ARMOR CHAPTER PART 3: RECONSIDERATION

The huge screen in the command centre zoomed in on the huge shape that was headed towards the King's Terminal. It resembled a huge serpent, but instead of one head it had several. It had ten heads in total, connected to long necks, and each head had a pair of demonic horns and jaws filled with sharp teeth.

It was the Hydra Gigandeath and its 10 pair of eyes was focused on the King's Terminal. In its mind the structure needed to be destroyed no matter what.

"A Gigandeath," Warren identified.

"What is a Gigandeath?" asked Yokoshima.

"A Gigandeath is the form an Imagin takes upon destruction when it is filled with energy," said Warren. He elaborated, "An Imagin is a monster from the future that comes to the past in order to alter time for their own benefit. Imagin are normal sized, Kaijin, but when hey evolve they become Kaiju like that."

"Sir!" one of the technicians in the command centre called, "There is a call for you!"

"Put it through," Warren ordered. The screen displayed a man with fair skin, cold blue eyes and messy and spiked black hair. "Ryuji."

"Warren, I'm in pursuit of the Gigandeath right now!" Ryuji reported.

"You mean the one we're seeing? I should assume you're the one that destroyed it when it was an Imagin," said Warren.

"Yeah, and I'm going to finish the job," said Ryuji sternly.

"No," Warren said. "You are to return to base and protect it. The Gigandeath provides an opportunity to test our new recruits."

"New recruits?" Ryuji cocked an eyebrow. "Fine, I just hope you know what you're doing. Ryuji out." The screen changed to display the Gigandeath.

"Who was that?" Shinichi asked.

"Ryuji Katsura, and another Rider working for A.R.M.O.R.," answered Warren. "Now, get your butts in gear. This is going to be your field test!"

"Finally, some action!" said Daichi.

Rena gave Shinichi a hug and whispered, "Be careful."

"I promise," he replied.

"Shinichi, let's go!" Warren called.

"Hai!"

The NEO-NUMBERS all rode on hover-disks as they flew out of the Terminal with Warren in the lead. Warren was not wearing his Wraith armor but was instead clad in a black bodysuit with red gloves and boots. On his red chestplate was huge black 'A'. His helmet was silver with an upside down black 'A' mounted in the centre and blue insectoid eyes. His belt buckle was black and over shaped with a round window in the centre. There was also a rectangular case on the right side of his belt.

In this form, he was known as Kamen Rider Avenger and armed with the powers of the greatest heroes of his world.

The NEO-NUMBERS were already transformed, ready for battle.

"Now, I want you all to follow my lead and-" began Avenger.

"I can have this taken care of by myself!" Showa interrupted, "Just let me go and become J and-"

"No," Avenger cut him off. "I'm in charge here, Showa, so you have to follow my orders."

Showa grumbled. Before now whenever he fought monsters he never had anyone giving him orders. It was always him calling the shots. He was just so used to following his instincts that he was no good at following orders. Plus, he hated following orders. In GIN-SHOCKER he just followed them without question.

However, this was not GIN-SHOCKER and Warren was looking out for him. Still didn't make it feel any easier.

"Alright," Showa reluctantly agreed. "We do it your way."

"Guys? Incoming!" shouted Musician. The Hydra Gigandeath had spotted them and began to snap at them.

"Scatter!" Avenger ordered and they did. "Attack!"

"Music to my ears!" Musician quipped as he aimed his military fork and fired disorienting sound waves at the Hydra, causing it to thrash and become dazed. Arachnea saw the opening and her mouthplate reconfigured so she could fire a stream of corrosive acid, causing the Hydra to hiss out in pain as one of its heads was hit. Slasher zipped around, blinding the monster as he shot glue at its eyes.

"OK, my turn!" said Carmen. She began to cast an illusion around the Hydra to confuse. From its few working eyes, the Hydra saw an army of Riders hovering around it.

"You have a good team," Avenger complimented.

