A/N: Hey guys, I have returned and updating this story, FINALLY! You guys have no idea the work I have to deal with in real life. But hey, it helps pay the bills and helps my family out. I know my updates have now been slow but life is more important so do remember that. Now after you guys read this chapter there will be an authors note below to let you guys know regarding some of my stories.
That matter settled, let's get down to the chapter. Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KAMEN RIDER W OR SENKI ZESSHO SYMPHOGEAR
'Thought'
Dopant
Chris spent her time in her room throughout the night, hugging her arms as she attempted to get some much needed sleep. There were times in her sleep she would relive the horrible moments of her childhood, the times in that place. Especially her abuse by Fine. She would quiver or cry, but as of now? It was a different night.
It was the voice that was talking to her in her sleep.
'You want to please Fine… to make her happy.'
It kept repeating over and over like a mantra. She wanted to resist but a part of her never wanted to disappoint Fine. She knew the consequences of failure to the woman who took her away from that hellhole.
'You can easily please her by using it… Don't you want to make her smile?'
The half-American turned in her sleep, wanting to ignore the voice in her head.
'She doesn't want failure. You failed your attempts against Eternal and the Gungnir girl.' The voice was soft and alluring as a flame. It felt like a temptation, drawing a moth to its fire. 'So this time… why don't you use what you've been so scared of? Your inner flame.'
"To please… Fine…" Chris murmured in her sleep.
'Good…' The voice purred, a soft glow emitted from the nightstand. 'Be a good girl to her and make her proud.'
Chris breathed softly in her sleep before she fully fell into slumber to the voice. On the nightstand was the red Gaia Memory.
The influence was finally beginning.
Kamen Rider Eternal: Song of Eternity
Chapter 8: Heated Arrival
It had been a week as the Rider was currently in class, listening to the class lecture with mental boredom. A few days ago (after dealing with the Fang Dopant) he had to deal with another Dopant and luckily a T2 Dopant. The Gene Dopant. It was an odd one he had to face but personally it was a Dopant like any other. He could understand the T2 Memories influence the users unlike the 'T1' as his mother dubs it. Unlike T1, the 26 T2 Gaia Memories influence the minds of their users. They are sentient and fickle. T1s are merely a poison to those who use too much of its power.
ETERNAL was the strongest amongst the 26 T2 Gaia Memories but due to its incomplete state, the belt can't fully filter its effects.
It was why he had to be constantly monitored by Shroud. She had the medicine to stabilize him, preventing him from falling into madness and lust for revenge. He could grimly remember how he could feel it, making him fight the Noise with vicious brutality. As for the recent Dopants, it nearly blinded him, seeing them as Noise.
It made him shiver at the thought of what it would do if he saw his friends? Would they be Dopants or Noise in his eyes? Would he even be able to control himself over the madness and power when that happened? Would they even be safe? All those thoughts started to rush in and cloud his mind and actions. He was unsure if he wanted to fight now.
"Mr. Narumi!" Enrique quickly looked at the board, seeing his teacher. "I hope you are paying attention."
"S-Sorry sir." He apologized. "It won't happen again."
"I hope so." The teacher said, almost scolding him. "Where was I? Ah yes, as I was saying-"
Enrique sighed softly as he listened to the lecture, without being scolded by his teacher. It seemed every time he thought of his Eternal persona, it would distract him. He needed to focus on his current life, only to keep his Rider identity for battles only.
Hearing the school bell, it gave the American a sense of relief. The other students also had the same thought in mind as some place their books in their bags. A few talked to each other about plans for the rest of the evening since school was over for the day.
B-Ring~! B-Ring~!*
The teen heard his phone ringing. He looked at it, and it was Hibiki. Seems she is asking if he was free for the rest of the day. It's obvious she wanted to hang out with him and have some fun together with her friends as well. She always knew somehow to make him smile.
Her bright personality brought reminders of how he once was… but it was stolen from him. Shaking his head, he reminded himself to not remember that day.
He figured maybe hanging with her would do him some good as he responded to her. Of course, like lightning she was happy to hear it as she told him to meet her and Miku at the train station. Figured going on a nice ride would do some good.
Since he had no more classes for the day, this could end the day by hanging out with the two. Although… he would need to change his clothes. He hated the school uniform he was wearing.
