[guncannon109]

Episode 10: Disturbance in G Minor

Alex stood in the center of an empty street. Destruction of buildings and cars surrounded him as the sky burned in a hue of crimson red. Several explosions went off down the road. As the smoke cleared, Alex saw an armored figure come into view. The figure was covered in ash and was hard to make out, all that Alex could see clearly was a large x emblazoned on the figure's primarily black chest armor.

Alex tried to run but his feet were frozen in place and he could not force himself to move. As he stood helplessly, two more armored figures appeared seemingly out of nowhere between him and the figure.

Alex stood puzzled, “... more riders?”

One wore heavy green armor with a dark grey trim and black suit covering the gaps in his armor. His helmet feature a large green u shaped visor with a mark that resembled some sort of key. He held a large hammer with an equally large blade on the back of it.

The other looked to be female and wore much lighter armor that was primarily yellow with a lighter grey trim and a white suit covering the gaps. Her mask seemed to resemble that of a bird with a large blue visor taking up a majority of her helmet. She, unlike the other, looked to be unarmed although she appeared to have what looked like three large blades hanging off the back of her belt.

The two stared down at the figure covered in ash as he glared back at them.

At the drop of hat, the two parties charged towards each other as Alex could merely watch in awe. The yellow rider threw a punch at the figure marked with an x as the figure grabbed her arm and threw her over his shoulder. As the girl in yellow slammed into a totaled car, the green rider slammed his hammer into the figure's face knocking him to the ground.

The green rider raised his hammer high up into the air to deliver the finishing blow. As he swung his hammer down onto the figure, it came to a halt just short of it's target. The figure had managed to block the green rider's swing with his bare fist and was holding it up just above his face. In one quick movement, the figure pushed the green rider's hammer aside and jumped back up on his feet.

Out of where, the yellow rider leapt into the air and threw a downward kick to the figure covered in ash. Before she hit her mark however, the figure vanished into thin air as the yellow rider smacked the ground where he once stood. The two riders stayed on their guard, looking for where the figure could have disappeared to.

At the second, the figure reappeared in the air and threw a downward kick at the yellow rider, hitting her square in the chest. The yellow rider fell to the ground and exploded on impact. Upon witnesses his comrades demise, the green rider pulled the panels covering the head of his hammer back as the blade on the back flipped over to the front of the hammer switching it into a battle axe.

Without a second though, the green rider charged at the figure swinging his axe for the figure's shoulder. In a mere instant, the figure grabbed the axe by it's handle and ripped it from green rider's hands. In one fell swoop the figure swung the axe up and brought it down hard on the green rider, engulfing the in a ball of fire.

When the fire cleared, only the figure covered in ash was left standing and all that was left of the two riders were scraps of their armor scattered across the ground.

The figure threw the axe to the ground and began to walk towards Alex.

“NO!” Alex exclaimed as he shot out from his bed smacking his head into a metal bar that made up part of the bed frame. “OWWW!” He shouted as he fell onto the floor. He paused for a moment and looked around to see that the surroundings of the ruined city had been replaced by his bedroom. He sighed, “Just a dream.”

He looked over is shoulder to see Madison standing in the door way huddling over the frame.

“Eh...” She said awkwardly, “You might want to get up or you're going to be late.”

Alex blinked his eyes, “... GAH!!!”

{Insert Opening Theme - Extreme Dream}

Rylee knelt before Vainglory in his usual dimly lit chamber.

“Commander,” Rylee began, “It appears that we may have a problem. One of the-”

“I'm already aware of the situation, Spite,” Vainglory snarled.

“I see...” Rylee returned, “then, what do you suppose should be our coarse of action?”

“Remain on stand by for the moment,” Vainglory instructed.

Rylee jumped to her feet and saluted Vainglory, “Yes commander, understood.”

“Excellent... We are done here, you may go,” Vainglory waved his hand at Rylee instructing her to leave.

“Thank you commander,” Rylee said as she quickly left the chamber through two larger doors and shutting them behind her.

Vainglory took in a deep breathe and then slowly exhaled, “So she's finally come out hiding,” he smirked, “and right on schedule.”

---

Alex and Madison walked down the street side by side. It was a bright and sunny morning, with the sound of birds filling the air.

“So... mind telling my what you were doing in my apartment?” Alex asked.

“Oh... well I... uh,” Madison stampered, “You see I... Cole had to go in early so he asked me to make sure to got to school on time.”

Alex grunted angrily, “Man, I am going to kill that guy!”

“So...” Madison said trying to hold back laughter, “a buck bed?”

