A couple Corrupbots are chasing several people, when a kid falls down and looks to see the Corrupbots approaching her.
"Hold on!" Zero-1 Rider starts running.
Zero-1 Rider jumps and kicks one Corrupbot in the side, before roundhouse kicks another Corrupbot. He then grabs the first Corrupbot's arm and pushes it to the side, "Quick, get out of here!"
A woman, the girl's mother, runs up to her daughter, picks her up in her arms and then runs off.
Zero-1 Rider and the Corrupbot continue to move away, as the other Corrupbots follow. Rider and Corrupbot separates, as the second Corrupbot swings its dagger at Zero-1 Rider's back, who turns to the side with the Corrupbot runs pass him. The first Corrupbot hits him with its dagger, with Zero-1 Rider spins around. Zero-1 Rider avoids the Corrupbot's attempted dagger strike, before he roundhouse kicks both Corrupbots.
Lucy runs over before she swings the case, "Here, use this!"
"Use what?" Zero-1 Rider turns before the case hits him in the chest, knocking him back a step.
Lucy rolls her head back, "Be more careful."
"Right, right," Zero-1 Rider says, with a hand to his head, before he looks to the side and then rolls in the opposite direction.
Grabbing the case as he returns to his feet, Zero-1 Rider uses it to block a Corrupbot's dagger, hits the second Corrupbot's arm and then kicks it away, before blocking the first Corrupbot's dagger and throws the case into the air.
With the case spinning in the air, Zero-1 Rider catches it, spins around, and then folds a blade out of the case, "Case Saber!"
Zero-1 Rider holds the Case Saber to the side, before the two Corrupbots start firing blasters. Zero-1 Rider uses his weapon to block the blasts, before running ahead and strikes down one of the Corrupbot's blasters, then striking the other Corrupbot, who moves past him. He strikes down with the Case Saber, before striking the first Corrupbot. He then spins around and strikes the second Corrupbot.
"Not bad, he's actually doing it," Lucy says.
"Let's settle this, insect to insect," Mantisbot charges at Zero-1 Rider.
"Accessing, pt. 2"
"Let's settle this, insect to insect," Mantisbot charges at Zero-1 Rider.
Zero-1 Rider uses the Case Saber to block Mantisbot's scythe, before dodging under another scythe strike.
Nearby, Tye is watching from behind a building, "Who would this be?"
Mantisbot is knocked through the air and rolls across the ground.
Zero-1 Rider lands several feet away, without the Case Saber, "Surrender yourself for debugging."
"I'm not gonna get debugging, but you will get derezzed!" Mantisbot crosses his arms, shooting several energy strikes from his scythes.
The energy strikes fly through the air, cutting up the ground and nearby cars, sending them flying. Zero-1 Rider backflips over some energy strikes and turns midair, before landing on the ground, with explosions going off behind him.
"You left me with no choice," Zero-1 Rider says, as he takes a fighting stance.
Zero-1 Rider jumps up, avoiding more energy strikes and towards a pair of cars and a bus as they have been launched into the air by the attack. Zero-1 Rider jumps off a car's roof, avoiding energy strikes as they hit the car. Zero-1 Rider turns midair, flips and jumps off the other car's roof, dodging another energy strike, with Zero-1 Rider heading toward the midair bus. Zero-1 Rider crosses his arms, before he smashes through the bus' front window. He lands on the bus' floor, then jumps up, grabbing railings, and raises his legs, avoiding more energy strikes. He then jumps from railing to railing, before flying out the back of the bus, seconds before it crashes on the ground and explodes.
Mantisbot watches as Zero-1 Rider comes toward him, before the Rider lands and punches Mantisbot, knocking him back and onto the ground, surging with red electricity.
"I will not let you hurt humans or Bots," Zero-1 Rider holds out an arm, before pointing at himself.
Zero-1 Rider then tabs the side of his inserted Data Key, with the center of the Transbelt glowing. He takes a fighting stance, with his left foot giving off a quick glow. He then speeds ahead, as Mantisbot returns to his feet.