"Ah, Enrique-san!" Hibiki saw her friend who was carrying his guitar case.
The two girls were waiting by the small clock that stands tall in the station, waiting for their friend. And now he arrived on time wearing casual clothes rather than the school uniform he's usually seen wearing.
"Oh, Hibiki." He greeted his friend. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Not really. Glad you can join!" Hibiki smiled at him.
"It's nice to see you again, Enrique-san." Miku bowed politely.
"Same here." He acknowledged before scratching his head. "So um… why did you invite me to tag along?"
"Cause we're friends, aren't we?" Hibiki smiled, "And friends hang out!"
"True…"
"Plus it's always fun to hang out with you!" Hibiki said, hugging him.
"Hibiki does say that a lot." Miku giggled.
"So, come on! Let's go!" She said, smiling brightly. And even though he didn't want to admit it, she has a contagious smile, as it felt his lips curving into one as well. He was glad to have her as a friend and bring some light into his world.
A friend…
It made him wonder when was the last time he ever made friends? Ever since the incident, it felt like a part of him was… scared. Scared of losing people close to him. Could that fear be the reason why it fuels his vengeance? To lash out towards the Noise?
"Are you okay?" Miku asked, as the young girl looked at him. "You seem distracted."
"H-Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Just lost in thought." Enrique replied.
"Well, I know how to cure that!" Hibiki grinned, running over to a stand before she came back with some ice cream cones in hand, "Ice Creams cures everything!"
"Uh…" Now this was getting a bit odd to hear. Nonetheless, he decided to heed her advice and grab one while Miku and Hibiki eat theirs. For Enrique, he took a taste and found it sweet. Much like any other ice cream.
"Well? How is it?"
"It's sweet." He admitted.
"See? Ice Cream always helps!" Hibiki huffed with a smile.
"But can it help with your studies?" Miku giggled, making Hibiki whine softly.
"Still the lazy one I hear, aren't ya?" The raven haired teen teased Hibiki.
The young girl flushed in embarrassment, trying to counter his statement but it was nulled. The American hummed in amusement to see her silence.
"And that makes two for me and zero for you, Hibiki."
"I swear I'll get you back one day! Swear it!" She decreed.
"Try all you want." He said, finishing up the ice cream. "Cuz you know it is not gonna happen."
The girl puffed her cheeks while Miku felt amusement, seeing her friend interact with the young man.
"So, Enrique? Anything more you can tell us? I would like to learn more about you too." Miku requested politely.
The question stopped him for a moment, looking at Miku. Looking away from her eyes, he took a deep breath. "Well… there isn't much to say…" He muttered. "I've only been sheltered most of my time with my mother."
Hibiki nearly swallowed the entire treat when he mentioned his mother. He was referring to Shroud. She was a scary woman, and with the bandages around her face, it admittingly frightened her. She didn't like the woman trying to use him for something that is involved with the monsters who are human.
"So… you barely go out?"
"I do go out. Only when it involves relaxation, school, or for chores to do for my mom. She rarely gets out of the house due to her work." It was an honest reply too. Shroud rarely goes out of the house due to her work in the lab below the said building, creating technology to combat against the Dopants. Recently, she has been working on an important project that he can't see or know. Only for her eyes.
"She sounds overprotective…" Miku noted from the description.
He grimaced at the memory of Shroud shooting Tsubasa. "If you can call it that…" He murmured, unsettled to the brutality that time.
Overprotective wasn't the right word. It was more like she would rather kill than let others take away what she has. To get what she wants one way or another. There were times he asked himself why but it would only get squashed, reminding him that she was the only person left to take care of him ever since. For the past two years.
"Aside from that, I do enjoy playing the guitar alongside singing." He admitted. "I'm sure you saw what I often do at the park."
"Of course. You're very good." Miku complimented. "Maybe enough to become a professional one day?"
"U-Uh... about that…"
"He has stage fright."
The American recalled telling Hibiki about it. While he can sing to a small crowd in the park, he was afraid of singing to a much larger crowd.
"Really?"
"S-Sadly… yeah." He said nervously. "But hey, at least I am not completely stage frightened."
"Hmm.. I can understand." Miku nodded. "I hope one day you can find some way to express your talent more without fear."
"Hopefully." He hoped. He heard his watch ringing the timer, reminding him he had to get home soon. "Well, I have to get going soon. How about we finish the rest of the day by heading to the music shop?"
