{"id":559,"date":"2020-06-06T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-06T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=559"},"modified":"2020-06-10T09:56:08","modified_gmt":"2020-06-10T13:56:08","slug":"chapter-9-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/chapter-9-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The\u00a0Virginia<\/em>\u00a0was cruising through the rift at speed factor 7. I arranged a bouquet of my favorite flowers in the Captain\u2019s Quarters when the door chimed. \u201cCome in,\u201d I bid. Scorpainia came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be in Mario\u2019s universe in two hours,\u201d she reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAppreciate it,\u201d I reciprocated. She then turned to leave. \u201cHey, wait!\u201d I called. \u201cDon\u2019t you want anything? Tea? Sandwich?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo thank you,\u201d replied Scorpainia. \u201cI have…other things to attend to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…Okay,\u201d I shrugged. The door shut when Scorpainia left. She\u2019s never been this dodgy before. Then again, she DOES have a lot on her plate…as did I. At that point, I made a decision. I knew the consensus was that we wouldn\u2019t tell the new guys about Megumi\u2019s emotional collapse, but my conscience was kicking me ever since we made the decision. Now may not be the best time, but better than during battle. I headed to Liam\u2019s quarters and knocked on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye?\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Emily,\u201d I answered. The door opened and I saw Liam with grease on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat can I do for you, Captain?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMay I come in?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, go ahead,\u201d he bid as he stepped aside. I looked around and saw various tools out while a machine was on a workbench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou settled in quick,\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, that I did,\u201d chuckled Liam. I then sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, I gotta say this or I won\u2019t say it at an appropriate time,\u201d I declared. \u201cLiam, we didn\u2019t tell you our entire history. We left a part out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh?\u201d asked Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we picked up Hongo and the others,\u201d I explained, \u201c we left them in the dark about Vortech. It came to bite us in the ass and Megumi went through an emotional breakdown. We have a history of keeping secrets, I\u2019m sorry to say. The general vote was not to tell you new guys, but it doesn\u2019t sit right with me. If this changes anything…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonestly, you proved me wrong by telling me this,\u201d interrupted Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…Huh?\u201d I quizzed, utterly confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought you were just using your parents to cover up why you were involved,\u201d replied Liam, \u201cthat you were forced by X-PO. The fact that you went with your gut just now proved me wrong. I have a habit of making assumptions and it fractured a few friendships in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…I honestly expected you to leave us right now, but I\u2019m glad I was proven wrong,\u201d I sighed in relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo more secrets then?\u201d quizzed Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo more secrets,\u201d I assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen perhaps you can clear something up for me,\u201d directed Liam. \u201cWhere did you get this ship?! Was there a sale at the shops?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take it Death spun the \u2018Spoils of War\u2019 yarn?\u201d I asked. \u201cNothing like that. The Horsemen were building the Virginia<\/em> as a last-resort during the Vortech Wars. We didn\u2019t need it, so they just gave it to us for us to take the occasional joyride or have a pleasure cruise. We still maintain the weapons just in case we need them. Given what\u2019s going on, we may need them soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, what did you do for a living again? Before you got your Vortex Driver?\u201d asked Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did Let\u2019s Plays on YouTube,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…I went into the wrong line of work,\u201d muttered Liam. Just then, Majel came onto the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hate to interrupt,\u201d she began, \u201cbut junction J-7 is out again. I think I need a 9 volt in there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHold on,\u201d I replied. \u201cI got this.\u201d We headed into the hall and found the junction. I then took out a tool and fired a lightning bolt into it, making it glow again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you!\u201d bid Majel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou got a tool that can shoot lightning?!\u201d yelped Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, don\u2019t you?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…No!\u201d replied Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t?\u201d quizzed Majel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…And you do?!\u201d squeaked Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, I do,\u201d boasted Majel. \u201cOne of my weapons can do that.\u201d Just then, something chimed. \u201cHold up, I\u2019m picking up a vessel off the starboard bow,\u201d muttered Majel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you identify it?\u201d I quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt almost looks like the Tarlaxian scout ship, Tranzek<\/em>, but the mass and shape aren\u2019t exact,\u201d reported Majel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see it,\u201d I directed. Majel showed us the vessel. It looked like a mean version of a science vessel. \u201cAll hands, to your stations!\u201d I called over the comms. We all made our way to the bridge while R9 and Liam headed to Main Engineering. \u201cAll stop,\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnswering all stop,\u201d reported Tanisha. The Virginia<\/em> stopped and took a scan of the vessel. The results came up on screen, matching what Majel said earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn screen,\u201d I commanded. The vessel appeared on screen and shocked us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs…that the Tranzek<\/em>?