Hey, everyone!
Welcome to chapter 9 of My Hero Academia Illegals: Vigilante Dark Drive.
Hope you guys enjoy it!
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
*Sounds*
[Belt-san/Kamen Rider System]
"Super Moves!"
{Television}
After thanking the others for coming to see him, Yuuki asked them if they could give him and Yuriko some personal space for the two of them to have a private talk.
Agreeing to his request and wishing well for Yuuki's recovery, Tsukauchi and the others leave the Rider's hospital room.
"I'm glad that you decided to open up more to the others from now on, Tomari-san." Yuriko tells her partner as she places some flowers she brought into a white vase. "I got to know them and Tsukauchi-san and the others are all nice people."
"Yeah, I suppose so." Yuuki admits with an ashamed expression. "But I guess I never really tried to connect with them, outside of work matters, because I was afraid, deep inside, of being rejected."
"Because you're Quirkless." She adds, earning a nod from him. "Just like me."
"Yes." The man replies, feeling uncomfortable with the next question he was about to ask next:
"Say… Yuriko, what do you see me as?" Yuuki eventually musters enough courage to question her.
"What do you mean? You are my partner, Tomari-san. And I'm the one watching your back. You can always count on me for anything." Yuriko replies with a gentle smile.
Yuuki blinks at her answer, actually feeling a little touched by her words.
"I see… But… Do you think we can be something more?"
"Something more?" The woman repeats. "What are you talking about?"
"I… Can you be my friend, Yuriko?"
"A friend?" Yuriko looks at him in disbelief with his sudden request.
"Well, I never really had someone I could truly call as a friend. I only had Krim, the Shift Cars and the Signal Bikes to keep me company as a family." Yuuki explains, actually feeling a bit dejected with his confession.
Something inside of Yuriko broke at this as she felt bad upon remembering that, despite both of them being Quirkless, the pair of detectives had different backgrounds. She remembers telling her partner how she was born in a family that loved her and had a few genuine friends that did not mind her 'disability'.
But for Yuuki, while Krim gave him the love and support of a parent that he much needed, nobody else did the same for him before he joined the Police Force.
No, then this needs to change!
She may not be Pro Hero, but this doesn't mean she can't be a good person. Being a police officer, she should help those in need. Especially a fellow officer of the law.
Gently grabbing Yuuki's hands with her own ones, Yuriko tells him with a bright smile:
"You don't need to ask for my permission or anything of the sort, Tomari-san. I already considered you my friend the moment we decided to fight together against the Roidmudes. I accept and admire you for who you are, and not for what you can or can't do."
These words…
Nobody else, besides Krim, has ever told these words before to Yuuki. And it was refreshing to hear them from someone genuine. It was as if the chains that sealed his heart were finally breaking apart…
"Yuriko… Thank you." Yuuki manages to speak softly as he thanks her with a smile of his own.
She only looks back at him in understanding.
Suddenly, she remembers something else:
"In that case, I also want you to befriend the others now." Yuriko cheerfully brings up.
"Eh?" Her partner looks puzzled at this.
"What? Don't look at me like that. You could clearly make use of more friends. And as I said, they are all nice people once you actually get to know them. Oh!
How about this: Once you're discharged from here, let's all hang out together and head to some restaurant to have a nice meal. All of us. We could also even make it a party to celebrate your recovery that way. We can maybe even invite the chief as well. Hmm~ Yes, I'm sure of it." Yuriko lists off as she already begins to form some plans in her mind.
"But are you sure Tsukauchi-san and the others would be interested in it?" Yuuki asks his partner, feeling a bit unsure about their coworkers' reaction to this.
Yuriko makes a face at him:
"Once I got to know everyone, I also learned how the others felt about you, Tomari-san. Tsukauchi-san and the others respect you, all of them had good things to say about you and the numerous cases that you solved." She reveals.
"Wait. Hold on. Really?" Yuuki inquiries, not believing in what he just heard her tell him.
"Yeah, I'm serious." She confirms. "Though they really wish you didn't make a barrier between them and you. They don't care if we're Quirkless. I already confirmed that. Please, Tomari-san. At least try a bit to bond with the others." Yuriko pleads.
Though initially reluctant to comply with her sudden request, Yuuki eventually concedes to her wish.
"Alright, fine. I will try to get closer to the others, Yuriko. I promise once I get out from here."
His partner nods in approval upon hearing him say those words.
Yes! It was already a good start.
But deciding to change of topics, Yuriko brings out another matter that has been troubling them:
"I know you're worried about the Roidmudes roaming around freely while you're stuck here at the hospital, Tomari-san."
"Yeah." Yuuki replies, now looking rather tired and briefly dejected, once again, upon remembering this trouble.
"But that's why I've been giving my best ever since I joined the team. All so that we would be ready for times like these. I vow to also become a Kamen Rider and do my best to protect Musutafu City in your absence." Yuriko starts to speak, adopting a determined expression. "So, that's why…"
"You want me to believe in you and focus on my recovery, right? I understand." Her partner gives the woman a look of understanding. "Then I will leave things in your care, for the time being, Yuriko. And as soon as my body is fully healed, I will join you back on the front lines."
"Right. That's a promise then."
The two police detectives smile and look at each other in acknowledgment as the bond between them begins to grow, becoming deeper and stronger…
My Hero Academia Illegals: Vigilante Dark Drive
Drive 09: Rider! Tracer!
At the Drive Pit…
With Yuuki out of commission for the time being, Krim decided that it was finally about time for Yuriko to debut as a Kamen Rider. And it was a good thing they have been training and taking all the necessary measures for this, with their results soon going to bear some fruits due to all the hard work and dedication Yuriko spent at this.
But that said…
"Huh? What do you mean I can't use the Drive System?"
Yuriko asks Krim.
She initially thought that she was going to pose as Kamen Rider Dark Drive for the time being.
But no. That wouldn't end being the case at all.
"It's not anyone that can transform into Drive with me. Right now, Yuuki is the only one able to use me, when I change into the Drive Driver, because of the special training he underwent and of the strong bond the two of us cultivated through the years. Because of that, there's no one else compatible with me." Krim explains to her.
Yuriko looks disappointed upon learning that, she actually wanted to follow in her senpai's footsteps as the next warrior Drive.
"But if that's the case, then what sort of Driver am I supposed to use, Krim?" She asks the bespectacled scientist.
He only smirks back at the rookie detective as he pulls out a black briefcase with the Drive Riders' 'R' logo on it.
"Go on, Yuriko. Open it. That's my gift for you." Krim tells Yuriko as she complies, opening the case.
She finds a blue Driver that has a silver bike exhaust vent on the left side, having an empty pad in the right one. The device also seems to have a hole in it, as well as a white circular button on the top.
"The Mach Driver..." Yuriko whispers, recognizing the Rider transformation device.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The Transformation Belt Mach Driver Honoh, or simply the Mach Driver, is the transformation device used by Kamen Rider Mach and Kamen Rider Chaser. Kamen Rider Drive also uses it to transform into his Deadheat Drive and Chou Deadheat Drive forms.
It was invented by Harley Hendrickson.
The Mach Driver Honoh was designed to someday be a successor to the Drive System. It is programmed with an A.I. to handle the tasks Krim Steinbelt does to the Drive System, and as such, boosts the effectiveness of Mach, though this deals a heavier toll on the user's body compared to Drive's as a result.
