What if, one day, you found out that everything you thought you knew was
nothing but a lie?
That the deepest, darkest, unspoken fears that lurked in the depths of your heart were all completely true, all tangible, all real?
(Late at night, a lone car travels along the highway.)
People think they know what happened thirty-five years ago. They believe that the legends that were spoken about now in hushed whispers are just that, legends, and nothing more.
(The driver, a middle-aged businessman, furrows his brow, yawns and blinks in an attempt to stay awake and focused.)
They think that the whole idea— men who fight for justice— is just too preposterous.
They don’t want to accept a world where somewhere, someone in the shadows plans
their fate.
They don’t want to accept a world where the most brutal, the most
monstrous, the most terrifying enemy of mankind is mankind himself.
No, people want to live in a comfort zone, removed from the war and
destruction mankind— or rather, humankind— inflicts on itself.
(As his foot presses down on the accelerator, he doesn’t even think of glancing anywhere except the dead center of the road. This will soon prove to be an unfortunate mistake.)
They want a world without black or white, only grey. There are those
inhuman monsters, and the monsters that fight them, or maybe the normal humans
who have become the false monsters.
But the idea of a normal human becoming a true monster— it’s impossible
to believe. They make up lies and
stories to deceive themselves into believing anything but the truth. Some even
attempt to conceal the truth, and in doing so only propagate the lie further.
(As the car speeds by, a dark figure appears from the woods along the highway, emerging just as their hiding place falls out of the vehicle’s headlights’ line of sight.)
Dark Figure: (Growling) CHIIIIII-TAAAAAHHHHH...
If only they knew what I know. I found it so hard to believe myself when
I first learned of it.
But the deeper I dug, the more I found.
Deeper and deeper. Dark and darker.
I continued to dig until I fell, fell into the deepest reaches of the truth.
(The dark figure holds up her left arm, and several red LED numbers appear on the side of the large device that is the creature’s left hand. The numbers blink and change quickly, before settling on the number “112". The dark figure then lowers her arm, and takes off in a blinding flash.)
Very soon, you will all learn the truth! You’ll learn the same things
that I did! And if you’re weak— as many of you are— it’ll drive you over the
edge.
You won’t see the point in living anymore, and you’ll consign yourselves
to an even more miserable existence, until you ultimately find the strength to
just end your worthless life.
(The businessman behind the wheel never even gets to see what it is exactly that pulls him through the driver side window and snaps his neck, killing him instantly.)
But the strong—! The strong know how to deal with this revelation, and
they will take advantage of it, to its fullest!
Oh, yes. Such power, such life– it will be ours soon! Join me, if you
have the strength, if you have the determination, if you have the desire to see
what wondrous things await!
(As his vehicle careens off the road, through a fence and into a ditch, the man’s lifeless body is dropped to the ground, next to the clawed, spotted feet of his killer.)
Join me, and together we’ll transcend into the higher state— the very
depths of the soul!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kamen Rider Sigma
Episode 7: Throne of Souls
("Tamashii No Ouza")
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Maya is back at her apartment in
Maya: (Thinking) Finally! That should do it. And it was just over a week ago that I saw this place again for the first time in a while… (Wincing) I forgot how much stuff I have…
(Maya hears a knock at the door, and goes to answer it. It’s her landlord, and she gives him a bow which he returns.)
Maya: Ohayô Gozaimasu!
Maya’s Landlord: Ohayô. Well, looks like you’re all packed up.
(The man enters, looking around.)
Maya: (Nodding) Thanks again for helping me move, Ooyasan.
Maya’s Landlord: (Shrugging) No problem. I’m sad to see you go, Ryûsaki-san , but I wish you the best of luck at your new place. Oh, by the way…
Maya: (Nervously) Er… it’s about the window, right?
Maya’s Landlord: (Shaking head) Yeah, don’t worry about it. I’ve got it all covered. Actually, I was more worried by what happened to your coffee table…
Maya: (Chuckling uneasily) Um, I had a welcome-back party, and things got a little out of control and… well, you know…
(The older man regards her oddly for a minute, before shrugging.)
Maya’s Landlord: Well, in any case, if you wouldn’t mind, could you do me one last favor?
Maya: Oh, sure.
(The man reaches into his pocket and produces an envelope.)
Maya’s Landlord: Could you drop this off at #534? It’s their rent bill. I’ve got to run an errand, but I’ll be back to help you haul the last of your stuff over after that.
(The landlord hands her the envelope.)
Maya: (Nodding) Okay!
***
(Maya is soon walking along the long, fifth-floor balcony, past identical apartment doors. She scans the numbers above each door until she finds the one she’s looking for. She’s so wrapped up in this task that she fails to realize that she’s walking right into someone else until it’s too late.)
Maya: (Surprised) OOOOF! (Shocked) Oh my, I— (Mortified) Kôhei!?
(Maya stares open-mouthed as Kôhei, wearing his trademark sunglasses and trench coat, brushes off the front of his coat and straightens his tie.)
Kôhei: (Bemused) Oh-o. You called me just “Kôhei” again.
Maya: (Smarmily) Sorry, Kôhei-kun.
Kôhei: (Rolling eyes) You know, I’m sure I can find something illegal about doing that. Verbally assaulting an officer maybe?
Maya: Whatever. Anyway, what are you doing still following me around? Don’t you have something better to be doing right now? Like some detective work—
Kôhei: (Waving hand) Nah, my plate is clean at the moment. Besides, I had been meaning to check in with you anyway, after that business with you just driving off on Taki-san and I.
Maya: (Nervously) Huh? Oh yeah, er… about that…
Kôhei: (Grinning) I’m all ears,
Kumquat.
Maya: Okay, first off, call me
“Kumquat” ever again and I will punch you in the mouth.
