Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 21
OP Song:
Aoi Kaze No HOPE [HISTORY OF TRUNKS ENDING]
Insert Song: Start
Kamen Rider Black RX OST - Hikari No Senshi
PART 1
Kazuma Kenzaki - Kmaen Rider Blade.
Years: 2004 - 2005.
At the age of 11, he was orphaned when his family died in a house fire. The powerlessness he felt would serve as the motivation to try and protect the defenseless, subsequently leading him to be scouted by the Board Of Archaeological Research Department (BOARD). From his intelligence and exceptional survival instincts, he would eventually be promoted to field operative and the designated user of Rider System-02, capable of transforming into Kamen Rider Blade as he fights the dreaded Undead and put a stop to the diabolical Battle Fight, By the aftermath, because of the effect of using King Form too much, Kazuma was inadvertently transformed into a Joker Undead and made the resolve to delay the Battle Fight even if he needs to walk the path alone, leaving his love ones behind.
As of this point, Kazuma was training the young eleven-year-old George Kurai with the shinai. The young man was wearing the traditional samurai white robe, gracefully moving the wooden sword up and down, putting his feet in tip-top shape and order. Afterward, the young George would eventually test his sword skills on a dummy not to far away, hitting at the precise points while blocking the incoming wood.
As Kazuma watches, he smiles with arms crossed.
PART 2
In the past...
The Tree of Hearts. also frequently called The Great Tree of Hearts, is a magical tree that connects to all Heart Flowers. If a Heart Flower wilted completely, it would weaken the Tree of Hearts.
The young woman—Kaoruko Godai - Cure Flower—was just visiting the Great Tree of Hearts one day. From that sacred place, she stumbled upon a very odd sight. A young man was there. He was no older than eleven years old as far as she can tell. He was wearing regular clothing, a blue jacket with white lines worn over a white shirt, and with his hands tucked into his pockets. He has black hair and purple-brown deep eyes.
There was something about this young man that made Kaoruko curious. It wasn't a question of what is he doing in this place. It was more of what was his intention of being here. And judging by the solemn expression on his face, it appeared that he came to pay respects where it is due.
"Um, excuse me," Kaoruko walk towards the young man who noticed her, unsurprised. She stops for a moment and takes a good look at the young man. All she saw in the young man was a very deep melancholic sadness that she could not fathom where it came from. But she can tell somewhat that this young man was not associated with any form of evil or darkness, not even associated with the Desert Apostles - her greatest of enemies for that manner. She was curious and concerned, a feeling of maternity blossoming in her, a foreshadowing of her own future to come. "Who are you, young man?"
The young man's expression was one of shame as he turned back to the sacred tree. "No one...just a passer-by paying his respects..." he said softly as slowly walks away, disappearing within Kaoruko's sight before the latter could even call the young man over as he stepped through an old clock portal that whisked him away to parts unknown.
It was the strangest experience that Kaoruko had ever felt. And this wasn't the last time she would meet this mysterious young man.
The mysterious young man is known as George Kurai. A young man who walks through space and time. A young man who protects all of the Precure through all of time, whether in this universe or in others or in the last or next.
At another point in the past...
Kaoruko Godai, now transformed into Cure Flower, was surrounded by unknown creatures that she wasn't familiar with, all in overwhelming numbers. At least, she wouldn't be familiar with them until years later in 2004 when Kamen Rider Blade would air on television. They were roaches of a sort, beast-like creatures with dark green colors and razor-sharp claws on their hands.
They were known as the Darkroachi - Category Unknown Undead.
She felt a very dark presence on these creatures. It was like the anathema to everything that was pure light. She immediately realizes that they are not from this world. In fact, it wouldn't be out of place to say that these creatures had come from a different plane.
She punched and kicked as the creatures tried to slash her in numbers. Many were defeated instantly as they turn to green mist. But soon, more spawned over. She was concerned. This was a new type of enemy that she wasn't used to dealing with. Her powers do have an immediate negative effect on these creatures, but the main problem was that they just keep spawning in numbers.