“That is not my fault,” Alex quickly retorted, “It came with the place and it take a million years for me to afford a single.”

“Why not just ask your folks to buy you one?” Madison asked.

Alex came to a halt, “That's... complicated. You see, both my parents are gone.”

“Oh,” Madison said quietly, “Sorry, I didn't mean t-”

“It's alright,” Alex interrupted, “To be fair there isn't really anyway you could've known.”

“Well I guess you and I are in the same boat then aren't we?” Madison looked at the ground for a moment, “Just so you know Alex, if you ever need someone to talk to I'll be there to listen... and... um...”

“INCOMING!” A voice called out from.

Alex and Madison looked behind them to see a girl on roller blades hurling towards them. Before the two could blink, Alex grabbed Madison by her wrist and pulled her off to the side as the skater sped past them.

“HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!” Alex shouted.

Alex then looked over to Madison who wore the expression of a cat that had just been dunked in a bucket of water against it's will and was shivering to the bone.

“Madison?” Alex asked placing his hand on Madison's shoulder.

“GAH!” Madison shouted as she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Uh...” Alex looked at her with a confusion, “You alright?”

“Yeah, yeah I'm fine...” Madison said laughing the matter off, “What, do I not look alright?” Before Alex could respond, a small beeping sound came from Madison's watch. “Oh man, is it that time already? Sorry Alex, but we got to get a move on.”

Madison grabbed Alex by his wrist and began to pull him along as she ran down the street, “Hey, wait, slow down will you!”

---

Sarah stood along the track to the side of the school dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and running shoes with her long blonde hair done up in a ponytail. She glared at watch as each second passed she, she tapped her foot against the ground, the pace of which grew faster as the hands of her watch moved.

She sighed, “Late as usual.” Sarah let her arm fall down to her side and growled a bit, “Crap damn it, I don't care if he's a super hero or not. He should still manage to get to-”

“WAIT!” A voice called out by the gate.

Sarah turned to see Madison charge through the gates leading to the rest of the school building pulling an out of breathe Alex along with her.

Sarah stood with her eye twitching, “You've got to be kidding.”

“We're here!” Madison exclaimed as she let go of Alex's arm as he quickly fell to the ground. “Uhh... sorry?”

“I'm going to kill you!” Alex growled in a muffled voice.

Sarah clapped her hands together grabbing the two's attention, “Alrighty, to not waste anymore time let's get right into it.” She grabbed Alex by his arm and pulled him to his feet, “Come on Darwin, let's go.”

Alex merely grunted as he was dragged against his will.

The two ran their usual laps around the track for a good half hour while Madison watched from the bleachers. As Sarah came around the turn of the track she came to a slow halt in front of Madison.

She reached out her hand to the red haired girl, “Mad Pad... water.”

“Oh, here,” Madison said as she handed Sarah a bottle of water from her bag, “and I really wished that you'd stop calling me that already.”

Sarah took the bottle from Madison, “How come?”

Madison squinted a bit “Well it was cute when we were kids, but now it's a little bit embarrassing.”

Sarah glared at her, “Says the one who still plays with toys.”

“Hey, I don't play with them I collect them!” Madison snarled, “There's a difference.”

Sarah sighed, “That difference being?”

“I...” Madison said taking in a deep breathe, “... Fine, you got me there.”

“HAHAHA!” Sarah burst out laughing, “You're too much!” She patted Madison on the head and sat down next to her.

“Why exactly are you running with Alex exactly?” Madison asked, “I mean, I know Mr. Merde is forcing him to run but he didn't say anything about you.”

“I've got a big meet coming up soon,” Sarah said taking a sip of water. “I need to get as much practice in as I can.” She screwed the cap back on the bottle and placed it on the ground by her feet, “So then, how are things going with Darwin?”

“Uh... not great,” Madison stated.

Sarah sighed, “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume it was my fault!?” Madison barked.

“I'm joking, I'm joking,” Sarah chuckled, “Seriously though, what's the problem?”

“Well...” Madison said taking in a deep breath, “I've tried asking him when the moment feels right but... Every time I do either a dopant or some crazy chick on roller blades shows up a ruins everything!”

“Oh... I see,” Sarah stated, “Well then, the solution is simple. All you need to do is get the two of you into an environment that is under your complete control.”

Madison raised an eyebrow, “And how exactly am I supposed to do that?”

“Well you could...” Sarah paused for a moment, “HEY DARWIN, NO SLEEPING!”

“OH COME ON!”

---

11:34 - Lunch

Alex fell onto his back and stretched himself along the grass by a tall tree. Cole sat not far away from him.

