>>5597141
Once upon a time, Humans lived prosperous lives, technology advanced as people and culture did, in time they discovered something they began to refer to as magic. Using both in hand they created a bountiful and wonderous society. Wars were far off and humanity thought it would know peace for all time.

But that all changed one day.... the day Kamen Rider disappeared.

The year is now 30XX. The place, a war torn Earth. In this era humanity faces multiple foes as it struggles on to survive. The enigmatic Machine Lifeforms and the invaders known as the Saurus Empire.

You the players will be playing the titular hero, Kamen Rider. If you're unfamiliar with that name it comes from a japanese television series, though this is not based on any specific version, all you need is this. Kamen Riders are heroes with a bug motif and bikes.

-----

A dream. You realize this as your senses begin to truly awaken. A tingling in your outer extremities, cold air filling your lungs, and a strangely bitter taste in your mouth. As your eyes open you realize there's a fog in the room with you. Blinking several times you correct that thought, it's condensation, and you're trapped behind glass, inside some kind of pod. Alarmed, you quickly use your enhanced strength to push the pod open. The door mechanism groans as it resists you, the air hisses out and you finally get to see where you are. Not five steps away you realize there was a person nearby, and she looks just as confused as you.

Upon meeting your gaze she gasps and jumps slightly, dropping a small metallic pad. Her features soon shift from shock into a small but anxious smile, her eyes seem to recognize you, but you have no idea who she is.

She's wearing a thick jacket with what looks to be armor strapped all over her, some sort of last minute measure you assume. The room you're in is a mess, items spilt over the floor, strange equipment angled to the side. Your attention shifts quickly to something more pressing, the spinning red light above you and an alarm blaring incessantly.


What are you thinking?

>This is an enemy trick! Now that you've broken free they'll move to restrain you!

>Ask some questions, cooperate with this woman.

>Transform and run out, this woman is no evil-doer, but something is afoot.

>>5597144
>>This is an enemy trick! Now that you've broken free they'll move to restrain you!

>>5597144
>Transform and run out, this woman is no evil-doer, but something is afoot.

Perhaps a noble soul press ganged by a villainous organization?

>>5597144
>Transform and run out, this woman is no evil-doer, but something is afoot.

You quickly hop out of the pod, drawing some of the mist out behind you in your wake. You eye the woman suspiciously and hold your fists up. You don't recognize where you are, but regardless, you believe yourself to be a good judge of character. This woman doesn't seem to pose a threat to you, nor does she seem to be capable of keeping you here. You note she isn't even armed, her armor would likely fall apart upon taking damage.

"If you're not my enemy, stand back!" You pre-emptively shout. Your body feels sluggish, completely at odds with what you were doing only moments ago. Regardless, the cyberization you underwent years ago helps to compensate until your organic parts and catch up.

How was it that you became a cyborg?

>You were abducted and experimented on, you escaped on your own.

>You were abducted and experimented on, a doctor helped you escape.

>You volunteered for the surgery, you were supposed to be one of many.

>[Write-in]

With the power of becoming a cyborg you permanently lost your human body, but in return you gained the power to protect humanity, the power to become Kamen Rider.

Your arm rises at an angle, another bends to your side.

"Rider!" You shout and begin to flood your body with the right ratio of energy to summon your belt. In a shimmer of light a metallic band appears around your waist.

You move your arm counter-clockwise, your arms then switch and then both collapse at your sides. The gyro begins to spin loudly, the air around you rushes into a small vortex, kicking up pencils, boxes, and all sorts of small items into the air.

"Change!" A bright light envelops you. The nanomachines connected to you and the belt start changing, transforming into a familiar kind of armor. As the light recedes and the gyro calms down, the woman goes wide-eyed.

But you leave no time to talk. You must investigate what's outside this room, whether its enemies awaiting you, or otherwise. The door slides apart as you run through and you're greeted with the sounds of explosions in the distance, along with several instances of deep repetitive bangs. Not unlike gunfire. Two men that were running your way collapse and slide to your feet. Blood spurts out in geysers as they fall forward.

The room you're standing in is wide and open, several shattered tables and chairs dot the room, several signs hanging from the ceiling are sputtering sparks. In the middle of it all is your enemy.

Several reptilian creatures stand amidst the ruined room, other humans are hiding behind pillars, tables or corners, but as more of the reptiles rush in they find themselves overwhelmed.

They aren't machine lifeforms, but they are enemies.


How do you handle this?

>Save whomever you can, rush to cover the humans.

>They can't hurt humans if they fall first, aggressively take out the enemy.

>The situation is still unknown, fight, but take prisoners.

>[Write-in]

>>5597223
>You were abducted and experimented on, a doctor helped you escape.
Classic set up
>Save whomever you can, rush to cover the humans.
we couldn't call ourselves a kamen rider if we did differently

https://youtu.be/YjCmpMxUm8A

>>5597223
>You were abducted and experimented on, a doctor helped you escape.
>Save whomever you can, rush to cover the humans.

File: __kamen_rider_1_kamen_rid(...).jpg (523 KB, 1623x1404)

523 KB JPG

You briefly remember Doctor Hongo, a well meaning specialist in robotics. He was closely related to the Machine Lifeforms, but in his actions he proved to you and others that he was a force for good.

It was from Doctor Hongo that you came to understand how you should fight. Kamen Rider is an existence that lives for and to protect humans. Kamen Rider is someone who can never lose. You nod as you recite these words internally. Dr. Hongo and yourself would want you to prioritize civilians, what would be the point of a Kamen Rider otherwise?

You don't have the time to check on the two fallen men, but you take one of their guns, then fling it at the reptilian at the center, stopping him from taking another target while allowing you to close the distance. It hisses as it recoils from the gun, while you sprint upwards and deliver an uppercut. While this move would normally leave you slightly open, you used your last attack to judge its strength.

The lizard is flung high into the air, crashing into some sort of vending machine a few meters behind it. To your right you note that another of the lizards is about to shoot up a wall, behind it, a man and woman are cowering. You roll to your sides and catch it in the legs, causing him to fall backwards, you catch him with your other arm and hook him in your elbows. Using his momentum you spin around, and throw him with both arms into the farthest lizard. With several shouts the lizards flops mid-air, the both of them scream as they collide.

The remaining reptiles note their allies now lying in the remains of a wall and focus their attention on you. One of them points at you and shouts in an unknown language, they turn their guns on you.

"Ggnh!" You hold up your arms as you brace yourself. These aren't bullets. Their rifles spout violet colored bolts at you, the energy diffuse into sparks as they collide into your armor. You can handle it for now, but you'd rather stop them sooner than later.

"Toh!" You shout as you propel yourself upwards, the lizards all shout in surprise and try to nail you mid-air. Their pellets whiz past, some even coming close. You smile behind your helmet. They might be used to normal humans, but your speed and strength far surpass a normal persons.

Normally you could transition straight into a Rider Kick, your signature, from here. But these enemies really aren't worth it. Instead you drop onto one of their shoulders, grip him with soles of your feet, and fling him forwards. Rolling backwards you drop into a low-spinning sweeping kick catching most of them. The remaining one tries to train his rifle on you, but you beat him to it. Grabbing one of the fallen lizards you sqeeze what appears to be a trigger and give him a taste of friendly fire. Green blood spurts out as it falls back. One of the lizards from earlier starts to get up again, but you stop it with an dropping axe kick.

(Cont..)

>>5597287
(Ahem, correcting post)

Looking around you can see the people you saved scurrying away, they look at you, but spare you no more of their attention. You try not to let it get to you, discrimination comes pretty easy to humans, especially when they see your Rider form first. Only one thing left on your mind. Those reptiles died fairly fast. Maybe one or two are unconscious, but is that really enough to defeat armed humans?

As if answering your question, a series of heavy plodding footsteps approaches. You turn your head towards another hallway. The sign above says 'Mess'.

Moments later another, more more armored, four-armed, lizard walks around dragging a hammer behind him and faces you.

"I was wondering what was taking the whelps so long. It looks like the humans are putting up a decent fight!" It spits at you, in your native language no less. You shift your arms and re-enter a battle pose.

"Hagh! If one must do something, one must do it personally!" It shouts and heaves the hammer onto it's shoulders.

Despite your dexterous actions until now, you know something's wrong with your body, it's still sluggish, and the power isn't flowing right. You can't spend a great amount of time here. A group of figures approach from the opposite hall, they don't look like lizards at all, their armor is more patchwork than anything, and their rifles are all in various states. One points at a member in their entourage and sends to the room you came from, to the lone woman.


How do you handle this?

>Rely on help from the newcomers to create an opportunity.

>Take the attention of both sides.


Bonus option?
>Settle it quickly with a decisive move:
Rider Punch
Rider Kick(No power)
Rider Slash

>Write-in

>>5597296
>Rely on help from the newcomers to create an opportunity.

>Settle it quickly with a decisive move: Rider Slash

>>5597296
>Rely on help from the newcomers to create an opportunity.
>Rider Punch

Looking at the newcomers, you can tell they're on your side, chiefly because they haven't shot you in the back yet. As you asses your options you're currently trying to avoid the new lizard.

"Give me some cover!" You shout, just barely dodging a punch. The lizard clicks his tongue, and hefts his hammer into both his hands.

The newcomers take up positions behind pillars and tables, sending their own volley of weapons fire at the hammer lizard. As their bolts impact the lizard stumbles, some of the heavier looking rifles seem to stagger him, but the rifles seem to disperse harmlessly on him.

"Grenade!" One of them shouts, and a yellow orb flies through the air. You take the change to deliver a quick jab at the lizard's center, staggering him again, before quickly rolling backwards. You slip slightly and land on a knee, but you still escape the blast zone. Fire erupts where the grenade goes off, covering the lizard and ground in a inferno, the metal around his begins to lose its luster and the details begin to bleed slightly.

"Hagh!" It lifted its hammer into the air, lights on its side and the face of its head light up, before it slams back down with incredible force. A wave of pressure smothers the fires from before, sends the newcomers onto their backsides, and you managed to just barely brace yourself, merely keeping the same pose you had.

The lizard ignores you, and rushes to the newcomers. One of them lets a high-pitched scream out, a woman? As she watches the lizard descend on her. You sprint towards them, and catch the shaft of the hammer before he finishes his swing.

"Gagh!" You grunt as the force of his swing sends shockwaves through your body, you feel yourself descend an inch or so into the ground, the metal floor tears under you but holds.

>>5597343
"Now, pile on!" You shout. A few of the humans start point blank firing into his gut, his legs, his head, any of the big targets. The bolts plink off the breastplate, but the green blood shooting out the sides tell you his armor has weakened slightly. His helmet is looking someone wetter as well.

"Damn!" The lizard back steps, swinging one hand to the side, knocking a human man into a far off wall, while the bottom end of the shaft catches someone off guard and knocks them over.

Now that you've created some distance, you pour your reserves into your hand and leap forward.

"Rider Slash!" You swing your flattened hand into a descending swing towards his head. The lizard just barely manages to place his hammer in-between you two, but its not enough. Your hands cracks it into two, wild energy arcs between you two, but your hand continues and in its descent it cuts into his head. The helmet snaps into two, falling off, revealing a similar reptilian face, before it drops the rest of its weapon.

"Agh! Retreat!" It shouts in your language, likely in panic, and then hisses something into its wrist. The Rider Slash wasn't enough, you try to move your legs to pursue, but you find the mechanisms in your calves and knees shutting down. You have no choice but to let him go.

-----

As the humans confirm that the lizards have left, you find them now encircling you. Weapons pointed at you now.

"What do we do with him?" Another woman among the group asks.

"Depends. A man in red-orange armor approaches you and asks. "What'd you do with Dr. Cain?"


What are you thinking?

>Cooperate, answer his resulting questions as best you can.

>Defend yourself, they have guns trained on you! Human or not, Kamen Rider can never be captured.

>Run. Even with your damage, humans can't stop you.

>>5597346
>Cooperate, answer his resulting questions as best you can.

>>5597346
>>5597348
Ah, unexpected interruption. I'm gonna have to take a break for now. Continue in 4 hours? In the mean time, how are you enjoying this? What do you think of my first quest?

>>5597346
>Cooperate, answer his resulting questions as best you can.
>I don't know who is Dr. Cain. The only person I've seen was a woman inside that building when I awakened.
>Is she safe?

>>5597357
I'm liking it. I've been wanting a KM rider quest for a while now. Specially one that is not directly based in a existing version

>>5597357
I like it, it's written well enough I can easily envision the scenes as if it were a show. Hope we see more of four arms, if only cause I like reoccurring antagonists

Like our wrathful lord in the sky, Phoenix the phantom

>>5597346
I support >>5597360

After we have established the safety of humanity, get a sit rep. Time, location, enemy composition.

The man in red-orange armor appears to be a higher status than the others. Aside from some mismatching shoulders and thigh pieces, his armor appears to be more or less from the same set. Scratches and buffed out dents tell you he's been through some heavy fighting. Maybe he's a member of the EDF? Though the uniform is strange.

"Dr. Cain? I've only seen a woman inside the building I was awakened in." The man continues to eye you up and down, trying to see if you're a threat no doubt. You keep your current standing pose as you reply, no need to startle him with any sudden movements.

"Is she safe?" You ask, but he needn't answer. The woman in question jogs over to you at a brisk pace, with another soldier following after her.

"Commander! It's him, we found him!" Dr. Cain comes between you and the other soldiers, motioning for them to put their guns down, they follow her lead albeit with some confusion.

The 'commander' sighs. "Was it worth it? The damn Saurians somehow got wind of this, we lost a lot of men..."

Evidently they were searching for you, but your existence at large should have been a secret. As Kamen Rider you were a soldier that fought in the shadows, the machinations of the Machine Lifeforms necessitated that. Did something change?

"You're with the EDF?" You ask the commander, even shifting your gaze to Dr. Cain. The soldiers around you give confused looks, Cain and the Commander look at each other for a moment before meeting your gaze again.

"Commander, EDF? What's he talking about?" One of them asks, and the Commander sighs.

"If this is a trick, it's sure as hell elaborate..." The commander gazes around the room, his gaze locks onto the ruined hammer.

"The EDF." Dr. Cain begins. "Also known as Earth Defense Force. They were our military before the Saurus Empire invaded."

"No way, this guy is that old?" The soldiers look at you with apprehension, confusion, curiosity. Even through their armor you can tell, after all, you used to be human too.

"What do you mean, are you saying the EDF was annihilated?" You start to feel a weight in your chest, what's left of your human body starts to tremble. You had allies, comrades even, in the EDF. Surely not all of them were defeated?

"Blaine, Andes, take a few men look for any stragglers. Tayler, Tetsu, get to salvaging what we can. Dr. Cain, take our guest to the bird, we can't stay here anymore." The commander starts pointing at several people, directing them to every which way.

"Wew!" A woman whistles, Tayler you assume. "Our old man repelled a Dragon, and took his hammer." Another soldier walks up to lift the head of the hammer, but only manages to budge it.

"Mr. Rider was it? Or do you have another name?" Dr. Cain asks. Allowing her to lead you, you follow behind. "You have another form, a normal looking one? Can you go back to that?"

Do you give her your name?

>Takeshi Ichimonji

>John Rogers

>Gai Daigoji

>Kamen Rider

>Write-in

Do you untransform?

>Y/N

>>5597728
>Kamen Rider

>yes

"It's Kamen Rider." You give her your name. Ever since you took on the duties of Kamen Rider, you decided to never look back, instead going only forwards, making your title your identity. For better or worse.

Despite the determination you feel in your heart as you reminisce, you can see Cain tilt her head and whisper. "Huh?" But she lets it go and continues.

"T-tell me, what do you remember?" She asks as she leads you down several short hallways, the doors are all busted open, clearly broken down or blown through. The rooms and hallways you pass are all very narrow, the rooms themselves are small almost purpose built. Most of them features double-decker beds, clearly luxury was at a premium, the closest to recreation you could find was the dart board and shattered pool table in the common room from before. You soon learn that this was an small facility, ten years old, lightly defended, but kept to utmost secrecy. It's sole purpose was to support Dr. Cain's archeological efforts.

Since you've decided to cooperate you recount your short time as Kamen Rider and your days with the EDF. Until you get to present day, you recall being defeated, but you're uncertain as to how or who exactly. Surely, the Machine Lifeforms.

"There was no Saurus Empire, are they invaders, aliens?" You ask, and she merely nods, offering nothing further. You furrow your brows but continue. "I, alongside the EDF, conduct secret anti-Machine Lifeform operations."

The machine lifeforms, did they unite under another name?

>Write-in

>Heilig-geist

>Ark-Zero

>They communicated nothing.

"Dr. Cain, when did the EDF fall, when did the Saurians invade?" It couldn't possibly have been more than a few days, you were beaten but not that badly. The EDF surely had holdouts throughout the globe.

"Kamen Rider..." Dr. Cain stops in place, just beyond the door to the outside world. She audibly swallows her saliva before continuing. "What year is it?"

You undo the transformation, you feel safe enough, but your Krystal Heart can no longer keep it running. You falter in place slightly but you answer.

"The year? It's 26XX."

Dr. Cain shakes her head sideways, her ponytail swings like a pendulum.

"That's wrong. It's 30XX."

"No way..."

She opens the door, and outside you see an overgrown forest. Throughout the forest you see the remains of vehicles, some you recognize as tanks and trooper cycles; you see strange jets among the wreckage of F-90 type planes. But your enhanced eyes see further, past the trees, past the branches. You see a ruined city, and burnt out buildings.

>>5597728
>Takeshi Ichimonji
>Y

>>5597777
I was too slow. At least I got quads
>>5597771
>Ark-Zero

>>5597778
Hmmm, if anybody else seconds you we could change it in the future. People change their minds all the time ya'know!

Also since it's getting late I'm thinking this might be a good point to take a break for the night. If you guys want i could probably give us a short perspective change?

>>5597786
I don't have a problem with going full Kamen Rider as our identity.
>>5597788
I'm fine with an omake or intermission.

Bonus Chapter select:

>Dr. Cain's log (30XX, March 4th)

>Dr. Hongo's Journal (26XX, Corrupted)

>Commander Ordanis (Command Center Transcript, 30XX, March 4th)

>>5597800
>Dr. Cain's log (30XX, March 4th)

Doctor Cains' log

Entry 142:

"Still nothing. He said there was something important here, he made it sound like a weapon, and we certainly could use one of those. I have had the men sifting through the dirt and the nearby ruins trying to find some record, data which would point us closer.

We haven't seen the machines recently, but the Saurians are just as virulent as ever. They are determined to wipe us out, but we have managed to hold them off these last hundreds of years."

Entry 143:

"The facility is fully functional now. I expect we'll spend the forseable future here, I have no idea where to start so we'll set up some preliminary gridwork before we begin operations. I can tell we'll be bored, and we're tired of watching the same vids. Maybe we can find something nice in the city ruins. There's something called a Flixbuster."

Entry 144:

"I can't believe it! We found something! Several meters underground is a laboratory! Unfortunately, most of the lab is damaged, the equipment is ninety-percent unrecoverable salvage. Nevermind the data drives, most of it is somewhat primitive, but the data we can recover is corrupted heavily. Time perhaps? From what I've seen there's a Doctor Hongo referenced several times, this laboratory is apparently his. Please, Dr. Hongo, watch over your descendants, us humans of the future. Give us a weapon."

Entry 148:

"Unbelievable! It's not a weapon at all! Instead it's a 10 by 5 foot container, a pod or capsule, hidden in an elaborately concealed room. The rubble damaged the mechanism that hid it so we were able to easily find it. Somehow it was the only piece of fully functional equipment, by all appearances it is a cryo-pod! Such technology existed hundreds of years ago! What an amazing find!"