Reaching Mantisbot, Zero-1 Rider kicks him, sending him flying straight up, before Zero-1 Rider jumps up to him and then kicks Mantisbot, sending him back down.
Zero-1 Rider then falls straight down and launches a flying kick, "Rider Kick!"
Zero-1 Rider's flying kick goes right through Mantisbot.
Zero-1 Rider continues to fall down, as Mantisbot is consumed in a large explosion behind him, and the Mantis Virus Key flies away.
Zero-1 Rider lands on the ground, creating a long hole in the ground, before he twists his ankle and his momentum sends him rolling across the ground and hits the side of a large stand.
Zero-1 Rider, surrounded by cement debris, pushing some off him, "I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm…" He then falls back. "Okay."
Lucy walks over to the side, shaking her head, "Unbelievable." She then walks ahead.
Unknown to anyone, Tye picks up the damaged Mantis Virus Key, looking from it to Zero-1 Rider, who is getting up and dusting himself off, in the distance, grinning, "Zero-1 Rider, huh?" Tye then walks off.
Following a bright light, Albert, back to normal, puts the Data Key out of the Transbelt, with Lucy walking over.
"I've never seen anything like this," Albert looks at the Data Key.
"Very few have," Lucy says, before she grabs Albert by the arm. "Now, come on, we need to go."
"Whoa, who are you?" Albert asks, as Lucy pulls him away.
Lucy leads Albert through a messy medium-sized labroom, to a computer set up.
"I am Lucy Lopez, and this is my home, as it is," Lucy seats down and plugs the Rising Hopper Data Key into a device connected to the computer.
"Okay, but what exactly is going on?" Albert looks around at the room. "Why did the NG Bots go… crazy?"
Lucy types at the computer as a window full of white text over black is replaced with security camera footage of Tye, his face hidden by his hood, standing next to Muscle as he transforms into Mantisbot, "They were hacked. Although I don't know who has the tech and knowhow to do that… besides Markus Tan."
"Mr. Tan would never do something like that," Albert looks at Lucy.
"Perhaps…" Lucy continues to type, with the window of text pops back up.
Albert looks over Lucy's shoulder at the text as more appears, "This is data analyzing the jumping abilities of… grasshoppers?" He backs away. "I guess that explains earlier."
Lucy looks over to him, surprised.
"I'm a programmer at Nexus Technologies," Albert explains. "Although I hadn't done any programming for them, yet."
"I know that," Lucy says, with Albert becoming surprised, before she turns away. "You really think I would've even considered letting you use the Zero-1 Transbelt without firsting checking your background."
Lucy hands Albert her tablet, with him looking at its screen, "The Zero-1 Transbelt…" He looks back at her. "During the interface link, I was connected to the… N2 satellite…"
"The Nexus Technologies' orbital satellite that serves as the connection network for all NG Bots, made sense as it also houses the network for the Zero-1 Transbelt," Lucy says.
"Why does it make sense?" Albert asks, laying the tablet down. "Does it belong to Nexus Technologies?"
"Technically, yes, it does," Lucy says, before the Data Key is pulled out, and she turns to see Albert holding it and the Transbelt. "What are you doing?"
"You stole these from Nexus Technologies, I'm taking them back," Albert says, before starting to turn away.
"Albert, Markus Tan can't be trusted," Lucy warns.
"I appreciate the help at the carnival, but you're wrong about Mr. Tan," Albert says, before he continues to leave.
Lucy sighs as she leans back in her chair.
"That went well."
Lucy turns to see coming out of the darkened corner is Ray, a red-haired man, "Have you been here the entire time, Ray?"
"Not the entire time, exactly," Ray responds. "So, what's the next move now?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Lucy responds.
"What about them?" Ray looks ahead, as the far end of the room is a table with TransBlasters, a pair of blue and black blasters, with slots on the back, plugged into devices that have wires coming out of them.
Lucy looks over to the TransBlasters, "They aren't ready… yet."
Tye is pacing in the middle of his hideout, a small room with one exit and nothing in it, except for a computer unit.
"And then he did this large jump and Mantisbot was scrap," Tye says.