And then suddenly, multiple magenta-colored blasts were seen from all sides, killing many of the Undead closed to her. She turn to her left and spotted the young eleven-year-old George Kurai, his belt ready for transformation as two Ridewatches. One for Zi-O and one for Blade.
"("Kenzaki-sensei.")" he thought before he donned his belt and inserted his Ridewatches, recalling one of his senseis out of respect. "Henshin!"
He backhanded the driver as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position while bringing his arms in an X pattern before bringing them back to his sides. The clock hand from the holographic clock spins together at the twelfth before splitting to the sides, the small hand landed on the ten and the big hand landed on the two. Three holographic watch bands circle around him forming his armor. Images of blue-colored rectangle energy with a beetle in the center were seen to come out from all sides and smashed through multiple Undead, vaporizing them instantly to mere mist.
DING! DONG!
RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER! ZI-O!
ARMOR TIME! TURN UP! BLADE!
It consisted of armor reminiscent of a pure blue bodysuit and silver-colored torso-shaped armor. It has multiple red cards attached to its shoulders.
The young George Kurai has transformed into Kamen Rider Zi-O, now donning the Blade Armor.
He materializes a Blay Rouzer and aims it at some of the Undead, bringing down the lightning and killing the rest from a few meters. There were still more but many of the Undead were filled with fear as they recognize the power of the Joker Undead within the armor that Zi-O was using.
Cure Flower was concerned and alarmed. She narrowed her eyes as sees the young man walk toward her in a subtle protective manner.
"Are you alright, obaa-chan?" he asked.
There was that one word that George was calling her. She wasn't even in her mid-thirties, still in her seventeen years and already being called "obaa-chan" at this age. Normally, one could call this rude, but Cure Flower felt something odd whenever she was called by this name. It was almost as if this young man knew her. But from where, she wondered?
"Yes, I'm alright," Cure Flower smiled familiarly at the young man who had been one random constant in her life as of late. She looks at the remaining Undead that were gathering from all directions. "What are these things?"
"Undead," Zi-O simply answered, raising his Blay Rouzer to summon thunder from the tip of the blade, shocking many of the Undead, ending their threat from this part of the area.
"They're gone," Cure Flower muttered softly.
"It's not over yet," Zi-O narrowed his eyes. "Obaa-chan, come with me, we need to take care of the remaining Undead and prevent any civilian from getting too close to even one of them. I'll explain as much as I can on the way."
Cure Flower nodded. "Alright. You lead the way."
Zi-O nodded, mentally summoning a clock portal that sends them away to another place in order to take care of the Undead.
Back in the present, from another point of view...
"I see."
Kaoruko Hanasaki smiled brightly, having just finished watering a few flowers from the side of her botanical garden. She puts the garden pitcher down as she turn towards her granddaughter, Tsubomi Hanasaki, who was currently accompanied by the rest of the Heartcatch Precure! Team consisting of the rest of the young women and the fairy partners. By Kaoruko's side, there was her fairy partner, Coupe, who was listening with interest to the mention of young George, recognizing the name of the young man with a smile.
"So you and George finally met at long last," she smiled, looking at her granddaughter. "How is he so far, Tsubomi?"
"He's at the hospital room, obaa-chan," Tsubomi explained. "He got wounded in a fight by someone called the Shredder."
"Eh?" Kaoruko's expression switched instantly from bright to worry, her heart felt as if it stopped beating for a moment as she recognized the name "Shredder". She walks towards Tsubomi, putting both hands on her shoulders. "Is he alright? What happened during that time?"
And so, Tsubomi and the rest of the Heartcatch Precure! explained to her the general gist of the situation. Nagisa Misumi - Cure Black called all of the First Generation Precure from Splash Star to KiraKira Precure a la Mode as they defended Hakugumi City from a dangerous artificial intelligence called Ultron. Someone or a group of individuals tried to change history but were foiled by George and his allies. That was just the gist of things that allowed Kaoruko to understand with a smile of relief.
"I see," Kaoruko smiled grimly. "Thank you for telling me this, all of you."
