2.5: Same Face, Different Person (Side B)
Shinichi had his gun trained on Rena and Alan, demanding, "OK, who the heck are you people? Where am I? Where's Moka-chan!?"
Alan and Rena had their hands up and while it would be a breeze for Alan to disarm Shinichi in the blink of an eye, he thought it was much better to calm down the crazed young man standing before them. Right now, Shinichi didn't recognize either of them and had a gun aimed at them.
"Shin-kun, this is us. Rena and Alan," Rena said calmly as she stepped forward but he took aim at her once more. "Shin-kun, please!"
"Look, just back off, OK!? Just back off and let me think!" he shouted at them.
"Shinichi," Alan frowned. "I hate to do this, but you give me no choice." He blurred out of sight.
"What-!?" Shinichi let out before he received a Karate chop to the back of the neck. He dropped like a sack of potatoes.
"Was that really necessary?" Rena asked as Alan flipped Shinichi over.
"He had a gun aimed at us," Alan reasoned.
"He wasn't going to shoot," Rena argued.
"Couldn't take that chance."
"But-"
"I'm responsible for your safety," Alan interrupted.
"And he was freaking out so you better be grateful," said Bazel, a mystical sentient armband on Alan's left forearm.
"Now, time to see what's wrong." Alan put his hands on Shinichi's head and performed a mental scan. He then blinked. "Well, this is interesting."
"What?" Rena asked. "Did he lose his memories again?"
"No," Alan answered.
"Wait, let me guess. He's got another entity that's gotten into his head and now it's taken over. I swear, this kid's head should become a condo by now since he lets almost anything life there," said Bazel.
"No, that's not it either," said Alan. Although, he would have to admit that comparing Shinichi's mind to a condo was fairly accurate. He did have several entities inhabiting it. He had Kuro, Shinji, the Showa Era Riders, the Tsukumogami of Hinamizawa's treasures, St. George and the Dragon of Dragons living in his mindscape. It had to be quite crowded by now.
"So why doesn't he recognize us?" Rena asked, worried.
"That's simple: this isn't our Shinichi," Alan replied. Rena was speechless. Using telekinesis, Alan lifted Shinichi onto the couch and then used his power ring to bind him in green energy ropes.
"Is it really necessary for you to do this?" Rena asked as Alan had Shinichi tied down with green ropes as he scanned the Cyborg with his Sonic Screwdriver.
"I scanned his mind. He had every intent of shooting us if we provoked him. He was in so much panic that he was willing to do anything to protect himself," said Alan.
"But what's wrong with him? What did you mean that he wasn't our Shinichi?" Rena asked. Alan sighed.
"Like I said, he's a parallel version of our Shinichi. I know this because he's covered in the same kind of background radiation someone carries when they walk through a dimensional rift," Alan told her. "Plus, I scanned his memories. He's led a different life."
"What?" Rena asked.
Alan explained, "In the Multiverse, there exist parallel worlds. Those worlds would be almost identical to this one with some minor differences. You could meet people you knew but they would be different. You could even meet yourself. This Shinichi came from a parallel world and one centuries more advanced."
"So, where's our Shin-kun?" Rena asked.
"Probably ended up where this guy is from," said Alan. When he shone the Sonic Screwdriver over the rings and Mana Stone on Shinichi's right hand, he got extraordinary results. "Hm, interesting. These rings appear to be used as foci for his lifeforce so he can manipulate it. And this stone appears to possess a soul within it."
"Alan, can we get Shin-kun back?" Rena asked worriedly.
"We can, once this guy wakes up and tells us how they swapped places," said Alan. "You told me you were trapped by a disembodied voice and it told you a riddle. Shinichi couldn't answer so he got zapped. I'm guessing his story," Alan pointed at the unconscious and bound Shinichi, "Matches."
Rena looked at the Shinichi lookalike lying on the couch. Come to think of it, he looked younger and a little shorter. She picked up the gun he'd dropped when Alan used the Karate chop. It was beautiful. It was a black revolver pistol with a long guard under the barrel, with the Roman numeral XIII etched into the side. The underside of the barrel's end had a gold plate with a carving resembling a lion. The butt of the gun was also gold-plated and had a thin, red rope hanging from it.
When Shinichi came to, his eyes widened and he struggled to break free. "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Calm down," Alan said gently. "You're safe."
"How can I be safe when you GIN-SHOCKER bastards are trying to kidnap me again!?" Shinichi screamed at them. "I don't know how you brought me here, wherever this is, but I'm not going back! You can't!" As he continued to struggled, his middle ring began to blaze with red flames. "Let me go!"
