(Sigma continues to struggle, trying to find some way to break free of the grip of the Geier Villainess. Yôsetsu-Shimauma holds the thin, blue, blade-like flame of her right arm arc welder up to Sigma’s face.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Now hold still dear, this is going to hurt… a lot! SHHHHHIIIIIIMMMMMMAAAAA!!!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma pulls her arm back, breaking off Sigma’s hold on the deadly device. She then moves it towards the heroine’s mask once more. The white-hot flame is within mere centimeters of Sigma’s face. Yôsetsu-Shimauma sneers.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sarcastically) Hahaha! You know, I always wanted to be a beautician!
(Sigma moves her free arm again, grabbing the welder and trying with all her might to push it back, but the Kaijin is stronger, and continues to force it closer and closer to her face.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Ready for some real reconstructive surgery, Sigma!? It’ll make what they did to me look like child’s play!
Sigma: (Surprised) You… you mean you’re—
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Snorting) A Kaizô-Ningen, just like you!? Wow, you really are dense! I would have thought you’d realize it by now!
Sigma: (Shaken) So all of Geier’s creatures were once… humans!?
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Neighing loudly) SHHHIIIIMMMMAAA!!! You got that right, kiddo! You’re no different that any of us, understand? I’m just like you. We’re all just like you. You’re not human anymore— you’re only a monster now! Although I suppose we are different in one respect: you’re an obstacle to Geier… and because of that, you must die!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kamen Rider Sigma
Episode 6: Ambivalence
("Aizôheison")
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Sigma clenches her still-confined right fist tightly. Her eyes glow bright red, and the typhoon in her Henshin Belt begins to spin rapidly.)
Sigma: You’re wrong. I’m not the same as you!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: What!?
Sigma: And I’ll never be!
(The red-tinted, glass sides of Sigma’s Belt ignite in burning light, revealing the two smaller Typhoons from beneath. The three fans spin rapidly, and a great pulse of red light gives way to a tremendous blast of crimson energy, which hits Yôsetsu-Shimauma in the gut and sends her flying backwards into a wall formed by an upraised part of the apartment complex, causing it to crack and break against her weight. As the concrete crumbles and crashes down on the monster, a weakened Sigma slumps to her knees, breathing heavily. But her respite is short-lived, as Yôsetsu-Shimauma simply shrugs off the fallen material and stomps towards her, nostrils steaming and eyes blazing with murder.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Fuming) YOU LITTLE @#$%&! YOU’RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT!!!
(Sigma looks up, still breathing heavily.)
Sigma: (Weakly) Oh, am I?
(Sigma stands up, striking a defiant pose.)
Sigma: Not if I have anything to say—
(But to Sigma’s shock, her body itself begins to emit a faint magenta glow, and the armor around her vanishes as she reverts back to Maya.)
Maya: (Trailing off) … About… it… um… That wasn’t supposed to happen…
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sneering) SHHHHIIIIIIMMMMAAAA! What’s wrong, Sigma? Out of juice?
Maya: (Sheepishly) Well… um…
(Maya gulps. Yôsetsu-Shimauma rolls her neck and approaches Maya menacingly, as the girl weakly backs against the edge of the building. But the Kaijin stops as soon as both fighters hear a faint noise somewhere in the distance: The sound of steadily approaching police sirens.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Smugly) I’d really LOVE to just kill you now and then follow you up with those cops, but alas… I’ve got more important things to do. I’ll take a souvenir to remember you by, though.
(The zebra mutant turns and strolls over towards Sasaki’s unconscious son, picking up the boy effortlessly. Seeing this, Maya attempts to dash towards the monster, but can only manage to gnash her teeth as she grabs her aching sides in pain.)
Maya: Wait!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: You like that? We’ve got exactly what we came here for. Bravo Sigma, you really screwed up this time. Some hero you are! Hahaha! See you around!
(The Kaijin leaps to some unseen location. Maya can only collapse back weakly against the railing.
Maya: (Weakly) What… what just happened? I need to get out of here before the cops show up…
***
(Maya walks as quickly as she can, making her way to the nearest exit back down into the building. As she makes her way down, she sees tons of officers pouring into the apartment up above, finding nothing but the signs of a brief struggle and the smashed-in window. Maya shuffles along past the scene, unnoticed by all… except one.)
Kôhei: Maya! What are you doing here?
(Maya rolls her eyes and groans as Kôhei runs up behind her, slowing to a walk as he draws closer. He goes right past her and turns around, putting his hands in his coat pockets casually.
Kôhei: (Impatiently) Where have you been all this time!? After just running off like that! What happened here?
(Maya scowls and shoves him aside.)
Maya: (Snarling) Get out of my way, Kôhei-kun! I can’t waste time with you now!
(But Kôhei puts a hand on her shoulder, forcefully turning her back to face him.)
Kôhei: (Sternly) Oh yeah? I think you can. You better give me some answers, because you obviously had something to do with this.
Maya: (Angrily, shaking her finger) Kôhei-kun, let me—!
(But to Maya’s shock, Kôhei snaps a handcuff around her outstretched arm.)
Kôhei: (Bluntly) Alright then. You’re under arrest.
Maya: (Mortified) WHAT!?!
(As several officers run to Kôhei’s aid, he halts them with a wave of his other hand.)
Officer #1: What’s going on here, Kurobe-san?
Officer #2: Who’s this?
Kôhei: (Calmly) Don’t worry about it guys. I got this one. Just the usual uncooperative potential witness.
(Kôhei’s fellow officers give him a salute, and turn back to their business. He then snaps the other half of the cuffs on Maya’s other wrist. The girl, shocked, simply obeys and follows as the detective calmly leads her out of the building. He takes her out to his waiting unmarked car, and opening the back door, motioning for her to get in.)
Kôhei: (Curtly) Ladies first.
Maya: (Growling) Kôhei, I’m going to kill you.
Kôhei: (Shaking finger) Uh-uh-uh. We wouldn’t want you to get in any more trouble, now would we?
(Maya mutters something under her breath as she slides into the seat. Kôhei closes the door, grins, puts on his sunglasses, and walks around to the front. As he gets in his seat, he adjusts the rearview mirror so he can clearly see Maya’s pouting-yet-thoughtful face.)
Kôhei: What’s on your mind?
Maya: (Grumbling) A lot more than you could ever understand.
Kôhei: Really? Try me.
Maya: (Coldly) Shut up and drive.
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Okay, suit yourself.
(Before long, Kôhei’s car is on the road, cruising through the massive
Maya: (Thinking) That didn’t go over well at all. Sasaki’s wife and son are hostages, I just received the worst beating yet from Zebra-Vixen back there, and to top if all off I somehow managed to use up every last ounce of energy to do… whatever it was I did back there. And I have no clue just what it was that I did! It was like some sort of instinctive response or something. And then… what she said… somehow, I almost knew deep down that the Geier Kaijin were part human, but…
(Suddenly, it dawns on Maya that they’re not heading for Tokyo MPD
Headquarters. In fact, they’re now on the highway out of
Maya: Hey, Kôhei-kun, you missed the right exit.
(The detective doesn’t move his eyes from the road, nor does he bother to take off his sunglasses in spite of the diminished lighting.)
Kôhei: Oh, almost forgot about these.
