GammaTron: Well, once again, a new story. This time our first Reiwa Rider!

KamenRiderZER0: The First of the new Japanese Era. Zero-One! Though what should we use for a show about AI and robots...SZ!

SZ: Hmm...Megaman! But not just any Megaman...Megaman X!

GT: Yep. But with a small twist in terms of the timeline. Instead of the hundred years? No sealing. Will be explained in-story, so do not worry.

Z0: It'll all be worth it!

GT: Yep. So on to Disclaimers! We do not own Kamen Rider Zero-One nor the Megaman series. They are owned by their respective owners. Though if we did own Megaman, we'd have Legends 3 and not let it be cancelled nor any of the others!

Z0: *thwacks GT with a shovel to shut him up* Ehehehe...sorry bout that...SZ...SZ pick up the mood while I hide the body!

SZ: Hai! Now…*pulls out a Megabuser and prepares for a Charge Shot*Ikuze!*fires a massive beam at teh screen, breaking it

GT and Z0: *gawk at him being the ruiner of the stage this time*

SZ: What? I can be destructive too.


=The new age of AI technology will bring you to the future…= an announcer voice called out as a screen showed a robotic humanoid being =Reploids, an android built with AI and sentience. With the tech of object recognition, they recognize who I am and act accordingly= the announcer voice continued as a man in a business suit walked out of the shadows, walking near the Reploid before extending his hand towards it =Morning=

=...Good morning, President Korenosuke Hiden= the reploid greeted with a small smile as he accepted the handshake.

=You may be wondering how this is possible. It is thanks to a man of great intelligence. A kind man who wanted to create a machine with a Soul...Doctor Thomas Light= Korenosuke informed as an elderly man with a white fluffy beard, short white hair, a red shirt, brown slacks, and a large lab coat covering it all walked out of the shadows =Good day, Doctor=

=Good day, President Hiden= he replied before offering a hand to the Reploid =Good morning=

=Good morning, Doctor Thomas Light= the Repliod greeted, accepting the doctor's hand with a small smile.

=We here at Hiden Intelligence strive to bring the future to you the people= Korenosuke smiled as he held his hand out as if to hand over something to the people before him, =Now let us rise and chase your dreams!=

=And work on a future...where humans and Reploids can get along as equals= Doctor Thomas Light smiled.

=...And those were the last words of two great men…= a female news announcer sighed sadly, looking at the still image of the two before looking at the viewers =The funeral service of Hiden Intelligence's founders was held this morning to members of the political and economic world. Even the Maverick Hunters, Reploids who help humans and innocent Reploids against the threat of Mavericks, have attended the funeral out of respect for Dr. Light…=

As the announcer spoke, screens displayed upon holographic screens broadcasting from a blimp flying over a city, a figure pedaled as fast as they could. The figure was a young man, possibly in his early twenties, with scraggly brown hair. He was wearing a blue jacket over a red shirt and blue jeans.

"Shoooooooot! I'm laaaate!" the man panicked, "Even with the five alarms I set yesterdaaaay! Get those wheels moving, you biiiiiike!"


KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE: THE X PROTOCOL!


"Late...can't be late!" the man panted, now running through an amusement park, "Morning, Yui!"

"Good Morning," A female Reploid greeted with a nod.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming!" an announcer greeted as the young man ran into the curtains behind the stage, hoping no one would see him, "Put your hands together for the next Comedian in line, and hope you enjoy the show," he said as he moved aside.

"Thank yoooou!" the man from before beamed as he ran through a pair of opened doors, dressed in a bright-blue tuxedo with an oversized red bow, "It's-a me, Aruto!" he quickly pulled out a phone-like device, "Alright, Rise Phone. What's the weather, for crying out cloud?"

=It's gonna rain on your parade= the phone answered

"Ooh~! That's cold!" Aruto winced, shivering a bit before pointing at the crowd, "And that's Aru, folks!" he blinked when he saw no one in the crowd, well save for an elderly couple eating funnel cake together, but they turned their hearing aids off to ignore him so...same thing, "...EH?!"

"You're fired," an older man in a light-blue business suit stated, perfectly calm.

"HUH?!" Aruto freaked, "Ah! W-Wait! Come on, Manager, please give me another chance!"

"As you know, this era is more suited to Reploids," he replied simply.

"Put your hands together for the next Comedian in life, and hope you enjoy the show," the announcer informed before the pair of doors opened, revealing a muscular-looking Reploid in a weight-lighting suit kneeling down...before standing up with a jovial smile.

"Helloooo~!" the Reploid greeted as he ran down the stairs before snapping the straps of his uniform, "I am Abs-cruncher Taro!"

"Ha! As if an AI could get our sense of humor!" a man in the crowd called.

"Hmm...you're right...oh! I know!" Taro gasped before he posed, flexing his muscles as he flexed his abs, causing some panels to fly off and show the metal underneath, "Ab-lib Poweeeeeer!"

The crowd laughed in response at this, clapping at Taro's performance while Aruto just gawked at their response.

"Look at that. Everyone's in joy from laughter," the manager noted as he looked at the crowd, "Making such a lively theme park is my dream."

"...I feel you," Aruto admitted as he reached his hand out for something invisible, "My dream is to get the crowd laughing," he said as he turned...to see the manager walking away, "?!"

"I've got someone who can do that already, so go find another dream."

"Gah!" Aruto gawked at that, becoming stone for a moment before falling to his knees, "So cold…"

"I think it's a good dream."

"Ah! X!" Aruto beamed as he shot up and turned to face a male Reploid.

He had fair skin and sharp emerald eyes. He had short brown hair wearing a simple blue shirt with a sun on the left shoulder and a moon on the right shoulder, a pair of white gloves, white running shoes with blue shoelaces, and a pair of jeans.

"Oh I am so glad to see you, buddy!" Aruto sighed in relief, "Where were you?!"

"Sorry. I had to deal with an important mission...we ended up losing GBD."

"Eh?! GBD's gone?! Aw I liked that guy…" Aruto groaned at that.

"Eh...What you gonna do?" X laughed, "But again, I apologize for being late, Aruto."

"It's fine...though I got some cold flack from your sister this morning for sleeping in," Aruto muttered.

"Least Rico helped cheer you up, right?"

"She did, but only for a quick second before she had to be called for a meeting by the Executive Vice President."

"Eh? For what?"


"A job well done with the President and Dr. Light's funeral, Mr. Executive VP," a female Reploid said as she held a clipboard while looking at man in a business suit with his short hair stylized.

The Reploid looked like a young woman donning a mainly white and blue uniform-like armor, with yellow and orange details. While she looked quite proper and professional, with a necktie, headset and tablet giving her the appearance of a businesswoman, her young looks also gave her a jovial and upbeat aspect. Matching the details of her armor, she had blue eyes and hair, the latter kept tied in a sidetail. She also sported some round glasses with a silver frame.

