Chapter 5
Emu's cry echoed as the portal closed behind where Parado held the line and he let himself breathe a sigh of relief. Then his Mighty Brother transformation disappeared.
Oh yeah. Forgot about that.
He took a nasty swipe to the chin for his mistake but rolled with it and transformed into Paradox as he rose. The six identical Riders were on him before he had a chance to think of his next move. A blow to the shoulder. Another to his gut. A flame attack to his leg took him down.
Not good.
As the six closed in for a beating, Parado curled in on himself and gathered his energy.
He released it in a single hissatsu attack and used the smoke to run. They would be on him soon. He had to make this quick. He dissolved his transformation and retrieved Emu's phone.
He dialled quickly and ducked behind a tree.
RING. RING. RING.
Parado gnawed on his lip as he waited.
"Hello?"
"Poppy, you need to get the others and go after Emu."
"Parado? What are you- Wait- are you ok?"
"A Kamen Rider attacked us," Parado interrupted Poppy. "Emu got away. He-"
Pain exploded on Parado's back and he found himself thrown forward. The phone bounced from his hand and he reached for it. Something yanked him backward by the scruff of his hood and an arm snaked around his neck. Parado tried to fight, tried to transform, tried to do anything but the pressure on his neck kept him pinned. He coughed as black edged in on him. The world melted as panic consumed him. His limbs went limp and then his mind disappeared.
"Parado? Parado?!" Poppy checked to make sure the phone was still active.
It was. But there was still no answer on the other end.
Then the phone went dead and Poppy felt her heart drop.
She redialled quickly but there was no reply.
Time to pass on the message, then. She put down the phone and ran through the hospital until she came upon Hiiro. He was busy, as always, administering a shot to an unconscious patient. Poppy made sure not to physically distract him.
"Hiiro."
The man did not look up but she noticed the slight stiffening of posture to acknowledge he was listening.
"Parado just called. He said he and Emu were attacked."
Hiiro swirled wordlessly from his patient, eyes wide.
"He said it was a Kamen Rider," Poppy continued.
"Where are they?" Hiiro asked.
"I don't know," Poppy replied. "The call dropped."
"Are they ok?"
"Parado said Emu got away. I'm not so sure about Parado."
Hiiro flagged down a Nurse and briefed her on his patient before storming down the hallway, dialling already.
"Snipe? Is Emu there?"
Poppy followed him but couldn't hear the answer although Hiiro's minute headshake did not inspire confidence.
"Did you call him with an Emergency?"
Again, Poppy couldn't hear the answer.
"No. He said he needed to help someone. I don't know: someone. I thought it was you."
"I wouldn't call you-what?! No. You don't need to-"
Hiiro stopped so suddenly Poppy almost ran into him.
"If you don't know- You don't- "
There was a click and Hiiro looked at the phone coldly before pocketing it.
"Taiga's coming?" Poppy observed.
"Always doing unnecessary things." Hiiro muttered. "Not my problem."
"You knew Emu left the hospital?" Poppy asked.
"He said he had a call. They took medical equipment and left in a hurry. But if they're not with Snipe I'm not sure where they went."
"So we're at a loss?"
Hiiro levelled a gaze at her.
"No."
