\u201cYOU!\u201d I snarled at Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUs,\u201d corrected Sauron as he pointed to his compatriots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never thought I\u2019d see you again after you were crushed like a tin can in Metropolis!\u201d I growled. I turned to the Riddler. \u201cRiddle me this, you WERE defeated in Gondor, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuite the story after those incidents,\u201d remarked Sauron. \u201cShall we tell you of our scars?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWere your fathers drinkers and fiends?\u201d taunted Livia. Sauron then fired lightning from the One Ring, shocking us all. He ended the treatment after a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust before you fought our old employer, Vortech,\u201d began the Riddler, \u201cwe had to part company with him. We boarded new Dalek Saucers to escape. However, we were blown off course. Strange dimensional energies buffeted our vessels. I believe you\u2019re familiar with the source of them. Riddle me this: what circles around, causing riders to scream?\u201d The answer was a roller-coaster\u2019s loop-de-loop. I could see where the ultimate answer was coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, the Rift Loop we trapped Vortech in,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly,\u201d confirmed Sauron. \u201cAs the Riddler said, we were sent off course, landing in a much harsher universe. Ancient Evils were tearing it asunder…until WE stepped in. We destroyed the monsters attacking that world and took control. Plenty of people to command, plenty of space to make Orcs, Daleks, and other minions, and plenty of resources to build up and replenish whatever vessels and minions we\u2019ve lost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSooo, the story is less \u2018Ha ha\u2019 funny,\u201d I remarked. This time, the Riddler zapped us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuestion: what IS \u2018Ha ha\u2019 funny?\u201d he snarled. \u201cAnswer: YOUR PAIN!\u201d He stopped zapping and resumed explaining. \u201cShocker Rift spent the next two years building up its forces, ready to conquer and enslave the Tarlaxians, making ABSOLUTELY sure we could control them this time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you used the Tarlaxian scout ship as test subjects!\u201d growled Turretorg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, yes,\u201d replied the Riddler, \u201cbut our efforts are being stymied. Right now, they\u2019re unconscious, so they can\u2019t reveal why our methods aren\u2019t working…but we have a guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe discovered YOUR handiwork, Turretorg,\u201d continued Sauron. \u201cYOU were a master of the mental disciplines back when you served us. So, tell me, what did you do to make the Tarlaxians resistant to our control?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike I\u2019d tell you!\u201d growled Turretorg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo we REALLY need to do this?\u201d quizzed Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you questioning us?!\u201d snarled Octavio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook,\u201d interjected Callie, \u201cI don\u2019t think…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDON\u2019T think, obey!\u201d roared Octavio. \u201cOr, do I need to use the hypno-shades on you again?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…N-no, Sir,\u201d gulped Callie. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo answer your question, YES,\u201d hissed Kaito. \u201cWe HAVE to do this. We\u2019re strong, they\u2019re weak. We need to show how powerful we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my boy!\u201d cheered Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSheesh, no wonder Shocker Rift parted company with Vortech,\u201d I muttered, \u201cyou\u2019re sounding LIKE him.\u201d Sauron gave us another zapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s never enough pain before you shut up, is there?!\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, trust me,\u201d I gasped, \u201cI\u2019m in enough pain looking at you! Why are you still working for Hiro?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo dull my pain of looking at you,\u201d snarled Sauron, \u201cneeding other people to prop you up! You were so close, at one point, to realizing power, but let that box dissuade you!\u201d A screen then turned on and displayed what happened after our first encounter with Vortech, the argument, X-PO revealing why he opened rifts to various universes, and my breaking down in tears in regret for keeping the real reason of our dimensional travels secret from Batman, Wyldstyle, Hongo, and Gandalf. I turned my head in shame as Colleen looked at me in disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou lot never told us new guys that!\u201d she protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WANTED to tell you guys,\u201d I mumbled, \u201cbut I was outvoted. The other members didn\u2019t want your image of us \u2018sullied\u2019, as Richard put it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou see?\u201d remarked Sauron. \u201cHolding power over your underlings makes you stronger! They knew that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re NOT my underlings!\u201d I argued. \u201cThey\u2019re my friends!