Entry 149:

"Doctor Hongo was a savant! I've been going over his notes and he appears to have perfected cyberization long before the Saurus Empire invaded. How amazing! Unfortunately it appears he was never able to share his works with the wider world. From what I can tell this time period is when the machines started rebelling, he calls them the machine lifeforms. Are they sentient, fully sentient? Sapient even? This is troubling information."

Entry 150:

"Inside the cryo-pod is a man, he looks like a young man, amazing. Is he some sort of veteran from before the Saurus Empire? What technological wonders can share with us? According to Dr. Hongo, this man is Kamen Rider. A name or a title? Regardless, he was supposedly very powerful, and Hongo seemingly spent the rest of his life upgrading him. It is unfortunate that I cannot discern if he died here or not, but I cannot find any remains, though it has been centuries. I doubt we will see him again. For the sake of this Doctor Hongo, I will be the bridge between the past and future, for Kamen Rider."

Well, thanks fellas that participated. If you have any thoughts or concerns feel free to let me have them. I'll try to get back to you tomorrow. If I can't, same day next week.

File: 817a320c388392bc5765c3767(...).jpg (33 KB, 640x853)

33 KB JPG

Kamen Rider will return after a short word from our sponsors.

Wouldn't that be you guys? Anyways I was able to devote a few hours to this today, would it be better to at least do one a day or something? Readership aside, I still feel a little strange about this, back at the beginning my first update took about an hour to come out, does it matter how fast I push these?

You might have realized but i did sometimes just forget a detail. sorry.

Apparently the Commander's name is Ordovis, and on the ride to their base he decides to question you. Almost like he forgot. Having taken off his helmet you see a man who has earned his rank. A gruff, middle-aged man, with a wide scar stretching over his forehead and down his eye, sunken cheeks, and an inquisitive look in his eye.

"You said your name is Kamen Rider, we were under the impression that was a title or designation?"

"All interpretations are correct. I became Kamen Rider, I am Kamen Rider." You nod in reply, Ordovis squints his eyes at you.

"What is Kamen Rider?"

"Kamen Rider is a warrior who fights for humanity's freedom and peace." You say, pouring nostalgic feelings of determination into your words. Some of the other soldiers stifle low giggles at your answer. You try not to let it bother you, this kind of thing did happen back then too.

You spend the rest of the ride to their base quiet, now it's your turn to be informed. The soldiers along the way mostly speak amongst themselves, they still view you as a strange existence. Part suspicion, part curiosity, part competitive. While the sudden change in worlds was startling, the consistency of humanity's chaotic emotions bring some relief to you. Dr. Cain for her part is patiently explaining the way the world works, while she doesn't always go in depth, it's enough that you no longer feel like a fish out of water. Discovering the EDF had long fallen was a shock, but humanity fights on, and so will you. As for your enemies? The Machine lifeforms rarely appear nowadays. Two centuries ago they had gone on a rampage, destroying several cities. Then the Saurus Empire suddenly invaded, with the Machine Lifeforms quickly disappearing. But among all currently living humans, you know the Machine Lifeforms best. You know Ark-Zero, their progenitor, will appear again; though you think it's strange that it hasn't taken a larger role.

Ordovis does you the favor of showing you, at least a little, the state of the world. Inside their gunship, Commander Ordovis presents a holographic globe to you. Which impresses you, but you have no time to stay that way. He prefaces his quick briefing by saying they don't keep in contact with everyone, many cells conduct guerilla strikes on their own, but the cells that managed to build up actual fighting forces are presented to you as green dots. It's quite troubling, it's much sparser than you would have hoped. Just a few dozen fortresses, but you nod, humanity fights on, and now so does Kamen Rider. The Saurus Empire for their part do have several bases, mostly just overtaken human cities and strongholds, their biggest advantage, their mothership.

(Cont...)

"What about our satellites?" You ask, and the Commander looks at you confused, then seems to reach his own understanding.

"Ah, I'd almost forgotten. The history banks say we had a space station and a few data satellites, yes? The station notwithstanding, the others were easy pickings. No defensive capability to speak of."

You furrow your brows, alas, you expected as much. Even including Alpha and Beta, who were only there as data servers really, humanity had few exoplanetary defenses. Wrapping up your little history lesson, Ordovis then turns to you and you share what you told Dr. Cain. The state of the world you knew, as well as your role in it, things he could figure out on his own. Ordovis sighs and rests his head in his hands.

"Dr. Cain, please tell me he's worth it, we lost a settlement for him."

She nods. "You saw it for yourself, fresh out of cryo he took on a dragon class commander."

Ordovis shakes his head at that. "Even so, it was a young one..."

"Sir, he did it unarmed." Cain looks fiercely into Ordovis' visor, as if burning a hole straight into his eyes.

Most of the soldiers had taken off their helmets by now. A young man with blond hair slicked back spoke up. "Boss, he cut the hammer in half! Kacha!" He stood up and mimicked your motions with a wide grin. "But you shoulda seen me, I put the crack in his helmet!" The woman next to him, around the same age, with longish black hair pulled him back down into his seat.

"You forgot already, Blaine? It was your helmet that got cracked."

"Tetsu, come on..."

Ordovis leans backward into his seat and nods. "He is valuable. I want you checked out medically, and then I want to see you in our simulator room. I want to see how strong you are myself."

The soldiers all murmur to themselves, comparing you to enemies you've never heard of, wagering how you'd do. You sit back into your own seat, letting them talk, focusing only on the passive humming of the engines. You can see it like it was yesterday, gunships full of troopers just like this, all bickering, ribbing each other. You smile. No matter the era, humanity is unbeatable.

(Cont...)

Your ride finally lands in a mountain range surrounded by grassy knolls. Ordovis informs you it was a former landing castle. In your time the landing castles were man-made floating islands with the purpose of monitoring the world state as well as responding or even approaching emergencies and disasters. They were based around the idea of medieval castle towns, so that the soldiers aboard could serve for longer periods as they had their families nearby, as well as provide for recreation and commerce. Though they never saw any true service in your time.

Nowadays? They were all landed and converted into 'crawler castles', trading their float drives for giant caterpillar treads. Ordovis tells you this is because the Saurus Empire's mothership gives them too much of an advantage. Unfortunate, as they had superior anti-ground equipment.

Fortunately, it's anti-air defenses make it a very hard target to approach for current Saurian forces. While they probably could take it on, would they risk it? As your ship circles to its proper platform you make out heavy scoring along the walls, as well as mismatching panels. They had certainly made the Saurians think twice already.

While Ordovis leads his men elsewhere, Dr. Cain escorts you to the infirmary building. Window imbedded holo displays show off products you hardly remember, as well as some that are new to you. Along the way you note many people of both genders milling around, talking over tables, leaning on walls, etc. However, there are plenty that note your new face, so you make it a point to smile and wave. The fashion they wear seems somewhat weird, crazy in others. Nostalgically, you note that you used to be in 'it', sadly, you are no longer with 'it'. Looking down at yourself you remember you're wearing a straight black bodysuit. At least it beats hospital gowns.

Speaking of, that's your next fashion piece as you've agreed to cooperate.

(Cont...)

Finally released from the burden of scans and tests, the doctor calls back Dr. Cain where they have a chat about you. Looking over their notes and overhearring their conversation, you conclude they were unable to deduce the secret behind your Rider-System. Regarding your health, they're impressed, cryogenics preserved you very well and you're fortunate that you've retained the full function of your body. Dr. Cain however, pursues the topic of your cyber-parts. Her eyes gleam especially brightly as she asks you about Dr. Hongo, and the specifics of your Rider-System.

How did she know him? You agreed to cooperate, but how far do you trust these humans? Dr. Hongo is the one responsible for creating the Machine Liforms, albiet unwittingling, with yourself as a side effect. If you say this much, they may come to understand that you may hold the secret to defeating the machines, and it may cost your body again.


What are you thinking?

>Tell everything.
Dr. Hongo may have kept it a secret in your time, but the humans could use every advantage they can get.

>Hold back.
Give her your general origin, and your old strategy for fighting the machines. Do not reveal the Rider Systems' secrets.

>Reveal nothing else.
Dr. Hongo turned you into a cyborg, nothing more, nothing less.


Afterwards, it'll probably be a busy day. You'll meet Ordovis in his simulator, but then?

>Spend the day doing odd-jobs.
The people here seem to be having a rough time, while your cyborg parts may have originally been intended to do harm to humans, it brings you pleasure to do good instead.

>Check with the Commander to coordinate.
With your information on the Machine Lifeforms, and Ark-Zero, you might be able to make an immediate strike.

>Try to join a patrol.
You might be able to get a better lay of the land, as well as work out why your Rider belt was building power so slowly earlier, all while getting more experience facing today's enemies.

>Try to have a chat with the soldiers from earlier.
Familiarize yourself with how current day humans think, and fight.

>>5601366
So honest thoughts here, I want to keep putting in choices that matter. I don't exactly have the whole story lined up perfectly here, regarding those first choices, idk. You'll probably be fine it's just choosing what you learn about. I've been vague about (you) on purpose but i try to foreshadow it a little, maybe it needs more. I'll talk about it again if we go all in, but I am worried it's a little too early. Although normal rider shows reveal it episode 1 anyways so it's probably fine.

>>5601366
>Tell everything.
>Spend the day doing odd-jobs.

"How do you become Kamen Rider?" Dr. Cain asks you.

You stroke your chin as you prepare your words. Maybe your former mentor was just paranoid, but you choose to put your faith in these people. If you're going to protect them, then they should know where they're putting their faith. You decide to reveal everything as you know it. Nodding, you begin.

"I activate the Ride-Changer, my belt, inside the gyro gathers Aether from the air, at the same time it floods my body with nanomachines. The Aether powers the nanomachines wherein they transform into my armor. Meanwhile, my krystal heart pulls in more Aether to supercharge my body, so my strength matches my defense."

The doctors nod throughout your explaination, even raising a brow partway through.

"Aether? I've never heard that word."

You nod. "I wouldn't think so. The higher ups in the EDF, and Dr. Hongo himself decided to keep it secret. Aether is the true form of mana."

"Why would it be a secret? Mana is already present everywhere in our atmosphere."

"As I said, Aether is its true, most purest form. Mana your machines collect is somewhat diluted and processed further to power everything." Your hands gesture to the lights, the automated doors, and even the emergency surgical pod in the back of the infirmary. "Aether is what remains of a human soul after the body has died."

The doctors go wide-eyed, glancing at each other, then you. "Are you saying, you use deceased souls?"

Your brows furrow and you tilt your head. "Yes and no. That's simply the easiest way to explain it. The Aether is what remains, it's what's released. But your reactions imply I'm using people. It's like another part of our life-cycle. Bodies go back to the Earth, and Aether into the air. Once I've expended this power it goes back into the air, and into the Earth's lifestream."

Nodding along, the Doctors take notes, and then stop.

"So why Aether and not normal mana? Is that relevant at all?"

"Aether is particularly potent." You nod. "It's also lighter than mana. But Aether being particularly strong is what led to it being used, subsequently, to it being restricted."

"You mentioned this, Aether was top secret in your time."

At this you swallow your spit, now you're getting to the problematic parts. Here, you explain that it's also what powers the Machine Lifeforms. Of course this elicits surprise from the both of them, but you continue on. The scientists of your time theorized that it was the Aether itself that led to the machines going rampant, while the both of you use Aether, it is your preexisting consciousness that keeps the Aether under control. Both doctors are deep in thought, Cain is rubbing her chin now, clearly contemplating things. A silence settles in the room as you wonder if you've done the right thing.

(Cont...)

"You said that your cyborg parts were given to you by the Machine Lifeforms?" The doctor asks.

"After I was abducted." You nod in reply.

"Then, now that we know about this Aether, if we conduct more invasive scans, disassemble you. We could learn more about the Machine Lifeforms, even a weakness."

Your brows furrow. You thought it might go here, yes you do hold the secret to destroying them, yes they probably could learn it by taking you offline. You suspect that you wouldn't oppose him if he asks outright. But...

"Don't." Cain speaks up for you, and the doctor looks at her in confusion.

"Have you forgotten? Three landing castles, the Canadian islands, Kyushu, New-Tokyo! If we can reclaim them using him-"

"If we are unable to put him back the way he is, without developing our own countermeasures, we would not have the power to fight back. Our counterattack would never come."

The doctor leans back into his seat, his face scrunches as he thinks, after giving a deep sigh he speaks up again.

"You have to at least tell command."

"I will."

"What will you say?"

"I have to think about it."

The doctor nods and then turns away and opens up the holo-terminal on his desk. It seems he doesn't want to talk about this anymore. Dr. Cain leads you out, together the both of you seemingly walk aimlessly, but she stops at an intersection. You note that the streets are lined with hastily assembled store fronts, you can make out cars but they're all parked, with some having been converted into furniture or decoration. You note the front of a car sticking out the wall of another building in the distance.

"I have to go talk to the General and the Commanders. Ordovis is waiting for you that way." She points in another direction before briskly walking off.

"You owe me, mister Rider." She whispers.

-----

While things aren't exactly settled, it's back to Ordovis for some more questions, and then physical testing. As you're quickly reminded, you live in the future now. As you walk through the streets you see kids jet by and around you on floating disks, this holo-technology isn't restricted to military either. A person suddenly appears in front of you to advertise about a new nutrient paste for your skin, guaranteed to give you youth even three-hundred years into the future.

Upon reaching Ordovis he introduces you to a small room, that quickly lights up and presents to you a firing range, complete with stalls and targets. He hands you a gun and tells you to go crazy. Well, you used to have a gun too so this isn't too much a problem, is what you want to say.


Now's a good time to test this

Give me some dice, d50

Rolled 32 (1d50)

>>5601503

Rolled 30 (1d50)

>>5601503

Rolled 36, 22 = 58 (2d50)

>>5601503
Don't mind me i just wanna see how dice work too

Rolled 15 (1d50)

>>5601503

Ordovis hands you a pistol in the style of a revolver, though slightly bulkier than the types you're familiar with. Aiming down the iron sights you pull back the hammer and start shooting, with each shot you move and change targets. Several deep sounding echoes reverb throughout the room, your first few shots land close to the edges, so you take another one and another. The last two shots land closer and closer, maybe you'd hit a bullseye if you had all day.

You try not to let it bother you, Kamen Rider does his best work with his feet after all. Ordovis pulls you off and changes the settings. Your surroundings change from a firing range to an old style dojo, complete with wooden dolls holding up targets. It's a bit nostalgic since you yourself used to be quite an accomplished martial artist, fortunately it compliments your current job quite well.

"Don't worry about bullseyes, just hit them as hard and fast as you can." He says from outside.

So you do, the targets let out a high-pitched 'ping' each time your fist or foot collides, you start to work in technical moves. While your gunplay wasn't bad, your footwork is much superior. You deftly dance between the targets, spinning around them, driving the back of your elbow, fists into them as you move around, finishing with a flying kick towards the last target across the room.

"Not going to use your armor?" Ordovis asks once you finish up and you shake your head.

"Only for real fights."

Ordovis nods understandingly and shuts the room down. The light fixtures, targets, and tatami mats all fly away towards the corners like you were flushing a toilet. As it all fades away you find yourself not even a foot away from the doorway. Afterwards he gives you your score, your aiming could use some work, but your melee is above average. Ordovis moves into a 'power isn't everything' speech and tells you about how some of the soldiers on base are faster or stranger than you. You nod, it's reassuring to have powerful allies, even the EDF had ways of evening the field.

He lets you go and you find you have free time, so you decided to walk aimlessly through the streets.

(Cont...)

"What? So yer actually an old man under there?"

"Yeah."

"Hah! You look young enough to be my son!"

You found yourself helping to move large cargo out of the streets, the people around you are using various tools and vehicles to move them, but you're managing with just your body, albiet with some difficulty, and only the small to mid-sized crates.

"Some amazing parts you got there, how much? And where?"

"I practically fell into them." You smile and joke off any questions like that, but the people don't really care and smile back in good humor.

After that you move on, actually, you're following some of the men from earlier. They lead you to a scrap metal collecting dump, the pieces aren't particularly large or dangerous, but it's a job that needs doing. As you work it becomes clearer that this used to be some sort of small plaza with an enormous furnace at the center, though it was currently powered off.

"Greetings. I'm Kamen Rider." You approached the work foreman.

"That weird soldier we got earlier today?" he asked.

"Probably me." You give an awkward laugh.

"Well, hurry up then."

You nod, you don't actually know what to do so you just copy the men from earlier. You learn that they bring lighter salvage here, you even see some of the armor from the Saurian grunts you beat down earlier, and it all goes into some kind of processor for the workshops. You're briefly reminded of your father, a handy-man back in the day, as you work on. It might be a good idea to find your old residence, after all this time though the house might be long gone. Nonetheless, thoughts like that occupy your mind as you work.

Looking around there were some children mixed in too. 'It's just moving light metals, even kids can handle that.' You reassured yourself.

Watching on, one girl who'd been walking at an odd gait for awhile now suddenly fell. The ground was stone and dirt on the surface, to present the image of a town after all, still it wasn't exactly soft. She clutched at her knee as her tears welled up.

Quickly walking over, you crouch as you approach her. "What's wrong?"

"Oh! Ahah, i-it's nothing." She has a hand clamped over her knee, but her foot is slightly detached. Ah, a prosthetic foot in poor repair.

"Please, let me have a look." You move your hand over her foot, slightly align it in place, and pour energy into your palm. Hidden to the naked eye, hundreds of nanites were now gathering around her disconnected ankles, correcting the damage and even providing raw material for light repairs.

"Whoa!"

After a few moments her foot quickly returned to normal, you can't do anything about her scrape, but walking should be manageable again.

"Thanks mister!"

"Rider, Mister Rider." You smile as you ruffle her hair.

The workday ends for your new friends and with the evening sun setting you decide to hang it up too. Awhile ago Ordovis had told you that you were to currently stay at the infirmary to be monitored, in case you were in danger, and if you were a danger as well.

"Kamen Rider." Dr. Cain intercepts you in the hallways of the hospital building. "I'm calling in that favor, okay?" It's a rhetorical question, after all, you have honor don't you?

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Is this the so called qm curse? Anyways i had to step away for awhile, i had intended for a few more bumps but i decided to try to end it here. No choice at the end sorry, but you guys have a good night. This show continues thanks to viewers like you.

>>5601614
Good night QM

>>5601614
Hey QM I know nothing of Kamen rider, however you've gotten my interest. And I enjoy your work so far.

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>>5602750
Thank you. The guys from before too, I really appreciate when you guys come around, these thank you messages are for all of you too. Anyways update planned tomorrow (roughly 12-20 hours from now.)

No rest for the weary, the favor is a mission. A rescue mission. Dr. Cain is briefing you as she escorts you to one of their vehicle hangars near the walls of the castle. Apparently the mission isn't a secret. Even though it's night people are rushing about, likely preparing to receive the injured or getting ready to deploy if needed. Cain continues briefing you and mentions that Ordovis gave the okay, which is surprising, you'd expect a little more paranoia from veteran soldiers, especially after talking about your secret. Though it's unclear what exactly the two doctors have said to anyone else. Something to look into?

The mission? Saurians have attacked a mobile mining group. Dr. Cain informs you that it's a small group of people working out of a giant-armored crawler, not dissimilar from the landing castles, much smaller though. Although, this particular group was directly assigned to her. The armed escorts operating with the diggers are going to be overwhelmed soon, and the gunships you have are busy being refueled or repaired. It's up to a land assault.