(Kôhei reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a ring of keys, which he tosses back to Maya, who catches it in both hands.)
Kôhei: I think it’s one of the bigger ones. But not the really big one.
Maya: (Confused) Huh? I thought I was “under arrest”!?
Kôhei: (Shaking head) Nah. That was just a cover to get you out of there.
Maya: (Surprised) Whaaaaaaaat?
Kôhei: (Smirking) I’d rather not lock you up when you could be out helping me figure out what’s going on here.
Maya: (Puzzled) But… where are we going?
(Kôhei removes his sunglasses as the darkness of the deep blue sky above begins to impair his vision.)
Kôhei: I’ve just got to get you out of the city for a few hours, so no one gets suspicious. That way it’ll look like you just spent some time in questioning and have already been dismissed. Don’t worry; I’ll see to it that none of this ends up on paper. You’re still squeaky-clean, Ryûsaki.
Maya: (Grinning) Thanks, Kôhei-kun.
(Maya unlocks the handcuffs, tossing them aside. She then folds her arms on her lap and lies back, adjusting to get more comfortable. As the sky turns to night outside the window and the stars begin to twinkle above, her eyelids become heavy, and the girl, weary from the previous day’s activities, drifts off to sleep. The detective glances back.)
Kôhei: (Softly) Dôitashimashite, Maya.
***
(Maya awakens the next morning, still sitting in the backseat of the car. She slowly opens her eyes but quickly shuts them again, squinting from the bright sunlight pouring in. She puts her hand up to shield her face until her blurred vision readjusts, and yawns, looking around. The car is parked somewhere out in the countryside. Maya looks closer out the window to see that they’re parked in a lot overlooking what appears to be a large picturesque valley or mountainous area. Maya then peers over to see Kôhei slumped on the wheel, snoring softly. She smiles and decides to get out for some fresh air. She exits the vehicle and stretches her arms and neck, sighing pleasantly as she feels her body loosen up. She then decides to take a little stroll. Putting her hands in her pockets, she shuffles along, losing herself in her many thoughts.)
Maya: (Thinking) Well, you’ve certainly had an interesting last few days, huh, Maya? It’s hard to believe that it’s only been about a week since this all began… and in that amount of time, my life has changed so much. I’ve met so many new people, and done so much… I’ve even lost some of my best friends… and yet, I just can’t quite get it all figured out. Every time I think I know what I’m doing, something happens and I wind up thinking about it like I am now…
(Maya chuckles aloud sadly.)
Maya: (Thinking) … I wish… I wish
there was some way I could just, oh, get it all figured out. I already had to
leave Oyassan and Mikoto back in Miura, and I feel awful about doing that… but I can’t just go back after this is
over, if things keep happening in
(Maya stops and takes a seat on a nearby rock, leaning over and putting her chin on her hands. She stares off into the scenic distance, with nothing but tall pines and cliffs as far as the eye can see.)
Maya: (Thinking) After that whole revelation from Yôsetsu-Shimauma, I don’t know what to think anymore… if Geier’s monsters were all once human… am I doing the right thing? I swore to protect humanity from Geier, but if Geier is human as well… how can I keep fighting them if they’re just like me? But they can’t be… they’re nothing like Hongô-senpai and the others. Then again… maybe I’m not even like Hongô-senpai and the others…
(Maya is suddenly alarmed as she hears a loud noise off in the distance, but soon breaths a sigh of relief as she realizes it’s just Kôhei probably having accidentally hit the horn. A few minutes later, the detective walks up besides her, rubbing the back of his neck. As he looks off into the distance along with Maya, the young woman smiles and playfully and puts her hands down by her sides, rocking back and forth on the rock.)
Maya: (Cheerfully) Ohayô Gozaimasu, Kôhei-kun.
Kôhei: (Grumpy) Ohayô. (Thinking) My neck is killing me!
Maya: So, where are we?
(Kôhei lowers his arms, and puts his hands in his coat pockets. He then does a neck roll, gasping contentedly as he hears a cracking noise.)
Kôhei: A bit further than I thought; we’re in Saitama. I figure we can head back soon. That should be more than enough time to fool anyone who saw you there.
(Kôhei pauses, hesitantly.)
Kôhei: Mind if I sit down?
Maya: Be my guest.
(Maya slides over, and the young man takes a seat next to her, resting his arms on his upper legs and slouching forward.)
Kôhei: (Yawning) You fell asleep a little before we got out of the city. I kept going until I felt tired too.
Maya: (Nodding) Yeah…
(Maya suddenly frowns, glaring at the man suspiciously.)
Maya: (Mischievously) Say, while I was out, you didn’t try to—
Kôhei: (Grinning) Sneak a kiss? Nah, not my style.
(Kôhei closes his eyes and straightens his back, trying to appear dignified.)
Kôhei: (Stately) A true gentleman would never do such a brutish thing! (Casually) And besides, it’s just Kôhei’s Rule #1.
Maya: (Grinning) You’re an odd guy, Kôhei.
Kôhei: Hey!
Maya: What?
Kôhei: You didn’t call me Kôhei-kun for once!
Maya: (Slyly) Oh, sorry, Kôhei-kun.
(Kôhei groans as Maya grins evilly.)
Kôhei: (Sarcastically) Careful Ryûsaki-san, or I might just change my mind about arresting you.
(Maya and Kôhei chuckle over this, but then the young woman’s face turns serious again as she looks off into the horizon.)
Maya: Kôhei-kun, can I ask you something?
Kôhei: (Scratching head) Sure.
Maya: Do you ever think about what you’re doing some times? I mean like… what you’re purpose in life is?
Kôhei: (Rolling eyes around slowly) Uhhhh… well, I suppose so. How do you mean exactly?
Maya: Well, like what you do now for example. You’ve sworn to uphold the law and all that, but do you ever wonder sometime if the people you’ve arrested—
Kôhei: (Embarrassedly) Actually, you’re the first one.
Maya: (Pausing) –ah, well… Do you ever wonder if the people that you’ve seen get arrested by others are actually innocent?
Kôhei: (Skeptically) Is this some complex morality question designed to test my sensibilities for your own trivial discernment?
Maya: (Dumbfounded) Uh-huh?
Kôhei: (Restating) Where is this leading?
Maya: Well, I just want to know your opinion.
Kôhei: (Nodding) Oh, well in that case, of course I wonder about that some times. But then I realize, if I think about it too much, it’s just going to get in the way of my job. That’s how life is— it can’t be all black and white, unfortunately, but in some ways that’s a good thing.
Maya: (Curious) A good thing?
Kôhei: We become who we are because of our experiences. I sure know that I wouldn’t be the same person that I am now if I hadn’t met you. I guess in the case of those people, whether they’re really guilty or not is simply beyond my control. I’m just there to hopefully find the right person who committed the crime, and bring them in. If it’s the wrong person, well, yeah, I would feel guilty about it, but sometimes I guess you “have” to be wrong, so you can learn from your mistake.
Maya: I suppose…
Kôhei: I guess the best way to put it is that if you believe in what you’re doing strongly enough, it becomes the “right” thing to do, no matter what. Just so as long as it doesn’t completely blind you to what is right.
Maya: Blind you?