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA ruler has no time for friends!\u201d countered Sauron. \u201cA ruler does not reveal their secrets to those beneath them! A ruler needs no equals!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see!\u201d I hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, WE\u2019LL see!\u201d replied the Riddler as he pointed to himself and his allies. \u201cYou and your friends will be corpses we have taxidermied and hung up in our base\u2019s throne room! They\u2019ll be interesting conversation pieces at parties!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs long as we\u2019re in high society,\u201d joked Haitao. \u201cI take it you\u2019re here for Death\u2019s Source?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRob me of a potential riddle, will you?\u201d hissed the Riddler. \u201cOh well, I\u2019ll just go for the next one. What takes the color associated with water, encompasses itself, and is a key to unlock an apocalypse?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…No!\u201d breathed Death. \u201cNo, you couldn\u2019t have!\u201d Sauron pulled out a blue crystal sphere the size of his fist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did,\u201d confirmed Sauron. \u201cBehold, Death, your Source!\u201d He then laughed. \u201cVengeance is sweet! However, I AM magnanimous in victory. Megumi, we all know how much you \u2018heroes\u2019 like to give speeches about how light will conquer darkness in the end, so I will allow you to make such a speech. Choose your words well.\u201d Colleen then got a twinkle in her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, Mr. Nygma,\u201d she called. \u201cYou don\u2019t mind a riddle, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m called the Riddler for a reason,\u201d replied the Riddler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRiddle me this: after the source is taken by you,\u201d quizzed Colleen, \u201cwhat will you do with us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEasy!\u201d cheered the Riddler. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep you here as our prisoners and then, after taking this universe for our own, we\u2019ll finally kill you! You\u2019ll understand, in your last few seconds alive, how stupid you were to defeat us! Oh, we won\u2019t stop there! With Octavio\u2019s mind-control tech, we can conquer the surrounding universes! All of this, and we\u2019ll be satisfied in the knowledge that you\u2019ll no longer defeat us! THAT is our vengeance! That…that is…WHY THE HELL ARE YOU IDIOTS LAUGHING AS MUCH AS THE JOKER?!\u201d Hook, line, and sinker! He gave away the entire plan! The reason we were laughing was because the motive behind all of this was laughable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwo years,\u201d I remarked. \u201cIt\u2019s been two years since my respective encounters with you and Sauron.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo?\u201d quizzed Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTHIS is what you decided to do for two years,\u201d I continued, \u201cwhen you guys could have done anything else! You could have used your fleet to conquer your respective universes! Maybe conquer the neighboring universes there! But, no! The only thing you idiots want is revenge!\u201d I sighed in pity. \u201cRevenge, the most WORTHLESS of causes! You two are obsessed with me more than Hiro because I had the gall to defend myself and take something you had in your possession! Sauron, I took the Locate Keystone from you, if I recall. And, Riddler, you lost the Palant\u00edr to me! It\u2019s amazing that you thought about me all this time when I almost forgot you were under Hiro\u2019s thumb!\u201d That struck a nerve. \u201cBoys, you need to stop fighting over me,\u201d I taunted. \u201cI already have a boyfriend!\u201d Sauron zapped me again. \u201cAnd it ticks you off,\u201d I managed to get out before Sauron stopped, \u201cthat you have to work for someone you considered beneath you! That\u2019s the difference, though. I spend two years of my life LIVING it! Yes, I monitored for you, but I had other things to help stave off the anticipation of Shocker Rift\u2019s next move! I got a job! I go to school! I get new people into the F.N.S! You wanna know why I broke down like that?! Because I felt like I betrayed the trust of my friends. They\u2019re people that helped me become who I am, even the new guys! I don\u2019t pretend that everything in the last two years and in the Vortech Wars didn\u2019t happen! I learn from both mistakes and triumphs to become better, both to myself and to my friends! You?\u201d I chuckled a bit. \u201cYou two just become bitter and abusive! You let the past consume you! You drive everyone away because they remind you of some failure! You isolate yourself and never gain friends!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA ruler needs no friends!\u201d shouted Sauron. \u201cAll a ruler needs is people to obey them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, what you mean is you think you only need such people,\u201d I argued, \u201cto fill the void of loneliness in your heart because everyone else is good and decent and kind! You, gentlemen, are a**holes! It just enrages you to see someone in a command position enjoy the company of friends because you can\u2019t accept that you idiots are just complete jerkwads! Two years after fighting and bad guys and heartbreak and loss, I HAVE been looking back on it all. While you would dwell on the failures you suffered within two years, I just can\u2019t wait to see what the next two years will bring!