"Umm, Kaoruko-san," Yuri Tsukikage sported a curious expression. "I just have to ask something. When was the first time you met with George-san?"
"Oh?" Kaoruko was rather amused at the question. She smiled reminiscently of her by-gone days. "That is a rather complicated question, Yuri-chan. I would assume that all of you already know of George's status as a time traveller."
Everyone from the Heartcatch Precure! nodded.
"Well...it all started one day when I was still known as Cure Flower, long before I married Tsubomi's grandfather..."
And so, Kaoruko explained the complicated meeting between herself and George that stretched through all of time and space. And the Heartcatch Precure! noticed the special type of smile, a mixture of happiness and sadness, when describing her meetings with George. It all started out as one simple random encounter after another. And each encounter bespoke of a single thread of history that stretches all the way down through the present time.
Each random encounter throughout Kaoruko's own personal timeline had intrigued everyone who listened, especially Tsubomi, who took note of the young man who casually visits her grandmother. Her grandmother was the one who trained him with the skill and prowess of martial arts, and the one who taught him the nature of Precure. The Precure - hidden and legendary heroes of long ago who have protected the Earth and the universe itself, no matter what origin and background they came from.
And it all contributed to the development of one Monarch of Time whose resolve is to protect the Precure.
Or die trying.
The last part is what saddened Kaoruko the most.
PART 3
In the past...
Sparks fly multiple times as the A.R. Kamen Rider Kaixa was being slashed in bursts of speed that cannot just be seen by the naked eye. No matter how hard A.R. Kaixa tries, it just can't hit the blurring figure.
Nodoka Hanadera watches in awe as she watches the battle unfold before her eyes. She was already standing up from the ground, removing any dust from her skirt. This was the strangest experience that she could ever have had. There was a young man capable of transforming into a Kamen Rider, although strangely enough, she didn't recognize this specific Kamen Rider. From her right side, there was a miniature white phantasm floating right beside her, cheering this young man on while also making sure to keep her safe from the obviously confused and dangerous A.R. Kamen Rider.
"Go! Zi-O! Go! Go! Go! Go!" the phantasm—Talking Familiar Yurusen—cheered the young twelve-year-old Kamen Rider on.
"What's going on...?" Nodoka asked herself.
Was this all a dream? Then why did this feel so real?
This young man whom she did not yet know—George Kurai - Kamen Rider Zi-O—easily manages to beat her dreaded fictional stalker with utter ease. Try as Kaixa might to aim his blade and gun on the new Kamen Rider, he continuously dodges them and strikes swiftly at supersonic speed. Sparks fly from every part of his body except for his head. Kaixa falls to the ground, rolling over from the side of the ditch as Zi-O makes his final move.
TIME CHARGE: 5...4...3...2...1...ZERO TIME!
And all of a sudden, sparks fly as an orange-fumed explosion engulfed the A.R. Kamen Rider, utterly destroying him with ease. Zi-O was simply standing there, his back turned from the explosion, his left hand raised to an L-shape while his right hand was carrying the Zikan Girade in sword mode.
Nodoka watches in awe at the actual real-life combat that the Kamen Rider franchise was known for. The only difference, she supposed, was that this was the real deal and not just something you see on television.
A few moments later just as the explosion died out, the young George Kurai detransformed back into his civilian self, with his Ziku-Driver still on his waist. He breathes a sigh, relieve that it was over for now. He looks at Nodoka who was mesmerized by the young man. He seems to be almost the same category of age as her based on his physical appearance. And he was quite handsome and dashing like a knight in shining armor...
"("...Wait! What am I thinking here?!")" Nodoka thought, blushing.
George heads towards her location, walking casually. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Ye-Yes, I'm alright," Nodoka nodded.
George nodded. Then he looked towards Yurusen who was floating beside Nodoka. "Thank you for taking care of her while I was busy, Yurusen-sensei," he said.
"Don't worry about it, young student," Yurusen smiled. "I'm always happy to lend a helping hand."
"Um..." Nodoka tried to formulate her words, wondering just what to say. "Can I...Can I ask who you are...?"