He sighed, “Man, Sarah is going to be the end of me!”

“What's with you man?” Cole asked, “You go out every night beating monsters to a pulp, why don't you just go Blade Runner on her and show her who's boss?”

Alex raised his hand into the air pointing at the sky, “With great power comes great responsibility. You read Spiderman right?”

“Yeah,” Cole said taking a sip from his drink, “Though I'm surprised you have.”

Alex sat up and glared at Cole, “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” Cole returned, “It's just that you rarely show any interest in things that aren't Japanese. Hell, even your superhero name has a Japanese word in it.”

Alex's eyes widened, “Oh come on... that's not true at all!”

“Oh yeah?” Cole said raising an eyebrow.

Alex sat with his arms crossed, “... Prove it.”

“Alright,” Cole said, “Name one thing you either watched or read recently that wasn't Japanese.”

Alex chuckled, “Easy, Transformers Prime!”

“That was based on a Japanese toy line,” Cole retorted, “... moron.”

Alex shoved his finger into Cole's face, “X-Men!”

“YOU WATCHED THE ANIME!” Cole barked.

At that moment, as if to save the him from Cole's torment, Alex's cellphone began to ring.

Alex fished it out of his pocket and read the caller ID “Sampson?”

“Another dopant?” Cole asked.

“Don't know... probably,” Alex flipped his phone open and brought it up to his ear, “Hello?”

“Alex? Great,” Sampson said from the other end of the line, “I need you to come down to the station ASAP.”

“Okay...” Alex returned, “What for?”

“I'll explain when you get down here, now get moving!” Sampson instructed as he quickly hung up on the other end of the line.

“Hmm... must be important,” Alex thought, “Cole-”

“I know,” Cole quickly interrupted, “Cover for you, I got it. You get going, you don't want to keep those two waiting.”

“Right, thanks,” Alex said as he grabbed his bag and ran down the hill leading off school grounds.

Cole sighed, “Don't mention it.”

{End of Part A}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Star of Part B}

Alex burst into Sampson's office panting like a dog on a hot summer day. Sampson sat at his desk with Marcoh off to the side. There was also a man in a suit seating in one of the chairs across from Sampson's desk that Alex had not yet noticed.

“I'm... here...” Alex stated whipping sweat from his face.

“Ah, perfect. We were beginning to think you weren't coming,” Sampson chuckled, “Anyway Alex, please have a seat.

“Oh come, I'm not that late,” Alex said sitting down in the seat next to the man in the suit. Alex turned his head to the man sitting next to him and stared at him for a moment, “... Who's this guy?”

“He's our client,” Marcoh stated, “and a rather important one.”

“Alex, allow me to introduce you to Jaune Delearon Evonna,” Sampson said gesturing to the man in the suit, “He's one of Ardent City's most successful entrepreneurs with over one hundred and fifty restaurants all over the continent.”

“Oh yeah,” Alex said quietly, “Aren't you the owner of the Cat's Eye Cafe not far from here?”

Jaune nodded, “Oui.”

Alex tilted his head, “'We' what?”

Marcoh planted his face into the palm of his hand, “Not 'we', 'Oui'. As in the french word for 'yes'”

“Oh... so he's French,” Alex returned, “... I've been to France.”

“Yes you have,” Marcoh sighed. “But that's beside the point.”

“Eh hem,” Sampson said pretending to cough, “Now then, Mr. Evonna I believe you have something to say to the boy?”

“Yes, thank you officer,” Jaune said taking the floor. “You see, it's about my daughter Thea. You see, she's preforming at the concert hall by the water front this evening and... well...”

“There's been a lunatic going after singers with voices that he deems as angelic and kidnapping them during their performance,” Marcoh interrupted, “and Mr. Evonna wants to ensure his daughter's safety. Each instance showed signs of inhuman attacks. So you can guess what that means.”

“A dopant,” Alex stated.

“Exactly,” Marcoh returned.

“So regular security is out of the question then,” Alex sighed. “Why don't you just cancel the concert?”

“I tried,” Jaune said hanging his head a bit, “But Thea insists on preforming despite the danger.”

“You try talking to her?” Alex asked.

Jaune nodded.

“Didn't work, huh?” Alex asked.

Jaune nodded again.

Alex sighed, “Well then, I guess that just leaves one option,” He stood up from his chair, “We must protect Thea from the dopant and find the other singers.”

“That's the idea,” Marcoh said quietly.

“Well, I said it first.” Alex chuckled.

Marcoh glared at Alex, “We discussed it before you came down here.”