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTWO YEARS?!\u201d shrieked the Riddler. \u201cYou\u2019re not gonna have two minutes! I give you guys a fully-charged electroshock therapy treatment and Death will have to claim you! How do you think you can stop us?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor one thing,\u201d replied Turretorg, \u201cyou forgot about X-PO.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe robot?\u201d quizzed Kaito.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe robot,\u201d confirmed Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, we didn\u2019t!\u201d burbled Octavio. \u201cAfter Kaito, the Riddler, and Sauron arrived and broke me out of my second prison two years ago, they took Jason, making him Agent 7, and got him to study the robot\u2019s schematics so he could disable him quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, the thing is,\u201d I countered, \u201cthe Doctor made sure that, if the transmitter were damaged first, the self-repair circuits would fix that first before anything else. Wanna know how long it takes to fix that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout a half hour,\u201d called X-PO\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat the?!\u201d spluttered Octavio. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?! WHERE MAH BEATS?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd DJ Octavio has failed!\u201d taunted X-PO\u2019s voice. Just then, one of the machine\u2019s fists opened up and grabbed Octavio, tossing him out! It then made the \u201cDevil\u201d sign. \u201cDJ X-PO IN DA HOUSE!\u201d cheered the machine in X-PO\u2019s voice. We managed to undo our ropes as X-PO attacked the Octarians trying to stop us. The New Squidbeak Splatoon turned to Octavio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNever mind him!\u201d shouted Kaito as he equipped a Sengoku Driver and took out a Lockseed with a bunch of bananas on it. He pressed the button on the side and the arm popped up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBANANA!\u201d called the Lockseed. A zipper in the air then opened and let a metal banana float above Kaito.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenshin,\u201d announced Kaito. He then inserted the Lockseed into the Sengoku Driver and closed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLock on!\u201d called the belt. It then played European trumpet music before he sliced the Lockseed open with the Driver\u2019s knife. \u201cCome on!\u201d challenged the belt. The banana then landed around his head as a red undersuit with silver trim appeared around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBANANA-BANA-BANANA?!\u201d squawked an Orc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBaron da!\u201d (That\u2019s Baron to you!) called Kaito.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBanana Arms!\u201d announced the belt as the banana unfolded so the ends became shoulder pads and part of the side became chest armor. His helmet looked like a knight\u2019s helm with a pair of horns. \u201cKnight of spear!\u201d sang the belt as his weapon appeared. It was a lance that evoked a peeled banana. Given that he corrected an Orc, I\u2019d say he was Kamen Rider Baron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenshin!\u201d we called. Colleen\u2019s belt announced, \u201cOpen! Turn! Imagine! The Hammer of Slam!\u201d as we became our Kamen Rider personas. Catchphrase time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Death! You cannot delay your appointment with me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Royal! Evil will ultimately bow to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Zh\u00e0nsh\u00ec! Try and stop my quest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Clash! A duel with me shall end in your defeat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Herald B! I bring news of your defeat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKamen Rider Slam! I\u2019ll be bringing the pain!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Turretorg, the invincible siege weapon!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m X-PO! I\u2019ve calculated 979 ways to defeat you! Let\u2019s go for 28!\u201d With that, X-PO crossed his new hands in front of him. \u201cPriority 7-Alpha, Sea-bass drop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUh oh!\u201d gulped Octavio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUh oh what?\u201d demanded Sauron. Octavio then did something never witnessed in the games, he shifted to his humanoid form! He looked like a Japanese Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMEAN LASER!\u201d he shouted. X-PO uncrossed his new hands and fired his laser. Everyone got out of the way…even us! We were right in its path!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry!\u201d called X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSTICK TO THE FISTS!\u201d I shouted. Sauron and the Riddler double-teamed me, keeping me from helping the others out. Turretorg fired a barrage of missiles at the Orcs and Octolings, the Octolings giving him a little more difficulty as they turned into octopi and swam in their ink. The New Squidbeak Splatoon, regretfully, kept the others at bay. \u201cGuys, come on!