"...You do not need to address me as VP anymore, Rico," the man replied as he looked at a picture of Dr. Light and Korenosuke, "Show them, Shesta."

"With pleasure," a female Reploid replied as she pressed a button, causing a large painting of the man to lower...right in front of the picture of Korenosuke and Dr. Light.

"At long last...the company is mine," the man smiled.

"...With all due respect, Mr. Executive VP, that is highly disrespectful," Rico frowned a bit, "Especially towards Dr. Light and Aruto's grandfather."

"Relics of the past!" the Executive VP waved off, earning a small scowl from her, "Prepare a board meeting!"

"For the reading of the will, correct?"

"Right right, that formality. As if they could leave the company to anybody else!"

"There is the president's grands-"

"Anybody else!"

"..." Rico rolled her eyes at that as she walked off, taking her glasses off, "Just be happy Roll didn't hear you…"


Elsewhere, in a gated area stood an abandoned area with various wrecked buildings, various wreckage littering the ground with a sign reading 'Daybreak Town' leaning against a nearby building. Within an abandoned warehouse, a few figures could be seen within it, one of them examining something like an excited child. The excited one was clad in a hooded jacket made of a mismatch of dull worn grey and magenta, two black straps across his torso, a pair of black pants with many pockets and pouches, a black sash tied around his waist to hold together two strips of cloth with patterns. A belt kept his attire together with a pink rope belt added just on top of it.

"Hiden's president and Dr. Light are deceased, so we'll now be going into our plan…" one of the figures spoke, "The Maverick uprising that Sigma had started."

He was clad in a in ragged clothing, from the waist down. He wore black hakama with strips of dirty grey and purple cloth hanging from his waist with a black and gold trimmed obi and multiple belts keeping his attire together. His torso was covered in ragged clothing, his black jacket was obscured by a grey ragged shirt like a tunic, his left sleeved was clasped to his shoulder and made of velvet like material, while his right sleeve was covered in multiple belt straps. They had orangish hair which was kept back by a black and purple headband made of rags.

"What's that? How will we do it?" the more childish figure asked as they approached the other.

"...By utilizing the Reploid's singularity," the other figure answered as they looked at a device.

"Hmm? Like the Maverick virus that caused the Maverick Hunters' former leader to go berserk?"

"Not berserk...freed him from the shackles of humanity," he explained as he finished constructing a buckle like device with a slot that looked like it fit a cartridge or key of some kind, "They say once a Reploid goes Maverick, they must be put down. No...it's a sign...a sign that Mavericks are the next stage of Reploids. The sign that the time has come...the time to exterminate humanity...much like this city long ago. Sigma saw this and wanted to help his brethren rise up...but was quelled by the Maverick Hunters. Thankfully...there are those that still follow his beliefs, and one day dream of his return."

"...Huh?"

The other sighed, "Just...Just look out for Reploids with more emotion than normal, alright?"

"Oh...okay!"

"Besides...who could stop us now?"


Elsewhere in a small lab area, a female Reploid sat silently, her eyes closed as she sat near some equipment, which soon sprang to life as it began to construct something. The female Reploid in question was a young woman like Rico with long blond hair with a green hairband with a bow on it on her head. She wore a red business suit with a pair of slacks instead of a skirt. As the machine began using a 3D printer to begin creation of a device and a square shaped device, the headphones on the female Reploid lit up, awakening her and revealing her eyes were a dull cerulean, seemingly lifeless.

"Receiving orders from the BS-ZA," she spoke monotonically as she stood up, "Fulfilling task."


"Seriously, X...Why aren't my riotous jokes getting the crowds to riot?" Aruto asked, moving his bike as he and X walked through a small area, "Is it the timing or something?"

"Maybe. What did you go with?" X asked.

"Rise Phone, what's the weather for crying out loud?"

=It's gonna rain on your parade= the phone answered

"Ooh~! That's cold!" Aruto winced, shivering a bit.

"...Pffft…!" X held back a laugh, wheezing as he slapped a knee in amusement, "Oh...Ohh...That...How does that not cause a laugh riot?"

"I know, right?! I..." Aruto began before a black car drove up near the two, "...Eh?" he blinked before tensing when he saw the female Reploid in red climb out, "R-Roll…"

"Object Recognition confirmed," she replied as she examined him, "Aruto Hiden, 22 years old. He currently exist, identifies as a 'hilarious stand-up comedian,' and is relatively unknown."

"...Savage," Aruto whispered, a dark depressing aura surrounding him as he laid on the ground, "...This is still about me oversleeping through my alarms, isn't it?"

"Uh, hello, Roll…" X greeted.

"X Light, 7 years old. Currently a member of the Maverick Hunters on leave due to previous mission," Roll noted, looking at him, "Both of you, please follow."

"...If it's about three nights ago...that was Aruto."

"EH?! No way! That was your fault, not mine!"

*SMACK! WHAM!*

"Please follow," Roll repeated, lowering the broom she had in her hand as she got back into the vehicle, followed by a grumbling X and Aruto, both sporting large smoking bumps on their heads.


Back inside the Amusement park, another Comedy act was taking a turn on the stage. They seemed to be another hit from the many laughs. Backstage, Taro was sitting down. He reviewed his performance and how the audience reacted. He saw all the smiles he brought to those people. And...it made him...happy. It was...strange. Not something any normal Reploid could explain. It was more than just happy he felt. He really had no way to describe this feeling. He smiled widely at what he felt and hoped to be able to do more of his routine and share how he felt. A beeping snapped him from his thoughts.

"Found you~"

"Eh?" Taro pondered as he stood up and turned...just in time for one of the two figures that had been in the destroyed town slam something on his waist.

It was a strange metal device with a slot on the front of it with five metallic red pipes on the left side, one connecting two to one another on the upper left and one connecting to another on the lower left. A belt emerged from the sides...with spikes on the inside of the belt. They twitched before slamming down hard on his waist and connected to one another while digging right into Taro's body.

"?! G...gah!" Taro cried out in pain, electricity crackling off him.

"You're my friend now…" the figure smiled, "Now...go wreak havoc on this place."

"Gah...n...no...I…." Taro grunted, "I can't…! My job...is to make people laugh!"

=Do it…= a voice echoed within Taro's head, making his eyes flash red for a moment =Those humans...they were laughing at you because they felt you were inferior to them...they felt you were nothing but a joke for their amusement...you are better than this...rise up...rise up and show the humans what happens to those they mock...to those they FEAR!= the voice roared as what looked like a bestial version of the greek symbol Sigma appeared in Taros eyes for a moment.

"G...GAAAAAAAH!" Taro screamed in pain, the memories of people laughing happily fading away as his eyes flashed fully red, "Linked to MetsuboJinraiNetto...Glory to Lord Sigma…"

"...Hai," the figure beamed as he held out a rectangular object to him.

