Although it was a digital environment, the air seemed thick and electricity crackled around Gou and Chase as they began walking around the ruined remains of what looked to be huge multi-roomed laboratory, no doubt to reflect the the consciousnesses of both Banno and Krim.

The communication devices crackled in their ears and Rinna began talking to them. "Can you two hear me? I'm sending the schematics of your Drivers and Signal Bikes directly to you. I was successful in separating Mach and Chaser from each other and they have information on this place that you need. As soon as you can, transform into your Rider forms. I'm starting to work on cutting off all the computers Banno may have corrupted, so he won't be able to jump to them."

The two transformed just as they were attacked by numberless Roidmudes and with their enhanced power, Mach and Chaser quickly wiped them out.

"Chase, we must be getting close to where Banno is, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them out for us. They must be deeper in this place, probably in the middle."

Chase grabbed Gou by the arm just before he stepped on a oddly colored tile. "Wait! I…remember… This place… It's the lab that Banno and Krim created me in. They're not directly in the middle, but off to the side in a secret lab Banno used to keep Krim from finding out some of the changes he tried making to my programming. The way you were going would have led us to the main lab, but no doubt would have been a trap."

The Roidmude stood in front of the tile and tapped it with his foot in a pattern and a secret door in the wall slid back to reveal a hallway. "Come on Gou. This way. And be careful. Don't step on any of the grey tiles. They'll activate the lasers."

Once setting down the signal device a few feet away to use when they wanted Harley to bring them back, they made their way deeper in the lab, occasionally checking behind them in order to not be ambushed. About halfway through the hallway, the two began to hear muffled shouting and Banno's unmistakable cackling. Once they got to the open doorway, they stood on either side and nodded to each other, before brandishing their guns and charging in.

Banno was in his Gold Drive form and was walking around a lab table with Krim in his human form strapped to it. The scientist stopped when the two Riders pointed their guns at him. "Ah…Gou and Chase. I was wondering when you two would finally get here. I had a feeling Harley had been lying to me all this time. Seeing you both just confirmed that. And I see Rinna went behind my back to separate your little Signal Bikes like I thought she would. I guess that worked in my favor though…you BOTH seem stronger apart than when I initially combined you two."

Gou snarled and gripped Zenrin Shooter tighter, his finger on the trigger. "Let Krim go now!"

Krim struggled against his restraints and tried to look at the two Riders. "Gou! Proto-zero! Forget about me! Just go and take out the reactor in the main laboratory! That's where our consciousnesses are kept! If it's destroyed, Banno won't be able to come back!"

Chase slammed the button on his Driver four times to activate his speed boost. "We're on a rescue mission to get you back. We're not leaving until that happens. Gou, get ready!"

"Chase! What are you…!?"

The Roidmude rushed at Banno, shooting at him with Break Gunner, knocking the scientist back against the wall. Quickly undoing all of Krim's restraints, he pulled the man up and threw him into Gou's arms. Quickly stepping away from the table and Banno, who had got his second wind, the two Riders started to run out of the lab with Krim in tow.

Gou began to run through the hall with Krim and realized that Chase wasn't beside him. He looked behind him to see Chase stopped in the hall, pointing his gun at the doorway. "Chase! Come on! Let's go!"

"Get Krim out of here! Don't worry about me! I'll hold him off and then I'll…"

A giant fire blast hit the purple Rider and he slammed on the ground as Banno appeared in the doorway before starting to walk toward him. Gou began to come back for Chase when the Roidmude blasted at his feet with his gun. "GET KRIM OUT OF HERE GOU! If Banno gets either of you, then our plan will have been for nothing! You're not strong enough to take him on your own!"

"But…"

"GO!"

"I'll be back for you Chase! I promise! Just hold on until I get back!"

With one more reluctant glance at his best friend and brother, Gou turned back and helped Krim run out of the hallway to the signal device. He activated it and the next thing he knew, he was staring at the blinding white walls of Harley's lab. Gou quickly sat up and began to rip off all the sensors off of him. He turned his body to the computer behind him and closed his eyes, concentrating.

A hand grabbed his jacket and pulled him away. Gou turned around sharply to see Harley angrily frowning at him. "What do you think you're doing Gou!?"

Gou stared at Harley, pain in his eyes. "Let me go Harley! I have to save Chase! My mind just being in there isn't strong enough, but if I transfer my body, I'll be on par with Banno's strength!"

Harley held on to the boy's arm, refusing to let go. "Doing that…transferring your entire body…That would KILL every part of your human body Gou! I can't…!"

"I DON'T CARE! I HAVE TO GET CHASE BACK! HE'S MY BROTHER! HE'S YOUR SON!" Gou yanked his arm out of the professor's grasp and stepped back to the computer.

"Gou…"

Tears welled up in the boy's eyes and his body began to shake. "All those times…Chase protected me while we were Riders…even when I screamed in his face that I hated him. Even when I refused to say we were friends or even acknowledge him as part of the team…he still stayed by my side and made sure to risk his own safety so nothing would happen to me. Banno…was moments away from killing me with the Signal Ax while I was untransformed. Chase…he took the blow meant for me…he fell in my arms. And then…when his body exploded and seeing his Core… I have to save him. I have to protect him. He's my best friend, my brother. Please Harley…please trust me."

Harley bridged the gap between the two and pulled Gou into a hug. "Okay Gou, I trust you. I…don't know what will happen to your body, but if you can at least come back as some sort of Core, we can build a body like Chase's for you. Please come back."

Gou pulled away and smiled softly at the professor before turning to the computer. He closed his eyes and concentrated, working his Roidmude parts as much as he could to digitize himself into the computer.

"I'm coming Chase."

—–

Gou was only gone for a few minutes before the computer Harley was keeping contact with Rinna beeped, signalling he had a message. He wiped his eyes and sat down to answer the message. Rinna appeared on the screen as well as Krim in the spare Driver Rinna had fixed up.

"Alright Harley! Krim's fully in this Driver and all traces of him have been eliminated in the corrupted computers. We've also cut every contact Banno has with them, so once they destroy that main reactor in his mind, he'll be destroyed!"

Krim wheeled up closer. "How's Gou doing? I'd like to thank him for rescuing me. And apologize for all the torment I put him through."

Harley sighed and looked down. "He went back for Chase…as in…he fully went in there, body and all."

Rinna slammed her hands down. "What!? But…his human body wouldn't be able to survive being digitized like that! How is he going to…?!"

"I don't know Rinna! I don't! But…I trust him. I trust them to come home to me. I… Krim, can I ask you a favor? Can you give me the blueprints for Mad Doctor? They might be needed in case…"

"Of course Harley. Anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask. I'm indebted to both of them for rescuing me."