ENDGAME CHAPTER PART 2: DOUBLE CROSS
Shion: That traitor! We trusted him! We called him our friend and in return he betrays us for those GIN-SHOCKER bastards! I should've told Kasai to shoot Shinichi in the head when he started showing signs of letting BLACK 13 take control! That way we wouldn't be in this mess right now! I don't care what he has to say to us! He betrayed us and he's going to pay! Just you wait, High Commander Shin-chan! Shion Sonozaki is going to make you wish you were never born!
Keiichi: Damn it! This has got to be the worst trouble we've been in. One of our friends is now one of the head bad guys and we're all trapped here in the lion's den. This is worse than Takano and her plans. I don't want to join them, though I bet if we don't join something bad will happen. It's a no-win situation. Damn it, Shinichi! Why did you have to join GIN-SHOCKER? I thought you hated them for what they did to you and made you do! Whatever the case may be, we have to find a way out even if we have to find a way to take you out.
Rena: This all seems like a horrible nightmare. Shin-kun has joined GIN-SHOCKER. The good news is that he still cares for us all, but the bad news is that he wants us to join GIN-SHOCKER with him. He told me to trust him and I really do want to trust him, but I don't know if I can anymore. Shin-kun, what made you join them? Why did you change? Why did you choose to betray us? I love you, Shin-kun. Please, go back to the way you were.
Rika: I can't believe this! Were Shinichi's actions simply to save himself from his misery and a life filled with more battles, or does he have a deeper, more hidden, motive for this? I refuse to believe Shinichi's joined GIN-SHOCKER without an ulterior motive. Though, I'm afraid I'm starting to lose hope with this situation. There must be something missing. Shinichi would never willingly join GIN-SHOCKER. There must be something we're missing, but what is it?
Mion: Crap! This is terrible! We're all trapped in GIN-SHOCKER's headquarters and it's all because of Shin-chan! I don't care what Kei-chan says about the room. It's still no different from a jail cell. All this is just to make us weaken our resolve. Why the hell did Shin-chan join them? It doesn't make a bit of sense. One thing for sure is that the next time I see him it won't be pretty. Shin-chan, prepare to pay and the punishment game this time is going to fit the crime! Count on it!
Satoko: Shinichi-san's turned into a villain and we're now stuck at the enemy's base. It's like something out of a manga. The worst part is those guy haven't given me enough material to make a decent trap so I can trick the guards and help everyone escape. Shinichi-san already knows me too well. He knows what I'm capable of so he made sure to not give me anything to make a trap. I'd be impressed under more pleasant circumstances. I wonder how Nii-nii and Nee-nee are. I hope they're alright. I'm still going to stay strong for everyone. I am not going to cry. I promised Nii-nii.
Satoshi: Shinichi's betrayed us and betrayed the world to join the people who've given him his powers for the purpose of using him as a weapon. This is messed up in the worst possible sense, and the worst part is I don't see us escaping any time soon. However, I'm not going to lose hope. I know there might be a way for us to get out of here; I just don't know what it is yet.
Hanyuu: Au! Why is this happening? Au! Why? I just want my friends to be happy. To keep horrible things from happening again. So why do things like this keep happening to us? I guess it's just like they say, fate is cruel and inescapable. I wish Chiaki-san was here.
Shiori: Sho-chan, our son has lost his way. I don't know what to do anymore. I wish it was a horrible nightmare, but I'm afraid it's all too real. Shinji has turned towards the dark side and joined the enemy and taken us prisoner. I know what he's doing is wrong and I hate what he's planning to do with GIN-SHOCKER, but I can't bring myself to hate him. I am, however, disappointed in him.
Shinichi: I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I had no choice. I have to protect them. They're my friends and family. Even if they see me as evil and cruel, they have to understand that what I'm doing is for the best. It's all for the greater good. I have my reasons for doing what I'm doing. I just hope that, when the time is right, they'll listen to my explanation and understand. Please forgive me for this but I have to do what I have to do.
Warden Anju was walking along the corridors for the executive living quarters when she saw the new High Commander hastily rushing out of his room. He shouted into the room, "UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO LISTEN, I'M NOT LETTING YOU OUT OF THE ROOM!"