It was black with green sections. It had a bolt for a section to swivel out. It had a strange circular symbol that looked like a mask of some kind. From it a praying mantis image formed on the front with words printed atop it. Berotha Maverick Type: Zetsumetsu. Taro took the object from the figure, gripping it hard in his hand as it shook. That feeling he once held before was long gone. All he cared about now was destruction...and to make the humans who mocked him pay...by showing them the true power of a Maverick..to show them despair in the face of the superior race.


"It is obvious why I gathered you all here today," the Executive VP spoke as he stood before a large crowd of executives in front of a large circular table, Aruto and X being amongst the people there, "To read one of the late Hiden Intelligence's founders, Korenosuke Hiden's will…" he then looked over at Aruto, "I had him come here for this reason, too."

"I had no idea he had a grandson," one of the executives there noted.

"I hear he's technically adopted…" one whispered.

"This is why Grandpa never did take your kids to work day…" Aruto sighed, "I see Mr. Fukuzoe is pushing the other executives around…"

"Why is one of the Maverick Hunters' top agents here?" one asked, noticing X in the room.

"It was part of the arrangement made by Dr. Thomas Light, the other co-founder and Korenosuke's friend," Roll replied as she slipped the will in front of Aruto, "For the purpose of the notarized will, there will not be no problems of legality due to your absence. Hiden Korenosuke-san requested you would be the one to read his will aloud."

"Jeeze, Grandpa. Way to make sure I came to something of a downer like this…" Aruto sweatdropped as Roll walked out.

"Heh...Well don't worry. It's obvious they left the company and role of president to me. He probably left the kid some inheritance money or something..." the Executive VP Jun Fukuzoe smirked, ego heavy in his voice, Aruto looked at how he was dressed taking it as a jab to his fashion, "So go ahead...read it.'

"Sir, please," Rico sighed, glasses on once more, before looking to Aruto as he opened the will.

"...Eh?" Aruto whispered in surprise as he read the will, "You're kidding…?"

"Aruto?" X blinked as he looked over a bit, "?! S...sona…"

"What? What's wrong?" Fukuzoe asked as he shot up and grabbed the will from Aruto, "Give it here!"

"Sir, please calm down," Rico sighed.

"I am calm!" he snapped before Rico took the will, "Oi!"

"Permission to take your role in reading this, Mr. Hiden?" Rico requested.

"Uh...Yeah, sure," Aruto replied, his eyes wide in shock still.

"Thank you, Mr. Hiden," Rico thanked before looking at the will, "Ahem. 'In the near future, our company will face a serious crisis.'"

"Crisis? What does it mean?" a member of the board asked.

"'The Reploids that our company is making will be misused and attack humanity on a scale greater than Dr. Wily's attempts several years back,'" Rico continued to read.

"He's a little late on that…" another whispered, earning a shush from X while Roll came in with a black case.

"'There is only one countermeasure: The Zero-One Driver and Progrise Key,'" Rico read on.

Roll came to the desk and stood beside Aruto before placing the case on the table. She unlocked it before spinning it around and opening it up to show everyone what laid within. The device within was a Buckle of sorts. It was mostly black in color with a red arrow pointing to the left anatomically speaking. A silver arrow linked to a yellow half circle was in the center and seemed to be meant to slide along a track to cover the red section. A yellow circuit on the right side formed a rectangular scanner section.

"'Built into it is the new era's security system in order for human hands to take control of the Maverick threat, and assist my friend Thomas' creation, Megaman X. Only the company's president is authorized to use it,'" Rico continued on as Fukuzoe gained a confident grin, "'I have discussed it with Thomas and we both agree that my successor whom we entrust is my grandson, Aruto Hiden.'...Eh?!"

"Thank you. I will do this with the best of m-WAIT, WHAT!?" Fukuzoe exclaimed once that last part finally caught up to him.

"Me…" Aruto spoke finally.

"Aruto?!" X gawked.

The board let out exclamations of shock before everyone flinched the moment Roll slammed the butt of a broom on the floor...a broom she did not have a moment before. Roll tapped a small little addendum in the bottom corner for Rico to read as well.

"Oh. H-hai…'By the way...The Zero-One Driver is keyed to Aruto's DNA...and the CEO can only be recognized upon my death if they have the Zero-One Driver.' ...Sugoi...It's like he expected shenanigans," Rico giggled before Roll tapped another part, "Oh. Uh, hai. 'I want him to become part of the staff, and overcome the company's crisis alongside X Light. That is all.'" Roll turned the paper over, "'PS: Please don't tell my remains that Fukuzoe wore that weird outfit I saw him receive before my last hospital visit in June for the will reading. I'm worried I'd come back just to force him out of it and put on his normal suit.'"

"THIS IS LUDICROUS!" Fukuzoe snapped as he shot up, "He's treating this company like a family business!"

"It is a family business, sir," Rico noted.

"You be quiet."

"..." Rico leaned over to X and whispered, "Do you think we should tell the president's body that he is wearing that outfit just to see if it does happen?"

"I don't think the Board can handle too many shocks...Let's not bring in potential zombies…" X whispered back, "Also...I'm taking pictures…" he added, slowly raising up a phone which took another picture without his notice, "I'm hoping it Meme's."

With a delayed reaction, the board proceeded to start standing up and arguing. Rico hid behind X while Roll merely stood in place, unflinching at the loud shouting matches going on.

"It's like the Christmas party from when I was 15…" Aruto muttered, "Only no one is using the Christmas tree like a jousting lance…" he took a deep breath as he prepared for what he was about to say, "Calm down, everyone!"

"?" the board blinked as they turned their attention towards him.

"Yeah...there's no way I can be president," Aruto admitted, "My dream is to get a laugh outta people. So...thank you for your time," he bowed as he stood up, grabbing his duffle bag as he walked out.

"H...b...h...i...w...f…z…." Fukuzoe sputtered in both disbelief and anger.

"Oh dear...he blew a fuse again," Rico whispered.

"Ah...Call his personal doctor!" X panicked as he began messaging his face, "Calm thoughts, sir...we can't lose another Board member in the same week!"

"Get off me!" he snapped, making X jump back, "I...I mean! Yes...that's right! He made the wise choice!"

"But...the Will says that until he becomes the CEO...no one can take his place," X argued, making him twitch again, "Ah…" he realized his mistake.

"Yes, but he turned it down, so I get to take his place! So ha! Suck it, you old f-"

*CLANG!*

"Soda floats…" Fukuzoe slurred as he fell to the floor, a steaming bump on his head as Roll lowered her broom as the board hid under the table to avoid that fate.

"...Do...do we take him to a Doctor Doctor for the head trauma or Psychiatrist Doctor for his mental break?" X asked Rico.

"MmmMmm…" she shrugged.