Upon reaching the vehicle hangar you see several familiar models as well as what must be newer models. There are several heavy armored tanks you recognize from your EDF days, battle cars, as well as a few dozen trooper cycles propped up. Cain points your attention to the models you don't recognize. While the cataphract tanks boast heavier firepower with their mounted beam launchers, they unfortunately need a properly trained crew. Meanwhile, the new dive cycles can drive on all-terrain as well as fly. Though you aren't trained in these new vehicles, you plan to use your Rider-System to refit the bike, as well as learn it's most intricate systems. Coincidentally, your old bike was an overwritten Honda.

Before you're able to make a choice though, Dr. Cain finally answers one of your earlier questions.

"Why me?"

Because this is your chance to prove yourself. Prove that you were worth scattering dozens of archeological teams, worth months even years of work, and finally, worth supporting in the future. You nod.

A group will be sent out behind you as soon as they can, but the only armed support you can count on will be the guards quickly being overwhelmed. They're reporting two dragon-class commanders.

What are you riding?

>Battle-car
Armored with space in the back for people or equipment. A gunner is needed for the rear turret. Just fast enough to qualify for this mission. Less agile though.

>Trooper cycle
Mass-produced EDF bike, fast, light, agile. Primarily used for scouting missions.

>Dive Cycle
Limited-Production, much faster, and can fly. Presumably fills the same roles as the trooper cycles.

>Your old bike. (Roll d100)
If you survived maybe it did too? Call it.

You'll use your nanomachines to fix up and upgrade whatever you choose, but more importantly, what will you call it?

>Ride Hopper
>Cyclone
>Battle Chaser
>[Write-in]

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5605843
>Your old bike. (Roll d100)
If it hasn't survived
>Dive Cycle

Either way, I'm voting for this as the name
>Ride Hopper

"Come! Ride Hopper!" You shout out into the air and snap your fingers. You maintain that pose for a few awkward moments, putting out your senses to their maximum, but nothing happens. Dr. Cain coughs and tosses you the keys to one of the Dive Cycles. Graciously accepting them, you climb on top of one. The Dive Cycles themselves are incredibly advanced, easily distinguishable for the glowing lines throughout the wheels and bodywork.

In a room facing the giant doors leading to the outside you see several people operating computers, with one looking down on you. You wave to him to signal and he salutes you. With a shudder the doors start to open, giving you access to a short hallway that goes through another set of wide-thick doors, and to the outside.

The engine vibrates and roars alive as you slide the lever for ignition. Immediately going at full blast the thrusters and jets at the back flare to life, leaving behind a wispy trail of light in your wake.

You grip the sides of the bike with the soles of your shoes and release you grip on the handlebars. Your arm rises at an angle, another bends to your side.

"Rider!" You shout and begin to flood your body with a burst of energy to summon your belt. In a shimmer of light a familiar belt appears around your waist.

You move your arm counter-clockwise, your arms then switch and then both collapse at your sides. The gyro begins to spin loudly, the air around you rushes into a small vortex, picking up dirt and small motes of debris as you charge forward on your cycle.

"Change!"

A bright light envelops you and your bike, in the moment it recedes you can feel your nanomachines traveling from you to your cycle. The metal shimmers and distorts. The wheel on the back is still spinning but the entire thing has become a set of complicated thrusters, the exhaust vents on the back are now a pair of powerful jets.

You're still driving on the ground, but your belt tells you that you get maximum acceleration in the air. You pull your bike into a wheelie, then turn the switch in front of you from 'drive' to 'fly'. The front wheel, now hanging in the air, shifts sideways, an arm extends from underneath to grip it, and a bright blue light shoots out from underneath. The bike feels completely different now, it purrs loudly and smoothly, vibrating underneath you with a pleasant energy.

"Go! New Ride Hopper!"

Flying through the air is a new sensation for you, passing over the forest, terrain, among other obstacles makes things easier and you find you're making good time. Only a couple minutes pass and you finally see it. It's huge, must have been about twenty meters high, maybe forty across. It reminded you of a certain space trilogy.

You can see other vehicles, buggies, Battle Cars, even bikes scurrying around while trading fire, sometimes even fists with what must have been Saurian equivalents. The reptilian bikes looked like raptors bent over with a singular wheel underneath, their heavy armored cars had a triceratops like shield in front. Meanwhile, a gunship was quickly approaching from further off. Its shape looked smooth and organic, with spines poking out the sides and top, with thin wing-like appendages on the sides.

How will you handle this? (Roll d100 for all)

>Immediately intercept the gunship.
Aerial advantage, ensure your side is the only one that can fly.

>Get the ground troops free.
Battle the Saurians on the ground until (you) decide to switch targets

>Find the commanding officer and coordinate.
You don't know who are what is happening, work together with the soldiers already here.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>5605971
>Find the commanding officer and coordinate.

hmm if i'm only getting you for votes maybe i should forget the dice thing and just do it on my end? maybe just for special moves

Rolled 82, 34 = 116 (2d100)

>>5606153
You could wait a while, and if other anons don't show up roll the rest of the dice that are missing all at once.
Like this.

>>5606187
It's not like i have a set system, but i'll use some dice i have on hand to fill in. I'm thinking i'll go with my earlier plan, dw we're getting an update.

You're still new to this era, this fight. These humans have been in the fight for their whole lives, to their eyes you're very much a newcomer. Furthermore, you've maintained an attitude of cooperation with them, along with joining them at their base. So why not work within the chain of command, at least for now, you've done something similar with the EDF after all.

Which is not to say you need to be idle. You dive right down into a formation of Saurian bikers. They screech and hiss as they try to send power bolts and blades your way. More than a few hit you, leaving scorch marks on your armor and bike, but your power and speed are overwhelming and the Saurians break formation.

"Hey you! You're the guy the doc sent?" A soldier rides up next to you in a car, the gunner on his rear chases the Saurians with several 'zaps' of his machine gun. To his credit he's very quick, wasting no time to form up with you. "Help us regain control of the fight. Keep them away from the crawler!"

You nod. The speed of the Saurian bikes is a match for the human cycles, but the numbers are disadvantageous. Something like two to one. Let's even them.

You try to blast a grouped up formation with your thrusters but miss all but one of the grunts, the others form up elsewhere, but the one you did hit is burned and spins out of control into some nearby rocks. That didn't go to plan, so let's switch.

The next strategy is to try to get their attention. Your speed is good but the bike isn't agile enough to attack them the way you want, so you dial it back. Thankfully, flying in their faces is more than enough to bring their attention to you. They try to hit you, roughly half do leaving burning scars onto your new bike. The bolts themselves explode into sparks as they impact your armor. Not even bothering to look, you stretch out your foot as you glide near one of the armored cars. Sending a quick burst of power through your foot is enough to tip it over, causing the gunner to run for himself, he's soon cut down by a human biker.

Diving down and curving up sharply you just narrowly avoid a collision, allowing someone else some free hits. As you look upwards though you see the gunship is much closer now, it'll only be a few seconds now before it reaches the crawler.

Seeing this, you take another moment to divebomb the Saurians again, this time your upside down. You swoop over the driver of a Saurian car and lift him up, switching into a swift barrel roll you try to toss him into another group of bikes but miss.

"The Saurian's are flying in! Up top!" You shout out to the soldier from earlier. He swerves to avoid a group of bikes, coming to a stop near you and looking up.

"We can manage these numbers, get up there and stop them!" He has to yell over the sounds of gunfire and engines revving, but you understand.

(Cont...)

You reach the top just as two figures leave the gunship, it rockets away and starts circling far off, like it's waiting. The two figures spot you easily enough as you climb to their height.

"You!"

"Gahahahg! This whelp beat you? Well go on then, get your honor back!"

The first one that spoke is a Saurian of similar size to the one you first spoke to, only now he's wearing blue armor with neon-red lights scattered about. Chuckles is a bigger beast, standing at about eleven feet he looks much more like a 'dragon' than the other. He has spines going down his back as well as short horns protruding from his skull. His armor is purple with pearlescent highlights.

"He's a strong human, not like the others at all!"

"Gagagagah! Whatever you say, just get rid of him while I work!" The second Saurian says. In that instant it turns away from you, drops to all fours, and a thick burst of energy starts flowing form his mouth and into the hull of the crawler.

"I'll kill you this time!" The first Saurian brandishes a hammer, not unlike the one he used last time.

"You think you can?" You offer, taunting him with your hand.


How will you play this?

>Take both on.

>Try to separate them, somehow, so you can focus on one. (Specify)

>Time is of the essence, focus on the one turned away from you.

>One at a time, you beat this guy earlier, go through him again.

>Write-in

Eh, I still wanna play around with the dice system, gimme your dice (d100)

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>5606229
>One at a time, you beat this guy earlier, go through him again.

Update is being delayed by about an hour or two (like usual right?) sorry about that my loyal voter. Let's go to ad break for now.

"Come get me." You say as you gesture him closer with a wave of your arm. With a snarl he does just that, and you find he's a little faster than before. Shifting the bike into gear, you blast further into the skies, clearly dodging his swing. You dip back down and divebomb him, kicking and slamming him with the butt of your bike as you make repeated attacks. While you are hitting, you notice it's hardly doing any damage. On his part, the Saurian has transformed his hammer into an energized crossbow, shooting laser bolts every time you get distance from him. One of the shots lands squarely on one of your rear jets, it explodes a second later leaving a trail of smoke as you glide back around.

Deciding you do your best work on your feet you set the bike to auto-pilot and jump off, somersaulting through the air you aim yourself so you land behind the Saurian, all while he tries to nail you mid-air. A few of his shots whiz by and you can hear the air sizzling as the shoot past, realizing he isn't having any luck he quickly tries to transform it back.

As you come down from your arc you stretch out your arm to deliver a powerful chop, but two of his free hands reach up to guard.

"Ough!" He growls as your hand crunches into something, while his hammer impacts your sides. Powerful energies shoot into you, shooting around you, exploding into a massive wave of force.

"Nngh!" You clench your teeth as you roll to your sides, you just barely stop yourself from sliding off the top of the crawler. Pulling yourself onto a knee you watch as it rushes you again. You have enough power for a special move now, if you continue you're confident you can pull this back around, but at the same time the other Saurian appears to have made progress. His blast finally melts through the crawlers' armor, an explosion plumes upwards. He now has access into the crawler itself.

Do you wait and finish off the one in front of you?


>Keep focus

>Change targets

>Write-in

Special move?

>Rider Punch
>Rider Kick
>Rider Slash
>Rider Tornado

>>5606456
>Change targets
>Rider Kick
The saurian is probably going attack while our back is turned, but a Kamen Rider puts himself at risk to protect the innocent!

It's clear now that he was simply underestimating you last time. But all this time, on your bike, as well as on the trip over, your belt has been charging. If you do this right, you can end this quick. You raise your fist as if striking again, he reacts appropriately by putting up a guard, but you feint. Instead, your fist swiftly pulls back, and you jump up onto his arms, climbing him and leaping forward. Diving into a roll, you catch the bigger Saurian with a powerful haymaker, fueled by your momentum and every inch of synthetic muscle you can pour into it.

"Gaagh!" It screams and stumbles forward, nearly falling into the burning hole he made, but you save him. Catching his tail with your arms you spin him around, swiping him into his friend several times, before he digs his claws into the crawler, forcing both of you to stop.

"Fool! Finish him!"

"Raagh!"

The first Saurian lunges over and towards you. You catch his the staff of his hammer as he leaps onto you, you're about to perform a textbook throw, but you realize if you did that he'd land right into the hole you're protecting. So you simply take his counter attack which sends you skidding backwards.

Your chest is heaving up and down, trying to catch your breath, trying to give your krystal heart a chance to catch up. As the two Saurians help each other get up you can hear the alarms from inside the crawler, people are running back and forth shouting, trying to attend to their damage.

Using the back of your hands you wipe the dust off your compound visors. It's time to end this. The first Saurian rushes you, as expected, so you dodge and throw your fist. He's expecting another feint, it's not, and he's sent reeling towards the edge, just barely saving himself by stabbing the end of his hammer into the ground.

The second Saurian tries to use his breath attack on you, using your vents you jump up into the air, and kick him. Using that kick you propel yourself even higher into the air.

"Toh!" You twist into a front flip and lead your fall with a single foot out.

"Rider Kick!" You shout.

'Vreeee-Vreeee'

The gyro in your belt begins to spin, wind gathers around you, energy gathers into your right leg, it feels hot, but you put faith into it and plant it squarely into the second Saurian's chest.

"Auuaaaghhh!" He shouts, grabbing his chest furiously, trying to tear off his armor as a radiant energy begins to spread out through his body.

Your eyes go wide. This is not what happens when the Rider Kick hits something living. You watch on.

"AAAUUAAA! FOOL HELP!" The second Saurian spins around, panicking, before the other one can respond he explodes. While there is blood and bits flying, it's significantly less than you'd think, instead mechanical parts can be seen. Prosthetics?

In the scorched black mini-crater, a small metallic scorpion lays still, unmoving.

You know what this is!

>Capture

>Kill

>Write-in

>>5606550
>Capture
Potential information

As you contemplate destroying it or bringing it back it suddenly activates, it starts quickly scurrying over towards the other Saurian. Unable to defend himself he simply stares dumbfounded, only at the last moment does he raise an arm to defend himself. In that same moment, you're at his side. With your arm you reach out, swiping it mid air, quickly flooding your hands with nanites. A pink glow passes from your palm to the scorpion, causing it to go dormant once again.

"Huff, huff.." Your chest is practically bouncing up and down, you can hear the humming of your heart as it furiously tries to balance your internal heat and power.

"W-what?" You look at the other Saurian and it seems he's completely dumbfounded. Clenching your teeth, practically grinding them to powder, you pull yourself up into a pose. Wide-eyed, the Saurian looks on, then shortens the handle of his hammer, holstering it at his hips.

"My name is Zavag! Remember it well!" He shouts at you with determination, a kind not uncommon to humans, to yourself, and jumps off the edge willingly. A moment later the gunship from earlier passes below and swoops upwards. With a thunderous boom it breaks the sound barrier and retreats.

Looking down at the robotic scorpion, you understand it all now, don't you?

"Ride Hopper! Come!"

Your bike floats down, next to you, it has a few more scars than you remember, but still flies okay. Surveying the battlefield, it seems the humans cleaned up whatever Saurians were left, with many riding off into the horizon, chasing after their leader.

"Huff, huff... You did it?" The soldier from earlier drives up next to you as you land. His car, much like your bike, has several new wounds. In particular he's now missing a turret, as well as the armor on the right side.

Nodding, you also present your newest prisoner. "You need to show this to your commander."

"A machine?" Behind his visor you can see his eyes go wide and he nods.

"Whatever that is, it's above my paygrade. You keep it."

Despite what you said, there are several people you can approach with this. Who will you decide to give this to when you return to base?

>Go above Ordovis. Find the general in charge of this castle.

>Give it to Commander Ordovis

>Give it to Dr. Cain

>Give it to the medical doctor.

>Find one of the soldiers from your first mission

>Keep it

>Write-in

>>5606618
>Give it to Dr. Cain

A few windows on the crawler open up after the soldiers confirm the Saurians have left. They, alongside the soldiers on the ground, are cheering you on, even waving to you.

"Two commanders!" Another one shouts as he stares up.

'Vrrmmgagagh-rmmm' you rev the handlebar on your bike, it doesn't sound healthy.

"Are you sure you don't want help cleaning up?"

"Not at all. You deserve your rest!"

It's an uneventful journey back. Along the way you note that animals are still plentiful, they scurry long before the human eye can see them, you even spot a flock of birds that scatter as you fly by. Upon returning to the vehicle hangar, Dr. Cain and a squad of armed soldiers are waiting for you. They look at you. It's not hostile, something like surprise, curiosity, maybe fear? Cain, for her part, is clearly surprised, her gaze is aimed downwards, towards your bike. Understandable, it didn't leave like this.

"We heard, you took on two commanders and repelled the Saurians." Dr. Cain says with a smile as she approaches you.

"Dude..."

"Whoa..."

You hear whispering in the distance but pay them no mind.

"Okay, the Saurians have been defeated, our defense is a success. Go tell your bosses!" Dr. Cain waves off the soldiers, and they nod, they bow slightly before her as they all leave.

"Doctor. I have something." You present the metal scorpion from earlier and watch her surprise as she reaches for it. You inform her about the latter part of your fight, she gasps as you near the end of your recap, but she nods.

"That's... not really my forte. I study past relics and focus on recovering technology, like an archeologist, but I don't actually understand most of what I find." She examines it further, lifting it up into the light. It's legs dangle lifelessly as she shifts it around. You're confident the rider nanites have rendered it dead, but there's nothing more surer than a Rider Kick.

"Still. I can study it as much as I can, then pass it up the chain for you. I'll even do the paperwork for free. My favor is well-spent, this could be a boon for humanity."

You nod, then she clasps your hand in-between hers.

"Thank you, Kamen Rider. We lost some people, but many more are alive thanks to you. I was worried at first, that sending you was too reckless. I have family on that crawler, and you saved them."

It's been awhile since you've been thanked, you wonder if your days with the EDF were ever that warm, you wonder if you're starting to forget. Even if you are, you'll just have to make new ones with the people of this century. You'll be their Kamen Rider, an old hero, with a new legend.

End of Episode 1

So I have a bit of time left before I should think about sleep, do we want intermission chapters? In terms of writing I think switching perspective is healthy, but only if you guy(s) want it.

>>5606701
I'm ok with that.
I wonder where the other anons went

>>5606706
Me too man, me too.. If you guys have anything you want to say about my writing, go ahead at any time, i want to improve as well you know?

I think I'll try to do an actual short chapter instead of a small post. I just wanted a diary snipper for a small taste into the world last time, but it was probably pretty small right?

Intermission options:

>The Alchemist and Forgemaster

>Dr. Cain's report

>The admiring soldier

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5606729
I'm curious what Cain is going to mention about the scorpion, but the alchemist and forgemaster sounds intriguing
So I'm rolling a 1d2 to decide
1 A&F
2 Cain

>>5606751
I wish you hadn't said that lol. I'm driving by the seat of my pants. Writing.

Pipes shudder overhead, various pots and containers rumble as solutions mix and marinate. A strange smell floats through the room, as well as the nearby surroundings, the scent of food cooking, as well as a strange artificial smell. A youthful hand throws several strange orbs into a giant pestle, then slams an appropriately large mortar into the mix, mashing it into a thick paste.

"Huff.." The voice then throws a container over the shoulder into a large bowl, resulting in a loud pop, with smoke pluming upwards.

"Honey! I said turn on the vents when you work!" A larger, older man, runs in from another room and hits a certain button on the door panel. Suddenly, a low thrumming could be heard in the walls and ceiling, which slowly transitioned into a loud rattling.

"It's 30XX and we can't even get a quiet fan! It's annoying, Father!" The young voice turned around shouting, revealing herself to be a young woman.

"The smell'll kill one of us, probably me!" The older man crossed his arms.

"What's got you bothered anyways?"

"Didn't you hear, we got some kind of super soldier, and he didn't even visit me!" The woman stomped her feet before turning back to her work. "I'm toiling away in this stupid, hot, stinky, workshop! Making grenades, stims, all sorts of adrenals, while the newest piece of news can't even be bothered to visit!"

The father started digging into his ears, then put his other hand over his chin.

"Well, it's not like I don't understand where you're coming from...."

The woman turned towards him, surprised.

"You too?" She shouted, and her father nodded.

"Ah'm interested in his armor. I hear it's real strange like, appears out of nowheres. As the Forgemaster, I really wanna see it..." upon hearing that, a wide grin painted the woman's face.

"Then why don't we find him...

>No way, it's too dangerous

>Why not? Let's go!

>>5606841
>Why not? Let's go!

>>5606791
Driving by the feelings of your heart is what every Kamen Heart should strive for!