George looked at her, simply saying. "George Kurai - Kamen Rider Zi-O. Although..." his expression turned to a grave level of concern. "You're probably not going to remember my name in the future."
"Eh?" Nodoka was confused. "What do you mean?"
But George was silent, refusing to elaborate further. He glances to the left and to the right as if checking for any sign of obstacle or danger.
"We should probably keep moving," he muttered softly.
Back in the present, from another point of view...
It was a few hours until the morning sunrise.
Nodoka was resting on her bed, her blanket tucking in the rest of her body. All she could do was simply stare at the ceiling as she pondered on the memory that she had once forgotten. Her knight in shining armor. A mysterious young man that carried a sad face burdened by many things; a young man who tried to hide that sadness and focused heavily on the task at hand, on the present moment, as if he was running away from the future.
"Nodoka..." Rabirin muttered in worry for her partner.
"Nodoka!"
"Hm?!" Nodoka heard the voice of her mother calling out from the door, knocking on her bedroom door. She sees her mother entering her bedroom, Nodoka already sitting up straight at this time, wide awake. "What is it, okaa-san?"
"Your friends are just outside of the house, asking for you," Yasuko Hanadera said, concerned. And then, she shakes her head, still in disbelief at what she and her husband who was downstairs is now seeing. "Actually, as much as I couldn't believe it, the Prime Minister himself is here alongside them. He asked that you are to come with him, saying something about a Precure gathering that would take place sometime in the early morning."
"Eh? A Precure gathering?" Nodoka muttered in surprise.
Rabirin, who had been listening to this conversation, was also blinking in surprise.
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Medieval Music - Sir Gawain
PART 4
It was a few hours until the morning sunrise.
George Kurai slowly opens his eyes, consciously feeling a comfortable warmth that was laying beside him. He glances to find Hana Nono sleeping beside him, embracing him with a content smile.
He remembers what had happened last night as his expression turned to concern. He raises his right hand and slowly touches her hair softly and carefully in order to not wake her up abruptly. Then he started to think about something. What happens now? Their relationship seems to have progressed from mere acquaintances. When looking at it now from this angle, there were subtle overtones that George was not ignorant of. But he neither didn't want to think about it. At first.
Who was Hana Nono for him? It was a question that he had ever since he first heard of her. He couldn't really deny that he had a crush on her over the years as he did his duty to watch out for her and for the rest of the Precure. She was that dazzling light that reflects the sun's brightness, whether it rises in the east or sets in the west.
Some part of him wished that he could stay like this forever. But then, forever was a word that could mean anything. Some of those meanings were one of his greatest fears. On the other hand, he should probably get up from the hospital bed and walk around for a bit. But first, he'd probably need to get pass Hana and make sure not to wake the latter up.
However, as he attempted to get up, he felt something tightening in his chest. He glances down to see Hana whose eyes opened suddenly, showing that she was just as awake as him, embracing him.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked, looking at him with an inquiring, concerned look.
"You were awake?" George asked, concerned.
But Hana didn't answer his question. Instead, she repeated. "Where are you going?"
George answered. "I'm planning on taking a walk for a moment."
"Can I come with you then?" Hana asked.
Somehow, George felt he couldn't say no because of that strange look Hana was giving him. Maybe she was concerned about the wounds that he got from the Shredder. But it already healed yesterday, so she didn't need to worry much for him. And yet, he had a feeling that excuse isn't going to fly.
"Alright, you can come," George nodded.
Both George and Hana were walking down the corridors. As they pass by, there were still multiple clone troopers and other personnel on stand-by, some of whom were respectfully addressing George as "General" while the latter was nodding at the clones. Hana also noticed a few of the personnel who were non-human. What stands out to her were very tall black ants, about 9 ft., four arms and six legs, wearing construction uniforms, who were also greeting George with respect and attention.
"George, what are those?" Hana asked, concerned and a little intimidated, seeing these giant ants that were oddly courteous and friendly enough, physical appearances not-withstanding.
