Double Edged Beginnings ~ We ArE oNe / Entry_01
log on.
"...Tell me again what you found in Sigma Proxy, Len." The cloaked figure of Eubulon stood facing the window. It was still daylight out, yet the sun was concealed with an overcast of clouds. The dark shadow of the heavens above seemed to paint the city in a darker sense, making the peaceful scene seem ominous to the watchful eye. Rain started to drizzle down, leaving streaks on the windows as Len, who was kneeling down in apology, responded with some self-agitation,
"...It's just like I reported when I first arrived on the scene. Once I opened the doors to the Advent Chamber, I found nothing. The decks have gone missing." The tension between the two was clear, but being the clever and wise mentor that he was, Eubulon processed this information once again. He replied with some sympathy in his voice,
"Do not blame yourself Len. Whoever did steal the decks most certainly must have been a devious one..." He took a seat in his own chair as he continued, his hands clasped together tightly. He gritted his teeth as he continued, "What really worries me is that you told me the gate had been locked... only a Rider has the ability to unlock that gate, or else someone from my home planet... but that would beget the question as to how they would access Sigma Proxy? Ventara has the only gate as far as I gather."
The droplets outside settled against the broad windows into a small and organized beat, syncing themselves with the clock inside. Len looked away from Eubulon, still having a guilty concious about the whole affair. Noticing his student's aura, Eubulon was curious to know what was eating at him, but was cut off by a major sensation. Jerking his head up, the master spoke quickly as images began to flash through his mind.
"Len... someone's accessing the power of the decks... but not the usual way..." Len shot up at this news and asked quite rapdily,
"Master, let me investigate this. Maybe we can find our theif." Eubulon eyed him, wondering if he a little more than curious about the theif in question. But rather than voice his suspicions, he simply nodded and said solemnly,
"Be careful Len... somehow I think this is the start of a whole new wargame." Len didn't look back, but he knew Eubulon was right. What exactly was awaiting him on Earth, he didn't know, but he hoped it answered his question.
~*~
"YEAAAARGH!" yelled the flaming body of Magma as he was tossed by the brunt force of Sync's kicks. Struggling to get up, the enraged monster began to glow furiously as he shouted,
"YOU PUNK!" Power flaring up, he fired several of what seemed to be flaming missiles towards the united warrior. Dodging several of them, Rick started to worry. In his mind, he spoke to Archer rather quickly,
"We need to do something fast! We legs are already giving way!" Archer just shook his head. In a slightly condescending voice, he said,
"You really are soft. Fine let me handle it." The green side of the hero began to move independent of Rick's will, taking out the green drive from the belt. Rick, with his other hand, was trying to block the barrage of flames. Confused, Rick clamoured,
"Wait!, what're you-" Before he could finish his question, Archer already picked up a new drive. This one was yellow with golden trimming. It's sign was that of a slightly disproportionate lunar phase. Clicking it's switch, a new voice called out,
"ASTRAL DRIVE!" Sliding it into the now vacant slot on the belt, Rick knew to switch it back to a W form. Once he did, the right side of Sync became the same as it's drive's color. The golden trimming on the shoulders and chest stayed the same, but his new primary color was yellow. Rick just asked, in amazement,
"So what does this do?" Archer smiled mischeviously as he replied,
"You're about to see." With that open comment, the monster began his assault anew, only this time, instead of dodging, Archer took control of the body and whipped out his arm. Within seconds, his arm resembled a lasso as he effortlessly blocked and parried each of the monster's flame attacks. The monster was shocked, allowing for a moment for Rick to ask,
"That's pretty cool, but couldn't we have used that from the start?" Archer was slightly annoyed, which his response showed.
"We COULD, but it wouldn't be practical." Rick tilted his head.
"Why?" Archer facepalmed himself.
"Later. We have a monster to fight remember?" Rick laughed,
"Oh right. Then, let's finish it!" Archer nodded grinning.
"Finally we agree on something." After blocking some more fire blasts, Archer shot his whip-like arm towards the monster, grabbing his face. Retracting his arm, he was now face to face with the monster, which he then proceeded to kick, utilizing his drive's ability yet again. Jumping up for a double kick, the combined hero knocked the monster down for a second time, landing perfectly on their feet. Taking the green drive again, they slid it into the belt in place of Astral and hit the belt to make the W again.
"STORM DRIVE!" Astral's color scheme faded, making Sync revert back to Storm. Taking Shadow from the belt, Archer slid it into an empty slot on his side. The voice from before called out,
"FINAL DRIVE: SHADOW!" From seemingly out of nowhere, a severe cyclone and party of whirlwinds came instantly, propelling them upwards. Moving into position for a kick, the hero was driven by the force of the wind. Splitting down the middle, the heroes seperated as they went through the monster.
"YYYEEEEEAAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHH!" Cried out Magma as Sync landed with grace in one piece. The monster tried to get up, but didn't go far as he exploded into several pieces, leaving the human in him to fall to the ground. On his side laid the MAX Drive, which was labeled with an M, presumably for Magma. Rick was startled at the sight of a human, but Archer quickly expained,
"Oh don't worry, he's fine. He was just a poor fool who was forcefully used as a lab rat for an experiment... but I guess I need to clarify on some details before I say more." Rick rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, that would be kinda nice." Archer grinned as the two seperated.