"Hey boss, could I get you to look at my helmet again?" A blonde boy suddenly steps in front of the father, holding what must have been his armor in his hands.

"It's been stagging on me again." He shoved it towards the gruff man again.

"Blaine, if you stopped getting knocked senseless every fight your armor would hold up better!" Spit flew furiously from his mouth, to which the blonde boy deftly dodged.

"That's the whole point of armor!"

"Leave it on my workbench!" The old man shoved him aside and began briskly walking around.

"Eheh, miss Alchemist, maybe I could get one of those acid grenades?" Blaine started edging closer to the girl. To which she only shrugged.

"Ask your boss."

It didn't take long to find him, asking for the new soldier proved easier than the old man thought. From a distance they spied on him with a single set of macronoculars. Apparently he called himself 'Kamen Rider', it struck a weird cord with the man known as the Forgemaster, like he'd heard that name before, but alas age and memory did not mix.

"What's he doing?" The alchemist asked, trying to take the macros away from his hands, to which he ignored.

"He's....just moving metal."

"Let me see!" The alchemist finally freed the gadget from her father's hands and spied a group of workers, a majority of which were old men, with some children mixed in, but only one was holding a tower of crates larger than his body.

"Whoa, he's stacked!"

"Yes, his balance is unbelievable, his prosthetics must be veteran grade." Her father seemed to have misunderstood but that was irrelevant.

"Ah!" The alchemist gasped, a young girl tripped, and her prosthetic foot fell off, rolling to the side slightly.

"Tch, pops, you might have another job soon." The alchemist muttered as she handed the tool back, to which her father quickly mounted on his face.

"Whoa!" The forgemasters' jaws dropped, along with several other people who were much closer.

"W-what's going on?"

"He-he's fixing her foot! Could it be, nanomachines?"

"Whoa, pops, nanomachines? Who would be crazy enough to pump their blood with that?"

"He is." The forgemaster continued to stare, watching as circuits reconnected, guided by unseen hands. The so called 'Kamen Rider' looked their way momentarily, which gave him a jump, but he quickly looked away. It seemed as if he hadn't noticed them. With a sigh the forgemaster turned over onto his backside, now with with a distant expression.

"Nanomachines.." He muttered.

"I might have an idea for that. I've got an inert batch at home, if only I could see him, I might be able to use them."

"Pops, I've never seen you solder a single wire. Aren't nanomachines too complicated for you?"

"Pah! Nonsense, they just stopped bringing me good jobs. Nowadays all they need is new armor paneling, besides, I work with circuits all the time. Everyone's armor is powered you know."

(Cont...)

After their scouting mission, the Forgemaster and Alchemist took their time around the workshops and mixing factories for raw materials. The human war machine had a bottomless stomach, and it could never be sated, not until their war was won. By the time they finished it was night again, and by the time they returned home several soldiers were lined up outside their shared smithery and alchemy building. Seemingly having had to wait awhile some of the soldiers were already peering inside, while one went ahead and opened the doors inside.

"Hey! Don't touch my stuff! I'm busy!" The alchemist ran on ahead, scolding the impatient men and women, while the forgemaster merely continued to walk at his pace.

"Nanomachines... Kamen Rider? It... couldn't be?"

End of Intermission chapter (The Alchemist and Forgemaster)

Hmm, with that i'll be wrapping up tonight. I might have been done about thirty or so minutes sooner but windows restarted mid-typing so that was cool. Anyways, the new update you say? Episode 2 starts next week, possibly monday (72 hours?), sometime inbetwee, or same day next week. See you again!

Instead of intermissions maybe i should do a next episode preview like a real show?

>>5607066
Well, an episode preview is a bit difficult since we or just me can vote for something you weren't expecting, and episode recap feels redundant unless it's weeks apart.
But I like these intermissions, they are short, sweet, help fluff the world and are something that does happen in real shows.

>>5607087
You might be right. Well it was just an entertaining thought, our 'episodes' and a show would be very different after all. Personally, I'm not looking to turn mr.30 into a 50 episode season. How does it feel to have your own personal slave?

>>5607103
It's an unique experience, the closest I've seem before were quests with only two players, but even then there was some back and forth with ideas

Be sure to catch the latest episodes on Tokuzilla for inspiration!

>>5607889
I didn't know hat existed lol. Geats is still ongoing right? I don't like his suits and that's all i'll be thinking about when i watch.


Speaking of thinking though. I've been on the fence about shutting this down, last session i only had one guy, but it was only the one so I could keep going. But as a qm is it my duty to just stop? I don't really know the board manners for /qst/

>>5608331
There's not much of board ettiquete on /qst/, the only one I can think of is to not flood the catalog with threads, try to ride each one until it hits page 9 or 10. There are some long running quests that only have 1 to 3 players around.

Also, if you are enjoying running the quest, that whats matter the most.
I'll try to shill the quest on qtg next run, maybe someone will decide to drop in
I'm enjoying playing, but that's kind of obvious

>>5608399
Thank you for saying that.
Hmm then i guess we can keep going, it's easy enough. About the shilling, i won't stop you, but it seems kinda suspicious in my eyes. Also, while i'm here a quick dev update i suppose.

-From now on I'll try to do at least 1 post a day. That way you're not waiting a whole week for just a few hours of updates, monday i might do several bumps but don't count on that the whole week.

-Combat will be handled with dice on my end. If i'm feeling lazy it will just be settled narratively.

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>>5608544
>From now on I'll try to do at least 1 post a day.
I can't say if that would be the best for you or your style, but that way seems better for anyone joining in and catching up.
I kept missing your posting times so I never was able to vote, but keep the good work QM. Even if I wasn't a KR fan I still think the quality here is better than most of what I can randomly pick on the catalogue.

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Above average quality? Hoho lay on that flattery. Thank you.

Feel free to play your favorite opening in the mean time. Today's programing brought to you by our sponsor.

It was hard trying to go to sleep, closing your eyes is easy, but your brain wouldn't stop. Was this the shock of the situation settling in? You awoke suddenly to find yourself trapped in a capsule, only to burst out and be met face-to-face with honest to goodness aliens. Aliens bent on tearing humans down. Then you find out that everything you knew was three hundred years out of date. You sympathize somewhat with a certain flag wearing hero. Well, it's nothing a classic force shutdown wouldn't fix. Your brain is old fashioned flesh, but your stem and skull casing are cyberized, using the nanites you're able to induce an extra relaxed sensation. Soon enough you're slipping away.

Upon waking up you realize the curtain had been drawn around your bed, as well as a fresh blanket. Despite proposing to dissect you, it seems the doctor had no ill will. On the table next to you though is a small data pad. Powering it up, it gives you some directions, as well as your 'orders'. Commander Ordovis and his high ranking associates want to speak to you in depth. Beside the pad is a change of clothes, some kind of vest with strange rings attached. The vest itself is asymmetrical with one side wrapping low, close to your leg. As for the leggings, the pattern changes drastically at the knees, like you're wearing a separate piece altogether.

"The fashion in 30XX sure is strange.."

(Cont...)

After some quick clean up, you find your way to the command tower. It was among one of the highest buildings, with a large dish on top, situated at the center of the landing castle. The high command is more or less what you expected, various men and women leaning close to mature or elderly. What surprises you is that their uniforms are EDF, which surprised you as the frontline soldiers weren't wearing anything of the sort. They salute you as a formality, you return the gesture. If they approve they don't show it.

Here they ask you questions you've already answered, but you still oblige and give the same answers, after a while they move into talking about their situation in more depth. You'd heard second hand of how they had already taken heavy losses, but now you know the specifics. During the Kyushu battle, the last time the machine lifeforms attacked, they sent two landing castles alongside the remnants of the EDF. Something they dubbed an advanced machine commander managed to fight them to a standstill, the ensuing battle caused the destruction of the castles, as well as sinking a part of Japan.

A decade earlier they managed to repel a giant machine tank by sacrificing another castle. Over the Canadian islands. At 40-feet tall, it was an equal match in power for the castle and even had a limited form of mana manipulation. In a last ditch attempt, the general of the castle committed his craft in a ramming action, resulting the destruction of the entire area. It's assumed the tank is still there conducting repairs.

After asking about the civilians from these castle you learn that they were successfully evacuated to other areas, in fact, this castle holds some from Kyushu. Of course, there's many other things for you to learn. The reason why communication is sparse isn't only for safety, certain regimes have risen up altering the nations of old. For example, China had long since been overthrown, replaced by the Imperial Union whose current leader claims to be a distant relative of the last Emperor.

Eventually, they ask you about your origins, you oblige. You tell them that 300 years ago you were a civilian abducted by the machines, that they cyberized you, until Dr. Hongo rescued you and created the Rider-System. They ask you for the technical details but become annoyed when you decline. You apologize as much as you can while being vague, to preserve whatever good will the doctors created for you.

The meeting seems like it'll wrap up soon, is there anything you want to ask or...?

>Write-in

>Ask for a general tour of the castle

>Take your free time and...

Socialize with the soldiers

Spend some time with civilians

[Write-in]

>>5609359
>Take your free time and...
>Socialize with the soldiers
This seems like a fun quest.

>>5609359
>Ask for a general tour of the castle

>>5609360
Uh I sure hope so lol

Hhmm two options? I'll wait a few more minutes. I could probably combine these so I'll give that a shot if we stay like this.

>>5609375
Getting to know the castle and talking with the people do seem to be compatible

>>5609375
Combining them is fine by me too.

You nod at hearing all this. These are problems for sure, but not for today. They don't seem to know of the machine lifeforms ultimate goals, but it's a distant problem. It's not like you can march up to Ark-Zero casually. Your involvement ends and Ordovis excuses you, but he offers to help you get acquainted with the other soldiers in the castle and gives you some general directions. This time you become familiar with the castles' general layout. Divided into three sections, recreation, research, and reinforcement. His details concern the 'reinforcement' section of the castle, containing barracks, armories, weapon stores, etc.

With your part done, you decide your next move is a little socialization with those you'll be fighting with. Part of you is reluctant to spend your waking hours on a simple meet and greet, even with those you called your friends. After all, a moment spent chatting in safety is not fighting the good fight. More reasonably you realize that you should spend the effort to not appear to be the inhuman fighting machine that you yourself vowed to fight.

"Hey! It's our favorite bug!" You recognize the blonde man addressing you, referring to your Rider form of course. Blaine, seemingly the least concerned about boundaries, probably the type to gossip every chance he can. He sidles up to you like you're best buds already.

"So, how'da like 30XX?" He says and pulls you over to a table with drinks on it. "Say... You were around in 26XX, what was that like, were the machines stagging then?"

"Sure." You raise your brow but reply. "In my time I reached somewhere around 20 confirmed kills. We thought we were pretty close to finishing the fight."

"Drag? Seeing your vids I believe you. Well now that you're up again let's see if you can do it again!"

"My vids?"

"Sh'eah! That crawler you saved yesterday got some good angles on you flying around, then you blew up that dragon! Shame the feed suddenly cut, you're crazy strong!"

(Cont...)

Tetsu she seems level-headed and professional, showing some interest in the former conversation.

"So you employ that level of power in all your fights?"

You nod. "My allies, the EDF, were great at backup and support. But ultimately, to get through machine lifeform armor and safeguards, the power of my Rider System is needed."

"I noticed you possess a lot of martial skill, downloaded?"

"While my cyberizations would let me mimic attacks, I'd have to understand them, as well as how they affect me. My skills all come from my pre-cyborg days, I was the reigning champion at my Dojo." She nods at that. "So your power isn't due to your technology alone."

Andes apparently shares your level of cyberization, particularly, only his lungs and brain remain. He holds the position of second in command behind Ordovis, which isn't as high as it seems apparently. His vibe is friendlier than his leader, so you opt to approach a delicate subject.

"Why do the humans in this era undergo cyberization? I would have thought you'd like to separate yourselves from the machine lifeforms as much as possible?"

"Well, even we realize we don't become our enemy just by getting chromed. It simply can't be helped for dangerous injuries, sadly. While some think they need it for the extra power."

"I saw kids with heavy prosthetics."

"Maybe injuries, maybe they need it for a job. It's sad, but us soldiers do our best to keep the frontlines away from the castle."

You managed to track down Tayler. In the recreation district, she's just casually watching a holo-monitor as she eats at a public table. The song playing is strange, seeming more like loud thumping and electronic buzzing. Tayler is surprisingly laid-back, you note that she clumsily fell over as you talk. Instead of serious conversation, she begins to talk about herself. Specifically, her favorite pastimes, which happen to include bike racing.

"You don't do anything for fun?"

"I get so busy sometimes." You laugh awkwardly.

It isn't particularly busy. The Saurians appeared to have stepped off, for now, and the Machine Lifeforms haven't taken any measures yet either.

>Assist in patrols.

>Look deeper into your biggest threats. Plan for the future.

>Write-in

>>5609414
>Assist in patrols.

After chatting with the soldiers from your first mission you spend a few minutes greeting a few others you hadn't met. Some are more impressed with your Rider armor, while others are trying to ask you about your time in 26XX. All in all, a decent time, you even managed to break bread with them during this time. Some time passes and the squad from earlier offer to bring you on a patrol with them, and you accept.

Blaine looks disappointed as he stares at your unaltered bike. Without your Rider System to provide the power the nanites reverted, now it's a simple Dive bike. It can still fly, albeit much slower and less armored. It's when you transform that all eyes are on you.

"Rider... Change!"

Upon your first engagement you meet the lower class Saurians, simply probing the area apparently. To to the common soldier they're merely referred to as 'scum' or the 'grunts'. They simply don't bother learning their true names? Or maybe they're treated like that by the dragon commanders as well. Regardless, you get serious for fighting the grunts, but they prove no match for your Rider strength. You act as a spearhead, blowing through their vanguard while the soldiers nail them individually.

All of a sudden, Andes' armor tablet begins to light up, he's receiving a signal. To which he informs you that Ordovis has passed down a mission.

"The techboys think we found a line here. Saurians are moving equipment, more importantly, some kind of power source. I want you guys to stop'em, bring it back, whatever."

The coordinates bring you pretty close to a Saurian held town, but theoretically you could escape if it got too hot. It strikes you as weird that he would divert a patrol squadron so suddenly, but Ordovis cuts his line when he's done.

"He's sending you out while he stays back at the castle?"

Andes nods. He explains that Ordovis actually handles a lot of the military planning and logistics, while this squad is treated somewhat like a separate group. It makes sense? As a commander he needs to see the bigger picture, getting picked off in the frontlines would likely set them back. As for the mission, apparently his intelligence agents have found a Saurian supply line, it's currently moving now.

Andes is giving you a choice though, you came out on a whim after all.

>Follow them.

>Offer to cut them off at their destination.

>Deploy with the humans.

>>5609442
>Write-in

I forgot that option, i like to include it incase you find a plan you want that i didn't think of.

>>5609442
>Offer to cut them off at their destination.

Thinking it over, you're already transformed so your bike is now easily three times as face. Somehow fitting with the red highlights along the side. With that in mind you offer to cut off the Saurian transport at its home. The soldiers all share a dubious look with each other. Fortunately, the Saurian transport is supposed to stop at an outpost to offload its cargo, not the actual town. Its closeness could mean they get quick reinforcements though.

The Soldiers ultimately accept your offer, on the condition that you plant bombs on your flyby, while they follow close behind. Their plan is to either blow it up remotely, or snipe it with heavy weaponry. In both plans you are bait. You accept, you knew this already after all. With that, you speed off at full afterburners. A trail of energy traces your path as you race ahead.

The winds whip around you as you jet over open fields and thick forests, it doesn't take long before you see it. Its some sort of Saurian train. Three large hover cars surrounded by dozens of grunts. No dragon commander from what you can see.

As expected, your stealth is nonexistent. Your bike leaves noticeable a noticeable energy signal, as well as obvious visual cues. In the old days you were very flashy, your toy line was fairly successful. Unfortunately, this means the Saurians see you coming a mile away. Like dominos they all begin to turn their attention your way, gradually you start to face increasing numbers of laser bolts. The train itself is armed as well, giant tri-barreled cannons swivel themselves to face you. Flak-lasers. Energized plasma pummels your area, but you push on higher and faster. You ready your throwing arm and start tossing the sticky bombs like throwing knives as you pass over. Most of them land, though you're not confident those were critical areas.

Finally, you see the Saurian outpost, as expected it's very well armed. You get a similar reaction as waves of laser bolts try to nail you. Some do but the damage isn't crippling. Now you get to see what Saurian fighter jets look like. Flying craft with dragon-like faces on the front, with wings that hang concave. A giant-burning red blast explodes from the front of both crafts, but you're no space slug.

You deftly dodge one, while the other curves towards you slightly. A quick drop into freefall lets you squeeze past it, you can feel the heat as it passes by your head. What now?

>You can fight on.
Their destination is here, commit to your former plan.

>Go back, intercept.
The alarm is raised, but the convoy is still fairly far off.

>Write-in

Breaking here tonight, I'll try to return in 40ish hours. So around 2 days later.

>>5609477
>You can fight on.

>>5609477
>You can fight on.

>You can fight on.
Fight! Better to finish the aerial enemies as soon as possible.

>>5609477
>You can fight on.

>>5609477
>>You can fight on.

>>5597141
>Only 11 IPs
This board has no tastes, I swear to god.

>>5609477
I got faith in our bike's speed, and they aren't going to fire on their own outpost. Max speed ahead, ignore the fighters.

Alright, let's give this update-a-day strategy a try? Are you ready? The show starts after the CM ends. Also, it's great seeing all these new colors, hope you guys enjoy yourselves.

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Laser bolts coat the area, you aren't dexterous enough and collect more than your fair share of burn marks. If your bike was alive it might hate you. Wouldn't a smart person retreat?

"Fight on!" A phrase rings through your head. "Kamen Rider must never lose!"

Have you ever fought such a large force? Even while fighting the machine lifeforms in 26XX, you never faced down an army. You were mobbed by large numbers of machine combatants, except they were no army. Revving your engine you dip through another flurry of laser bolts, then twist around one of the fighter jets. Grinning, you can't help but admire the humans of this era who have no choice but to face this army head on, day after day, without fear. You search your memories for advice. While he was no Sun Tzu, your old martial master instilled several core pieces of logic unto you. Thinking back to your days of flesh, when you poured honest sweat and blood into training your body, hours spent being tossed onto a tatami mat.

'First! If you find yourself outmatched! Take away the advantage!' You hear his tough voice echo in your mind. Easier said than done, but this is how it must be. Thinking logically, you're having a hard time fighting these jets, but before that, the grunts are keeping you suppressed. The grunts are the advantage.

This is meant to receive the cargo convoy, which means it's also capable of sending it off. Looking around you spot several large cylindrical containers. Fuel!

You pull your bike into a aileron roll and swoop by the large containers. Several of the grunts start running as you rocket towards them, others try to hold their ground. Graciously confirming your suspicions, laserfire has halted momentarily. As you close in you un-holster the gun Ordovis gave you. The gun itself can't be upgraded by your nanites. The ammo? You can coat the internal power crystal with Aether to shoot powered bolts. Aiming it under your other arm, you send all six shots into the fuel depot behind you.

"Rider Shooting!" Six powerful bangs resound through the air. The guns' barrel is steaming, rays of light are leaking through the chamber and paneling, thankfully it holds.

You counted on it being armored, five shots diffused into embers, leaving only burning marks where they impacted, then the sixth hit. Several massive explosions echoed throughout the area, the flames and shockwaves shot through the area. The nearby grunts are erased, those farther off are sent flying, rendered unconscious or worse. Any grunts farther than that have panicked, screaming and hissing in multiple directions.

(Cont...)

Now for the jets. Honestly? They have you and your bike on lockdown still. Who ever heard of driving circles around jets? Not even you can do that. Inhaling deeply, you call upon the memory of your master once again.