"I guess," Showa shrugged. He was holding his gun. He took aim and fired at the Hydra. If he had turned into J he could've taken care of the monster easily, but he had to follow someone else's orders.

In the shelters, all the King Terminal's guests could see the action the via JumboTron screens. This included the Hinamizawa Gaming Club as they watched the NEO-NUMBERS taking down the monster with their powers.

"Go, Shin-chan!" Mion cheered.

Armadillo grumbled as he watched his fellow NEO-NUMBERS attack the monster with their long-range assault capabilities. "Damn it," he muttered, "Why didn't Dr. Magi give me any long-range combat capabilities?" All he could do was roll into a ball and smash into his enemies. It was straightforward, but useless in a fight like this…

Or so he thought.

"You can turn into a ball right?" questioned Avenger. Armadillo nodded. "Turn into a ball," ordered Avenger. Armadillo quickly did as told, rolling into a ball. As he rolled into a ball, Avenger slid a card out of his case and into his belt.

"ASSEMBLE: HULK!" roared the belt.

Avenger's armor quickly became large and bulky, and he grew in height to nearly eight feet. The red parts of his armor turned green. He reached down and with one massive hand, lifted up the balled up Armadillo before hurling the NEO-NUMBER at the Gigandeath.

"CANNON…BALL…!" shouted Armadillo as he crashed into one of the Hydra Gigandeath's. He then ricocheted all over the place, smashing into the Gigandeath repeatedly and causing increasing damage with each hit. The Gigandeath was finally able to snatch the balled up Rider in one of its jaws and was threatening to crush him.

"Screw this!" shouted Showa. He jumped off the hover-disk and called out, "Let's Ride: J Jumbo Formation!" His body became bathed in greed light and started to expand in size. When he finally landed, the light had died and he was in the gigantic form of Kamen Rider J. Showa dashed at the Gigandeath, grabbing the head holding Armadillo by the neck and reaching into its jaw to pull his fellow Rider out. He then put Armadillo down. The Pill Bug Rider unrolled himself and grimaced at the slime covering him.

"Ugh, snake drool," muttered Armadillo.

Showa, while in J's gigantic form, possessed the same amount of strength. He began to wrestle with the multi-headed snake Kaiju before bashing his fists into the creature's heads. The Hydra Gigandeath shot its heads at the colossal Rider, jaws open, before sinking its teeth into Showa's arms. However, the Hydra's sharp teeth were unable to penetrate the armor and Showa raised his foot which he stomped into the body of the Hydra Gigandeath, driving it backwards.

"Show off!" snorted Musician.

"But still effective," said Arachnea. Slasher nodded in agreement.

"Go, Shinichi!" cheered Carmen.

Showa then wailed on the Hydra Gigandeath, raining a barrage of blows down on the creature with his massive fists. Each impact made the sound of a thunderclap, completely stunning the beast for a few moments as it got its bearings back to launch a counter attack. Showa was not so weak in this form and grabbed one of the Gigandeath's heads before crushing it in his hands. He then used a roundhouse kick that hit all the heads at once, knocking the monster down.

Avenger, back in his default state, watched the fight. He then drew a card depicting the image of giant man. "Time to back the big guy up." He put the card in his belt buckle, activating it.

"ASSEMBLE: GIANT MAN!"

He jumped off his hover-disk and began to enlarge like Showa. His landing also caused sand to go flying. As the Gigandeath got back up, Avenger's huge fist went flying and knocked it backwards as another neck was snapped.

"WARREN-SAN?" Showa asked, his voice bellowing to match his large size.

"TAG-TEAM?" Avenger asked.

"OK," nodded Showa. The two stood side by side and began to attack in tandem. The monster was starting to get overwhelmed by the two giants ganging up on him. The NEO-NUMBERS also zipped around, attacking as well. Musician's sonic blasts were causing damage alongside Carmen's flying energy blade and Arachnea's acid. Slasher would slash with his chainsaws as he zoomed around on his hover-disk.