Kôhei: Well, let me put it to you this way. That Kamen Rider Sigma character— I dunno anything about her besides the fact that she seems to be fighting those monsters that keep appearing. So far, I’ve just sort of assumed she was on our side. But I don’t know what her real motivation is for doing what she does, you know? She very well could turn out to be more dangerous than any of them…
(These words bring a sick feeling to Maya’s stomach. As she glances down, Kôhei quietly reads her face. The very corner of his mouth twitches into a momentary smile as his suspicions are confirmed once and for all.)
Kôhei: But… from where I stand now, it looks like she’s doing the right thing. Maybe I’m wrong, but until the day comes when I realize that, I’ll just have to settle for what I’ve perceived as the “right thing”. I guess I’ll find out sooner or later…
Maya: But what if those monsters she fights were once people?
Kôhei: Once people? You mean like they were humans turned into monsters?
(Maya nods slowly.)
Kôhei: (Shaking head) Well, it still doesn’t matter. Even if they were once people, they’ve clearly lost or given up whatever made them human, and turned into killing machines. I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to stop them because of that. Of course, I’m just making a lot of big assumptions here, so what do I really know?
Maya: (nodding) I see...
(Kôhei slaps his hands on his knees and stands up, stretching his arms as Maya looks on.)
Kôhei: Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving! What do you say we get something to eat, huh? It’s my tre—
(Kôhei doesn’t even have time to finish as Maya jumps up and leaps into the air joyfully, nearly knocking him over.)
Maya: (Shouting, excitedly) HARA HETAAAAAAAA!!!
***
(Elsewhere, Doctor Sasaki sits in a busy hallway in the Japan Red Cross Medical Center, in Shibuya. Gauze wrap taped to his forehead, he looks distraught. He puts his head in his hands and shakes slowly.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Thinking) Why is this happening? Why me? Why? In the past 24 hours, more and more people have been hurt because of me. Those guards, my driver, and now probably that young woman. If Reiko and Shinichi—
(The Doctor’s train of thought it interrupted as he hears his name called over the hospital intercom.)
Intercom Voice: (Blankly) Paging Nobuhiko Sasaki. Nobuhiko Sasaki. You have a call at the front desk.
(Doctor Sasaki stands up, and goes to the take the call.)
***
(Meanwhile, Kôhei and Maya are sitting in a small roadside diner off of the highway. Kôhei watches on speechless as Maya wolfs down a sizable Western-style breakfast. As the young woman alternates between cramming toast and scrambled eggs in her mouth and gulping down orange juice, the detective slowly lifts the a cup of coffee to his lips. He sips for a moment, then speaks.)
Kôhei: You sure are… hungry.
Maya: (Inhaling food) Mmmm… Mmmhmmm…
Kôhei: (Weirded out) How exactly do you eat like that and keep such a… er, trim figure?
Maya: (Talking with mouth full) Hmm? Oh, wotssaf eksasize! Mmm...
(Any further sound coming from Maya is simply the sound of eating.)
(Kôhei nods slowly, and takes another sip of hot, caffeinated liquid.)
***
(Sometime later, Maya and Kôhei are cruising back towards
Maya: Hey, Kôhei-kun?
(The young man moves his head slightly to glance at the girl.)
Kôhei: Yeah?
Maya: About what you said earlier…
Kôhei: (Glancing upward) What did I say?
Maya: About doing the right thing…
Kôhei: (Nodding) Oh, yeah. That.
Maya: Do you think I’m doing the right thing?
Kôhei: (Tilting head to one side) Er… I don’t know quite how to answer that one. What is it you’re doing exactly?
Maya: (Vague) That’s what I want to know to. What am I doing? I thought I had it all figured out, but… every time I think I get closer to the answer, it just seems to get further and further away from me.
Kôhei: (Scratching head) I’m not sure I’m following you Maya.
(Suddenly, Kôhei breaks into a broad grin.)
Kôhei: Are you talking about trying to figure out how to admit your undying true love for me?
Maya: Well, I’ve been thinking about that t— (Mortified) WHAT!?
Kôhei: (Chuckling) Ha! I knew it!
Maya: (Snarling) KÔHEI-KUN! Y—
(But Maya’s tirade is cut short as Kôhei slams on the brakes. After righting herself from the sudden jolt forward, she glares at the detective angrily, but then realizes that it’s something other than her wrath that made him stop. She slowly turns her head and looks up, just in time to see Yôsetsu-Shimauma standing with her arms crossed in the middle of the road, a short distance from the car.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIMMMMMMAAAAAA!
Maya: It’s her!
Kôhei: (Shocked) Maya, you know that thing!?
Maya: (Grimly) Unfortunately, yes. Alright Kôhei-kun, step on it! We’ll show this overgrown— hey, Kôhei-kun? Are you listening to me?
Kôhei: (Hypnotically) Do I have to?
Maya: Kôhei-kun! That thing is a dangerous monster!
Kôhei: (Regretful) But… but… look at her!
(Maya rolls her eyes and impatiently starts to get out. Kôhei glances at her, shakes his head, and also opens the door. He pulls out his pistol and takes aim.)
Kôhei: (Barking) Alright, Busty… um… Buster… ess… er… you… don’t move!
Maya: (Flatly) I don’t think she’s going to listen to you, Kôhei-kun.
Kôhei: (Coolly) Oh? We’ll just see about that.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: HAHAHAHAHAHA! We meet again, Sigma!
(A record screeches. Maya & Kôhei slowly turn to each others. Maya gulps, realizing the jig is up. Kôhei figures this isn’t the best time to tell Maya he already knows she’s Sigma anyway, so he decides to just play dumb.)
Kôhei: Sigma? What’s she talking about? I don’t see her anywhere.
Maya: Uh… (Defiantly) I dunno, she’s crazy!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Shut up! Are you going to fight me or not!?
Maya: (Thinking) Oh great… what am I supposed to do now!?
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Fine, if you’re not going to… I’ll just have to make you!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma throws out her left arm chain, which wraps around Kôhei’s neck, pulling him forward on the ground.)
Kôhei: (Struggling) AAGGGHHH!
Maya: Kôhei!
(Being dragged on the ground, Kôhei looks back up at her.)
Kôhei: (Grinning) Hey, you called me Kôhei again!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma pulls hard, and Kôhei is lifted up and sent flying through the air, landing hard on the edge of the road and rolling down a steep hill. Maya watches on horrified and then turns her attention back to the Geier mutant.)
Maya: (Growling) You keep your hands off of him!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sneering) Aw, guess what? It’s too late! SHHHHIIIIMMMMAAAA!
(Maya grits her teeth and assumes the Henshin pose.)
Maya: HENSHIN… SIGMA!!!
(The Kaijin throws her arm chain out again, but Maya ducks and rolls forward as energy swirls about her body. She then quickly gets to her feet and leaps up into a flying kick right at the cybernetic villainess, changing into Kamen Rider Sigma in a burst of light and landing a solid one right on the monster’s face, sending her toppling backwards. Sigma lands neatly on the ground and strikes a pose as the monstrous being gets to her feet. Sigma lunges at Yôsetsu-Shimauma with a flying punch, but the zebra Kaijin blocks and counters with a punch in the gut, knocking her down. Yôsetsu-Shimauma swings down with her large right arm, but Sigma rolls out of the way and gets to her feet, roundhouse kicking at the monster’s side. She follows this up with a combo of chops and punches, ending with a strong punch right to the neck, causing Yôsetsu-Shimauma to stumble back. Sigma slowly stands, breathing heavily.)