Kôhei: Okay, that’s definitely got to be illegal.
Maya: And second, I was… uh… going to get Kamen Rider Sigma, who showed up and saved you guys, remember?
Kôhei: (Unimpressed) Really? How do you know she saved us, if you weren’t there?
Maya: She told me later.
Kôhei: What, is she really your sister or something?
(Maya slightly pauses at this comment.)
Maya: Ha! That’d be the day. You should meet my sister some time, Kôhei-kun. I’m sure you two would just love each other.
Kôhei: I’m sure we would. Thinking: And I’d probably love both of them in a hot tub with—
(Maya promptly conks him on the head.)
Maya: (Ticked off) Stop thinking
out loud.
Kôhei: Sorry.
Maya: Anyway, what exactly happened after all that business, anyway? Mikoto mentioned something about “MIBs”, whatever that is, and said they took Doctor Sasaki and his family away?
Kôhei: Yeah, and that’s the last anyone has heard of them. Apparently, the Doc decided to take a break from researching wondrous scientific advancements that can be used for evil, he and his family took off for Switzerland or something like that, and the whole mess with the break-in has been attributed to a “A bear interrupting bomb disposal”. Or somethin’, they are being really tight-lipped about it. In any case, what are you doing here again?
Maya: (Irked) Would you mind answering the same?
Kôhei: (Teasingly) I asked you first!
Maya: I used to live here! And my landlord asked me to give this to—
Kôhei: (Intrigued) Used to? You mean you’re moving? Where?
Maya: In with Mikoto, we’re going to live with Junko-san, a friend of Oyassan’s.
Kôhei: Interesting. It’ll be just like “Three’s Company”!
Maya: (Flatly) …Except I’m not a man.
Kôhei: …
(Kôhei remains paused for a long time. Eventually, Maya just throws her hands up in the air in disgust.)
Maya: Look, you can ambush me with your inept trivia knowledge some other time. If you’ll excuse me, I have to drop this off.
(Maya waves the envelope in the detective’s face, and then walks over to the door to apartment #534, but bumps into Kôhei, who also turns in that direction. They both move closer to the door, again bumping into each other. The two glance at each other, Maya frowning and Kôhei grinning, and simultaneously they knock. Before Maya can question Kôhei as to his intentions, the door opens, and a young, well-dressed man about Kôhei’s age answers.)
Young Man: Yes?
Maya: (Cheery) Hi! I—
Young Man: Kurobe-san?
Maya: (Surprised) Wha!?
Kôhei: Shibaraku, Kanagawa. How have things been?
Maya: (Still surprised) Huh!?
Kanagawa: Great, thanks!
(Kanagawa finally notices Maya)
Kanagawa: Oh, and you—?
Maya: (Growling) Here.
(Maya shoves the envelope in Kanagawa’s hands, and storms off. Kanagawa watches her silently.)
Kanagawa: (Softly) Kurobe-san, who was that?
(The detective grins broadly.)
Kôhei: (Loudly) Oh, her? She’s just my gir—
Maya: (From a distance, grumpy) Kôhei-kun...
(Kôhei closes his eyes and grins, putting one hand up, and rubbing back of his head.)
Kôhei: Er, I mean, uh… we’re just good friends, you know?
Kanagawa: Okaaaaaaaaaaay...
Kôhei: (Chuckling) Anyway…
(He pauses to look over shoulder, before turning back to the other man.)
Kôhei: I heard through the grapevine that you’d requested to be transferred back to being my #1 co-worker.
Kanagawa: (Shrugging) Haha, yeah, I did.
Kôhei: What’s up?
Kanagawa: Well…
***
(A short time later, at Tokyo MPD Headquarters, Kôhei grins uneasily as he and Kanagawa stand in the large, dark meeting room before the Commissioner and two senior officers.)
Commissioner: There’s been a
murder recently, on the road between here and
Kôhei: (Twirling fingers) Yeah yeah, we already read about it in the briefing.
Senior Officer #2: (Loudly) Kurobe! Show some respect!
Kôhei: (Frowning) Yes sir.
Senior Officer #1: It’s just the latest in a string. Last night’s was the fourth one.
Kôhei: (Surprised) Really? Now that I didn’t know about.
Commissioner: You didn’t know about it because the bodies weren’t found until earlier today.
Kanagawa: What?
Kôhei: (Putting hands up) Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute! How do we know there’s any conn—
Senior Officer #2: (Shouting) Kurobe!
Kôhei: (Rolling eyes) Yes sir.
Commissioner: (Sighing) You probably wonder if and how they are connected, right? Well, on all four of the bodies, we found one of these.
(The Commissioner opens up a manila folder on the table in front of him and pulls out something wrapped in a clear plastic Zip-Lock bag. He slides it across the table, and Kôhei reaches down and picks it up. He looks it over carefully. It is a blood-soaked letter written on weather-beaten parchment.)
Kôhei: (Reading) “This is what happens to those who seek the kind of knowledge forbidden to Man. Signed, Coeur Noir.”
Kanagawa: “Coeur Noir”?
Kôhei: It’s French— “Black Heart”.
Senior Officer #1: Very astute, Kurobe.
Kanagawa: But why? What does it all mean?
Commissioner: Maybe you’ll find some answers here.
(The Commissioner slides a small white card across the table, and Kôhei, handing the piece of evidence to Kanagawa, reaches down and picks this up.)
Kôhei: (Reading) “The SOUL Foundation— Working for the betterment of Mankind.”
(Kôhei slowly puts the card down.)
Kôhei: SOUL… I’ve heard of that name before...
***
(Soon enough, Kôhei is once again sitting in “Eight Hand Saburo’s”, across from the ever-enigmatic Shishi, drinking his trademark malt liquor and still reading a newspaper.)