"I HATE YOU, SHIN-KUN!" Rena shouted from within the room as she threw a vase at the door. Shinichi managed to close the door in time before the vase shattered against it.
Shinichi rubbed his temples and then ordered the two guards posted in front of his quarters, "Don't let her out unless I say so and don't let anyone but me inside." He turned and saw Anju with a smirk on her face. "What?"
"Trouble in paradise?" Anju asked.
"What makes you say that?"
Anju pointed to her right cheek and her left eye. "You have something on your face," she said, referring to the handprint on his right cheek and the black left eye. "Care to tell Anju-neesan what happened?"
"Well, she was yelling at me so to shut her up I kissed her. She struggled, and then kissed back, but when I wanted to take things further she slapped me before she decked me," he explained. "That girl has a really mean right hook."
"Need ice?" Anju offered.
"No, it will fade," he declined politely. "Dr. Gebok made sure I heal fast." He asked, "So, what brings you out here, Warden Anju?"
"I just wanted to have a chat with the new High Commander," said Anju, closing the distance between them. Shinichi saw the flirtatious look she was giving him and he had to admit that she was an attractive older woman. However, he reminded himself that he had a girlfriend and while he was evil now he would always be faithful to Rena, even if she was out for his blood at the moment. Anju continued, "Not many can rise up the ranks as fast as you."
"Aren't position and rank given to GIN-SHOCKER members based on their level of power?" Shinichi asked.
"Yes, and you did defeat Nagazawa, who was one of our strongest," Anju said as she recalled Nagazawa's demise. "Not an easy feat. Personally, I never really liked him."
"Who would?" Shinichi remarked, making her laugh.
"Well, anyway, there's a meeting in an hour and as the High Commander you have to be present," she reminded. "You shouldn't be late. Great Leader-sama hates tardiness as much as incompetence."
"I'll be sure to remember that," Shinichi nodded. Anju placed a hand on his shoulder.
"How about you and I take a walk, High Commander?" Anju flirted, leaning in close. She made sure he could smell her scent. She was wearing new perfume just for the occasion.
"A tempting offer, but I'll have to pass," he declined politely as he brushed off her hand. "I need to see my Okaasan. Maybe some other time." He kissed her hand and with a wave went in the opposite direction.
"Gebok sure didn't program him to be a charmer," Anju commented as she watched him walk away. She would get him though. Teenagers were victims of their hormones and she knew just how to manipulate them. With enough skill, her promotion would be secured.
Shiori was still sitting in the room, depressed. Her son was now a traitor and had joined the very organization he'd opposed for so long. She'd been proud of him for saving the world but now she was disappointed in him. However, she could not find it in her heart to hate him and yet she couldn't live with the knowledge that her son had turned traitor. She'd lost her son again. She briefly entertained thoughts of suicide when she heard the door opening. She turned her head and saw who was entering. It was Shinichi, in his High Commander outfit, and he was being flanked by two GIN-SHOCKER soldiers.
"I'll take it from here, gentlemen," Shinichi said. He received nods from the soldiers before they exited. He closed the door. Shinichi faced his mother. "Okaasan."
"Shinji," she responded in monotone, making him flinch. She wasn't happy, that was obvious.
After recomposing himself, he took a seat across from her on another velvet armchair and spoke, "I hope you have reconsidered my offer in joining GIN-SHOCKER." Shiori looked him dead in the eye. She had her answer already.
"I'm sorry but my answer is still no," Shiori said.
"Why must you be so difficult?" he responded, sighing in agitation.
"I should say the same to you," she shot back, her eyes narrowing and anger rising.
"Okaasan, I'm offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity here. I can bring back Otousan…"
"No," she denied, "What you'll bring to life will only be a puppet with Sho-chan's face. Right now, I don't even see my son, but a puppet dancing on strings."
Shinichi eyes narrowed, "I am no puppet."
"From my point of view you're GIN-SHOCKER's puppet," she countered.
"SHUT UP!" he roared, standing up with his fists clenched. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" The guards came right in and he shot them a look that made them recoil and back out of the room. Turning his angry gaze on his mother, he spoke, "Okaasan, either you accept my offer or…"
"Or die?" she finished. He flinched again. "Go ahead and kill me. I've lost my husband and I've lost my son. I have nothing to live for."