"Hana! Michiru! Take me up!" Armadillo shouted as he raised his arms. The two girls grabbed hold. "Now, swing!" They swung him forward and he rolled into a ball. "CANNONBALL!" He began to ricochet about, bashing the Hydra Gigandeath's heads with his balled up body. He was like an unstoppable wrecking ball.

"LET'S END THIS!" Showa declared as his fist glowed with red energy. "RIDER PUNCH!" He smashed his empowered fist into one of the Gigandeath's heads. This caused a chain reaction as the energy ripped through its entire body. The Gigandeath roared as its body erupted into a huge fireball that blew everyone, except the two giant Riders, away.

After the Gigandeath had been vanquished, the NEO-NUMBERS and Warren returned to the Terminal's command centre. Rena, relieved, glomped Shinichi and began to congratulate him. Shinichi asked, "So, how do you think we did, Warren?"

"Not bad for your first field test," commented Warren.

"Not bad? Not bad? We were awesome!" boasted Shinichi.

"And now it gets in his head," groaned Daichi. "Of course, out there, his head was as big as his ego."

"You also disobeyed orders," pointed out Warren.

"What?" Rena blinked.

"Warren-san, I did what I had to do. I didn't have time to…" began Shinichi.

Warren interrupted, "What you HAD to do was follow orders. You're not top dog anymore Shinichi."

"Yeah, listen to him, 13," quipped Daichi.

"You are this close to ticking me off, Daichi!" warned Shinichi.

"Knock it off both of you or you get to see what Ares considers fun," warned Warren.

"Who's Ares?" asked Hana

"God of War," replied Warren.

Michiru gawked, "For real?"

Chiaki got between Daichi and Shinichi, separating them. The two scoffed and turned away from each other.

"Ano, Warren-san, even if Shin-kun disobeyed the others, I think he had good intentions. He didn't want the monster to hurt anyone so he acted without asking you," said Rena.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," quoted Warren. "Still, the job got done so I can't punish him." He addressed Shinichi, "However, you need to learn to follow orders, Shinichi."

"Warren-san, forgive me, but back when I was a puppet for GIN-SHOCKER I followed orders without question. Now that I'm free…I just don't want to follow anyone's orders anymore," admitted Shinichi.

"Well, too bad," said Warren. "You're working for the good guys now Shinichi, and even good guys have to follow orders."

"Does this mean I have to wait until you give me permission before I go on my patrols back in Hinamizawa?" Shinichi asked.

Warren answered, "No, you can still do patrols, because that's part of your job. For the most part, you won't have to follow orders and just keep doing what you're doing. But in this job, when I call, you answer."

Shinichi thought about it. A.R.M.O.R. had power, resources and an army that could outclass GIN-SHOCKER. He needed allies and making a bad impression would work against him. "Very well, I'm sorry," apologized Shinichi.

"Hey, do we get any fancy uniforms?" asked Michiru.

"Well, nothing too fancy. You'll all get jackets with your logos on them. Bodysuits are just too uncomfortable."

"So, when do we get these new jackets?" questioned Daichi.

"They'll be back at your homes when you get back," responded Warren.

"I better go find the others," said Shinichi. His members and the Hinamizawa Gaming Club must be wondering what had happened.

The door opened into the hallway and they all walked out with Warren. Yokoshima stopped and turned to face Warren. "Yokoshima?" blinked Michiru.

"There's something I need to do. I'll catch up," replied Yokoshima. Michiru shrugged and walked after the others. "Warren, there something I gotta ask," Yokoshima said making sure they were the only ones in the hallway.

"Oh, and what is it?" Warren asked curiously.

"How does A.R.M.O.R. know so much about GIN-SHOCKER?" Yokoshima asked.

"Oh, we have our ways," said Warren mysteriously, "We actually planted moles in the organization. They are working at collection any and all information on GIN-SHOCKER that we can use to bring them down."