"I'm good with that!" Hibiki accepted before grabbing her friend's hand. "Come on, Miku-chan! We should get going!"
"Fine, fine," Miku sighed but smiled.
A few moments later, the group was currently at the music store, looking at the assortment of CDs, music, and instruments. The raven haired teen was looking at cases and equipment for his two guitars he owns. It was something he often does for his music. That and to think of the right tunes to use to sing with.
"Looking at the equipment?" Hibiki asked.
"Just stuff for my instruments." He replied casually.
"How did you get the instruments anyway?"
"Well for my regular guitar, I had it with me for a long time. Shroud brought it to me. As for the other, I bought it." He explained.
"Amazing!" Hibiki smiled.
"So you plan to fix it or buy a new one?" Miku questioned.
"I plan to buy new strings to keep them in top shape with the tunes."
"It makes sense."
Looking at the set of strings, he found one package that was suitable. Removing it from the shelf, he chose to purchase the item in hand. Walking to the register, he paid the employee the needed amount while the girls had some items they wanted to buy as well to which they did. Once everything was bagged, they walked out of the store.
"Well, I guess we should call it a day." Enrique said to the two.
"Aw, but it's still so early!" Hibiki pouted, as Miku just patted her head.
"Come on, Hibiki. He does have to head home."
"Before my mom gets upset about it too." Enrique added. "Don't worry, maybe we can hang out again."
"Okay… Promise?" The Symphogear user in hiding asked, holding out her hand and pinky finger.
"Promise." He smiled.
Hibiki's mood brightens positively and nods happily. "Take care, Enrique-san!" She said her goodbyes before his two friends departed. Seeing them leave, Enrique chose to do the same and began his journey back home.
However, just as he was about to leave the plaza, his cell phone started to ring, prompting him to check who was calling him. Seeing the familiar caller ID, he immediately answers it. "Hey mom. I am on my way home." He said.
"That is going to wait." Her voice was stern, making Enrique notice something had happened.
"What do you mean?"
"I am detecting energy readings of a Gaia Memory. A T2."
"What type of Mem-" Enrique asked in confusion until he was interrupted. The Rider was immediately constricted by a whip and thrown into the plaza fountain. He grimaced as water soaked his clothes and no doubt needed to get himself dried when he had a chance. Getting up, he discovered who attacked him.
"You're…" He recognized the masked woman. "You're the woman from before."
"You're coming with me, Eternal."
The American frowned before reaching into his pocket and placed the Lost Driver on his waist. With the Gaia Memory in hand, he pressed the key.
ETERNAL!
"Henshin…" Enrique slammed the Gaia Memory into the Lost Driver before pushing it to the side.
ETERNAL!
With the music playing, his body was covered in white before molding into the familiar armor of Eternal Red Flare.
"That power of yours no longer scares me. Because this time… I'll defeat you." The woman exclaimed with a growl.
Eternal remained cautious of her. Like before, she was after him for a reason. There's now way in hell he'll get captured by that woman for his own ends.
"Go ahead and fight me." He challenged, holding the Eternal Edge close to his chest, as he parried her whips away from him. The masked woman charged towards the Rider and skidded on her feet. She used the momentum to lash a whip at him, causing the Kamen Rider to evade but saw the whip from the left and slam him into the wall. Eternal quickly stood up and ran towards her and blocked another whip.
The snow-haired girl grinned and used the whip to constrict his ankles, making Eternal look down. The girl yanked him off his feet and threw him to the left and them to the right, sparks constantly blasting off his armor.
"Oww…" Eternal groaned.
"Face it! I will win this time!"
Eternal lifted his head slightly and grunted, "Like hell."
With his flames, he managed to pry himself free and leapt onto his feet. He grabbed the crimson Gaia Memory and placed it into the slot on his belt.
ACCEL! MAXIMUM DRIVE!
Steam escaped his body and immediately sped towards his opponent. The girl was startled before seeing him up close. Her eyes widened before she was given a harsh punch. She gagged but not before Eternal appeared behind her and kicked her forward.
The masked girl tried to hit the rider but it was useless. "Quick moving you jackass!"
The white rider ignored her demand before he spun on his heel and slammed his elbow against her stomach. The force of the hit sent the Symphogear user staggering.