~*~
Meanwhile, Len managed to find a mirror with enough proximity within his target. It was alittle way before he got there, but he had hoped for a reasonable discovery. And that he did. When he exited the mirror, he came across a starling scene. The floor was scorched and blackened, which Len gather was from some sort of flame attack. Next, their were several chairs and debris scattered, suggesting that a storm had passed by. And a particularly strong one at that. But what caught his attention last was the human on the floor, in the middle of the chaos. Rushing to the stranger's aid, he shook him slightly,
"Are you okay? What happened here?" The young man, completely drained from the abuse and the horrific transformation, could barely utter words as he tried to explain,
"Aliens... kidnapp...ed...me...saved...by...masked...hero..." With that broken message, he passed out. Len, familiar with the area, called an ambulance for him. Spotting the remains of the drive on the floor, Len picked up the pieces as he contacted Eubulon via a smaller ear piece.
"Master, I think I found a few clues. I'm going to stay in the general area to see if there are anymore leads." It took a few moments, but sure enough his master's voice came through,
"Good work. Remember, report back what you find. This is very crucial Len..." Len knew this and simply said,
"I understand. Over and out." Len waited while the medics catered to the youth and then left, trailing after this mysterious new hero that the boy mentioned.
~*~
Somewhere else, in the vast reaches of the digital zone known as Sigma Proxy, the two began to talk in stride. Rick, his excitement dying down, now asked seriously,
"So... go ahead. Explain away." Archer answered him with a cautious tone.
"Okay... I suppose I can start with the background of this little underground war. Have you ever heard of places such as Gramacy Heights? Or perhaps you've heard rumors of monsters in your own town?" Rick thought about it for a few and answered with some kind a flickering knowledge,
"Kinda... I never really bother myself with those wild tabloid stories, especially ones that are old." Archer chuckled as he continued,
"Be that as it may, a few decades ago there was a war of fate between a tyrant known as Xaviax, and the Kamen Riders, which I guess would be the equivalent of your superheroes of comic fame." Rick nodded, allowing for the information to sink in. Archer continued,
"Regardless, the Riders and Xaviax had a long and drawn out conflict. Loyalties were tested, poor soldiers were put past their emotional limits, it was certainly a draining confrontation for both sides... until the riders, in a last ditch effort, combined their powers and obliterated him."
"Okay... but if he's gone, then why did I meet McMutant over there?" Archer blew out in annoyance.
"I was getting to that... You see, when an empire like Xaviax's falls, it leaves ruins. And these ruins can house vermin. Vermin from the old order. An old soldier of Xaviax, Jenga is his name, found a way to gain enough power to escape into the Blank Void... a sort of purgatory if you will." Dawning began to rise as Rick said,
"So after all this time, this Jenga-guy wants to finish his bosses' work?" Archer nodded.
"Yep. And now, it's up to you and me to see that his little fantasy stays just like that. A fantasy." Rick tilted his head. There was a flurry of thoughts swirling in him, but something about the story didn't seem to add up. Something he was quick to note on.
"But what happened to the other riders? They can probably help-" Archer got up and spoke quickly, hushing him,
"No. They're no longer around." He went quiet as he regained himself. "What I mean is, the source of all of our abilities, and the drives... are... well derived from their source of power. They can't help us even if they wanted to." He avoided eye contact at this point, as he was feeling uneasy discussing this. Rick decided not to push the subject at the moment, but made a note of it. Instead, he had another question.
"So... where do you fit in all this?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, where do you, Archer, fit into this rider war?" Archer got up from his sitting position and walked to the opposite side. Turning around, he replied indifferently,
"Effectively? I'm no one worth mentioning... but you are. That's why I have a purpose. We are united now. We are one... single... Kamen Rider."
~*~
In the Blank Dimension, things weren't much better. Upon news of his newest creation being destroyed, Jenga was in a fit of rage. The dark skinned man punched a hole into the wall as he tried to compose himself.
"My... beautiful... creation... destroyed. Kaput. Silenced! Curse them... curse those blasted riders..." Vaxiv looked over the fight with interest. With an analytical tone, he made a note,
"You know, this rider is WAY different from the previous ones. He doesn't even have an Advent Deck." This caught Jenga's attention easily.
"No Advent Deck? What do you-" and then he saw them. The drives on his belt. Clenching his fist and yelled again. "WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYY!" Vaxiv was curous, but didn't ask what was wrong. He didn't have to anyway, as it was soon explained.
"...RRRRRrrr... That brat. He stole the design from my MAX Drives... no one can be allowed to copy my artistic designs for their misguided justice..." He turned to his next drive as he said, "Vaxiv... take this drive and find a suitable match for it... I want that rider to die!"
log off.
Jenga has declared a death sentence for Sync. How will this affect our heroes? Stay Tuned!
Double Edged Beginnings ~ We ArE oNe / .end