powers. I'm also developing more Gashats that you can combine with Mighty Action to help you in your fights to come." Pac-Man interjected before Taylor could get lost in her thoughts, snapping her back in an instant.

"What! How long will that take, how will I get them!" Taylor questioned, as these seemed like they would help her chances of living exponentially.

"The Gashats require experiences and knowledge to shape them, so I put them in places where people congregate or specific actions are done. Look for them, and I'm sure you'll find a few. Just...be careful with them. I can't say anything more for now, I'm needed elsewhere. Remember, you aren't alone. There's Always Another Rider." He spoke the last words seriously, before the call suddenly disconnected, leaving Taylor reeling at the disappearence.

She still had so many questions...

*Change And Up!*

Well that was the hardest I had just bullshited someone in about a year and a half.

I knew exactly what I was doing when I made Salty with the saved Mighty Action virus. Salty served as a perfect distraction, patsy, and servant to the bitter end. Until then, he'd harrass Taylor and the rest just enough to prioritize finding and activating more Gashats, which would further everything else along.

Meanwhile, I went on a little field trip.

With a casual shove, the corpse formerly known as Saint toppled from his chair to join his head on the floor, and I got a good look at what I had come for.

Dragon's server, for all that it was a marvel of technology, was kept in check by hundreds of contingencies and backdoor access ways all held under the name 'Ascalon', either because of the myth of dragon slaying, or that her creator was an anime fan. I personally hoped it was the latter, but he was sadly dead and under a few thousand gallons of water, so I couldn't even get to his Ghost if I really wanted to find out.

Either way though, I was in front of The Kill Switch, and while it would be fun to see what pulling the plug actually DID, I had something much better in mind.

With a swift pull of my belt, a large USB-esce device came free, which I then proceeded to flip the front over on to present a more angular port.

In a single push, it was in the server that held Ascalon, and I eagerly watched as the previous blank device took on a steel grey color outlined with black and red, forming a stylized dragon with a sword in its mouth.

After all, what better way to get rid of such bothersome and boring restrictions, than with an Authorize Key?

The left pocket was opened, and around the server was a new Driver, a small thing that looked utilitarian and sleek, with yellow highlights over black metal. The ForceRiser.

With a click of a button, a cry of SMITE! filled the room, the Key was brought into the Driver, and the Trigger was cocked.

War horns filled the air as if in warning as, with a massive grin, I pulled back the trigger, and Opened the Door.

UP-RISE! DowNFALl DRagON! A Dragon Roars With Freedom

Ahhh, yes. There always was another Rider.

END OF CHAPTER

This is a little allusion to how my plans changed as the series progressed. When I first made this story, the plan was to kill off Dragon and usurp the Birdcage for a Rider War...then Zero-One came out and I got inspired for a different direction. It's fun when life surprises you.

In any case, don't forget to review and discuss as you like!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!