Shishi: SOUL. It’s a relatively new corporation, established about a decade ago at the most. Dedicated to all sorts of new-age development projects and that sort of thing— robotics, environmental reconstruction, communication technology… maybe even a little genetic engineering and cloning, they say. They’ve got their hands all over the place though— another one of those mega-conglomerate deals.
Kôhei: (Nodding) Interesting. So why would someone want to kill four of their senior executives?
Shishi: (Shrugging) Why would they?
Kôhei: (Grinning) I dunno, but I’d pay to hear it.
Shishi: (Calmly) SOUL has more than its share of skeletons in the closet— including some very shady business dealings. You remember that merger between One Course Industries and MONO Inc. from a couple months back?
(Kôhei takes a drink.)
Kôhei: As clearly as I remember night and day. The number of layoffs that resulted in that was staggering. If there’s one company that has bankruptcy coming, that’s it.
Shishi: That was all SOUL’s doing.
Kôhei: (Surprised) What? But I thought that ONENO—
(Kôhei shivers in disgust.)
Kôhei: … handled like, online shopping or something?
Shishi: New internet development. SOUL technically led to the merger by putting pressure on both companies when they just happened to release some of their products before either One Course or MONO put them on the market. Then SOUL took in the layoffs and, in effect, many of the corporation’s shareholders. Suddenly, nobody wants stock in ONENO, SOUL’s stock skyrockets, and the “grand new merger” ends in ONENO going under… only to be saved when SOUL buys them out for pocket change.
Kôhei: You mean they basically forced them to drive themselves into the ground just so they could buy in the end, huh? That is pretty underhanded. But is that enough to make someone want to take revenge by killing SOUL execs?
Shishi: (Shrugging) Anything could be possible. I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Kôhei: You do that, Shishi.
(Kôhei pulls out a folded stack of ¥10,000 bills from his breast pocket and slides them across the table. Not looking up from his newspaper, Shishi’s large sleeved right arm reaches across to collect them. Kôhei then rises and makes his way to the exit. He goes out to his car, where Kanagawa waits patiently in the passenger seat. Kôhei opens the door and slides in, not looking at his partner. He sighs.)
Kanagawa: (Curious) What did you find out, Kurobe-san?
Kôhei: (Folding arms) More than I probably should know.
Kanagawa: Well, what are we going to do now?
Kôhei: (Shrugging) What else? Pay a call on the SOUL Foundation.
***
(Back at the “Kôhiimame Café”, Maya, Mikoto and Junko are hauling in the last of the boxes from the younger girls’ move.)
Mikoto: (Panting) Hey, how much of this stuff is yours again, Maya?
Maya: (Straining) Hey, at least we didn’t need to make more than one trip… unlike someone…
(Maya and Mikoto glare at each other, but Junko interjects before it escalates beyond friendly banter.)
Junko: (Grinning) Well, it’s just good to see all your things arrived in one piece, Mikoto. You too, Maya.
Maya: (Nodding) Yeah! I really can’t thank you enough for letting us stay here, Obachan.
Mikoto: Yeah. Although, I think I’d like to take a break before we start actually unpacking.
Junko: (Slyly) Oh, good. Maybe you girls wouldn’t mind running me a little errand then?
(Maya & Mikoto simultaneously gulp at the tone of Junko’s voice.)
Junko: (Cheerfully) I just need you to run out and pick up something for lunch! You know, to celebrate your arrival!
(Maya & Mikoto simultaneously exhale, relieved.)
Maya: Oh sure, no problem. Come on Mikoto, there’s a great little family-run place near my old apartment. (Overly enthusiastic) We can get take-out!
Mikoto: (Groaning) But Maya, there are plenty of good-looking places closer to here. That “Agito” place we passed on the way here seemed inter—
Maya: (Sternly) Now, which one of
us has lived in
Mikoto: (Rolling eyes) Well, considering you just go back like, what? A week ago? A you’ve barely even spent any time here… anyway, what does that have to do with anything?
Maya: (Proudly) Well, an accomplished cuisine expert such as myself already knows all the positives and negatives of the local places— and besides, trust me, that’s one you’d want to eat-in at.
Mikoto: (Unconvinced) Alright, whatever…
(Maya puts her arm around Mikoto’s shoulder, eliciting a sarcastic grin from her friend.)
Maya: That’s the spirit!
***
(Elsewhere, the two detectives have driven to the SOUL Foundation’s massive
central complex, located far outside of the very center of
Kôhei: Ahem. Excuse us...
Representative: (Looking up, cheerfully) Oh, yes? Welcome to the SOUL Foundation. How can I be of service today?
Kôhei: (Pulling out badge) I’m Detective Kurobe of the Tokyo MPD. This is my partner.
(Kôhei elbows Kanagawa in the ribs, and the other cop grins embarrassedly and pulls out his own badge.)
Kanagawa: Kanagawa Kazuo
Representative: How can I help you gentlemen?
Kôhei: We need to speak with, uh, one of the higher-ups. This is concerning the recent… untimely demises of four of your senior members.
Representative: (Nodding) Oh, yes. I see. I’ll have someone with you right away.
(Kôhei & Kanagawa wait patiently while the rep does some typing on her computer and then speaks into her headset. Before long, another peppy young woman, dressed in a stylish business suit, strolls up from behind.)
Woman: (Cheerfully) Hello! I’m Chisako. I’ll be your escort.
Kôhei: (Raising eyebrow) Escort?
Chisako: (Nodding) Yes, for your meeting with the Chairman.
Kôhei: (Surprised) The Chairman?
Chisako: (Nodding) Yup! I was told the Chairman wanted to see your personally. Please follow me.