\u201d I protested to the Splatoon. \u201cYou don\u2019t wanna do this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have a choice,\u201d replied Marie. She leveled her Charger (sniper rifle) at me and fired. I got out of the way, smacking into Sauron\u2019s mace. His swing knocked me back a couple of meters. Baron managed to score a few hits on X-PO\u2019s new body with that lance of his. The machine then fell as the lights went off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cX-PO!\u201d called Herald B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m alright!\u201d called X-PO\u2019s voice as his original body\u2019s eye switched on. He then activated a new function the 4th<\/sup> Doctor installed, similar to K-9\u2019s, a stun blaster! He gathered energy into his eye and fired a purple bolt of light at Octavio. The Octarian King managed to shrug it off. \u201cDamn, STILL not at full power!\u201d swore X-PO. Agent 8 then leapt onto him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI still am!\u201d she hissed as she drew a wrench. Just then, Slam swung her hammer into 8\u2019s head. \u201cNice try, bone bag!\u201d laughed 8 as she landed on her feet. She then started stumbling. \u201cActually, remove the sarcasm,\u201d she mumbled. \u201cIt WAS a nice try. Why is the room spinning?\u201d She then collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBELLA! NO!\u201d shouted Jason. He and Marie then rushed to 8\u2019s side. Callie swung her Roller (rolling paintbrush weapon) at Clash but Clash managed to roll out of the way only to encounter Baron\u2019s attack as he used the Sengoku Driver\u2019s knife to slice the Lockseed three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBANANA SPARKING!\u201d announced the belt as Baron thrust the tip of his lance into the ground, causing bananas to pop out of the ground and strike Clash. Sauron and the Riddler had managed to knock me to the floor and leveled their weapons at me as I leveled my sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think you\u2019re fast enough,\u201d taunted Sauron, \u201cto put us down before we kill you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I have a means of staving off my appointment with Death,\u201d I smirked. I then spun the wheel in the opposite direction of changing armor, making it go two full rotations. \u201cDAI SUPER CHARGE!\u201d I shouted. My armor bulked up and went white with gold trim, then it exploded, revealing gold armor with white tiger patterns. Sauron and the Riddler picked themselves up after being knocked down by my exploding armor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat in…?!\u201d spluttered Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Vortex,\u201d I explained, \u201cthe form I used to defeat Vortech.\u201d I then went on the offensive, managing to beat back Sauron and the Riddler as Slam swung her hammer into Baron\u2019s leg, causing him to cancel his transformation and grasp his leg in pain. Zh\u00e0nsh\u00ec and Claw managed to cut one of Octavio\u2019s head tentacles off and shoved him into his allies. He turned to the New Squidbeak Splatoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInksquirts!\u201d he bellowed. The agents weren\u2019t listening as they were tending to Bella, Agent 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have to give her an ink infusion to clear her head!\u201d gulped Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou idiots! Help us!\u201d shouted Octavio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have to save Bella!\u201d insisted Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStop cradling that useless soldier!\u201d ordered Sauron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…What did you say?\u201d hissed Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI said stop cradling that lump of muscle and help your betters!\u201d roared Sauron. Jason looked back at his fellow agents, then glared at Sauron and his allies. He stood up and pulled something out of his back pocket. We couldn\u2019t believe it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Chronicle Driver?!\u201d yelped Claw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you…?!\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSludgiona said she had made more Chronicle Drivers,\u201d explained Slam. \u201cShe must have put them onto the scout ships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow would you…?\u201d I inquired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe explained she had made more to us new guys,\u201d replied Slam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d I remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the word you guys used to transform?\u201d asked Jason as he fastened the Chronicle Driver to his waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChronicle Driver!\u201d announced the belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe say \u2018Henshin\u2019,\u201d I replied to Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d bid Jason. He then took out an Armor Auto-bio and inserted it into the shelf that popped up from the top. \u201cHenshin!\u201d he announced. He pressed the shelf down as the giant book flipped its pages and spat out armor pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOpen!\u201d called the belt. \u201cTurn! Imagine! The Roller of Turf!