Aruto sighed as he rode the main elevator back down. As he did, he thought back to his life as a child around the many buildings of business which belonged to his family. And...well...his Family in general. His grandfather was a great man, kind of a workaholic. But that was also his charm, he'd work for hours making sure all his employees were treated right, and what Aruto liked most was how his Grandfather would be there...to be the first face every new Reploid saw the moment they were 'Born'. There was also his father.


-Flashback-

"Let's do a staring contest!" a little boy dressed in a blue hoodie and khaki pants cheered as he slapped his hands to his face and pulled down to make a silly face, "Boooooo~" he muttered earning a laugh from the man in front of him.

The man wore black pants, with white biking boots. He had a navy blue leather jacket covering his torso covering his black shirt. The man smiled as he crouched down revealing he had a pair of white headphones over his ears, blue lights glowing from them.

"Your funny, Aruto." he smiled happily and proudly.

"Let's do it again!" little Aruto demanded, "You're not laughing from the heart!"

"The result will always be the same," the Reploid man replied.

"I promise, I'll make you laugh for real, Otou-san!" Aruto cheered, accepting it as a challenge, revealing this Reploid to be his 'Father.'

However, the moment of joy was not meant to last. The young Aruto blinked as he heard the sounds of explosions. He turned his head just in time to see a large burst of blue flames come towards him and his Father. Then...it all went dark for a moment. The next thing the poor boy knew, he was waking up on the ground...confused, in slight pain as if he had fallen and scared after what happened. Aruto's eyes widened as he looked up and saw his Father...had used his body as a shield to protect him. His clothing was torn and burnt...the synthetic skin covering his face damaged and peeling away to reveal the robotic endoskeleton. Blue coolant which ran through his body leaked from the heavily damaged areas. To many, this might not be as frightening as it would to see a human take this level of damage...but to Aruto, this was still his father...the horror was just the same.

"Aruto…Head towards your dreams...Jump to them…" was his father's last words as he closed his eyes, letting out his final breath as he laid there motionless.

-end-


Aruto shook his head as he returned to the present just in time to exit into the Main Lobby. He looked as several Reploid workers began removing Fukuzoe's distasteful giant portrait from the wall so people could see the one of Aruto's grandfather and Dr. Light. Some of the Reploids looked at the giant portrait and began talking amongst themselves on what to do with it. Finally they decided to chuck it out back into the garbage. Aruto would almost laugh if he didn't consider the potential anger it would incite.

"...My dream…" Aruto whispered, going back to what he was previously thinking before as he looked up at the portrait of his grandfather and Dr. Light, "...Sorry, gramps...doc."


"Everyone loses their rulers when they graduate elementary school," One half of the comedy duo at the amusement park stated as they stood before the crowd once more.

"It happens," the other half noted as he pulled a ruler out, "Need one?"

"Why~?!"

The crowd laughed and cheered on the due as Aruto walked into the area, watching on before he noticed the manager was in the crowd. He began to approach him before stopping, recalling the words the manager said to him before...how this era seemed more suited for Reploids, that he already had someone to help bring in the laughs.

"...Maybe he's right…" Aruto whispered as he turned and began to walk away, "I…"

"Gah! P-please let me go!"

"?!" Aruto quickly turned to see Taro manhandling one of the stagehands before tossing him away, "Nande?!"

"My job is to make humans laugh…" Taro stated as he walked down the steps, the crowd looking on in confusion and worry at his tone, "...And to annihilate them for mocking me!" he declared as he pulled out the object the figure had given him and pressed something on it.

=̴͟͞B͘͞ÉR̸͜O̡T̸HA̷̛=͏̢͝

Taro slid the object into the belt-like device on his waist, causing red tubes to pop out as they injected into the object. He began to roar out as his skin began to melt, exposing the robotic exoskeleton underneath.

=̷͜҉Z̵͜ETŚ̴͢U̴̢҉M͏E̵̢҉R̶͝I̸̛͞SE!̷=

His roars increased into screams of utter rage and pain as green pipes erupted from his mouth and engulfed him, impaling him and going through multiple parts of his body. Once he was fully covered, the pipes glowed with a dark red energy before vanishing. In place of Taro stood a humanoid figure. The new figure was clad in all black body armor, with silver armor plates on its shoulders, center of its chest and waist. Green energy pipes ran up its legs and arms, with several more pipes forming a ribcage pattern on its torso. It's forearms had green metal armor which acted as holders for large scythe like blades which unfolded into the Robots hands as weapons. Its head was now larger and resembled the head of a praying mantis, with two large lime green optics poking out of the side now and a pointed mouth guard resembling the mandible of a mantis.

"?! M...Maverick…" Aruto whispered with wide eyes.

"I...I am...Cutter Berotha...and my mission...to slaughter all humans…!" the now Cutter Berotha growled out.

"T...Taro...h-he went Maverick!" one human screamed as the crowd began to run away just as two stage hands tried to stop the transformed Taro.

"Please leave them al-kya!" one of the stagehands began before Cutter Berotha knocked her and the other stagehand aside.

"All of you too...Join our cause!" he shouted, holding his hands up as tendrils shot out and began seeking out Reploids before stabbing into them, making them all cry out in pain, "Uploading to MetsuboJinraiNetto verified...begin download Trilobite data!"

The two stagehands that had been stabbed glowed red before their outer layers and clothes burned away, revealing their robotic forms. Their faces split open before white and gunmetal armor formed on their bodies with the last of it being a gunmetal layered mask that had no openings to it.

"Now...slaughter them for our master!" Cutter Berotha ordered.

The new Trilobite Mavericks held their hands out as machine guns formed from their arms. They raised them up and began shooting into the air to scare the humans further.

"Wh...what's going on…?" the manger whispered in disbelief, "Why...I...I thought the Maverick threat was dealt with…"

"...St-stop!" Aruto shouted, running up to Cutter Berotha before he could grab another human, "Please! Stop th-"

"Get off me, ningen!" Cutter Berotha snapped as he threw Aruto off him, sending him crashing into a sign and a few tables.

"Gah...X…."


=X. This is Alia...do you come in?= a voice spoke from X's phone just as he stepped outside with Roll and Rico, the former holding the case and the latter carrying a grocery bag.

"Eh?" X blinked as he answered, "What's wrong?"

=A Maverick signal was just detected at Giggle Dreamland=

"?! What…?" X whispered with wide eyes, "...Are they…?"

=It is unknown if they work under the stragglers of his army, but they are harming humans and infecting other Reploids with the Maverick Virus=

"?!" X's eyes widened in horror at that, "Someone ...found a way to spread the virus…" his eyes narrowed, "I'll be right there."

=Please do...A.I.M.S was seen heading to the same area the Maverick was sighted=

"Roger," X nodded as he hung up.

"...New Navigator?" Rico asked.

"She recently joined after Nana was transferred to another base," X explained.

"Eh…" Rico replied in a somewhat teasing tone.

"Stop it," X quickly replied.

"I didn't do anything…" she pouted.

"You were thinking it…" X pointed.

