KAMEN RIDER DASH --->

[Dr. Tristan]

KAMEN RIDER DASH --->

FILE 1 OF 4- “DASH UP!â€​

The sound of an old man’s whistle echoed down from across the hall as Jessica Travers entered the office building, rummaging through her bag to get to her security card. It had only been three days since Jessica was hired, but this would be her first official work shift as the new receptionist at the biggest law firm in the county, Anders & Ishimori.

As Jessica approached the desk, the sound of the old janitor’s whistle could be heard in the background. She tried her best to look professional as she finally realized she had forgotten her security card. The woman sitting behind the desk barely looked at her. She just kept twirling a piece of hot pink bubblegum between her mouth and her fingernails, staring off in annoyance.

“I seem to have misplaced my card,†Jessica said. “Do you think I cou—“

“No card, no access,†the woman answered, robotically.

It was clear, from the look on her face, that there was no way she was going to let her in. Jessica did her best to remain professional, and restrain herself from reaching over that counter to strangle the woman.

Defeated, Jessica let out a sigh and began to turn to walk away as a failure. No one arrived late on their first day at Anders & Ishimori. Jessica was as good as fired.

“She’s with me.â€

Jessica looked up in confusion when she heard the man’s voice from right beside her. She turned to find that she was standing next to a very young man, no older than 18 years of age, smiling sarcastically as he held out his security card. Blonde hair fell over his piercing blue eyes, which almost matched her own. He wore a flamboyant, red coat with thick black boots and loose jeans. Hardly the sort of attire fitting for anyone that worked in that building. And yet he seemed to wear it with pride.

“Go on through,†the woman at the counter said, still fiddling with her gum.

“Th-Thanks,†Jessica said, confused.

“Don’t mention it,†the young man replied.

As the two of them stepped past the desk and over to the wall of elevators, Jessica caught a glimpse of the man’s name tag. The name “Dr. Nash†was printed on the plastic tag, but the words were crossed out in red ink and underneath, it simply said “Michael.â€

Uncertain of what to do or say, Jessica found herself walking just slightly faster than normal, hoping to avoid any awkward situation with the strange young man. Of course, that didn’t stop Michael from walking directly toward her as she waited for an elevator.

At last, the doors to the nearest elevator opened. Jessica nearly jumped in, hoping that she wouldn’t find Michael standing right behind her when she turned around.

No such luck. There Michael was, smiling away at her as he stepped calmly into the elevator. Jessica reached for the panel on the wall and the button for the 13th floor lit up as she pressed it. She paused as the doors shut them in, leaving the two of them alone in the empty rectangle.

“Uh… what floor?†asked Jessica, nervously. She was silently praying that Michael was headed anywhere but the 13th floor. She held her hand up at the panel, ready to press another button for him.

“Oh, no thanks,†he said.

Jessica’s hand came down. No thanks?, she thought silently. What the hell does that mean?

“Here you go,†he said abruptly.

Jessica closed her eyes a bit longer than a standard blink as she was growing annoyed. She turned and was surprised to find that Michael was holding up a security card. It was hers.

Jessica exhaled loudly through her nose as the elevator began to lift.

She tried not to snatch the card out of Michael’s hand as she realized that she must have dropped it at the desk, and Michael had picked it up, but waited until that very moment to give it back.

“Thanks,†she said, flatly. She was losing her willingness to stay polite.

“No problem, Jess.†He had obviously read her card information.

“It’s Jessica.â€

“Yeah, but I like Jess better. It suits you. Jessica sounds like somebody’s mother. And you’re way too cute to be anybody’s mother.â€

“Excuse me? I could report you for that.â€

“Well, that would suck.â€

“Who the hell are you anyway? I mean, I know lawyers have a reputation for being jerks, but this is ridiculous. Plus, you look like you got dressed in the dark.â€

“You are turning me on like you wouldn’t believe right now.â€

Jessica turned around with fire in her eyes. The only thing keeping her from slapping the young fool was the strange noise she had begun to hear.

Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the elevator, tossing Jessica forward. Michael couldn’t help but smile as he found the lady in his arms. She quickly pushed herself away in a mix of outrage and confusion.

“What was that?†she asked.

But the elevator was hit with an even more violent shake, accompanied by the sound of an explosion.

Jessica looked over to see that Michael was leaning against a wall with one arm, a look of annoyance across his face.

“Well,†he said. “I guess I got no choice.â€

Micheal pulled forth his own security card, and stepped over to the elevator panel, slipping it into a small groove in the metal. Every light on the panel lit up at once and the elevator suddenly reversed its course, moving back downward.

“What’s going on?†asked Jessica in fear. “What was that noise?â€

A flicker from Michael’s lighter ignited the tip of the cigarette that he had just brought to his lips and a cloud of smoke flew from his face.

“That,†he began calmly, “was most likely the sound of a rival syndicate attacking the building, hoping to obtain our secrets.â€

“Secrets? Syndicate? I thought this was just a law firm.â€

“Yeah, well, I thought Santa Clause was real until the age of 6… I got over it.â€

Jessica had little time to realize that they were in the elevator too long. By now, they should have reached the first floor again. Suddenly, the elevator came to a stop.

Jessica’s eyes widened in astonishment as a bright light poured in through the opening doors of the elevator. A white glow emmanated from strange devices on the ceiling and nearby walls, forcing a peculiar wind throughout the room.

“Don’t mind the breeze,†Michael said, calmly. “It’s just to make sure you don’t bring in any contaminants.â€

In seconds, Jessica felt as though her entire body was being cleansed by the strange wave of light and energy that blew past her as she stepped out of the elevator. Through the long, white corridor, she followed Michael, shocked at all that she saw.

Beyond a large balcony was an enormous underground facility that stretched further than a football field. A small army of young men and women in white uniforms with black, sleeveless gloves stood at attention in the main hall, which was surrounded by laboratories where scientists conducted unbeleivable experiments.