\u201d His armor looked a lot like the power armor set of the first game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgents, keep watch over Bella,\u201d directed Jason. \u201cI intend to voice our long-overdue complaints to our \u2018masters\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you call yourself, Kamen Rider Squidkid?\u201d snarked the Riddler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider Turf, actually,\u201d replied Jason. \u201cI shall claim this turf in victory!\u201d He then swung his roller into them. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever…EVER…call Bella useless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou little…!\u201d snarled the Riddler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou utter demons!\u201d hissed Turf. \u201cI should have done this two years ago!\u201d He converted his roller into a charger and fired on the villains, causing the Orcs to lose their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight, that\u2019s it!\u201d roared Gorshagh from the balcony. He caught the Kiri Zecter. \u201cHEN…!\u201d he didn\u2019t get very far as an Octoling kicked the Zecter out of his hands. \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re…?!\u201d shouted Gorshagh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTAKE DOWN THE ORCS!\u201d shouted the Octoling. The Octarians then attacked the Orcs. Turf pressed the button on his Chronicle Driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinal Pen Stroke!\u201d called the belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRIDER TURF KICK!\u201d shouted Turf as he leapt into the air and performed a flying kick towards the Villains. They soon picked themselves up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVortex, we need to take them all out in one swoop!\u201d whispered Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI may have a solution!\u201d I declared. \u201cLocate Keystone, activate! Initiate rift detection!\u201d I soon found the rift. Man, it felt good to use the Keystone. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information beamed into my head. \u201cHaven\u2019t seen him in a while. Locate help from B-3-N-1-0!\u201d Just then, a giant lizard person landed face-first onto the floor. The person picked himself to reveal the black circle with the green hourglass design on his chest. \u201cBEN!\u201d I called. Ben Tennyson, currently as Humungousaur, noticed me as I shouted and grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVortex!\u201d he cheered. \u201cHaven\u2019t seen you in a while! What\u2019s new?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOrcs invaded the universe we\u2019re in,\u201d I explained. I pointed out their bosses. \u201cGot a place for them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think Incarcecon can handle a few more inmates,\u201d joked Humungousaur as he slapped on the Omnitrix symbol. He then changed. \u201cFOUR-ARMS!\u201d he announced. He then leapt around the levels, grabbing Orcs and throwing them into the rift he went through. He then grabbed Sauron, the Riddler, Baron, and was about to grab Octavio when Turf stopped him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe stays,\u201d he insisted. Four-Arms nodded and tossed the remaining three into the rift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks, Ben!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t mention it!\u201d replied Four-Arms. \u201cSee you later!\u201d He then went through the rift as it shut. An Octoling then gave Marie a bit of ink and Marie injected it into Bella, sighing in relief as she checked her over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay,\u201d she sighed, \u201cshe\u2019s stable and should be good for getting her to a hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take her,\u201d replied Pearl. She and Marina picked Bella up and carried her out of the area to a hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cListen, everyone,\u201d sighed Turf, \u201cabout all of this…I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not the only one needing to apologize to Megumi,\u201d muttered Slam, feeling guilty about not telling me about the other Chronicle Drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMine first,\u201d I answered. \u201cColleen, I\u2019m sorry. It was wrong of me to not tell you about an event in our past. It was wrong of me to not give you the full details about the Vortech Wars. I was wrong. I don\u2019t know if I can make it up to you and…I understand if this makes you want to part company with the Feudal Nerd Society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand your logic,\u201d replied Slam, \u201cbut I don\u2019t see myself leaving just yet. Why don\u2019t we all leave our regrets here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have to say, today was FULL of regrets,\u201d mused X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cComes with any anniversary, especially a war\u2019s anniversary,\u201d replied Turretorg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe…\u201d suggested Claw, \u201cmaybe we should focus more on forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cForgiveness isn\u2019t handed out,\u201d I answered, \u201cit\u2019s earned. Colleen, if you\u2019ll let me, I\u2019d like to work to earn yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me work to earn yours, then we\u2019ll talk,\u201d replied Slam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d I affirmed. Just then, someone fired over our heads! Octavio was clutching his sides and holding a blaster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFORGIVENESS?!