Without another word, Shinichi stormed out of the room in frustration. He ordered the guards, "Go in and watch her." He didn't want to see his mother do anything brash or stupid in his absence. "Damn that woman." His mother knew how to get under his skin and use it to her advantage. He punched the wall, leaving a dent in it before he walked down the hallway. Halfway down the hallway, he bumped into Dr. Gebok. "Oh, Dr. Gebok."
"Hello, son!" the mad scientist grinned. "Why such a sad face? You should be happy!"
"Oh, everyone is being difficult," Shinichi answered. "They just don't get it. It's so frustrating for me to try and convince them."
"Lesser beings rarely understand those who've evolved beyond their mortal limitations," said Dr. Gebok sympathetically. "Do you want me to take care of it?"
"No," Shinichi declined, "Just give me one more chance to convince them. If not, then…"
"Say no more," Gebok nodded, knowing well what Shinichi intended. If he couldn't have them join willingly, then he'd have to force them to join without any other choice. "I know what to do."
"Dr. Gebok, do you mind taking me to the computer room? I want to see what GIN-SHOCKER has been working on. I only want to view the data on our future plans," Shinichi said.
"Certainly, High Commander," said Gebok. "Let me lead the way."
The GIN-SHOCKER conference room was big with a single long rectangular table in the centre and several seats flanking it. At the head of the table sat the Great Leader, flanked by his personal guards. Admiral Ankokou was already in his seat. Warden Anju was also present, leaning back in her chair with her feet propped up on the tabletop. Dr. Gebok (head scientist) and Shinichi (High Commander) entered the conference room and took their own seats.
"So glad you decided to join us, High Commander," Ankokou sneered.
"I have nothing better to do," Shinichi shrugged. "Oh, and I have to say those glasses are tacky," Shinichi said as he criticized Ankokou's choice of eyewear.
Ankokou bristled but calmly replied, "My dear fellow, have you actually seen the outfits worn by our predecessors? Doctor Shinigami practically looks like a Dracula copycat with that cape on and don't even get me started with Princess Yokai of Jin Dogma. So I suggest you leave my shades out of it."
"I'm just saying that those glasses completely don't match that outfit of yours," Shinichi pointed out.
"See, Admiral? Even he thinks so," Anju said, snickering. Ankokou crossed his arms, aiming a glare at Shinichi.
The Great Leader spoke, "Now, let us call this meeting to order." He was still shrouded in the shadows. Only his voice was heard. "First I'd like to welcome our new High Commander for gracing us with his presence."
Shinichi stood up and saluted, "I'm proud to be here and to be of service to GIN-SHOCKER."
Ankokou snorted and muttered, "Suck up."
"Now, let us discuss new business. But first I'd like to hear from High Commander BLACK 13. He says he has information on this organization he used to work for."
"Yes, indeed I do," said Shinichi. "They are called ARMOR. It stands for Altered-Reality Monitoring and Operational Response, which monitors Multiversal activity."
"Multiversal?" Anju questioned. She smirked. "Intriguing."
Shinichi continued, "There is also DORA, Department Of Rider Affairs, which monitors and keeps track of all the Kamen Riders in the Multiverse."
The Great Leader growled hatefully, "Kamen…Riders…" He hated the Kamen Riders with a passion. They'd gotten in his way for a long time now.
"I wonder why you decided to defect," Ankokou commented suspiciously.
"Because in ARMOR I got no respect whatsoever and I only had a Level 2 clearance! They limited my activity and I got punished for insubordination despite doing what I thought was right!" Shinichi said angrily.
"Do you know the location of ARMOR?" the Great Leader asked.
"Better. I have the means to enter ARMOR," said Shinichi. "I would like to propose to have a strike force invade ARMOR with me leading it."
"Granted," said the Great Leader.
"Great Leader-sama, this seems highly suspicious," said Ankokou.
"Don't you trust BLACK 13?" Gebok questioned.
"Is that a trick question?" Ankokou retorted. "Have you forgotten that your precious little BLACK 13 has opposed us for the past few months and don't forget that he went berserk and escape over a year and a half ago?"