'Never fight numbers! If you become overwhelmed it's over! Instead, fight two-on-two! Always!'

While you routinely break that piece of advice, you can happily follow it here. You set your bike to auto-pilot, then leap off mid-air, your jets kick on and give you slight mobility, allowing you to dash sideways. Separating from your bike you watch as one jet moves to chase it, while another moves to run you down. Mistake!

"Rider Flash!" You hold a palm out and shoot a stream of invisible nanites out, ordering them to self destruct instantly, creating a blossom of exploding light. Only faintly can you hear shouting, then the shrieking of the alien engines coming closer.

Now!

The blinded pilot lost sight of you, allowing you to, if just barely, grab onto the wing. Powerful geysers of steam flash from your back, allowing you to pull yourself towards the cockpit. Inside, his eyes meet your glowing compound visor. Your fists slam through the glass, sending shards both ways, in that same motion you yank the pilot and his chair out. Off he goes into the beyond.

Kamen Rider with a jet? Would that make you a Skyrider? Though you've never flown a jet, your bike probably comes close. Settling into the cockpit you quickly look over the controls. Control stick? Check. Altitude? Check. Weapons? Probably? It's not the most comfortable ride, seeing as how you yanked the chair out. Fortunately, its just small enough that you can sit in.

Yanking the stick sideways you bank sideways, aiming what must have been the crosshairs on the other jet. Strange barking starts coming from the radio but you ignore it. Quickly flipping switches, smashing buttons, you soon find none of them control weapons. Instead, you think you're now leaking fuel, so in a last ditch attack you fly close and hook your wing onto the other jet.

"Toh!" You quickly leap out. The alien jet tries to free itself. However, in its struggle the metal begins to grind together, embers fly; the fuel you were leaking ignites and both jets disappear in a brilliant blossom of metal.

Freed from being chased your bike gently catches you. The outpost is cleared, nonetheless your first mission still stands.

How will you handle this?

>See if you can salvage some weapons.
This was a Saurian outpost, maybe there's something bigger lying around.

>Gather power.
It's not something you've done before, but you might be able to disable it with a special attack.

>Grapple.
Kamen Rider has immense power, try to leverage that personally.

>Wait and attack with the humans.
By the time they get their heavy weapons the cargo convoy will meet you. By forcing the Saurians to attack you they're ensured a safe window.

>Write-in

>>5611352
>Gather power.

>>5611352
>See if you can salvage some weapons.
>Gather power.
Future problems require future solutions

>>5611352
>Gather power.

>>5611352
>See if you can salvage some weapons.
Doing that while waiting for the humans might be the best before advancing.

Are you going to do form changes? Does anybody else want them?

>>5612467
Hmm, you want form changes? Why are you asking me, I have no idea what we're doing. Serious answer is maybe, our dice have been good until recently so let's put that conversation off for another day.

It's only a matter of time before the Saurians next door are drawn here. It doesn't seem like the grunts had the time to call it in. Lucky. Taking advantage of this, you decide to gather power, and hopefully find a way to deal with the convoy. Maybe you can hit the convoy in one go, you'd have to be pretty lucky, and fairly strong.

You've given thought to a 'Rider Double-Kick' before, but the strain on your legs would be substantial, not something to test on the fly, additionally, such power would likely destroy what you needed to recover. While the normal Rider Kick wasn't built to spread damage over such a wide area.

"Hooohhh!" You spready your stance wide, put one hand above your buckle, the other stretched out ahead of you. In the next few moments you simply wait, feeling the ebb and flow of energy in the air. It's a bit morbid, but it's fortunate you were able to defeat all the grunts; you had some doubts about how compatible you were, but all life rejoins the Earth apparently and invaders are no exception.

Wind begins to kick up, a light vortex comes into shape around you as the gyro in your belt continues spinning.

[/i]'Vreeooo.'[/i] Your buckle hums, the air around you vibrates.

You feel yourself reach another state of charge when you hear it, the engines of the Saurian machines, along with an alarm far off into the distance. Saurian reinforcements will be here soon. The Saurian cargo convoy no doubt alerted them, several off center explosions around you tell you they're trying to nail their sights down onto you.

Looking over the main cargo train you can see it actually has plenty of openings, vents, gun barrels, even the hovering 'legs' at the bottom seem to have many gaps in between the armor plates. If you can attack the machinery inside it wouldn't matter how tough and strong it is. The mission was to recover it after all. Detonating the explosives you tossed earlier, you see slightly less than you remembered, meaning the lizards must have disarmed some. Nonetheless, you just wanted more holes to give this the best chance to succeed.

"Go! Rider Stooorrrmmm!" You shout as you cup both your hands around your buckle, hitting the manual activator switches, feeding power and nanites into the gyro. Multiple bright lights shot out, turning into beams that curved mid-air, guiding the vortex around you towards the Saurians. The directed vortex, alongside your Aether injection, and the nanites, began to look something like a metal sandstorm, completely encompassing the convoy and its escorts.

The convoy grinds to a halt, its escorts are on the ground trying to control themselves. Sounds of engines croaking, lizards coughing, among other strange noises, and you feel as if you've won. In the distance you can see the humans are far off, having evaded your attack safely, and are now moving in. It doesn't take them long to each you, your bike may be faster, but they had ample time to catch up.

"Yo, Rider dude! You totally tore the zards a new one!" Blaine rides up to you and whistles. Most of the soldiers are pretty taken aback by your sheer destruction. They probably fight like this on their own, except having one guy do it sets another tone.

Andes nods his head. "Credit goes to you, we'll extract the objective." With that they start looking through the convoy.

"Hurry." You say. In the distance there are three Saurian gunships approaching.

"We need more time!"

You nod and step towards the ships, waiting with your arms crossed. If you're right, they'll come straight to you, they seem to have some sort of honor system. Answering your challenge, they set down barely ten meters away. Dozens of grunts get out, creating a semi-circle of guns aimed at you, while another figure disembarks.

"Another commander!" One of the soldiers shout behind you.

This new commander looks like the last one, spines, bigger muscles, four arms, but with a sword on the side.

"Behbehbeh! So you beat Ughida and the whelp!" The Saurian throws its head back slightly, its chest bouncing as it laughs. Did they all have a strange laugh?

"If you want payback. I'll face you." You say determined, spreading your legs out you put your arms into a pose, then gesture your arm-telling them to come.

"Behbehbeh! I am Miator, of the winds!"

It draws its sword, then holds it at a strange angle, only too late do you realize why. The suns' glare shines brightly at you, reflected off the blade, and in-between the prismatic texture of your compound visors. That along with your enhanced eyesight you find yourself blinded momentarily, suddenly, the Saurian is on you.

You grunt as the sword slashes down your armor, sparks fly as the energy coating the blade clashes against your body. Spinning around you carry the momentum of the hit into your next attack, a spinning elbow slam that nails it in the jaw. Miator suddenly digs its claws into the ground, you backflip away as dirt follows your heels. It tried to throw dirt in your eyes?

"You fight too dirty!" You admonish the invader, but it doesn't care, instead you detect the edges of its jaw sliding upwards. A smile? The sword comes at you horizontally, you fall backwards, in that same motion you extend your legs, throwing your whole body into a double kick.

Miator looks winded as it lets loose a cough but it smiles again and comes at you, this time as you dodge by ducking the sub-arms grab you by the head and slam you downwards. It tries to finish you by plunging the sword into your back, but its not strong enough to penetrate. You send another fist into Miators face but it catches you.

"Behbehbeh! The whelps don't always use their other arms, surprising no?" It taunts you as it throws you into the ruins of the outpost. As your body crashes into the destroyed remains you send a plume of dust and metal shards every which way.

Miator, on hands and legs this time, rushes at you. You're starting to get used to its speed now and barely dodge, sending a kick to the back of the head for good measure. You can't see the humans from here, but some time has passed since you started trading fists with Miator.

What are you thinking?

>Continue fighting.
You've been getting unlucky, but maybe you can turn it around.

>Retreat.
The humans have probably found what they needed, now you need to get away. The commander is humoring you, but they are no doubt surrounding your comrades meanwhile.

>Write-in

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Hmm i want to start these updates with a rider picture but i keep forgetting.

Regarding the one a day, I keep worrying about the length, we're not writing a novel right? It could be that the 3000 character limit is just small. Expect an update tomorrow as well! Same rider time, same rider channel!

>>5612826
>Continue fighting.
>Tell the humans to retreat
>>5612830
I love the classic rider. The suit can look goofy sometimes, but it's part of the charm. Also the scarf is cool.

>>5612848
You know, I also put it in my notes to describe our scarf (because i do like it, thanks mr.1 and W ) but I keep forgetting.

>>5612856
Add leather jacket too. Can't be the post apocalypse future without one, it's the law.

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>>5612858
You mean like this? I'd rather not, the coat seems like it'd get in the way of the rider kick, you know? Also I'd like to avoid any comparisons with mr.anno's work, he's much too strong for me.

Also, do you guys feel like my fights go on too long? Rider at his core is full of fighting and saving people, but at the same time, you're readers not watchers. My special effects department works a lot differently than geats.

>>5612875
Well, much shorter, that look more like a trenchcoat then a jacket. But it's ok if you don't want it.
I'm enjoying the fights so far.

>>5612875
Bro I'm amazed to see you back I dipped as I thought you took a permanent hiatus

>>5612875
I'm a huge fan of the kamen rider armor mixed with some knight tier stuff.

I've not read/watched any kamen rider stuff so please tell me if there's a good platform to read it

>>5612967
Read? I know there's some manga but I can only find it in bits and pieces. You're welcome to read along with me though. :)

You thought I dipped eh? Sorry, I worry at times that i forget to update on when i'm posting, or my posting status in general since i've changed it a few times. If you're staying with me then welcome back, some stuff has happened, hopefully more.

>>5612826
>Continue fighting.

>>5612826
>Continue fighting.

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To preface this, the earlier dice rolls were so bad I actually had a sort of alternate route planned. Anyways the dice gave you some slack so we ended up going home just fine. I'm not 100% okay with how i did it but i'm looking forward to getting you on the plot train again. Somehow. Episodes 1 and 2 of rider shows are always finding their footing right?

Also i'm confident i can give multiple bumps saturday so if we take the intermission choice I can probably give at least 1 normal rider bump on that day.

Miator rushes at you on hands and legs again, moving much faster than before, an advantage from its alien physique. You try to roll aside but the sword catches you in your backside, fortunately, you do avoid being grabbed as his arms return empty handed to his body. This fight could take awhile, if the humans are still in the are they need to get out. You can't see them from hear, debris blocks your way, along with the invader grunts who are spectating. The grunts seem to be energetically cheering their commander.

"Toh!" You leap up into a front flip and land yourself a little ways away from the disabled convoy. As you expected, the Saurians were marching for them, a little later and a firefight would have started.

"Get out of here, now! I'll hold them off!" You shout towards them, a few nod. Soon enough they quickly begin packing up. Its unclear whether they were done or not. It doesn't matter, you'll give them their time.

"Rider Storm!" Your hands shoot up into the air and then slowly come to a complete circle at your buckle. Without charging it up it doesn't produce as wide an effect, still, the resulting vortex is enough to to knock a handful of Saurians into the air. But dozens are coming, with more on the way if the gunships in the horizon are any indication.

Miator wasn't just sitting and watching either, it's already on you when you turned. A brightly lit sword is coming down for you, intent on bisecting you no doubt. You pour some extra energy into your arm and angle it upwards. The sword makes a loud clang and a soft sizzling as it slams into the back of your hand, sparks fly as it grinds against your armor, the slash turns into a mere glancing blow as it slides off your arm.

Scurrying off, Miator starts barking orders at the grunts standing around, suddenly they draw their arms on you, encircling you. You see what's happening and rush forward to engage again. The jets on your back puff twice turning you into a blur of motion as your body spins around into a roundhouse kick, slamming Miator in the back, rewarding you with a pained shout.

"You should tell your bosses! Kamen Rider is much scarier than any dragon!" You shout as you try to grab Miators' tail and begin spinning the both of you, its body slams into the nearby grunts. A few more swirls and you let go of Miator, shooting him into an empty part of the battlefield. Miator shouts and screams as he slides into the dirt, the grunts take this as a sign to get serious.

Grenades fly at your feet, you easily dodge them by leaping into the air. But the lasers following them nail you, sending you crashing into the ground. This fight is going to turn for the worse soon if you don't end it now. The gunships from earlier have lifted off and are trying to nail you down. Ducking low you roll and dash in-between the Saurians, making your way through the

Ducking low you roll and dash in-between Saurians, making your way through the crowd.

Miator sees you and decides to meet you head on. Still on all six of his limbs, its head aims towards you, a growing light shines from its throat and the back of it's mouth. A moment later a bright red burst shoots out at you. You don't have the power for a Rider Kick, but you aren't powerless.

"Rider Punch!" You shout as you meet it head on. Powerful shockwaves shoot through the area, knocking over the grunts in the immediate area, sending burning lashes of energy every which way.

"Bguagh!" Miator grunts as it falls backwards, you're blown back as well. By the time you get up you realize the gunships from before are a lot closer. Looking at Miator, you realize your attack was more effective than you thought, the pressurized shockwaves from your attack must have reached him as he was now missing an arm. You note that it's not acting like the dragon from earlier, no machine lifeform here.

You can't allow yourself to be destroyed or captured. You can no longer stay here.

"Come! Rider Hopper!" You snap your fingers, your bike as at your side in moments. The Grunts are forming up around their fallen commander, they waste no time shooting at you. Leaning to one side you hide behind the armor of your bike, letting it take the shots for you as you blast away. Lasers fly your way soon after, hitting you in the back several times. More jets and the gunships now.

Switching into drive mode you drop into freefall for a few moments and use gravity to accelerate down a rocky mountain road. The gunships lose you instantly, but the fighters chase you for some time. Even through thick forests and ruined highways, you're unable to lose them until you spot some caves.

You hide inside until you can't hear their engines anymore. It's now evening, probably somewhere around six. Breathing out a sigh you undo the transformation where you find yourself still sweating bullets. You used a lot of energy today and you took a fair beating too.

"We can see the stars.." You mutter. Without the light pollution from populated cities you can finally see what the countryside night looks like. The ride back to the castle is quiet. Ride Hopper's engines are mostly quiet, though you do hear an odd rattling every so often. The both of you have reverted from your armored forms but some of the damage has carried through. How many dragon commanders are there, what would happen if you took them all out, how would you? This world is a mess and the Machine Lifeforms are hiding somewhere, still scheming, still enacting villainous plots.

You can't help but think as you ride under the pale moonlight.

Returning to the castle, you're met with a frosty reception to say the least. There's nobody you recognize, but soldiers are there to meet you. Until night you're questioned. You tell them that you wanted to intercept the cargo at it's destination, then you told them you had to lay low to prevent pursuers from finding the castle. When they ask you about the fight they end up repeating several questions, like "How did you disable the convoy?" and "How did you repel the dragon commander?"

Saying, "I used my new Rider Storm technique," apparently didn't parse for them. Understandable, you made it up after all.

There's talks of you joining a live fire simulation with more advanced enemies that you've never seen before, the high command apparently want to talk to you again. In case you think you've glossed over something too fast you've been given a terminal to do some research on.

Is there anything you want to go over in greater detail?
>Write-in

You've also been assigned a new residence, a completely villain proof estate with reinforced walls and card-keyed doors. The brig. For dropping off contact so long the high command want you to sit and reflect on what you've done. They've also given you a radio for the future. They believe you when you say you want to cooperate, but they strongly disapprove of leaving and suddenly roaming the world. It's close to midnight when they finally leave.

With the extra time to think you note that the dragon commanders are steadily getting stronger. You overwhelmed Zavag in your first encounter but it seemed like he was being overconfident. You got lucky and consequently unlucky in the last two encounters. Physically the commanders are not your equal, but they travel in numbers, and who knows what tricks they'll pull next.


Would you like to continue as Kamen rider or change perspectives?

>Kamen Rider (Next Day)

>[Intermission] Commander makes his rounds

>[Intermission] High Command Briefing (Continued)

>>5613754
>[Intermission] Commander makes his rounds
We did nothing but save lives, I'll take a thousand days in the brig if a single soldier gets to live

>>5613754
>[Intermission] Commander makes his rounds
I sure wonder when we'll pay for our attempts at heroism

>>5613754
>[Intermission] Commander makes his rounds

>>5614168
Well... I'm not sure how far to go either. But in terms of cost benefits you haven't been that expensive. The big bosses don't look too kindly on you deserting for the better part of a day, but you're human (right?) and are actively helping. There's a few more thoughts mixed in there but i'm trying to keep things balanced and reasonable.

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[Intermission] The Commander makes his rounds

Cocking back the hammer of your revolver you aim down your sights. Six bangs reverb through the room, bright yellow shots traced their paths into non-moving silhouettes of humanoid targets, merely practice.

"Whoa.. Boss, wish I could hit'em as good as you.." One of the soldiers in the room is clearly impressed, but you don't want to give the wrong idea.

"I only hit'em because they're not moving. In a real fight, anything could happen. For example, I could miss every shot."

"Hahah, no way boss, your scores are in the top ten each time."

"Bottom ten." You correct him. Heck, you might even be booted from that if you didn't keep the men as busy as you do. As a commander, you pride yourself on logistics planning, troop movements, and management of perishable supplies along with raw materials rather than combat techniques. You routinely inform everyone around you, these are a Commanders' duties, right? Nonetheless, he's still infatuated.

"Gimme some tips? I gotta nail the zards like you!"

"Nope, learn what you need on the field." You shoot him down instantly. The last time you were a teacher only bad things happened, a curse you could say. With the neo-core guns you don't actually need to do this, but you open the chamber of your laser-revolver and spin it, venting the extra heat, before holstering it again.

In general, people think you're pretty busy, you are, but you're also great at delegating. For example, you sent the Kamen Rider out to help the boys. Unexpectedly though, he didn't come back with them. Rebellious streak? He is pretty young after all.

That's what you thought until you got a full report. You're waiting in the command center, watching from above as you spot their patrol bikes driving in, returning from their cargo raid.

"Mission Success, sir," you say to the castle general. "Cargo recovered, slight injuries, moderate vehicle damage. Confirmed two dozen Saurian grunt kills, too."

"Only light injuries, very good engagement."

The old man gives you huff of approval, something like 'good job raising those kids' maybe? Except you didn't touch any of them, also you have one last piece of news to deliver.

"Kamen Rider hasn't returned."

"What!"

Well he suddenly got worked up, so you decide to smoothe him over with a quick tactical barrage, certain to do him in instantly.

"The workshops send word they're ready to get back to it. We're stocked up on neo-titanium and clari-steel for a long while. Along with a small bonus of manarite." You quickly say. The old man was always easily manipulated, it wasn't like you hated him though, ordinarily he was pretty easy going. He even shared some of his private brandy on good days. Since he's feeling better now though, it might be a good time to lay some groundwork. You're a sinful man.

"You know, we might be ready to go on the offensive again, what with our raw materials topped off. And if that turns out to be what we think, we could start making tactical strikes again." Having said that, you know you aren't expecting an answer for awhile. Heck, that could turn out to be a dud, it already looks suspicious. Well, at least to everyone else, but you know what's inside.

With the squad having returned you excuse yourself to go debrief them. Andes, the one you put in charge of that squad, is dutifully waiting for you right outside. It was then he told you the specifics, they were largely uninvolved in the fight, and only just recovered the cargo before things got too hot. Apparently Kamen Rider got into a pretty heated fight. Briefly, you wonder just how hot things could get under the right circumstances. Well, sounds like the boy is gonna get yelled at, you'll try to smooth it over. Morning meets are far too early for shouting matches.