"Shin-" Rena began but paused herself. She couldn't call him 'Shin-kun' because he was a different person, even if he wore the same face. She corrected herself, "Banabara-san, please calm down. We're trying to help you!"
"Let me go!" Shinichi screamed and lasers shot out of his eyes and straight into the ceiling. Rena jumped with fright and Alan had to use his ring to seal Shinichi's eyes shut. "LET ME GO!"
"OK, laser eyes," Alan remarked, surprised. "I did not see that coming."
"Damn it! Let me go!" Shinichi shouted.
Alan warned, "If you don't calm down right now, I am going to hit you again."
"Do your fucking worst, GS-scum!" Shinichi spat.
"Oh shut the fuck up you crazy psycho!" Bazel snapped.
"Who said that!?" Shinichi demanded.
"Bazel, I recommend that you don't talk until we're sure he won't have another panic attack," Alan advised.
"Fine, but I think a good shock to the system is something he's going to need," rebutted Bazel. "I'm just saying."
"Get the phone, and call his mother," said Alan. "If anyone can convince him to calm down, it's her." Rena nodded and went to the phone.
"Shouldn't you call ARMOR?" Bazel asked.
"Only when absolutely necessary," said Alan as he kept his hold on Shinichi. He spoke to Shinichi, "Listen, we're not part of GIN-SHOCKER. In fact, GIN-SHOCKER doesn't exist in this world anymore."
Shinichi let out a scoff of disbelief, "You'd want me to believe that, wouldn't you? But GIN-SHOCKER still lives. We may have taken out most of their executives but as long as JUDO is still around GIN-SHOCKER will continue. You can't fool me."
"OK, smart guy, if we were GIN-SHOCKER then why the hell are you still alive?" asked Bazel.
"Bazel..." Alan said in warning, "I thought I told you..."
"Yeah, yeah, but I really don't like the way the kid is talking to you. I mean, after all you've done-"
"I don't do it for the respect and glory, Bazel," Alan interrupted. He addressed Shinichi again, "Now, Bazel made a good point. If we were part of GIN-SHOCKER, why have we kept you alive?"
"To interrogate me, maybe," Shinichi assumed. "To get information out of me. It's the only reason you're even bothering to keep me alive. Then you'll just brainwash me and turn me back into a weapon. I refuse!"
Alan grimaced. Yeah, GIN-SHOCKER would do that.
"I'm a psychic," Alan retorted. "If I wanted to brainwash you-which I won't-I'm sure I could've done it by now. And furthermore, I'm not part of GIN-SHOCKER. I'm part of the Green Lantern Corps and ARMOR."
"What the fuck are those?" demanded Shinichi.
Rena came back and informed Alan, "I've called Shiori-san. She should be here very soon." Hearing this, Shinichi continued to struggle.
He angrily spat, "I swear, if you people hurt my Kaa-chan, I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
"Well, he definitely isn't our Shinichi if he's issuing death threats at you," Alan frowned as he looked at Rena. It was heartbreaking to see someone who looked like her boyfriend behave so angrily. This wasn't the Shinichi they knew so they really didn't know him. "And also, GIN-SHOCKER still exists in his home universe."
"No wonder," Rena realized. GIN-SHOCKER had been the source of Shinichi's anger. They had done horrible things to him. This alternate version of Shinichi must've been through the same horrible experiences.
"He's also been traumatized by them," Alan continued. "I've seen reactions like this from Lanterns who suffer from PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They react violently to anything that reminds them of combat or conflict. It takes a while and a lot of psychological help before they can recover and become fit for duty."
Rena knelt down by the couch to examine Shinichi. He was young, around the same age when she'd first found her Shinichi. He also seemed to be full of rage directed at GIN-SHOCKER. It was the same anger that Shinichi displayed whenever he talked about Dr. Gebok. She could understand and sympathize with the anger this Shinichi was feeling and knew why he was acting like this.
He was scared because he just got ripped out of his own universe and put in an unfamiliar one and the sight of unfamiliar people caused him to freak out.
"Let's hope seeing Shiori-san will help him to trust us," said Rena.
"I'll just hold him until he tires himself out," said Alan. "But knowing Shinichi...he'll probably have just as much energy to spare."
"Right," nodded Rena.
Shiori had Tatsuyoshi drive her all the way to Rena and Shinichi's apartment. They even brought along Hanyuu while Rika stayed at home to watch over Sho who was asleep.
Rena had explained everything and Shiori knew that she was needed to help. Now, if Shiori hadn't experienced so many weird happenings since reuniting with her son years ago, she may not have believed Rena. Also, Rena was an honest girl and would never lie to Shiori without a good reason. When Rena had told her that they needed her help to calm Shinichi down, Shiori knew it was important. Once Rena elaborated on what was going on, the writer told her husband to get the car ready. Hanyuu also overheard and volunteered to help as her abilities would be helpful.
