(The ticking of a clock is the only sound in the otherwise dead silence. Maya is back in her apartment, laying on her bed and just staring up at the ceiling blankly. Her usually expressive face is almost completely devoid of emotion. The last moments of the Triple Riders play through her mind again and again like some sort of unending nightmare.)
Maya: (Thinking) If only I had been a little bit faster… or if only I had done something just a little differently… I could have saved them…
(She suddenly sits up and puts her feet to the floor, sliding into her slippers.)
Maya: (Aloud, depressed) Get it through your head, Maya, they’re gone. There’s nothing I possibly could have done. They knew what they were doing… I hope… and now I’m all alone in this. I don’t even know what to do now. I mean, they told me to go out and “keep on the fight with justice” or whatever… but where do I start? Hongô-senpai really wasn’t kidding when he said this wasn’t all fun and games…
(Maya is suddenly aware of the awkwardness of her external monologue.)
Maya: (Disgusted) Oh great, here I go talking to myself out loud… Anyway… everything just seemed so much clearer when they were around. As soon as I came to, I knew exactly what I had to do. Like it all just clicked, and—
(Suddenly, Maya hears a sound at the door, and quickly runs to check it out, hoping against hope it’s who she knows in her heart it can’t possibly be. She opens the door and glances out. Seeing no one there, she slowly starts to close it, dejected. It is then that her foot hits something. It turns out someone had slipped an envelope under the door. A slight bulge in the envelope reveals something larger within. Maya reaches down and, seeing it is unmarked, opens it carefully. She pulls out a letter, as well as another, heavier piece of paper held shut with a golden seal. She unfolds the letter and reads aloud, her face lighting up as she realizes what it is.)
Maya: (Reading aloud) “Dear Maya, we had asked for this to be delivered in advance, in the event that something should happen to us. Given the direness of the situation, it is very likely that… well, whatever the case, don’t worry. You have a responsibility now, but we’ll still do everything we can to help you, even if we can’t do it in person again. So, please follow the directions below and give the other item enclosed in this envelope to—”
(Maya stops, her heart sinking. She realizes that this is a sure sign of her worst fears come true. She tightens her grip on the letter, crumpling it.)
Maya: Hongô-san… Ichimonji-san… Kazami-san…
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kamen Rider Sigma
Episode 3: Memories
("Omoide")
Dedicated to Kobayashi Akiji
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Ichijô is back at Tokyo MPD Headquarters, cleaning out his desk. His expression is a mix of boredom and grimness as he transfers endless manila folders, leather-bound files and compact discs into several boxes.)
Ichijô: (Thinking) I hate to leave
(Ichijô’s train of thought is interrupted by the ring of his cell phone. He takes it out of his pocket and answers.)
Ichijô: Yes?… Ah, Kurobe-san! Good to hear from you… Yes… She’s what?… Uh-huh… Okay… Alright. Good luck then. Let me know what you find out… Right. Gokurosama Deshita.
(Ichijô hangs up, looking puzzled.)
Ichijô: Why in the world is she going to Miura!?
***
(Maya cruises down the highway, a backpack on her shoulders and a determined expression behind her helmet.)
Maya: (Thinking) I sure hope I know what I’m doing here. If this is what they’d want me to do… at least I can fulfill their last wish.
(Maya continues on the road to the famous seaside city Miura. As she ends up coming to a more rural road from off of the highway, she decides to stop somewhere and ask for directions on the easiest way to get back on. She travels along until she spots a lone church a good ways from the road, with a fairly extensive cemetery behind it. She stops, dismounts, and cheerfully walks up to the great wooden doors. The sound of crows cawing fills the air.)
Maya: (Thinking) Funny, I don’t remember seeing this church on the map. Maybe it’s new, although it certainly doesn’t look new…
(Maya knocks on the large wooden doors, but finds that they open on their own anyway from the small amount of force applied. She peers in, and sees that the massive church interior is devoid of any life. Light pours in through the nondescript stain glass windows, filling the room with an eerie mix of opaque blue and green light. The pews look old and dusty, as if they haven’t been occupied for years. A few cobwebs line the empty candle holders mounted on the bland white walls. Maya notes silently that the altar at the far end of the room looks comparatively stripped-down. She walks in carefully, closing the door behind her. Every hair on her neck stands up as a cold chill seems to blow down her back. She suddenly turns and looks up, but sees nothing but an overwhelming balcony. She cautiously makes her way up to the shadow-covered altar, silent but for the sound of her shoes on the carpeted floor. She walks past the dust covered organ, noticing that it too looks to have been untouched for some time. As she reaches the altar, she takes a good look around, stepping up to look out over the rows of pews. She then spots something suspicious at the very base of the podium. She slowly kneels down, her heart racing, sweat on her brow. She reaches out one hand. And then it hits her, literally.)
Maya: (Screeching) YEEEEEEEEEOOOWWW!
(Maya jumps back, holding her hand in pain. She quickly realizes the injury is nothing more than a light mark across her knuckles, and glances up at her attacker.)
Maya: (Upset) Hey! Just wait ‘till I… (Suddenly embarrassed) Oh... er, hello...
(Maya chuckles nervously as a nun towers over her. Dressed in flowing black robes, her skin pale to the point of almost looking like a corpse, her eyes appearing to be somewhat glazed over. She scowls as Maya slowly gets to her feet, and is tightly gripping a very large wooden stick.)
Nun: (Coldly) Can I help you?
Maya: (Trying to act surprised) Huh? Um, yeah. I was just wo—
Nun: (Cutting her off) What were you doing?
Maya: (Fumbling) Well, I… I…
(Maya suddenly stops, relaxes, and breaths in deeply. She cocks her head, bats her eyelashes, and turns on her ice-melting charm.)
Maya: (Cheerfully) I was just admiring the lovely podium you have here. Great finish on the wood.
Nun: (Unconvinced) Really now?
Maya: Yeah… (Glancing at watch unconvincingly) Say, you know what? I really have to be going… I just wanted to stop by and take a look at this place… I’m kind of an architectural buff, you know? I just love the whole Neo-Classical style, it’s so roman—
Nun: (Unimpressed) This church isn’t Neo-Classical. It’s Neo-Gothic.
Maya: (Long pause)… Oh, really? Could have fooled me! (Nervously) Hahahahaha… yeah.
(Maya sighs, then shifts her weight. She stands bobbing back and forth, her eyes wandering aimlessly. The Nun just stands there stiff as a board.)
Nun: (Coldly) Allow me to show you out then.
Maya: (Nodding quickly) Uh… yeah, okay.