Jessica followed Michael onto a platform next to the balcony and was startled as the platform began to float away from the wall and hover down to the lower deck of the facility. Michael just glanced back at her with quiet amusement. She could sense that he had been dying for someone to see what he really did for a living, instead of what he was forced to tell people for security reasons.

Michael pulled forth a handheld scanning device, which lit up in response to his touch, as he headed over to the front lines of the caravan of men in uniform. They were clearly trained soldiers. Many of them gave Jessica suspicious looks, as they did not recognize her.

“Ah, don’t mind her,†Michael said. “She’s just my date.â€

It was only then that Jessica realized that every single man that stood in line in a flawless military stance- they all wore the exact same facial features. And they all looked like Michael.

“Mich—Doctor Nash,†Jessica whispered. “These guys… are…â€

“Clones, yes.â€

Jessica held her breath for a moment. He spoke with such casuality. As though she shouldn’t find any of this surprising at all. But everything in that room was decades beyond any technology she could ever find out in the world.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut the inspection short today, boys,†Michael said to the soldiers, checking their bio-scans. He had to make certain that their bodies showed no signs of deterioration after his last inspection of them.

“Why, sir?†asked a soldier, speaking in Michael’s own voice.

“Because we’ve got intruders in the room. I’m sure security has been dispatched, but I don’t think they’re gonna be enough against what’s coming. Not if Dr. Mason found the funding he wanted for his little pet project.â€

“Hold up. What?†Jessica asked.

“Doctor!†said a voice from behind. It came from a woman in a labcoat that ran off of the hover-platform as hastily as she could. Jessica looked down and saw the large belly protruding from her. She was pregnant.

“What is it, Sonya?†Michael asked.

But he had his answer the moment the question was asked.

Jessica dropped to the floor as an enormous cloud of flame exploded through the elevator doors on the upper deck. Michael’s arms swung around to shield Sonya as shards of flaming metal came showering down around the three of them as the entire facility was shaken by the blast.

In an instant, the soldiers leapt into action, rushing all around the two scientists and one secretary.

“Protect these ladies at all costs,†Michael demanded.

Several dozen voices all responded in unison, “Yes, sir!â€

But suddenly, a large figure emerged from the upper deck, leaping from the balcony without a moment’s hesitation. The soldiers looked up in horror at the sight of the terrible creature that rushed down at them, with a massive pair of bat-like wings. Its black fangs opened and let out a gut-wrenching scream as it swept down and snatched up two men in its long, gnarled claws, tossing them aside like trash.

Splashes of red struck the walls as the soldiers dropped lifelessly to the ground and the creature landed on the floor. The remaining soldiers all ran toward the bat-monster, hoping to overwhelm it while the civilians ran.

Michael helped Sonya as Jessica stuck close, the three of them rushing away from the fight. But Michael glanced back in horror, watching with blurred vision as his creations were thrown in every direction. The creature tore through them with inhuman strength.

“Damn you, Mason,†he shouted.

Jessica had no time to ask what he meant, as Sonya suddenly let out a yelp.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...â€

“Oh, don’t tell me,†Michael said.

“The baby…†Sonya let out. “It’s coming.â€

Michael kicked open the door to the nearest lab room and gestured the two ladies to get inside and hide. As they stepped in, he looked up and was certain that it would be over soon. That creature was about to destroy the last of the clones.

But suddenly, the shadow of another figure appeared from out of the crackling flames of the elevator. Jessica peered out from the lab door to see what Michael was staring at.

“Who is that?†she asked.

“… Security,†Michael answered.

A smile curled across the monster’s face as it squeezed the life out of the final soldier in its hands. But its ears perked up as it heard the sound of metallic footsteps headed toward it.

The creature turned and was delighted to see its old enemy was still alive. It seemed its last attack upstairs hadn’t finished him off like it thought it had.

The figure was sheathed in a sleek suit of black battle armor, framed in silver. A round, yellow core was nestled inside its chestplate, glowing majestically with an advanced power source. A shimmering belt rested at his waist, from which hung a set of twin guns. His golden eyes lit up as he snapped into a fighting stance. It was Michael’s ultimate achievement. The weapon that only his personal clones could utilize. It was Kamen Rider Dash.

The creature let out a shriek as it leapt into the air, wings outstretched. But Dash’s hands whipped past his belt, snatching up his twin guns in a blur. His fingers were at the trigger before the monster could touch him.

A deafening sound burst forth as bullets of light exploded from the barrel of each gun. A splash of red sparks ejected from the creature, forcing him back with the strength of a tidal wave.

The creature’s body slammed through a metal table a moment later. It was all the time Dash needed to launch himself into the air with unearthly power and unleash a storm of bullets onto his fallen target.

Jessica watched in astonishment as sparks jumped up all around the creature, creating a wall of destruction. The armored soldier kept firing as he confidently dropped out of the air.

But suddenly, emerging from a cloud of smoke, covered in red fluid, the screaming monster flew forward and slashed the soldier with its wings.

Dash’s weapons slipped out of his hands as he could feel the monster’s wings viciously tear into his armor, just as they had on the upper level, quicky draining the strength of the man behind the mask. Soon, there would be no way for him to save himself.

“Hey!†Michael shouted, tossing his scanner at the back of the creature’s head.

Micheal could hear the cries of Sonya, lying on the ground in pain, gripping her pregnant belly as the creature slowly turned around. Jessica grabbed Michael to pull him inside the lab, but he recoiled from her, telling her to “Get inside and stay there.â€

“What?†Jessica shouted. “No way! You can’t stop that thing!â€

Michael turned toward the woman with a peculiar smile.

“So, how’s your first day going so far?†he asked, jokingly.

Jessica knew from the look in his eyes that he could not be convinced to hide with her.

“My co-workers are complete morons,†she said.

Without words, Michael suddenly kissed Jessica and pushed her inside the lab, closing the door before she could protest.