Rena heard the knock at the door and opened up to let Shiori, Tatsuyoshi and Hanyuu in.
"Where is he?" Shiori asked.
"In the living room. Alan has him restrained but he's still struggling to get free. I'm afraid he might hurt himself," said Rena. Shiori nodded and walked into the living room, followed by her husband and daughter. They found Shinichi on the couch, bound in green energy rope. His eyes and mouth were sealed as well.
"Why is he gagged and blindfolded?" Shiori asked.
"He has laser eyes," Alan deadpanned.
"And he just wouldn't shut up," added Bazel. "I mean, I've heard cursing but this kid really knows a lot of swear words."
"Remove the gag," said Shiori and Alan did. They were then all assaulted with loud curses. This time Shinichi was swearing at them in French. "Is that French?"
"Yes," Alan nodded. "He was swearing in Spanish and Portuguese before you came along. It was in the middle of his Portuguese rant that I gagged him."
"Shinji," said Shiori and Shinichi seemed to relax a bit.
"Kaa...chan?" Shinichi replied. "Did they get you too?"
"No, Shinji," said Shiori. "They're friends." She told Alan. "Take off the blindfold." Alan nodded. Shiori knew what she was doing and he did as told. Shinichi blinked and looked at his mother's face.
"Kaa-chan," he said and he saw all the unfamiliar faces. "What have you done? What's my Kaa-chan doing here?"
"She's here to help," said Rena. "To explain things from you."
"This is just a trick," he accused. "You people are all working for GIN-SHOCKER."
"Shinji, GIN-SHOCKER no longer exists in this world," said Shiori. Shinichi's eyes widened.
"...Wha-what?"
"It's true, son," said Tatsuyoshi. "GIN-SHOCKER was destroyed, thanks to you."
"No...I mean...we're still fighting them," mumbled Shinichi. "And who are you?" Shinichi asked Tatsuyoshi.
"He's my husband," said Shiori.
"Kaa-chan, when did you remarry?" Shinichi asked in confusion. "And weren't you dating Carl?"
"Who's Carl?" Shiori asked.
"Carl Washam, Misato's dad," said Shinichi.
"Well, now we know another difference from his universe," muttered Alan.
"OK, what's going on?" Shinichi asked in confusion. "Who the heck are you people?" he questioned. He looked at Hanyuu, a teenage girl with long lavender hair. "And are those horns?"
Hanyuu frowned. She really didn't like people pointing out the fact that she had horns. Fortunately, normal people couldn't see them. According to Alan, she had a natural perception filter that prevented people from noticing.
"I'm Hanyuu, your sister," she said. She corrected, "I mean his sister."
"What?" Shinichi asked.
"Shinji," said Shiori softly, "I know that this is a little hard to explain and believe, but the fact is that you're in an alternate universe."
"Alternate universe?" Shinichi repeated in disbelief. "You mean like parallel worlds, other dimensions and stuff like that?"
"Pretty much," said Alan. "As hard as it is to believe, this isn't your universe."
Shinichi wasn't sure if he could believe it but his mother looked so sincere and all these people didn't exactly look like the type to work for GIN-SHOCKER. However, he just wasn't sure if he could believe or that if he wanted to. If he was in an alternate reality, that meant these people were just strangers, even Shiori. She may look like his mother but she wasn't his mother.
"I'm...I'm so confused..." he started to cry. "Where's Moka...? Where's Aniki...?"
"Alan, I think you should let him go," said Shiori and Alan obeyed as he removed Shinichi's bindings. Shiori got on the couch and helped Shinichi sit up before hugging him. "It'll be alright. We'll help you figure things out."
"Well, at least he's not trying to attack us," said Bazel. Alan sighed. At least they managed to solve one problem. Now they needed to solve another problem. They needed to find a way to get this Shinichi home and then bring back their own. Because, in Alan's experience, a cross-dimensional transfer never happened without a good reason.
KAMEN RIDER CHROME: And that is Side B of 'Same Face, Different Person'. With Shiori's help, they've calmed Shinichi down but now he's confused and in unfamiliar territory. Again, this shows the huge difference between the two Shinichis. One of them is used to interdimensional travel. The other isn't and freaks out because he's in a different place without an explanation. Also, it shows that Shinichi still has a bit of PTSD from his time in GIN-SHOCKER which would account for his violent reaction. Fortunately, Shiori managed to calm him down enough so he could be told what was going on.