"So, why would you deem them a threat to the Multiverse?" asked Yokoshima. "I mean they are only a threat in one world."

"A threat to one world can spread, Yokoshima. A friend of mine actually fought and defeated a more advanced version of GIN-SHOCKER in his world and they were developing dimension-hopping technology to spread their power." Warren asked, "Anything else?"

"Yes."

"Go on," Warren prompted.

Yokoshima seemed to pause, as if trying to find the right words before saying, "Please save Doctor Magi. Help him get out of GIN-SHOCKER," Yokoshima finished by actually getting on his knees, begging, "Please."

"Magi? He was one of the scientists that were in the NUMBERS project. Why would you want to help him?" Warren asked

"Because he's my dad…Well my step-dad after he adopted me," Yokoshima answered. "You see, unlike the other GIN-SHOCKER scientists who joined for either power or to perform their sick experiments, he joined because he thought he would be helping people. They promised him that his inventions wouldn't be used to kill. As you can imagine they were lying through their teeth."

"So, why doesn't he just betray them?" Warren asked, "Why doesn't he just leave?"

"A fail-safe." Warren gave a look so Yokoshima clarified by saying, "During his Cyber Mutant conversion, they implanted a neural toxin into his brain. If he even thinks of betraying them, they'll activate the poison." Yokoshima finished, "So, please, I beg of you, help him."

Warren thought for a moment before sighing. Magi was just an innocent who got involved with the wrong crowd. He gave his answer, "Well, I'll have to dig a bit of info to see if what you said is true, but sure."

Yokoshima looked shocked before smiling and saying, "Thank you." He then went to join his fellow NEO-NUMBERS to get his new uniform.

Gebok and his fellow GIN-SHOCKER scientists had set up base in TOKYO HQ. They were able to convince the executive members of the organization that they were out to help them gain control over the government. The lab they were given for their activities was filled with hi-tech machinery and once such machine was a circular gateway which rippled within. This gateway connected them to GIN-SHOCKER headquarters and right now GIN-SHOCKER was sending someone through.

What came walking into the gate was a muscular man. He had black hair with a purple streak in the middle. Three golden earrings in the shape of fangs hung on his left ear. He was 6.4 feet in height and had golden eyes. He was wearing a black evening tail coat with red lapels. There were three buttons both sides of the front, two at the back of the waist, and also two on each cuff. The He wore a gold badge on his right lapel that bore a design of a Venus flytrap. He also wore white pants. Bandages were wrapped around his ankle and he wore Chinese slippers. He was General Nagazawa of GIN-SHOCKER, one of the elite and executive members of the organization.

"Nagazawa... what a pleasant surprise," Gebok spoke, lying through his teeth. "What brings you here?"

"I heard how you fools failed to either retrieve or destroy BLACK 13 and that other NUMBERS have defected from GIN-SHOCKER," Nagazawa sneered.

"It wasn't our fault, sir," one of the scientists stepped forward. "We could never have predicted Showa's abilities nor him gaining those new-Augh!" The scientist was cut off as Nagazawa grasped the man by the back of his neck and his ankles and lifted him high into the air.

"Don't make any excuses," Nagazawa snarled.

"No please…stop!" the scientist shouted scared.

Nagazawa didn't reply; instead he drove the man's back straight into his right knee, breaking his spine instantly with a loud crack. The man gave out a silent scream as he died. Nagazawa snorted as he dropped the corpse.

Shogo looked shock. This man had killed someone who was trying to explain but no one appeared to attack him. They just seemed to give a look that said 'glad it wasn't me'.

"General Nagazawa, while I can understand your displeasure, there is still some good news you can take from this. I have discovered something that will most assuredly make up for our failure," Gebok said.

"Oh?" Nagazawa said curiously

"Please come this way and I'll show you." Gebok said leading Nagazawa away.

"This better be good, Gebok. GIN-SHOCKER has spent a lot of resources on your research. The only reason you are even alive is because you're useful to us," said Nagazawa.