"Yes, I did," said Shinichi, "But that was then and this is now."
"Correct, BLACK 13!" grinned Gebok.
"Yes, I agree," said the Great Leader. "Tell me, High Commander, what do you intend to do with your guests?"
"I intend to give them one last chance to join us willingly," said Shinichi with a sad look on his face. "However, if they still resist then I will have no choice but have them forcefully recruited into GIN-SHOCKER. I'll leave the children, Rena and my mother out but the older ones can become powerful Cyborg Mutants."
"Very well. You are given one last chance and then we can have them," concluded the Great Leader.
Shinichi bowed, accepting the terms, "Yes, Great Leader-sama."
The executive dining room was only reserved for the executive members of GIN-SHOCKER. However, Shinichi decided to make an exception and invites his friends and mother to have dinner with him. Maybe after a nice meal they'd be in a more agreeable mood. Shinichi sat at the head of the table and waited for his guests to arrive. He'd given them the proper clothes for such an occasion as well. Rena would most likely wear the dress he'd given her. He wondered how the others would like their new evening wear.
The dining room had a long table like the conference room and on the wall were portraits depicting eight of the Great Leader's previous forms. The first one wore a red hood similar to one of the KKK, the second was a skeleton, his third form was that of Satan Bug, his fourth form was a giant rock-like soldier, his fifth form was a cycloptic extra-terestrial brain, his sixth form was a giant dragon, his seventh form was gigantic skull with glowing white eyes and finally his eight form was that of a monstrous head.
The table was a complete smorgasbord of gourmet dishes. Indeed, Shinichi went all out and had the cooks prepare a meal fit for a king.
When the door opened, he saw his friends and mother ushered in by GIN-SHOCKER soldiers. Keiichi and Satoshi were dressed in identical tuxedos. Shinichi manages to get their measurements and the clothes fit like a glove. What he was hoping was to see how the girls and his mother looked in their evening dresses.
Rena entered, wearing the cheongsam he'd given her earlier. She still looked as lovely as ever, despite the angry look in her eyes. Mion and Shion were wearing black sleeveless dresses that were held up by spaghetti straps. The dresses went down to just above their knees. They also wore chokers around their necks. Satoko was wearing knee-high black and white stripes socks, a pink shirt with a mid-thigh lenght white skirt and black wristbands. Rika was in blue and white dress with black shoes and pooft skirt. Hanyuu was wearing a dress similar to Rika's but colored like her miko outfit. She also had evening gloves on. His mother was wearing a beautiful black kimono decorated with golden butterflies and a red obi sash around her waist.
Shinichi greeted as he stood up, "Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to join me for dinner."
"Did we have a choice?" Mion said with a glare pointed at Shinichi.
"I see you're all wearing the clothes I had given you," Shinichi said, admiring the dresses the girls were wearing. Rena was still wearing hers. "You all look lovely, ladies."
"Just get to the point!" Shion snapped.
"How about we just sit and eat?" Shinichi offered.
"And how do we know you haven't drugged the food?" Keiichi questioned.
"Would I do something like that?" Shinichi responded with a question.
"Well, you did have us brought here after using knockout gas on us," Satoko reminded.
"Actually, that was Dr. Gebok's doing," Shinichi remarked. "I never said to use knockout gas."
"But you did tell him to bring us here," Mion retorted.
"True, true," Shinichi nodded.
"Shinji," Shiori said coldly.
"Okaasan," Shinichi responded, just as neutrally. Sighing, he settled himself down. Looking at the sour faces of his audience, he let out a chuckle. "You aren't prisoners, you know. No reason to be so tense. Please enjoy yourselves."
"Why are you being so nice to us anyway?" asked Satoshi, not daring to touch the food since he knew of some of the tricks that GIN-SHOCKER liked to employ and he had no intention of being done in by drugged food. Even if Shinichi said there was no poison it, he wouldn't trust the High Commander with anything now. "Why go through all the trouble of trying to butter us up?"
"Why?" asked Shinichi, seeming very relaxed for a High Commander of a terrorist organization. "Well, that's an easy question to answer. I wish to bring you all in and have you all join GIN-SHOCKER as my personal friends and allies."