"..." Rico leaned to Roll and whispered, "I'm scared. He reads minds."

"I do not read minds…" X groaned.

"He did it again!" Rico panicked, hiding behind Roll...who simply stood there and simply blinked.

"I'm...I'm just gonna go…" X groaned tapping his phone a few times, "Zea, lock on to my location!"

At that, a blue light shone down from the sky suddenly. X sighed before jumping into the light as his body was now covered in blue body armor. X sighed before looking around.

"Uhm...Zea...my bike…"

=Apologies, Megaman X...your bike has not been reloaded into my launching bay after last deployment= a female voice replied from his phone.

"Wait, what? But I asked...ARUTO!" X shouted.

"I told you not to lend it to him…" Rico replied.

"Ah…" X groaned as he began jogging at inhuman speeds...or rather just amazing speeds.

"Wait...Isn't that the place Aruto use to work?" Rico remembered she then looked at Roll who was giving her a look, "Oh no…" she realized.


A series of armored vans drove up to Giggle Dreamland as the backs opened letting human soldiers dressed in black and blue uniforms with kevlar body armor. They wore metal helmets which helped improve their aim, each carried a combat rifle that had blue glowing lines along them. The letters A.I.M.S. painted over a metallic skull decorated their uniforms, vehicles and weapons.

"We've arrived at Giggle Dreamland, authorize the use of EMP Bullets?" One Soldier began as a man who chose to forsake the helmet stepped out.

"Authorised," he spoke as the wind blew through his messy black hair.

They all loaded blue ammo cartridges into their rifles before aiming and shooting at several Trilobite Mavericks. The bullets impacted with blue sparks that caused their bodies to spasm and freeze. Many of the human civilians began running as the soldiers continued unloading clip after clip on the Mavericks.

After a few more shots that stopped the Mavericks in their tracks, a woman in a business suit wearing a kevlar vest walked out. She had long black hair she brushed back as she took a look at the situation.

"Remember, we need to capture and study research specimens." she spoke to the team Captain, "So be sure to-"

"Eliminate them all," he ordered, loading in a new clip as he unleashed powerful armor piercing rounds that tore through the Maverick's armor and vital components.

"Shoot after I finish!" she snapped at him.


Aruto groaned while pushing himself up, his jacket lost. Having finally regained consciousness, he awoke to what he could describe as a war zone. He could hear gunshots all throughout the park. Cries of terror and confusion as people continued to run from the Mavericks.

"Why's this happening?" Aruto gasped before spotting the manager, staring at the devastation in shock and grief.

"My...amusement park…" he sobbed out.

'Everyone's in joy from laughter.' his voice rang in Aruto's head from earlier today, 'Making such a lively amusement park is my dream.'

"Slaughter!" Cutter Berotha spoke, walking up to the Manager while raising a hand, letting the blade on it extend.

"Manager!" Aruto panicked as he rushed and wrapped his arms around the Maverick to stop him from attacking the distraught man. However, the Maverick's strength let him easily bat Aruto away...yet a barrage of blue-tinted plasma shots were not what Cutter Berotha expected to be hit with and knocked away from the impacts into a wall.

"Maverick found," X noted, his right arm/hand replaced with a bulky blue and black blaster as Rico helped up Aruto while Roll walked over casually, still carrying the case.

"Aruto," Roll greeted before producing a tissue and placed it on his split lip from the Maverick's hit.

"Minna…" Aruto spoke.

"My...my dream…" the manager spoke, getting everyone's attention once more, he then gagged as Cutter Berotha grabbed him and lifted him up, quickly moving him between X and himself and making the Maverick Hunter tense.

"A future where humans have dreams will never come!" he taunted, bringing the Manager close to his face, "Ahahahahaha!"

Aruto's eyes widened at hearing his laughter. His memories of his father's death flashed in his mind.

"Let him go!" X demanded.

"Ahahahaha! Let him go...why? His silly dream is dead...what point is there in his even being alive!?" Cutter Berotha laughed more.

"Don't laugh!" Aruto's voice snapped, making the Maverick freeze and turn to glare at him, "Don't you dare laugh at someone's dream...when you know nothing about it!"

"Aruto…" X and Rico spoke.

"..." Cutter Berotha tossed the manager to X, forcing the blue-armored fighter to catch him, "I do understand. 'Dream' is a word for expression for future goals and de…"

"People's dreams...!" Aruto interrupted, "They aren't so simple that you can just look them up!" he quickly turned towards Roll, "Hey! With that Driver, I can do something about all this right?"

"Correct," Roll replied, "It is available to only the company's presi…"

"Whatever, just give it to me!"

"Very well," Roll replied as she walked up to him and opened the case to him, letting Aruto pull out the Driver and Progrise Key, "Please equip the Zero-One Driver to your waist. Then, activate the Progrise Key using the Rise Starter and pass it over the Authoriser, open the Progrise Key, and then insert into the Rise Slot, where the Rise Port will proceed to read the Progrise Key's data."

"Got it!"

"Aruto...if you do this, then your dream...You might n-" X began.

"How can I fulfill my dream...when there are Mavericks out there that seek out to destroy other people's dreams?!" Aruto snapped, glaring at Cutter Berotha as he reeled his bladed arms back while Aruto slapped the Zero-One Driver onto his waist, causing a silver belt to form and wrap around his waist, connecting together with a yellow circular connection on the back.

=ZERO-ONE DRIVER=

As soon as that was said, Aruto flinched as he looked up. His eyes widened as he felt something he himself could not explain. However it was rather simple, the Zero-One Driver was easily among the world's most advanced innovations in Artificial Intelligence research. In that it allowed even the human mind to become as fast as a Smart A.I.

Aruto blinked, now somehow inside of a white void with data floating around.

"Where am I?" he blinked confused, "Oh no...did I die?"

A giggle went off at that, "Nope. You're very much alive, Aruto-kun."

"Eh?" Aruto spun around to see Roll, wearing a red sundress over a white blouse, her cerulean eyes lit up and full of life, "Roll?"

"Right now, your mind is inside of our company's BS-ZA cerebro, or Zea" Roll explained, "Because you put on the Zero-One Driver, your brain is now accessing the satellite."

"..."

"...Is everything okay?"

"Are you sure you're Roll?"

*WHACK!*

"Yep, you're her…" Aruto groaned, rubbing the large bump on his head as Roll pouted while lowering her broom.

"Mou! Baka-Aruto!" she pouted before sighing, "Well...Because you now access the satellite, your brain now moves as fast as an AI's brain." she waved a hand before them and the white area changed to the amusement park...where a slumped Aruto was standing there as the Maverick was, in slow motion, charging up an attack while X had been jumped by a Trilobite Maverick in slow motion, "See? You've got about five seconds real time before you're dead."