However, Yuriko doesn't have to worry about this last detail as she trained her body to handle the strain the Mach Driver would cause, following the instructions Krim gave to her alongside the fact that Belt-san also finished updating the Mach Driver, turning its toll more bearable for its user, after following some data and instruction notes that his mentor and Rinna shared with him.
Harley Hendrickson is an old yet lively American scientist who invented Mach's Rider System, which includes the Signal Bikes and Mach Driver Honoh, as well as being the mentor of Krim Steinbelt back in his homeworld.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
So this is the Driver that Krim entrusted to her...
Well, that certainly makes sense since she wouldn't be able to use the Drive Driver. And Yuuki and Belt-san have also told her about the Signal Bikes and how they could only be used by the users of the Mach Driver, Kamen Riders Mach and Chaser, since the Next System their tech belongs to was the successor to the first Drive System.
'But since the Mach Driver is the system that succeeds Kamen Rider Drive, does that mean I have the potential to surpass Tomari-san and Krim?' Yuriko can't help but wonder.
Although it is kinda ironic that the Mach Driver Honoh was designed to succeed the Drive System given that, in the past, Kamen Rider Drive continues to receive newer and more powerful upgrades and forms, while the Mach System's only upgrade was Shift Deadheat, which is also shared with Drive. This ended leaving the Mach System somewhat overshadowed(With the crippling damage of the said Driver in episode 23 of Kamen Rider Drive's TV Series worsening the issue).
Realizing this, Krim is also currently working on some new Signal Bikes for Yuriko to make use of...
XXXXXXX
The Signal Bikes are miniature bikes used by Kamen Rider Mach and Kamen Rider Chaser in conjunction with their belt, the Mach Driver Honoh. Some Signal Bikes enhance Mach's current form with a Signal Koukan, adding the last part of a Signal Bike's name to its original name (i.e, Mach Magarl).
Signal Exchanges also influence his Zenrin Shooter with different shooting capabilities depending on how many times the Mach Driver Honoh's Boost Igniter button is hit.
Unlike Drive's Tire Koukans, Mach's Signal Koukans are nowhere near as flashy, and the Kourin Signal merely appears on his Signal Kourin.
It is currently unknown if Chaser is capable of Signal Exchanges as well.
Much like how Shift Cars grant their users immunity to Heavy Accelerations, Signal Bikes can also do the same.
True to being the latest model from Drive's system, Signal Bikes are powered by NEX-Core Driviars, an improved version of Core Driviars.
And just like the Shift Cars, it would appear that Signal Bikes have some form of intelligence programmed into them as well.
The Next System is a Kamen Rider arsenal initially created to succeed the Drive System, introducing the Signal Bikes as successors of the Shift Cars. Two Riders were created as part of this Next System, both transforming via the Mach Driver Honoh.
Kamen Rider Mach was created by Harley Hendrickson at the request of Krim Steinbelt, with Kamen Rider Chaser later being created by Sawagami Rinna.
XXXXXXX
Wait, so that means...
"I believe you told me about how you previously worked to the Musutafu Police Department's Traffic Division before being promoted to detective, right? You also told me that you had a bike license to ride one of the police's patrol motorcycles." Krim asks Yuriko, earning a nod from her.
"Wait, so does that means you want me to adopt the role of either Mach or Chaser?" She asks him back, deducing that to be the case.
"Well, not exactly. While I have the Signal Mach and the other enhancing ones here, I do not have the Chaser one."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Based on the Rider Machine Ride Chaser, Signal Chaser is a sentient Signal Bike that allowed Chase to transform into Kamen Rider Chaser.
This Signal Bike was created by using the blasted-off part of Mashin Chaser's Violet Guard that was once used to help the Kamen Riders gain the ability to separate Advanced Roidmudes that went through the Fusion Evolution.
Prior to Chase's death, the Signal Chaser was entrusted to Shijima Go, and later used to access Kamen Rider Chaser Mach's form. It is the only Signal Bike that was not sealed into the ruined Drive Pit following the demise of Banno Tenjuro - Kamen Rider Gold Drive.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Krim doesn't know what happened with Signal Chaser and where it is…
"So you want me to take the mantle of the next Kamen Rider Mach?" Yuriko questions the scientist.
"That is up to you, Yuriko." The scientist replies as he presents Signal Mach for her.
Based on the Rider Machine Ride Macher, Signal Mach is a sentient Signal Bike that allowed Go Shijima to transform into Kamen Rider Mach.
"However, I suspect that the Mach one isn't the best suited for you either." Steibelt comments.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Yuriko demands an explanation from the scientist.
"Just see it for yourself first. Try transforming into Kamen Rider Mach now." He replies, not elaborating any further.
"Okay." Yuriko obeys as she places the Mach Driver Honoh in front of her as it forms a silver belt that wraps itself around her waist.
To transform with the Mach Driver, the user raises the Signal Landing Panel and inserts a Form Change Signal Bike(or the Tridoron Key) before pushing it back down.
Flames are then emitted from the Cylinder Amplifier and the form's Signal Kourin then appears along with the components of the armor that assemble around the user, completing the transformation.
After inserting the Signal Mach into her Driver, Yuriko strikes a pose as she chants:
"Henshin!"
However, nothing happens…
"Eh!? What's wrong? Why I can't transform?" She asks aloud, looking panicked at the Mach Driver.
Meanwhile, Krim did not seem much surprised by this.
"I see. So that's what would happen." He observes as he calmly removes the Signal Mach from Yuriko's Driver.
"What went wrong, Krim? Why I couldn't transform into Kamen Rider Mach? Is it my fault?" The rookie detective shot several questions at the bespectacled man.
"No, no. It's okay, Yuriko. It's not your fault." He assures her. "This was just a test about something I needed to confirm. I honestly wasn't 100% sure if you could really use Signal Mach or not to transform."
"Why would you think that?" Yuriko questions again once she calmed down, raising an eyebrow at the man.
"Remember how Yuuki and I told you that it takes more than great physical conditioning and intelligence to become a Kamen Rider?" She nods at this. "Well, the Rider System also takes the user's emotional frames of mind and the state of their personalities into account as well." Krim reveals.
"They do? But how exactly?" The police detective asks Steinbelt as he is about to give her some examples of Shift Cars that require certain 'special' emotions in order to be used on the Drive Driver…
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Shift Wild - Shinnosuke must be pumped up and motivated to fight in order to use Type Wild.
Shift Technic - Shinnosuke must have a cool, calm, and clear mind in order to use Type Technic.
Shift Formula - Shinnosuke must believe in all of his allies in order to use Type Formula.
Shift Tridoron - Shinnosuke must believe in his devotion to protect others in order to use Type Tridoron.
Shift High Speed - Shinnosuke must be a gentleman in order to use Type High Speed.
Shift Deadheat - Unlike Shinnosuke, even though there are no special emotions required, Go must believe in himself and have confidence in his own powers in order to use Shift Deadheat properly.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"I see." Yuriko says as she gives a look of understanding to Krim once she finishes processing the information he just gave her.
"The Rider System also takes the user's ability to believe into question: Your powers and performance will grow if you strongly believe that they will." Steinbelt tells her.
"Then I suppose that means that I don't match the required personality and emotions that the previous Kamen Rider Mach had? Is that why I can't use Signal Mach?"
She also learned about Shijima Go - the first Kamen Rider Mach from Yuuki and Krim.
If that's the case, then Yuriko can clearly see how incompatible she is with the idea of assuming the mantle of Kamen Rider Mach.