(The nun motions in the direction of the door, and Maya begins to walk towards it. She notices, as she passes through the light, that nun doesn’t follow, but just stays back in the shadows. Just as she reaches the door though, she turns to find the nun having vanished entirely. Calmly, she nods her head in an acknowledging fashion and proceeds to open the door and slip out, closing it behind her. High above, in the rafters, someone or something watches unnoticed.)
***
(Maya dashes down the steps of the church and back to her motorcycle, where she stops, and grabs hold of the vehicle for support as she catches her breath.)
Maya: (Breathing heavily) WHAT was that all about!?
(She glances back up at the church to see a black cloud of crows take off from the bell tower.)
Maya: (Thinking) That’s something I don’t ever want to do again… I don’t know what it was, but that place… and that lady… give me the creeps.
(Maya suddenly stops, and starts laughing weakly.)
Maya: Haha! Some hero you are, Maya! It was probably nothing…
***
(Sometime later, Maya has made it back on the highway on her own and is cruising along through Miura. The brilliant blue ocean is to one side, and quaint, old-style buildings to the other. She eventually makes it to where the Triple Riders’ letter directed her, a rather grungy-looking building that appears to be some kind of garage/repair shop. Pieces of scrap metal, motorcycle and automobile parts, and other random debris are scattered about and stacked in piles all over the front of the place, and accompanied by several motorcycles in varying states and a yellow jeep in desperate need of repair. Maya dismounts, removes her helmet, and strolls past the open garage door, where yet more junk and half-working vehicles reside. She heads to the significantly cleaner, better-kept lobby area. As she steps inside, she sees a counter of sorts with an open doorway behind it.)
Maya: (Loudly) Konnichiwa... ?
(A girl around Maya’s age stands up from behind the counter. She has obviously been trying to clean in some hard-to get place, as a dust rag is in her hand. She takes off a pair of headphones and pushes the “Pause” button on her iPod. She has short, black hair with an almost blue sheen, and a pretty if tired-looking face. She has on a worn old T-Shirt with the letters “JAC” emblazoned on the chest, as well as a blue grease-stained jacket and equally worn hip-hugging slacks.)
Girl: (Irritated) What?
(Seeing someone in her age bracket, as well as someone who looks like she’d want to do business here, she changes her tone to a more upbeat one.)
Girl: (Cheerfully) Oh! I mean…Irasshaimase! What can I do for you?
Maya: I'm looking for a Mr… Ta… chi… um…
(Maya’s hands scramble around in her pockets looking for the piece of paper.)
Maya: (Thinking) Oh, great. Don’t tell me I lost the—
Girl: Oyassan?
Maya: Um, sure! (Confused) Uh… that guy.
Girl: Sorry, he’s out right now. He’s… er, visiting some old friends…
***
(The sun shines brightly after yesterday’s storm. The sky is clear and the sea is calm. Two thin wooden graves stand side-by-side next to each other atop a secluded coastal hill overlooking the sea. Someone places a bouquet of flowers between the two. It is an elderly man in a brown jacket and black pants. His hair is far grayer, and his age shows more in his skin, but his identity is still unmistakable after all these years. Tachibana Tôbei, advisor, mentor, and above all friend to the first 7 Kamen Riders, stands slowly, his eyes still fixed downward.)
Tachibana: It’s been a while Shigeru… Yuriko… and I can still remember those times like they were yesterday. (Sighs) It was hard enough when we lost you, Yuriko. But Shigeru as well… I can only hope that the others fared better…
(Tachibana shrugs and puts his hands in his pockets. He turns to walk away.)
Tachibana: (Thinking) It’s been years since I last saw any of them… It’s almost like the old days are just a dream now… A dream I can’t ever have again…
(Tachibana’s reminiscing is interrupted by several trench-coat & sunglasses-wearing figures approaching from behind. He turns slowly and gazes at the incoming entourage.)
Tachibana: (Surprised) Who…?
Mystery Figure #1: Just some old friends, you might say.
Mystery Figure #2: We came by to check up on our old pal Jô...and make sure he’s still dead.
Tachibana: (Shocked) What!? Who are you!?
Mystery Figure #3: We’re the messengers.
Mystery Figure #4: What a convenient surprise to find you here as well, Tachibana.
Mystery Figure #5: Enough small talk. You should have died years ago, old man. We’ll just have to correct that little mistake.
(The mysterious attackers surround Tachibana, cracking their knuckles and flexing their necks in preparation for the oncoming beat-down. Suddenly, a loud, impressed whistle is heard. All heads turn to see Maya, her hands on her hips, standing in a relaxed, cocky position in front of her motorcycle nearby.)
Maya: (Sarcastically) Tsk-tsk-tsk. As if trying to killing innocent girls wasn’t bad enough, now you’re beating up senior citizens? You guys really are rotten…
Mystery Figure #1: Who are—?
Maya: (Disappointed) Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already…
Mystery Figure #2: It’s her!?
Mystery Figure #3: The one HQ briefed us about!?
Mystery Figure #4: Get her!
Maya: Not the most talkative bunch, huh?
(The men throw off their coats, hats and sunglasses, revealing their Geier Combatant selves underneath.)
Geier Combatants: Iii-gah!!!
Maya: (Beckoning with one hand) Come on, Geier!
Tachibana: (Shocked) Geier?
(Several of the henchmen run at Maya, while two hold Tachibana by the arms. Maya just gracefully uses her foremost two attackers as a way to boost herself over to the two holding Tachibana, whom she takes out easily enough with a few punches to the stomach. Tachibana, visibly shaken by all this, glances at the pink-haired girl in front of him.)
Tachibana: You’re…
Maya: Look out!
(Tachibana stumbles back as the Geier Combatants rush towards Maya, and she in turn dashes at them. Tachibana watches the ensuing battle, fascinated by Maya’s speed and fighting skill. His train of thought is interrupted as a white silken substance wraps itself around him, pinning his arms, and he feels himself being pulled back.)
Tachibana: Ahhhhh!!!
(Out of the corner of her eye Maya sees that Tachibana in trouble, and that the one responsible for his current predicament is…)
Maya: (Thinking) Tobidashi-Kumo!
(The arachnid Kaijin, apparently having just jumped out of the bushes, snickers as she reels in her prey. Maya, deciding to not give her the chance to add another victim to her list, jumps in the air and flying-kicks the Geier villainess, sending both herself, the Kaijin and Tachibana tumbling to the ground. Maya quickly gets up and starts pulling the sticky stuff off of her increasingly surprised counterpart.)
Maya: You better get out of here, Ojiisan!
(Tachibana nods, shaken and confused but not about to ask questions. Just as Maya shreds the last of the white silken material entrapping the older man, she finds plenty of it wrapping around her neck from behind. She is pulled backwards, landing hard on her back. Tobidashi-Kumo, gripping the web rope from her mouth by one arm, raises the other and flips out a Tobidashi-Blade.)
