Kamen Rider Fenrir

"I'm tired of waiting. Should I just break inside?" Yareli asked, crossing her arms in impatience. She might not get a better chance to speak with her father alone.

"Your dad's a real ass. Why bother speaking with him?" Johan didn't hide his disdain.

"I agree," Rebecca said. "Your father tried to kill you, Ilma. How can any relationship recover from that? Even my mom isn't that screwed up!"

"Don't give up hope. Maybe you could still slap some sense into your old man," Samuel said, offering an encouraging smile.

"I hope so." Yareli sagged, falling into a nearby seat.

"I don't think the situation's as dire as you've pronounced, Yareli," Gramps said, walking toward them. "Give him time. He'll come around."

"There you are. I was afraid we'd lost you."

"Sorry, my bladder isn't what it once was," Gramps replied, chagrined. "Older folk need the restroom more often than not."

"Sorry I asked." Still, Yareli considered his advice. Would time help? She desperately wanted to charge into her father's hospital room and demand he listen to her side of the story. Would he be more understanding if he heard her feelings? Why must this be so complicated?

Thankfully, Detective Anderson walked into the lobby, providing a helpful distraction. "Uncover anything useful?" Rebecca gave the detective a hard, piercing stare.

Disconcerted, Anderson rubbed the nape of his neck. "It's a crazy story. Hard to say whether I even believe it."

The detective guided them toward a far hallway, out of range of prying ears. He was divulging sensitive information from his investigation. After confirming the coast was clear, he combed a hand through his thinning hair and finally spoke.

"Remember Surtur? The computer that computed that stock market equation you told me about?" Before Anderson could explain further, a newcomer interrupted him.

"Why are you here?" Despite displaying no emotion, her voice contained an edge of genuine anger.

"ID-01." If Yareli had real eyes, she'd be narrowing them.

"My name is Ilma Halvorsen," the robot replied, her voice turning even hotter.

"No, that's my name!" Yareli approached the distasteful copy, ready for battle. Just seeing the imposter made her sick to her stomach. How dare this fake try to steal her life!

Despite not wearing her Valkyrie armor, ID-01 matched Yareli's demeanor, eager to continue their earlier fight.

"Girls! Girls!" Johan said, waving his arms frantically. "This is a hospital! It isn't an appropriate place for a fight!"

Already, the heated confrontation had drawn the hospital staff's attention. A nurse ran toward them, yelling for them to stop. Furious beyond words, Yareli didn't even notice the woman. She hated this imposter down to her deepest being.

"I'm warning you! Cut it out, or we'll escort you from the premises!" The nurse gave Anderson a frosty glare. "You're an officer of the law. Do something!"

"I'm a homicide detective, not a beat cop!" Anderson wanted no part of this deep-rooted family squabble.

"I'm going to kill you." Despite being a creature of cold logic and metal, ID-01's feeling was mutual. "Your very presence distresses Father."

"Not if I destroy you first." Even without her armor, she could take this fake.

"Girls!" The nurse turned frantic as the situation escalated further out of control.

"Yeah, please stop!" Johan gave the approaching security guards a nervous glance.

Fury toward her father blazed within her. Yet it also hid an ember of hatred toward herself. Despite her rebellious nature, hadn't she been a dutiful daughter? Unexpected tears pricked her vision.

With startling speed, ID-01 darted toward her foe, her fist raised to shatter Yareli's rib cage. Before the thrown fist connected, a violent rumble disrupted the punch. The entire building rattled, and Yareli stumbled into the nurse.

"What the—?" The whole hospital was in utter disarray, with some patients getting tossed to the floor. A poor elderly man had taken a terrible tumble, hurting his fragile hip. Everyone else, however, seemed otherwise unharmed.

The nurse screamed, shock evident in her features. Her finger pointed toward a far window. Yareli turned, curious about what had startled a trained medical professional. Her body stiffened, her heart numb from shock. Bifrost was on fire.

"Impossible." Johan stared at the ruin and devastation. Rubble and smoke were everywhere, making it difficult to determine the extent of the damage. The heated argument forgotten, the nurse ran toward her duty station. Every staff member prepared for the upcoming rush of patients.

With frantic speed, Yareli sprinted toward the hospital parking lot. She craned her neck, trying to locate the source of the destruction. The annihilation was terrible and total, leaving an ugly gash across Bifrost's skin. Much to her surprise, ID-01 joined her.

"A Rangadriver did this," the robot said.

"Reine?" Only she was capable of such wanton destruction. Still, something bothered her. Yareli's hackles raised, getting a terrible premonition. Instead of answering, ID-01 returned to the hospital and left her alone.

"Thanks," Yareli said through gritted teeth, cursing the hateable robot. A moment later, Johan joined her.

"Want to investigate?" Johan asked, already gripping his Uhyre key.