But since Signal Chaser is also unavailable, what will she use to transform? Shift Deadheat? Is she supposed to transform into Dead Heat Drive or Deadheat Mach then?
No, no.
That can't be…
But if so, what other option is there for her?
"Yes, you're quite different from Go, Yuriko. But don't take this as something bad." Krim tries to console her. "Here, this is the true Signal Bike that I actually wanted to give you."
The scientist tells Yuriko as he brings forth a small metallic box, with a Signal Bike fitting inside of it.
Opening the gift box, Yuriko finds out that her next gift happens to be a Signal Bike modeled after a white police patrol motorcycle, with blue dark blue details and trimming across it. Its Ability Crest shows a crimson version of the Drive Riders' 'R' logo, with a red circle around it.
XXXXXXX
Ability Crest: A graphic print on the rear wheel of the Signal Bikes, which indicates what ability the Signal Bike holds. If the symbol is a stylized 'R' (the Drive logo), then the Signal Bike is used for transformation.
XXXXXXX
"This is..." Yuriko trailed off as she looks at the new Signal Bike in wonder.
"I suppose this Signal Bike will be fitting for you since you're a police officer and a Kamen Rider from now on. Just like Yuuki. But while he is a Driver, you're a Biker." Krim tells her with a satisfied tone, noticing the excitement appearing in the woman's eyes. "And I already have your own personal Rider Machine built, ready to be put into use."
He adds as she looks back at him, almost choking as she becomes unable to contain her surprise.
"You mean my own bike? The one only for me to use?" She questions, earning a nod from the scientist.
This… This is so great!
Yuriko is unable to form words to thank Krim as she becomes unable to contain her excitement.
This is it!
The time has come as Yuriko can finally prove herself to the rest of the world that she can become a true heroine, without having to need a Quirk.
But the police detective suddenly becomes doubtful as she looks at the Mach Driver and the Signal Bike that Krim gave her.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" The scientist asks, looking confused at the woman.
This certianly wasn't the reaction he expected from her. Where was all the joy she was showing just now?
"It's just… Should I really be the one using the Rider System?" Yuriko asks Krim, looking unsure.
"What made you think that?" He asks her back.
"I suddenly remembered about the requirements of right emotional state and personality that you just mentioned, Krim."
"Ah, yes. But I don't see any issue here. I don't think there's any problem in regards to your compatibility with the new Signal Bike, Yuriko." Steinbelt assures her.
But she just shook her head at this.
"It's not that. It's just… What about the Pro Heroes with the right mindset? I wonder why you never mentioned anything before about the idea of offering the Rider System for any of them to use. I'm sure you have your reasons, but there are also genuinely good heroes, like All Might, out there that can maybe become better Kamen Riders than I could ever hope to be. Plus, their experience as heroes and their own Quirks would turn them strong enough to quickly destroy all the Roidmudes in no time, right?" Yuriko brings out this issue as she becomes a bit depressed.
Should she let them handle things instead of her?
"No. You're actually wrong, Yuriko."
Huh?
The police detective looks at the scientist with a surprised expression.
But she didn't technically say something incorrect, did she?
The bespectacled man sighs before giving an explanation to her:
"I mean, you're right about one thing, Yuriko. There are indeed good and genuine Pro Heroes out there that could have probably turned into great Kamen Riders. However, there is a reason why I never tried to bring the Rider System to a Pro Hero. It's because only people like you and Yuuki can actually become Kamen Riders. Can you guess why?"
Though initially uncertain of what Krim tried to say with his words, realization eventually hits in on Yuriko's mind.
"Wait… No… It can't be!" She speaks, eyes going wide in disbelief. "Are you telling me that… Because of Quirks…!"
She trailed off as Krim simply nods, confirming her suspicions.
"Indeed, Yuriko. It's exactly just as you're thinking. Nowadays, in this Quirk-centered society, no one normal by this world's standards can use the Drive System to transform into a Kamen Rider. However, this is something that can be still achieved even now by the abnormal Quirkless individuals."
The look of shock on the woman's face as she tried to process what Steinbelt just told her was understandable. Never would Yuriko have honestly expected to actually learn that Quirks would become a hindering issue, much less in the way that Krim has brought up to her.
"But why exactly people with Quirks can't become Kamen Riders?" She asks for an explanation.
"Well, you know how Quirks work, right? They occupy a portion of our brains that have evolved to use more of our processing power." Yuriko nods at this. "Well, now take into account that the Drive System depends on the user's mind to work.
What you get as a result once you make some tests with this scenario is that none of the normal people with Quirks have the mental capacity to handle the Rider System's emotional requirements without the possibility of their brains turning into oatmeal. Yes, it can badly damage their brains and even kill them, in the worst case, if these people tried to use my Drive System to become Kamen Riders."
"Wait, what!?" Yuriko looks horrified upon hearing that.
Yes, that's right...
Sometimes, Quirks are too much of a problem...
They become more demands on the body in terms of resources (O2, food, water, electricity, etc.), even onto affecting behavior in some people, with no major effort to master any of them.
It's unlike historic types of science, technology, magic, chi, martial arts, mastering of various types of weapons, or spiritual; which can exceed Quirks once mastered.
The Quirks can actually hold back a person as it hinders their ability to do certain activities or to think clearly.
Adaptability, thinking, and skills of a Quirkless person can be beat Quirks with minimum effort if done right. And Quirks are a only quick fix to the plateau, becoming temporary, while the others are not.
Well, then again, while powerless, it's been noted that, due to not having a Quirk to occupy that fabled percentage of the brain Quirks were supposed to be using up, many believed that being Quirkless allowed them to have farther limits.
Which is indeed true.
The ability to increase their strenght, speed, intelligence, and reflexes to far greater degrees than would have been noted before close to 100 years ago.
"I've been cross-referencing diagrams, pictures, notes, photographs, and more on the brain's increase in percentage usage over the past two hundred years in this world. I'm looking at how that change began and the new lines that connect. I've been known to work well with energy, thanks to a part of my condition as the Drive Driver." Krim continues saying to Yuriko as he showed her some of his research notes, tests and data related to Quirks and how it affects the usage of the Rider System.
The scientist then shows her a brain scan of Yuuki's mind in comparison to that of several other ones of 'regular' people with Quirks.
In comparison to Yuuki's brain scan, which semmed perfectly fine, the scan results of the other people showed some concerning signs. It semmed that they couldn't handle and process the information that the Rider System tried to transfer to their minds as it would overload them, literally frying their brains, since it was more than what they could endure due to the Quirks already occupying part of their brains' capacity.
The more she read, the more frightened the police detective became with what the results showed...
'How nobody ever noticed this before!?' Yuriko thinks in slight alarm.
"I believe that Quirks are destroying everyone's minds, actually limiting people's thought process in a way. From what was shown in these brain scans, every person with a Quirk had about one-third or fewer neurons in their brains compared to you, Yuuki, and myself. I even searched about the Quirk Singularity theory and it seems to hold some truth in it after all."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The Quirk Singularity is a concept postulated by Dr. Garaki Kyudai about the danger posed by Quirks becoming stronger and stronger with each generation.
About seventy years ago, Dr. Garaki Kyudai presented this theory, according to which, as the generations follow one another, Quirks blend and evolve, producing stronger and more complex Quirks.