Tobidashi-Kumo: KUUUUU-MO! Sigma! You’ve interfered in our affairs for the last time!
(The Geier Kaijin plunges her arm downward, but Maya rolls out of the way, gets to her feet, and kicks her female opponent right in the face, sending her sprawling backward. With a swift motion, Maya tears the remaining webbing encircling her neck, and assumes the Henshin pose.)
Maya: HENSHIN… SIGMA!
(Maya leaps into the air, the energy flowing from her Henshin Belt in a great burst of light. Tachibana, Tobidashi-Kumo, and the Geier henchmen shield their eyes. Tachibana is the first to lower his arm, and instantly his expression of grim worry turns to disbelief, and then elated joy. Kamen Rider Sigma lands between him and Tobidashi-Kumo and strikes a battle pose as the light dies down around her.)
Tobidashi-Kumo: (Aggravated) Why won’t you just die already!?
Sigma: You first.
(Tachibana, standing a ways behind Sigma, rubs his eyes in disbelief. But it quickly becomes apparent that this is no dream, nor an illusion.)
Tachibana: (Slowly) Kamen… Rider! I don’t believe it!
Tobidashi-Kumo: DIE!!!
(Tobidashi-Kumo lunges at Sigma, who quickly sidesteps. She gives the Kaijin a knee to the stomach, knocking her opponent back to the ground. Sigma dashes at Tobidashi-Kumo, who looks up and spits her silken webbing right at the incoming Rider. Sigma jumps over this and delivers a swift flying kick to the monster’s face. She then grabs her enemy by the arm, but the mutant is just as fast, and soon both are grappling in a rolling tumble across the leave-covered ground. Sigma eventually gains the upper hand and elbows her opponent in the jaw. She leaps up and flips around in midair, coming back to the ground with one foot forward and spinning around.)
Sigma: SIGMA KUUCHUU KAITEN KICK!
(Tobidashi-Kumo crosses both arms and flips out her Tobidashi-Blades simultaneously, forming a great steel “X”. Sigma’s foot hits the center of this and a furious transfer of energy is exchanged, resulting in crackling electricity and showering sparks.)
Sigma: KIIIIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
Tobidashi-Kumo: GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
(After a split-second stalemate, the blades shatter into a billion fragments, but Sigma is thrown backwards. She lands in a slide, coming up right near Tachibana, who still watches on, amazed. Sigma gets to her feet, but sees her arachnid arch-nemesis is long gone. Sigma turns to Tachibana, who looks her over, enthralled.)
Sigma: (Long pause) …I sure hope you’re Tachibana Tôbei…
(Tachibana nods confidently, and Sigma breathes a sigh of relief.)
***
(Back at the shop, which we now see has a rusty horizontal sign above the garage door reading “Tachibana Racing Club”, Maya and Tachibana are sitting next to each other on a couch in the back lounge of the building. Tôbei sits with growing angst as Maya finishes up explaining her story to him. She decides it best to leave out the actual fates of her three fellow Riders, given that the old man has probably had enough shocking revelations for one day.)
Tachibana: So they told you to come see me…
Maya: (Nodding) Yup.
(Suddenly, Tachibana grabs Maya’s collar with both hands, catching her off guard.)
Tachibana: (Frantically, impatiently) …And!? What about Jôji!? And Keisuke!?! Or Amazon!?!
Maya: (Putting her hands up to underline her point) Whoa, whoa, whoa! I don’t even know who those guys are!!
(To Maya’s surprise, Tachibana simply lets go, and hangs his head dejectedly, staring towards the floor. His eyes glisten with sadness.)
Tachibana: I… I’m sorry…
Maya: …Ojiisan?
Tachibana: (Shaking his head slowly) No… I should have it realized it long ago. It’s a different world now… Those old days are long gone…
(Tachibana stands up and slowly walks over to a bookshelf, while Maya just watches silently. He scans the shelf for a moment before reaching into and pulling out a framed photo from amidst the books. He gives it a soft wipe of his hand to clear the dust off, and gazes down sadly.)
Tachibana: Those days… those memories… they all seem like ancient history now.
(He chuckles sadly. Maya feels the man’s own sense of loss, and slumps back against the couch.)
Tachibana: I guess in a lot of ways, they are. The way I knew them… they were more than just friends or pupils to me… they were like a family. I’ve already had to deal with losing one… two of them…And now…
(We see that the photo is of Tachibana and the first seven Riders in their human forms. As he stands holding the picture, his hands begin to shake, and teardrops begin to land on the glass. Maya watches as the old man before her grieves, unable to find the right words. His sense of loss is almost unimaginable.)
Tachibana: (Choking up) You don’t have to tell me, but I know… otherwise, they would have come themselves.
(Maya gulps and looks away, realizing even though she made no allusion to the death of the Triple Riders, Tachibana already knows, as if by some special connection between all these people that she could never possibly understand. Finally, she feels the need to speak up.)
Maya: (Softly) Tachibana-san… Hongô-senpai… er, Hongô-san and the others told me that I had a responsibility now… as a Kamen Rider. I have a job to do…
(Maya gets up, and walks over to Tachibana. She puts a hand on the old man’s shoulder gently, and smiles. Tachibana looks up at her, and their eyes make contact.)
Maya: I won’t pretend to try and understand what kind of a friendship you had with them… but please… I need that kind of friendship right now more than anything…
(Tachibana looks the girl over, and slowly moves her hand off of his shoulder. He then puts his other hand still holding the picture down, straightens up, and looks decidedly stern. Maya continues to look into his eyes, unsure of what exactly is going to happen next. Tachibana slowly paces about as he begins to speak.)
Tachibana: The Kamen Riders…
Hongô Takeshi… Kamen Rider 1
Ichimonji Hayato… Kamen Rider 2
Kazami Shirô… Kamen Rider V3
Yuuki Jôji… Riderman
Jin Keisuke… Kamen Rider X
Amazon… Kamen Rider Amazon
Jô Shigeru… Kamen Rider Stronger
I knew them all, and I always supported them with all my heart. Yes, I grew apart from all of them over the years, but I never forgot about those old times. And you…
(Tachibana stops suddenly, and points right at Maya, his finger just mere inches from her face.)
Tachibana: (Loud, sternly) Who are you?
(Maya at first looks slightly taken back, but then she also straightens up, and grits her teeth.)
Maya: (Seriously) I’m Ryûsaki Maya. Now also known as… Kamen Rider Sigma!
Tachibana: Kamen Rider Sigma...