Sigma: I thought you said you had more important things to do, huh?
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma stands at her full height and throws several punches at Sigma. The masked heroine blocks them all easily.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SHHHHIIIIMMMMA! Oh, I did— and they’ve been accomplished! Geier now has Doctor Sasaki as well as his family!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma leaps at Sigma, who dodges and attempts to chop at her from behind, but the lithe female opponent rolls out of the way.)
Sigma: What!?
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Oh, yes. You see, finding him was easy enough, and all it took was some simple threatening over the phone— he is such a weak-willed individual, you know— to get him to agree to give himself up to us, lest his wife and son be murdered for his listening enjoyment! Hahahaha!
(Sigma drops and attempts to sweep-kick the striped villainess, but Yôsetsu-Shimauma simply jumps and flips in the air over her.)
Sigma: (Rising up, clenching fists) You’re not getting away with this!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Cruelly) Wrong! I think we are! Naturally, if anyone tries to interfere, we’ll just kill them! That’s the Geier way!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma throws out her arm chain, wrapping it around Sigma’s neck, but the Rider quickly grips onto it, and both pull in a mighty tug-of-war.)
Sigma: (Angrily) Geier… those in Geier aren’t humans at all!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Waving hand) Well DUH, genius-girl! Geier is the enemy of humanity… and we’re not going to stop until we’ve conquered this entire miserable planet and everything on it! Understand!?
(Sigma manages to unwrap the chain from her neck, which causes Yôsetsu-Shimauma to tumble backwards.)
Sigma: (Furious) What you said earlier… was a complete lie! I’m nothing like you!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Standing up) Oh, no, I was being entirely honest. You’re just like us.
Sigma: (Screaming) WRONG! Unlike you, I’m not a killer!
(Sigma and Yôsetsu-Shimauma run at each other, and both jump into the air, performing a flying kick right past the other. They land, spin around, and continue their equal punching and blocking. Yôsetsu-Shimauma uses her right arm and slams it into Sigma’s stomach, throwing her backwards.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sneering) Oh really? You’ve killed your share of my comrades!
(Sigma, slumped over on the road, breaths heavily. Yôsetsu-Shimauma scoffs, but soon looks dismayed as the masked heroine slowly, weakly gets to her feet.)
Sigma: (Shaking head) It was nothing they hadn’t already done themselves. They gave up what was human in them to become murderous beasts, just like you. But me… I haven’t lost my humanity. Not yet, anyway. And that’s the difference between a monster like you… and a Kamen Rider like me!!!
(Sigma jumps into the air, flipping around over Yôsetsu-Shimauma, and landing behind her. She grabs the zebra monster by the arms and together they leap into the air.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Surprised) What are you—!
Sigma: SIGMA SENNUKI KICK!
(In midair, Sigma hoists Yôsetsu-Shimauma up and spins her around in a great vortex of swirling air. She then throws her straight down towards the ground, flipping around in midair once and then rocketing down with both feet forward. Yôsetsu-Shimauma roars in anger and turns on her welder arm, sending out a great jet of fire in Sigma’s direction. Sigma spins her body and simply shreds through the flame like it were nothing. Yôsetsu-Shimauma’s eyes widen as the masked Rider draws closer and closer, until—)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUUUUUUUUUGIIIII!
(Kugigan-Harinezumi comes leaping out of nowhere and tackles Sigma out of the way, saving his fellow Kaijin. Sigma and the porcupine mutant tumble off of the road, down the hill and to the ground, before both quickly rise up.)
Sigma: (Angrily) You again!?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: KUUUUUGI! You got that right! Now, DIE!
(Kugigan-Harinezumi raises his right arm and sends out a volley of rapid fire nails. Sigma rolls out of the way, but she suddenly finds herself stopped when several nails stick into her scarf, pinning her down!)
Sigma: Shimatta!
(Sigma scrambles to pull them out, but they are too embedded in the ground to pull free. She then struggles to undo her scarf, but this also proves too time-consuming.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Slimily) Oops! Looks like wearing that silly scarf is going to be the death of you after all, Sigma! Should have taken after your more recent predecessors!
Sigma: Huh?
(The Geier Kaijin locks and loads.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Time’s up, Rider!
(Sigma gulps and digs her fingers and heels into the dirt as she tries to right herself with her arms and legs.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Waving) Bye-bye.
(With a roar from his nail gun, the Kaijin opens fire.)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Kugigan-Harinezumi lets loose with a volley of rapid-fire nail bullets, just as Sigma throws one arm in front of her face and looks away. The projectiles hit Sigma up and down her body. Head, chest, stomach, arms, legs, hands, feet, everywhere. But… they do absolutely nothing, and simply bounce off.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (shocked) WHAT!?!?
(Sigma lowers her arm, and looks at her hand. Vestiges of crimson energy seem to dissipate away all over her arm, as if some sort of full-body force field had just be activated by the nails.)
Sigma: (Whistling) Good question...
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Freaking out) Impossible! You should be dead! Dead! My nails are strong enough to rip through your weak body! Why are you still here!? Why the @#$%&* are you still here!?!
Sigma: (Thinking) I don’t believe it. Right as he was about to fire, it felt like every muscle in my body was tightening up, bracing for the impact. I don’t know what’s going on, but that’s another incredible power I’ve just pulled out of nowhere. It’s almost like I’ve got secrets even I don’t know about in me? Is this the Riders’ doing? Or…
Kugigan-Harinezumi: GRRRRRRR! You little—! I’ll get you yet!
Sigma: (Looking up) Oh? Where are you going!?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: I have other matters to attend to at the moment, but mark my words, you will not survive this day, Sigma. KUGI-KUGI-KUUUUUUGIIII!
(Kugigan-Harinezumi takes off running at superhuman speeds. Seeing that Yôsetsu-Shimauma has also since vanished, Sigma reverts to Maya and gets up, deciding to look for Kôhei. She doesn’t have to search long before she finds the detective, lying unconscious a short distance away in the bushes. She kneels down over him and gently pats his face.)
Maya: Hey! Kôhei-kun! Wake up!
Kôhei: (Slowly coming to) Mmmmm… ohhhh… ohhh, man…
(Kôhei barely begins to open his eyes.)
Kôhei: Omelet? Is that you?
Maya: (Puzzled) Omelet?
(Kôhei slow rises up, and Maya supports him from behind.)
Kôhei: (Shaking head) Whoa… what just happened? The last thing I remember was… that horse woman…
Maya: (Worried) Are you okay?
Kôhei: (Giving a thumb up, Sarcastically) Why, I never felt better!
Maya: That’s good.
(Kôhei frowns, seeing that Maya has not gotten the point.)
Maya: In any case, we’d better get moving. Doctor Sasaki is now in the hands of, uh, those guys…
Kôhei: (Pointing a finger up) Guy R?
Maya: (Sighing) Yeah… them.
Kôhei: (Skeptical) How do you know that?
Maya: (Eyes wandering) Well… Kamen Rider Sigma told me. She showed up and saved us both!