"I know, Tye," a computerized voice responds. "I've seen the security footage of the battle. And I agree Zero-1 Rider is someone we must keep an eye on, but the operation must continue as planned."
Tye stops pacing, looking down, before he looks over to the computer, "Very well…"
"I'm glad you agree, and now that we have launched our first attack…" the computerized voice starts. "It's our moment to strike."
Albert is walking through an indoor garage at Nexus Technologies, with the Zero-1 Transbelt and Data Key in hands, "Just tell 'em, that I found it. Yeah, that's totally believable."
Albert turns the corner at a column, where he sees Markus and Lila on the top of a slope.
"And we have no way of finding Zero-1 Rider's identity?" Markus asks.
"No, it's a security measure maintained by the N2 satellite, alongside the user interface that prevents anyone besides the original user to operate the Transbelt," Lila explains.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Markus says, slightly shaking his head. "We need to find this Zero-1 Rider…"
Albert starts to take a step forward.
"And destroy him," Markus says to Lila. "It's the only way to unlock the user interface."
"Yes, Mr. Tan," Lila says, as Markus looks down the slope to see no one is there.
Unknown to them, Albert is hiding behind the column, with Transbelt and Data Key holding close to him, as Markus and Lila then walk away.
Albert slowly looks around the column, "'Destroy'? He really said that…?"
Markus and Lila are walking down the indoor garage, as they see Macki walking up to them.
"Which NG Bot are you?" Markus asks.
Lila tilts her head slightly, "Mechanic-type NG Bot, designation Macki…" She straightens her head. "He was summoned to repair damage done at the NG Bot carnival."
At that moment, Albert looks back around the column.
"Then why are you not…" Markus starts, before noticing Macki is wearing a Viral Encoder. "There…?"
Macki looks ahead, his eyes glowing slightly, and holds up a mostly brown Virus Key, with the image of a musky rat-kangaroo on it, before inserting it into the Viral Encoder.
"Rat-Kangaroo Key! Corruption!"
Macki surges with energy, with him flickering before his real NG Bot appearance is revealed, and then cables shoot out from the Viral Encoder and cover him. The cables start to retract, revealing brown and silver armor, with a musky rat-kangaroo-like head, including a pair of long fangs, and a tail over one shoulder.
"I am Fangbot. Ready to terminate."
"Hold on, I created you," Markus holds out a hand.
"But you're not my master," Fangbot starts to approach him.
Fangbot grabs Markus, pulls him to the side and lets go, with Markus backs up against a wall and slides down.
Albert, standing behind the column, holds his Data Key in front of the Zero-1 Transbelt, on his waist.
"Accessing…"
Albert crosses his arms, opens the Data Key and then slides it into the side of the Transbelt, with the circular part sliding over, "Access Code: Zero-1!"
"Rising Hopper."
The mechanical grasshopper lands in front of Albert, before turning into energy and flies onto Albert's body, as a black suit appears on him, transforming him into Zero-1 Rider.
Fangbot looks to Lila, "Aren't you gonna interfere?"
"I'm not programmed for defense," Lila says.
Fangbot nods his head and turns to Markus, "Then there's no one standing between me and you."
"No!"
Fangbot stops suddenly, when Zero-1 Rider flips over his head and punches Fangbot in the chest, "There's me."
Zero-1 Rider then performs a roundhouse kick, knocking Fangbot back. Zero-1 Rider looks over his shoulder to see Markus watching him, before looking back.
"You better get out of here," Zero-1 Rider says, before glances at Lila. "Both of you."
Zero-1 Rider runs off, as Markus returns to his feet and Lila approaches him.
"Mr. Tan," Lila says, holding a hand to her side.
Markus takes another look at the ensuring battle, before starting to walk in the direction Lila pointed.
Zero-1 Rider grabs Fangbot's arms, grappling with him, "Stop this. You are programmed to help people, not hurt them."
"That programming no longer exists, I have now been awakened to my true purpose, human extinction," Fangbot says.
"No, this is what is making you do this," Zero-1 Rider releases one arm and reaches for the Viral Encoder.