(With that, Tachibana lowers his arm down to waist level, opening his hand invitingly. Maya takes it. Tachibana then puts his other hand on top, and they shake. Tachibana grins broadly, and Maya returns with her own smile.)
Tachibana: Sigma. It’s truly a pleasure!
Maya: The pleasure’s all mine!
(The drama is suddenly interrupted by the girl from earlier, who barges in through the open doorway unannounced.)
Girl: Hey Oyassan! There’s another guy here to see you… (looks at Maya) … actually, I think he’s here to see her.
Tachibana: (Caught off guard) Huh? Oh, thanks, Mikoto.
Maya: (Puzzled) Someone to see me? Who could possibly know I’m even here?
(As Maya is about to follow Mikoto out into the garage, she remembers the second sealed piece of paper from the Triple Rider’s letter, and reaches into her pocket.)
Maya: (Handing the paper to Tachibana) By the way, Tachibana-san, they asked me to give this to you.
(Tachibana nods and takes the paper. As Maya and Mikoto go out to greet the visitor, he rips the golden sticker sealing the folded piece of paper and opens it up. He looks it over, his eyes widening in amazement.)
Tachibana: This is…!
***
(Maya follows Mikoto out into the garage, where she sees a lone figure leaning against the wall on one side of the open garage door. He is a young man in his mid-to-late 20's, with incredibly spiky brown hair and a rather sour expression on his clean-shaven face. He is dressed similar to how Ichijô was, with a heavy tan trench coat worn over his two-piece dark blue pinstripe suit and black tie. His eyes are concealed by stylish thin sunglasses, but as soon as he notices the too girls, he straightens his relaxed posture and removes the sunglasses, tucking them in his breast pocket. Maya notes subconsciously that whoever this guy is, she’s getting a very odd feeling from him. He gives them both a slight nod of the head, which Maya returns with a deeper bow.)
Mikoto: Here she is, Keiji-san!
Maya: (Thinking) Keiji-san? Oh, great...
Young Detective: I’m Detective Kurobe Kôhei, Tokyo MPD.
(Kôhei swiftly pulls out his badge from his coat pocket, proudly holding it out for both to see.)
Maya: (Irritated)
Kôhei: (Cooly) You better believe it, Pinkie.
Maya: (Mortified) Pinkie!?
(Maya puts her hands on her hips and curling her lip in disgust. She punctuates every word of her next sentence, as if it will somehow get the meaning across even more clearly.)
Maya: I’ll have you know that I specifically went for Magenta rather than Pink when I had my hair dyed and—
Kôhei: (Waving hand, uninterested) Yeah, yeah, forty-two, I know. Anyway, Detective Ichijô— who I know you know— asked me to keep an eye on you.
Maya: He did!? Why th—
Kôhei: (Cutting her off again) Relax, you’re not in any trouble.
(Kôhei slowly begins to pace back and forth, parading in front of the two young women and looking especially pleased with his businesslike demeanor.)
Kôhei: He just felt, after all the craziness that’s been going on lately and you going to him ranting about Carmine Spiders and all that, you might want a little extra protection… in case something happens again.
Maya: (Thinking) Is this guy for real? (Aloud) For your information, Keiji-san, I’m perfectly able to take care of myself.
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure a little lady of your age has no problem looking after herself. But face the facts, sweetie: this ain’t your garden-variety brand of weird.
Maya: (Twitching) Little… lady…
Mikoto: (Thinking) What the heck is he talking about?
(Kôhei stops, yawns, and glances at his watch.)
Kôhei: Well, you both know as
well as I do that strange stuff has been happening over the past few years.
Consequently, I decided to become a detective to investigate these kinds of
paranormal phenomena. Well, aside from the fact my family is known for a long
line of famous detectives, dating back to the great Kurobe Sanshiro in the
(Maya and Mikoto look at each other while Kôhei continues to lecture them incessantly.)
Maya: Who—?
Mikoto: (Shrugging) Dunno. I’ve never heard of him.
Kôhei: (Still rambling on) …and so he said to me, he said “Son, one of these days I’ll tell you about the robot I’ve built for you that I hid in the basement of some church. But until then, go out and make miracles happen.” Or something like that. I don’t know, I wasn’t really paying attention at the time. I probably should have been…
Maya: (Yawning, unimpressed) Well, that’s great and all, Spike. But I really don’t need you hanging around me anymore than I need a—
Kôhei: (Putting up hands) Whoa, whoa, waittaminute. First off, don’t call me Spike. Second, I’m afraid you’re going to be stuck with me, Ryuki-san. I—
Maya: (Angrily) It’s RYÛSAKI!!!
Kôhei: …That’s what I said. Anyway, I’m under strict orders to watch over you… (Thinking) and I owe Ichijô-san big time for covering for me that one night… (Aloud) And you should be glad that I’m even around.
Maya: (Sarcastically) I should? What, so you can harass me to no end!?!
Kôhei: Well, no… more like to keep you from getting yourself killed… like right now LOOK OUT!
(Kôhei jumps on Maya and pushes her to the ground. A split-second slicing noise is heard and Mikoto glances back to see a large vulture-headed knife embed itself in the wall. Maya, momentarily stunned by the whole incident, looks up to see Kôhei right on top of her, his eyes closed as he silently regrets such intense physical activity after eating such a sizable lunch. She grits her teeth and growls.)
Maya: GET… OFF… ME!!
(Maya shoves Kôhei off of her and gets up. She spies a large, imposing dump truck driving off and concludes the knife-thrower must be in it. She breaks into a dash, running right after the truck. Kôhei gets to his feet, dusting himself off. Mikoto looks at him, speechless. Kôhei stands around for several moments confusedly, occasionally looking at Mikoto, who remains motionless. Finally, he speaks up.)
Kôhei: (Perplexed) What?
Mikoto: (Flabbergasted) …Aren’t you going after her!?
Kôhei: (Confused) Huh?... Oh… oh… OH! Oh @#$%, you’re right!
(Kôhei breaks into a run, but clumsily trips over some scrap metal on the ground outside, and is soon face-down on the dirt.)
***
(Meanwhile, Maya is within spitting distance of the truck, and with a swift motion she grabs on and boosts herself up and over into the back and into a pile of gravel. She lies flat on her back as the truck speeds along, confident that those driving it are completely unaware.)
Maya: (Smugly) Ha! Who says that only works on TV?
(Suddenly, a Geier Combatant leans out the passenger side window and spots Maya, who smiles nervously. He motions to his comrade, and Maya gulps as she hears the grinding noise of the back of the truck rising up.)
Maya: Shimatta!
(The truck dumps its payload out and Maya scrambles against the increasingly inclining plane. But the avalanche of rock pushes her back, and she slips down and out with a yelp. The truck then stops, and goes into reverse. The Geier cronies chuckle evilly as they hear the satisfying crunch beneath them. The truck stops, and goes forward once more.)