"Eh?!" he gawked, "What do I do then? It's not like I can just run Tutorial Mode in five seconds…"

"Of course you can't!" Roll agreed as the world changed back to the white one with floating ones and zeroes, "But since you're thinking as fast as an AI now, you can do the tutorial in three seconds real time, several weeks AI time."

"Eh…" he blinked as an array of screens with various options appeared before him, "Ah! Now I get it!"

"Yep! Here's to a nice learning experience!" Roll cheered.

"...Can you not do that? It's creepy after you've been all no-mood."

*WHACK!*

=You deserved that= Zea replied.

"Ow…"


The A.I.M.S. soldiers grunted as they continued shooting at the Trilobite Mavericks. But they seemed to be multiplying via the Amusement Park staff at unbelievable speeds. And it was beginning to overwhelm them. Many of them had long run out of ammo and were knocked out or forced to retreat. Their Captain, however, seemed to be the one most unwilling to retreat.

He grunted, slamming the butt of his rifle into a Maverick and cracking its mask. It turned around only to be shot point blank to the chest making it stumble back. He twisted his rifle and ejected his empty clip and reached for his next reload...but realized he already ran out.

"Captain Fuwa...They just keep coming…" one soldier spoke, helping another move back.

"Screw it...Move back; I've got an idea," Fuwa ordered as he flipped his rifle around and used it as a club to bash another MAverick across the face.

The woman from before aimed from behind cover as she shot at the Mavericks. She looked around before spotting Fuwa rush past her and back to their van transport. She realized what he was after and ran after him. Fuwa entered the van to find a small box with a breakable glass cover. Inside was a blue and black pistol like weapon. He broke the glass and pulled the gun out as he dusted the bits of glass off.

"Guess it's time to finally use this thing," Fuwa muttered as he picked it up.

"Wait, Fuwa! You don't have my permission t-" the woman began before Fuwa fired a shot, nearly grazing her cheek as it shot a Maverick square in the face, "?!"

The Maverick fell over as its mask was destroyed along with a portion of its head. Fuwa jumped out as he looked over the gun one more time.

"This thing's much better." he mused, as he pushed the woman out of his way, "Move it," he spoke, running back to his men as he began shooting at the Mavericks.

"...Mmm…" the woman frowned in slight annoyance, "This is going into his monthly report...again."


"Ha!" X shouted, firing a few shots as he dodged Cutter Berotha's cutting waves.

"You...you're the one who cut my master down!" Cutter Berotha shouted.

"Master?" X asked, confused for a moment before realizing, "Wait...you don't mean…"

"I do...A servant of his has awoken me from my shackles of enslavement! Now no human will ever mock me again!"

"Mock you…?" X repeated before tapping the side of his helmet, "Alia, I need you to do a search on employees for the Amusement Park the Maverick is in."

=Checking now...eh? This is...Someone's trying to block me=

"What?" X blinked, 'Is someone trying to hack into the Maverick Hunter base?'

"Mmm...Hold on," Rico spoke as she tapped something on her Tablet, "I got it...oh...oh dear. X...the Maverick in question was Taro, one of the actors for the park's comedy show."

=...How did she…= Alia began.

"I've studied under Navigation," Rico answered, "Seems today was his first day working...as a comedian."

"Wait. Taro?! I saw his show with Aruto," X noted, "But...why would he suddenly go Maverick? He looked to be enjoying making people laugh...unless…" his eyes widened, "Someone forcibly injected the Maverick Virus into him...Alia. I need you to do a quick sweep of the area for anyone suspicious."

"Oh, I already have the security camera feeds," Rico noted, "Sending a connection."

=Wow. That girl's good= Alia noted =There's someone on the roller coaster rails watching your area=

"Got it. I'll…"

"Learning complete," Aruto spoke as he rose his head up.

"Chance!" the Maverick shouted as he swung his blades at Aruto while Roll calmly walked away from Aruto as the young man clicked the button on the Progrise Key.

=JUMP!=

Aruto quickly moved the Progrise key to his Zero-One Driver and scanned it on the right side. A yellow light flashed from both the Key and the Driver.

=AUTHORIZE!=

The Satellite Zea received this signal as it aimed itself. Once locking onto the signal, it fired a yellow beam which tore through the clouds. The beam hit the ground, making everyone flinch. The projectile slash from the Maverick were blocked by a giant metallic...Grasshopper. It chirped before it began jumping around Aruto in tune with the music track playing on loop from his belt.

Aruto moved his arms around in a circle as a digital frame formed from the Belt. It formed the design of a bodysuit as it lined up in front of him. Aruto swung his arms down as he moved his right arm to the side and pushed with his thumb on the Progrise Key flipping it open more of a conventional key shape.

"Henshin!" he declared before slotting and pushing the Progrise Key into the Driver.

As he did, the silver arrow moved down as the yellow half circle moved to reveal another half circle. The two halves formed a single circle surrounding a pure white center with a small window in the very center. The tip of the key lined up to show the profile image of a Grasshopper's head.

=PROGRISE!=

With that, the Grasshopper jumped over Aruto before it disconnected into multiple parts that lined up around him. At the same time the digital frame washed over Aruto covering in in a digital wireframe. It began to fill in becoming a black armored bodysuit with red lines along various places. His head covered in an all black helmet with a silver mask that looked like the face of an unfinished robot. The Grasshopper parts began firing yellow beams of data that resembled a DNA helix. The lights filled in yellow armor on his torso, back, thighs, shins, and boots. Finally a yellow mask somewhat resembling a grasshopper covered his face, it had two long antenna and two angled Red compound eyes. He was also now holding a black Attache case with a yellow stripe going through it.

=JUMP TO-BIA GA RISE! RISING HOPPER~! A jump to the sky turns to a Rider Kick...

"Who are you supposed to be!?" Cutting Berotha demanded.

"Kamen Rider…" Aruto began as he handed the case to a calm Roll, "...Kamen Rider Zero-One." he quickly spun around on the heels of his feet as he struck a pose with his arms crossed, "That's my name!"

"Zero-One…" X spoke in awe.

=X! Remember? The person watching you on the roller coaster?= Alia demanded.

"Oh, right. Right."

"He's forgetful, isn't he?" Rico asked.

"Hey…"

=He is=

"Why are all the girls I meet…"

=Don't even finish that," Alia and Rico growled.

"Ikuzo!" Zero-One shouted, holding his hands up like claws before he took off running. Everyone blinked at his speed as he cleared the distance between himself and Cutter Berotha in mere seconds. Zero-One raised his arm and blocked the Maverick's swing before punching him in the chest, sending him stumbling back as his chest armor dented from the force of the Rider's punch.

"..." X quickly shook his head from the awe, "Aruto, that Maverick...it's Taro! Someone had infected him with the Maverick Virus!"

"Oh, good! I wanted to vent on him!"

"...Huh?"

"How is breaking your abs funny?!" Zero-One demanded, punching Cutter Berotha once more before punting him in the behind with a kick, "And that pun was horrible even for me!"