Kôhei: (Enthused) Really?
Maya: (Nodding slowly) Yup.
Kôhei: (Rising slowly) Well, perhaps there is more to what she’s doing then— a true desire to save people.
Maya: (Looking up) You really think so?
Kôhei: Well sure! I’d like to think that’s what any hero would do. Fight bad guys, save people.
Maya: (Thinking) Fight bad guys, save people…
(Maya smacks her forehead)
Maya: I can’t believe it!
Kôhei: Can’t believe what?
Maya: The answer has been staring me in the face this whole time!
Kôhei: (Confused) It has?
(Maya stands dramatically.)
Maya: I’ve been right all along. All it took for me to realize this… (Warmly) was a little help from you. Thanks, Kôhei-kun!
(To Kôhei’s shock, Maya wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly. As the young man just stands on looking shocked, an air of confidence returns to Ryûsaki Maya.)
Maya: (Thinking) It’s just like I’ve thought the whole time. I’m going to defeat all of Geier, no matter what. Wherever it takes me, and however many Geier monsters I have to go through to get there… that’s what my purpose really is. No matter when, or where, or how… no matter what happens… I’m Kamen Rider Sigma, and it’s my job to fight Geier and save people. That’s all there is to it.
Kôhei: Maya? Are you okay?
(The young man is surprised to see Maya’s eyes glistening with what looks like… tears.)
Maya: (Shaking head) Sorry, I just zoned out for a moment. In any case, we’ve got to figure out how we can find out where those creatures have to doctor and his family.
Kôhei: And I think I know just how…
***
(Sometime later, Kôhei’s car is parked outside of “Eight Hand Saburo’s” once more. Maya, having since managed to get back to her motorcycle, waits patiently outside, eying the place in a puzzled manner.)
Maya: (Thinking) What’s he doing in there, having a drink? How on earth is this supposed to help!?
Mikoto: Maya!
(Maya snaps out of her own thoughts and looks over to see Mikoto slowing down next to her. The other girl lifts up her goggles and puts a hand on her friend’s shoulder excitedly.)
Maya: (Surprised) Mikoto? What are you doing here?
Mikoto: (Excited) Oyassan sent me here, to help you out!
Maya: Oyassan sent you? But, where are you staying?
Mikoto: His friend has a place in the city, where he said we can help out! I’ve already been there, and she offered—
Maya: (Putting hand up) Whoa whoa whoa, we!? Mikoto, I haven’t even had time to finish this week’s adventure, never mind start a new one…
(Suddenly the door opens, and a very confident and cool Kôhei, sunglasses on, walks out and towards the two female motorcyclists.)
Kôhei: (Surprised) What’s this? Taki-san?
Mikoto: (Waving) Hey, Keiji-san!
Kôhei: What brings you to
Mikoto: Well, I was trying to explain that to Maya—
Maya: (Cutting her off) Kôhei, what did you find out?
Kôhei: Well, they’re not too far out of the city. Ironically close to the Doc’s country home.
Mikoto: (Whiny) Mayaaaaaaaa! Would you listen to me!?
Maya: (Thinking) Leave it to Geier to do things the hard way. (Aloud) Alright, I’d better get moving then.
Kôhei: (Taken aback) You? What about me?
Mikoto: (Confused) Huh? Where are you going now!?
Maya: (Putting on helmet) I’m sorry Mikoto, you can finish the story some other time, but right now I’ve got some personal business to take care of. Ja ne!
(Maya then guns the engine and takes off while Kôhei and Mikoto watch, speechless. Finally, the young woman breaks the silence.)
Mikoto: Would someone please tell me what’s going on?
Kôhei: (Gritting teeth) I’ll tell you what’s going on… that girl is going someplace, and it’s called over—
Mikoto: (Cutting him off) Hey, Keiji-san, is it just me, or are your tires flat?
Kôhei: (Looking down) Huh? What the–! Don’t tell me Maya sank that low!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Don’t worry about your little girlfriend pulling that particular trick on you!
Kôhei: (Turning around) How do you know she’s my gi—
(Kôhei’s eyes roll up to the back of his head and he faints as he turns to see the tall, imposing figure of Kugigan-Harinezumi standing right next to him. Mikoto looks down, rolling her own eyes in a different direction.)
Mikoto: (Thinking, flatly) Oh, brother. (Aloud, frightened) W-who are you!?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: That’s none of your concern!
(But before she can respond, Kugigan-Harinezumi punches her in the solar plexus, knocking her out cold. As the girl slumps to the ground, Kugigan-Harinezumi chuckles maniacally and motions for his henchmen to come assist him.)
***
(Meanwhile, Maya speeds down the road, determined as ever.)
Maya: (Thinking) I hated to do that… but I can’t risk either one of them getting any more mixed up in this right now, when I’ve already got 3 other people to worry about. And I really need to just clear my head out, and figure out what exactly I’m going to do…
***
(Kôhei awakens to find both him and Mikoto chained back-to-back, sitting in chairs in a dark room somewhere. Only a single light shines down on them from above. Kôhei shakes his head, trying to clear his blurred vision.)
Kôhei: (Groaning) Oh man, that’s the second time today… hey, Taki-san? You okay back there?
Mikoto: (Trying to crane her neck) Yeah, I’m okay, Keiji-san. And while we’ve been sitting here… I realized that these guys must be related to the groups my dad always told me about!
Kôhei: Huh? Groups? Your dad?
(Mikoto nods, hitting Kôhei on the back of the head and causing him to wince.)
Mikoto: Yeah. Something called “Shocker” and “Gelshocker”. These guys must be like, the current incarnation or something
Kôhei: Shocker? That sounds familiar... (Thinking) I came across something about the American FBI’s “Shocker File” when I was doing some research on the “Kamen Riders”. There must be some relation…
Mikoto: In any case, that probably means I’m on their hit list. (Grinning) I never would have thought I’d be wanted dead before I hit 30!
Kôhei: Well, don’t worry Tiki-san, I’ll—
Mikoto: Taki.
Kôhei: (Pause) … yeah, that. I’ll see to it that no one hurts you as long as I’m around.
Kugigan-Harinezumi: In that case, you’d better hurry up and see to it, because you aren’t going to be around much longer!
(Suddenly, many more lights turn on, and Kôhei and Mikoto find they are in a large, bland, steel room surrounded by both male and female Geier Combatants. On one side of the room is a balcony with a winding staircase on either side, and at the top of the balcony, under the watchful eye of a Geier Leader wall ornament and decorative doorway, are Kugigan-Harinezumi, Yôsetsu-Shimauma, and the Sasaki family, the latter three all cowering together, surrounded by several henchmen and henchwomen themselves. Our heroes look up to see this horrid sight.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUUUUGI!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIMMMMAAAA!
Kôhei: (Thinking) Them again! Spikey and Zebralicious!
Mikoto: (Thinking) Him again! That porcu— whoa, who’s the buxom pony lady!?
Kôhei: (Yelling) Guy R! Have you been listening to us the whole time!?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Waving hand) Oh, of course not. Who wants to listen to your boring chit-chat? But enough about you, we’ve got something more important to discuss.
(The Kaijin turns to Doctor Sasaki.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: So doctor, changed your mind yet about granting us the access codes to enable the Babel Chip yet?