Fangbot grabs Zero-1 Rider's hand and pulls it back, "No one gonna stand in our way."
"Who 'our'?" Zero-1 Rider breaks off from Fangbot.
"The real masters of the planet," Fangbot swings an arm at Zero-1 Rider, who backs up.
Markus and Lila get into the back of a limousine.
"Driver, get us to my second office," Markus instructs.
Driver, a NG Bot dressed like a chauffeur, has his headset lights up, before taking the limousine's wheel, "Yes, sir."
The limousine starts to drive away.
Zero-1 Rider flips through the air, then back kicks Fangbot, before turning and kicking Fangbot. Fangbot then throws a punch, which Zero-1 Rider avoids, followed by Zero-1 Rider catching another punch.
"Stop this," Zero-1 Rider pleads.
"You first," Fangbot manages to pull his arm free, before Zero-1 Rider kicks him twice.
Fangbot spins and runs off, with Zero-1 Rider chases after him. Fangbot runs up a column, flips through the air and lands behind Zero-1 Rider. The two then exchange kicks, before Zero-1 Rider tries a roundhouse kick, with Fangbot dropping to a knee to duck under the attack. Zero-1 Rider then jumps spin kicks Fangbot, kicking him in the chest, launching the bot back and rolls toward several parked motorcycles.
"My target is getting away," Fangbot returns to his feet and turns to the motorcycles. "I must go after him."
Fangbot gets onto one of the motorcycles, before shooting wires from his hand onto the dashboard, which gives off a slight glow, "Control overdrive."
The motorcycle revs to life, before Fangbot grabs the handlebars and drives away.
"No, wait!" Zero-1 Rider runs ahead, with a hand outreached, as Fangbot drives away, before coming to a stop. "Great, now what I'm supposed to do?"
"Albert!"
Zero-1 Rider turns to see Ray several feet away, "Wha? Who are you?"
"No time, just use your R-Phone to summon the Cell Cycle," Ray instructs.
"My what?" Zero-1 Rider says, before he reaches behind him and then takes out the R-Phone, looking at it. "You mean this?"
Zero-1 Rider presses the motorcycle icon on the R-Phone's screen, with the icon expanding, "Cell Cycle, Accessing."
He then holds the R-Phone to the right side of his Zero-1 Transbelt, "Accessing."
In space, the circular section of the N2 Satellite turns slightly, before shooting out a large version of the R-Phone.
Zero-1 Rider looks up, "Now what?"
Suddenly the ceiling behind Zero-1 Rider blows down, with him slowly turns to see the large R-Phone floating in the air.
"That is a large phone," Zero-1 Rider approaches the device, before pressing the motorcycle icon.
"Cell Cycle," the large R-Phone turns its front section, pulling out a motorcycle wheel, as the back section flips back, and another motorcycle wheel pops out, with the transformed motorcycle lands on the ground.
"Wow, this is incredible," Zero-1 Rider says.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry," Ray says.
"Right," Zero-1 Rider gets onto the Cell Cycle, before driving off.
Ray watches as he goes, "I hope you know what you're doing, Lucy."
Zero-1 Rider drives the Cell Cycle down a street, passing a couple cars.
Fangbot drives down a street, with people on the sidewalk watching him in surprise, "Locking onto target, two miles away. Plotting intercept course."
Suddenly, Zero-1 Rider, on his Cell Cycle, jumps over a car on Fangbot's left side.
"I'm the one intercepting," Zero-1 Rider says, still in midair.
Fangbot looks over his shoulder, "Analyzing pursuer."
Zero-1 Rider starts to drive the Cell Cycle across the windows of a nearby building. He looks down at Fangbot, before pulling the Cell Cycle off the building and lands slightly behind Fangbot.
"Pull over, your taillight is out," Zero-1 Rider says.
Both motorcyclists turn and start to drive down a flight of stairs.
"Your attempt at humor to distract will not impede me," Fangbot says, as they continue down the stairs.
"You haven't even heard my worst ones yet," Zero-1 Rider says, as they leave the stairs and pull back onto the street, with a van stopping to avoid them.
