Gotchard in DC Ch 15

Late at night, a truck from Bludhaven lumbered into the industrial district on National City's west side. The engine's rumble was the only sound on the otherwise silent streets.

"Shock, I can't believe we scored extra cargo. This time we crushed our mission. The boss better kick us back a bigger bonus, you feel me?" Henrik, the driver, chewed on a piece of candy as he glanced over at his buddy Shock, who was glued to his phone in the passenger seat.

"Eh, who knows what the boss is thinking? You better keep your eyes on the road, Henrik. If anything happens to the merchandise, the boss ain't gonna be happy," Shock replied, not even bothering to look up from his phone.

Henrik just shrugged. He was used to Shock's chill attitude. "Whatever, man."

These two jokers were card-carrying members of the Shadow Gang. They were hauling a load of "goods" from Bludhaven to National City as part of some gang gig.

And by "goods," we're talking about kidnapped teens and kids from all over the place. What these local gangs were planning with the Shadow Gang, nobody knows.

What Henrik and Shock didn't realize was that a dark gray Alchemy locust was clinging to the back of the truck, sending a live feed to someone far, far away.

On a nearby rooftop, Isaac, now Kamen Rider Gotchard, felt the night breeze whipping through his white scarf. Smaphone Chemy beamed the scene inside the truck right into his eyes. He heard the gangsters yakking away.

"Looks like I get to bust some heads tonight. Where should I string them up this time? Ah, whatever. Smaphone, buddy, remember to call the cops after I'm done," Isaac muttered, a smirk playing on his lips.

After confirming the truck was headed the same way as the others he'd been tracking, Isaac was ready to rock and roll.

He'd been tailing the Shadow Gang for days. He was playing the waiting game, hoping to reel in a bigger catch. And it seemed his patience was about to pay off.

Isaac ran through his plan. Then, he gave Smaphone Chemy some instructions before taking a flying leap off the roof.

Inside the dimly lit warehouse, the truck rumbled to a halt. The heavy scent of motor oil and despair hung in the air. Henrik and Shock, with a swagger that only comes from a lifetime of low-level crime, hopped out of the cab. They joined a handful of other goons, their faces grim and eager. Together, they unlatched the back of the trailer and started barking orders at the frightened kids crammed inside.

"Alright, move it! Get out! Now!" Henrik yelled, shoving a young boy who hesitated.

The children, their eyes wide with terror, shuffled out of the trailer, their small frames trembling. They were herded like cattle toward a series of rusty iron cages that lined the far wall of the warehouse.

Inside a lavish office, a gang boss is in the middle of a meeting when Isaac, as Kamen Rider Gotchard, bursts in. Isaac shoots three goons and disarms the boss. Isaac slams the boss's face into a table.

Meanwhile, on a plush leather sofa in a makeshift office at the far end of the warehouse, the boss of the Shadow Gang, a man with slicked-back hair and eyes as cold as a winter night, swirled the crimson liquid in his wine glass. He watched the scene with a detached air. Two of his closest lieutenants leaned in, murmuring about numbers and profits.

Seeing Henrik and Shock approach, the boss raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and impatient. "Is all the cargo here?"

Henrik, eager to impress, practically tripped over himself as he stepped forward. "All here, boss! And, uh, one extra. Picked him up along the way, thought he might be useful."

The boss gave a curt nod, his lips twisting into a faint, predatory smile. "Well done. After this batch of goods is delivered, your rewards will not be small." He flicked his wrist dismissively, his attention already drifting back to his wine.

His gaze swept over the rows of iron cages. The children, huddled together, their faces streaked with tears and dirt, stared back with a mix of fear and resignation. The boss took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the moment. This was his empire, built on misery and desperation.

High above, in a grimy side window overlooking the scene, Isaac watched, his face a mask of barely suppressed fury. The sight of the caged children twisted his gut. He clenched his fists, the metallic gauntlets of his Gotchard armor creaking softly.

"Smaphone, record everything. Every single crime. As soon as I'm done here, call the cops. Make sure they get the full picture," Isaac hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

He tore his gaze away from the children, focusing on the cluster of gangsters gathered around their boss. They were listening intently, their faces a mixture of greed and anticipation. Isaac knew it was time. Time to unleash some righteous fury.