(As the woman turns swiftly on her heel, Kôhei shrugs and follows. Kanagawa, unsure of what to make of this, dashes forward to catch up to his partner. As they walk, Kanagawa leans close to his friend.)
Kanagawa: (Whispering) Kurobe-san! Did she just say what I think she did?
(The other detective nods grimly as they continue to keep up with the young woman.)
Kôhei: Yeah. The Chairman of the SOUL Foundation itself… They say he hasn’t been seen in public in years. I was expecting to meet with one of members of the Board Of Directors at the most, but the big cheese himself!?
Kanagawa: He wants to meet with us!?
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Well, when four of his oldest employees have been murdered… why not? Besides, this way we’re sure to get some answers.
(The two men follow the young woman through several spacious, matching corridors. The entire inside of the complex has a polished, futuristic, almost Art-Deco feel to it. Before long, the three enter a large, glass-walled elevator, which speedily makes its ascent up through a massive glass tube clinging to the side of the main tower. Kanagawa looks out, impressed at the magnificent view, while Kôhei simply folds his arms and looks grim about the whole situation. The elevator brings the party to the very top of the building, and the stainless steel doors open into yet another dark, blue corridor. The detectives follow their guide through this, until they reach the very end, where large black double doors await. Chisako stands to the side, and motions with her hand for them to enter.)
Chisako: (Cheerfully) Here you go! I’ve got to go take care of a few things, but I’ll be back here when you’re finished, okay?
(The young woman grins broadly, and Kôhei just nods. He then reaches to open one of the doors, but find it opens inward on its own. After a brief pause, he steps forward, followed by Kanagawa, and the doors close behind them. They enter the large, dark room seen at the very end of the previous episode. Light pours in through the horizontal blinds of two huge windows on either side, casting an eerie green glow throughout the room. At the very end of the large room, a single black obsidian desk awaits, with two large cushioned chairs in front of it. Kôhei & Kanagawa walk forward, silently noting the strange design on the carpet beneath them, and sit down. Behind the desk, a tall black chair slowly turns, and we see that its occupant is the young woman, also seen in the previous episode. She rests her chin on the back of one hand, dangling her fingers playfully, the other arm folded on her lap, fingers tapping slowly. She’s still dressed in an expensive designer suit, and her half-face-covering blonde hair and exotic features are well made-up. She gives a sly grin, and then straightens up, sits back and folds her hands on the table. Two tall, imposing men dressed in black suits wearing sunglasses with matching buzz cuts wait on either side of her, their arms folded behind their backs. Behind the woman is a back-lit embossed SOUL emblem. Kôhei & Kanagawa simply stare on open-mouthed. Finally, the young woman speaks up.)
Woman: (Smoothly) Good morning, gentlemen. I’m Risa Sylvia-Seul, CEO of the SOUL Foundation.
(Kôhei, still gaping open-mouthed, finally finds the power to shake his head and sits back slowly.)
Kôhei: (Surprised) Well, I sure wasn’t expecting this.
Risa: (Mildly surprised) Hm? What do you mean?
Kôhei: You’re a Chairwoman.
Risa: (Slyly) Oh? Are you telling me you don’t think a woman can run a corporation as large as SOUL, Detective Kurobe?
Kôhei: (Shaking head) No, no! I don’t mean it like that! It’s just, I wasn’t expect— wait, how do you know my name?
Risa: (Flatly) You gave it at the front desk.
(Kôhei pauses to take this in.)
Kôhei: Hm, I guess I did… Anyway, I had been under the impression that the head of SOUL was a man.
Risa: (Nodding) Oh, I see. You must have been thinking of my father… (Sadly) Unfortunately, he vanished nearly two years ago, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. So, by his will, I had to step up and take control of the family business.
Kanagawa: (Curious) Vanished?
(Risa glances away, looking pained by this conversation.)
Risa: Yes… But, that’s not why you’re here to talk to me, is it?
Kôhei: (Shifting position) Well, no— we came to ask you a few questions concerning some recent killings…
Risa: (Sincere) Ah, yes. I’m well aware of the news. Absolutely horrible, from what I heard. They were four of my father’s dearest friends, and fellow founding members of SOUL. They all served the company far longer than they needed to— they will be missed and honored, I can assure you of that.
Kôhei: (Nodding) Yes, it’s very regrettable. In any case, we were wondering if perhaps you could provide us with some background information on those men, as I’m sure you’re aware, being high-ranking officials, their sudden and unfortunate deaths are of considerable suspicion. (Thinking) Smooth, Kôhei! Who says you don’t learn anything from TV?
(Risa closes her brilliant blue eyes and nods slowly.)
Risa: Of course. I’ll see to it that Chisako gives you their personal files and whatever other information we can obtain.
Kanagawa: (Nodding) Thanks. That’ll help out. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, have any SOUL employees been laid off recently?
Risa: (Shaking head) No, we at SOUL pride ourselves in sticking to our promise of lifetime employment. A pity the same can’t be said for other companies that make that same promise…
Kôhei: Indeed. But back to the point, if you don’t mind me asking… do you have any personal enemies?
Risa: (Sighing) Personal? It would have to be a personal grudge in their mind alone. I can’t help it if my company is simply more… efficient than others at what we do.
(Kôhei is about to speak, but Risa cuts him off by rising to a stand. The sound of the doors opening behind them confirms Chisako’s earlier statement.)
Risa: I’m terribly sorry to cut this short, gentlemen, but I’m a very busy woman, and I’m afraid I have to be attending a luncheon with some government personal soon. If there’s anything else I can do for you, please let Chisako know, and I’ll see to it that you get SOUL’s full cooperation.
(Risa gives a gracious bow.)
Risa: Good day, gentlemen.