Alex took in a deep breath preparing for a retort, “... I got nothing.”

“Good,” Marcoh said, “Now then. The concert starts at seven o'clock, and since we are unaware of this dopant's capabilities we need to be ready for anything. You understand Darwin?”

Alex nodded, “I was ready the moment I came through the door.”

---

6:55 – Ardent City Concert Hall

Alex stood backstage looking out the curtains surveying the crowd. As he looked through them, all he could think was the fact that one of them was the enemy that he would soon have to confront.

He sighed, “Marcoh said that the kidnapper only goes after talented singers. So maybe Jaune's daughter will have a terrible voice... on the other hand-”

Before Alex could finish his thought, he felt a hand tap him on the shoulder from behind.

“Huh?” Alex said turning to his side.

When Alex turned around he saw Jaune standing beside a young girl with violet eyes and long blond hair braided into a ponytail.

Jaune spoke up, “Sorry to bother you, but my daughter and I would just like to thank you again for your assistance. It means a lot to both of us.”

“Oh, so this is Thea then,” Alex thought “It's no problem, honestly. I sure whatever that this guy's deal is he should go do with little effort.” He said as his eyes drifted over to the girl standing beside Jaune.

She wore a long white with a design that wrapped around her in a spiral. She had the presence of a real life angel that had descended from above... well, almost. As much as she tried to hide it, Alex could notice that her fingers were tapping rapidly against the side of her dress.

Alex raised an eyebrow, “Nervous?”

Thea's head snapped to look Alex directly in the eye like a dear caught in headlights. Her eyes blinked twice, then quickly nodded.

“I take it you're saving your voice for the performance...” Alex grinned. “Good idea.”

“Pardon us, but we should get going,” Jaune said bowing to Alex a bit as the two walked off to their positions. “the concert is about to start.”

“Right, I'll talk to you after the show then,” Alex said waving to the two “Everything in position?”

“Yep,” Marcoh said as he emerged behind Alex handing him a clipboard, “Did a overview of the staff and the audience and have guards all around the perimeter. If the dopant makes a move, we'll know and the curtains will drop immediately.”

“Like a rat caught in a trap,” Alex said handing the clipboard back to Marcoh.

“Exactly,” Marcoh took the clipboard from Alex and folded it under his arm. “With any luck we can keep this whole thing under the radar and no one in the audience has to get hurt.”

“I hope so,” Alex returned quietly.

As Jaune Thea got into their places for the show to start Alex noticed a man clad in all black climbing up a ladder to the rafters above the stage.

“Marcoh?” Alex asked, “Are the stage lights operated manually?”

“No,” Marcoh returned, “They're all controlled remotely.”

“Then would they be in need of repair?” Alex asked following the man on the ladder with his eyes.

“No, I checked with the stage manager before hand,” Marcoh confirmed. “Even if they were they wouldn't been looked at until after the shows over. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” Alex said looking around the room until he found another ladder a few feet away from were the two stood, “I'll be right back.”

“Hey, wait where are you-” Marcoh said as the curtain raised and Thea walked onto the stage, applause filling the concert hall.

Thea stared out to the crowed, took in a deep breath and began to sing, “A yellow haze fills my vision. Wind blows, a storm is brewing. Several beasts emerge from shadows. A hero shall rise, as they all fall to a golden ruin...”

As Thea sang, the man clad in black stood on the rafters looking down at her. He smirked and reached into his pocket.

“You know, the show much better from the front,” A voice called out.

The man looked around to see Alex standing on the other end of the bridge.

“I know that,” The man said softly, “I was merely checking the lighting fixtures to make sure that none of them would fall during the young ladies performance.”

“Didn't the stage crew already do that well before the show started?” Alex asked in a sarcastic tone of voice.

The man stepped back a bit, “Well you know what they say, better safe than sorry.”

“You've got a point there,” Alex said noticing the man's hand was still buried in his pocket. “Now tell me, what exactly were you planning to do with that?”

“Oh, so you know?” The man sighed, “Well then, I guess there's no point in keeping a low profile.”

At that moment, the man pulled out a gaia memory and smacked the button right below the label.

“MINOR!” The memory called out as the man jammed it into his ear, the man taking the form of a humanoid bear.

“Minor? as in Ursa Minor?” Alex thought as he examined the creature that stood growling before him. “No matter, a bear is normal compared to the past encounters.” Alex said pulling out the Star and Runner memories from his back pocket as his driver materialized around his waist, the orchestra's playing intensifying, somehow feeling in response to the events that were unfolding.

“Star! Runner!” Alex's driver called out as his black and red armor formed around him.