Doctor Sasaki: (Shaking head) No way! Never! Torture me, kill me, do whatever you want. I’ll never help you!
Sasaki’s Wife: (Struggling) Please, dear! don’t let them—
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Cruelly) Shut your mouth!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma grabs Sasaki’s wife by the hair and pulls her away from him as Geier Combatants hold the struggling man back. Yôsetsu-Shimauma holds her welder arm right up to Mrs. Sasaki’s throat.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Pleading) Please! Stop it!!!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: The codes Doctor, or your wife gets a free facelift!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Listen to me old man, I’ve just about had enough of your theatrics. We know that Shibasaki Technologies is a subsidiary of the SOUL Foundation, and they were the ones funding your research all these years. You have a direct connection to them, and lately they’ve been… of interest to us.
(Down below, our heroes watch this scene unfold with growing concern.)
Mikoto: (Whispering) SOUL Foundation? What’s that?
Kôhei: (Whispering) Dunno, but I’m sure I’ve heard that name before…
Doctor Sasaki: (Trembling) I might not approve of the way SOUL does things, but it’s strictly a business relationship. Whatever you have against them, I won’t— I can’t— have any part of it. Please, just let my wife and son go!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Growling) Tell us those access codes, dad. Or mom and Shinichi will—
(The Kaijin stops short, seemingly puzzled at his own words. Doctor Sasaki and the others look bewildered.)
Doctor Sasaki: … What did you say?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: I… Well I… Hmph. I guess that was just the Rejection talking.
(The mammalian mutant begins to pace around, unnerving Sasaki and his family.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Tell me, doctor, do you remember what happened your first son? About his “accident”?
Doctor Sasaki: (Shocked) What!? What do you know about Ichirô—
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Scoffing) That accident was anything but…
(The Doctor, unable to believe what he’s hearing, shakes his head slowly.)
Doctor Sasaki: No! It was because of my forgetfulness… if I hadn’t been so foolish, he wouldn’t have rushed back to the lab and—
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Cutting him off) Oh, I’m not taking the blame off your shoulders in the slightest, doctor. I’m simply stating that your son did not in fact die in that conveniently-timed car crash. Where they conveniently never found his body. No, we actually had him taken here. While the world at large thought Sasaki Ichirô to be dead, he lived on… albeit in a slightly altered form…
Doctor Sasaki: (Shocked) You… you mean…
(The Kaijin admires his clawed hand thoughtfully before turning to face the doctor directly.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Smugly) Long time no see, “dad”!
(As the Kaijin laughs evilly, Doctor Sasaki simply drops to his knees, weeping. His wife also begins to cry, and down below, our heroes feel sick to their stomachs as they realize that the porcupine Kaijin is in fact the Sasaki’s son— or what’s left of him.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Through his tears) Ichiro… (sniffles) … Ichiro… (gulping) … (gulping) my son… but… but why!?
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Angrily) Why? WHY!? Why do you think!? He was the prefect candidate! He knew so much about your little project! And privately, he burned with an intense loathing of the fact that YOU never paid any attention to him!
Doctor Sasaki: But you’re him!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Correction: I was him. I might experience rare flashes of his memories, I might share in his thoughts, his feelings, and especially his hatred… but I am a completely new “man”. And I use that term in the loosest sense possible.
Doctor Sasaki: But just now, your mother and broth—
(The porcupine monstrosity reaches down and grabs the doctor by the neck, pulling him to his feet. He shakes him violently.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Screaming) THEY’RE NOT MY FAMILY! YOU’RE NOT MY FAMILY! YOU’RE NOTHING TO ME ANYMORE! NONE OF YOU!!!
(Deciding it’s as good a time as ever, Kôhei intervenes.)
Kôhei: Doctor. That thing isn’t your son anymore.
(Kugigan-Harinezumi and the others on the balcony look down at him.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Trembling) But—
Kôhei: Everything that made your son who he was is gone. It’s all been carved away by a knife, twisted and perverted into that monster up there. All that’s left is an empty shell with a few left over memories and emotions. But he’s been changed, Doc— he’s not the son you loved. Maybe these creeps turned Sasaki Ichirô into one of them, but your son still died a human being.
(The Doctor is silent at these words.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Laughing maniacally) HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! He’s quite right, doctor. Now do you get it? This is the price you pay for crossing Geier and thinking you can get away with it! Now, unless you give into our demands, your wife and other son, not to mention those two idiots down there, will soon wind up dead. Understood?
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sneering) Better do it, Sasaki! Believe me, I’ll have no problem killing your family just like those fools the other night.
(Doctor Sasaki’s expression changes from one of sadness to intense anger, and he clenches his fists tightly. He then slowly stands up and nods.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Slowly) Alright… I’ll do it…
Kôhei: (Shocked) Whoa, wait!
Mikoto: (Equally shocked) Don’t do it!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Looking down) Shut up! You two are going to die soon anyway, so put a sock in it!
(He motions to a henchman.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Bring it here.
(Before long, a laptop with the bulky Babel Chip attachment is brought before the Doctor, who looks it over gingerly.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Softly) Ichirô… this is where all our work finally pays off…
(He types a few things, then, unprovoked, yanks the attachment right out of the computer, causing the LCD display to crash in the process.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: NO—!
(Sasaki throws the Babel Chip attachment over the railing, where it falls to the ground, shattering to pieces.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Gritting teeth) KISAMAAAA...!
Doctor Sasaki: (Proudly) There! Now no one will ever be able to use the Babel Chip ever, including you! And don’t bother trying to find the original blueprints either, because they’re up here!
(Sasaki points to his head.)
Doctor Sasaki: Not even Ichirô knew them!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Coldly) Bad move, Sasaki. You know why?
(He motions to his fellow Kaijin.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Take a nice look at your wife’s face one last time, Sasaki. Because in a few seconds, it’s going to be COMPLETELY MELTED OFF! SHHHHHHHIIIIIIMMMMMAAA!
Doctor Sasaki: NO!
(But Geier Combatants seize him, and the man can only watch helplessly as Yôsetsu-Shimauma holds up her arc welder right arm, activates it to a fine blue flame, and moves it menacingly towards the woman’s face. Kôhei watches on horrified, and Mikoto shuts her eyes.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: HAHAHAHAHAHA! You should have listened, old man! KUUUUUUUUUGI!
(Suddenly, everyone stops as a distant rumbling noise is heard.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: Huh? What the—
(The Tsunami, with Kamen Rider Sigma at the controls, comes smashing right through the wall, slamming into Geier Combatants and sending them flying left and right as she circles around Kôhei & Maya. The two Geier Kaijin and remaining henchmen watch, speechless, and the Sasaki family members break free and grab each other. Sigma’ sleek Rider Machine comes to a screeching stop, and the masked heroine looks up at the scene. Smoothly, she slides of the vehicle and strolls up towards the balcony.)
Sigma: (Coldly) It’s over, Geier.
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Shocked) Sigma!? How did you get here!?
(Sigma taps the box on the side of her belt opposite the one she tapped on last episode.)
Sigma: You never asked what this one did.
(Kugigan-Harinezumi glances over at his fellow Kaijin, who can only manage to let her jaw drop.)