The masked Symphogear user grunted. The fight was slowly becoming Eternal's eventual victory. If this keeps going… then she'll lose. She'll be disappointing Fine again.
"Stop now." Eternal warned. "This will only lead to your defeat."
The Symphogear user growled angrily, her shielded eyes glaring at him. Her mind is already on the verge of losing steam. Only this time, something has been influencing her to show him his place. To show him the real fire.
"You think I am going to give up?!" The woman exclaimed in anger. "I will not give up after going so far!"
The masked woman brought an item that Eternal immediately recognized.
It's a Gaia Memory.
HEAT!
Throwing it, the Gaia Memory flew back to her. It entered her body, transforming her into a red Dopant. Her body was flickering with flames, her face shielded with two red eyes while holding a feminine figure.
"That woman found a Gaia Memory…" Eternal grimaced. "That's why the signal is near…" He doesn't know if this is a lucky coincidence or not.
The now turned Heat Dopant looked at her hands before she laughed. She never thought to feel this much power that is combined with her Symphogear. Was this how the Rider felt to use a Gaia Memory? She never thought it held so much power!
"So this is the power of the devices you've been using?" Heat Dopant laughed in glee. "With this power, I'll be able to be of use to her!"
This isn't good. She turned into a Dopant. He had to stop her quickly before the Gaia Memory influences her mind with darker intentions. While it may be sentient, it can still put an influence on her much like the previous T2 victims.
Wielding the dagger, the Rider charged towards the Heat Dopant. However her hand produced fire and lashed a fire whip, hitting Eternal in the chest.
The Rider grunted, the attack delivering considerable damage to him. With the power of the Memory combined with the Symphogear she was using, the fight just became tougher.
"Looks like I have to cool you off." Eternal presented the CYCLONE Memory.
CYCLONE! MAXIMUM DRIVE!
Placing the Gaia Memory into the knife, he swings the knife to unleash a blaze of green wind. The Dopant evaded the attack and sent a ball of fire at him.
"Crap!" He shielded himself with his arms, the fireball hitting him. The blast itself sent him across the ground before he staggered to his feet. Not giving up, the Rider dashed towards her with the knife aiming to slash at her hide.
Sparks bled off the Dopant but she retaliated with an arm encased in flames. When she threw the punch, Eternal countered with his own arm encased in fire. Their respective fists collided, causing an eruption of flames. Both skidded backwards as the blast radius flickered with a ring of fire.
"You won't stop me with this, Eternal! Soon, the whole world will burn for what they did to me!" Heat yelled in rage. "Then, with this power, Fine won't see me as a failure anymore!"
'Fine...is that her boss?' The Rider noted. He took note of the name but the mention of the world… It sounded like there was grief. As if she wanted to lash out to the world for- No, he needed to focus on the mission. To retrieve the Gaia Memory.
"I'll stop you. If you wanted the world to burn...then this solves nothing." Eternal vowed, holding the Eternal Edge close. "What you're doing is wrong and shortsighted."
"Like you can talk!" Heat blasted a fireball at the Rider, who slashed it with the knife. "Look at you, playing the so-called 'hero'! Just why are you protecting those people, anyway if you're using the same power like mine?!"
"I… protect them...so that I can deal with the Noise…" He stated, gathering wind to his knife as he slashed at her.
"What a load of bullshit!" The Dopant roared in anger, the heat rising up. "I'll show you that your ideals are useless in the real world!"
She released whiplash after whiplash at the Rider, each attack searing his pale white armor with burns. Eternal grunted in pain as each whiplash kept getting stronger and faster.
The rider was slowly being pushed back but he wasn't going to give in. His arms ignited in crimson flames and when the fiery whips came again, Eternal immediately grabbed hold of them with his hands. The Heat Dopant tugged but froze when the Rider raised his head ominously - he was ignoring the searing pain of his armor. He was willing to let it hurt him to stop her!
"I'm going to get that Gaia Memory out of you one way… or another!" He snapped his arms forward, causing his flames to travel across the flaming whips and into the Dopant who screamed and staggered.
"M-My flames?!" She looked at her hands. The kaijin looked at her opponent whose arms steamed from the heat. How far was this man willing to go to get the Gaia Memory?!
She threw a quick lash but he took the hit. When she went again, he used his flaming arm to counter with his own flames. Now they knew whose flames were stronger - Eternal's.