Michael could barely turn around before the monster’s claw had already flashed across his face, sending him flying across the room. His body landed hard against the cold floor, feeling as though he had just been struck by a moving train.

Michael turned his head in a daze just in time to witness it. The last stand of the Kamen Rider.

Dash crossed his arms over his chestplate, causing his golden power-center to flare up with energy. In moments, a massive concentration of power all began to flow into the soldier’s legs.

“Dash Up!†he shouted.

The creature turned back just as the Rider had used that raw power in his legs to dash forward at immeasurable speed, as if launching from a rocket. The ground beneath the Rider’s feet was instantly incinerated, sending a wave of debris kicking up behind him as he ran.

The monster could barely lift itself inches from the floor before the Rider was upon him.

Leaping into the air, Dash shouted “Rider Kick!†With all the force of his momentum, he flew at his target, drilling a powerful kick into its chest.

The instant Dash’s glowing boot made contact with his target’s chest, the creature’s body flew to pieces in a great explosion. Dash soared right through the debris as he came grinding to a halt on the ground just in front of Micheal’s face.

Michael looked up wide-eyed at his creation, bat organs dropping out of the air all around him. And then the armored man fell straight onto his back, creating a huge dent in the floor.

A strange glow enveloped the damaged battle-suit and an overload forced the armor to disassemble and compress itself into the storage unit located in its belt. The transformation belt was all that remained of the suit as it rested around the waist of what was revealed to be another clone.

Michael jumped up to tend to the soldier’s injuries, but it became clear almost immediately that they were too severe to repair in time. The man that wore his face was going to die, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“You-You must hurry,†the soldier panted. “Take the belt.â€

“It’s all right,†Michael said, trying to sound pleasant. His cool demeanor had completely faded away now. “The fight’s over, man. You kicked ass.â€

“No… it’s not over.â€

Michael froze in place. He did not want to look up, in fear of what his eyes might find when he searched the facility. But there was no mistaking that blood-curdling sound.

At least five more bat-creatures had just flown down from the upper deck. And there was no more “security†left to stop them.

“Take the belt,†pleaded the soldier, shakily. In moments, he would be dead. “It’s your only chance, doctor.â€

Michael shook his head.

“You know I can’t. The belt won’t work for anyone but a clone. It would kill a normal human.â€

The soldier looked directly at the young man that shared his blue eyes. With his last breath, he whispered… “Exactly.â€

Michael felt as though he could not breathe. The soldier’s eyes closed as he slipped away. He was dead. But his last words suggested something that Michael could not accept. Did he really mean it that way? That he was one of them?

One by one, the bats descended from the air, slowly marching toward their prey. The echo of Sonya’s screams could be heard as she struggled with the child that was most certainly about to be born into the most horrible situation imaginable.

Michael slowly rose from the floor. In his hand was the belt.

Without another thought, he swung the belt around and it locked itself in place across his waist. The instant it touched him, he could sense a flicker of power course through him.

The next word that escaped his lips would either save him, or destroy him.
el threw his right arm forward across his body and shouted loudly as the monsters closed in on him…



“HENSHIN!â€



End of File. --->

---“I love it when they do this.â€---
​

-----------“Who are you?â€​

“I’m not really me.â€--------------------​

---“Prove me wrong.â€​

“With my own hands… I’ll dash into the future!â€--------------------​

--->​

 

[Kamen Rider Oni]

That was a pretty good start to this story. Micheal seems to be an interesting character thus far and that twist at the end I didn't expect either; nice. :thumbs: Hopefully you'll be writing more then just 4 EPs on this, cause it could really go somewhere I think if you chose to continue it.


Can't wait to read File 2. :castlerock:

 

[Dr. Tristan]

Thanks for the comments. Hopefully, I won't dissapoint in the coming installments. A new one should be up today. :thumbs:

 

[Dr. Tristan]

KAMEN RIDER DASH --->
FILE 2 OF 4- “Control-Altâ€​

“I love it when they do this.â€

Joe Mason pulled off his sunglasses and turned to his friend in shock. Of all the people sitting in the sand of that beautiful sunlit beach, the 17-year-old Michael Nash had to be the only one with a laptop computer.

The monitor depicted the latest episode of Michael’s favorite TV show, which had yet to air on television. Knowing Michael, Joe did not want to know how he obtained that footage.

“When they do what?†Joe asked, curiously.

“Last week, the show ended on a cliffhanger,†Michael replied. “Max Powers was dangling on the edge of a fifty-story rooftop. He was two seconds away from getting killed.â€

“So what happens next?â€

“That’s just it. Instead of going right back to that big moment, the episode starts out with something totally boring.â€

Michael turned the laptop around to reveal a short dialogue scene between two attractive young ladies. There was no action. No Max Powers dodging death on a fifty-story rooftop. But Joe raised an eyebrow at the two women on-screen.

“I wouldn’t exactly call that boring,†Joe said with a smile.

“Yeah, yeah,†Michael laughed. “I just wanna get back to the fight scene already. I wanna know if Powers lives or—“

----->​

Michael opened his eyes and a sudden jolt of energy knocked him out of the daydream. Whatever memories his thoughts had dwelled upon were quickly being swallowed up by the incredible light that burst forth from the Dash Belt. A light that could very well destroy him…

The five creatures hissed maniacally at the sight of the glowing figure, until at last the shimmer of power died down.


Silence…


“Dash Up!â€

An explosion of debris erupted behind the armored figure as it raced across the room, headed directly toward the five creatures with blinding speed.

Micheal could not believe the sensations he felt as Dash’s power flowed through him, accelerating his movements to fifty times what they could ever have hoped to be on their own. He concentrated the flow of energy from his power-center into his right fist as he rushed forward, letting out a great battlecry.

“Rider Punch!â€

Four of the bats scattered in all directions, forced back by the tremendous wave of air that Dash’s movements created just with the swing of his arm. The fifth beast was struck by the warrior’s iron fist, sent spinning uncontrollably through the air, bursting into an explosion.