\u201d asked Mikhail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks like they glued debris onto it,\u201d muttered Scorpainia. The upgraded vessel then moved off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter it,\u201d I ordered. We followed it until we arrived in Mario\u2019s world, in orbit around Mario\u2019s planet. How did I know it was Mario\u2019s planet? The Comet Observatory was in orbit as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re being hailed by the Observatory,\u201d reported Mikhail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s hear it,\u201d I directed. Rosalina then came up on screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad your vessel responded,\u201d mused Rosalina. \u201cTell me, what brings you here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can explain the full story later, Ma\u2019am,\u201d I replied, \u201cbut our immediate priority is the vessel we were in pursuit of, the one orbiting the planet as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen, perhaps we should work together and find out what\u2019s going on with that vessel,\u201d suggested Rosalina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA good idea,\u201d I answered. \u201cWe\u2019ll maneuver close and attempt to dock with it and pick up what the crew\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe crew?\u201d asked Rosalina. \u201cWhat crew? I\u2019m not getting any bio-readings from the ship.\u201d Scorpainia gasped. I turned around with a quizzed look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf…if she\u2019s not getting any bio-readings,\u201d stammered Scorpainia, \u201cthen…they\u2019ve either taken their equipment offline or…or they\u2019re…dead.\u201d That raised a few red flags for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMa\u2019am, we\u2019ll still investigate this,\u201d I affirmed. \u201cThat\u2019s supposed to be a manned vessel. We\u2019ll report our findings when we\u2019ve finished. Saunders out.\u201d The call ended. \u201cScorpainia, is there an airlock on that kind of vessel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMiddle of the port side,\u201d replied Scorpainia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTanisha, maneuver us alongside the Tranzek<\/em>\u2019s port side,\u201d I directed. \u201cLine our docking tube with the airlock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGod, I HATE parallel parking!\u201d grumbled Tanisha. We used maneuvering thrusters only to get alongside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just had a thought,\u201d called Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe vessel DID move, right?\u201d asked Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…Yes, we pursued it to this universe,\u201d I confirmed, not sure where Hongo\u2019s line of questioning was going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen, that means they have some sort of power,\u201d continued Hongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…Then why aren\u2019t they acting on us moving?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, if we\u2019re parallel to the ship,\u201d replied Hongo, \u201cour weapons couldn\u2019t effectively hit the vessel. I mean, they WERE attacked before we departed. Maybe…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d I gasped, realizing Hongo\u2019s theory. The thing that attacked the Tranzek<\/em> may still be onboard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m detecting an energy spike from their weapons!\u201d called Amelia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHard about!\u201d I shouted. \u201cRaise shields!\u201d Unfortunately, Majel couldn\u2019t raise shields fast enough as the Tranzek<\/em> hit us. The lights then came on. They were blood-red instead of the standard white. The enemy vessel continued firing on us. \u201cHongo, return fire!\u201d I ordered. Hongo\u2019s fingers danced across his console, firing on the enemy vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDirect hit!\u201d reported Hongo. \u201cNo effect! The enemy\u2019s shields are too powerful!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMajel! Shields! Now!\u201d I commanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShield power\u2019s dropping like cement!\u201d answered Majel. Scorpainia activated the comms on her armrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEngineering! What\u2019s going on?!\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThings are happening all at once!\u201d reported Liam. \u201cI\u2019m trying to…\u201d He was interrupted by an explosion. \u201cDamn it! we needed ‘at! I’ll caa ye back!\u201d He ended the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cR9, where are you?!\u201d I called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn my way to Main Engineering!\u201d replied R9\u2019s voice. Good. Liam needs all the help he can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHongo, weapons status!\u201d I barked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey keep adapting to every shot we throw at them!\u201d answered Hongo. \u201cWe can\u2019t penetrate their shields!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTanisha, move us so we can fire the graviton launcher!\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe graviton launcher doesn\u2019t have enough power to fire!\u201d countered Majel. \u201cIn fact, we\u2019re losing weapons power all together!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care!\u201d I snapped. \u201cWe have to hit them! We…\u201d the enemy vessel got in front of us. \u201cAh hell! EVASIVE MANEUVERS!\u201d Tanisha tried her best, but the ship wasn\u2019t moving fast enough! We still got hit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t fight in this condition!\u201d called Scorpainia. \u201cWe have to retreat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTanisha, get us out of here! Floor it!\u201d I ordered, thinking that Scorpainia\u2019s suggestion was a good one. I then called Main Engineering. \u201cLiam, divert all power to engines!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do what I can,\u201d replied Liam, \u201cbut some of the engines are down! We\u2019re not moving so fast!\u201d Just then, the Comet Observatory moved between us and the enemy vessel. She appeared on screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGet out of here! We\u2019ll hold them off!\u201d she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have weapons!\u201d I countered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, but we have shields! Now go!\u201d insisted Rosalina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntruder on the bridge!\u201d shouted Scorpainia. We all turned to see a woman wearing a demonic looking Kamen Rider suit. Hongo then struck his pose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRider…\u201d he began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStay on weapons!\u201d I called as I drew my i.d. tag. \u201cThis one\u2019s…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch bravado,\u201d spoke the demonic Kamen Rider. The voice…made me freeze. I recognized that voice. It haunted and hunted me during high school. I saw the owner of that voice cast into Hell itself…and still I heard it from that Kamen Rider. \u201cSomething wrong?\u201d taunted the Kamen Rider as her hand moved to her belt, a demon\u2019s head. \u201cYou\u2019ve boasted that you could defeat me anywhere, anytime. I must say, you fat hog, you haven\u2019t proven that to me today.