"Your flames are not going to beat mine."
"Damn you!" The Dopant howled and lashed at him. The Kamen Rider dodged and weaved, a few of her attacks scraping his armor but the young man kept moving forward. "Why can't you just stay down!?"
The white rider ducked before using his dagger to strike her hide upon reaching arms length. The Dopant was barely able to move from the damage, giving the American the opening he needed.
"Time to finish this!" Eternal grabbed BIRD and placed it into the side of his belt while placing ETERNAL into the knife.
ETERNAL! BIRD! MAXIMUM DRIVE!
The Kamen Rider moved one foot forward as fire began to erupt from his legs. Fiery wings sprouted from his back before he jumped. He began to spin as the wings wrapped around him, performing a drill kick towards the Dopant. The Dopant tried to defend herself but the flames of Eternal were proven stronger than her own flames. Soon after, Eternal broke through her defense. The execution pierced through her, allowing the Kamen Rider to land on his feet as the Dopant exploded.
Once the explosion settled, the woman using the Memory fell to the ground with the HEAT Memory intact, revealing who she is to Eternal's shock and surprise.
"Chris!?"
The woman now noticed her state to her shock; she's no longer wearing her Symphogear.
"My Relic is gone!?"
Eternal was astonished to see the girl. The Symphogear user who tried to harm him and Hibiki was the girl he often talked to?!
"There's still a chance. If I activate my Relic now…" She tried to sing to activate her Relic, but it didn't much to her shock.
"I-It didn't activate!?" She thought in panic.
"It looks like whatever you're going to do isn't going to activate." Eternal assumed. "Your body just went through the strain of being a Dopant."
"D-Dopant!? What the hell is a Dopant?"
"The monster you just became? That's a Dopant."
She recalled the form she took when she used the Gaia Memory she just found. After being freed from its influence, she now felt scared of her actions when she's in that form. It felt like she wasn't herself.
'T-That device...creates monsters from people!?' It was now terrifying. It felt like she was a whole different person the moment she became a monster.
She needed to tell Fine about this situat-
Her thoughts were pushed away when she felt something jab her neck. Reaching it, she saw a needle and her own body was feeling tired. The girl's eyes were blurry before falling unconscious.
Eternal gasped as he turned his head and noticed Shroud with a gun in her hand. Again, she has appeared.
"M-Mom!?" He exclaimed. "Why did you do that?!"
"She tried to take you to her contact and was the one to hold one of the T2 Gaia Memories." Shroud stated, picking up the said red Gaia Memory. Tossing the device to her adopted son, she grabbed the unconscious girl by the collar of her dress.
"W-What are you going to do to her?"
"Get answers. She works for someone not from Museum, and is linked to the Noise outbreak." She looked at Eternal. "Is that going to be a problem?"
The teen quickly shook his head. The last thing he wanted to do was to upset his adopted mother.
"Good. Let's go home and interrogate her."
After heading back to the manor, Enrique felt the needle puncture his neck as Shroud injected the medicine to stabilize the effects of ETERNAL's influence. She knew it was incomplete, thus being very dangerous. The Lost Driver may be capable of filtering Gaia Memories to create armor, but the Incomplete Memory of ETERNAL was a different story. It may create the armor, the effects of it were another problem. She rather not let her son fall into madness when she needed him to have the problem handled.
"That should hold for a while." Shroud informed her son.
"Thanks…" Enrique looked over at her, seeing his friend. "Is… that really necessary mom?"
"Are you questioning me and what must be done?" Shroud frowned under her mask.
"I-I-N-No…" Her adopted son corrected himself. At least the serum was using its other effects. She can't have him question what had to be done. "J-Just...don't hurt her too much…"
Shroud gave no response but the foreign sound of someone brought her attention back to the girl.
"Ngh…" The masked woman took notice of the Half-American who groaned.
"You're awake."
"Where...am I…?"
"It doesn't concern you." The older woman refuted her question. "I'm more concerned about the one you've been working for."
Chris said with a frown, "What is it to you?"
"One: you wear a suit that is capable of fighting the Noise. Two: you are able to summon them to your will, which means you know something about them." Shroud snatched the Relic Chris wore. "And this is connected to every matter of it."
"Give that back!" The petite girl demanded.