Sigma: Handy little gadget, this. It can lock onto all sorts of things. Like, say, all the radio signals coming out of a secret underground base. Within a close enough proximity of course, and with a little help from my friend, I found out the general vicinity of this place. And there you go.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Furious) Impossible!
Sigma: You still think we’re the same? I’m about to prove you wrong once and for all.
(Sigma clenches her fists. Her voice grows steadily angrier.)
Sigma: Everywhere I go now, I see death and destruction… because of you. I see families torn apart, I see old friends and new friends taken from me… I see a darker side of the world than I’ve ever seen before. And it’s all your doing, Geier.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Yawning) You done yet? That was totally not my point. The truth, like it or not, is that you’re a monster too, just like any of us. Deny it all you want. But you’re still the same as—
Mikoto: (Yelling up) That’s not true! She’s nothing at all like you jerks!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: Eh?
Mikoto: She’s a Kamen Rider— and that means she’s the ally of humanity and the enemy of Geier!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Sarcastic) Oh really? Like you would know…
Mikoto: I do know! My father knew the Kamen Riders, he fought with the Kamen Riders… and now it’s my turn!
Kôhei: (Deciding to pipe in) Yeah! Uh… listen to her.
Kugigan-Harinezumi: So? Who cares about any of that now? All that matters, Sigma, is this: Do you have it in you to kill Sasaki’s son again?
(Sigma momentarily pauses at this.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: You obviously missed out, but I’ll give you the short version: I used to be their oldest son, I—
Sigma: I don’t care.
(Everyone is stunned silent by these words.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: But—
Sigma: I don’t care if you used to be human. I don’t care if you used to be their son. The only thing you are now, is a murderer. And you need to be put down.
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Shaking head) I’ve had enough of this nonsense. DIE!
(Kugigan-Harinezumi raises his right arm and sends a few rounds of nails right at Mikoto and Kôhei, but Sigma is faster, grabbing them both and leaping out of the way just in time. With one might chop, she breaks the chains, releasing them, and the leaps up to the balcony, kicking two of the remaining Geier Combatants in the face as she does. She lands between the two Kaijin and the Sasaki family, turning towards the hostages and throwing the oncoming henchmen over the railing effortlessly. Sigma glances back at the Kaijin. She then looks down at Mikoto.)
Sigma: Get out of here, now. You can go back the way I came in!
(As Mikoto nods, Sigma turns back to face the villains.)
Sigma: Alright, Geier… Ikuzô !
(Both Kaijin lunge at Sigma, but she ducks down, punching them both in the stomach, and then jumps up, grabbing them each by an arm, and then throwing them over the railing. As they plummet to the ground with a thud, she hops over the railing and lands nearby. As this happens, the others watch on, speechless. Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble, and Doctor Sasaki pipes up.)
Doctor Sasaki: We’d better get out of here!
Mikoto: Right! Everyone down here!
(As the Sasaki family scrambles down the stairs, Doctor Sasaki stops and glances over at Sigma momentarily.)
Doctor Sasaki: I don’t know who you are…
(Sigma, preparing to fight again as the Kaijin pick themselves up off the floor, looks over to him.)
Doctor Sasaki: But do what you must. My son is dead. Please… end this now.
(Sigma simply nods, then turns her attention back to the mutant cyborgs. As they have since clambered to their feet, she decides to make a momentary tactical retreat. She jumps over to the Tsunami and revs up, before driving between the two Kaijin, who turn to follow her. As alarms sound indicating the imminent self destruction of the base, Doctor Sasaki gives one last glance up at the Geier logo as the others run towards the exit that Sigma made by entering. )
Doctor Sasaki: (Quietly) Ichirô… I’m sorry…
***
(Above the ground, in an open, hilly dirt plain, Sigma and the two Geier Kaijin circle each other. Before long, Kôhei, Mikoto, and the Sasaki family appear over a hill, and watch nervously.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Coldly) Let me just say, here and now, that I’ve had it with you, Kamen Rider Sigma.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Sneering) When I’m through with you, you’ll wish you had never been reborn as the freak that you are.
Sigma: (Sighing) You just don’t get it, do you? I’m not like you guys at all. For starters, unlike you two, I’m not ugly!
Kugigan-Harinezumi & Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SHUT UP!!!
(Both Kaijin lunge at Sigma furiously, but she back-flips out of the way, as they slam into each other. She lands gracefully a few meters away, puts one hand on her hip, and with the other beckons for them to attack. Yôsetsu-Shimauma goes first, roaring furiously as she activates her welder arm and swings it around wildly. Sigma blocks it with her arms crossed, then kicks up, knocking it away. She turns to Kugigan-Harinezumi.)
Sigma: I’m not having daddy issues like someone here.
(Kugigan-Harinezumi runs at her but she spins and roundhouse kicks him in the gut, following this up with several punches and kicks. Yôsetsu-Shimauma grabs her from behind, turns her around, and starts punching back and forth across her face. Sigma manages to block one punch, and starts doing the same. Kugigan-Harinezumi runs up and grabs her from behind, but the masked heroine flips him over her shoulder and on the ground, planting one foot on his chest. She looks over towards her equestrian rival.)
Sigma: And unlike you, Yôsetsu-Shimauma… well, I may have been reconstructed, but I’m still 100% original where it really counts.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Screaming) Why you little—!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma runs and attempts to drop kick her, but she leaps back, and the zebra mutant instead hits her comrade. Both get up, angrily glaring at each other. Sigma, having landed nimbly on the ground some ways away, watches on.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Growling) Watch it, Stripes!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Snarling) Watch it yourself, Spiny!
Sigma: (Playfully) Now, now kids, no fighting.
Kugigan-Harinezumi & Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SHUT UP!!!
(Both Geier mutants run at Sigma again, but she jumps and split kicks them both. Kugigan-Harinezumi starts to get up first, so Sigma turns to him and leaps in the air, extending one foot forward.)
Sigma: KYAAAAIIIIIIIIIII— WHOOOOOOAAAA!!!
(Sigma stops in midair and scrambles about clumsily as Kugigan-Harinezumi turns his back, pointing his many sharp quills in her direction. She ends up falling backwards, landing hard on Yôsetsu-Shimauma’s back as the latter tries to get up.)
Sigma: (Thinking) Well, that obviously isn’t going to work.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Growling) GET… OFF!!!
(Yôsetsu-Shimauma rises up, neighing maniacally, and Sigma jumps and flips right off of her, coming down again with a heel drop to her head. Kugigan-Harinezumi raises his right arm and lets loose a volley of nails, which Sigma dodges with a flip out of the way. Yôsetsu-Shimauma scrambles to her feet and throws out her left arm chain, but just as it wraps around Sigma’s arm, she gives it a tremendous chop, smashing it in half. Yôsetsu-Shimauma roars and activates her welder arm once more, thrusting it again and again at the masked Rider. Sigma dodges left, right, up and down, and notices out of the corner of her eye that Kugigan-Harinezumi is right behind her, raising his own right arm.)
Sigma: (Thinking) Either this pays off big… or that’s it.
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SSSSSSSSSHHHHIIIIIMMMMAAAAA!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: KUUUUUUUGIIIII!