Sparks broke from the Rider’s boots as he came skidding to a stop on the ground, but he quickly found himself surrounded by flying monsters, circling him.

Michael breathed heavily as he began to feel the first effects of the Dash Belt’s power straining his body. Even with the protective skin of the armor, just using the suit weakened him.

But Dash placed a hand on his belt, clicking a small button on its side.

“Party Crasher!â€

In response to his call, a large panel began to slide open, revealing a hidden chamber within the wall just outside the circle of bats. The creatures stopped in the air to look.

An array of lights switched on to reveal a glimmering motorcycle, sheathed in the same advanced armor that covered Dash’s suit. As though of its own will, the headlights were activated.

Dash used the distraction to leap up, kicking two bats with each leg as he flew by, springing off of the creatures to land onto the seat of the motorcycle. His metallic fingers danced across the control console and the bike began to rev up. Its lightweight steel wheels grinded violently against the floor as the vehicle spun around and launched toward the creatures.

<-----​

“Okay, relax. I’m gonna have you outta here in no time.â€

Jessica hoped that what she told the woman was true, as her shaky hands tried to dial 911 on her cell phone.

Sonya wiped the sweat from her brow as she gripped her belly, with her back to the floor.

After several seconds, her phone would not ring. She checked the monitor, only to find that it said “No service.â€

“That won’t work here,†Sonya let out. “No outgoing signals from within the facility... Couldn’t risk it.â€

“Who are you?†Jessica finally asked. She had tried her best to forget about all that had happened and focus only on this woman that needed her, but she was losing patience. “What is this place?â€

“I’m sorry you got dragged into this… I’m sure Michael was just trying to protect you.â€

Jessica did not know what to say. And before she had the chance, Sonya had already begun to yelp again.

“Listen,†Sonya began. “… I need your help.â€

“Uh. With what?â€

The look on Sonya’s face was enough of an answer, as she gestured downward… The baby was coming… There was no time to find someone else to help deliver it.

“……………… Me?!â€

----->​

Michael caught his breath, resting against the seat of the Party Crasher as it raced across the facility, further and further away from the lab where Sonya and Jessica were hiding. He glanced back with Dash’s enhanced vision and smiled. The creatures were following him. He had lured them away.

But one of the bats snatched up a metal table from the floor and hurled it down. Dash squeezed the brakes and nearly spun out of control as the table came dropping from above, crashing into the ground right in front of him.

It was all the time the bat needed to swoop down and ram itself into its prey.

Michael felt as though a sledgehammer had been slammed into his chest. His body was flung from the motorcycle, the claws of the creature locked around his neck, spinning him wildly through the air. A set of fangs shot into his shoulder, tearing away at the metallic shielding.

Dash’s hands reached desperately for the guns at his side as sparks ejected from all over him. With an agonizing cry, he managed to lift his weapons, shoving the gun muzzles into the monster’s face.

The creature’s eyes widened an instant before they were destroyed by gunfire.

Dash’s arms flailed crazily as he was released from the dead beast’s clutches and dropped.

<-----​

“P-Push!†Jessica yelled, not certain if that was the correct thing to say.

She looked down in a panic, hardly able to fathom what she was doing as she reached down. Sonya’s sweat-soaked face was staring down at her in terrible pain. She was relying on her.

Jessica’s eyes widened when she realized that it was working.

The child was coming. Everything was going to be fine. They were all going to be all right!

----->​

“AGH!â€

A crater of twisted metal was blasted into the floor from the impact of Dash’s fall. The injuries sustained by the last attack were not superficial. It would not be long before he was unable to fight.

Dash struggled to pull himself back to his feet, but by the time he did, the last three bats were already standing before him. The swipe of their claws sent sparks blazing from his battered suit. They were about to overpower him.

Suddenly, as Dash was continually pummelled by vicious attacks, he felt an unexpected sensation. All his senses seemed to drop away one by one, as though he was no longer there in the battle. A deafening silence overtook him, and he was shrouded in darkness.

And all at once, his senses flooded right back. But instead of placing him back in the fight, he found himself in an empty void of boundless, white light. Michael looked down at his hand, surprised to find that he was no longer wearing Dash’s suit. The belt still hung from his waist, with no power.

“What the f—“

“Hi,†said another voice.

Michael’s eyes narrowed. He knew that voice all too well. Because it was the same as his own.

Michael turned around in annoyance, and faced his exact duplicate- Dr. Nash.

Nash sat casually on an old, lime green sofa chair, his feet resting on a foot stool. He smiled away at the man that looked just like him.
“How ya doin?†asked Dr. Nash.

“Peachy,†said Michael. “Mind telling me where the hell I am?â€

“The same place you’ve been for the last hour- your lab center.â€

“So we’re in some quasi-dream thing… How annoying.â€

“Yeah, sorry bout that. See, this was all set up before you were created.â€

Michael sighed as he turned his head in anger. So it was true. He was not born into the world naturally. Even though he had all those memories of a complete life, he had most likely not been living very long at all. His entire existence was a lie, fabricated by the very science he thought he had created.

“How long have I…â€

“You were born ten months ago,†the doctor answered. “Into your brain, I implanted certain memories, which originally belonged to myself.â€

“I’m not the real me,†Michael said to himself, still trying to grasp the horrifying concept.