However, with this increase in power, the Quirks will also become more difficult to control, since the human body doesn't evolve quickly enough to keep up. Eventually, there will come a point when Quirks will become too overpowered and complicated, and no one will be able to control them anymore.
This theory was originally called Paranormal Singularity Theory, although over time it would also become known as Quirk Singularity Doomsday Theory.
Back then, no one believed Kyudai's thesis and mocked it, citing that they found it absurd and lacking in evidence, and eventually ignored it. In an era struggling to return an impoverished, conflicted world back to peace, no one believed there was anything to indicate the "collapse of the future".
After his theory was rejected and he was ostracized from society as a result, Kyudai went missing.
With the passage of time, the Paranormal Singularity Theory began to gain notoriety. The early signs of Garaki's hypotheses started to appear among the fourth generation of Quirk users, although, even nowadays, the theory is considered fringe thinking reserved for cults, such as Humarise.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
How ironic...
So the fate of the world is in the hands of the 'defective' Quirkless people that have always been looked down on by everyone 'normal' with Quirks...
[Well, let's be honest. We've all looked down on Quirkless at some point. Even if not as bad as how some extremists have done so...]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Yuriko, meanwhile, is certainly shocked to learn that her Quirklessness 'disability' was the key to saving the entire world.
'Maybe that is part of why Tomari-san changed his mind. My powerlessness led me to think of others more. Just like how he did. But almost everyone with a Quirk doesn't see the world the same way we do.' She thinks as she comes to better understand what her partner thinks.
The rookie detective just wonders how Yuuki felt when he learned about this from Krim.
That only Quirkless individuals like them could become Kamen Riders...
But if anything, this has also seemed to further strengthen her resolve of becoming a Kamen Rider, all in order to protect everything she holds dear to her heart.
"It's honestly a miracle, in a way, that I managed to find both you and Yuuki, Yuriko. Quirkless individuals are becoming rarer every day. And without any of you, there wouldn't be Kamen Riders around in the first place to face the Roidmudes." Krim tells her with a concerned expression.
"Aren't you exaggerating? 20% of the world's population is still composed of Quirkless people." Yuriko reminds Steinbelt.
But this didn't seem to be enough to change the grim expression now present on the scientist's face.
"It's hard to tell if that number is still relevant. With the many deaths of Quirkless people causing a quick decline in the Quirkless popu-"
The police detective choked at this.
Wait, what!?
Just deaths of Quirkless people? And not people in general!?
"What do you mean? Don't you mean people in general?" She inquiries.
"Actually, no. There is a higher fatality rate for Quirkless than those with Quirks. The ideology with Quirks puts people in a pyramid, making Quirkless people at the bottom. They are often rejected for jobs since they can ruin the portrayal of a company for having a Quirkless working there.
Even when Heroes are in the middle of saving people, Quirkless people are the last to be saved since other people push them to their back since they think that they have nothing to contribute to society with since they believe that Quirkless are worthless.
This then leads to a high risk of their deaths since there may not be enough time to save them. And even finding an adult Quirkless person has become something rare nowadays."
Krim explains as he can see that Yuriko became surprised and horrified to hear about this.
"And why is that?" The police officer asks, partly not wanting to know what he will say next.
"Easy, the suicide rates for Quirkless people under 18 are high." This shocked the woman even more.
"Do you honestly think that Yuuki is the only one to receive such harsh treatment because he was diagnosed Quirkless when he was a little boy? Unfortunately, it happens to nearly every Quirkless child once it has been revealed to their families, friends and everyone else.
And it still even happens to me sometimes despite all the fortune, business success and influence that I accumulated through these years here in this world. A lot of people with Quirks hate me because I have a more successful life in comparison to the rest of them.
It's great that you had your family and some true friends so that you wouldn't be looked down upon, Yuriko. And also, if Yuuki didn't have developed such strong willpower over the years, he could have bitten the dust early on in his life."
The scientist finishes explaining to her as Yuriko becomes speechless with what she learned.
"Why don't we hear about this in the news?" She asks as the detective was peeved that she has never heard of such things since it was way worse than having the Roidmudes causing havoc. "Wait, how do you even know about this!?"
"You really think that the news would care if a single Quirkless person killed themselves because they were bullied and ostracized? Which of these would truly gain attention from the rest of society: Quirkless suicide or the news of some Pro Hero saving the day?" He explains before releasing a tired sigh. "As for how I know... Yuuki told me once about how he had to file a lot of reports about Quirkless people's suicides once he became a detective because almost no one else did or cared about them."
Yuriko gasps at this as she can sense how dejected Krim feels once he told her about this. Now she wonders how her partner will react to this once she brings up this sensitive topic to him.
Yeah, the answer was pretty obvious now...
Indeed, despite all the Pro Heroes present in this super-powered world solving crimes and defeating villains, a lot of social problems still persist…
A society that preaches equality is but an illusion.
Equality is a fabrication to calm the masses from rioting and starting a social revolution. Society may promote the idea but they don't follow it very well and many people are condemned for the differences they are born with.
It's similar to the pre-Quirk prejudices that dictated society like race, gender, and social standing. Now that attention just shifted to Quirks being the main factor in determining your standing in society.
'Every society will have some kind of inequality, no matter how much it changes.' Yuriko realizes sadly.
Trying to console the police detective, Krim speaks:
"Don't take everything that I said to you in a negative way, Yuriko. These are merely some of the hardships Yuuki and I found through the years. And just like how you pointed out, there are also genuinely good people out there that don't really care about a person's Quirk. Consider your status as Quirkless as a blessing. That's what I told Yuuki as he learned how to turn his weakness into his greatest strenght. Remember, every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."
Steinebelt tells her with a warm smile.
"Krim..." Yuriko feels touched by the man's words, some tears falling from her eyes now.
"People are born weak, but we have the freedom to defy our weaknesses and struggle to change ourselves." He finishes as she nods to him, wiping the tears away as her eyes become filled with determination.
"Now that you understand why only people like you and Yuuki can fight the Roidmudes, do you still wish to become a Kamen Rider, Yuriko?" Krim asks the woman, wanting to be sure of it.
"Yes. I'm now ready for this, Krim. No more doubts." Yuriko answers, showing no signs of hesitation. "I will fight to protect everything precious to me, with my own hands. And secure a future for everyone." She clenches a fist before the scientist.
Steinbelt nods in approval, satisfied with her reply.
"I see. So you have made your choice at last, Yuriko. However, I must remind you that some people would see becoming a Kamen Rider as a curse since their once normal life is taken from them and they can never get it back. But do not fear. Even if you do decide on being a Kamen Rider, knowing the risk of being one, never give in to despair. But instead, find hope that knowing your actions will save the lives of countless people so they can continue living in peace. Like how a true hero lives by." He tells her.
"Right!"
This is it! Yuriko can feel it.
Her heroine tale begins now!
The next day…
Early afternoon
Several police patrol cars stopped before the Central Bank of Musutafu City as the officers surrounded the building's entrance.
Yuriko was amongst them, with Tsukauchi, Kaniko and Tamakawa as well, as she examined the area.
Apparently, they have been called because of a bank robbery taking place there. The suspect was still inside of the bank, with several hostages, clients and bank employees, under their hold.
As suspected, this was the result of the crime raise caused by the ending failure of the U.A. Sports Festival. Not only villains, but all sorts of criminals were becoming bold as a result of the Pro Heroes' strong image being shattered by the Kamen Riders.