(Sigma ducks and rolls out of the way right as she here the ominous click of his arm gun starting up. The result is Yôsetsu-Shimauma getting ripped to bits with razor-sharp nails while Kugigan-Harinezumi is roasted by the flames.)
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Screaming) AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
Kugigan-Harinezumi: (Yelling) GGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Sigma: Oops!
Kugigan-Harinezumi & Yôsetsu-Shimauma: (Insanely) SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Sigma: This is it!
(Sigma jumps up in the air, tucking her head and knees together and spinning head-over-heels around several times as she falls back to the earth. When she’s close enough, she stretches her body, extending both legs straight out and slightly apart.)
Sigma: SIGMA KYÛSHIN KICK!
(Sigma’s feet make contact with both Kaijin and sends them flying backwards, right off a conveniently-placed, fairly-steep cliff that they roll down, howling all the way.)
Kugigan-Harinezumi: KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUGI-KUUUUUGIIIII!!!
Yôsetsu-Shimauma: SSSSSSSSSHHHHIIIIIMMMMAAAAAAAAAA!!!
(As both Kaijin reach the base of the hill, they explode into two great fireballs, and two more twisted Geier villains bite the dust. Sigma lands at the top of the cliff in a crouched position, breathing heavily. She then slowly rises to a stand, looking down.)
Sigma: (Grimly) I’ll never be like you.
(She looks back to the human spectators of this battle. Doctor Sasaki and his wife, almost on the verge of tears, smile and give a low bow, their son looking up and then joining them in this. Mikoto and Kôhei watch on, smiling as well. And finally, Sigma walks over to her motorcycle, getting on, and riding off into the already-setting sun. As she departs, Kôhei turns to the Sasaki family. The doctor breathes a heavy sigh of relief.)
Doctor Sasaki: It’s over.
Kôhei: Yeah, I’d say that about wraps it up. Um, considering the way we got here, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a bit, I’ll call for someone to come pick us up.
Doctor Sasaki: Thank you.
(He walks over and shakes Kôhei & Mikoto’s hands generously.)
Doctor Sasaki: (Tearfully) Thank you so much.
Kôhei: Aw, it’s nothing. Besides, you should be thanking her.
(He nods in the direction that Sigma drove off in.)
Doctor Sasaki: Yes… who was she? Such a power like that…
Kôhei: (Chuckling) Well, that was K—
(But Kôhei is cut off by the sudden sound of a caravan of black vans pulling up from the opposite direction. He looks dismayed as they come to a stop, and men in trim black suits coming pouring out of the vehicles. All wearing sunglasses & Bluetooth earpieces, they quickly rush over to our heroes. The leader barks orders for squads of men dressed in dark, commando-style clothing, all carrying large automatic weapons, to spread out. They are joined by several of these more well-dressed men. The leader then turns his attention to Kôhei & the others.)
Man: Doctor Sasaki, it’s good to see you’re unharmed. Please come with us sir.
Doctor Sasaki: (Shocked) W-who are you? What is this?
Man: I’m sorry sir, but I can’t explain at the moment. But it is urgent that we get you out of here, your life could still be in danger.
Kôhei: Hey, who are you guys? You’re not from central, are you?
(The man produces an ID tag for Kôhei, but puts it away almost as soon as he pulled it out.)
Man: We have Priority 1 Clearance to escort the doctor and his family out of this area. That’s all you need to know at the moment, detective.
Mikoto: (Frowning) Hey, what about us?
(The man hesitates briefly putting a finger up to his earpiece as if he were listening to instructions from someone else.)
Man: … We’ll see about getting you two some transportation. But right now, we need to escort the doctor to safety.
Kôhei: Hey, I hope you’re not with Guy R…
(But the man ignores him as he and others lead the doctor, his wife and son into the nearest van. Kôhei & Mikoto just look at each other, dumbfounded, until another group comes over and motions for them to enter a different car. Shrugging, they both comply, but not before Kôhei casts one last look over his shoulder, frowning as he sees the vehicle with the Sasaki family already speeding off into the distance.)
***
(Elsewhere, in a large, dark office room, light pours in through the
horizontal blinds of a huge window, casting an eerie green glow throughout the
room. A woman, with her arms folded, dressed in an expensive designer suit,
looks at this window, staring intently out over the city of
Woman: She’s turning out to be an excellent Kamen Rider, wouldn’t you agree?
***
(It’s now approaching evening, and the sun is still slowly making its descent to the horizon. Maya’s and Mikoto’s bikes are parked outside the “Kôhiimame Café” seen last episode. Inside, Maya, Mikoto and Junko sit around a table, the latter having finished formally introducing herself over a few cups of coffee, and of course, tea for Maya. Maya puts down her teacup, trying to keep her mind on the conversation at hand, and ignore the protests from her stomach for something more filling.)
Maya: So you used to hang around with Oyassan, huh?
Junko: (Nodding enthusiastically) Yes! You’d never believe how excited I was to hear from Tachibana-san again! It’s been over 30 years since we last met in person!
Maya: (Thinking) She doesn’t look much older than 30... (Aloud) I see. Now, if you don’t mind me asking… how do we tie into all this exactly?
Junko: Well, Tachibana-san
told me that you two had been looking to move to
Maya: (Nodding) Okay… er, could you excuse us for a minute?
Junko: Sure!
(Maya and Mikoto stand up and get out of earshot from Junko. Maya puts her hand firmly on her friend’s shoulder, leaning close to her ear.)
Maya: (Whispering) Mikoto, what was Oyassan thinking!? He knows I already have my own apartment here! Not to mention I can’t be taking time out to help run some snack shop!
(Mikoto shrugs.)
Mikoto: (Whispering) Well, he thought it would make for a great way for us to both be in the same place, in the center of the action, and with someone who has experience with this sort of thing. I mean, you heard Tama-san’s story about how many times she was kidnapped, right!?
Maya: (Rolling eyes, whispering) For some reason, that isn’t very reassuring.
Mikoto: (Whispering) Well, it still sounds like a good idea to me! (Flatly) Besides, what else are we going to do, seeing as how we’re young, energetic and jobless?
(Maya groans, and she and Mikoto sit back down at the table with Junko.)
Maya: (Clearing throat) Uh, I think there’s been a little misunderstanding here. While I’d like to help out—
(Mikoto softly elbows Maya in the side.)
Maya: (Grumbling) I really would—
I’ve already got my own apartment in
Junko: (Cheerfully) Well, as part of working here, you and Mikoto will get your own room on the floor above. It isn’t much, but it should fit two people comfortably. And you don’t have to pay any rent.
Maya: (Sighing) Look, that’s really nice of—
Junko: (Cheerfully) Naturally, I’ll give you both a weekly allowance, too. I mean, for working here. I always wanted to have some real waitresses!
Maya: (Gritting teeth) That’s very generous of you, but—
Junko: (Cheerfully) And of course your meals will be covered. I’m told I’m a pretty good co—
Maya: (Interjecting) Wait, free food? Now THAT I can get behind!
(Maya clasps Junko’s hands with her own)
Maya: Ryûsaki Maya, at your service.
(Mikoto and Junko look at each other, shrug, and grin.)
Junko: Well, I’m glad to have you both! I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun working here!
Maya: I’m sure we will. So, um… when do we eat?
To Be Continued...
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