"NO WAY!" Mion shouted, slapping her hand on the table and making Hanyuu squeak in fight. "I told you before and I'm telling you now! We are not going to be joining a bunch of terrorists like you!"
Rather than being insulted by the outburst, as many of the servants in the room feared as they cringed in fight, Shinichi took the outburst in stride. Resting his hands on his chin, he looked at the Sonozaki heiress and sighed almost regretfully, "Mion, Mion, Mion. You only have part of the story. Yes, GIN-SHOCKER is a terrorist organization, but it is only so in the eyes of the so-called 'officials' who continue to drive our society deeper and deeper to destruction."
"That's bull," Mion frowned. "You guys don't want peace. You just want to take over the world and turn everyone into your slaves!"
"Slavery? What gave you that idea?" asked Shinichi with a chuckle as if he heard a child say something funny. "GIN-SHOCKER exists to unite the world into a single government. Yes, it is under one man but what has democracies of any kind really gotten us? Those ministers and politicians sit on their butts all day arguing about this or that with no clue as to what the people live through in their lives. They just sit there and draw paychecks, leaving everything undone with the consequences falling on the people. Under a single absolute leader, GIN-SHOCKER has achieved things that so-called 'modern' society can only dream of. The Cyborg Mutants for example."
"What's to know?" asked Shion was a tad disgusted frown. "You take people and modify them through genetics and cybernetics to turn them into monsters."
"They were monsters long before we got our hands on them," Shinichi retorted. "Tell me, where do you think we could possibly get adults on such a scale as you've seen Cyborg Mutants in this base and no one was the wiser? Really, who could possibly have vanished and no one would notice? Hm?" Hearing silence, he continued. "I'll tell you. Each and every one of the Cyborg Mutants used to be criminals on death row. Who else but convicted killers could we use to create perfect soldiers? Using ordinary people was no good because they lacked the true edge a soldier needs without training and that just takes too much time. No, each of these killers came to us willingly and now serve us."
"How's that good?" asked Keiichi with a grimace.
"It's better than leaving them in legal limbo for years, possibly fearing for their lives before dying a painful death despite how humane the legal system says it is." Shinichi countered. "It is GIN-SHOCKER's plan to use this process on all who have taken a life for no reason. It's much more efficient then locking them in a cell and much safer than one day releasing them into the masses."
"And giving them superpowers is going to help people?" asked Satoko quietly.
"By taking a life, they forfeit theirs so GIN-SHOCKER will control them from that day out," Shinichi answered. "Moving on, do you realize the science that goes into them? The understanding of DNA for the mutant half has the potential to cure or combat many lethal diseases. The mechanics in them could revolutionize prosthetics and other modern technologies."
"Then why not share them?" asked Shiori. "Why not do the good you claim this organization wants to do?"
"Because people would just start fighting over it, try to steal it, or try to remove GIN-SHOCKER so to claim it for themselves," Shinichi shrugged. "Humans are naturally selfish and greedy. That needs to be curbed first before true peace can be gained."
"Then no one will be happy," Rena frowned.
"There will be peace, health, and security. How can there be anything but happiness?" Shinichi asked. Looking out to his friends, he gave a sigh. "This is your last chance to accept. This is my final offer to you, my friends. If you don't accept, then I have no choice but to treat you like prisoners of GIN-SHOCKER."
"Like you haven't already," Mion spat.
"Mion, prisoners are used to make new Cyborg Mutants," Shinichi explained. Everyone looked at him in shock. "Except for Okaasan and Rena, all of you will make great additions to the GIN-SHOCKER army roster. I don't want that to happen but unless you agree to my terms then you can still be as you are."
The Gaming Club exchanged looks and then Mion said, "Not a chance!"
Keiichi added, "That's right! We'd rather die!"
Shinichi sighed, "Well, if that is your final answer then I have no other choice but to...punish you." Shinichi looked at them gravely and then at the guards, "Sorry about this."
They waited for death, but suddenly...
"PSYCHE!"
Kamen Rider Chrome: Ooh, a cliffhanger. What's going on? What will happen? The conclusion will tell all.