Despite what was going down on the rafters, Thea continued singing, “Life is just a game, there can only be a single winner. I can't back down I won't back down not until I win the crown. That's the game, I'll take the name, all my rivals better beat it!”

The dopant growled and charged towards Alex swinging a claw at him. Alex blocked the blow and returned with a punch to the beast's face, Minor catching it his mouth and biting down on Alex's face.

“That is not a chew toy!” Alex said kneeing Minor repeatedly in the jaw. After about five blows, the dopant was forced to let go a fall back on the bridge.

As the fight between the two went on, so did Thea's performance, “That's my dream it's taking flight. I'll win the fight. I won't give up until I grab the light. A single wish, upon a shooting star. No matter what I'll claim it with my own hands. There's a storm brewing around me, a mighty Gale to tear down all. That's where I aim to be. As I charge to glory, all foes shall fall.”

As Minor attempted to get back on his feet, Alex kicked him back to the far end of the bridge slamming him into a wall.

Thea then brought her song to an end as the dopant fell to the ground, “A perfect storm is on its way. Strong enough to leave evil at bay. I know you don't want to die, so best get out of my way. For I shoot for the sky. I shall be remembered, that's the dream I hail. Be sure you remember my name, I am the mighty Gale.”

As the hall filled with applause, Alex removed the star memory from it's place on his driver and went to place it in the maximum drive slot on the side of his belt, “Your rampage ends here Minor.”

Minor smirked, “that's what you think.”

Before Alex could place the memory into the maximum drive slot, four fangs of light shot out Minor's back and struck the cables holding up the bridge along smashing the stage light causing sparks to fly everywhere and Alex to fall to the stage below.

Thea looked back behind her as the curtain fell on her performance, Minor sliding down the bridge. Thea smirked.

Alex climbed out of the rubble as Minor drew closer to him, “Thea, get out of here now!” He shouted to the blond haired girl.

As the two prepared for a second round, the room became filled with a single slow applause. The two looked over to see that Thea was the clapping with a devilish smirk on her face.

“Well well well,” She cackled, “Isn't this just beautiful. We managed to rope the monster and Kamen Rider, and all without lifting a finger.”

Alex's eyes widened, “Thea?... it can't be.”

“Can you knock of the 'Thea' please?” She said pulling of her long hair revealing a shorter tom-boyish hair cut of the same color, “It's extremely annoying.”

Thea tore off the dress she was wearing to reveal a pair of tall navy boots with orange laces, along with a yellow skirt, black leggings, a single long black glove on her right arm and a t-shirt that was the same color as her boots that had some sort of space ship near the bottom right hand side of it and a big pink star on the top left.

“Kree now!” Thea snapped her fingers as a yellow mechanical bird flew down from the rafters and perched on her shoulders as Thea pulled out a yellow gaia from her glove.

“Gale!” Thea's gaia memory called out as her bird flew into the air and spiraled around her in golden haze as Thea shot her right arm high into the air. In a mere instant, the bird landed on Thea's right arm and wrapped itself around her wrist.

“Game start...” Thea shouted as she brought her arm down and slammed her gaia memory into the top of the bird's head. “Henshin!” She twisted the bird's head around three hundred and sixty degrees as gold rays of energy emerged from the bird on her wrist and she was engulfed by light.

When the light cleared, Thea had been encased in yellow armor that looked exactly like the one from his dream from earlier that day.

Alex stood in awe, “No way.”

“Two riders?!” Minor shouted, “I didn't hear anything about that! What the hell is going on!”

“Hell is exactly what's going on,” Thea smirked, “For you anyway.” She looked over to Alex and pointed to him, “Listen up super star, this one is our prey you got that! You just run along and let the adults take care of this.”

“Adults?” Alex asked, “How old do you think I am? More importantly how old are you? You look younger than I am!”

“I meant adults as in mental maturity, physical maturity has nothing to do with it.” Thea retorted.

“Hey... we still doing this or what?” Minor said trying to grab the two's attention, “I'm still here you kn-”

“Shut up!” Thea snapped at the dopant, “Anyway, you've already got three of these things so this one is mine so back off!”

“Fine then,” Alex said brushing Thea off, “You want him so badly then take him.”

Thea smirked, “Gladly.” She turned around and surveyed the room looking for the dopant. After a few moments she blinked her eyes and turned back to Alex. “Um... He got away.”

“Did he now,” Alex paused for a moment, then turned back to noticed that what Thea had said was true, “You've got to be freaking kidding!”

To Be Continued

{Insert Ending Theme - Stand By Me}