"Dismissed then. Go ahead and tell the boys to grab a drink or three. You're going to get another mission tomorrow." You tell him, with a salute he's off again. That's work done, now onto your real business.

A saying you heard went something like "Everything flows down from management." You know full well what the world could be like, after all, your town was burning the last time you saw it, long before you took up permenant residence in a landing castle. If everyone rode that wave morale would be in the recyke bins, so you make sure you're visibly having a good time, most of the time.

That's what you do until night, breaking bread and spilling drinks with the men, letting them know that you care and what not. Later on, during the final meal of the night, Andes finds you again in the mess hall.

"Commander. Teach me how to manage men like you do."

"Men huh? No thanks." You try to brush him off with a joke. However, he ignores your remark, then plops down next to you. While your plate is full of reconstituted nutrients in the form of chicken soup, his plate is loaded with a handful of tan-colored blocks. Cyborg food.

"I don't understand the morale, and it's my fault he's being punished isn't it?"

You figured something like this would pop-up eventually. Like maybe someone feels irrelevant when Kamen Rider shows up, though that hasn't happened yet.

"Don't worry about that. He's a rowdy kid. Instead, treat that him like a frontline tank, let him do the heavy lifting. Tell you what, I'll tell the Alchemist to give you some more support." You reassure him, then attempt to leave, on your way out you snatch some cyblock for your next stop.

The brig isn't that far from the mess. Dr. Cain says it's a holdover from pre-war days, something about making sure prisoners are well fed? Well it's not like you mind, the brig usually just housed drunks, criminals were extremely rare.

"So, enjoy your night drive?" You address the young man inside. He simply nods. You had him pegged as slightly stoic from your last meeting but he really doesn't let much slip huh. Tossing the food block at him, through the bars, you watch as he swipes it mid-air.

"Cyborg food. Not sure what it tastes like, but the others tell me it's like milk and fish." Now he makes a face. Laughing heartily you continue on.

"Well, the castle General wasn't happy as you can tell. Don't hold it against the top heads, they just don't know how to treat you yet." Looking him over you can see he's clearly not angry, not because he's good at hiding emotions, just very patient. Actually, you get the sense he'd be bad at that, hiding emotions. Very saintly.

"For the record, I do want to help the world. I want to save these people."

You nod. Definitely a saint, except...

"But, you told me your last memory was you getting beat, right?"

He breathes in deeply and avoids your look. You smile.

"You can't save these people, if you can't save yourself." You're interested in how he holds up against that. Blinking once, he faces you again, meeting your gaze with a special kind of determination.

"Even so, I must fight with everything. Every enemy must be defeated for the sake of humanity. Kamen Rider must never lose."

A sigh escapes your mouth and a grin replaces it.

"For the record, we're trying to save ourselves, but you're welcome to join. They'll try to push for having you join as a full squad member, probably, but just coordinating will be good enough. They can't say no to someone like you." Now he has an amused expression. "Right now, they're worried you'll take all that power and just leave with no return address. You went and made your own bike after all."

He smiles at that. "I promise to maintain contact, if nothing else, I know I can't do it alone."

It's nice to hear that, you'll need to make use of him too.

The commander seem like a very interesting man, I like him.
He also makes for a good foil for our bright eyed Kamen Rider. I have a feeling that they would either but heads, or work extremely well together.

[Intermission End]

How was it? Be sure to send in your survey answers to the po box listed below. Kamen Rider continues after the CMs. About 4 hours.

>>5614891
I liked it

>>5614893
>>5614890
Thanks, I'm actually not entirely sure how much we'll interact with him. But I do want to say he's doing stuff offscreen. At least, if i don't forget about him.

>>5614891
It was nice. I'm not really familiar with Kamen Rider, but this is pretty well written.

>>5614913
Thank you. But don't go looking for kamen riders like this. I'm breaking from formula pretty hard. If you're interested in the franchise though I'm glad.


And without further delay today's programming will continue. I'll get maybe 1 more update today, sorry about that, likely another scheduling change in the future. This qm certainly is bad with time.

At some point you overhear your guard turn away Dr. Cain, you're curious as to what she needed but her lack of clearance and authority stopped her at the door.

It's early morning when they come for you, the sun was only just barely rising over the eastern horizon. Most people weren't out and about yet, just a few people in armor moving some supplies around, along with Commander Ordovis who has come to escort you. When you first met you figured him for a hardcore soldier, meeting him last night changed your view. Now you think of him in a slightly better light, maybe being a veteran of so many real battles has made him more 'down to earth'? Though you're not a fan of the food blocks he tossed you last night. No obligatory pork bowls here you suppose. Boy you sure miss those.

Ordovis escorts you to the same conference room as last time, however, he stops you before you enter.

"They're a bunch of stiffs. Just speak honestly. They'll get the point."

You're a bit confused but he seems dismissive of you, acting like he already knew what was about to happen. When you enter you see a few new bodies, three of them. Two males and one female. One of the new men is wearing an all black bodysuit, with little in the way of armor, and a completely featureless helmet. The second male is wearing a white outfit with a redcross over an enlarged pauldron. The woman is wearing some type of light armor, actually, it would be generous to call it that; maybe it was some kind of stealth gear.

Again, they start with a crisp salute, carrying on the military disciplines you remember. The conversation starts with another small interrogation, this time they just ask you about your previous outing. Basic questions with basic answers, you notice the man in black stirring once but you keep your eyes ahead.

"Then, let's move onto today's matters. What we truly wish to discuss." An older man says and the others nod. The general in charge.

"You have a lot of power, you're easily a squad unto yourself. Attaching you into a depleted formation seems like the best course of action." An mature woman suggests from the other side of the table.

Last night you had a lot of time, relying on their terminal you were able to discover some things.

"Before that, I've been analyzing our tactical readiness from public channels. Of course, I don't have the full picture, but from what I saw we've had to scale back your operations to pure survival. The recent raid helped us with that." You make sure to choose your words carefully, including yourself with their situation. You're one of them now.

"I don't mind being attached to a squad, but I think this is a good time to make a tactical strike." You continue and then pull up a holo-map from the terminal in front of you. The General nods his head at this. Another member of the meeting suddenly speaks up.

"The Saurians have been increasing their attacks lately. They backed off for a few decades after the machines hit the both of us, as the machines have been quiet however, they've gotten much rowdier."

From your other briefings and your own research you learned that much. Civilization outside of landing castles were sparse, either having been recently raided before they could join, or surviving in small village among ruins or underground settlements. Despite having engaged the machines in the past, the Saurians are perfectly fine attacking only humans, in fact, it seems that their main goal is extermination.

"You're right." The general says. "It's nearly time we did something. The Commander and I have been talking, a few of the generals as well. We're working on something. In the meantime, we make some attacks on our own. Surgical strikes on valuable targets."

"But where, and how?" Someone else adds, this prompts most of those attending to gaze intently at the map of Earth.

"I had Mao and Gauze looking into that, and, Kamen Rider himself has some new intel." Ordovis, who had been looking quite bored had swiftly joined in. That's right, the both of you spoke in great detail the other night.

"Specialist Mao, our top scout." He gestures towards the woman, likely only for your benefit. "What have you got?"

"Pre-war laboratory. Fully functional. Under Saurian control."

"Commanders?"

"Diverted. Another operation seems to have called it away."

"Relics?"

"None."

"Any useful tech."

"Unconfirmed. Highly likely. It should be noted that it is still heavily guarded." After concluding her information she sits back into her seat, still looking intensely focused.

"Option one. It'll keep our poor Alchemist busy but happy. Whatever the Saurians are working on we should take ourselves, if not to rob them of an advantage."

"And option two?" The general asks and Ordovis gestures to you. All eyes turn and you have the floor. You always wondered how humanity fell as quick as it did, certainly you're no intergalactic power, but the EDF were strong in their own right. However, your research determined something that could be key to your counterattack. The landing castles on their own are powerful, but you wouldn't ask them to go into combat as they are. Humans need a foothold first. That's where your suggestion comes in.

"Right now, the Landing Castles are our only advantage over Saurian ground forces. But for a serious offensive, I'm loathe to involve our civilians." You press your finger to a certain city. Old Tokyo. Ordovis changes the holo-image for you. Old intelligence photos from flyby drones. You see a few familiar landmarks, but on the whole he city has been gutted. Gigantic pipes, strange machinery, among other things, stick out from buildings or streets. It's sickening.

"In pre-war times it was a heavily defended EDF base. Chiefly because of it's heavy fifty-meter anti-air battle cannons. In your history banks it seems it went unused, I suspect Machine Lifeform sabotage. But if I can repair it with my own nanites you could use the area as a foothold."

"If you can."

"I can."

The higher ups continue conversing, the general tells you your involvement is on a short break. In essence, you've been given a recess. Mao, Ordovis, and the man in white armor leave as well. Before splitting up to go their seperate ways Ordovis comes to you.

"You'll be called in there again, likely to elaborate on your plan. You saw their faces right? They like the idea of a new gun. Told you so."

If you do get to speak up on it again which plan are you going to try to push for?

>Retake the anti-air cannon.

>Retake the laboratory.

>Write-in

>>5615253
Ok, so the Saurians have air superiority, but Humanity has ground superiority. With the cannon and a castle stationed nearby, that would make the region virtually unassailable, unless the Saurians deploy forces en masse. It would allow atleast part of humanity to stop being nomadic and start to rebuild, however, that would create an area that would is a of great strategic value so there's a chance that they could very well end up doing it.

The laboratory is also a stationary target, and one that doesn't come with defenses. However, we could discover what the saurians are studying there, or maybe even remains of human technology. We could just loot and destroy the place if holding the location it is not possible. Also, the machine lifeforms and the saurians are likely involved somehow, because of the scorpion. Either Ark is infiltrating them, the saurians are researching them, or they are working together, so this could be a follow up to that plotline.

I'm going with
>Retake the anti-air cannon.
Getting a strong base should allow us to organize better.

>>5615253
Will using our nanites to repair the anti-air canon make us weaker overall? I'm not sure how repairing things with that would work.
>Retake the anti-air cannon.

>>5615263
To be clear, it will weaken you and slow you down, repairing the canon. But you won't be permanently crippled if that's what you're asking. Depending on how it goes you would carry that weakness into the next mission or we make a certain choice later. If I remember anyways. Narratively speaking, you make and carry your own supply of nanites, but like giving blood you can just keep doing it.

In terms of dice and "gameplay" you are the only one capable of fixing the canon, that means you'll have to spend a period of time touching it. I'm going to try something different with this combat where i give you "plans" to enact through the battle. This is a quest/game so i want you guys to feel involved right? So yeah repairing the cannon will leave you slightly open, like when you have to press F on a an objective in a game. In a perfect world nobody would be here to stop you. But there are enemies with their eyes on this place, will they let you have your way?

Anyways it really all depends on my skill as a writer right? At the very least I want to show you a good time, no matter if i'm able to do this 'plan' system.
Also to be clear, the next update will bein 48 hours. Remember when i said i could do multiple bumps? I lied. I didn't know that though.

>>5615272
> but like giving blood you can't just keep doing it.

Look at all these typos. Is the qm stupid? Remember to submit your survey answers to the number below.

>>5615272
>>5615263
Also as an add-on. As a character your information is outdated, you don't know what's been happening since they were taken. You also don't know what exactly is wrong with the gun.

I sure hope i find out though.

>>5615272
Thanks for clarifying QM! I was mostly worried that we would have a permanent malus.
>spoiler
Well I'm having fun so far.
And don't worry about it man, I know how it is with stuff happening irl. That stuff comes first.

>>5615285
Well, it should be interesting at least. Hope the dice have mercy.

>>5615253
>Retake the anti-air cannon.

After that we need to step back and recover.

Looking out from one of the tower windows, you spend the next half hour simply watching the people below. You'd heard the castle had accepted refugees from elsewhere, but seeing it really hits home. Your time in the castle until now had been spent in the furthest areas, restricted rooms, or simply buildings that didn't see much traffic. In the streets below people were practically shoulder to shoulder, briefly finding yourself wondering where they were hiding until now. Overpopulation was a distant but growing concern in your time, only now can you see why people put so much thought to it. Well, whether it was fortune or otherwise, it would seem Earth no longer had to worry about such things.

Eventually, a soldier comes to get you, one of the guards you saw in front of the conference room. They're ready for you again. It would seem you were the last one in, as you return to your see they being the discussion again. This time they're discussing the tactical implications about leaving an unknown device in Saurian hands, but the general along with a few other officers are clearly pushing to retake the gun. Then a certain question comes up, from Mao, the specialized scout.

"I looked through our archives while we were gone. We saw no mention of this gun in our databanks. Even our flyby images are extremely limited and restricted. How did you know about it?"

"My time in 26XX, I participated in the defense of Tokyo once before. It's absence from your databanks are exactly why I concluded that it had been sabotaged."

Many of the officers wore troubled expressions, the general spoke up.

"While Castles weren't always privy to the most classified of pre-war documents. One would think this gun would be accessible, at least to generals."

"It's possible our computers were hacked. It would make sense if it's the machines." Someone else nodded.

"This seems like a trap. I don't want to commit our forces to this." An older woman said. Oddly enough, Ordovis started laughing.

"If this was a machine lifeform trap, I'd know."

"It's because of his advice I'm a general and he made commander. If his agents say this isn't a trap, I believe him."

It seems the general and Ordovis share some history, something to look into later if you remember perhaps.

"I still don't trust that one." Another man said. "We can't verify his identity, the name Kamen Rider doesn't bring up anything about his birth record."

"He was telling the truth. Thoth told us as much." The general speaks up to defend you, though some still look concerned. You note a reference to a name you don't recognize, but nobody elaborates for you.

"If any of you still have reservations about me. Let me lay them to rest with this mission. We will fix that gun. We will give humanity a chance to counterattack." You say, making sure to look everyone in the eyes, to give them a taste of your determination. You find several of them look towards the man in black, but he says and does nothing. In fact, he seems a little tired.

"Any questions?"

A map is superimposed over the holo-display for you and several people start raising their hands. It's mostly a discussion of tactics, what you can do, how you're expecting your nanites to perform, etc. In truth, it's here you start to become worried, you have no idea what's happened to the gun, and whether it's software or hardware that needs fixing. From their tactical reports they tell you Saurians have visited the area before, though they left soon after, apparently being unable to work the gun. They currently read zero life signs, no Saurians.

Here you discuss how they humans are going to deploy their forces. Despite how important the operation will be, it's not as though they can send all their soldiers.

>They'll deploy an engineering team with you along with a single tactical squad.

>Single squad with another patrolling the area.

>Write-in (You made a request?)

Soon enough you're released while they continue talking. Now you have something to look forward to, a goal to close the distance between the invaders and Ark-Zero. Remembering how shocked Zavag was back aboard the crawler, you briefly wonder if a dialogue is possible. Though this is only the point-of-view is only possible from someone who hadn't spent their whole life at war. It's probably impossible.

It's a few days from here to Tokyo and they haven't given the order to move out yet.

What do you spend your time doing?

>Nothing in particular. Take the days as they come.

>Simulator training. Keep limber and ready for the mission.

>Write-in

>Skip to the day of.

Hmm did kamen rider always come on at this time? Yes, of course. I didn't come in late. Depending on how things go expect an update in another 2 days or at the end of the week. (Wednesday or Saturday)

>>5617415
>They'll deploy an engineering team with you along with a single tactical squad.
>Simulator training. Keep limber and ready for the mission.

>>5617415
>They'll deploy an engineering team with you along with a single tactical squad.
>Simulator training. Keep limber and ready for the mission.

Hmm. Would you guys like to take another choice to break this free time thing in half? Or get the simulator scenes and then get ready for the mission?

>>5619261
Unless there is something important we can do like ask Cain what she wanted to tell us when we were at the brig, I think we can do both at once

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>>5619264
I actually wanted the writein option to be used like that.

I'll see where the simulator scene goes. If i end up putting it off you guys can choose to just talk to cain again i'll whip up something. I used to be able to knock a couple updates out per day, surely something like this will be easy. Expect update in roughly 1 or so hour. I don't like the idea of shoving multiple days into 1 paragraph so I think this options is the best anyways.

>>5619277
I actually had forgotten about her visit and only remembered it now.

>>5619284
Just like how i like it, characters sneaking around in the back of your mind

With hours and even days ahead of you free time certainly isn't a problem. So, your first thought is to use the simulator. On your way over you notice a tail, people following you at long distance. Not the ones from last time. Likely just some guards to make sure you're not up to no good. Despite your current residence being a cell, it seems they're quite lax with you. Perhaps someone said something.

Using the simulator doesn't cost anything, just like last time you're allowed to simply enter. The group inside is familiar to you. Apparently they got word you were coming. Now that there's no emergency you manage to get a closer look at how humans in this time fight. Most if not all soldiers wear powered armor of some type, although they sometimes look cobbled together, all armors held a energized charge in the plates to resist lasers and other high energy weapons. The metal itself was resistant to physical damage, to a point of course.

As for the training, it goes fairly well, all of you start against simulated grunts. In your normal state you still move faster than a human, but with their armor you find they can keep up fairly well. A lull appears as they break for lunch, one of them approaches you.

"You're doing well, Rider." You recognize the voice as Tetsu, not that you've met that many people here. "Think you can handle a whole session without your armor?"

"Maybe. I don't have a lot going on right now."

"We were watching you from Andes scope, by the way. It seems you used another strange attack. How many do you have?" She approaches you and holds her hand out, offering to help you maintenance your gun. It's been holstered at your side this whole time, she must have figured out what happened.

"I'm not so sure. Thatt one I made up on the spot. Although, I suppose I was always capable of using that attack." You say, taking your gun and her offer. The motions are simple, you'll be able to do it on your own again later, though the 'Rider Shooting' would perform better with a customized gun.

"Interesting. A lot of soldiers here grow into sedentary routines, thinking their guns and guts are enough. If you hadn't adopted that new attack it's likely we would have had to lose some of the cargo."

"I'm just glad you all made it out."

"Thank to you we could have slept through that. You could stand to let us fight too."

Blaine approaches you next.

"You know, Andes got an earful when we got back. They really came down hard on him for being so passive."

"Is that so? Would it help to know I sleep in the brig now?"

At that he chuckles loudly.

"That's refreshing. You know, most of the guys down there just party too hard, you might make a new friend!"

You spend the rest of the day sparring and training with them. Some of them look to be especially skilled, looking every bit the part of a war veteran. At the end of your session, they tell you that they'd be happy to train with you again sometime. It was just past evening when the castle finally started to move. A castle wide annoucement sounded out preceeded by a short bell.

"All hands. Secure any loose valuables and equipment. The castle is now deploying to area J-T. Tokyo. Repeat, the castle is now deploying to area J-T."

You hardly felt even a shudder as the castles' engines started up. Although it couldn't be used for flying right now, it seemed the floatation devices were being used to at least dampen any bumps.

At the start of a new day you begin with a leisurly one hundred push-ups. Around 10am when the guard allows you out, you find yourself jogging along the streets of the castle. It was beginning to get a little chilly out, you felt it was too early for that, perhaps weather conditions have simply changed that much. You weren't sure what effect, if any, exercise actually had on your body, but Dr. Hongo always did tell you to at least stay in shape. As Kamen Rider, the belt gives you a lot of power, but the basis of it all is your body. If you don't work on it you'll probably regret it one day.

Every now and then you'd pass by somebody who recognized you and the two of you exchanged a wave or quick greeting while you continued your jog.

"Hey, Rider! Thanks again for the help the other day!"

"Always nice being able to lean on you, kid!"