"We need to stop this before there's an accident," Zero-1 Rider says, as he drives next to Fangbot.
"I lack an interest in safety prevention," Fangbot swings an arm at Zero-1 Rider, who blocks it, before Fangbot blocks his punch.
Fangbot brings down an arm, which Zero-1 Rider avoids. Then Fangbot's tusks extend, striking Zero-1 Rider, nearly knocking him off his still moving Cell Cycle, with Zero-1 Rider keeping a hold on one handlebar. A truck starts to pass by, before Zero-1 Rider pulls himself back onto the Cell Cycle, avoiding it, and then spins with a foot on his seat into a kick, kicking Fangbot. He then, still standing on his Cell Cycle's seat, kicks Fangbot again, knocking him off his motorcycle.
Zero-1 Rider returns seating on the Cell Cycle, before slides to a stop sideways. Zero-1 Rider gets off the Cell Cycle, holds up the Case Saber, and charges.
On a rooftop, Tye is watching the chase on a tablet, "Zero-1 Rider… he might be even more interesting than I originally thought…"
Zero-1 Rider leaps off the side of a large storage unit, spins in midair and strikes at Fangbot with the Case Saber. Zero-1 Rider tries a horizontal strike, but Fangbot blocks with a kick. Zero-1 Rider then spins around and manages to strike Fangbot, forcing him into a roll across the ground.
Zero-1 Rider removes the Rising Hopper Data Key from his Transbelt, and looks at it, "I won't let you harm anyone." He looks ahead. "Human or NG Bot."
He inserts the Data Key into the bottom of the Case Saber, "Accessing Rising Hopper."
Fangbot returns to his feet, as Zero-1 Rider jumps straight up. Coming toward Fangbot, Zero-1 Rider holds the Case Saber high over his head.
"I'll harm you," Fangbot turns his head, before looking ahead and extends his fangs upward.
Zero-1 Rider, still midair, holds the Case Saber in front of him, blocking the fangs, before striking and breaking off parts of the fangs. He strikes again, breaking off more of the fangs. He then holds the Case Saber to the side, with it glowing with energy.
"Rider Slash!" Zero-1 Rider finally lands as he brings down the Case Saber, striking through Fangbot.
Zero-1 Rider then strikes through Fangbot again, going past him, before Fangbot explodes and steam shoots out of the Case Saber.
Markus appeared on a screen, with the words "Press Conference - Nexus Technologies CEO" under him, "It is with a grave heart, I have to report that an, currently at the moment, unknown group has reprogrammed some of our NG Bots, turning them into a dangerous threat. Which resulted in the attack on the carnival and upon my own person. But I promised, these matters are being investigated and attempts to prevent future reprogramming are being looked into. And the NG Bots that were unfortunately destroyed during these incidents are being replaced with their backup data restored."
The screen pauses, as Lucy, seating at her station in her lab, leans back in her chair, "To prevent future reprogramming, huh?"
"That good, right?" Albert says, standing next to Lucy. "Although, all of this is still hard to believe."
"Then you better start believing."
Albert and Lucy turn to see Ray approaching them.
"It's you," Albert realizes.
"Albert, this is Ray," Lucy starts. "We are working together to reveal the truth about Nexus Technologies, and stop Markus from hurting anyone."
"Speaking of which, do you really think Markus is looking to prevent anymore reprogramming?" Ray asks, crossing his arms.
"Honestly, I don't know," Lucy answers. "They might just be empty promises. We just don't know enough, yet."
"Then we need to learn more," Ray adds.
"Well, I promised I will try my best to help, in any way I can," Albert says. "For humans and NG Bots."
"Don't know about you, but I feel safer already," Ray jokes.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Albert quickly digs into his pocket and pulls out the keycard. "I never returned Markus' keycard."
"Let me see that," Lucy takes the keycard from Albert, before she turns it back and forth, looking at it. "I've never seen anything like this."
"I think it might be a security keycard," Albert says.
"Could it be for Markus' office, or a factory…?" Ray asks.
"No," Lucy continues to eye the keycard in her hand. "This is something else…"