“For all intents and purposes,†said Nash, “you’re me. We’re pretty much the same. My science has developed a way to create exact copies. But inside that noggin of yours, I figured out I could put whatever I wanted to. Including this mental scenario, so that I could explain all this to you in your mind when the right time came.â€

“Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?†Michael asked, angrily. “I always told my--- YOUR clones exactly what they were. There were no secrets.â€

“I needed to be sure you were as perfect as I expected you to be. I mean, come on. You didn’t think we went into the cloning business for fun, did you? With our science, we can replace any living human on the planet. Except these versions will do whatever we program them to, when the time comes. We could change the world.â€

“Whatever you want me to do… So I’m helpless.â€

“Sorry, bud. But there’s no part of you that I didn’t program. You might as well be a Microsoft PC... Not a Mac though… Yuck.â€

“No,†Michael said, curling his hand into a fist. “No, I may have been grown in a lab, but I’m still a person. I make my own decisions. I can have my own life, completely separate from yours if I want to. Screw your program. I’m nobody but myself.â€

Michael’s doppleganger stood up with a familiar grin on his face. He was so fascinated and amused by his clone’s words.

“Now wouldn’t that be something,†said Nash. “A copy that can be its own person… Ya know, I think that would be kinda cool… Prove me wrong, Mike. Prove to me that you’re more than just a collection of cells dropped into a jar one day because I was bored. Prove to me that you’re a person. Make it out of this fight, and maybe we’ll meet some day. I mean… out there, in the real world.â€
Michael looked up at his creator in surprise. He had completely forgotten about the fight. The one in which he was about to be destroyed!

“NO!â€

Kamen Rider Dash threw up his arm just in time to block a bat-claw with his steel arm. The sensations of the battle came rushing back to Michael as he awoke from his trance with a newfound determination.

A jackhammer punch to the face knocked the creature several feet back across the floor as the Rider darted for his two other targets.

Firing relentlessly with one gun as he ran, Dash struck the console on his belt to reactivate the Party Crasher. Just as Dash approached the two monsters, he hopped straight over their heads and landed next to his bike. He continued shooting as his leg swung around to seat him on the vehicle.

The third bat dragged itself up from the floor to join the other two, but just as it stood up between them, a pair of rockets revealed themselves from the chamber on the bike that spiralled open beneath its headlights. At the press of a button, the rockets were launched, and the third bat was astonished to find that its comrades were blown apart on either side of it.

Dash revved up his bike and took off, the hands on the speedometer instantly cutting well beyond 200 miles-per-hour.

Before the creature could muster up a defense, Dash threw himself off of the bike and thrust both his boots forward as he cut through the air like a bullet.

“Sonic Rider Kick!â€

The monster cried out as it was struck by the attack, bursting into an explosion of flame and energy.

Dash landed with a roll and locked into a defensive stance as the fires of battle raged around him. He was greatly weakened, but he had won. The flames that cast a glow across his armor reflected the fire in his own heart, after hearing his creator’s words. He made a silent promise to prove that he was truly his own person.

“With my own hands… I’ll dash into the future!â€

<-----​

“It’s a boy!â€

Jessica smiled, overwhelmed with emotion as she gently placed the crying child in his mother’s arms, wrapped in her labcoat. A moment of Sonya’s embrace quieted the baby down, as Jessica watched in amazement.

She could not believe what she had just done. She was overcome with joy and elation. Never had she thought that something such as this would happen to her. All she wanted was to see Michael again, to show him the child she helped bring into the world. As much of a fool as she first thought he had been, his bravery proved what kind of man he really was.

“So,†Jessica said. “Have you thought of a name for him yet?â€

“Oh yes,†Sonya replied. “I’m naming him after his father…. Michael Theodore Nash.â€

Jessica felt as though her heart had stopped beating. She could not believe that she hadn’t seen it before. This woman. She was more than just one of Michael’s colleagues. She had been carrying his child.

Suddenly, everything Jessica had begun to believe about Michael was called into question. She sunk back onto the floor and looked away.

But the lab door was pulled open to reveal a man in silver and black. It was Kamen Rider Dash. Michael was there to retrieve them.

“Ready to go?†Michael asked, not noticing the child in Sonya’s arms. “This ain’t a safe place to be right now.â€

----->​

Jessica did not know why she had chosen to stay, but she did. And so, there she sat. In the waiting room of the hospital wing. Alone. The back of her head resting against the glass of the windows, fogged by the chill of night.

As she sat there quietly, fiddling with her own hands, her thoughts dwelled on what must be going on inside that room, where Sonya, Michael, and Michael Jr. were all together as a family. Shgan to rethink why she had chosen to remain there in the first place.

But just behind her, beyond the window, a strange shadow began to lower down from above. Hanging upside down from a thick string of spider-like webbing, was an inhuman creature, whose features resembled that of a deadly arachnid. And with its multiple eyes, it stared in through the foggy glass toward the back of Jessica’s head…


End of File 2. --->



-------“Why am I even here?â€

----------------“Nothing is over.â€

-----------------------“I’m not who you think I am.â€

-----------------------------“To transform… That’s what it means.â€

--->

 

[Kamen Rider Oni]

Took me a couple of days, but I finally got around to read File 2. Again, this is pretty damn good. Michael is battling on two fronts, physically and mentally, and he has won the physical battle for now. But I don't see the mental battle of breaking free from the chains of his creator to be an easy one to win.

It makes me wonder who the real villain is. Mason creating monsters, or Nash creating clones and controlling them completely, taking away their free will. This is going to become very interesting indeed.

Can't wait to read File 3. :thumbs:

Also I'm curious how the child is going to fair throughout the trials and tribulations of Kamen Rider Dash's adventure?

 

[Dr. Tristan]

KAMEN RIDER DASH --->
FILE 3 OF 4- “Memoryâ€​

Dr. Travis threw up a briefcase to hold over his head to escape the sudden rain that had begun to fall. Thick, ominous rainclouds had shrouded the city in a chilling, dark night. Dr. Travis ran down the street, hoping to find a taxi at such a late hour to get home after a night of drinking, but the road was emptied.

Suddenly, in the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. A pair of bright, blue lights switched on in the distance. Dr. Travis turned and squinted his eyes, barely able to discern just where the light had come from through curtains of falling rain.