In the times you weren't able to join the simulator, you spent some time volunteering to help people. Whenever you saw hard labor and had spare time you offered yourself up. It wasn't unlike what you did in the old days, sometimes you'd patrol your neighborhood to help out.

"Is it the machines?" You sometimes asked troubled citizens.


Only a few more days until you reach Tokyo, do you have anything else planned?

>Introduce yourself to the deployment teams. It might be good to get to know who you're working with.

>Head to the library. You only heard it exists recently. But it might be good to do some research on what's happened to tokyo.

>Head to the Mess Hall. A congregation of soldiers and civilians. See what they think of the upcoming mission.

>Head to the recreation district. It might do you some good to relax

>Find someone you know...

>Write-in

>>5619404
>Find someone you know...
Let's visit doctor Cain and ask her what she wanted to talk about when we were at the brig

You're in the middle of a fire exercise when you suddenly remember Dr. Cain tried to visit you earlier. After wrapping up you decide to find out what she wanted. Despite not actually knowing where anything is in the castle, you don't need to. Fortunately, you're under armed escort. Except, he usually has his weapon holstered, and you find he's a reliable companion. The guard, Fujioka, has started to accompany you on your meals as well.

"Could we see Dr. Cain?" You ask as soon as you see him, and he dons a puzzled expression. It turns out, he doesn't know who that is, nor where she would be. You were just praising him too. It takes you close to an hour to figure out where you're going, her lab is actually pretty well guarded. With a slight bow, Fujioka greets the other guard and it isn't long before you see the good doctor again.

Inside there are several strange machines gathered around the walls, shelves, as well as an even larger machine on the ceiling that rotates. The doctor is on the far end and greets you as she disengages from her work.

"Ah! Excellent, I was wondering when I'd see you!' She walks up to you and gestures for you to follow into another room deeper in. "I'm glad you came. I'm pretty busy so I can't keep chasing after you."

Inside the next room some sort of safety barrier barring off another part of the room, and inside is a white sphere.

"Of course, I would have handled it eventually. But I suspect your help is required for a speedy analysis." She says and allows you in. Inside is a shiny-white sphere, suspended in mid-air by translucent waves of energy.

"Uh, doctor? What do you need me fo-" You don't finish that sentence. While walking around it to examine it, you spot it, on one side is a picture of your face. Specifically, the Kamen Rider helmet.

"What?" You can't hide your surprise.

"A team recently brought this back from a Saurian convoy raid. Do you know what it is?"

"Not at all.." Your voice trails as you look on. On a whim, you decide to touch it. The sphere shudders, energy sparks around it, scratching into the walls, and striking your hand. You pull back suddenly and the energy stops, the sphere goes dead again.

"Rider... Change!" You shout, the other scientists and guards on the other side of the barrier all shout or gasp in surprise, including Cain who has seen this before.

Again you touch it. This time, the Sphere shakes, seams open up as a series of radiant blue lights shine through. No energy comes out, instead the sphere suddenly shoots out shrapnel everywhere. The armor forming the sphere flies out in multiple directions, most of them bounce harmlessly off a wall, or are caught by the energy trying to contain it. You move to catch a piece heading for the doctor, snatching it out of the air. It didn't have the power to hurt her, just a reflex.

A small box had replaced the sphere, after a loud humming, it begins projecting an blue hologram into the space in front of you.

"Kamen Rider. If you find this, then that means you have been awoken, though not by me. I can only hope you find yourself surrounded by allies." Your eyes go wide as the figure speaks, you thought you'd never see him again. His face is a little older, some time has clearly passed, but you recognize him. It's Doctor Hongo.

"No doubt you'll find yourself facing fearsome opponents once again. Inside this box are some things for your eyes only, as such, I've made it so only you can willing peer in. If you find yourself interested, please have a look, surely what's inside would be of help to you." Dr. Hongo bows before disappearing. The light in the room recedes and the box splits open down the middle, revealing an even smaller box.

"What? Only you?" Dr. Cain shouts, her shoulders fall slack. "I don't suppose you could let me tag along when you decide to open that?"

You shrug. Honestly? It's a lot to unpack, and you decide to leave it for another day. Dr. Cain also excuses you, either because she understands, or really is far too busy for more work. Still though, you're reminded once again that you've left people in the past, while you were sleeping they had no doubt been fighting with their all. Starring into the box, you find yourself renewed with determination. You'll make it worth it.

The day of the mission arrives and you prepare yourself for anything. Double checking your body, making sure the belt is in good condition. There actually seems like something could happen inside. The only living expert on it is you, except you have no idea what's happening, and you don't have time to look around in Hongo's box. You'll just have to manage like always.

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Inside the vehicle hangar you meet with the soldiers who are deploying with you. It's Ordovis' team from earlier along with a few dozen others, the familiar faces greet you and you find yourself relieved, at the very least you're already familiar with how they fight. The engineers however, regard you slightly, until you approach them.

"Hi, please call me Kamen rider." You try to smile and give a bow. Classic japanese greeting, it can't go wrong, you think. "I am looking forward to working with you all."

The engineers look at you oddly, and it occurs to you that maybe some traditions didn't survive. Regardless...

"R-right."

"We'll be in your care."

Ordovis isn't here to brief you, but Andes takes it up on himself.

"Sensors indicate there's still no Saurian bio-signs, that could change quickly though so let's stay on our toes. Our mission is to find and repair an anti-air battle cannon." He nods and returns to his bike, conducting what you think is maintenance on his equipment.

A mission like this is full of unknowns, but it should be safe enough if the Saurians aren't here. The problem is the machine lifeforms. You already asked Ordovis in private, and it seems that they can't search for them until they're already active and in the area. Looking around, the soldiers accompanying you look nervous, the engineers, Andes' men as well. Not having any clear enemies is something they're not used to apparently. Though, as a man of peace you'd prefer having no enemies.

Should you try to give a speech?

>No. They're veterans, they can handle themselves.

>Yes. Keep it casual, no threats no problems.

>Yes. Try to draw some courage from them.

>Write-in


After that you'll spend some time travelling. The castle can't just drive into Tokyo, after all. How do you want to handle that?

>Loose formation.
Everyone can maneuver as they need to if something happens, but you won't be able to protect everyone if they're too far.

>Tight formation.
You'll be easier to hit as a group. But if there's anything you need to do to protect everyone you can do it easiest like this.

>Write-in

Ahem, that's it for today's show. Please tune-in next time at 72 hours!

>>5619482
>Yes. Try to draw some courage from them.

>With this strike success, humanity will have retaken a slice of Earth that will be impenetrable to the Saurian Empire! But it is not they that will be our enemies in this day, but the Machine lifeforms, our older enemies!
>I'm Kamen Rider. I have dedicated my life to fight them, to protect humanity. But I didn't fight alone. By my side there were the brave men and women of the Earth Defense Force, your ancestors!
>I would say that it's time to make them proud, but you all have already done so by holding strong for hundred of years! No, today don't fight for their honor, but for their hopes and dreams of a free Earth!

>Loose formation.

>>5619507
Hmm do you know that the machines will come out? For the people living here the machines haven't shown up in decades. I'll put it in though.

>>5619529
Because it would be too easy if they didn't, but I can rewrite it to be like this, make it just implied

>With this mission success, humanity will have retaken a slice of Earth that will be impenetrable to the Saurian Empire! By all rights this should be considered a key location, so be aware, there may be dangers beyond a possible saurian attack
>I'm Kamen Rider. I have dedicated my life and identity to fight the Machine lifeforms, to protect humanity. But I didn't fight alone. By my side there were the brave men and women of the Earth Defense Force, your ancestors!
>I would say that it's time to make them proud, but you all have already done so by holding strong for hundred of years! No, today don't fight for their honor, but for their hopes and dreams of a free Earth!

Guaranteed 2nd update coming later today. I wrote this up but i gotta run for like 2/2andahalf hours

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Before everyone takes off, you spin your bike around. You've never actually taken a leader's position, but since you're serving as the spearhead for this formation you happen to be in a good place to address everyone. They regard you strangely but that's fine, as long as you have their attention.

"With this mission's success, humanity will have retaken a slice of Earth that will be impenetrable to the Saurian Empire! By all rights this should be considered a key location, so be aware, there may be dangers beyond a possible saurian attack! I'm Kamen Rider. I have dedicated my life and identity to fight the Machine lifeforms, to protect humanity. But I didn't fight alone. By my side there were the brave men and women of the Earth Defense Force, your ancestors! I would say that it's time to make them proud, but you all have already done so by holding strong for hundred of years! No, today don't fight for their honor, but for their hopes and dreams of a free Earth!" You say all of this with a strong feeling of courage and determination in your chest, earnestly speaking about where you and they come from. Then you conclude it with a smile.

Blaine nods then settles into his seat with a fierce grin. "Yeah okay! For the old guys! Let's carve ourselves a piece of the Earth!"

The entire group looks much better now, cheering at the thought of finally calling any large amount of Earth 'theirs'. What you hope they'll remember, is that it was always so. All of you rev your bikes several times before blasting out of the hangar, through the castle gateways, then finally onto open roads.

For all it's desecration, Tokyo still retains its shape as a great city, giant buildings stacked end to end, even Tokyo tower still pokes at the sky from beyond the horizon. The area around it is a wasteland, trees suddenly stop growing at a certain point and it begins to look more like a desert as you close in. Very quickly you enter the wide roads of the city. But you're not heading deep inside, your target is the former EDF base at the edges. Though still very much surrounded by urban architecture. The buildings more or less have their old shape, but strange machines have replaced former stores along with business centers. At times pipes jut out through walls, connecting to other buildings or machines working in the middle of the road.

"Anybody recognize this?" You ask the others, a short string of negatives is their reply. If it's not the Saurians or humans, it can only be one thing. Nodding, you continue on.

Rolling in a loose formation you're harder to hit as a group, and as individuals. The city streets aren't what they used to be, debris, abandoned cars and other such obstacles are in the way. Occasionally you spot some debris on its way to the ground, or a tricky piece of terrain. By telling the others to follow your movements you're able to kneed them through the danger, and with the extra space they avoid bumping into each other.

All in all, it's going smoothly, yet you can't shake the feeing you're being watched. You soon discover, you are. A scattered flurry of laserbolts from the sides of the buildings, as well as the top, rain down in front of you. Your durasteel wheels grind to a halt as you swerve to avoid it. Gunfire stops a moment later, they only wanted your attention.

"Which one of you is the Kamen Rider?" A Saurian up top calls out, the voice seems familiar but all you know is it's a dragon commander. Based on the shadow next to them, two of them.

"It's me!" You've never made it a point to hide who you were. You stand up on your bike and shout back. The humans said they didn't detect anything here, did they simply deploy that quickly, or were they hiding somehow?

"The mighty and wise Arch-Dragoon council has given us the chance to regain our honor! We will kill you here and now!" He's pointing at you with his weapon, the hammer he had last time you assume.

"Then come! Face me!" You're pointing at him, gesturing with your hand for him to come down. All the while, you keep the Saurian grunts hidden behind walls and debris within your peripheral vision.

The Saurian complies and jumps down to your level, landing only a few meters in front of you.

"Only one of you?" You say, doing your best to sound disappointed.

"Zavag, you handle that one. When I've taken care of the humans we can gut it together!"

"Miator! You're leaving me to do all the work?" Zavag shouts back at his ally, but it doesn't seem like he hates the idea. He's slowly approaching you with his hammer in hands.

"What's wrong, you're not armored today?" Zavag asks.


What will you do?

>Draw the other into fighting you as well.
If you keep him off the humans you could get a window for them to continue on. Getting the gun online would mean shutting off their avenue for escape too.

>Bring the fight to Miator.
You can jump high, but you've never leapt a building in a single bound. Still, if you can force its attention on you he won't get a chance to fire on the humans.

>Take down Zavag then Miator.
One at a time, fight it out with the humans.

>Write-in

>>5623185
>Take down Zavag then Miator.

>>5623185
>Take down Zavag then Miator.

The usual patron didn't show up so I thought I was done for hah. I'll start writing something, although i had originally meant to do the next few posts back to back that day. Let's see what happens.

>>5626036
I'm honestly still surprised this hasn't got more people. The series is a classic and it's well written.

>>5626067
Yeah, this is a good quest
>>5626036
If you are talking about this anon >>5619552, then that's me. My ID changes when my power goes out

>>5626067
>>5626077
Thank you both for saying that, but at the end i'm just glad i have you guys. Not to sound clingy, but If you're planning on leaving at least say goodbye, it's just good manners right?

anyways, i got interrupted a bit so that's my bad, prepare for the post momentarily
next post somewhere between 24-48 hours

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Looking over your shoulder your gaze meets Andes, the both of you nod, in that instant he begins giving orders. It's here you see for yourself that ability of longtime veterans. While they don't normally display the stiffness and discipline you're used to seeing in the military, they still coordinate very well. As the Suarians around and above you open fire, with a few mounted grunts appearing from deep alleyways; the humans immediately make for better cover, ditching their vehicles for the safety of walls, alleyways, even slabs of debris.

As for yourself? You're currently standing out in the open, as well as being unarmored, you present the easiest target. Even as the surrounding aliens aim their sights at you, you're moving at Olympian speeds.

"Rider!" You shout, aiming your arm at an angle, the other bending at your side. Your body fills with a warm energy, light distorts around your waist and a familiar belt appears around your waist. Moving your arm up at counter-clockwise, your arms then switch and you hold that pose.

'Vreeee~' The gyro begins to spin loudly, the air around you rushes up into a vortex, wind rushes through the streets to meet you. The invaders who fired on you find their ammo is wasted as their lasers warp up into the vortex, being absorbed and deflected by the vortex gathering around you.

"Change!" A bright light coats you for an instant, as the gyro calms down the light begins to recede, revealing your old armor. Your bike has changed as well, the nanomachines from your transformation spread to it naturally, allowing it to adopt its altered form from earlier.

The nearby aliens find themselves disoriented, by the wind, as well as the light. Fortunately, thanks to your many long hours of training, the humans are prepared for this, and they swiftly take exploit the invaders as they stumble around blinded. More than a few pelt away at the commanders, but their armor shakes off a majority of their attacks. The dragon commander in front of you, Zavag, shakes it off faster than his grunts.

"Gch! A trick like that won't work on me! A Dragon's inner eyelids protect me!" It shouts as it rushes forward to meet you with his hammer.

Revving your bike to the max you quickly lurch through the air, leaving burning dust in your wake. Spinning on the front wheel you swing the rear of your bike into a swath of grunts as they tried to flank you, jumping forward again you just barely dodge Zavag's hammer shots. You can hear him grunting in annoyance behind you.

"Give me yours!"

Looking over your shoulder you can see him rip one of his own men off their alien hover bike, the engine makes its own low growl alongside his own deep snarl. He's trying to match you? Well, you're up to the challenge.

Together, like ancient jousting knights, you rush each other. Zavag hoists his hammer into the air, getting ready to sweep you and your ride, which could very much happen, if you were using a normal bike. But you aren't. Forcing your ride into a pseudo wheelie, letting it hang in the air from the power of its thrusters, you slam and swing your front wheels around as if they were your own fists. The fight proceedes like this for the next few moments, trading wheel to hammer, feet to fists, you demonstrate exactly why you are called Kamen Rider. Why you are to be feared by villains.

In the meanwhile, the other dragon commander, bunkering high up on a building's roof, is firing down on whomever he pleases. He switches from keeping the humans suppressed, even getting a few down, to yourself, aiming to chip away at your bikes armor. You note that these are both the commanders that escaped you, both failing to accomplish their missions, with this being your third encounter with this Zavag character. You would have thought he'd be punished or something, heck, shouldn't he be thinking about what the both of you saw? Did he forget about the machine in his ally, was he simply trying to avoid it?

Regardless, while the humans have been contributing on the sides, they find themselves having to fight defensively. For your part, when you get distance from the dragon commander you take to whittling away at the grunts who move carelessly. Although your bike has taken some damage, even losing some armor on the sides, you find your boosted speed and power are more than the commanders can handle. Once again they are losing. By swerving mid-air and banking hard to your side you're able to catch Zavag in his flank, he slashes at you with a clawed hand as you pass by, you wince but it's not enough to stop you.

Swinging the back of your cycle into him you blast the rear engines to max, blowing him back into one of the strange machines dotting the roadside, completely destroying it. Sparks and metal shrapnel fly as it explodes. It was no Rider Kick, but the Hopper performed well today.

Whether by luck or divine intervention you hold yourself back from anything further. A familiar feeling, like a thread connecting your heart to some unseen target, you sense the movements of Aether in the air. It's the feeling of a machine lifeform preparing its attack.

Zavag is weary from your fight, just barely managing to stand by leaning on his hammer. As if he was desperate to strike you down, it seems there is some form of punishment back home if he fails to bring your head. Yet, he doesn't react, stubbornly soldiering on. Honestly, he might die to his own wounds soon enough.

What are you doing?

>Save the humans.
Leave the lizards to die, try to get the humans out, even if that means carrying them.

>Save everyone.
You're not unforgiving. Warn everyone, do your best save the humans and the aliens.

>Finish your business.
This commander will not interfere with you again. Warn the humans, but ensure this 'Zavag' takes the brunt of the attack.

>Finish your fight x2
The commander in front of you will likely chase you to keep fighting. If you rush the other commander you can pull it into whatever is coming next.

>Evade.
It's unclear who the target is, but if it's only you then by simply leaving you can spare the humans from whatever this is.

>Write-in

>>5626185
>Save the humans.

>>5626185
>Save the humans.
Don't know if it's more of a Kamen Rider thing to save both the humans and aliens or not, but this one sounds about right.

>>5626212
A choice is a choice my guy. Of course, I'll never give you guys an option to destroy an orphanage or anything. Right?

The evade is probably the closest to a bad choice, but even that i try to base on a form of 'hero' logic, very bad logic, but still

>>5626227
>Right?
Little did the anons know destroying the orphanage leads to the secret Good Ending lmao

You can feel it, a high-aether reaction in the distance, coming your way. Awhile ago you were given a radio to communicate with those around you, while it would be a hassle to carry it through your transformation, you were able to assimilate it with your nanites. Taking the entire mechanism apart at the molecular level, then reassembling it into your helmet. Putting your finger to the side of your head you key into your shared channel.

"We need to scatter, something's coming!"

You receive several confused or frustrated replies. While you know the attack is coming, everyone else is clueless, including the invaders. Only a handful of humans start disengaging, the one's who've seen you in action, while the rest have to be ordered into it by Andes. Suddenly, Andes' gauntlet is lighting up with warnings.

"He was right, high energy reaction!"

No longer thinking about combat, you slam your heels into the accelerator, forcing your bike to its maximum speed. Flying through the battlefield you're able to sweep two soldiers up and onto your bike, one is dangling over your lap, the other is desperately trying to keep their balance behind you. The last one you're able to pick up is shouting, a few Saurian lasers tag him as you swoop all of you upwards and away. Several heavier bolts tag your bike and yourself, you let out a grunt as lasers blossom behind you, you cope by gritting your teeth. Meanwhile, using your other arm to shield your passenger. An instant later an explosion expands in the side of the building you were just fighting under, catching Miator in a plume of fire, you watch him fall alongside his perch as the entire building collapses.

The building crumbles like a set of dominoes into the surrounding structures. You watch as molten panels, cement, and machinery all fall, creating a dust storm that rolls into several neighboring blocks.

"Oh my..." One of the soldiers you're carrying mutters. You nod. If you hadn't noticed that energy growing in the distance, everyone would have been taken out, maybe even yourself. The radio clicks on as the soldiers start a roll call. It seems like most of you made it, unfortunately a few soldiers were wounded during the chaos at the end.

For the next few moments, you wait, looking for any kind of follow up. Could it be the machine lifeforms were aiming only for those dragon commanders? Or perhaps it was waiting for another opportunity?