"They are called Anthroformīca, Hana," George noted her concern, feeling her grabbing his right arm. "In layman terms, they are intelligent aliens with the appearance of Earth ants found on many different homeworlds instead of just one; found in different universes."
"Oh? They're aliens?" Hana was curious, looking back at the tall ants that were walking in another direction.
"Yes," George confirmed. "And don't be afraid of them. Ironically, despite their appearance, they're one of the most friendly interdimensional races out there. The black ants that you saw are but one of many of the ethnicities of the Anthroformīca. There are the usual colors of red, brown, yellow, green, and many others. And yes, each color ant has their own Queen Governor Ant - and all of the Anthroformica, no matter what ethnicity of origin, answer to the Queen Mother - she is basically the High Queen of the Anthroformica."
They walk and walk, seeing the vast white neon corridors. From what they can tell - they spotted a digital clock on their walk - it was a few hours before morning. They've awoken much earlier than intended. Nevertheless, they can't deny the fact that they simply enjoyed their company. Hana was simply giving George the most beautiful, comforting smile. She was holding his right hand, one that was wounded before it healed much quicker as a part of the general healing factor that was one of George Kurai's many abilities. Of course, the healing factor aside, it didn't stop Hana from worrying much for George and it was one of the main reasons why she was accompanying him at this moment in time.
In one specific corridor, they spotted a group of young men - clone cadets at the ages of thirteen to fourteen - carrying their helmets to the left side. Their armor carried the same light purple markings and musical notes as the rest of the 14th Legion clones that were walking by. When they spotted George and Hana, they all saluted.
"Attention!" the young man - the leader among them - with black military-cut hair said with attention. He gave his salute and the rest soon followed.
"At ease, everyone," George said, acknowledging them with a nod as he and Hana stopped by them. The clone cadets complied as they lower their hands and maintain a proper, casual posture. There was a smile on all of their faces, their smiles recognize George and were familiar with him. Hana noticed all of this, curious as ever, a hint of George's past.
"Hana," George glances at Hana. Then, he raises his right hand to introduce the clone cadets. "These are one group of clone cadets from the 14th Legion, all of them I am familiar with over the years. And the one leading them is Cadet Brownski, a very old friend of mine. Everyone, this is Hana Nono, also known as Cure Yell."
"Ma'am," the one cadet leading them, Cadet Brownski, nodded respectfully at Hana. The rest of the clone cadets gave her a respectful salute, recognizing the appropriateness of respect to be given to a Precure - one of the heroines of PC Universe-2004 - the official IU designation of her universe.
"Um...pleased to meet you all," Hana bowed her head gracefully with a smile.
Cadet Brownski nodded respectfully. Then he turns towards George, his expression turning to concern. "Are you doing alright so far, general? I and the rest of the vod heard of what had happened with your brush with the Shredder."
"Still alive and kicking, if that's what you'd define alright. Although, I wouldn't recommend getting shredded anytime soon," George spoke with a smile. Some of the clones laughed at the dark-humored joke. "What about you all? Has anything happened on your end?"
"Not much, general," Cadet Brownski shakes his head. "Aside from what happened recently, nothing special comes up. Me and the boys were just doing our simple military exercises as ordered by our Drill Sergeant."
"At this early in the morning?" Hana asked, curious.
"Well, ma'am," Cadet Brownski smiled slightly. "Waking up earlier is just a part of our tradition and military protocol. We've gotten used to early wake-up calls every so often they become ingrained into us. Sleep early, wake up early - is what our Drill Sergeant use to say. That reminds me, general," he looks at George. "Apparently, by the early morning, something of importance just came up. Protocol: Blue Shade is in effect throughout the base which is one of the main reasons why we are on REDCON."
George widens his eyes a little, recognizing the official protocol of the Spatio-Temporal Armed Forces (STARS) in relation to the usual event that one is familiar with, especially when one is a student (in the case of George), teacher, and other individuals of importance.
He smiles a little. "A little early, don't you think, Brownski?"