The doctor’s eyes widened in fear as he realized that the blue glow was coming from a set of glass eyes, enclosed in a silvery-white helmet. A secondary glow flared up from the circular device embedded into an armored chestplate. The figure stepped forward to reveal that it was a shimmering battle-suit. And whoever it was, those blue eyes were staring intently at Dr. Travis.

In a panic, Dr. Travis turned and ran, nearly slipping on the wet pavement as he struggled to get away from the strange figure. Weary from alcohol, his vision blurred, he knew nothing of where he was headed- only the desperate fear that compelled him to keep going.

But suddenly, like a wrecking ball, a white blur came rushing out of the sky and slammed into the roof of a nearby car. The roof collapsed under the pressure, its windows scattering into the frigid air, halting the frightened man’s escape.

It was the blue-eyed figure.

Dr. Travis watched silently, frozen with fear as the being slowly stepped off of the broken car, smoke rising all around it. And from a cold, emotionless voice, two words escaped the metallic helmet, in a distorted, ghostlike manner.

"Burn Up."

In response to those words, the suit’s power-center glowed brighter, and the temperature surrounding the two of them took a sudden rise. In seconds, there were beads of sweat trickling from the doctor’s face as he fell to the ground, utterly overcome with fear.

A hint of blue flames were generated all over the suit, but it was completely unharmed.

"Please," the man cried in futility. "Please, no! NO!"

The man let out a terrible scream as the intensity of the heat grew stronger, and a set of scorching hot fingers reached out to grab him…

-----TWO HOURS EARLIER----->​

"So what do you want to know?"

Jessica let out a sigh. As usual, Michael spoke to her in the same casual manner as though they were just old friends having a pleasant chat. He knew full well that none of the things that had happened to them recently were in the slightest bit normal, especially for her, but he still acted as though everything was fine.

Jessica leaned her head against the glass of the window as the chatter of rain could be heard just behind her. Michael sat across from her, on the other side of the waiting room, a small coffee table full of medical panthlets separating the two of them. He smiled as he stared at her, waiting for her to address him.

"What do I want to know," Jessica repeated. "How ‘bout everything?"

Michael tilted his head a bit as he could sense how upset she was at all that he had put her through. He decided it was best to let it all out.

"When I was fourteen years old, I was just about to graduate college when I got approached by someone. Interesting fella, he turned out to be a member of a secret branch of scientists who wanted to take me on as a partner in their experiments. My best friend, Joe Mason, and I both ended up joining. In a couple years, we totally outclassed every one of those yahoos and ended up running the place. Our cloning methods were revolutionary. Of course, Mason didn’t want to stop there. He started conducting all kinds of experiments without my consent. Crossing human and animal DNA, to create a kind of mixed clone species. Sumthin about that didn’t sit right with me. So I basically told him to go screw himself… He didn’t like that too much. He found himself mixed up in a crime syndicate called Gen-Neo. I guess they gave him the funding he needed to finish what he started, because those bat-things didn’t just come out of nowhere."

Jessica said nothing as the young man continued. She simply watched as he spoke intently, barely stopping to breathe between sentences. It became clear within moments that this was a story that he had been desperate to tell someone for a long time. His face changed. His entire demeanor became more relaxed. This was as close to the real Michael as she had gotten during her entire experience with him.

"It’s pretty obvious Gen-Neo doesn’t want any competition in its little quest for world domination, so they decided to sack my lab center. Either that or Mason missed me so much that he sent his little minions to pick up something to remember me by. Either way, I’ve instructed all my employees to erase all evidence of our work in the lab and destroy everything before the cops get word of what happened there… How am I doin’ so far?"

"… Good," Jessica said at last. "But that doesn’t even begin to answer all my questions."

Michael smirked.

"You mean Sonya?" he asked.

Jessica was growing tired of all the wordplay.

"Is the baby yours or not?"

A pause.

"Yes."

"Then you and Sonya—"

"No."

"Then what—"

"I’m not a cheater, if that’s what you’re thinking. Not my style. We’ve been over for a long time now. What kinda boy do you think I am?"

"The slutty kind?"

"Funny."

"God, why am I even here?"

"Cuz you like me."

"You know what, that is it!"

Jessica jumped from her seat, grabbing her bag in annoyance. She quickly started to walk away, but just as she began to pass by Michael’s seat, she was halted by his voice.

"Jess!"

Michael swallowed a lump in his throat as he stared out the window, unable to face her as he spoke. She refused to turn around herself.

"I’m not with Sonya anymore… but she just gave me a child, and you helped her through that… I just… Thank you…"

Jessica shakily placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder and, in a moment of generosity, whispered "You’re welcome."

Michael couldn’t resist the temptation to turn around and watch her as she walked out. Something about her stirred him. He felt as though he could have told her anything. Even that one thing about him that he had just learned himself. That he was not the real Michael Nash…

<-----​

Raindrops struck the glass visor across Michael's motorcycle helmet as he drove through the empty streets at night, his mind racing between so many thoughts. The streetlights rushed past his train of vision in streaks of yellow as he let out a sigh.

At last, Michael came to a halt as he found himself outside the building to Anders & Ishimori. The parking lot never looked more desolate than on that freezing night. A fog of breath escaped Michael's lips as he walked right through the lines of yellow police tape that surrounded every entrance.

A ghostly whistle flew through the hollow corridors as the overhead lights were switched on and Michael made his way downstairs to his empty lab center to make certain his employees remembered to remove the evidence of their work before the police intervened.

As Michael stepped across the cold floors and as he glanced around, a flood of memories rushed into his thoughts. He looked over to the first laboratory room and in his mind, he could hear the voices of the past. Voices which came from those that once occupied that room together as friends.

"What the hell is 'hen-shen?" asked Joe Mason, looking over the schematics displayed on his friend's computer monitor.

"Hen-shin," Michael said to correct him. "To transform... That's what it means."