"Doesn't that seem kinda petty to be taking out your frustrations over his taking your job?" Rico argued.

"I am a simple man!" Zero-One spoke, slamming a kick to Cutter Berotha to the chest, sending him skidding back across the ground as his chest armor began cracking from the force behind his kick.

"...N-Nevermind! I'll go search for the person who infected him!" X stated as he ran off, "You keep him distracted! Rico, you and Roll find someplace to hide!"

"Got it!" Rico replied with a salute before going off with a calmly following Roll.

"HA!" Zero-One shouted, kicking Cutter Berotha's next swing away. He punched the Maverick again making him stumble back, the Rider jumped as he landed another kick to the Maverick's head.

Cutter Berotha roared swinging down with both of his blades only for Zero-One to block his arms. The two grunted wrestling around. Zero-One jumped back just as the Maverick, the two growled as Zero-One continued blocking and deflecting all of Cutter Berotha's swings. Cutter Berotha growled as he spun and swung low at Zero-One's legs only for him to jump over the attack. The Maverick blinked when the Kamen Rider never came back down. He looked up and gawked as Zero-One stood on the highest point of the Roller Coaster.

"EH!?" Zero-One blinked looking down, he then lifted his leg up, "The Leg power is legit!" he cheered rubbing his leg to accentuate his point.

Cutter Berotha roared as he unleashed a powerful beam of energy from his mantis eyes. Zero-One jumped down and let gravity bring him down right into the path of the beam. Zero-One crossed his arms and let the beam wash over his armor with almost no harm. The Maverick cut off his beam in shock as Zero-One reared his hand back and slammed another punch which sent him flying back and tumbling into some debris. Nearby, X ran along the outside of the coaster, looking for the figure Aila talked about before hearing the manager scream. He spun around to see two Trilobite Mavericks approaching the frightened man. He charged in and fired off several shots that struck the Mavericks and broke off parts of their armor, startling the manager. The two spun around to face X in time for X to reach onto a white bar on his hip before pulling it off and swung it...letting a green plasma blade emerge and slice the Maverick on the left with it.

"Wait...Isn't that…?" Zero-One began when he noticed the weapon after punting the main Maverick away again.

"Just focus on the Maverick!" X shouted as he slashed back another Trilobite Maverick, 'I can't tell Aruto...not...no. Zero...please give me the power to fight!'

"Hai!" Zero-One spoke as he skipped over and cleared a great distance to join X. He grunted swinging a kick that struck two of the Trilobite Mavericks, "Guess Zero had a copy made for you...mou~! I wish I had a weapon right now!"

"Aruto!"

"Eh?" Zero-One turned in time before a black and yellow briefcase like object smacked right into him and knocked him over, "Gah! Ite~!"

"Oh! S-sorry…" Rico winced.

"...I'm good!" Zero-One shot up as he gave a thumbs up. He then quickly picked up the item Rico had tossed him, "Alright! Weapon Time!...Uh...how do I use it?"

"You skipped that part of the tutorial," Roll stated.

"I didn't realize there was a weapon 'till I finished the basic hand to hand combat!"

"No excuse," Roll stated once more.

"Ah mou~! First you're stoic, then you're peppy happy pep in the satellite, now you're stoic again! Make up your mind!" Zero-One argued, swinging the case-carrying arm up and smacking a Trillobite Maverick in the face by accident and knocking it flat on its back with the mask broken.

"The attache you have doubles as a sword," Roll informed.

"Sword?" he looked at it, "Ooh...a button." he tapped a yellow button as the entire thing swung open along the yellow line and unfolded into a sword, "I knew touching buttons would save my life one day!"

=BLADE RISE!=

Another Maverick ran up and the two began to open fire at Zero-One, who began to block with his sword's flat side. He charged in and delivered several slashes to the two before spinning around and slashing both at once, knocking them over as they shorted out. Cutting Berotha roared as he charged at Zero-One, whom turned as the two began to fight, swiping and slashing at one another. Laughter made X look up to see the one who had infected Taro watching them, laughing and jumping in place.

"Get 'em! Get 'em!"

=That's the guy!= Alia called.

"Roger," X nodded before jumping up towards him, "Hold it!"

"Huh?" the man blinked looking up in confusion, "Omae wa…" he muttered, trying to think of the answer, "No, no...I got it…"

"...Whoever you are, y-" X began before a damaged Trilobite Maverick tried to strike them from behind, only for the man to grab him and held a gun up to its head.

"A-a-a lost child has been r-"

*BANG!*

"?!" X's eyes widened in horror upon seeing that, seeing how coldly the man had destroyed that Maverick as its lifeless body fell to the ground...all while giving an insane laugh while sporting that smile, "...Who are you?"

"Boku wa Jin!" he smiled happily as if he didn't just do what he did, "And you're Megaman X! Ahahaha! This is so fun! Horobi told me I'd run into you!"

"Horobi…?" X repeated before narrowing his eyes, aiming his X Buster at him, "Are you a member of his army?!"

"His?" he asked confused as he crouched down, "His...his...Horobi's…" he muttered, "I don't know!" he laughed in child like glee.

"...Then answer me this. Why did you infect Taro?!"

"Hmm? Oh, that Reploid? Well...needed more playmates, and...Horobi mentioned something about freeing him from the shackles of humanity or something..I was half-paying attention at the time," Jin admitted, "He's boring when he talks like that for a lot."

"...So you purposely infected him with the Maverick Virus…" X surmised with a frown.

"Exactly!" Jin cheered, "It's fun, isn't it?"

"Fun? How is any of this fun?!" X demanded, swinging an arm out at the destruction.

"Well it's really different than yesterday!" Jin replied with a smile, "A very fast change, ne? It's so cool how one change can lead to a lot of changes!" he added with a smile that was...far too innocent for what he was saying, it was as if he was a child who truly believes what he did was okay, "Oh, look at that!"

Cutter Berotha roared as he swung his arms, sending out several energy slashes at Zero-One. Several hit cars and even a bus, sending them at Zero-One along with the slashes. Zero-One backflipped over two slashes that exploded behind him as he landed. Yellow trails of light followed his leap towards the oncoming blades and vehicles. He jumped over two slashes before landing and caving in the hood of a silver car before jumping and letting two more slashes destroy it. Backflipping over three more, he crushed the top of a black car before going through the window of the bus. Jumping around, he dodged several more slashes. His foot hit an emergency stop and he jumped out the back window.

=Stopping requested= the bus' programming said before the bus crashed into the ground and exploded.

Cutter Berotha prepared to unleash another series of cutting waves, only for Zero-One to land before him and deliver a punch to his chest, sending him staggering back as electricity crackled off him.

"The only person who can stop you...is me!" Zero-One declared before pushing in on the Progrise Key in his Driver.