Since this might not be anything involved with a Roidmude activity and is something that should be tread carefully, Yuriko decides to not use the situation as her chance to debut as a Kamen Rider.
And from what she also heard, a Pro Hero is already on the way. It appears that the individual in question also makes part of the Top 10 Heroes of Japan.
'I wonder who is coming?' Yuriko ponders about as she checks her revolver, confirming that it was fully loaded and ready to be used.
Speak of the devil and they appear…
"Alright! Where's the criminal!?" A loud voice asks aloud, full of energy, as a new figure joins the assembled Police forces.
'Ah! That's the No. 5 Pro Hero! Rabbit Hero: Mirko!' Yuriko identifies the newcomer, being a fan of the woman and now excited with her arrival.
XXXXXXX
Pro Hero
Rabbit Hero: Mirko
Real name: Usagiyama Rumi
She is the No. 5 Pro Hero.
Rumi has an athletic build with muscular arms and legs, who stands slightly below average height. Rumi has dark skin, red eyes which are tilted slightly inwards, long eyelashes, and straight white hair reaching down past her waist. On her head, she has a pair of long white rabbit ears pointing upwards with a slight crook. Along with these, she also has a white round tail, which gives her overall design a definite resemblance to an albino rabbit.
Her hero costume consists of a sleeveless white leotard with dark purple trim around her shoulders and waist, a wide, yellow crescent moon design over her chest, and two thick metal plates on her midriff. She wears purple thigh-high boots to compliment her leotard, with more plating around the heel and toe areas, making her feet look like those of a rabbit. She also has a pair of thick white gloves on her hands with long cuffs, sporting small triangular protrusions around their edges.
Quirk: [Rabbit]
Rumi's Quirk gives her the attributes and abilities of a rabbit. This grants her incredible leg strenght, allowing her to jump and kick with extreme force; she can even destroy large chunks of the ground by thumping her foot.
She also has excellent hearing thanks to her rabbit-like ears and possesses animal instincts that alert her to nearby danger.
XXXXXXX
Officer Tamakawa approaches Mirko and quickly debriefs her about the situation.
"We can't risk the safety of the hostages." The man cat tells her. "But we're counting on you to take the criminal down when an opening appears, Mirko."
"Alright. Fine. But how long do we have to wait?" Rumi asks him back, now feeling a bit impatient despite just arriving on the crime scene.
She embraces life-threatening situations with a bright grin and is constantly searching for the next big adrenaline kick, smiling in the face of danger.
However, as if on cue…
*Boom!*
A loud sound happens as the Central Bank's entrance is engulfed in a large explosion, sending some of the nearby police officers flying away.
"*Cough!* *Cough!* What just happened!?" Kaniko asks in alarm as a curtain of smoke now covers the entrance, where the front doors used to be.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
That is when everyone hears the sound of someone's footsteps as a figure's silhouette could be seen forming on the smoke.
Eventually, the figure comes close as they step out of the curtain of smoke, fully revealing themselves to everyone else.
It was a Plain Type Bat Roidmude, with the Number 077 being shown on his chest plate.
And everyone quickly realizes this is the bank robber since 077 was carrying large sacks, full of money, in his hands.
'Oh, no...' Yuriko thinks as she is the first to realize the gravity of this now urgent case as she prepares for the worst, slowly walking away from her position as she looks for a quiet spot to transform before facing the Bat Monster.
But soon it's not only her as the others eventually recognize that this evil creature in front of them was similar to one of the enemies that Kamen Rider Dark Drive destroyed, concluding that 077 is somehow related to the [Slowdown] Quirk, possibly being another one that can also cause the dreadful time distortions.
However, the authorities couldn't let themselves be easily intimidated by this fact as they still had to try facing the Bat monster in front of them, regardless of how outmatched they possibly were against this new criminal element.
"Police, you're surrounded!" Tsukauchi calls the Roidmude as all the cops aim their guns at 077. "Give it up and turn yourself in!"
Meanwhile, Rumi only grinned savagely at the Mechanical Life Form as she tells him next:
"Better think wisely if you don't want to have your ass kicked the hard way!"
But this did not seem to faze Roidmude 077 at all as he merely laughs at their attempts to stop him.
"Foolish humans. There's nothing you people can truly do to stop me." 077 boasts as he lets go of the many money bags that he stole before aiming his finger guns at the humans, looking as if he was ready to shoot energy bullets at them. "Not even your supposedly great Quirks work agaisnt me!"
"Then let me show how wrong you are, jackass!" Mirko swears as she semmed ready to attack the evil bat-themed android, expecting to quickly knock him down.
"What happened to the hostages? Where are they? Let them go!" Tsukauchi demands from the deadly mechanical being as a terrible sense of dread suddenly comes over him.
He had a bad feeling about this...
Please, for just this once, let his [Lie Detector] be wrong!
"Oh? Do you mean the people inside? Heh, I killed all of them. It's not like I had any more use for those vermin." 077 casually states as he lets out a dark chuckle.
Everybody gasps at this as even Rumi becomes briefly distraught with the loss of innocent life, gritting her teeth in frustration at the Roidmude's words.
Some of the police officers look at Naomasa for confirmation, adopting horrified expressions as they saw how the detective's face turns pale after hearing what 077 just told them.
It was true. The [Lie Detector] just confirmed what the Roidmude said.
No deceptions were found at all...
'No...' Tsukauchi grimaces.
There were also children amongst the hostages inside of the Central Bank! And this monster killed all of them, feeling no remorse over what he just did!
And everyone's expressions of horror slowly changed into ones of rage as they became even more determined to stop this Bat monster before he could get away.
"Fire!" Naomasa orders as all the cops start to open fire at 077.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
But the rain of bullets did nothing at all agaisnt the android as he remained unharmed.
"Luna Arc!" Mirko cries as she is about to use a Super Move on the criminal, quickly appearing in front of him thanks to her enhanced speed.
She raises her leg and prepares to deliver a powerful front-facing ax kick onto her opponent.
But just as her kick was about to connect with 077's white skull-like head…
*Flash!* *Blink!*
The Plain Bat Type Roidmude causes Heavy Acceleration across the area as everything, other than him, begins to move slower.
'[Slowdown]!?' Rumi thinks, cursing her situation, as she now saw how 077 casually avoids her Luna Arc by calmly stepping aside.
"Pathetic." He snorts at her as he is about to attack the Pro Heroine, who is now openly exposed and defenseless.
'No! Damn it! Move, body! Move!' Mirko curses as her body refuses to listen to her command.
"Die!"
*Clank!*
But just as 077 was about to land a fatal strike on Rumi, a light blue energy barrier, shaped after a riot shield, appears between the two of them, blocking the Roidmude's blow.
"What!?" The Bat monster exclaims in surprise at this.
What just happened!?
From her side, Mirko manages to see that there was an armored figure actually holding the energy-made riot shield.
Their entire bodysuit was a dark blue, with white lines on the side, while the torso and shoulder armor appeared to be completely white, having a mechanical and box-like appearance with dark blue highlights.
On the right side of their chest piece is a small tire and the individual also wears a white scarf with two blue streaks.
The legs have black armor, silver kneecaps and white guards around the ankles while the arms have silver cylindric guards around the forearms section.
The helmet was white, resembling a police biker's helmet, while also having a black mouthless face armor, with a chin guard, and pair of dark blue eyes. There was a dark blue circuit line running along the middle of the white helmet to meet the 'R' logo resting on the forehead.