"Absolutely!" Yareli nodded, pulling her Rangadriver from a duffel bag. She attached it across her waist, eyes peeled for danger. They hopped across broken pavement, navigating toward the source of the destructive cleave in the earth.

---

"What the hell was that?" Halvorsen said, startled by the sudden ground quake.

"It's nothing to worry about. Just an earthquake. I'll see what's the matter," the nurse said, trying to reassure her patient. She left as another frantic nurse summoned her.

"Earthquake? Bifrost isn't located anywhere near the tectonic plates." Minutes passed, but no one returned to explain the unexpected crisis. Already, the injured were being carted in, staff frantic to save their fragile lives. There was another commotion outside—someone yelling for help.

Moments later, a battered Dino stumbled into the room. Blood oozed from a gash across his forehead. His usually pristine suit had been reduced to rages, burned in some places."Doctor, thank God you're okay."

"What happened to you?" Halvorsen asked, alarmed.

"Sir, you need treatment. Let us help you!" a nurse said, stumbling into the room. No doubt Dino's injuries had caused a considerable commotion.

"I need to speak to him first," Dino said, waving the nurse away. "This is too important."

"Sir!" The nurse didn't seem in the mood to argue.

"Surtur has a Rangadriver." Dino's words stole Halvorsen's breath. Horrible conclusions came into his head, knowing what destruction a cold, logical AI like ID-00 might cause. "His power was unreal. I was useless against him."

"I'm sure that's not true," the nurse said, coaxing the injured man toward a hospital room. "This way. I'm sure the situation isn't as bad as you believe."

"Please, Doctor. His power is almost unstoppable!" Before the hospital staff dragged Dino away, he pressed a USB stick into Halvorsen's palm. "Even the wolf girl can't fight against that monster. That data should help, I hope. It's stolen from Simensen."

Oh God. What a nightmare. Halvorsen stared at what Dino had handed him, curious what kind of research Ophion Industries had copied from Ymir. ID-01 entered the room, her expression grave.

"You overheard?"

"Yes. I've seen his power firsthand," ID-01 said. "Terrible."

"Help me up," Halvorsen said, forcing himself free from the bed despite his body's protests. "I can't afford to stay here."

Thankfully, ID-01 didn't protest and helped her creator out of his room. With the hospital in a fury of activity, no one noticed their escape.

"Fine, you win, old man. I'll make a new weapon for Fenrir." What this meant for their relationship, Halvorsen didn't know. He supposed personal feelings didn't matter. Against Surtur, Fenrir would be a useful tool. Fate had tied them together, regardless of his protests.

He prayed it'd be enough.

---

With nimble feet, Yareli leaped over the rubble. The devastation was unreal, like a bad dream. She passed a familiar china shop whose glass surface had melted like it'd been wax. She stared in wide-eyed horror at the people inside, frozen like a fly trapped in amber. If Yareli could sleep, she'd slap herself to awaken from this nightmare.

The destruction seemed to continue forever, the smoke oppressive from uncontrollable fires. From a distance, sirens of emergency vehicles blared. What they could do against such senseless carnage, Yareli didn't know.

"Over here!" Johan said, pointing toward a collapsed roof. The building had been a simple mom-and-pop convenience store before the mayhem. "I hear people under here."

"Henshin!" The civilians helping the survivors gasped in surprise as the bike girl transformed into strange wolf armor.

"Don't worry, I'll get this roof off." Yareli grabbed the roof's edge, getting a tight grip. Grunting with effort, she flung it off. It shattered in a cloud of dust as it smashed against the nearby street. People clapped and cheered in amazement, watching as the masked hero tossed aside a broken rooftop like it was Styrofoam.

"Gamsahapnida," an elderly Asian woman said, grasping Yareli's armored hand and squeezing it. The other, a scrappy teenager Yareli presumed was her grandson, nodded his thanks. Besides some bruises, they seemed otherwise unharmed. They'd been lucky.

The store owner hadn't been so fortunate. Blood seeped from beneath the collapsed roof, crushing his upper torso. Yareli's heart grieved for the poor man. As they followed the destruction's source, they aided survivors however they could. People watched them, amazed by their selfless heroics. Camera phones caught everything as they dug out a man half-buried in rubble.

"Great, so much for secrecy." Still, it eased Yareli's troubled and guilty heart. Too many people had already died—some because of her. While it had been self-defense, that didn't make the situation any less horrible.

Johan helped in his human form. His boar form would only scare people senseless. EMTs finally arrived, and they accepted their help with gratitude. Yareli and Johan weren't the only ones helping. Ordinary folk also rushed to offer assistance. If they weren't helping locate survivors, they cleaned the streets. It made navigating the cluttered, half-destroyed roads much easier for emergency services. United under a single cause, the courage, and compassion of Bifrost's citizenry awed Yareli.

"Wolf girl, over here!" an EMT said, guiding them toward a steel beam crushing a middle-aged man's chest.