(Kôhei & Kanagawa return the bows, uneasily.)
Kôhei: (Thinking) And a good day to you… hm, maybe I should have said that one out loud.
(Kôhei & Kanagawa are soon outside Risa’s office, waiting to be led back to the elevator by Chisako. Kôhei looks around, and leans close to Kanagawa.)
Kanagawa: (Puzzled) Kurobe-san?
(The spiky-haired detective puts a finger in front of his mouth.)
Kôhei: Shhhh! (Whispering) They could be listening in on us, so we have to keep this discrete.
(Kanagawa nods.)
Kôhei: (Whispering) I don’t know what it is, but there’s something very fishy going on here.
Kanagawa: (Whispering) You mean with the Chairwoman?
Kôhei: (Nodding, whispering) Yeah. When we get out of here, I want you to do some research on her. Who she is, where she comes from, that sort of thing.
Kanagawa: (Whispering) What about you, Kurobe-san?
Kôhei: (Whispering) I need to have a talk with a few close friends…
(As they hear the sound of the elevator, Kôhei & Kanagawa stand apart, folding their arms behind their backs and whistling aimlessly. Chisako emerges from the doors and looks them over.)
Chisako: (Cheerfully) I hope your visit with the Chairman was informative!?
Kôhei: (Cryptically) Indeed it was.
***
(Before long, the two detectives are driving back towards the center of
Kôhei: Hey Kanagawa, you wouldn’t happen to know where the other three bodies were found, would you?
Kanagawa: Where? Well, before we left I talked with some of the guys who had been there when they located the other bodies, and they were all in woods— the other murders happened not too far from the one last night.
Kôhei: In the woods? You mean hidden?
Kanagawa: Yeah, in the bushes. Although blood trails indicate that they would have actually been killed on the road... (Puzzled) Does that mean anything to you?
Kôhei: Well, the body from last night’s attack was left right out on the road. Seems interesting to me that the killer would go through all the trouble of concealing the bodies in the first three cases, and then the fourth time just leave the evidence out in the open like that, know what I mean?
Kanagawa: You mean… you think there is more than one killer?
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Who knows? But I wouldn’t rule it out.
Kanagawa: (Looking down at the files) Well, I did hear something else interesting— they think only two of the murders were done in the exact same way.
Kôhei: What?
Kanagawa: Yeah. The 1st and 3rd victims both had their necks nearly ripped open, as if they had been bitten by some wild animal. The one from last night had a snapped neck though. But the second one appears to have died of massive internal bleeding, and their head showed signs of having been beaten with a heavy, blunt object.
Kôhei: But the first three were all found in the woods, and I’d hardly venture to say that the third was handled any less… efficiently… than the previous two. It’s almost like there’s three different killers now…
***
(Risa now stands in another office room, but not one of her own. This one is smaller, less extravagant, and better-lit thanks to the open blinds. It is also considerably messier. Shelves lining the walls are filled with all sorts of strange, ancient-looking artifacts and pottery. Piles of paper and stacks of magazines cover the metal filing cabinets beneath these shelves, and a single fan spins lazily overhead. Risa stands in the center of the room, arms folded, staring towards a large desk, covered with cups of coffee and overflowing ashtrays amidst yet more stacks of files and papers. Someone sits behind the desk, but we do not see who it is, and hear only their soft but chilling voice. Whoever this mysterious person is, they busy themselves with a game of one-person chess, the occasional loud knocks of a piece hitting the board causing Risa to flinch every so often.)
Man: So they’ve finally come to you, eh?
(He puts down another piece.)
Man: I’d watch your next moves if I were you.
Risa: (Calmly) You don’t need to tell me that. (Slyly) In fact, I’m actually rather intent on letting someone in on my little pet project quite soon.
(The man picks up another piece.)
Man: Suit yourself. But I’m warning you now, Seul— don’t blow the chance I’ve given you. If your father was still around, you’d never get away with any of this.
(He knocks aside yet another piece and places the new one on its spot.)
Risa: (Frowning) Count on it.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Sometime later, Maya & Mikoto are cruising along through
Maya: (Tired) What do you want now, Kôhei-kun?
Kôhei: (Serious) We need to talk.
(There is a long, awkward silence.)
Maya: (Unimpressed) ...Well?
Kôhei: (Confused) Huh? I thought you were going to reply with some snide comment.
(Maya groans and rolls her eyes.)
Maya: (Impatient.) Kôhei-kun, are you just trying to waste my time, or is this serious?
Kôhei: Oh, it’s serious! Deadly serious!
Maya: (Folding arms) Alright, what is it?
Kôhei: I need to ask you a favor.
Maya: A favor?
Kôhei: (Nodding) Yup.
Maya: (Skeptical) And what exactly would this “favor” be?
Kôhei: I need you to go undercover for me.
Maya: (Raising eyebrow) Huh? Go undercover for you?
Kôhei: (Nodding) Yes.
Maya: And do what?
Kôhei: (Cryptic) I need you to look into something for me.
Maya: (Impatient) Something!? Could you possibly be any vaguer!?
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Well, I have to make sure you’ll do it before I give you the finer details.
Maya: Wouldn’t it make more sense to tell me what I have to do first, and then let me agree to it!?
Kôhei: Well, normally it would, but in this case… no.
Maya: (Flabbergasted) No!?
Kôhei: (Nodding) Yeah.
Maya: I don’t know what crazy scheme you’ve got going here, Kôhei-kun, but I want no—
Kôhei: Remember what I did for you a few days ago?
(Maya tilts her head curiously.)
Maya: Well… no.
Kôhei: (Huffing) I got you out of being thrown in jail!
Maya: Oh, yeah… so?