There is pair of antennae rising from the center of their forehead and single ones appearing on each side of the helmet.
Judging by the mysterious figure's body frame, Rumi correctly deduces that the masked person was a woman.
But who is she!?
077 gasps as he seems to recognize who the new female is upon seeing the 'R' logo on the helmet and the Mach Driver Honoh strapped around her waist.
"What!? It can't be! A new Kamen Rider!?" The Bat monster cries in alarm.
'A new Kamen Rider!?' Mirko, Tsukauchi and all the police officers nearby think in disbelief upon what they just heard.
Moments earlier…
Yuriko manages to find a deserted alleyway nearby to transform.
She places the Mach Driver around her waist as she brings forth her new Signal Bike.
[Mach Driver!] The Driver makes its announcement.
"Henshin!" She chants, striking a pose, after inserting the police motorcycle-themed Signal Bike into her Driver.
[Signal Bike! Rider! Tracer!] The Mach Driver announces.
Yuriko is surrounded by tires and gears made of energy as a red holographic cylinder with a white ring forms around her, concealing her frame. Steam comes out as armor pieces assemble around her.
When the holograms and steam disappeared, a new Kamen Rider, themed after police patrol motorcycles, now stood in her place.
This is Kamen Rider Tracer!
"Alright!" Tracer examined herself, happy that the transformation process worked as her blue eyes(similar to that of Kamen Rider Nadeshiko's) light up as they glowed.
She then heads back to the Central Bank to fight the Plain Type Bat Roidmude.
Back to the present…
Krim told Yuriko that the Signal Bike she uses, Signal Tracer, has the ability to allow her to conjure all sorts of police equipment. She managed to confirm that after summoning a riot shield to protect Mirko from Roidmude 077's attack.
Given her devotion to her job as a police officer, the woman thinks how fitting it is indeed for her to have a police bike as her transformation motif.
Kicking the evil away from the Rabbit Heroine, Kamen Rider Tracer imposes her presence before the Mechanical Life Form.
"That's as far as you go, 077!" She tells him, dismissing her energy riot shield.
The Bat monster growled at her, not planning to back down at all.
"Grr… I won't let a Kamen Rider defeat me!" He exclaimed to Tracer before lunging at her.
The two combatants start to exchange vicious blows with each other, also happening to slowly get away from Musutafu City's Central Bank's premisses while doing so.
Meanwhile, still under the influence of the Heavy Acceleration's effects, Mirko and the police officers couldn't do anything else but curse their own inability to move.
'To think a new Kamen Rider appeared. Just whose side is she!?' Naomasa thinks, also deducing that Tracer is a woman.
'A female Kamen Rider, huh? I wonder how strong she is.' Rumi thinks as she can't help but grin at the prospect of fighting Tracer, adrenaline rushing through her once again.
If only she could just properly move her body again!
Kamen Rider Tracer and Roidmude 077 found themselves all the way to the top of a building as they kept fighting. The new vigilante wouldn't have to at least worry about getting others accidentally caught in their brawl now that they were a bit far away from everybody else.
Hitting the Boost Igniter on the Mach Driver four times while the Signal Tracer Bike is in place allows her to summon her personal weapon.
[Pat Megabo!]
The Mach System announces as Tracer summons a weapon that seems to be a mix of a police baton and a megaphone(It looks exactly like the Pat Megabo used by the Keisatsu Sentai Patrangers, but with their 'S' symbol replaced by the Drive Riders' 'R' logo), having a Signal Landing Panel installed on this new weapon as well.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Signal Landing Panel: A Signal Bike/Shift Car recognition panel on the rear of the Pat Megabo, it reads the characteristics of the inserted Signal Bike/Shift Car and turns it into deathblows.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*
Tracer hits 077 several times with the Megabo in its Baton Mode, eventually pushing him down from a corner of the building's rooftop.
"Ahh!" The Plain Bat Type cries as he falls, involuntarily deactivating the time distortion effects he caused once he took sufficient damage, which can be seen as a white dome retreating back into the Roidmude's body.
"Ah! I can move again!" Mirko cries as she looks around, noticing how the same is happening to Naomasa and the other police officers.
Wait, so that means…
"The Kamen Rider is beating the criminal!" Tsukauchi realizes as he, Rumi and the others now head towards where Tracer is possibly facing Roidmude 077.
Back with Tracer…
The new Kamen Rider and her mechanical foe end up at a local plaza of sorts. Fortunately, the place was practically desert and nobody else was nearby, allowing Tracer to fight without having to hold back.
[Zutto(Much) Tracer!]
Tracer presses the Boost Igniter's button of her Driver four times as she uses the power of Signal Tracer to move faster and kick harder, quickly appearing in front of 077 before delivering a mortal bicycle kick into his head, sending the monster away.
"Argh!" The bat creature grunts in pain as he rolls across the plaza's grounds.
"Time to end this!" Tracer declares as she prepares to execute a special finisher to destroy 077 once and for all.
But suddenly…
"Stop right there!"
Mirko and the police finally catch up to them.
"Grr…!" 077 growls at the newcomers.
"We will take care of the rest." Tsukauchi announces to them. "Arrest the criminal." He gestures to the bat-themed android as some police officers obey and walk towards 077 with handcuffs in hand, now ready to arrest him.
But this only makes Tracer horrified as the authorities are about to commit a terrible mistake that they don't realize anything about yet.
"No, wait!" She calls desperately. "Stay away from him!"
The female Kamen Rider tries to rush towards them, but someone's firm grip on her arm stops the woman.
Turning to face the responsible, she is met with Mirko's stern expression.
"I think you have far more concerning stuff to deal with than that bad guy over there." The Rabbit Heroine remarks as she and Tracer glare at each other.
"I'm not your enemy, Mirko-san!" Tracer tries to argue with the tanned woman as Tsukauchi approaches them.
"That doesn't excuse the fact that you just committed vigilantism in broad daylight. And that criminal even called you of a Kamen Rider." Naomasa points out to the vigilante. "Just who are you? How are you connected to the black vigilante and Phantom Thief Lupin?"
"Whether you like it or not, you won't be going anywhere until you give us some goddamn answers!" Mirko tells Tracer, snarling at her.
These Kamen Riders were overshadowing the Pro Heroes. But she won't let the same happen with this new one!
"Aaaaahhhhh!"
Before the Kamen Rider could say anything back to the other two, the trio and others nearby freeze as they heard a yell filled with terror.
They turn towards the source, only to see that the officers that tried to arrest 077 were now laying on the floor, dead and full of stab injuries, while the Plain Bat Type Roidmude responsible for killing them was once again on his feet.
This makes Mirko let go of Tracer as 077 growls at the new Kamen Rider, looking hatefully at her.
"Nobody gets in my way now! Nobody!" He cries as he suddenly evolves, being enveloped in blue energy, as he achieves a new stronger form.
'Is that supposed to be the Beast Dopant!?' Tracer thinks as she is the only one able to actually recognize the Roidmude's new look.
The Beast Dopant is the Dopant form assumed when one uses the Beast Gaia Memory.
By gaining the Beast Memory, the user can transform into the Beast Dopant with superhuman strenght and self-regenerative powers.
'But I didn't see 077 using a Gaia Memory to turn into a Dopant. Must be like 029 then, another Roidmude that has vestige data of its previous counterpart.' Tracer observes.
She also heard from Krim about the tales of the detective Kamen Rider W, the vigilante of Fuuto, and his allies. She also learned everything about the Gaia Memories.
