NERV Commander Fuyutsuki took a moment to glance over three lieutenants sitting in the briefing room. All three were still young with most of their lives ahead of them. Yet here they were being sent out to face criminals and magical items of unknown power. And he was the one to send them. There were times when he sometimes questioned the TSAB's recruiting of such young mages. Granted one of them in the room was taken in for the better and another was saved from a criminal life, they were a small number of the exceptions. Perhaps it was because of those three young ladies from that Non-Administered world. Had the TSAB become that desperate to find powerful mages that they would recruit children? He shook his head. Things had really changed from when he first joined the TSAB all those years ago. Perhaps the future of dimensional space did rest in the hands of today's youth. Or he was getting too old for these things.
"Good morning, Lieutenants."
"Good morning, sir."
"We have received word from intell about a shipment of mid-class Lost Logia from Non-Administered World 182." A screen materialized, detailing the Lost Logia. "From what they managed to gather, these Lost Logia are stable in their current form and pose no immediate danger unless activated. Unfortunately, information on the parties involved could not be attained." Another monitor appeared over the first, zooming into an industrial part of a city. "We've managed to isolate their shipping point to this warehouse district on the planet. Your primary mission is to recover the Lost Logia. Neutralizing the smuggling operation is secondary. The Longinus will depart in one hour. Dismissed."
He watched as they saluted and made their way out of the room. With his job done, Kouzou retreated to his office to check on the paperwork he had to file through for the day.
"Meeting...meeting...report...bulletin..."
The next document caught his attention. Leaning back in his chair, he opened the file and read over the title, "Proposal for Formation of Lost Property: Riot Force 6..."
Some two hours later, NERV's main (and only) squad sat around in the Longinus' mess hall. Several screens were open displaying the information sent to them from intell about the world as well as the smuggling operation.
"We really don't have much to go by, huh?" mused Shamsel with his arms crossed over his chest.
Evangeline shook her head, "Apparently their contact could only provide this much."
"Which means we're basically going in blind. We'll need to be on our toes for this one."
"Yea, but that doesn't mean you," remarks Ryoutaro as he gestures to Shamsel, "can use it."
"I know, I know. Don't worry."
Their female companion raised an eyebrow at the pair, "Use what?"
Ryoutaro was the first to answer, "It's just some super-powerful attack to try and make up for his lack of si-"
A spoon collided with his head. "Oh be quiet, you."
The pair exchanged a few more insults, forgetting about the previous conversation as Evangeline sighed and mumbled something about stupid men.
An hour later, the trio made their way over the rooftops of their target area. They had opted to deploy with Barrier Jackets active to avoid alerting the smugglers to their presence with the large mana draw it would have generated. Most of the warehouses in the area were unoccupied and filled with unused machinery or crates. It also meant they didn't have to worry about the local populace seeing three people in weird outfits leaping from roof to roof with ease.
"I'm getting a higher heat signature from that warehouse to the south-east," says Evangeline.
Shamsel nods, "Alright, let's take a look."
With a bit of magic, they land silently on the roof of the warehouse. Wear and tear and bad upkeep left the rooftop door rusted and required only a sharp tug to open. Before they even entered they could make out voices inside barking orders of some kind. A nod was given and they climbed inside. The door led them to a catwalk close to the ceiling, giving them a good view of the warehouse. Several local transport vehicles were lined up gear the main entrance. Numerous people dressed in black milled about carrying crates to and from the vehicles.
"Well that doesn't look very local, does it?" remarks Ryoutaro as he gestures to the inter-dimensional transportation array set up in the middle of the warehouse.
Shamsel quickly tries to formulate a plan. "So first we need to disable that transporter and then secure the Lost Log-"
"INTRUDERS!"
On instinct, they all dive out of the way as their location was pelted by enemy fire. Shamsel runs along the catwalk while Ryoutaro and Evangeline leaped off to the floor below.
"Ore Sanjou!"
Evangeline sighed, "Do you HAVE to do that every time?"
Shamsel chuckled in response and charged into the group in front of him. "Take care of the transporter!"
She rolled forward and slammed the hilt of her sword into the nearest target before gripping the tail of her Zector and slamming to forward, "Cast Off!"
CAST OFF
Those unfortunate enough to be near her were sent flying back from the discarded armor sections.
CHANGE SCORPION
"Clock Up!"
CLOCK UP
The next thing anyone saw was the purple-armored mage on the opposite side of the transporter as it crumbled to pieces. From above, Shamsel had left the catwalk and did his best to avoid the combination of mass- and magic-based projectiles as he remained airborne.
"Magnum Impact!"
Light-blue spheres of magic and air formed and fired off at the enemy clusters below. One sphere exploded and send one of the black-clothed men into a pile of steel beams. As he re-emerged from the twisted pile, sparks few from his damaged left arm.
"Cyborgs?!" exclaims Ryoutaro who had been nearby.
"We are NOT cyborgs!"
Ryoutaro cried out as two projectiles exploded against his back. From the far end of the warehouse, a larger figure made his presence known. He was clearly taller then them and...probably not completely human. While it had the legs and mid-section of a human, everything above was something else. It was almost as if a tiger had been attached to a human's legs and made buffer. fingers were tipped by sharp claws to match the large fangs from the mouth. What really stood out, however, was the pair of smoking cannon barrels from its shoulders.
The creature fired again at Evangeline who dodged and charged at the new opponent. She swung her sword at his shoulders, only to have it scoff and grab the blade with its hands. In that moment of surprise, its free hand connected with her stomach to send me staggering back in pain.
"Eva!" cried out Shamsel as he prepared his own attack. "Tuebor, Dividing-"
He gets cut off as another salvo slams into his auto-barrier and send him to the ground. "Restrain them! And get those AMF Generators online!"