The schematics displayed the frame of a highly advanced suit of battle-armor, decades ahead of its time. But this was no surprise to Joe, as he came to expect such genius from his old friend. Though even then, Joe would never concede that Michael could possibly be smarter than he was.

"It's okay, I guess," Joe said.

"Okay? That's all you have to say? This thing's gonna change the freakin' world."

"If you ever get the funding for it. You know these people like to keep our budget on a tight leash. I'm surprised they even give us coffee nowadays."

"Things are gonna change, Joe. They'll see how important our work is, and they'll change."

The memory faded just as quickly as it had surfaced, as the occupants of the lab room disappeared. Michael shook his head, remembering how innocent Mason had been then, when they had first joined the organization.

Michael glanced to his right, and he could see the images of himself and several technicians as they fine-tuned the complex mechanisms within the Party Crasher cycle. From all around him, he could hear the voices of days long passed.

"I won't let you do this, Joe."

"Who the hell put you in charge?"

"I AM in charge now!"

"You're not in charge of me, or my projects."

"Your project has crossed a line. One that I can't let--"

"Don't talk to me about crossing lines, you hypocrite. Look around you. Half the people in this damn lab look just like you. Hell, they are you! I don't even know if I'm talking to the real Michael right now."

".... We can go 12 rounds about this later. For now, your cross-breeding project is officially terminated."

"We'll see..."

Michael shut his eyes in confusion. He suddenly realized that all these moments- all the memories that haunted his every footstep through that building- had nearly all been implanted into his mind by his creator. It was the real Michael Nash that had experienced all these events. But after all that had happened, they were just as much a problem for the creation as they were for the creator.

"Quite a party."

Michael spun around in shock as he heard the familiar voice of another. The figure stepped into the light to reveal that he indeed was the real Doctor Nash, looking around at the damaged equipment.

"You," Michael said.

"Me," Nash replied with a slight smile. "I guess Mason really did it."

"No kidding," Michael answered sarcastically. "Thanks for your help with that."

"I didn't know what was happening until it was already too late. There's a tracking device placed behind your ribcage, but I wasn't watching at the time of the attack. This was never supposed to be your problem."

"Well it is now! And I'm going to make it right."

Michael angrily began to walk away. Despite the millions of questions hammering at his thoughts, the things he wished to say to the man, still he walked away. More than anything else, he wanted to ensure that nothing like the attack on this lab would ever happen again. And to do that, he had to find Mason, and shut his operation down.

"Where are you going?" asked Nash.

"To find my old pal, Joe."

But suddenly, Michael felt a strange flicker of energy course through him as he heard a single word from his creator.

"Stop."

Michael immediately halted. His eyes widened in horror as he realized that his muscles would no longer respond to his desire to keep walking. It was as though some unseen force was holding him back. Michael spun around with fire in his eyes. It was clear to him what had just happened. The words of his creator had been programmed into his brain. He was helpless against the commands of this man, whose image reflected his own.

"Bastard..."

"Sorry, Mike," said Nash. "I can't let you go. You're the only Series 9 clone I've got. I wanted to see how well you would survive in the real world, taking my place. You passed that test with flying colors. And now it's over."

"I'm not who you think I am. I'm more than that."

"Believe me. I know more than anyone how people can change at the drop of a hat. But that doesn't make it any less dangerous for you to go looking for--"

"I had a dream about you. You probably already know that, since you programmed it into me. But in the dream, you asked me to prove you wrong. To prove that I was more than just a collection of cells. Give..."

Michael paused, as it grew more difficult to be so forward with his emotions.

"Give me the chance. If my memories are right, then you know as well as I do that Mason won't stop until he's destroyed every bit of competition there is- and that means us. Dash is the only thing strong enough to fight those things he made. You can bet he's made more, and you know only a clone can use the Dash Belt."

Doctor Nash stood in silence as he stared into the determined eyes of his clone. The being he thought was a perfect copy of himself. But Nash knew that he himself could never have spoken with such bravery. With such unwavering intent. His creation had already proven himself to be more than the sum of his programming. But that was not enough.

"I'm sorry."

Michael stared into Nash's eyes, and then abruptly began to turn and walk away. Nash wore a look of confusion.

"Mike, you're right about Mason wanting to get rid of the competition. He's sent some kind of assassin to take out anyone connected to my work. Which includes you.... Now. Stop!"

But to the doctor's astonishment, Michael did not halt his movements.

"Stop!" Nash repeated. But Michael refused to break his stride.

Nash watched in confusion as the man with his face disappeared from sight as he exited the lab center. Michael had done what his maker never believed would be possible. He broke free of his programming with a single determined thought. Years of scientific conditioning had been destroyed in a matter of moments. Michael was free.

Nash turned around and pulled forth a small handheld computer, displaying a schematic of the city, which quickly zoomed in toward a layout of the Anders & Ishimori building. A blinking, red dot appeared on the layout, depicting Michael's location as he hopped onto his motorcycle and began to ride away.

Michael was freed of the doctor's control. But not of the tracking device within him.

"Nothing is over..."

----->​

Doctor Kusanagi ran through the rain to get to her car, parked along the street next to her apartment building, cursing herself for forgetting to bring her umbrella as her hair was quickly soaked.

With slippery hands, she fumbled her keys as she stood at the car door to unlock it. But suddenly, Kusanagi froze in place as she noticed a pair of blue lights switch on in the distance, beyond curtains of shadow and rain, staring intently at her.

In an instant, half a dozen warnings from her fellow colleagues flooded her mind, as she realized where the lights were emanating from. The nameless assassin that had been targeting the members of Michael Nash's science team.

With a trembling gasp, Kusanagi turned to run back into the apartment building. But the moment her head had whipped around she let out a terrible scream, as she was confronted by a second figure. One with a mutated, spider-like face that stared at her with countless eyes. Its bladed jaws snapped open as the creature reached out to grasp her arm.

But the distant echoes of a pair of spinning tires could be heard shrieking across the streets, and soon became a loud roar, as Michael Nash came rushing out of the shadows aboard the Party Crasher.