Tracer recalls the scientist telling her about the incident involving the original Roidmude 077, where a fellow cop Kamen Rider - Accel - fought alongside the original Drive and Mach to face a monster that had the combined powers of a Roidmude and a Dopant.
It is known that Gaia Memories can only work with organic biology, but the old 077's compatibility can be justified, given that Roidmudes are unique androids with the capability to replicate almost all human traits. However, since he lacks a Living Connector, it is possible to share the similar drawback that a human user possesses.
The new 077 probably had enough data and experienced emotions to achieve a sudden evolution, not actually becoming a Beast Dopant.
But the Beast Roidmude instead.
"Take him down!" A random police officer yells as he and others pull out their guns before firing at the Advanced Roidmude.
"Wait!" Tsukauchi calls.
Have they already forgotten how bullets were useless agaisnt this apparent Mutant-type Quirk user?
And, as expected, the bullets didn't work once again.
"Beast Claw!" Beast Roidmude cries as he generates, and manipulates, red-violet and purple energy into four swipes of energy slashes from his claws.
*Boom!*
"Ahhhh!"
The energy slash hit a police patrol car, making it explode as some people nearby are blasted away.
"Bastard!" Rumi cries as she charges against the monster, ready to deliver her signature kicks into the evolved android.
In response, the android releases a powerful roar, sending Mirko away from him as she crashes against a nearby lamp post.
*Smack!*
"Mirko!" Tsukauchi calls the heroine.
"Stop!" Tracer cries as she now rushes towards Beast.
*Flash!* *Blink!*
The Roidmude unleashes Heavy Acceleration once again, not allowing the others, besides the Kamen Rider, to move and face him.
'Not again!' Naomasa grimaces as several cops around him are seen panicking.
Tracer delivers a series of consecutive punches and kicks, using acrobatic moves to avoid Beast's deadly claws.
She then summons her Pat Megabo and turns it into a Megaphone Mode, which also happens to serve as a gun.
A blue Signal Bike comes to Tracer's aid as it inserts itself into the Megabo's Signal Landing Panel.
[Kaksarn!] The weapon announces.
Based on an American-style bike, Signal Kaksarn is one of the four Signal Exchange Signal Bikes, which allows Tracer to activate the Kourin Signal Kaksarn, enabling her Pat Megabo to launch attacks in every direction and hit all of her targets at once. Its name is an elongation of Kakusan (拡散, Kakusan lit. "Scatter/Diffusion").
*Bang!*
Tracer presses the trigger of the Megabo, firing an energy bullet at Beast Roidmude.
The android braces himself for the attack, covering his face with his arms. But much to his shock, the energy bullet suddenly splits into several other ones that hit him from all directions.
"Argh!" Beast cries in pain as the damage takes over his body.
However, he soon starts to chuckle as he shows Kamen Rider Tracer that all the wounds she caused on him were slowly self-regenerating themselves.
"It's useless!" He boasts to the female vigilante, now feeling cocky and hoping this will discourage her.
"I'm not done yet!" The new Kamen Rider cries in defiance as she prepares to keep firing at him.
But her opponent wouldn't allow this as he decides to set his eyes on the others.
'Oh no!' Tsukauchi despairs as he notices this.
"Rargh!" Beast sends some energy slashes at where Kaniko and Tamakawa stood, the two officers became briefly terrified as they saw their entire lives flashing through their eyes.
"No!" Tracer cries as she gets between them, destroying the energy slashes with a kick.
But this was mainly the beginning as Beast attacks the others while now laughing sadistically.
"Idiot! If only you didn't bother yourself trying to protect those deadweights!" He tells Tracer.
"You coward!" She calls him back.
'Deadweight? I'm a deadweight?' Rumi thinks from her spot, now sounding briefly dejected.
She seems to believe that heroes who join teams are cowards, as they could just be relying on their teammates' strenght rather than their own.
But here she is now, useless and unable to stop the villain and vigilante before her while the latter is fighting to protect her and the others.
Here she is, a Pro Hero. And yet, it's the vigilante that's putting her life at risk to save everyone.
'Have I been wrong?' The Rabbit Heroine can't help but wonder as she watches Tracer fighting to protect everyone from Beast.
"And what do you think that will happen once you defeat me, Kamen Rider!?" The Roidmude questions Tracer, sneering at her. "Do you honestly think that they will thank you? Ha! Think again, vigilante! They will try to arrest you the first moment you lower the guard, you idiot!"
At this remark, Tsukauchi and the other police officers all actually had the decency to feel ashamed and hesitant about this situation while Mirko merely scoffed in annoyance.
Well, the Beast Roidmude was not wrong after all.
Even if the Kamen Rider saved all of them, they would still try to arrest her due to the crime of vigilantism and illegal usage of Quirk(Regardless of whatever her Quirk is. They don't know yet what exactly it is, but surely this woman must have a powerful ability, right?)
No matter how good the intentions of the Kamen Rider were, they still had to follow that law.
And as they say, the end doesn't justify the means...
But morally speaking, do they really have the right to arrest the masked woman when she is doing way more than any of them?
"Shut up! I don't give a single damn about what you said!"
Huh!?
Everybody is taken aback by the sudden outburst coming off from the Kamen Rider.
"Do you think that I'm just pretending to be a hero!? This is actually about doing the right thing! I don't need an excuse or a reason to save someone in trouble!" Tracer cries as she remembers some things Yuuki told her about what being a hero truly means.
Of what being a Kamen Rider really is about…
"I don't need to be a hero to become a good person! I don't need to be a hero to do the right thing and protect lives!" Tracer continues.
Not only the Beast Roidmude becomes speechless with the Kamen Rider's words, but Mirko and the police force as well.
They were slowly starting to feel that simply trying to arrest her for vigilantism now felt more like a weak 'excuse' rather than duty, especially when she is doing a better job than the rest of them together.
'Heh! She actually has some guts as well!' Rumi thinks, smirking as she comes to respect the Kamen Rider a bit.
The bunny woman is tough and speaks her mind, even if it causes confrontation, but she also respects those who do the same.
"Everyone is doing their best, even though it's hard, even though it's painful, they are still doing their best! You, who use power as an excuse to hurt others… have no right to complain about anything!" Tracer lectured the Beast Roidmude, managing to infuriate him with her words.
"Tch! Whatever! I'm still going to destroy you, Kamen Rider!" The monster cries as he decides to charge at her instead of attacking the vulnerable people around them, no longer caring about injuring Mirko and the cops.
At the same time, a Shift Car and a yellow Signal Bike come to the aid of Tracer.
[Burning Solar!]
The Shift Car is inserted into the Pat Megabo.
Meanwhile, the Signal Bike is inserted into the Mach Driver.
[Signal Bike! Signal Koukan! Tomarle!]
After transforming with a Form Change Signal Bike, Tracer may use one of several auxiliary Signal Bikes by raising the Signal Landing Panel, removing the inserted Signal Bike, and inserting the new Signal Bike before pushing it back down.
This initiates a Signal Koukan, replacing the current Kourin Signal with that of the inserted Signal Bike's Ability Crest.
XXXXXXX
Kourin Signals are sign-like components of Kamen Rider Tracer's form, located on her right shoulder.
A Kourin Signal alters depending on whatever item is inserted into the Mach Driver Honoh, which can be either a Signal Koukan, provided by the Signal Bikes, or a Tire Koukan provided by the Shift Cars.