***
(Meanwhile, Kôhei has managed to get to his unmarked black car, and is cruising along. He spots the gravel strewn about the road, and whistles softly.)
Kôhei: Fmmm… People should always clean up after themselves. That’s Kôhei’s Rule #1.
(Kôhei grins wittily and accelerates through the mess.)
***
(The dump truck has been driving through the countryside, and eventually reaches its destination, a dark, imposing cavern in the side of a cliff. The Geier Combatants get out and quickly jog into the darkness. Suddenly, a noise is heard as Maya slides out from underneath the truck, peering around to see that the coast is clear. She then gets to her feet and dusts herself off.)
Maya: (Grinning, thinking) Hehe, Maya, you sneaky girl… Anyway, this must be their base.
(Maya strolls into the cave slowly, moving carefully to avoid making too much noise and keeping an eye out for any security systems. Before long she’s in near total darkness, and mentally kicks herself for realizing she’s now probably lost.)
Maya: (Thinking) Oh, great. Where did they run off to?
(Suddenly, a loud flapping noise is heard, Maya ducks and rolls out of the way just as something flies overhead. She stands up, and an eerie green light fills the room. A snarling female voice is heard.)
Voice: KIIIIIIIIIIIIII-HII-HII-HII!!!
Maya: Who’s there!?
Voice: Sigma! I’ve been expecting you!
Maya: You have!?
Voice: Yes! I’ve been expecting you… to DIE!
(A great dark shape leaps down from the ceiling, and Maya dodges as a humanoid bat-like creature slowly stands and stretches out her wings. Short, razor-sharp blades on the end of her hands glint from what little light there is. Maya strikes a battle pose.)
Bat Creature: KIIIIIIIIIIIIII-HII-HII-HII!!! I am Kômori-Kamisori!
Maya: Kômori-Kamisori!? You’re with Geier!
Kômori-Kamisori: Indeed, Ryûsaki! Now, as I was saying… DIE!
(Kômori-Kamisori points her arms at Maya and fires the razor blades right out at her. Maya ducks out of the way. Kômori-Kamisori repeats this action, and soon Maya is running and dodging back and forth as the killer razorblades fly past her. Finally, one lightly slices her upper arm, forming a thin line of crimson. Maya grabs the wound with her other hand and grits her teeth.)
Maya: OW! You’re playing for keeps all right.
Kômori-Kamisori: Hahaha! If you thought that hurt, you haven’t felt anything yet!
Maya: No thanks.
(Maya stands and assumes the Henshin pose.)
Maya: HEN— WHOA!
(Maya again ducks out of the way as blades slice through the air right towards her. Deciding she can’t hold her ground here, Maya runs off, still holding the cut on her arm. Kômori-Kamisori leaps into the air and flaps her wings as she gives chase. She screams her way towards Maya, who drops to the ground as the bat Kaijin soars overhead. She then quickly gets to her feet.)
Maya: Let’s try that again, huh? (Assuming the Henshin pose) HENSHIN… SIGMA!
(Maya leaps into the air and transforms into Kamen Rider Sigma, who then drop kicks Kômori-Kamisori as the latter flies right towards her. Both combatants crash to the ground, and quickly scramble to their feet.)
Kômori-Kamisori: Grrrr… Sigma!
(The bat monster throws more razor blades at Sigma, who deflects them skillfully with her arms. She then strikes a cocky pose.)
Sigma: Ha! Not so tough now!
Kômori-Kamisori: Oh, really? Kômori-Saiminjutsu!
(Kômori-Kamisori crosses both arms over her body, forming a cape with her wings, and her eyes begin to glow. Sigma tries to move but finds she is unable to do so, as though she has been paralyzed.)
Sigma: What the—!?
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(Kômori-Kamisori continues to hold Sigma in her hypnotic power.)
Kômori-Kamisori: (Emotionlessly) Getting sleepy, Sigma?
Sigma: (Blankly) So… tired… (Shaking head) No! I have to find… some… way to… (Blankly) So… tired…
(Sigma begins to feel her knees buckle, and she bobs around wearily.)
Kômori-Kamisori: KIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! This is it, Sigma!
(Kômori-Kamisori raises her arms and prepares to slice Sigma to bits, when suddenly a gunshot is heard and Kômori-Kamisori is knocked back. Sigma falls out of her trance and collapses. Kômori-Kamisori gets to her knees and looks up.)
Kômori-Kamisori: Who dares—!?
(But a bright flashlight illuminates the cavern, momentarily blinding her. Kômori-Kamisori covers her eyes with one wing and prepares for flight.)
Kômori-Kamisori: GRRRRRRR… Sigma! I won’t forget this! KIIIIIIIIIIIIII-HII-HII-HII!!!
(With that, Kômori-Kamisori leaps into the air to escape. Sigma slowly gets to her feet, and sees Kôhei advance towards her, flashlight in one hand and pistol in the other. He regards her carefully.)
Kôhei: (Amazed) You are—?
(But he doesn’t even get a chance to finish before Sigma also leaps up and appears to vanish. Kôhei then realizes he is all alone in the cave, and with a sigh holsters his weapon.)
Kôhei: …Rider…
***
(Outside, Maya falls down against the grass-covered exterior of an entrance into the cave, still holding her aching arm. She adjusts her position with some effort, gnashing her teeth at the pain.)
Maya: (Thinking) Well, that didn’t go over so well. I don’t know what Geier is up to now, but I don’t like it one bit. First, She-Spider shows up along with the goonsquad to capture Tachibana— who I really hope they’re not still after, or I’m totally in the wrong place— and now this Kômori-Kamisori. What’s the connection? What are they—
(Maya’s train of thought is interrupted by the sound of footsteps crackling the dried grass on the ground. Maya gulps as she prepares for the worst, but breaths a sigh of relief when she sees it’s only Kôhei. The young detective walks up and looks the girl over for a moment.)
Kôhei: (Skeptical) What happened to you?
Maya: Me? Uh… I was chasing after that truck, but I tripped, and I guess I cut my arm… yeah…
Kôhei: (Shaking head) That was pretty dumb. You really should be more careful, and leave that kind of stuff to the pros.
Maya: (Irritated) Oh really? Well, where were you to protect me, Mr. Bodyguard?
Kôhei: Well… (Thinking for a minute) … I was— wait, don’t try to change the subject! This is your chewing-out, not mine!
Maya: Then consider me thoroughly chewed!
(She gets up and walks past him, but he turns and grabs her arm. She glares back into his eyes.)
Kôhei: Hey, wait up.
Maya: (Snarling) What!?