Kusanagi barely had time to turn and look before a massive burst of air rushed beyond her sight in a silver blur, the motorcycle slamming into the monster, hurling him back through the air.

"Run!" Michael yelled through his motorcycle helmet, ripping up the road as he drove straight for the creature, the Dash Belt clutching his waist. Kusanagi quickly rushed back into the building.

The creature snarled angrily as its attacker rode directly toward it.

"HENSHIN!"

And in a streak of light, a suit of armor locked into place all around Michael's body, transforming him into Kamen Rider Dash.

But just as the Party Crasher approached, the creature suddenly released a stream of webbing from its jaws, which shot itself into the gears of the bike's tires, grinding them to a halt in half a second.

Dash suddenly found himself thrown from the halting vehicle at incredible speeds, launching him through the rain. The spider's talons tore into his armor as his body flew overhead, drawing sparks from the damaged suit.

Like a stack of cinderblocks, Michael dropped onto the pavement, cracks rippling across the ground from his fall. But to his surprise, the strain on his body was minimal. As he spun himself back into the air, he could feel Dash's power course through him more strongly than ever before. Every muscle in his body moved with greater speed and strength. The suit had adapted to his physiology.

Dash tightened his stone-crushing fingers into a deadly fist, and hurled himself back into battle.

The monster let out a howl of pain as Dash's fists came rocketing through the air, brutally slamming into their target at incredible velocities. Sparks blazed from the creature's injuries as Dash's attacks came ripping furiously through the scattering rain. A lethal spinkick sent the monster spiraling into a puddle on the ground in agony.

Before his target had time to breathe, Dash's twin guns were already in his hands. And with the pull of the trigger, a storm of glowing projectiles blasted the target over and over again. At long last, the creature collapsed and erupted into an explosion as Dash spun around and snapped into a defensive stance.

Michael breathed a sigh of relief at having won the battle. But just as he was turning from his defeated foe, a hint of light through the falling rain caught his eye. Dash's enhanced vision allowed him to see the approaching figure long before any normal man could have.

It was a suit of armor, which shimmered ominously even under the veil of dark rain. The light of its blue eyes and glowing power-center reflected off of its silvery-white suit. Clutching the side of its metallic belt was a small cylindrical device. The design was unmistakably similar to Dash's own. But its calm, emotionless demeanor was in complete contrast with him.

Michael immediately knew that it had come for him. To eliminate Joe Mason's competition. And to destroy the legacy of his creator. It was Kamen Rider Slash.

The figure grasped the device at its belt and pulled the object forth. Suddenly, a sharp, collapsible blade extended from the metal cylinder. With that, it began to charge through the rain toward its bounty.

Dash's guns locked into position, streaks of gunfire blazing out of the two weapons toward the enemy Rider. But with the wave of Slash's blade, the glowing bullets were deflected in all directions, causing sparks to jump up all around them.

Before Dash even realized what was happening, Slash was already upon him. The sword came whipping through the rain, striking Dash's armor with near-impossible precision, shards of metal breaking away from Michael's suit as he cried out in pain. A twirling slash sent Dash shooting several feet back.

Michael could barely catch his breath as he watched the shadow of Slash calmly waltzed back toward him. There was no other choice. Dash crossed his arms across his glowing chest, and the power-center sent a jolt of energy surging into his legs.

"Dash Up!"

With all his strength, Michael pushed the armor to bolt forward, a trail of debris blasting up behind him as his feet stomped across the rain-soaked street at top speed toward his enemy to deliver the final blow. But through the roar of his approach, Michael could hear the phantom-like echo of the other Rider.

"Burn Up."

Within a fraction of a second, as Dash's fist was just inches away from Slash's helmet, an incredibe explosion of scorching, blue flame erupted from the dark Rider's power-center, and Dash was forced back. Michael howled in terror as his body was yanked through the air by the deafening impact of a tidal wave of pressure, and a seering current of heat.

Dash flew uncontrollably across the street, slamming hard into the back of a parked car, which immediately exploded, sending shards of torn metal scattering into the night air. Behind the growing cloud of fire and smoke, Dash was nowhere to be seen.

Its armor pulsing with flame the color of sapphire, Slash turned as the blue headlight of its motorcycle switched itself on. The assassin mounted its black vehicle and spun off into the distance as the sound of police sirens could be heard from afar.

Out of a pool of hot smoke, a trembling, bruised hand began to emerge. But just as quickly as it had been thrust forth, it dropped lifelessly to the ground, as the rain grew stronger, revealing the unconscious Michael lying in the street, having barely escaped a terrible death.

<-----​

Kamen Rider Slash sat quietly on the Grave Digger motorcycle as it whipped through the streets late at night. But a small panel slided open at the vehicle's control console, and a transmitted image appeared on the small monitor.

Slash looked down to find that the image was of the ruggedly youthful Doctor Joe Mason.

"Report," said Mason.

In that ghostly whisper, Slash answered, "Mission Accomplished."

"And the belt?"

"Destroyed."

Mason's face grew increasingly irritated. That shell of youthful innocence quickly fell away.

"I told you to make certain. Go back and get the belt to be sure the job was finished. I don't want a single trace of Nash's technology left intact."

"Understood."

Without another word, Mason's image disappeared and the Grave Digger changed its course, turning back to return to the scene of the battle. And in a blue and silver flash of energy, the Slash Belt deactivated, causing the Rider armor to compress and reveal the one behind the mask.

Jessica Travers gripped the handlebars of her motorcycle with perfect accuracy as she drove the Grave Digger through the rain. With a deadening stare into the distance, she disappeared into the night...


End of File. ---->

"The only thing about to be shut down is you."-------------------------->

"No clone has ever produced a child."-------------------------->

"I decided to keep that memory to myself."------------------------->

"With my blade... I will slash through your future!"----------------------->​

--->