"With all this dust my suit's sensors are useless..." Andes reports over the radio, the engineers with you say as much too, providing some more technical jargon that you don't understand as context.

"I have Saurian dropships on my scope!" Another voice this time, Tetsu, adds.

"Now?"

The timing is strange, but if the invaders are sending more troops the gun has become a priority.

"We aren't losing here! Everyone, regroup at the gun!" You order, with Andes backing you up. Another minute or so and you arrive, the Saurians aren't due for a few more, though you find it strange that the MLFO has yet to reappear. Regardless, you get to work.

The gun itself looks like its seen better days. Its paint is pretty much worn down, the sides of the barrels look slightly rusted, and you can see the firing chamber has actually taken some damage. Except it looks more recent than everything else. The engineers along with yourself all agree that internal components are likely to be compromised as well. Your nanomachines will have their work cut out for them.

Examining the inside, you find the command center is deserted, completely. No bodies humans or other, no scattered cups or paperwork. It's likely it was cleaned out a long time ago. Switching on the computer, the screen turns blue, then proceeds to its default log-in screen, Windows 20.

You try to use the emergency password the EDF gave you a long time ago, it would have been awkward if you tried to fix the gun, only to be stopped by software. Except, you're greeted by a surprise as you try to log-in.

[Denied. Computer access restricted. Emergency password rejected.]

"Huh?" You stumble back slightly in surprise, the engineering squad gathers around you.

"Something wrong?" One of them asks. You shake your head, stubbornly continuing your efforts.

[Denied. Command access only. Access Restricted.]

[Denied. Command acc-]

[Denied. Comm-]

[Command level lockout.]

You try coded overrides, a friend's password, guessing, everything in your book, and nothing. Command level lockout? You gulp as you read those words. That means a high-ranking member of the EDF would have had to do that. But why? Well, pursuing that line of thought is gonna make you dizzy, not to mention it's simply not the time. You will have to remember that later. Right now that gun needs to start firing. If you were by yourself you'd probably have to yank out the CPU and start substituting key components with your nanomachines, along with doing the repairs, it might have been too much. Luckily, the humans back at the castle loaned you a squad of engineers.

How are we doing this?
>Send the engineers to the gun.
Let them service and repair the hardware, along with the guns' internal components. While you work on bypassing the software lockouts, your familiarity with that era's systems could make the job faster.

>Send the engineers to the computer.
Let them work on the computer so they can bypass its software, their technical expertise should make up for the generational tech gap. You will work on the outside, replicating key parts with the raw materials your nanites will provide, as well as any intricate calibrations.

>Take on both repair jobs.
Only you can ensure there are no errors. You spent some time here when you were younger, that's sure to come in handy. Everyone else will go on patrol or support you.

>Write-in

Hmm hmm. I ended up making the post. But as usual, you can't trust this qm. Next post will either be in 24 hours or 70ish. What a strange post window...

>>5627467
>Send the engineers to the computer.

>>5627467
>Take on both repair jobs.

Hmm, i suppose it was only a matter of time until we got a actual tie. Coin flip?

>>5627564
I wouldn't be against it. But if it becomes too much of an issue I'll change my vote.

File: masked coin.png (13 KB, 191x187)

13 KB PNG

>>5627566
My good man, It will be on the coin. I'll fight to get you guys an update tomorrow, i'm expecting it to be a smaller piece.

||Heads is engineers to computer btw. 2/3||

Just a dev update to keep you in the loop. If you were wondering about me fighting for that update. If you wanted to know where it is. I fought, I lost. Expect it in 60-70 hours. (3ish days)

>>5628634
Thank you for letting us know! I just caught up to this quest and I really enjoy it, so I'll try and be active with my votes.

Do any of you remember the qm talking about 'plans'? Yeah, now that we're getting into it, i have no idea what that guy was thinking.

Anyways, your featured program will begin in a few moments.

"You suddenly don't look as confident. What's wrong?" Andes approaches you, and you relay your findings. Your password no longer works, the guns' damage. Repairs will have to be a two-pronged effort. He nods, but the engineers all appear to be frustrated.

"We can't possibly work under these conditions! It's simply too much to do without securing the area!" The Engineers' chief speaks up, he's quite irate, but Andes speaks up for you.

"That's why he's here." He gestures to you, still in your Rider armor. "Originally, the plan was to have him repair the gun while your team provides support, but now your team will do their own repairs."

"So that's why he's here.." The engineers nod, muttering various things under their breath.

"But the problem remains, who goes where?"

You nod and tell them your recommendation, you'll go outside while they stay with the computer. They ask a few questions about the computer itself, then your plans for the guns' repairs. You answer as best as you can for the first subject, you were only an expert in select areas, as for the guns? You tell them about your nanites, their reactions range from slight grimacing, to surprised approval. Next comes the matter of the soldiers, you neglected to think about it, but you'll leave them to protect the engineers as you're the only one who can fight at a commanders' level alone.

Clouds have begun to move in, providing a slight overcast over the city, making its darker corners more ominous. You briefly remember a few horror movies you've seen, only instead of grudgeful ghosts, you have a powerful MLFO watching you from afar. With a great, jet-boosted leap you're on top of the canons' main body, kneeling down, you spread your senses throughout the gun. Your nanites gradually begin to permeate the emplacement, giving you a sense of what's wrong, the details, and how long it'd take to fix them. The paint is obviously a write-off, nothing you can do there anyways, the light damage and wear-down will have to stay as well, simply unimportant.

Certain parts inside have completely rotted away, damaged by time or lack of maintenance, replacing them by transforming your nanites is a possibility. But the level of repair will leave you debilitated, you will have to actually be wheeled home. You don't like the thought of blacking out. Even so, someone has to do it, it's not like you can just make a call for parts.

Even though you know there's an enemy prowling around, you can't help but find yourself absorbed in the repairs. Your nanites have a lot of automatic functions, like repairing your armor when damaged, managing temperature, as well as energy intake. But they aren't sentient, nor can they perform miracles. Therefore, you spend the next few minutes mentally guiding the miniature robots around, changing them into what you need. You stay like this until you notice several footsteps behind you.

"Finished already?" You ask, assuming it's the humans. As you turn around a shadow closes in on your visor, your head recoils from the blow, while another fist flies into your chest.

"Nngh!"

Diving into a roll you slip out of their range for a few moments, just enough to stand yourself up properly and face your new enemy. It's a familiar face, dozens of them in fact. Back during your time the MLFOs would deploy machine combatants, to give their commanders the advantage of numbers during a fight. On their own they could best most humans physically, to you they were mere fodder. They all look exactly as you remember. Largely featureless bodies, similar to mannequins. However, in lieu of wood or plastic, they're made of solid-plated steel.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Not enough ram to speak yet?" You taunt, just like usual, they have nothing to say. Apparently nothing has changed, they're still capable of only mindlessly attacking.

They rush you first, leading with punches and kicks. Basic. You duck under an arm and grab a leg as it flies towards you, pulling it forward you yank one off balance and slam your elbow down into its knee. Pistons, chips,sparks, and metal fragments fly as your arm cuts through. In one swift move you've crippled one of the mindless robots, you don't stop, next you're twisting horizontally to avoid another pair of fists and kicks. Before you land you push off the ground and slam your fist into the head of a machine as it tries to follow you, pushing the brunt of your momentum into it and its partner behind it as you land. Another machine manages to tag you in the back, you shrug it off. Dropping low you reverse sweep with your leg, knocking your surrounding enemies over, then dipping into an elbow knife drop, plunging straight through the chest of a combatant. You've just about finished when another sound catches your ears.

Metallic thudding, no... clapping?

"Yes, very good. It seems you're every bit the fighter the Ark remembers you as. Impressive, no? Three-hundred years old and you're still as spry as ever." His electronic voice echoes through the area.

The rest of the machine combatants back off, lining the edges of your platform, while the commander talks. The machine commander is mostly humanoid, still has arms and legs, but it's all hidden under heavy armor, looking more like a turtle as look up his body. Your fists go up, adopting a readiness pose.

"Not so fast. Things have changed, you've noticed how we've taken a step back, yes? The Ark had us pull back our attacks a long time ago. That's what you wanted right?"

Although it can't be seen through your helmet, you're eyeing it suspiciously, still tensing the bioroid muscles in your fists and biceps.

"You remember our boss, the Ark right?"

"You mean Ark-Zero?" You ask. Its torso dips forward slightly, its best impression of a nod maybe.

"How about it, wanna hear me out? Just a conversation between two of Ark-Zeros' sons."

What are you thinking?

>Hear it out
You are curious as to what the machine lifeforms are doing. Hearing it right from their mouths would be the best source, but then again, you swore they were your enemies.

>Decline
The machines are here in force, the Saurians will be here soon after. You need to fix this gun, the MLFO is likely just stalling you.

>Write-in

>>5629160
Heya! Nice to see another new guy, hope you enjoy your time here.

>>5631720
>Decline
>"I'm a son of humanity, not Ark-Zero"

"Never! I am a son of humanity, not Ark-Zero!" You shout, throwing your arm to the side, firmly rebuking his offer.

"Oh, touched a nerve did I? You'll regret spurning us, you're more machine than man now, remember!" Soon enough, the armored MLFO is moving into action, wasting to time to send the remaining combatants at you. Two of them rush to restrain you from behind, however, instead of them grabbing you, you're grabbing them in a counter throw. Shifting all your weight back and forth you throw them off balance, into a crowd of their peers.

"You won't catch me with small fry!" You say as you send an uppercut into a combatant, throwing it at the commander.

"Oh ho! It's as you say, the Ark didn't go wrong with your build, not at all! I'll be glad to take your parts for myself!" The armored commander shouted back joyfully in its digitized voice, sounding almost as if he was given a nice gift. They may have 'backed off' in recent times, but they're just as violent as you remember.

Another group of combatants move to clobber you. You send your leg out to smash in the mid-section of the one in front, while your body twists to let you punch the two coming at your sides. You barely catch the commanders' actions. The armor around his arms has receded, showing off two gleaming-red orbs underneath that soon move to cover his fists.

"Goodbye. Kamen Rider." It says, aiming his arms at you. Your intuition only just barely registers the threat and you react just in time. Grabbing two of the combatants by the collarplates, swinging them in front of you like a pair of shields to hide yourself, then it comes. Two furious explosions erupt in front of you, detonating the cores of the robotic minions. A wave of hot metal and even hotter ripples of fire wash over you.

"Nnngh!" You stumble back several steps, just barely catching yourself from falling off the platform. In the distance you can see the Saurian gunships coming on approach from afar.

"Ah, the Ark said as much. You really are built of sterner stuff, Rider, I'll just have to keep at it."


How are you going to handle this?

>Defend. [Speed]
As it stands you'll be overwhelmed. Focusing your nanites on gun repair, while you focus on dodging will allow you to work on the gun, while helping you survive.

>Defend. [Armor]
The same as above, but instead of focusing your nanites only on the gun, you're devoting an equal amount to boosting your armor integrity. This should give you more survivability in case you take a few hits.

>Attack [Armor]
Based on his attack from before he can bring a lot of firepower on you if you let him. By shifting your nanites to make your armor harder, as well as adapting them to absorb some of the Aether, you could reduce his attacks significantly.

>Attack [Speed]
If you stay fast on your feet, hitting him with quick blitzes aimed where his armor is weakest you could overwhelm him without over exposing yourself to his attacks.

>Write-in

>>5631761
>Defend. [Armor]

>>5631761
>Defend. [Armor]

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238 KB JPG

>>5631761
"You can try." You taunt. Spreading your stance wide, you breathe out slowly as you bring your arms closer to your waist. You're trying to manage the repairs, visualizing the guns' internals, while remembering your old defense stances. Your old marital master taught you such moves a long time ago, except you'll have to split your focus, it should work out. Hopefully.

More machine combatants start crawling up the sides of the platform, not unlike zombies from your old vids, like usual they're mindlessly rushing you. With swift feet you're side-stepping tackles, punches, dives, spinning on the heels of your feet you're evading all their easy to read moves. But the armed commander, who you're now dubbing Bombshell, is aiming at you once more. Without regard for his minions, Bombshell has brought his arms to bear in your direction. You put power into your hands and feet, getting ready to parry whatever he shoots out, only too late you realize that's the wrong approach.

An explosion buffets your chest, throwing you far back, onto the barrel of the gun. You barely save yourself by clutching as desperately as you can around the giant chamber, blasting your jets, and swinging yourself back on top.

"Huff, huff.." Your chest is heaving up and down, the kyrstal heart in your chest is pounding hard, doing its best to resupply you with Aether. The chest plate took some damage, slowly a distorted air clouds over the affected area, your nanites are repairing it as quick as they can. But you regeneration is slowed by your focus on gun repairs.

"The Ark remembers you as brave. How nostalgic." Bombshell taunts you. A bad call from you but your decision to focus on armor helped save you from an unlucky hit.

More minions rush you on top of the barrel, instead of dodging, you're simply counter grabbing, throwing them or tripping them off the barrel; you know somewhere dozens of meters below you is a pile of scrap parts. A chirping in the sides of your head alerts you, your blade-antenna is suddenly picking up a signal from the humans.

"Kamen Rider! We heard explosions, what's happening?" Andes is calling for a report, no reason not to tell him, you quickly inform him that you're fighting on top of the gun now.

"Are you hurt?"

"It's nothing, I can keep going!"

"Understood! We sneak into position on the building opposite of you, when we give the signal hold him down and we'll open up on him!"

If you had to put it into numbers, you're still 70% good. You're also making okay progress on the gun, only about 1/3rd done.

What are you thinking?

>Help the humans. Spend some nanites.
You'll help the humans line up their shots. Spending some nanites here might cost you but if you get rid of Bombshell you'll have an easier time.

>Help the humans. No nanites.
Same as above but more economical. You'll simply rely on your masters' teachings, no problem.

>Refuse their help.
Bombshell can wipe out buildings, if the humans are caught they'll be wiped out.
>>But how will you handle this?
>>Continue fighting defensively
>>Risk a special moves
>>Write-in

>>5631849
>Help the humans. No nanites.
>Try to keep Bombshell focused on you

>>5631849
>>5631866
Supporting.

"Got it!" You send an confirmation and refocus yourself. Briefly, you wonder if leaning on them is a mistake, it doesn't take long to correct that. Long ago you did such things with the EDF. Speaking of which, if it remembers that as well, then you'll need to keep all attention on yourself. A friend of yours always said you were flashing, time to live up to it.

"Toh!" You shout as you somersault back onto the top of the guns' main body. You begin to fall into rhythm once more. Several of the machine minions crowd you, sending a flurry of collective punches, with your enhanced vision and strength it's no problem. Just as swiftly as they come you're stepping aside, parrying any close calls with the back of your hand. As you near the edge again you hook your foot onto a combatant's leg, dragging it off, while you return to favorable positioning.

"Excellent footwork. Can your body handle another of my attacks?" Bombshell is aiming his arms at you again. The last time he hit you it took a decent amount out of you, a couple more hits like that and you're out for good.

Fortunately, your nanites are working hard, the both of you are, but more importantly you're sharing information with them. Whether it's the details of the defense cannons' parts, your armor, or the attacks you've been hit with. It's here you determine how Bombshells' works. You might have been under the impression it's shooting, but it's not; when you were last hit, the explosion was not launched, but grown. Bombshell excites mana particles in the air, severs their bonds, thereby causing them to explode. A powerful tool, but it needs to see and aim, that's why the atomic wands are mounted on the arms. Its advantage is that there's no bullet travel time. Fortunately, you can still gauge his arms.

Well you have a time-proven plan, it's not perfect, you'll still take damage, but if it isn't broke. As the arms glow bright, you roll backwards, between the legs of a combatant, tripping it, then quickly pulling it up by the neck. An explosion rocks you. It hurts more than last time as your armor hasn't been restored yet, as well as holding only one minion. Thankfully, with a helmet covering your face it's much easier to hide the hurt.

"The humans used to call you a hero. Should you really be holding hostages like that?" Bombshell sounds annoyed, but you have no intention of soothing him over.

"You and I both know, those combatants of yours are as lifeless as they are mindless!"

At that, Bombshell lets out a distorted laugh.

"Too true, but the same can't be said of your human allies, no?" Bombshell turns around, turning its arms towards the cannons' command center. The soldiers are out, but the engineers are still working inside! Scrambling to think of a plan, you find something, a perfect one. A plan that relies on the perfect memory only a machine can have.

"Rider Kick!" You shout.

Instead of jumping like usual, you sprint as hard as you can.

"What?" Bombshell turns around, alarmed, scanning the skies with his head and arms, only to realize too late you never took off, and you're in his face.

You send a flurry of punches his way, it blocks around half with its gauntlets, but you notice one punch got one of the orbs good. A singular orb is cracked. Outlook? Good fortune. It lets out a heavily distorted grunt as you land the one good blow.

"Rider Slash!" You shout again. This time Bombshell is blocking upwards, no doubt expecting a powered hand to come flying downwards. Instead, you're dropping onto your hands and spinning, throwing your entire lower body into a donkey kick. Bombshell stumbles back. You've gotten some good hits in, but without a decisive attack you can't finish this. Had you done any of those moves for real that might be different, but then you wouldn't be able to fix the gun.

"Rider.. you've changed too haven't you! I'm wise to your tricks now!"

"The next one won't be a trick!"

Your helmet chirps again, a signal from the humans.

"We're ready!"

You don't voice anything, just simply nodding.

"Rider!" You shout and run towards Bombshell. Its surprised again, good, as you're making up a new move on the fly. You throw a punch towards it, only for it to block by grabbing your arm, you respond by kicking the back of its knees as hard as you can, forcing Bombshell to drop onto it.

"W-what is this?" Bombshell shouts, but you don't answer, you're going to show him soon.

"Breaker!" You swing your body and other arm behind Bombshell, and throw the both of you backwards, forcing the brunt of the drop onto Bombshells' armored head. The metal underneath the both of you deforms, metal bolts holding down the plate buckle and shoot off. You're a bit worried, but your nanites tell you the damage is light.

"Guaggh!" Bombshells' distorted voice lets out a grunt as dozens of bolts fly out from the side of a building, normally some of them might have a hard time penetrating the armor, but you've delivered Bombshell on a silver platter to them. Several loud bangs smash into its head and body, revealing its internals, and the core. Unfortunately, only you can fully destroy a machine lifeform, but you don't stop the humans from trying.

Bombshell has long released his hold over your arm, as the humans unload, you roll to the side to keep out of the way. Smoke begins to pile up until it obscures Bombshell completely. Suddenly a sharp shadow swoops down, then up again, carrying out a severely damaged Bombshell, along with the smoke. The humans try to track it, but none of their shots hit, reasonable as they weren't expecting it. Though you find yourself slightly alarmed, what you saw was no machine, in fact, it fit the name 'dragon' much better than the saurian commanders you've been fighting.

Your enhanced ears can hear some cheering from the humans in the distance, even without the radio you can tell they're quite proud. The first defeat for the machine lifeforms in decades came from them after all.

That's well and good, the excellent shots from the humans ended up saving you some time, you have a few moments to double down on your efforts for the canon, but now the Saurians are arriving. Their dropships are landing just outside the block, you'll be busy again momentarily.


What are you thinking? [Roll a d100]

>Double down on the repairs.
Spare no effort, the humans can give you covering fire in the meantime.

>Return to your previous strategy.
You can focus on defense again, but if it's only grunts you might be able to simply tank their shots.

>Write-in

Short meal break. I'll be back in roughly 1 hour. We will end this episode tonight.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>5631941
>Return to your previous strategy.
Slow and steady.
Also I really liked this update.

>>5631961
If this was a d20 it would have been very good