Taking a deep breath, he channeled his Fierce Ki, feeling its power surge through him. He crouched, muscles coiled like springs, and then launched himself forward, smashing through the window in a shower of splintered glass and jagged shards.

"Who's there!" A chorus of startled shouts erupted from the warehouse floor. The sound of breaking glass sent a jolt of panic through the gangsters. They scrambled for their weapons, their eyes darting wildly in Isaac's direction.

But they were too slow. Way too slow.

Before they could even fully react, Isaac was upon them, a whirlwind of motion and righteous anger. He moved with a speed that defied the eye, his fists and feet blurring as he struck with precision and force.

The first gangster, a hulking brute with a greasy ponytail, raised his pistol, but Isaac was already there, delivering a swift kick to his temple. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the floor.

Another gangster, armed with a rusty pipe, swung wildly, but Isaac sidestepped the blow with ease, grabbing the man's arm and twisting it behind his back. A sickening crack echoed through the warehouse as the gangster's shoulder dislocated. He screamed in agony as Isaac sent him sprawling with a well-placed kick to the gut.

A third gangster charged, brandishing a knife, but Isaac met him head-on, intercepting the blade with his armored forearm. The knife clattered harmlessly to the ground as Isaac unleashed a devastating uppercut, sending the gangster flying backward.

The fight was a blur of punches, kicks, and desperate cries. The gangsters, caught completely off guard, were no match for Isaac's speed, strength, and training. They fell like dominoes, their bodies piling up on the dusty warehouse floor.

The Shadow Gang boss, his face livid, watched the carnage unfold. He roared in frustration, grabbing a pistol from his waistband. He raised the weapon, aimed at Isaac, and squeezed the trigger.

[BANG!]

The bullet whizzed through the air, but Isaac, his senses heightened by his Fierce Ki, saw it coming. He dodged with a speed that seemed almost impossible, the bullet narrowly missing his head.

With a burst of speed, Isaac weaved through the remaining gangsters, their faces a mixture of fear and desperation. He closed the distance between himself and the boss in an instant.

He unleashed a devastating right hook, the force of the blow sending the Shadow Gang boss staggering backward. Before the man could recover, Isaac followed up with a thunderous kick to his abdomen. The boss gasped, his face contorting in pain as he doubled over, the pistol clattering to the ground.

The fight was over. In a matter of moments, Isaac had single-handedly taken down an entire gang. The only sounds in the warehouse were the groans of the injured and the terrified whimpers of the children in their cages.

Isaac, breathing heavily, surveyed the scene. He wasn't finished yet. He still had work to do. He wasn't about to let these monsters off that easily. He scanned the warehouse, his gaze finally settling on the truck's trailer.

He strode purposefully toward the trailer, placing his armored hand on the cold metal. He closed his eyes, focusing his Fierce Ki and channeling his alchemical abilities. He softly chanted the words of an Alchemy spell, the air around his hand shimmering with a faint blue light.

The light spread rapidly, enveloping the entire trailer. At Isaac's will, the metal of the trailer began to shift and contort, transforming into a cage of thick steel bars. The bars snaked around the unconscious gangsters, binding their hands and feet, ensuring they wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Satisfied with his handiwork, Isaac turned his attention to the children. He approached one of the cages, reaching for the rusty lock. "Alright, don't be afraid. You're all safe now... well, almost. The police are on their way. You'll be safe as soon as they get here."

He ripped the lock off the cage with a metallic shriek and pulled open the door, expecting the children to rush out, eager to embrace their freedom. But to his surprise, they recoiled, huddling together in the corner of the cage, their eyes wide with suspicion and fear.

Isaac's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. He glanced at the other cages, noticing that the children were looking at him with the same wary, distrustful expressions.

A soft sigh escaped his lips. He understood. He knew why they were looking at him like that. These kids had been through hell. They had seen the worst of humanity. It would take time, patience, and understanding to earn their trust.

He slowly lowered his hand, taking a few steps back, giving the children some space. He knew he couldn't force them. He could only show them that he was there to help.