"Kaa-chan, ACK!" Shinichi exclaimed as his mother hugged him.

"Mama's boy," mocked Daichi. Shinichi threw the Cricket Rider a glare.

"Oh, Shinji! I saw everything! You were so awesome!" Shiori gushed out. She and the others had seen the fight on the JumboTron screens. She let her son go.

"Yeah!" added Mion, slapping him hard in the back and nearly knocking him over, "You went big and kicked snake butt!"

"All in a day's work for a Rider," said Shinichi, rubbing his back.

"His new boss even reprimanded him for disobeying orders," said Daichi. He just couldn't help himself. Shinichi growled.

"Alright, that's it!" Shinichi activated his belt. "You and me, right here right now!"

"Oh, it's on!" Daichi prepared to fight as well.

WHAP!

"Ow!" shouted Shinichi. He'd felt something swat his head.

WHAP!

"Hey!" Daichi yelled.

"No fighting," Lucy glared at the two Riders with her hands to her hips. No in-fighting was allowed in the Terminal. "This is my Papa's base and he doesn't want you to wreck it by squabbling." Her eyes narrowed and the look on her face spoke, 'don't cross me'.

Shinichi crossed his arms and turned away from Daichi.

"Oi, woman! Don't get in my way!" Daichi shouted at Lucy.

Lucy snarled, "What was that!" Daichi was then lifted up as he was surrounded by black energy and flung down the hallway.

Rachel glared at Daichi. "NO ONE speaks to my daughter like that. Understood?" Daichi growled at Raven who met his glare with her own.

"Or you'll do what?" Daichi asked. Again he was lifted, but this time by Lucy's vectors who flung him further down the hallway with great force that he bounced off the wall at the corner.

Shiori, the NEO-NUMBERS and Hinamizawa Gaming Club both stared at the two women and stepped back in fright.

Keiichi murmured, "Mental note: do not tick women off." Shinichi, who heard him, nodded and so did Satoshi. They knew how scary their girlfriends could be when angry.

"Hey, I found this lying on the floor," said Warren as dragged Daichi behind him. The Cricket Rider had crashed into the wall when Warren found him and knocked out. "Lucy? Rae? Mind explaining?"

"He spoke badly to Lucy," defended Rachel.

"He talked back to Mama," replied Lucy.

Warren looked at Daichi before shaking him awake. "Have you learned your lesson?" asked Warren. Daichi could only nod weakly. "Good. Now, I believe a couple of you have appointments down in the med bay."

"Med bay? But we're fine," said Yokoshima. "Fit as a fiddle."

"Hana and Chiaki. We're gonna take care of Hana's "condition" and give Chiaki his voice back," said Warren.

"That's great!" Hanyuu exclaimed. "Chiaki-san, you'll be able to talk!"

Chiaki wrote his response and showed it to Warren, "Thank you."

"Not a problem at all," responded Warren. "Reed and Tony should be able to repair your voice box in no time. And Hana, we have some of the greatest experts of genetic mutation on our staff. You'll be fixed up in no time."

Hana, for the first time in her life, smiled yet only briefly. She wouldn't be completely normal, but she would feel less than a freak than she already was.

As Hana and Chiaki were taken to the med bay to take care of their conditions, the rest of the group began to board the ChronoLiner to return home. The two NEO-NUMBERS' conditions would take time to repair. It would take a day at the most to fix Chiaki's voice box but a little longer to cure Hana.

The Director of A.R.M.O.R. was about to enter the train with Shinichi when they saw a familiar face at the train platform.

"Hey, Ryuji," Warren said to his friend.

"So, Warren, this is one of your new guys, huh?" asked Ryuji, eyes on Shinichi.

"Yep, meet Shinichi, aka Showa," introduced Warren.

"Hey, I saw you on the screen," realized Shinichi, recognizing Ryuji.