"Quite relative, I should say, sir," Cadet Brownski spoke with a smile. "In fact, from what rumors throughout the base would say, it would appear that General Tendou just gave the go-signal just as he left."
"Of course, he did," George smiled.
"Hm?" Hana noted the expressions that both George and Brownski were sporting.
The same expressions were more or less seen from the rest of the rank-in-file clone cadets who were muttering "Here we go again." or "Another space-time of our life." There were also side comments from two clones just a few meters away, with one saying with a little humor: "Space-time: the eternal frontier..." while the other clone would mutter in exasperation while facepalming, knowing how his vod would recite the damn vision and mission statement to put things mildly: "Oh no, not again."
"Umm," Hana begins to ask, tilting her head. "Just what is it that you're both talking about?"
Both George and Brownski looked at Hana with a smile.
"Well, ma'am, I couldn't say for now. After all, you'd probably find out about it eventually the moment that happens in the early morning hours," Brownski explained.
"Ah, George-kun! Over here!"
Both George and Hana look to the right to find Saaya Yakushiji waving at them from afar. They both blinked in curiosity, wondering what was Saaya doing here at this point in time.
"Saaya-chan? Why are you here now? Did you even get any sleep?" Hana asked.
"Well, yes, I did. Don't worry, I got permission from my parents to come here much earlier and the same can be said for Homare-chan and Emiru-chan who are at the cafeteria along with Hagumi-chan and Harry," Saaya said with a smile, walking towards them. "I was actually looking for the both of you as you two weren't in the hospital room. One of the clones informed me that you two took a walk around the base and so I asked for directions on where to find you two."
"Oh, I see," Hana said with a smile.
Hagumi Kurai was sitting down at the cafeteria table, smiling as she enjoys her meal.
From her viewpoint, there were clones and other personnel in the base walking left and right, some sitting down and eating the meals that they got from the waiting line. Just near to her, there was Hariham Harry eating a Mexican taco with a satisfied smile on his face. The same expressions of satisfaction were present in Homare Kagayaki and Emiru Aisaki who were eating their meals.
"This is quite delicious food, I say~" Emiru spoke with a smile, eating the salad on the plate.
"Hey, um, Coda, right?" Homare addressed Private Coda who was eating right beside them along with a few other clones on the table. "I was just wondering...when did you first met George before?"
"The general?" Private Coda sported a concerned expression, He looks towards his brothers at the table, sporting the same level of concern as he was. Everyone on the table, both the Precure and Harry, noticed this. "Well...it's not something that most of us are comfortable to speak about when the general isn't usually around, ma'am."
"Eh? Why?" Homare was concerned.
But before Private Coda can explain further...
"Everyone!"
They all look to see Hana Nono sprinting towards their location. Following her were George Kurai and Saaya Yakushiji. Hagumi saw them, her gaze directed especially at Hana and George, her younger alternate parents. George already knew that Hagumi was his daughter and vice versa; complications aside, it made Hagumi feel joy and relief to be with her father in a sense and was curious about the major divergences that had already occurred. Hana was the obvious case considering the role of Hagumi and the role of other people involved. But George Kurai, the young fourteen-year-old, was an oddball; a mystery that she wanted to know more about.
However, there was something that she found in the tone of the Clone Private that she didn't like. It filled her with trepidation as she recalled the last time she and everyone among the gathered Precure in the hospital room had been given a foretaste of George's battles. One of his battles with Joker, an enemy long thought dead, is still alive and wreaking havoc with no remorse and with no sense of limitation to stop.
What other horrors would she bear or hear from regarding her young alternate father, she wondered?
"Ah, Hana! Saaya! George-san! You're all here!" Homare spoke with a smile.
"Honestly, all of you girls are way too early to be here. But then, the more the merrier, I suppose," Hana smiled cheerfully, sitting next to Homare. Saaya begins to sit down as well, near Hana and Homare. One of the clones nearby would pass on the trays containing their respective meals that had already been prepared ahead of time.
George, seeing that Hana was joining her friends, was about to simply sit down near Private Coda and the rest of the clones when all of a sudden...
"Oh, George."