"M-Mom, shouldn't you-" He was silenced when she looked at him. He immediately stepped back, not wanting to upset her.
Looking at Chris, the older woman leaned forward. "I will get an answer, and by then, you can have this Relic back."
"Relic…?" Enrique asked in confusion. It was the same term he heard from that red-haired man. Does his mother know of the Relics like him?
"Tell me, who exactly are you working for if your alliance is with the Noise." Shroud ordered, grabbing Chris by the collar.
The petite girl frowned before she spit at Shroud's bandaged mask. She hated adults like her. All of them.
The woman wiped the saliva off her shades as Chris felt her stomach churn in regret the moment the temperature dropped in the room. The Half-American could feel the heavy glare from the adult before Shroud kicked the chair onto the floor with Chris falling with it.
"M-Mom! Aren't you being too harsh?!"
"Stay out of this, Enrique."
"But-"
Shroud looked at him fully, making him nervous. Enrique reluctantly moved away not just out of fear but due to what was making him stand back within his mind. He wasn't aware of the serum's other effects that she placed in it.
"Now… you better give me a better answer." Shroud stated to Chris, now impatient. "The easy way…" She reached into her coat and grabbed her Bomb Magnum and pointed the gun at her. "Or the hard way."
Chris felt fear towards Shroud. She was as bad as Fine.
"No answer?" The bandaged woman raised her hand, now causing Enrique to panic and quickly stopped her from shooting Chris.
"Mom, don't!" Enrique quickly puts himself between Chris and the gun Shroud held. "Don't shoot her!"
"Enrique, move aside."
"I won't!" The raven-haired teen didn't want his adoptive mother to shoot Chris. A part of him did not want her to harm his friend. Even if she was the one who tried to fight him, he still saw her as his friend.
Enrique shuddered when he felt Shroud's aura change dangerously. It was nothing but silence at first but he heard her grimace, slowly lowering her gun. "Get her out of my sight and away from this place. She's no use to us anymore."
"Y-Yes ma'am!" He obeyed and frantically undid the rope that restrained Chris before he carried her out of the manor.
After getting away from the manor, he and Chris were now in the park with silence. He still couldn't believe his adoptive mother was willing to shoot his friend, just like she did to Tsubasa.
It was starting to scare him. Was she always this vengeful towards others and not him?
"W-Why…" Chris spoke out, her voice low enough to be a low mutter.
"Huh?"
"Why did you stop her…"
"I couldn't let her hurt you. Don't you remember what I said? We're friends."
"We just fought each other a few hours ago!"
"It doesn't matter to me, Chris." He pressed on despite the girl's denial. "You're one of my friends, and nothing's gonna change that now."
"Why did you still trust me after what happened?! We're enemies!" She exclaimed with a deep frown, still baffled about the young man's actions in front of her. She was his enemy and wanted to use him, so why is he still planning to be friends with her?
"... Because…" He took a deep breath. "Having a friend is better than being alone. You don't have anyone to interact with other than your boss, right? I can tell."
The Symphogear user bit the inside of her cheek. She only had Fine who was the only other person she spoke to. As for others? She just brushed them off like nobody...
But not the young man in front of her. Just why did she not ignore him like the rest even before Fine asked her to capture him?
"When you think you are alone...you will eventually lose sight of who you are." He clarified.
Chris craned her head down for a moment. "Then… about that… thing you called a Dopant, what are they? Why does a Gaia Memory do that?"
"Remember the device you used earlier?" Enrique stated firmly. "There are more of them out there like the one you just found. And each of them has terrible side effects."
"What?"
"The Gaia Memory is sentient and can influence you with intentions it can sense. Sometimes, it can influence the user to a dangerous level."
"H-How can you know that?"
Enrique was silent but lowered the collar of his coat, revealing needle marks on the left side of his neck. They were very small and barely noticeable.
"I...am under the Memory's effects…" he confessed. "My power is incomplete, so I am constantly monitored by my mother. After using the armor, she injects me with medicine that prevents the side effects from progressing. The only thing keeping me sane until we find a way to complete the Memory."
"If the effects are that dangerous, why do you keep using it?!" She couldn't believe it. The Rider is fighting under the risk of losing his mind every time if left unchecked.
"Revenge."
"Eh?"
"Vengeance against the Noise. The ones who took everything from me." His voice was angered and a growl escaped his throat.