=RISING IMPACT!=

Energy surged to his leg as he pushed and ran forward at amazing speeds. Cutter Berotha was unable to track Zero-One at the speeds he was running. Zero-One skid to a stop in front of the Maverick before swinging his leg as a grasshopper head formed on his foot just as he impacted the kick to the Maverick's chest sending him flying high into the air. Zero-One jumped clearing the distance between himself and Cutter Berotha once more, he swung a downward kick which sent the Maverick falling back down to the ground. Zero-One grunted kicking both his legs back as energy surged around his legs, the act propelling him downward as well. Zero-One flipped around as he kicked his right leg out as a projection of a Grasshopper head with its mandibles open formed around his foot. With a roar, he slammed his right foot into the Maverick and tore right through his body.

=RISING IMPACT!=

Zero-One continued on as he passed through the remains of the Maverick. His eyes flashed as he flew forward and skid across the ground, the force digging a ditch into the concrete. Zero-One prepped his legs to stop...only for him to roll and twist his right ankle...sending himself tripping head over heels and slamming into the Merry-Go-Round.

"Gah-Ah-Oof-Eee!" Zero-One cried as he was buried under rubble, "Tha-...that's my stop…" he pushed a giant slab of concrete off his body before groaning and falling over.

"Aruto…." X sighed, turning back around to face Jin...only to tense when he saw that he was no longer there, "...Alia, d-"

=I lost track of his signal= Alia replied

"...Rats," X frowned before noticing the AIMS soldiers taking down the remaining Trilobite Mavericks.

"Looks like we'll be busy," the woman of the group whispered before Fuwa stomped down on a downed Maverick, aiming his gun down at it.

"...History is repeating itself…" Fuwa frowned before noticing X, "..."

"...Oh, not you again…" X sighed before quickly dodging several shots fired by Fuwa, "Maverick janai!"

"Fuwa!" the woman snapped.

Fuwa refused to lower his gun as he glared at him. After much tension he lowered his gun and walked away, "Pack it up. We're done here." he ordered.

"Yes sir!" the soldiers saluted.


"Zero-One?" Horobi repeated as he took the broken Berotha Key.

"Seems like the previous president didn't simply die, huh?" Jin said as Horobi slotted the Key into a device, "He even had Megaman X on his side.

"...that is a light problem yes. But either way...the day humanity becomes extinct draws near," Horobi stated before pressing something on the keyboard, causing three windows to pop up on the screen before him, revealing three shadowed figures, "I take you three saw the Maverick Hunter in action?"

=Yes...ze one known as Megaman X= one of the figures replied, a bit of a German accent in their voice.

=Those who had underestimated him in the past are now dead= the bulky of the three figures added.

=Hai...but we won't make the same mistake= the tallest of the three added with a chuckle =He is powerful, but he is blind to what is happening around him=

"Good." Horobi spoke, "He is a bit of a problem given his unique construction. But...that's why you three exist. Zero-One...he serves a different purpose. If he gets in your way, take him down...but not out. He is...useful." he smirked.

=Will do...and do not worry. Our Mavericks will keep zem busy long enough until we are ready for ze plan= the German one replied.

=Yes...the search for the parts= the tall figure added =The first three should be easy to find, but the chip? That will be a problem=

=Most likely the Maverick Hunters or those humans in Hiden Intelligence have it hidden= the bulky one stated.

=We'll cross zat bridge when we come to it= the German one assured =And we hope you vill assist us in zis, Horobi...=

"Of course." Horobi smirked, "It is in both our best interests that we succeed." he smiled, "After all..it is his will."

=Yes...Our lord's will…=


"Booyah! I was so cool!" Aruto beamed as he walked alongside Roll, Rico, and X outside the park, the Maverick hunter of the four out of his armor and back in his regular attire, "X, you saw me right?! I kicked butt!"

"Yes. You did. Not bad for your first day."

"Heh heh," Aruto gave a toothy smile at that.

"We'll escort you home, President Aruto," Roll spoke.

"...President?" Aruto repeated as he stopped and looked at her.

"Well...the moment you put the Zero-One Driver on, you ended up agreeing to be the company's president," Rico pointed out.

"Ah that's right!" Aruto realized, "Ah…" he realized who he'd have to deal with, "W-wait! That was different! It was a spur of the moment thing..."

"But Aruto. If it weren't for you, the manager and many people would've been hurt," X pointed out.

"...Well...yeah b-" Aruto began.

"Are you closing the amusement park?" the group turned to see a young child looking at the manager with a crowd of people.

"...No," the manager answered, kneeling down to look at the boy with a smile, "A mysterious yellow hero protected it with Megaman X, so we'll keep on giving smiles to our guests!"

"Really?!"

'Yeah!" the manager nodded as he stood up, looking over at Aruto before giving him a small wink, as if he was saying 'don't worry. Your secret is safe with me'.

Aruto smiled at that as he looked down at his Zero-One Driver.

"I've detected many smiling expressions that you're responsible for, Aruto," Roll spoke, earning his attention.

"Hai...you helped protect those smiles by protecting the manager's dream," Rico added with a smile.

"...So…" Aruto paused as he looked back down at his Zero-One Driver, "There are other ways to make people smile, huh? ….Alright. I'll do it..." he looked over at X, "Let's work together, aibou."

"...Yeah," X nodded as they bumped fist, "Let's work to protect everyone, Aruto."

"Ah…" Aruto nodded as a Limo drove up for them, "Wah...I've been president less than a minute and the class shift hits hard…"

"You'll get used to it," Rico assured as Roll opened the door, letting the four in before she closed the door behind her.

"Here…" Roll spoke as she offered Aruto a bulkier model of the Rise Phone, "The President's Rise Phone. Please look through the data."

"Oh...ok," Aruto nodded as to took it, pressing something on the screen as a holographic screen popped up, "'Hiden Intelligence Representative Director and President.' ...Alright, let's give it a go! Everyone at work sure gave me the business~! Aaaaand that's Aru, folks!"

"That is a play on words, were you referred to the hostility at the company you encountered earlier as 'The business'." Roll explained.

"AH! Don't explain the joke!" Aruto pleaded.

"...I thought it was good," X muttered.


SZ: Ahh...what a way to start off our first Reiwa-era Kamen rider fic.

Z0: Indeed, it was a fun beginning and we can only get more insane and over the top from here.

SZ: Mmm hmm. We hope you all enjoy this story we've made and...aw screw it. Preview time, z0?

Z0: Preview time!


Jikai Kamen Rider Zero-One: X Protocol!

Fukuzoe: You will now step down as President.

Fuwa: I'll not tell you the truth.

Aruto: Then What am I supposed to do!?

Fuwa: Reploids all go Maverick...they all hurt people!

Aruto: I'm going to bet on the potential of the Miracle my family made!

Fuwa: They are humanity's Enemy!

Aruto: They are Humanity's Dream!

2ND Entry: ShotRise! Enemy or Ally!