George cringed while the clones looked amused more than anything. If one knew how to listen, there were some clones who were snickering at George's predicament, side-commenting that it was about time that there was a woman keeping him in line for once. George heard Hana calling for him in that get-over-here voice that would not allow any excuse to be given. He glances to find Hana giving him a pouting expression. Saaya would softly laugh in exasperation, not knowing what else to do but express sympathy. Homare and Emiru, and Hagumi would simply smile in amusement. Harry on the other hand would laugh to his heart's content.
Feeling no other option is to be taken at this point, plus George being exasperated by that blasted pout from the young woman that he couldn't resist, he simply made his way beside her, sitting down on her right. One of the clones nearby would pass on the trays containing their respective meals that had already been prepared ahead of time.
"Thank you, private," George replied his thanks to the private who pass the tray.
"Speaking of which, I noticed that Ruru-chan isn't here," Hana noticed that their android friend isn't here with them.
"Oh, Ruru left a while ago in order to find Doctor Traum and ask around for directions on where to find him," Emiru answered with a smile. "My guess is that she has probably found Doctor Traum by now."
"Must be one awkward reunion between those two," Harry smiled in amusement, shaking his head. "Especially after everything that we've been through with Criasu."
"Hey, Coda, you mentioned that Doctor Traum comes to this base from time to time, right? Just what exactly is that old man usually working on?" Homare asked.
"Mostly things such as inventing new tech and researching the subject of robotics among others," Private Coda answered. "Some of our egghead vods usually assist him so you may need to ask them if you happen to walk past them."
"Hey, George, just what does Doctor Traum usually do at home?" Hana asked, slowly chewing her meal.
"More or less the same things as what Private Coda described and I usually assist him in the lab every so often when I'm not busy being a Kamen Rider or other responsibilities in general," George said, chewing his meal.
"Um...general," Private Coda spoke to George out of concern, feeling that it was appropriate to bring the recent conversation up. "Ms. Kagayaki had been asking about how you and I have met."
George stopped eating, lowering his utensil. He was silent for a few moments which brought the attention of everyone at the table. Even those nearby became quiet as sounds of hushing were heard. Looks of discomfort were shown among the clones due to the confidential topic that is now being indirectly brought up.
After a few moments, George sighed heavily, glancing at Private Coda. "And what of it? What have you told to her and to everyone else so far?"
"Nothing as of yet, sir," Private Coda reassured. "I was about to give a short summary of it; with a little tact to put things mildly."
"It's alright, Coda, I appreciate the effort," George smiled reassuringly. He looks at everyone - all of the members of the HUGtto! Precure - who were giving him expressions of concern. "I'll explain what Private Coda was referring to. But I'd prefer that I should explain when all of you are gathered together. First things first, we should eat in order to keep our strength up."
Nobody could argue with that logic as they begin to start eating. But there was still a sense of trepidation that they all commonly felt regarding this topic. Whatever the first meeting between Private Coda and George was, something told them that it wasn't pretty.
In the past...
September 2, 2018.
Clone Private Coda was grimacing in concern. His carbine staser was on the ready as he jumped out of the advance gunship alongside his brothers of the 14th Legion. He and the rest were scouring the deserted city streets. Gunships scatter throughout the area, searchlights activated from their rear as they look for any sign of potential survivors or for the termination of any Ultron Sentinel that remained within this city.
All they saw was death. Death everywhere. Smoke still rising from the damaged buildings. Smashed windows, unnatural corpses littered across the streets, burning automobiles, pieces of broken glass and other materials scattered throughout the cracked asphalt roads. There were multiple Ultron Sentinel corpses scattered alongside the dead, all slashed and smashed beyond recognition. The mixture of flesh and mechanical parts breeds disturbing implications upon the inhabitants.
Something wasn't right. This graveyard felt more of a massacre. An act of vengeance had occurred in this very city. A feeling of anger and despair.
Private Coda and the rest of the clones were used to this by now. This was the same as the rest of the worlds that Ultron had invaded. A quiet desolation. Heroes have fallen. The dead would never rise again except to become slaves of metal. A systematic genocide whose marks would be recalled like scars that can never be forgotten. A traumatic, haunting scene that could not be described beyond words.