Chris now felt a bit scared seeing the change in his personality. It must be the effects of the Memory he's talking about. The medicine can only stop the effects but it doesn't mean it can't leave a trail of its damage behind. If her mistress finds out about it and uses one…
Fine could have ended up just like her before. And if there are more of these devices like the one Chris just found, there must be a group who spread these devices who use it regularly as well.
She noticed Enrique take a deep breath, his body relaxed and calm as before.
"So...what are you going to do? Are you going to report about the Gaia Memory to your boss?" He asked her in response.
"... No."
"Then why- wait what? You won't?" he repeated in surprise.
"I said it didn't I? Baka…"
"Why?"
"You said so yourself. It's dangerous."
"I thought your boss wanted to capture me and Hibiki for something."
"It was at first, but after using one of the Memories...it felt terrifying…" He noticed her hands begin to shake slightly. She was scared after learning the experience she felt. He doesn't blame her. He felt the same way when he used his Gaia Memory for the first time.
"What if I get influenced by another one…?" She murmured. "What if I hear the voices again…?"
"Hey, it's alright." He assured her. "I stopped you before the Memory influenced you any further, so as long as you don't use one, you should be able to recover…" 'unlike me…'
While the victims will recover, he won't be able to. The damage was already done from his previous berserk states. The use of the medicine and the possible damage to his mind.
"Then what about you?"
"Eh?"
"I don't know who made these 'Gaia Memories', but if you keep using it no doubt you will break."
Silence was earned from her friend. No doubt he is still thinking of revenge against the Noise. Is this the damage that a Gaia Memory could do to her? And it's produced by a group unknown to her for who knows how long.
"I...don't know." He admitted hesitantly. "I… I just hope I can continue to fight without losing myself in the end…"
His hands tremble slightly at the possible aftereffects engulfing him, changing him into someone with only hatred and vengeance. He doesn't want to hurt anyone without any kind of reason. That nearly happened to him after defeating the Fang Dopant.
Was this going to keep on happening to him if he continued down this path?
He took a deep breath to purge those thoughts and decided to ask Chris a question. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"When you said the world must burn for what they did to you...did you lose something important?" Enrique questioned carefully. "Was it… your parents?" He remembered their first encounter with each other.
The girl wanted to refute answering that question but she avoided eye contact. This alone gave him her answer.
"I see…" He noted from the tone her words. Chris lost her parents much like he did in the past. A trauma that will never heal completely. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"It doesn't matter now…" She said to him, clearly saddened upon the memories. Chris stood up from her seat, the Rider looking at her. "Thanks...for saving me." She thanked him.
His eyebrows raise in surprise. This was the first to hear a thanks from her. "It's… the least I can do for a friend."
"I won't tell her about the Memories as well...it's too dangerous like you said." Chris stated. "So… it's fair…"
Before she's about to leave,Enrique called out to her. "Wait, Chris."
"What?"
"Be careful… alright?"
"Of course I will...Baka."
The girl left the park, making Enrique relieved to see things between them was all water under the bridge now - somewhat. Although, he was left with questions. What exactly is the suit she is wearing earlier? And who was Fine? It brought more questions than answers.
Something else is going on other than the Dopants. From the looks of it, the Noise is related somehow.
Enrique then headed home for the day, not wanting another scolding from Shroud.
Chris was still mulling about the events that happened several hours ago. She turned into a monster by the Gaia Memory she picked up a week ago.
'He saved me...even if we are enemies…' She thought to herself. It was completely absurd. Why would he protect her from being killed by his own mother? His mother seemed demanding, almost ordering her son…
It brought reminders of her tasks with her.
However, his mother had an objective related to those Gaia Memories. If he said that there are more of them being spread across the city, then more people like her could be victims to it.
'Just who made those Memories in the first place…'
While it isn't related to her objective, she wanted to find out. Something else is going on if Eternal has the technology to fight both the Dopants and the Noise.
Question is… should she ask Fine? Even if she promised to not mention the Gaia Memories, the incidents will eventually draw her attention.
'No...she could be a victim too…' Chris thought, refusing the idea. She knew what the Memory did to her, even if she wore her Relic. And after she was freed from its influence, she was unable to use her Relic temporarily due to the Memory's after effects.
There is definitely a group that has knowledge to create those devices. But who are they?