Kôhei: (Letting go) I’m sorry… you’re right, I should have been there for you. (Looking up) It is my duty, after all! Protect and serve the innocent, and all that.
Maya: (Rolling eyes) Kôhei-kun, don’t worry about it. You know what, it’s actually better if you don’t follow me around. I’m… well, I’m a magnet for danger, let’s just leave it at that.
Kôhei: (Slyly) Hey, I like a woman who enjoys a little adventure in her life. (Thinking) Kôhei-kun!?!?
Maya: (Shaking head, looking towards the sky) Er, not quite like that. I just mean, for your own good, you’d probably be better off staying away from me. I have a tendency to, well, to get into trouble.
Kôhei: (Sternly) Oh? Anything I should know about?
Maya: (Blushing) No! I don’t mean anything illegal! It’s just… well… I don’t know how to say this, but… (Maya closes her eyes and breaths deeply as she realizes she must reveal her secret to the detective.)
Kôhei: Yes?
Maya: I’m—
Kôhei: (Slyly) …Finding yourself falling madly in love with me?
Maya: (Mortified) WHAT!?!?
Kôhei: (Putting hands up, cooly) Look, I could tell the moment I first met you. You’ve definitely got something for me. And right now, you’re just playing hard to get. Fine with me, some of the be—
Maya: (Flailing arms) NO! I AM NOT FALLING MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!
Kôhei: (Disappointed) …Oh… okay… well, would you mind a date some time?
Maya: (Practically exhaling fire) NO! NO DATES!
Kôhei: Okay… Howzabout dinner then? I know this great Chinese place, they—
Maya: (Getting right in Kôhei’s face) NO!
Kôhei: Fine… how about catching a movie?
Maya: (Grinding teeth) You keep that up, and I will hurt you.
Kôhei: Well… Coffee maybe?
(Maya tries to raise her arm and punch Kôhei’s lights out, but she finds herself unable to, as if stopped by some sort of strange feeling She shakes her head.)
Maya: (ambivalent) I… I’ll think about it.
(Maya shuffles past Kôhei, who doesn’t turn to look at her. He waits until she’s clear out of sight, and peers over his shoulder to confirm. A sly grin crosses his face.)
Kôhei: (Making obligatory victory arm movement) Yooooooooooooshaaaa!!!
***
(Some time later, Maya, with a cloth now wrapped tightly around her arm, sits out on one of the junk piles in front of Tachibana’s garage. She looks up at the steadily reddening dusk sky, and reflects on the state of things thus far.)
Maya: (Thinking) I really wish I knew what I was doing. I feel like I’m trying to put together a puzzle without the instructions! Well, maybe that isn’t the best way to put it, but I still wish I had some… guidance or something. I suppose I could talk to Tachibana-san, but he doesn’t seem to be around right now. I really want to ask him some things… what the other Kamen Riders were like… I would like to know a lot more about those other guys he mentioned… anyone named “Amazon” must be pretty interesting.
Mikoto: Hey, Ryûsaki-san.
(Maya looks up to see that Mikoto has come out from cleaning in the garage, and gives a small wave of the hand.)
Mikoto: Mind if I sit down with you?
Maya: Not at all. And please, call me Maya, er… Mikoto, right?
Mikoto: Yeah.
(Mikoto sits next to Maya atop some old junk.)
Mikoto: Taki Mikoto. Sorry if I didn’t make a formal introduction earlier.
(She gives a slight bow, which Maya returns).
Maya: No problem. Say, is Tachibana-san around?
Mikoto: Oyassan? No, I haven’t seen him for a while. Probably sleeping!
Maya: (Chuckles) Oh, okay… Hey, how did you end up with him anyway?
Mikoto: Well, I’m told he was good friends with my dad, back in the “old days” as they say. After I graduated from college, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life, you know? So I decided to spend some time back where my roots are supposed to be…
Maya: (Curious) You mean, you
weren’t born in
Mikoto: (Shrugging) Nope. Not
according to my birth certificate anyway. (Proudly) I was born in the good old
Maya: (Cheerfully) Well, your Japanese is flawless.
Mikoto: (Sarcastically) Like you can really tell?
(Both girls share in laugh over this.)
Maya: (Wiping a tear away from her eye from laughing so hard) Well, I really do mean it.
Mikoto: Yeah, I get that a lot. I mean, both my parents were Japanese, so of course that’s how I was brought up. I have visited all my life, but I decided to finally spend some real time here while I figure out what’s next. Anyway, to get back to the point, Oyassan needed some help running the shop… things haven’t been extremely great for him as of late, as you can probably tell.
Maya: Financial troubles?
Mikoto: (Shaking head) Oh, no. He gets along just fine money-wise, provided the wondrous technology of the world continues to break down. I’m talking more about… well, just life in general, I guess. I mean, you know about Oyassan and those “Kamen Rider”, guys, right?
Maya: (Surprised) You know about the Kamen Riders too?
Mikoto: (Yawning) Oh sure. My dad always told me stories when I was younger about how he’d always be there to help them out and they’d always be there for him, when he got captured, or hypnotized, or set on fire, or frozen alive, or impersonated, or drained of blood…
Maya: (Looking quite worried) What exactly did your father do for a living?
Mikoto: (Shrugging) Government Job. Anyway, as far as Oyassan is concerned, those Kamen Riders were his life. I mean they were like sons to him. And when he lost one of them a few years ago…
Maya: Lost one of them?
Mikoto: Yeah. Well, I don’t know the whole story, but he hadn’t seen any of them for a long, long time. And that really got to him. I mean, the world has become such a different place since the 70's, you know? Well, probably not, since it was before you or me were born, but… According to Oyassan anyway, things aren’t like they used to be. (Shrugging) I know, it seems like all old people say that… But for some reason, with him, I can feel his sincerity…
Maya: (Nodding) Yeah…
Mikoto: Those stories of men who fight for justice without reward have just become too hard to swallow these days. Everyone says that people that eccentric can’t exist… I almost wouldn’t believe the stories he’s told me if it weren’t for my dad saying the exact same things! Whatever the case, I guess one of them showed up again a few years ago, well before I came here. I’m not sure of what happened exactly, but I get the feeling it wasn’t good, because Oyassan was still grieving about it when I finally arrived to help him run the place.
Maya: (Sadly) I see...
Mikoto: To a lot of people, Oyassan would just seem like a crazy old man, ranting about stories too fantastic to be true. They’re only used to the stuff they see in the news or read in the papers or see on the news—about “Unidentified Life Forms” and all these weird mysterious deaths, and all that. And I admit, those are sometimes pretty hard to believe. But these “Kamen Riders”… it’s all just so out there…
Maya: (Nodding) Yeah… I guess I missed out on all that when I was studying overseas.