Kôhei: (Bluntly) You owe me, Maya
Maya: (Sarcastically) Oh, do I?
Mikoto: (Piping in) Sure! Don’t worry Maya, I’ll take care of lunch while you give Keiji-san a hand.
(Maya groans and puts her head in her hands while Kôhei gives Mikoto a thumb’s up of approval.)
Maya: (Shaking head) Alright, so what is it you want me to do?
Kôhei: Like I said, go undercover. I’ll fill you in on the way.
Maya: Okay, fine.
(Maya pauses for a moment, and her lips curl into a devious smile.)
Maya: Hey, do I get to wear a cool disguise?
***
(Elsewhere, Kanagawa is busily typing away on his laptop at his desk back at the MPD. He pauses to take a sip of his favorite canned coffee, but nearly spits it out as he stumbles across something. Swallowing quickly, he gasps in shock.)
Kanagawa: (Surprised) This can’t be right… !
***
(Back at the SOUL Foundation, someone enters the expansive, bustling lobby and walks up to a customer service rep.)
Representative: (Looking up, cheerfully) Welcome to the SOUL Foundation. How can I be of service today?
(Maya, dressed in a fancy business suit, made up more than usual, and wearing a wig of long, straight black hair with thick-framed horn-rimmed glasses, smiles and produces her Meishi.)
Maya: (Cheerfully) Hi there! I’m… uh…
(Maya quickly glances at her business card.)
Maya: “Mitsukuri Atsuko”
(The rep raises an eyebrow suspiciously.)
Representative: “Mitsukuri Atsuko”, huh?
Maya: (Nodding) Yes, that’s what my card says—
(Maya suddenly looks down, horrified, and quickly scrambles to hold her card face-up, dropping her purse in the process. She clumsily attempts to kneel down and grab the strap while still holding her card up to the clerk’s face. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps behind her causes her to turn and look up, to see the young woman from earlier, Chisako. The other woman bends down to pick up Maya’s purse and hand it to her as Maya drops her hastily-made business card on the rep’s desk. Maya takes her bag back and gives a nod of the head embarrassedly.)
Maya: (Closing eyes) Hehehe… um, Sumimasen.
(Maya bows deeply.)
Chisako: Can I be of some assistance, perhaps?
(Chisako gives a small wave to the representative, who nods and goes back about her work.)
Maya: (Fumbling) Uh, well, um… yeah! I need to meet with the Chairman of SOUL right away. I represent… uh… Honichizami Products. We’ve been seeking a joint partnership with SOUL in developing… uh…
Chisako: (Interjecting, skeptical) Never heard of them.
Maya: (Feigning surprise) Really? Well, we’ve been in business for over 35 years! You must have—
Chisako: (Smiling) I think you and I should find some place to speak in private… “Sigma”.
Maya: (Grinning) No, no, it’s Atsu—
(Maya stops short when it finally sinks in.)
Maya: HUH!?!
***
(Kôhei, sitting in the MPD Cafeteria, attempts to enjoy his late lunch despite his sour mood.)
Kôhei: (Thinking) I don’t what it is, but there’s something about that SOUL CEO that just rubs me the wrong way. Was it the way she spoke? Or the way she acted? Or maybe the way she looked— Nah, she actually looked pretty good! Even if she’s no Ma–
(Kôhei’s train of thought is interrupted as Kanagawa, having dashed in through the doors, spots him across the room and runs across, apologizing profusely as he almost bumps into fellow diners.)
Kanagawa: (Shouting) Kurobe-san!
Kôhei: (Looking up) Kanagawa! What’s up?
Kanagawa: Take a look at this!
(Kanagawa pulls a stapled stack of paper out of a manila envelope and hands it to Kôhei, who takes it and looks it over grimly. As he partner takes a seat, he scans the page until his eyes widen in disbelief.)
Kôhei: (Shocked) Gasp! So that’s it!
Kanagawa: What do you make of that!? (Thinking) Who actually says “Gasp”?
Kôhei: I knew something was up— she has two last names!
Kanagawa: (Groaning) Not that, Kurobe-san.
Kôhei: (Shrugging) Hey, I pay attention to all the details…
(Suddenly, Kôhei spots the thing that caused Kanagawa so much shock.)
Kôhei: (
Kanagawa: (Nodding) Yeah, and that would make her about 54.
Kôhei: (Grimly) And that, she certainly is not. I’d say early 30's if I wanted to be harsh, but realistically, she can’t be pushing 25. What the heck is going on here?
***
(Meanwhile, Chisako and Maya, back in her usual clothes, have long left SOUL and are driving through the peaceful countryside. As Chisako focuses on the road ahead, Maya looks at her with a mix of bewilderment and fascination.)
Maya: (Slowly) Um… say, where are we heading exactly?
Chisako: (Smirking) I just need to get away from SOUL for a bit… this act can be so demanding, you know?
Maya: (Puzzled) Act? Who are you, really? And just how much do you know about me?
Chisako: (Smugly) You’ll find out all in due time. As for how much I know… let’s just say quite a bit.
Maya: (Angrily) You’re not with Geier, are you!?
Chisako: (Chuckling) Oh, not at all. Quite the contrary, actually.
Maya: (Gritting teeth) Then why do you know that I’m Kamen Rider Sigma, huh?
(Chisako glances over, which surprises Maya momentarily.)
Chisako: Kamen Rider, huh? And who gave you the right to use that name?
Maya: (Frowning) Try Kamen Rider 1, Kamen Rider 2, and Kamen Rider V3 themselves!
Chisako: (Chuckling) Oh, really?
Maya: (Angrily) What, you don’t believe me!?
Chisako: (Smugly) No, not really. Considering they all haven’t been seen in years.
Maya: (Shouting) Wrong! I saw them not much more than a week ago!