Based on a red solar car, Shift Burning Solar is a sentient Type Wild Shift Car which allows Dark Drive to gain the Burning Solar Shift Tire and Kamen Rider Tracer to gain the Solar Kourin Signal.
By itself, it can attack by reflecting light to blind targets, but to do so it needs to be recharged by resting under the sun.
If used in a gun weapon, it allows one to fire solar energy-backed bullets.
Based on a sports bike, Signal Tomarle is one of the four Signal Exchange Signal Bikes, which allows Tracer to activate the Kourin Signal Tomarle, enabling her Pat Megabo to fire a shot shaped like the Stop's logo that blocks attacks when hit and paralyzes the opponent when it touches them.
Its name is an elongation of Tomare (止まれ, Tomare lit. "To stop").
XXXXXXX
Tracer's Signal/Tire Koukan modes are able to passively influence the shots fired by her Pat Megabo, which depends on how many times she hits the Boost Igniter on her Driver. It's much like the Shift Brace used by Kamen Rider Dark Drive.
The female vigilante aims the Megabo gun at the Beast Roidmude and opens fire upon pressing the trigger.
*Bang!*
[Imasugu(Right now) Tomarle!] The Mach Driver Honoh announces after Tracer pushes the Boost Igniter button four times.
The energy shot hits Beast and stops his movement as a yellow and red 'Stop' sign logo appears and envelops the evil android.
"Argh! What!? I can't move!?" The monster cries in surprise.
However, that is not all as Beast's body is suddenly set on fire.
"Argh!" He cries in horror and pain, but he can't move due to Tomarle stopping him.
The reason his body is now set on fire was because the shot he received also had Shift Burning Solar's solar energy-backed's properties, which had enough power to burn Beast's body as well, since the Shift Car was inserted into the Pat Megabo's Signal Landing Panel.
Needless to say, the others became uncomfortable with the sight of the criminal being burned alive right in front of them while Tracer would use this as a chance to finish Beast off.
She first needed to paralyze him and apply enough damage so that his regeneration would not be able to keep up with it.
"It's over!" The vigilante cries as she prepares to execute a special finisher after inserting the Signal Tracer back into the Mach Driver.
To initiate a Full Throttle finishing attack, Tracer must raise the Signal Landing Panel, press the Boost Igniter, and push the Signal Landing Panel back down afterward.
[Hissatsu! Full Throttle! Tracer!]
After charging up to a point her body is engulfed in a red energy wheel, Tracer executes a jumping spinning heel kick towards Beast.
*Smack!*
Once the kick connects with Beast's face, the attack's power sends the Roidmude flying away.
"Argh!" The advanced Roidmude gives one last pained cry before he explodes mid-air, astounding the others.
*Boom!*
Everybody nearby could finally move again as the Heavy Acceleration's effects around the plaza were finally dispelled.
"Whoa!" Mirko exclaims in surprise at this while Tsukauchi only frowns in response.
Just like in the black vigilante's case, he couldn't understand why Tracer would go this far to kill the abnormal criminal. She seemed strong enough to capture Beast if she wanted. Why she didn't try to do so?
But the veteran detective then becomes confused when he spots a flying number, 077, coming off from the explosion's remains.
Wait, isn't that the number that the monster had imprinted on his chest, in his bat form, before changing into the stronger blue feral one?
*Boom!*
'What the!?' But before Naomasa could ponder more about it, the Roidmude Core explodes, confirming that the Beast Roidmude has been terminated for good.
Seeing this, Kamen Rider Tracer becomes satisfied as her main objective has been completed.
However, she wasn't off the hook yet as all the eyes now focus on her. And the new vigilante could especially feel Mirko's piercing gaze on her as both women look at each other…
The Closing Screen of this chapter shows Signal Tracer, Signal Kaksarn, Signal Tomarle and Shift Burning Solar, side by side, with the logo of Kamen Rider Dark Drive behind them.
Bonus
Shijima Yuriko's stats following the Ultra Archive and the Ultra Analysis Book's rules:
Name: Shijima Yuriko(Without her being transformed into Kamen Rider Tracer)
Power: 2/6 - D+
Speed: 4/6 - B
Technique: 4/6 - B+
Intelligence: 5/6 - A
Cooperativeness: 6/6 - S
Devotion Towards Duty: 6/6 - S+
(Done just for fun!)
Roidmude Casualties: Beast(077)†
Count at the end of the chapter: 96 out of 108
My Hero Academia Illegals: Vigilante Dark Drive
Drive 09: Rider! Tracer!
- End -
Author Notes:
Thank you for reading!
1- First we have a bonding moment between Yuuki and Yuriko, with the two of them getting closer and with the former learning to rely more on his kouhai.
2- Yuriko ends receiving the Mach Driver Honoh and her own Signal Bike - Signal Tracer - to transform into Kamen Rider Tracer.
She can't use the Drive Driver to transform into Kamen Rider Dark Drive since she and Krim don't have a bond strong enough yet between the two of them to make her a compatible user of his system.
3- I suspect that some people might have thought that I originally planned to make Yuriko become Kamen Rider Mach. And I even said that to some of the reviewers that I indeed wanted to do that.
I first want to apologize to everyone for suddenly changing my mind.
However, I decided to give up on that idea since Yuriko's character is too much different from that of someone like Shijima Go. I suppose only someone similar to him could become use the Signal Mach to turn into the white Rider.
So yeah, not sure yet if I will eventually add a Kamen Rider Mach into this story now...
And hence, after some time thinking, I decided to create an original Kamen Rider for this story that also uses a new Signal Bike to transform and fight.
It would have been cool, in my opinion, if to see someone in the Drive Series actually using a Signal Bike themed after a police patrol motorcycle to be a Kamen Rider. Maybe even Kiriko could've done that I guess if she could ride a bike in the TV Series.
4- I decided to create a reason in which only Quirkless people can become Kamen Riders in this story. I really don't like the idea of normal people with Quirks or Pro Heroes obtaining a Driver and trying to become Kamen Riders themselves. It would be nice to give Quirkless something that only they can do.
This also made me build a setting where Quirks aren't exactly a completly good sign of human evolution and that the drop of the world's Quirkless's population was becoming an issue since there would be no one left to become a Kamen Rider and to fight the Roidmudes if Krim didn't have found people like Yuuki and Yuriko.
And because of this revelation, I will be already confirming here the obvious answer that both Kaito/Kamen Rider Lupin and ?/Mashin Chaser are Quirkless individuals as well.
5- I simply decided to use Roidmude 077 and give him the ability to fully transform into the Beast (Dopant) form since I was a bit reluctant about using the other evolved Roidmudes and because I couldn't come up with a brand new original Advanced Roidmude this time.
6- I decided to use Rumi/Mirko in this chapter since I wanted to give a female rival of sorts to Yuriko/Tracer from the Pro Hero side. These two will interact more in the next chapters as Rumi will eventually see Yuriko as a worthy opponent of sorts and try to constantly capture the new vigilante, only to end failing most of the time when this happens.
If you guys have any suggestions that I could use for this new potential story idea, you're free/welcome to share!
Question(Please answer this in the Reviews if possible):
[Any ideas for original Signal Bikes?]
So, what do you guys think? Please give me some reviews if possible.
If you are interested, please go check my other stories.
Also, thanks to everybody that followed, favorited the story and gave reviews.
See You Next Time