Private Coda and some of the clones turn to an intersection. Here and there, they spot the corpses of a few capes - their term for superheroes in general. One was vaporized, burned alive to a crisp by the intense concussion blasts from the Ultron Sentinels. Another was hanged to an electrical pole, the charred body was that of a young female, probably starting out as a rookie hero. And another was a mere child, a mutant, killed in the crossfire as he tried to flee from the assault. No matter where they go, they would see the corpses of heroes all piled up in grotesque ways.
If there's one thing Ultron was known for, it was the usage of these horror-type images to evoke a sense of dread that would allow him to exterminate humans and other organic individuals by playing on their fear. If anyone didn't know any better, Ultron could be considered a slasher and sadist at this point due to the apparent relishing of genocide on multiple worlds, his modus operandi as it were.
Private Coda and some others turned to an alleyway and they found a very peculiar sight.
There was a dead body, all covered with a blanket that was no doubt found in a department store, out of respect. There was a young man with black hair and purple-brown gloomy, haunted eyes. There was also a recognizable Ziku-Driver, and Zi-O Ridewatch found in his center waist. He was crouching on the side of the wall, staring at the corpse that was covered with a blanket. His eyes appeared to be dead.
"What the..." one of the clones muttered in concern, lowering his weapon.
"Crotchet!" Private Coda exclaims to his fellow clone. "Contact Command, tell them we found one survivor."
"Right!" Clone Private Crotchet, one of the clones alongside Coda, said with a nod as he holds the right side of his helmet, walking a few meters as he makes contact with the operator.
Private Coda removes his helmet as he slowly walks near the young man. He hand signaled his brothers to stay back and let him do all the work. By the time he draws near, he crouches down, speaking. "Son...Are you alright?"
The young man only responded to the question with a look. It was a haunted one. No doubt was the young man traumatized from what he had just seen. The young man couldn't find the right words to express himself. He was simply silent. There was nothing that made a sound. All except for the raindrops that were about to fall on the red-tinted skies. And then, there was the sound of thunder.
In the present time...
Every member of the HUGtto! Precure was currently present in the medical room. Every one of the medical personnel cleared out immediately as they knew the sensitive topic that is about to be brought up. The Clone Paratroopers guard the medical room from the outside in order to prevent further disturbance.
Hana Nono was currently embracing George. Now, she was horrified at the tale that had just been explained. The same expression of horror was present in all of the HUGtto! Precure as they digested the disheartening traumatic experience that the young George Kurai had faced when he was ten years old. Doctor Traum gave George an empathetic expression, knowing of the experience that was described not too long ago.
First, it was Clone Private Coda who explained his story of how he found George. The second was George himself. And he describes the vivid experience as if he were just there yesterday.
He couldn't forget it. He wants to. But he can't.
And now, Hagumi and Harry both understood why George became mostly silent when they were in the past, recalling the dark chilling expression on the face of the latter as he uttered the name as if it were a curse that could not be forgotten. Like Hana, Hagumi was also hugging George in order to comfort the young man - her father for having been through far too much. Maybe a little too much.
It was harsh. It was cruel. To be forced to see it all. One wonders about the sanity of the young man who had bared witness to a systematic genocide, forced to run and hide, feeling powerless.
The young man who couldn't save anyone. The young man who was forced to live with the fact that he had been through a broken parallel world where heroes have fallen, humanity extinguished, and nothing truly remained except for one single word.
Metal.
A burden that he has since carried to the present time.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Closing Theme Kamen Rider Black RX
Legend Main Heisei Riders:
Kazuma Kenzaki/Kmaen Rider Blade - A: Takayuki Tsubaki
New Characters:
Yurusen - VA: Aoi Yūki
Yasuko Hanadera - VA: Kazusa Murai
Clone Cadet Brownski (STARS) - A: Daniel Logan
Clone Private Crotchet (STARS) - A: Temuera Morrison