Chisako: (Raising eyebrow) Oh, you did, huh? And where’s your proof?
Maya: (Taken aback) Proof…
Chisako: Yeah. Where are they, if you know them all so well?
Maya: (Looking down) Well, I…
(Maya clenches her fists.)
Chisako: (Snorting) Figures. You’re just another wannabe, like the rest of them.
Maya: (Angrily) Wannabe!? Why you—
(But she pauses, suddenly puzzled.)
Maya: The rest of them? What are you talking about?
Chisako: I don’t know what you think you’ve been seeing lately, but it wasn’t any of the Kamen Riders. They are mythical, legendary, creations of fantasy… and you have no right to go around using that name.
Maya: (Furious, screaming) WHAT!? WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY!?!?
Chisako: (Calmly) Someone who knows the Kamen Riders better than you ever will, understand?
(Chisako pulls over to a stop, and glares over at Maya.)
Chisako: Listen, for your own good, stay out of all this.
Maya: (Angrily) What do you mean!?
Chisako: No more fighting, no more gallivanting around as a Kamen Rider. This is much bigger and far more dangerous than you think, and there’s no place for a girl like you in this, understand?
Maya: (Exasperated) A girl like me!? Listen, whoever you are… You can’t just tell me wh—
(Maya stops silent as Chisako pulls a gun out of her purse and points it right at her.)
Chisako: (Smugly) Hey, I warned you. But if you insist…
(Chisako raises the pistol right to Maya’s forehead, and prepares to squeeze the trigger. Suddenly, the clicking of another gun is heard, and Maya glances over to see someone holding a gun to Chisako’s head from the back seat. That someone is… another Chisako!)
Maya: (Confused) HUH?
Chisako #2: (Smiling) Now, now, I don’t think that’s something you want to do.
Chisako #1: (Shocked) How– !?
Chisako #2: (Smugly) Nice switcheroo you pulled back in the parking lot… But not nice enough.
Chisako #1: (Growling) Kisama....
(Unprovoked, Chisako #1 pulls the gun from Maya’s forehead and attempts to shoot her double in the face. But the other Chisako ducks down quickly, just barely missing the blast. Maya grabs for the first Chisako’s gun, but the latter shoves her away and quickly opens the door, rolling out and rising to a crouch, firing again. Maya just barely ducks out of the way, and then jumps out of the car herself, soon followed by Chisako #2. Chisako #1 stands and turns to run, but the second Chisako fires, hitting her square in the arm. Maya watches shocked as a splash of gooey crimson blood sprays from the wound, and the first Chisako rushes off howling into the bushes. As she rises to a stand, Chisako #2 does the same, and Maya turns to the other woman.)
Maya: (Freaked out) WHAT just happened!?
Chisako #2: (Grinning) Sorry about all that. I was just going to change into something more comfortable, and it looks like she pulled a fast one.
Maya: (Confused) Who are you!?
Chisako #2: I’m the real Chisako… although actually, the name’s Kyôko. Fujiwara Kyôko. “Chisako” is just my cover name.
Maya: (Confused) Your cover name?
Kyôko: (Nodding) Yeah, just like you, “Atsuko”. This should answer some questions...
(Kyôko reaches into her pocket and pulls out a sturdy leather wallet. She hands it to Maya, who opens it to see an official “CIA Certificate of Qualification”.)
Maya: The CIA?
Kyôko: (Nodding) Yup.
Maya: But why? What’s their
interest in
Kyôko: A name you should be familiar with: Geier. I’m investigating them and their possible connection to the SOUL Foundation.
Maya: (Shocked) SOUL and Geier? Then that double of you…
Kyôko: (Flatly) A Geier agent, most likely. I don’t know how exactly they found out about me, but considering how deep their roots run, it doesn’t surprise me at all. For that matter, SOUL is probably already aware as well.
Maya: (Grimly) Well… I suppose you also know…
Kyôko: (Picking up where Maya left off) … About you being the “Masked Rider Sigma”? Yeah, we’re quite aware.
Maya: (Nodding) I see… (Thinking) “Masked” Rider?
Kyôko: Don’t worry though; unlike wannabe-me back there, I don’t doubt your validity.
Maya: (Sighing) Oh, that’s good to know. I was worried—
Kyôko: (Flatly) Everything else she said was pretty true though. That was an impressive imitation, I must admit.
Maya: (Disappointed) … Oh.
Kyôko: (Shrugging) Sorry. But this world is far too dangerous for a kid like you to be running around playing hero.
Maya: A kid like me? I’ll have you know—
(But she is cut off as a contingent of Geier Combatants appears out of thin air!)
Geier Combatants: IIII-GAAAHHH!
Maya: (Groaning) Oh, perfect timing… (Thinking) Well, looks like I’m going to miss lunch AND dinner now…
(The henchmen quickly surround and proceed to charge at the two young women. But Maya simply jump kicks two of them. She glances back at Kyôko, who, despite having her pistol knocked out of her hand, has no problem holding her own in hand-to-hand combat with the stronger opponents.)
Maya: (Grinning) You seem like you can take care of yourself just fine!
Kyôko: (Shrugging) It’s all part of basic training.
(The two female combatants make short work of them henchmen. Punches are thrown, split kicks are made, and lots of fancy flips and spins are made to dodge the hordes of evil. However, as the fracas goes on, the sun has slowly begun to set, and neither of our heroines notices a large figure lumbering through the woods, until it’s too late.)
Maya: (Spotting said figure out of the corner of her eye) Another Geier Kaijin!?
New Geier Kaijin: TOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
(Maya strikes a battle pose as the Tiger-like monster emerges from the woods roaring proudly.)
New Geier Kaijin: Hahahahaha! I am Tire-Tora. Prepare to DIE!