"I'm pulling it off. Get ready." The steel beam squealed as it bent under Fenrir's considerable strength. Moments later, the man was breathing easier. The EMTs eyed her with respect, gladdened by her unexpected assistance. Despite losing a tremendous amount of blood, the poor man would survive. After an hour of offering help, they arrived at the wave of destruction's source—a burned-out lab.

"No bomb did this. A Rangadriver caused such wholesale destruction?" Yareli thought, her eyes tracing the scar in the earth caused by the destructive wave. While obscured by smoke, the ugly red line of destruction stretched at least a kilometer.

"Well met, Fenrir," a newcomer said. Yareli sighed, turning to find Simensen standing behind her. From how he favored one leg, he appeared injured.

"This lab is yours, isn't it?" Yareli said, putting together the dots. "What have you done?"

"Nothing." Did she detect a hint of agitation? "If you're finished helping the emergency services, follow me. We have much to discuss."

"Fine." While Yareli wasn't looking forward to the conversation, Ophion Industries' president was their only lead. Much to her shock, the man had a haunted look behind his calm façade.

"We found him, sir." Simensen's bodyguard ran toward them. Soot and grime covered the large man's usually pristine suit. "He's at a nearby coffee shop causing a commotion. He's accessing a public computer."

"Good. Keep your distance," Simensen replied. "He can't suspect he's being followed."

"We'll handle this," Johan said, readying his Uhyre Key. "I know the place."

"No!" The sudden cry of alarm shook Yareli in place. Simensen seemed rattled, which frightened Yareli more than she'd expected. "You'd only go to your deaths. His power is unreal."

"Oh?" Had Jörmungandr lost? How was that possible?

"He's typing something on a laptop," Simensen's bodyguard said after tapping an earpiece.

"He's playing with some computer? What? He's checking his email?" Simensen said. "Well, whatever. Leave him be and just follow. If he's stopped destroying things, that provides us time to consider our next move."

"You talk like we're allies." Yareli still hadn't forgotten how he'd made the Jotnar spy on her.

"Trust me, Ilma," Simensen's voice was uncharacteristically sincere. "Our foe is the enemy of all life."

---

The coffee shop was lively as Surtur entered, terrified by the explosion he'd caused. Patrons clambered toward the windows, gaping at the scene unfolding before them. People chattered amongst themselves, frightened and theorizing what had caused the explosion. While some patrons ran to assist, most stayed put. Emergency vehicles sped toward the scene, their sirens drowning out any hushed mutterings.

"It has to be a terrorist attack," one person said.

"No, it must be the Niflhel again!" another said. "Damn bastards aren't satisfied with the damage they've already caused. The news said some evaded capture!"

"Something's not right here," yet another added. "Bifrost's been suffering one crisis after another. Could this be the end?"

"What, like Ragnarök?" A patron rolled their eyes. "Something bad happens, and it's suddenly the end of the world!"

"I'm serious! I have a bad feeling!"

"Sure."

Surtur walked past, ignoring the people and their meaningless gossip in search of his quarry. He'd returned his sunglasses to his face, hiding his inhuman eyes. Scaring people would only needlessly impede his objective. His torn jacket earned him some odd looks, however.

"Damn." A person huddling over a computer muttered to himself. He uttered curses, rubbing his bald scalp as he read about the current development of the sudden explosion. Faint, but Surtur heard the man whispering a woman's name. Tumultuous emotions distorted the man's features, grieved by a terrible loss. Surtur cared little about that—the open laptop caught his attention instead. The café's internet services were just what he required.

"Hey, what are you—?" The man's protests died as Surtur slammed his head against the metal table so quickly that the human barely had time to register the attack. Surtur dropped the limp man back to the table, uncaring if he still lived. Blood pooled under the laptop as crimson oozed from one ear. 

"What the?!" The neighbor's eyes widened in utter shock, unable to tear his gaze from the horrible, bloody scene. "Help! Someone call an ambulance! The police!" The neighbor's cries caught the other coffee shop patrons' attention. A person screamed in abject terror.

While a run-of-the-mill and inexpensive computer, it'd work for his purposes. Surtur's fingers blurred as he typed, ignoring the frightened cries around him.

"Excellent." The simple .txt file contained the stock market prediction algorithm. Before his awakening, Ymir had tasked Surtur to create it. Its potential was world-changing and lucrative. A person with this equation could earn unparalleled wealth. They'd be unstoppable in the financial world.

"Done." He'd uploaded the equation to the finance board on Scabbit.

Already, he'd attracted some comments—people wondering if it was a hoax. Wanting to spread his fire further, he uploaded the equation to other special-interest boards.

Most commenters posted about how the equation was obviously bogus. Surtur didn't mind, knowing someone would realize its worth soon enough. Their greed or curiosity would drive them—a common human flaw. The sparks had ignited the dry wood. Soon, the entire world would become engulfed in a blazing inferno.