\u201d She closed the belt\u2019s demon mouth, making the eyes close and the suit vanish in smoke. As it cleared, the woman underneath was revealed to be…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHillbilly Heather!\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat name!\u201d snarled my, once late, arch-nemesis, Heather Richards. \u201cThat was never my name! You spat that name at me and it stuck!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow?\u201d I gasped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always endure!\u201d hissed Heather, guessing the context of my question. \u201cAfter you cast me into Hell, I was put into the outer ring of Hell\u2019s seventh circle, condemned to forever swim in a river of boiling blood and fire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cViolence against people and property,\u201d I recalled from Dante\u2019s Inferno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was not about to let those centaurs keep me down,\u201d continued Heather, \u201cso I ignored the pain of the arrows, mounted one, and charged off along the riverbank. Some demons didn\u2019t like that, so they pursued me. Shocker Rift then came after me to try and enslave me again, so I managed to rip a Combatman\u2019s skull out of his head and beat him to death with it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t seem physically possible!\u201d countered Pestilence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what the demons screamed as I beat the Combatman to death,\u201d replied Heather. \u201cThe skull then turned into my new belt but needed souls to power it. I simply helped myself to those that swam in that river with me as well as the demons, centaurs, and Combatmen, then transformed into the Kamen Rider you just saw so I could escape Hell. I don\u2019t exactly like using that word \u2018Kamen\u2019 or the word \u2018Henshin\u2019, given that they\u2019re impure…but the multiverse proved that it hates purity. So, better to burn it and start all over again! I escaped Hell, blindsided a Shocker Rift saucer, intercepted the Tarlaxian scout ship, and seized control. The debris flung around by Vortech\u2019s Rift Loop made the ship into a superb weapon!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat about the Tarlaxian crew?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter I took over their minds,\u201d explained Heather, \u201cthey became excellent extensions of my will!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou destructive, filth-spewing…!\u201d I snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t assume you\u2019re alive for idle chit-chat, you stubborn sow!\u201d interrupted Heather. \u201cYou haven\u2019t yet taken my place in Hell because I want you to know that it was I who defeated you, I who conquered Hell itself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat now?\u201d I hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow?\u201d asked Heather. \u201cNow I kill everyone on this ship, destroy it, and use its junk to enhance my own!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you want to take it intact?\u201d I asked. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to destroy it OR us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I want,\u201d growled Heather, \u201cis to peel the skin from your bones! I want to tie you to a cross and burn you alive! I want to hurl stones at your helpless form! WHAT I WANT……I want many things; you sack of fat and juices! But, every time I try to prolong your agony, you always come out on top! No, you will die by my hand and you will die quickly so I don\u2019t have to see you a second longer! Take this thought with you as you fall to Hell! As I swam in infinite heat with the taste of blood flooding my taste buds, the only thing that kept me from succumbing to madness, as the rest of the damned had long since done, was my hatred! My singular hatred of YOU!\u201d She called up her ship. \u201cFire!\u201d she commanded. Just then, she saw, on screen, her vessel\u2019s lights flickering. \u201cOh, for…WHAT\u2019S GOING ON OVER THERE?!\u201d she shrieked as she vanished in a ball of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFloor it!\u201d I ordered Tanisha. As we scrambled to get away, I noticed Scorpainia standing as still as a statue. \u201cScorpainia?!\u201d I called. \u201cSCORPAINIA!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re drifting too close to the planet!\u201d reported Tanisha. \u201cI don\u2019t have enough power to get us out of the atmosphere!\u201d That shook Scorpainia into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMake the landing as steady as possible!\u201d she shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReleasing landing struts!\u201d called Tanisha. \u201cDeploying air brakes!\u201d The\u00a0Virginia<\/em>\u2019s landing struts were built like skis, so we were going to slide a good distance. The air brakes slowed us down a bit and helped level our descent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo we have enough power to maintain orbit?!\u201d I screamed at the spider monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d droned the spider monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen keep us in orbit while I repair things!\u201d I commanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnderstood, Pure One,\u201d replied the spider monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Like I mentioned, our descent was rough. The impact was lessened, but still hard enough to make us bounce around. We skidded a good mile until we came to the outskirts of Toad Town. The Toads gathered around, hoping for survivors. Peach, Mario, Luigi, Daisy, and Rosalina came up. Rosalina was explaining the situation as Peach directed the crisis teams to get us out of the wreck. We all managed to survive, albeit a little dizzy. My mind still focused on two things: Heather\u2019s resurrection and Scorpainia\u2019s freezing up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Virginia\u00a0was cruising through the rift at speed factor 7. I arranged a bouquet of my favorite flowers in the Captain\u2019s Quarters when the door chimed. \u201cCome in,\u201d I bid. Scorpainia came in. \u201cWe\u2019ll be in Mario\u2019s universe in two hours,\u201d she reported. \u201cAppreciate it,\u201d I reciprocated. She then turned to leave. \u201cHey, wait!\u201d I called. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477,"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":[69,9,17,250,75],"class_list":["post-559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-movie-chaoters","tag-emily-saunders","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-pestilence","tag-scorpainia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559","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=559"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1123,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559\/revisions\/1123"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}