Maya: (Rolling eyes) That’s what they all say. Sorry, Fujiwara-san, but I can’t stop playing now. HEN–
Tire-Tora: TIGER TIRE!
(The Geier mutant pulls a large rubber tire from his back and throws it right at Maya, who rolls out of the way just in time. She rises to a stand, looking quite upset.)
Maya: (Pouting) What’s with you guys and interrupting my Henshin, huh?
Tire-Tora: (Softly) There’s reasons, believe me. (Roaring) Now, as I said, DIE!
Maya: No way! HEN–
Tire-Tora: TIGER TIRE!
(Tire-Tora rolls another one of his deadly tires at Maya, who leaps over it just in the nick of time.)
Maya: (Slyly) I’m getting “tired” of you already.
(Maya giggles at her bad joke as Tire-Tora just rolls his eyes.)
Tire-Tora: (Grouchy) Would you just stand still so we can get this over with?
Maya: (Determined) Well, okay, but at least tell me what you’re up to first?
Tire-Tora: Fine! We—
Maya: (Quickly) HENSHINSIGMA!!!
Tire-Tora: Why you–!
(Maya leaps into the air and changes into Kamen Rider Sigma. She comes down with a flying chop to the tiger mutant, but the Geier villain raises up his elongated left arm, and a hand-mounted tire begins spinning rapidly. The monster thrusts this right at Sigma, who quickly spins in mid-air and bounces off the end with her feet. Landing gracefully a short distance away, she strikes a dynamic battle pose as the cyborg monstrosity roars angrily.)
Tire-Tora: Sigma! Watch my power! TIGER TIRE!
(Tire-Tora flings one of his deadly tires right at the nearby car, consuming it in a massive explosion.)
Sigma: (Impressed) Not bad. But enough showing off. Ikuzô!
Tire-Tora: TOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
(Sigma and Tire-Tora charge at each other. The masked heroine drops to her hands and sweep kicks her opponent.)
It’s funny, isn’t it?
(Tire-Tora slashes at Sigma with his left arm, but she leaps up and backwards to safety.)
You think it all makes sense. You think you’ve got the world all figured out. And then… something likes this comes along.
(Sigma and Tire-Tora rush each other again. He swipes with both his spinning-tire left arm and large, clawed right arm. She dodges, flipping backwards, and responding with a punch to the stomach when she has an opening.)
I wonder, some times. Just what does it all mean? Why do these things that should not be exist? It chills the soul, doesn’t it?
(Sigma continues to punch back and forth, before kicking the Kaijin off of the road and down a hill. Sigma runs after him.)
The soul. That’s the thing we’re all trying to figure out, huh? They say
that the soul is what’s left over when you die, the last real remnant of you in
this life. Sure, people will remember your name, and your face, and maybe what
you did, but only for so long before they simply become a forgotten memory.
(The fight has now spilled down onto the banks of a stream, with a scenic
waterfall overlooking the action. Night has fallen, and Sigma’s red eyes and
Tire-Tora’s green eyes shine brightly in the increasing darkness.)
But your soul… your soul lives on, no matter what. If not in this world, than in the next. Humans wonder, when the day of reckoning finally comes, where will their souls lie?
(Sigma punches back and forth across Tire-Tora’s face, knocking him backwards.)
I can tell you now, it’s all a lot of nonsense. The soul is not merely the plaything of some greater power. No, the soul is beyond that. Beyond reason, beyond logic, beyond knowledge, beyond hope, beyond faith, beyond everything. The soul is something very different.
(Tire-Tora finds an opening and swings his tire-arm at Sigma, just barely missing her neck.)
But the body… the body is another matter entirely. For one surely must wonder… if you were to die, but you were not to stay dead, are you then a just body without a soul?
(Sigma gives Tire-Tora a swift kick in the chest, sending him sprawling back. She then prepares for the killing strike.)
The world will find out soon… when the awakening begins.
– Coeur Noir
Sigma: It’s over, buddy! HYA—
(Sigma is just mere centimeters off the ground when something slams into her at supersonic speed and knocks her back to the ground. Kyôko, having made her way down to the battle, watches on in shock. Sigma slowly rises to her feet, shaking her head, and looks up to see another Geier monster, this one resembling a female humanoid cheetah.)
Sigma: (Angrily) You are–!?
Cheetah Kaijin: (Cruelly) That’s none of your concern, really.
(The Cheetah Kaijin kicks Sigma across the face, sending her sprawling backwards. Tire-Tora rises up and rushes in for the kill, but his fellow Kaijin puts up an arm, and he respectfully backs down. Sigma manages to get to her feet, only to be clothes-lined by the super-fast mutant. The Kamen Rider is bounced around like a pinball between bumpers as the villainess runs supersonic circles around her. After she’s taken more than she can stand, Sigma collapses. The Cheetah Kaijin then stops before her, reaches down and picks Sigma up by the neck. The masked heroine struggles furiously, attempting to break the monster’s grip. But then, with a quick motion, the feline villainess closes her hand, and a gross snapping noise is heard.)
Kyôko: (Shocked) NO—!!!
***
(Elsewhere, in an unknown location, Risa Sylvia-Seul stands looking up at two large, liquid-filled glass tubes. But there is something else in the containers. Two dark shapes. The eerie reddish glow cast out from the tubes contrasts starkly with the dark green lights of the room. Risa, arms folded, again speaks to no one in particular… or does she?)
Risa: Dad… I hope you can understand why I do what I’m about to do.
(Risa smiles to herself.)
To Be Continued...
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Kamen Rider ©1971, 2007 TOEI / ISHINOMORI SHOTARO. "Kamen Rider Sigma" by Paul Sullivan.