\u201d he roared. \u201cYOU DOLTS ARE PATHETIC! FORGIVENESS IS A WEAKNESS! YOU ALL NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd yet,\u201d I observed, \u201cyou\u2019re the one without an empire to back you up.\u201d I was talking about the Octarians leveling their weapons at him. Octavio looked around, then fired a few shots to scare his people off and scurried up a ladder, dropping the Source. \u201cCome on!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet him go,\u201d replied Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut he\u2019s gonna escape!\u201d I urged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think there\u2019s little chance of that,\u201d assured Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Why?\u201d I quizzed. Octavio then screamed in frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain Cuttlefish placed a giant snow globe over the exit,\u201d explained Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…The globe again?\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bella had made a full recovery and helped us reveal the names of Agents 3 and 4. Agent 3 was Colin and Agent 4 was Samantha. Unfortunately, the crew of the Tarlaxian scout ship was already taken by Shocker Rift. We were back in our Splatoon <\/em>disguises. Pearl and Marina were back doing Off the Hook for Inkopolis Square. \u201cSo, with all the craziness going on,\u201d Pearl was saying, \u201cthe final Splatfest had to be cancelled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, with the Orcs gone and the Octarians\u2019 good name being cleared,\u201d continued Marina, \u201cthe final Splatfest can go on. It\u2019s going to take a week, though, before any match can begin. Yes, you heard right, the matches will be back on in a week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUntil then, Grizzco is still hiring!\u201d supplied Pearl. \u201cI can’t believe our last gig went so smoothly, Marina!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, especially because we worked a Salmon Run shift instead of rehearsing!\u201d replied Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s all the time we got!\u201d finished Pearl. \u201cUntil next time…\u201d Marina then joined Pearl in posing and saying their catchphrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t get cooked, stay off the hook!\u201d they cheered. The screen went back to its usual ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess things will be back to normal soon,\u201d chuckled Callie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs normal as our lives are,\u201d remarked Marie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks for the last minute assist,\u201d I bid to Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d replied Jason. \u201cI just wish I saw sense earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not evil,\u201d I assured. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have a Chronicle Driver if you were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou just need a little guidance in handling it,\u201d continued Colleen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d asked Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWanna come with us?\u201d I offered. \u201cWander the multiverse with us for a while and see if you wanna be a member of the Feudal Nerd Society?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…No secrets this time?\u201d quizzed Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo secrets this time,\u201d I assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen let\u2019s do it!\u201d cheered Jason as he twirled Death\u2019s Source on his finger like a basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVorton, this is Megumi,\u201d I called into my communicator. \u201cMission accomplished! We have Death\u2019s Source, have a new ally with us, and are ready for pickup!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to hear, Megumi,\u201d replied a voice. It didn\u2019t belong to anyone on the Vorton team. I finally got it after a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoctor?!\u201d I yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello!\u201d answered the 13th<\/sup> Doctor\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the heck are you doing on Vorton?\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Gateway Operators called me and filled me in on your current adventure,\u201d explained the Doctor. \u201cMy reason for being here on Vorton is something that seems unrelated to your crisis. I\u2019ll fill you in when you get here.\u201d A portal opened for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a little…buzzy,\u201d I warned Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Buzzy?\u201d asked Jason as he followed us. He soon got what I meant when I said \u201cbuzzy\u201d. We arrived back on Vorton before the others. \u201c…Yeah, \u2018buzzy\u2019 is an apt description!\u201d mumbled the Inkling as he rubbed his arms. \u201cFeels like my cells are vibrating!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello!\u201d called a voice. The Doctor then came up, still wearing that grey coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to see you again, Doctor,\u201d I greeted. \u201cYou said Elphaba\u2019s team called you in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey did,\u201d confirmed the Doctor. \u201cLet me show you.\u201d She motioned for us to follow her to the medical ward. Lying on a bed was a young blonde woman. She seemed to be busy examining her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho is she?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe looks a lot like one of my previous companions, Rose Tyler,\u201d replied the Doctor, \u201cbut that doesn\u2019t make sense. During an adventure involving both Daleks AND Cybermen, she became trapped in a parallel universe. Now, she lives her life with a human version of my 10th<\/sup> incarnation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, is THIS Rose Tyler a clone?\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I initially thought,\u201d answered the Doctor. \u201cHowever, if she is, she\u2019s the most perfect clone ever. Usually, when a clone is artificially aged, there are telltale genetic markers to indicate such a thing had happened. However, she doesn\u2019t have those.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen, is the Rose you traveled with a clone?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI checked the TARDIS medical records,\u201d replied the Doctor, \u201cand the Rose I traveled with IS the real deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA traveler from a parallel universe, then?\u201d I suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t really have a frame of reference for that,\u201d mused the Doctor as she tapped her chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI might help in that regard,\u201d called X-PO. \u201cLet me connect with the equipment. There should be telltale signs of her being from a parallel universe.\u201d X-PO hooked up to the medical scanners and ran through the data. It took a few minutes. When he finished, he crossed his arms. \u201cHuh,\u201d he muttered. \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there ANYTHING to go on?\u201d I quizzed, getting desperate for answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere ARE stray energy particles I haven\u2019t been able to identify,\u201d replied the Doctor, \u201cbut those may be from the energy weapon that was fired on her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs she injured?\u201d I gasped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d assured the Doctor, \u201cbut look at the rags she\u2019s wearing. Some of the damage WASN\u2019T from going through the rift unprotected and I\u2019d like to give her the benefit of the doubt in that she\u2019s NOT insane enough to burn parts of her clothes herself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose the next thing to do,\u201d I declared, \u201cis to ask her.\u201d I approached her and she took notice of me. \u201cHello,\u201d I greeted with a bit of uncertainty in my voice. \u201cMy name is Megumi Hishikawa. What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I can\u2019t…remember a lot,\u201d replied the Rose clone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat DO you remember?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI remember…names,\u201d answered the Rose clone. \u201cI remember being in a lot of pain. I remember…my temperature increasing for a bit. I don\u2019t recall how I got here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you have any means of identification?\u201d I inquired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I\u2019m…Rose Tyler, right?\u201d asked the clone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to figure out,\u201d replied the Doctor. \u201cYou see, I travelled with Rose Tyler for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You?\u201d quizzed the clone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, me,\u201d confirmed the Doctor. \u201cI\u2019m the Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Doctor…\u201d muttered the clone. I noticed a hint of distaste for the word before she went back to examining her hands. \u201cWho…WHAT am I?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor now,\u201d I answered, \u201cyou\u2019re our guest and…this is your home.\u201d The clone looked around the place to get a good look at her surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Home,\u201d she repeated. I excused myself at that point and contacted the other teams, informing them of what happened.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYOU!\u201d I snarled at Sauron. \u201cUs,\u201d corrected Sauron as he pointed to his compatriots. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d see you again after you were crushed like a tin can in Metropolis!\u201d I growled. I turned to the Riddler. \u201cRiddle me this, you WERE defeated in Gondor, right?\u201d \u201cQuite the story after those incidents,\u201d remarked Sauron. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,104],"tags":[26,9,252,12,253,251,24],"class_list":["post-488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-movie-chaoters","tag-death","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-baron","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-new-rider","tag-splatoon","tag-turretorg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1147,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488\/revisions\/1147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n