Mikoto: Oh?
Maya: Yeah, I spent my fourth
year of college in
Mikoto: I see. So you’ve graduated as well?
Maya: (Smiles) Yeah, with a degree in Biochemistry.
Mikoto: (Impressed) Wow! You must be pretty bright then!
Maya: (Shrugs) I suppose. (Grinning) But I’ve got nothing on my big sister!
Mikoto: (Nodding) Well, it’s good to know someone’s in the same boat as me. Since I’m guessing you haven’t found any steady form of employment yet either.
Maya: Yeah. How’d you know?
Mikoto: (Laughing) If you were, you probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now!
Maya: (Smiling) Yeah, well… hey, you haven’t seen that detective guy around, by any chance?
Mikoto: Him? I think he mentioned something about going to check out some cave again…
Maya: What!? Cave!?
(Maya quickly stands up, alarming Mikoto.)
Mikoto: (Worried) What is it?
Maya: (Embarrassed) Well, ah… um… I wanted to ask him something. Something important.
Mikoto: (Devilishly) Is it what I think it is? OoooOOOoooh, Maya!
Maya: (Rolling eyes) Whatever you think it is, it isn’t.
Mikoto: (Pouting) Oh, fine.
Maya: Anyway, I’ve gotta catch up to him and— hey, where’s my motorcycle?
(Maya looks around confusedly.)
Mikoto: Got me. You left it right out here, didn’t you?
Maya: (Worried) Yeah, I though I did…
Mikoto: Well, if it’s a real emergency, I can give you a lift.
Maya: You have a car?
Mikoto: (Grinning) Not exactly a car, but…
***
(Before long, Mikoto, with Maya holding onto her for dear life, is cruising along the road on her bright yellow Vespa. Mikoto has an almost crazed expression beneath her large flight goggles and simple helmet, which looks like it was lifted from a construction zone. The sun is rapidly going down, so the one bright headlight illuminates the road before them.)
Mikoto: WOOO-HOOO! Now this is riding in style, eh Maya?
Maya: (Eyes closed, teeth gritted from the wind) Mikoto? How often do you drive this thing?
Mikoto: Not nearly as much as I should! YEEEE-HAWWWW!
(Maya groans and holds on tighter as Mikoto accelerates.)
***
(Meanwhile, Kôhei is back in the dark cavern, flashlight in hand, sneaking around and trying to act cool.)
Kôhei: (Thinking) I don’t exactly know what the heck is going on, or what that bat thing was, but my sixth sense tells me this is probably the best place to look for the answers.
(Suddenly, a swooping noise is heard, and something goes right past Kôhei. The hair on the back of his neck stands up straight as he feels the icy blast of wind from behind. He quickly draws his gun and turns, but sees nothing. Pointing the light around, he slowly continues to advance. Suddenly, a high-pitched screech is heard. Several high-pitched screeches. Several thousand high-pitched screeches. Alarmed, Kôhei points the light up at the ceiling, and reveals that it is covered in vampire bats.)
Kôhei: Oh, @#$%!
(The bats go nuts, swooping about all over the cave. Kôhei throws his arms across his face and runs like a maniac, but trips on a rock and winds up dropping his flashlight, which promptly smashes and goes out, leaving the detective in total darkness. He lies cowering on the ground, arms over his head, as he listens to the swarm of bats fly off in all directions. Before long, all is silent again, and Kôhei gulps before slowly rising. However, it is pitch black now, and he has no clue where he is in relation to the entrance.)
Kôhei: This isn’t good… fortunately, I came prepared!
(Kôhei ignites his Zippo™ lighter, and the warm glow casts shadows over his face. Suddenly though, as if by some strange force, the lighter goes out.)
Kôhei: What the—? (Sounds of fumbling with lighter) So much for that life-time guarantee! Now what am I supposed to do?
Kômori-Kamisori: Now, you’re supposed to DIE!
(That eerie green light once again fills the room, but it’s only enough for Kôhei to see the female Geier Kaijin leap down from the ceiling, right on top of him!)
Kôhei: Holy—!
(Kôhei realizes he also dropped his gun too late, and he’s soon unconscious on the ground.)
***
(Mikoto and Maya are still on the road, when suddenly landmine explosions start going off around them randomly.)
Mikoto: Whoa! This is a first!
(She grins insanely and swerves left and right to dodge the blasts. Eventually they are forced off-road, but mines continue to detonate around them.)
Maya: (Grabbing onto Mikoto’s waist even tighter) Look out!!!
Mikoto: (Grimacing due to Maya’s increased grip) Ack! Um, Maya!?
Maya: (In between explosions) Yeah!?
(Mikoto motions with her neck for Maya to ease up.)
Maya: (Embarrassed, loosening up ) Oh, sorry! Look out!
Mikoto: I see it, I see it!
(Mikoto guns the engine up to its full limit of about 55 kph, and then slams on the breaks while swerving to the side. The vehicle ends up doing a physics-defying near 360 turn while also moving forward between the blasts. All the while, Mikoto howls excitedly while Maya struggles with all her might to keep her lunch down. Before long, they’ve made it through and slow down as they near the cave. Finally, the moped comes to a complete stop as Mikoto outstretches her legs and drags her boot heels along the ground. She then pulls up her goggles and lets them snap onto her helmet, and glances over her shoulder at Maya, who looks ready to hurl. The sky is now a dark blue, and the first stars of the night are already twinkling in the sky.)
Mikoto: WHEW! That was fun, huh?!
Maya: (Holding stomach, nodding slowly) Ye-yeah…
Mikoto: (Dismounting the vehicle along with Maya) Now, where is our Keiji-san?
Maya: (Trying to think of a good excuse to get Mikoto out of harm’s way) You know, maybe he went…uh, that way.
(Maya points away from the cave entrance.)
Mikoto: (Unsure) Really? I thought he said he was going into the cave?
Maya: (Fumbling) Well, maybe he did, but he’s, um… not in it now.
Mikoto: (Skeptical) Are you sure?
Maya: (Nodding nervously) Sure I’m sure.
(Mikoto regards Maya for a moment, before a sly expression crosses her face.)
Mikoto: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, I get what you mean. You want to “talk” to him in private…
Maya: Yes… Wait, no! (Blushing) Not like that!
Mikoto: Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure...
Maya: Mikoto!
(Maya gives Mikoto a playful push. But Mikoto doesn’t respond. She looks as though she’s just seen a ghost, her eyes fixated past Maya.)
Maya: Mikoto? Hey, what’s—?
(Realizing that something isn’t right, Maya cranes her neck to look at what Mikoto is staring at. She sees Kômori-Kamisori holding a still unconscious Kôhei with one arm, and one of her hand razor blades precariously close to his neck. Maya gulps.)