With the mages bound and the AMF Generators running at nearly full power, the apparent leader of the operation smirks with his hand on his hips. "Your first mistake was thinking you could take us on. Your second mistake," he remarks as he grabs Ryoutaro by his helmet and tosses him across the room, "was thinking we were mere cyborgs!"
"Just...what are you?" Shamsel manages to get out.
The tiger creature laughs and holds his arms out to his side, "We are the future. The result of Shocker's research and destined to rule over you pitiful people: kaizo-ningen, enhanced humans! Unlike those pitiful cyborgs, we are a perfection of cybernetic and genetic enhancements."
"S-shocker?"
"That's right," he remarks, leaning over Evangeline. "Shocker, Destron, G.O.D., Black Satan. We have many names across many worlds. Many have been...'recruited' to work for us and undergo our enhancement process. Perhaps you would care to join us?" He tilted her head in his hand. "A few implants with an infusion of scorpion DNA and maybe a lovely tail..."
She pulled back and snarled at him. "I'd NEVER join the likes of you!"
"Ha! That's what they all say at first. But they all eventually change their minds in the end. They all come to see our way." He paused for a moment. "But seeing you've stumbled on our little operation here we can't exactly let you leave, now can we? I'm sure you'll all make excellent additions to our forces."
"We'll nenver give in to you!"
"Is that so?" He stepped up to Shamsel and pressed his claw into his forehead. "By the time we're done with you, you'll be working for us and like it, boy. Oh yes, they'll really drill it into that brain of ours."
"Alright you slackers! Let's get a move on here! I want these ready to be shipped out NO-"
The sound of shattering glass and an engine cuts off his orders. All eyes turn up to see a motorcycle flying through the upper windows and skidding to a halt across from them. The rider revs the engine and looks up with the large, red eyes of its helmet. Dark blue gloves, boots, and chest armor lie on top of the full-body black outfit. A fairly oversize belt was strapped to the rider's waist with some strange device in the front with a red turbine of sorts.
"It's the traitor! KILL HIM!"
Several dozen of the black-clad men charge the newcomer. Without a word he hits the gas and charges straight into the oncoming assault. Right before they connect, he leaps off his bike and into the enemy with a flying kick.
"Toh!"
The impact sends the center group flying back and sprawled out across the floor. It quickly changes to a brawls with punches and kicks flying only to have the stranger visibly having the advantage.
"Argh! If you want something done, you do it right yourself!" The kaizo-ningen exclaims as he prepares his cannons.
Another crash comes behind them.
"What the...?"
A second motorcycle speeds in and slams into the tiger-human, sending him to the floor. The rider is almost identical to the first except for being of a more greenish color with red gloves. He hops off his bike and breaks their bonds easily. Before the mages could say anything, he charges and engages the leader.
"I guess they're on our side," absentmindedly states Ryoutaro.
"You mean hope," correctly Evangeline.
"Yea, whatever."
Shamsel steps into the conversation, "Alright you two. Let's take care of the AMF Generators, first."
No arguments were given to the proposed plan as they grabbed their Devices to battle through the remaining goons. On the other side of the warehouse, the two masked men were engaged with the Shocker solider.
"Shocker has no tolerance for traitors! I'll kill you both!" he cried, firing a salvo at the pair.
They rolled to opposite side and leaped in, fists connecting with his chest.
"Ragh! DIE!"
Claws and fists met and countered. Blow after blow was exchanged between the combatants but it was obvious the two masked men had the advantage.
FULL CHARGE
Before he could react, the lance struck his back and immobilized him in the blue field. "Gah!"
"You forgot about us? How mean."
The two groups stared at each other and a silent nod was given. With their target between them, the four masked combatants charged forward. From behind his partners, Shamsel used his affinity to wind to give them a boost as they leaped into the air.
"RIDER...KICK!"
All four kicks impacted, crushing the kaizo-ningen's upper body. The field faded, letting the body slump to the floor before it exploded in a fireball. Ryoutaro backed away from the intense flames. "The hell?"
"It's a safeguard designed to destroy any evidence to keep Shocker hidden," remarked the blue one.
"So I assume it's safe to say you two aren't our enemies?"
The other one nodded, "Very safe."
"I'm Lt. Nagisa of the TSAB along with Lt. Nogami and Lt. Kamishiro."
"You can call me Kamen Rider 1," responded the blue one.
"And Kamen Rider 2," finished the green one.
"Kamen Rider....the Masked Rider project?" asks Evangeline.
"In a way," answers Rider 2. "We were the products of Shocker experimenting with that idea after it was announced along with the others."
Ryoutaro stepped up, "There are others?"
"Ah. On other worlds by other sections of Shocker. Some of us managed to escape from Shocker and we now fight to bring them to an end: V3, Riderman, Stronger, Amazon to name a few."
"So," steps in Shamsel, "you are all like him? A kaizo-ningen?" A simple nod was given as an answer. "If...if Shocker is this big, I'm sure the TSAB would be willing to offer assistance to put them to an end."
Rider 1 shook his head, "Help would be great but not even we know how far Shocker's influence lies. We feel it would be safer for us to work as we are. That way it's harder for them to find us and puts less people in danger."
"I see..."
"If Shocker is there, you can be assured we'll be there to stop them. Just remember, be careful who you talk to. No matter how secure there is always a way in."
Evangeline nods, "So Shocker has eyes and ears in the TSAB..."
"Yes," confirms Rider 2, "But we don't know how far they have infiltrated. They'll soon find out about this and try to keep themselves hidden. So be careful."
"We will."
With a nod, the two Riders hopped on their bikes and sped off from the warehouse.