"And I was watching you in action. I'm Ryuji, also known as Kamen Rider Ifrit. By the way, you got some nice power. Reminds me of Yuuki's," said Ryuji.

"Yuuki?" blinked Shinichi as he looked to Warren.

"Another Rider who has the powers to change into other Riders," explained Warren.

"Which reminds me," began Ryuji, "Warren, I hope you don't push him to me like you did Yuuki."

"No, I'm taking him under my wing personally," stated Warren.

Ryuji gave his fellow Rider a look and looked to Shinichi. "Oh. Hey, kid," said Ryuji, finally acknowledging Shinichi.

"Don't call me kid. It's Shinichi," growled Shinichi.

"Whatever…kid, as a word of warning, by the end of his training, you'll either live and be stronger, or 6 feet under," warned Ryuji.

"So helpful…" sighed Warren.

"Hey, you're as bad as a drill sergeant when you're serious. Just giving the new guy a brief look of what will happen," shrugged Ryuji. "Anyway, I have to go. Koto-chan's waiting for me at home. Laters." Ryuji walked off.

Shinichi inwardly wondered what he'd gotten himself into by accepting the invitation into A.R.M.O.R.

As Shiori, Rika, Hanyuu and Shinichi returned to their house, Rika said, "That was an interesting visit."

"Yes," said Shiori, "And because Shinji's a member we get to visit any time we want!"

"I can't wait to hear Chiaki-san talk!" beamed Hanyuu.

Shinichi looked up at the sky where the ChronoLiner had vanished to. He wondered what the future would bring and when he would finally be rid of Gebok and GIN-SHOCKER.

Later, after Shinichi and his fellow Hinamizawans and Okinomiyans had returned to their world, Warren was having a private meeting with three others. These three men were members of the most covert team in A.R.M.O.R. They were ones that took on missions too dangerous for any others and were specialized. They were the Thunderbolts.

"What do you want us for, Warren?" asked Ryuga.

"Yeah, what's so important?" questioned Craig.

"You know I hate taking orders from you Smith," grumbled Nekrad

"It's a covert search and rescue," said Warren.

Ryuga blinked in surprise, "Search and rescue?"

"Doctor Magi," elaborated Warren. "A scientist for GIN-SHOCKER. You're to go in, extract him, and get back here."

"GIN-SHOCKER, huh? Sounds serious," stated Ryuga, grinning.

"About as serious as HYDRA or some of those other groups I sent you against," Warren clarified.

"This won't be easy, I take it. We might end up fighting," said Craig.

"You scared?" smirked Ryuga.

"Hell, no! Sounds like fun!" Craig shot back.

"As long as we get paid," said Nekrad is his usual monotone.

"I think it's easier if I go in alone. I'll just use the mirrors," volunteered Ryuga. As a Zodiac Knight he was able to use mirrors and reflective surfaces as portals.

Warren countered, "While just using the portal will be easier, it also makes it easier to track. GIN-SHOCKER has some surprisingly good tech. Besides, rescuing Dr. Magi isn't the only part to this mission."

"Oh?" blinked Craig.

"Some moles I placed inside GIN-SHOCKER have been giving me some strange info lately. The same word keeps appearing over and over again," Warren said.

"What word?" inquired Ryuga.

"LEVIATHAN," answered Warren. "The same word I kept hearing from my moles in HYDRA, A.I.M., Shadowspire, Intergang…just about every villainous organization you can think of, that word will appear somewhere. So, while Ryuga and Nekrad get Magi out of their, Craig, I want you to get some info off of GIN-SHOCKER's database." He handed him a flash drive. "This drive will download and decrypt every bit of info in their system, then re-encrypt it for our systems."

"You can count on me, Warren," said Craig.

"And what happens if we encounter obstacles?" Ryuga asked.

Warren answered, "You're the Thunderbolts. Strike them all down."

That was music to their ears.

Kamen Rider Chrome: And that concludes the A.R.M.O.R. arc! Hope u enjoyed the cameos of familiar characters!