Kômori-Kamisori: Hahaha! Ryûsaki! We meet again!
Mikoto: (Shocked) Maya… do you know that thing!?
Maya: (Nodding) Unfortunately, yes… alright, Kaijin. Let the guy go. He’s got nothing to do with this… It’s me you want. (Thinking) Oh, I really hope I just said the right thing…
Kômori-Kamisori: KIIIIIIIIIIIIII-HII-HII-HII!!! Oh, quite the contrary! I want this fool so I can show you my power!
Maya: (Outstretching hand) No don’t—!
Kômori-Kamisori: (Snickering) Oh, don’t worry dear. This won’t hurt him much…
(Kômori-Kamisori opens her toothy mouth and prepares to bite Kôhei right in the neck. Maya and Mikoto watch on terrified, unable to do anything. The Kaijin’s sharp fangs near the man’s skin. And then…)
Kômori-Kamisori: (Blood-curdling screech) AHHHHHHHH!
(The Kaijin drops Kôhei’s comatose body and backs away fearfully, while the two young women just watch on amazed. Maya looks down and spots a small golden cross on a chain around Kôhei’s neck.)
Maya: (Thinking ) What the heck!?
Kômori-Kamisori: (Shaking head wildly) GRRRRRRR… I can’t touch him now… So I’ll just have to kill YOU two first!
(But she is dismayed to find the girls have conveniently used this brief distraction to run away in opposite directions.)
Kômori-Kamisori: Why those little—!After them!
(Kômori-Kamisori’s own battalion of female Geier Combatants appear from behind her and split off into two groups as they pursue the humans. Mikoto has run fast enough to maintain a good lead on her pursuers, but Maya finds herself running into a little trouble— a strand of white, silky webbing wraps around her ankles and causes her to trip and fall to the ground hard on her stomach. As if on cue, Tobidashi-Kumo leaps down from a tree, the web line attached to her mouth and sporting restored & upgraded Tobidashi-blades. She simultaneously reels in the webbing and advances menacingly towards her one-time victim.)
Maya: (Struggling) Ugh! You again!?
Tobidashi-Kumo: (Emotionless) You know, I’m really beginning to get tired of you.
Maya: (Defiantly) Well, the feeling’s mutual!
(But Maya’s words are not enough to deter the Kaijin, who puts one foot on the girl’s back and grinds her into the ground.)
Tobidashi-Kumo: Now please, kindly stay there while I RIP YOUR HEART OUT!!!
(Tobidashi-Kumo crosses both her arm blades, and prepares to stab Maya yet again. But the girl focuses all her strength, and as best she can, moves her arms.)
Maya: HENSHIN… SIGMA!!!
(There is a bright flash of light, and Tobidashi-Kumo is momentarily stunned as she covers her eyes. Some force knocks her back onto the ground, and she soon finds her constrictive web line shredded. When the light dies down, she sees that where Ryûsaki Maya once was, Kamen Rider Sigma now stands, clenching her fists tightly.
Tobidashi-Kumo: NO!
Sigma: (Cooly) Oh, yes. (Seriously) Now, it’s time for you to pay for all you’ve done.
Tobidashi-Kumo: (Sneering) Make me, you rotten brat!
Sigma: With pleasure! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!
(Sigma and Tobidashi-Kumo lunge at each other, the former grabbing the latter’s arm, pushing it aside and punching her in the stomach. This stuns the spider Kaijin, and gives the masked warrior time to deliver several powerful kicks and punches to her enemy, knocking her back. Kômori-Kamisori and her henchwomen arrive, and quickly come to their fellow Kaijin’s aid. The Combatants are all taken out easily with spin kicks and chops, but the two Geier mutants prove to be a greater challenge. Sigma fights furiously, pounding on one and then moving to the other, but each time the opposing villainess makes use of the obvious numerical advantage and gets in a few jabs of her own. Before long, Sigma is worn down from all the punches and kicks, and is thrown backwards. The two monsters calmly walk towards the downed heroine. Kômori-Kamisori raises her arms and fires off a volley of razor blades, which Sigma just barely dodges. Tobidashi-Kumo again extends her arm blades with their trademark “Schhhhing!” noise, and runs at the Kamen Rider. Sigma goes for a sweep kick, but the spider Kaijin simply jumps over it and slashes downward, just barely missing Sigma’s throat. Kômori-Kamisori decides to get in on the action and flies towards Sigma, grabbing onto her by the neck and lifting her up into the air. As they sail through the night sky, they struggle with each other until the Bat Kaijin manages to knee Sigma in the stomach and drop out towards the ground. She lands hard on her back amidst some the shrubbery, and is temporarily stunned. Tobidashi-Kumo strides up to from out of the darkness her and raises an arm.)
Tobidashi-Kumo: As much as I’m going to enjoy this, it still won’t be nearly as satisfying as the deaths I’ve dreamed for you to suffer.
Sigma: (Groggily) Then maybe… you should just keep dreaming!
(Sigma brings up both legs and kicks the cyborg mutant hard in the stomach, knocking her back. She then gets to her feet, but is stopped as Kômori-Kamisori drops down on her from above.)
Kômori-Kamisori: Sigma! We’re not through yet!
(She grabs Sigma from behind, and lifts her up into the air. As much as she struggles, Sigma can’t break the Kaijin’s hold. Kômori-Kamisori and Sigma rocket high up into the night sky.)
Sigma: (Struggling) Let me go!
Kômori-Kamisori: You sure about that? KIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!
(The combatants flip over, and dive towards the ground. Kômori-Kamisori releases Sigma, who plummets to the ground. Before she slams headfirst into the earth, she flips around and quickly lands on her feet, absorbing the force and using it to leap back up almost supersonically, where she gives the still-diving Bat Kaijin a swift kick in the stomach.)
Kômori-Kamisori: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
(Kômori-Kamisori is flung backwards into the trees while Sigma gently falls back to the ground, but she finds herself stopped by something. That something is a massive spider web suspended amidst the trees! Sigma struggles and twists about, but this only serves to get her more caught up in the sticky, silken stuff. Tobidashi-Kumo climbs up one of the nearest trees and begins to make her way out onto the web. As the masked heroine futilely attempts to break free, the Geier villainess simply snickers.)
Tobidashi-Kumo: (Sarcastically) KUUUU-MO! All this fighting has been making me rather hungry… and there are few things more appetizing than a helpless little grasshopper. (Snorting) AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
To Be Continued...
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Kamen Rider ©1971, 2007 TOEI / ISHINOMORI SHOTARO. "Kamen Rider Sigma" by Paul Sullivan.