She nearly screamed in frustration at this. Why does it have to be so difficult for her?!
To prevent further irritation to her mind, she immediately went back to her residence, not wanting to think about it any longer until she recovered from the Memory's effects on her.
After returning home, he wasn't expecting a pat on the back or anything. Instead, he received a slap for his disobedience towards Shroud's orders.
"What you did was uncalled for." Shroud scolded her adopted son. "You should have stayed out of it and stayed upstairs." Enrique's hands clenched. "You are getting too comfortable towards that girl."
"She is my friend…"
"Who is working for the person responsible for the mess with the Noise." Shroud crossed her arms. "This is a situation that has to be dealt with."
"By hurting her!?" He snapped at his mother. "First you shot Tsubasa and now, you nearly shot Chris just because she had the Gaia Memory and who she was working for! Can't you see you are making me distant towards them?!"
"Enrique, I am trying to-"
"Trying to do what?! Keep me safe?! You tried that but you eventually chose to shoot Tsubasa!" He yelled. "I am not a little kid! I can make my own decisions!" He marched up the stairs, the woman hearing the doors slam close.
Shroud felt her breathing relax for a mere second before she swiped her arm across the table, knocking her tools to the floor.
'He is more stubborn than I thought…'
He managed to resist the drug's effects to protect the girl. He was starting to adjust due to the Gaia Memories growing power. She had to increase the dosage to make sure he stays subservient. It was for his own good and safety.
With Enrique, he was nearly on the verge of yelling out in rage. His hands gripping the desk tightly, his head lowered as he stared at it with conflict and rage.
'Why...why did she do such a thing…'
He felt upset, no, angry but a part of him couldn't fully vent it out towards Shroud. She took care of him… she saved him… The one who is allowing him to fight the Dopants and in the process, rid the Noise who took everything away from him.
He grasps his head, his mind feeling so conflicted to the choices. He knew something was up with her, but he couldn't ask knowing she kept anything very important, private for her eyes only.
This 'Relic' she once said. From what he saw, he could assume that's what powers the odd suit Chris wore. Could… the same go to Tsubasa and Hibiki? And how is he able to damage the Noise in the first place?
He had too many questions that needed to be answered. And some questions involved his friends. His frustration grew and with sudden rage, he shoved everything off the desk, even moving the desk onto the ground.
His breathing venting out heavily, the anger he lashed out was sated for the time being. It was times like this, his anger would show. He needed to stay calm or else he would fall into the Memory's effects.
'Just what will happen now…' Enrique grimaced at what's going on with him and his mother. Was he only a tool for her? He cannot bear what will happen if that does happen to be the truth.
He doesn't want to think that badly of Shroud…but…a part of him had doubts after watching what happened earlier when she threatened Chris for information.
At least he doesn't have to face Chris again as an enemy…she's trying to find her own path just like him.
'I hope Chris will be okay.' Given she was controlled by the T2 Gaia Memory, the influence was probably caused by her painful past that caused her to pick it up and become a Dopant.
He had no choice but to wait for more news of the Dopants or the Noise to see what would happen. First Hibiki, Tsubasa, and even Chris have the unknown armor that they can use by singing songs for some unknown reason.
He needs to find out the truth behind those suits the girls are wearing...and how they are related to the Noise.
Once he finds out...then he'll be able to destroy all of the Noise for good.
A/N: Looks like things have taken quite a turn now that Shroud is taking matters seriously. If you all recall, the woman isn't afraid to get her hands dirty to make sure her work makes progress. With our protagonist now conflicted but unaware of what has been done to him, tensions, doubts, and questions will finally begin to rise. Only time will tell when it will all be answers.
Now regarding some of my other stories that are current or in progress. Final Fantasy: The Lost Warrior will be updated around early December due to Endwalker expansion for FFXIV while a new FFXIV story will be published a week after that. The poll that is on my profile will remain until November 1st so if you are an FFXIV fan, feel free to vote on the poll and such.
A Specter's Testament is still ongoing as chapter 7 is nearly complete so be patient. Same said for the chapters for Chalice: The Wild Card Chronicles, A Wizard's Fate, Heir of Kamen Riders, Dead or Alive in Paradise and The White Dragon of Fiore. Again, be patient and feel free to leave a review to this chapter, favorite and follow this story. See you all later!